by admin | May 25, 2021 | News
Tanmaya Lal
By Arul Louis,
United Nations : Facing the prospects of US sanctions over its deals with Russia and Iran, India has used the annual General Assembly debate on Washington’s economic blockade of Cuba to lash out against unilateral embargoes.
“As the world’s largest democracy with abiding faith in multi-lateralism, India stands in solidarity with this Assembly in its unambiguous rejection of domestic laws having extraterritorial impact,” Tanmaya Lal, India’s Deputy Permanent Representative, said on Wednesday.
Year after year, the General Assembly has voted for lifting the sanctions on Cuba and last year 191 of the 193 UN members backed the resolution with only the US and Israel opposing it.
India has always opposed the Cuban sanctions.
“Every year this Assembly has rejected the imposition of laws and regulations with extra-territorial impact and all other forms of coercive economic measures that hurt the progress and prosperity of the people the world over,” Lal said.
The Cuban sanctions do not directly affect countries like India that trade with Havana.
Although the US embargo mostly restricts engagement by American companies and individuals with the Caribbean country, it does have spillover effects on companies from other countries.
India and most countries oppose the Cuban embargo on principle and maintain that domestic laws should not have extra-territorial effect on other countries.
Only the Security Council can impose international sanctions under the UN Charter as it has done, for example with North Korea.
The General Assembly has called on countries “to refrain from promulgating and applying and to repeal and invalidate laws and measures that have extra-territorial effects affecting the sovereignty of other States, in conformity with their obligations under the UN Charter and international law”, Lal said.
The US has warned India it could face sanctions under its domestic law, the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), for a deal to buy an advanced air defence missile system, the S400, at an estimated cost of about $5 billion from Russia and other defence purchases.
Mainly motivated by alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections, the US Congress enacted CAATSA that President Donald Trump signed into law.
While that law also has some impact on Iran, Trump has separately acted to impose more stringent sanctions on countries trading with Tehran after reneging the agreement signed by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany and the European Union with Iran to end its quest for nuclear weapons.
The Iran sanctions that come into force on November 4 that could hit India, which buys oil from Tehran and has several projects there like the Chabahar port development.
Trump could exempt India from the sanctions, but has not said so far if he would.
Scores of countries that spoke during the debate attacked the sanctions on Cuba and demanded that they be lifted.
Representatives of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77, as well as regional groups like those representing Latin America, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia called for lifting of the sanctions.
(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis)
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Business Summit, Events, Social Round-up, World
Beijing / Jakarta / Paris / Kuala Lumpur: Saturday’s four-nation Istanbul summit on Syria between Turkey, Russia, Germany, and France garnered major coverage by the international media.
Chinese news agency Xinhua on Sunday reported Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks that the summit would succeed in “adopting a sincere and constructive approach,” under the heading “Turkey hosts 4-way summit to seek political solution to Syrian issue.”
China Central Television stressed the leaders’ call to establish a lasting cease-fire and assemble a committee to draw up a new Syrian constitution, underlining French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks on the need to abide by to the Sept. 17 agreement between Turkey and Russia to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib, Syria.
Japanese public broadcaster NHK also stressed the issue of forming a constitutional committee in Syria by the end of the year to “lay the groundwork for democratic elections.”
Indonesian daily Tempo underlined the importance of the Idlib deal as well as Turkey’s proximity to the Syrian conflict and the difficulty in slowing or stopping a new migration wave should clashes resume.
Likewise, French media stressed the call to uphold a lasting and stable cease-fire in Idlib and gather a constitutional committee by year’s-end.
Le Monde reported the decision to underscore the need to “ensure humanitarian organizations’ rapid, safe and unhindered access throughout Syria.”
State broadcaster France Info reported on the reaffirmed commitment to the “safe and voluntary return of refugees to Syria” and to fight terrorism throughout the country.
Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron in a joint statement on Saturday called for a constitutional committee on Syria for free and fair elections in the war-torn nation.
The leaders “expressed their support for an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process that is facilitated by the United Nations,” according to the statement.
Reporting by Fuat Kabakci, Mahmut Atanur, Omer Aydin and Omer Faruk Yildiz :Writing by Ahmet Salih Alacacı
—AA
by admin | May 25, 2021 | World
By Arul Louis,
United Nations : After China and Russia failed to block a briefing on Myanmar, the Security Council heard the head of an independent investigation into alleged atrocities against the Rohingya calling for prosecuting senior leaders of national forces on charges of genocide.
The Chair of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar set up by the Human Rights Council, Marzuki Darusman, said that they had found evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity and asked the Council to refer the matter to the International Criminal Court or create an international criminal tribunal to prosecute those responsible.
