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PA and UN perceptions of Friday’s riot

in FAR EAST/POLITICS by

The balance of the Palestinian demonstration that took place on Friday along the Israeli-Gaza border is at least 16 Palestinians killed and hundreds injured, the Palestinian envoy to the UN spoke of over 1400 people, by Israeli security forces as they tried to face tens of thousands of Palestinians gathered along the 65 km fenced border. According to army estimates, 30,000 took part in the event, but the conditions for its peaceful development with the passing of the day were not followed, in fact, hundreds of young Palestinians ignored the calls of the organizers and the Israeli army to stay far from the border, where Israel soldiers across the border watched that people did not try to damage the security fence. The militias reported that blows were fired only on those who tried to sabotage the infrastructure, while Palestinian officials said Israeli forces used firearms against demonstrators, as well as tear gas, also launched with a drone, and rubber bullets.

The United Nations Security Council was informed of the violence in Gaza at the request of Kuwait; the Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for an independent and transparent investigation and asked “those concerned to refrain from any action that could lead to further victims and in particular any measure that could put civilians in danger”. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a statement that Israel was responsible for the violence and declared a national day of mourning on Saturday. The United States declared itself “deeply saddened” by what happened, inviting all those involved to take steps to reduce tensions and reduce the risk of new confrontations.

 

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Iran condemns Israeli killing of Palestinians in Gaza Strip

in MIDLE EAST/POLITICS by

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman strongly condemned the recent Israeli actions against Palestinian people. “Although Israel has a long record in occupation, killing and committing crimes, Mr. Trump and the US ruling elites’ unwavering support as well as shameful efforts by some regional leaders in order to establish overt, covert, disgraceful and ignominious relations with Israel have unfortunately further emboldened Zionist regime leaders to turn Palestinian youth’s peaceful rally into a bloodbath on the Eve of Passover,” said the spokesman.

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Afghanistan to hold legislative elections after years of delays

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According to Afghan parliament members, the government is plotting to hold a rigged election because the election commission has not been able to preserve its independence. Humayun Humayun, First Deputy Speaker of Wolesi Jirga, or Parliament’s Lower House, said that a circle close to the president and his team has instructed the election commission to do not let anyone except a few figures – who support them – to secure parliament seat in the upcoming election. The MPs claimed that the Presidential Palace has been involved in the decision-making process of the election commission. In fact, MP Abdullah Mohammadi said that the President has ordered the election mission to do not let more than 25 individuals to be re-elected as parliament members.

This comes after the election commission officials were not present in the Lower House’s Saturday session. The House’s Speaker Abdul Raouf Ibrahimi said that National Assembly is responsible in the election process and the election commission officials have acted against the constitution, principles and legitimate rights of the people by not coming to the assembly, so it does not have the capacity to hold the election.

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Germany denies deal to give Israel UN council seat

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Germany has rejected accusations that it has violated a presumed 10-year agreement that provides for Israel to stand as candidates without a disagreement in obtaining a seat at the UN Security Council. The agreement referred to was signed when the Jewish state joined the regional group of Western Europe and others (WEOG) at the UN, and it included a promise not to oppose Israel if it applied for one of the non-permanent posts reserved for the regional group, but Germany denies that this commitment has been made. Israel, Germany and Belgium are competing for the two seats reserved for the regional group in the General Assembly elections to be held on 8 June. Overall, five seats are up for grabs for a period of two years, but three are reserved for Africa, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.

To win the election to the council, the candidate countries must obtain a two-thirds majority in the assembly of the 193 nations. While on the one hand Germany has been actively working for its sixth election for years, Israel has been working behind the scenes for over a year, but according to a recent report it seems to have decided to abandon the attempt because it failed to muster the necessary majority. Israel is one of the 66 nations of the world that have never had a seat on the body; beating Germany and Belgium for the coveted position would be an important result for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, whose goal is to erode the great automatic majority that makes the Council unbalance against Israel.

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Zarif: US complicity in world’s biggest humanitarian disaster unfathomable

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Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has slammed the US for its unbridled support for Saudi Arabia in its war of aggression against Yemen, saying Washington is complicit in the world’s biggest humanitarian disaster. In a post on his official Twitter account on Thursday, Zarif said the role that the United States has so far played in fanning the flames of the Yemen war, including through supplying Saudi Arabia with bombs and refueling its warplanes, is apparently not enough for American rulers. By acknowledging involvement in managing brutal Saudi airstrikes, the US is complicit in the world’s biggest humanitarian disaster, he added.