Before he was allowed to speak, China and Russia objected to the briefing saying it would only complicate matters and make a resolution of the Rohingya crisis difficult.
Russian’s Permanent representative Vassily Nebenzia dismissed the report as “raw” and unreliable and pointed out that the US, which was now backing the mission, had withdrawn from the Human Rights Council questioning its objectivity.
In the procedural vote, where permanent members do not have veto powers, the Council decided with nine votes in favour, three abstentions and three – China, Russia and Bolivia – against to to hold the briefing.
The vote was an illustration of the discord at the Security Council that hobbles it effectiveness in dealing with many crises.
Backing the call for prosecutions, US Permanent representative Nikki Haley said: “Only accountability for the crimes against Rohingya will serve the cause of peace in Burma. This is not about finger pointing. It is about accepting the realities of what happened so that healing and accountability can occur.”
Bangladesh Permanent Representative Masud Bin Momen backed the fact-finding mission’s report and said that Council should act on it.
He offered his country’s assistance for international prosecution of those responsible for the crimes against the Rohigya.
Myanmar’s Permanent Representative Hau Do Suan said that his country’s security forces carried out legitimate counter-terrorist actions and these were done without “genocidal intent”.
The Rohingya crisis was precipated by attacks by Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army terrorist group against 30 police outposts and a military installation, and hundreds of innocent civilians, including Hindus, other ethnic minorities and Muslims supporting the government were massacred by the group.
The Myanmar government has established an independent commission of inquiry to go into allegations of human rights violations and had already taken action some of the military, police and national security officers.
China’s Permanent Representative Ma Zhaoxu came out in support of Myanmar saying that it was making progress in resolving the Rohingya issue by trying to implement agreements regarding their return and allowing UN agencies access.
At the same time, he praised Bangladesh for hosting the refugees and said Beijing was helping it and Myanmar deal with the crisis.
In meeting facilitated by his country, Ma said Myanmar had agreed to a timetable for the return of refugees.
(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis)
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | World
Vladimir Putin
Sochi (Russia) : Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that his country is ready to further strengthen coordination and cooperation with China to safeguard and promote common interests and global peace and development.
Russia applauds the high level of comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, said Putin when meeting Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Xinhua news agency reported.
“All the consensus reached between the two presidents is being implemented,” said Putin, adding that his country is willing to make joint efforts with China to maintain close contact at all levels and deepen practical cooperation in all fields.
Meanwhile, he stressed that the two countries should further enhance coordination and cooperation to safeguard and promote the common interests of the two countries as well as the global peace and development.
Putin also expressed deep appreciation and heartfelt thanks for President Xi Jinping’s participation in the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in September.
Yang, also Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, said the two Presidents had made in-depth exchange of views on further developing the China-Russia relations and the international situation and achieved important consensus during the 4th Eastern Economic Forum.
“Together with Russia, China is willing to fully implement the consensus reached between the two presidents, especially enhancing the practical cooperation in the fields of energy, agriculture, science and technology, and innovation,” said Yang, suggesting that the two side should properly arrange high-level exchanges and celebration activities next year to mark the 70th anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic ties.
Yang said it will be a good opportunity to promote the bilateral relations to score new achievements for greater benefits of the two peoples and people around the world.
At the invitation of the Russian side, Yang arrived in Russia’s Black Sea coastal city of Sochi to attend the 15th annual meeting of Valdai on Wednesday.
The Valdai International Discussion Club founded by Russia holds its meeting each year to provide a platform for the exchange of views for politicians and scholars from across the world.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | World
S-300 missile systems
Moscow : Russia has delivered to Syria S-300 air defence systems to improve safety of its military personnel deployed in the country, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has said.
“We have completed the delivery of S-300 systems. This includes 49 pieces of equipment: lighting locators, basic detection systems, control vehicles and four launchers,” Shoigu said on Tuesday during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and members of the Russian Security Council, according to a Kremlin transcript.
The delivery was completed on Monday, which was part of measures aimed at strengthening air defence systems in Syria and the protection of Russian military personnel, the minister said, Xinhua reported.
In addition, the electronic warfare system in Syria was significantly strengthened and the delivery of equipment of the unified control system has also begun.
The Defence Ministry has started training the selected personnel and specialists to use the S-300 systems, which will last for three months, Shoigu said.
On September 17, a Russian Il-20 surveillance plane was mistakenly downed by Syria’s S-200 system when it was preparing to land at the Russian Hmeymim air base at a time when four Israeli jets were conducting an airstrike in the vicinity.
Last week, Shoigu said that Moscow will strengthen Syria’s air defence by providing it with modern S-300 missile systems and identification friend-or-foe (IFF) devices within two weeks.
—IANS