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Erdogan: Not allowing Turkey to join EU would be a big mistake

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Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdoğan said on March 26 it would be a “grave mistake” for Europe to not include Turkey in the expansion of EU. According to Erdogan, Turkey’s operations against terrorism not only contribute to the security of Turkey and the Syrians but also to the security of Europe. Erdogan added that Turkey and EU have taken the first step of restoring confidence, but it has to be taken in concrete terms. Regarding visa-free travel for Turkish nationals within the Schengen area, Erdoğan said Ankara had submitted the necessary paperwork and that was hoping the process to update the customs union with the EU would begin. Erdoğan also addressed the issue of Cyprus, saying that the involvement of Turkey is in accordance with international law.

About the negotiations on immigration, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker vowed to be a “guarantor” of the continuation of Turkey-EU negotiations, saying that it showed “visible results.” For his part, European Council President Donald Tusk stressed the good cooperation between Turkey and the EU in certain areas, although it “is going through difficult times.” Tusk thanked Turkey for its stance on migration and support for refugees. Tusk pointed to Turkey’s good bilateral relations with EU member states, adding that the EU “stands united behind the Republic of Cyprus regarding its right to explore and exploit its natural resources in its Exclusive Economic Zone.”

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The US State Department approves $1 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia

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During the royal visit in the United States, the US State Department approved three arms sales worth  more than $1 billion to Saudi Arabia. The sales include 6,000 Raytheon TOW-2 anti-tank missiles worth $670 million, $106 million in helicopter support and $300 million worth of vehicle parts. “The proposed sale of TOW 2B missiles and technical support will advance Saudi Arabia’s efforts to develop an integrated ground-defense capability,” the State Department said. However, the sales are not yet finalized, as all foreign military sales  have to be approved by Congress. Prices may change before they are finalized. Analysts have seen great significance in this deal, since it indicates strong political, economic, and defense ties between the two countries. Oubai Shahabandar, a fellow in the Washington, DC-based New America International security program, said: “Ensuring interoperability and integration of weapon systems between long-standing strategic partners has long been a mainstay of US foreign policy in the Arabian Gulf. It’s a win-win for all sides involved in these foreign military sales deals.” He added: “It means more American jobs and ultimately it will help Saudi Arabia to develop a sustainable indigenous military production capacity. No other country comes close to the sheer size and breadth of the foreign military sales cases that the US has with the Kingdom.

“In the long term, Riyadh’s acquisition of new military hardware from the US defense industry must also be met with a joint commitment between the US and the entire Gulf Cooperation Council to enhance the integration of their military readiness against common regional threats.” Sigurd Neubauer, a Middle East analyst and columnist based in Washington, sees Saudi Arabia as a major ally for the US in the region. He said: “Saudi Arabia has arguably surpassed Israel as Washington’s premier regional ally. “But because Trump is strengthening his relationship with Riyadh, balancing relations with Ankara and Tel Aviv also becomes paramount as Washington wants to align all of its regional allies against Tehran and its malign activity. Part of that strategy also centers on GCC unity, even if that issue was not discussed during the public part of the MBS-Trump meeting.”

 

 

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‘Strong possibility’ North Korea’s Kim Jong Un made surprise Beijing visit

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An armoured green with yellow horizontal lines train arrived in Beijing on Monday night. This event, including tightened security outside the train station, and tourists being ushered out of the capital’s Tiananmen Square, which usually signals a high-level meeting in the Great Hall of the People there, fed rumours that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited Beijing. Assuming it actually took place it was Kim’s first visit to a foreign country since succeeding his father, Kim Jong-il, as supreme leader of North Korea in December 2011 and it was a clear message sent to the world that despite rumours to the contrary, Beijing and Pyongyang remain close allies.

Although the details of the visit remain a closely guarded secret, Kim is believed to have met Chinese President Xi Jinping and possibly other top Communist Party leaders, including Premier Li Keqiang while in the city. There has been no official comment from North Korea, while China’s foreign ministry said it had “no information for the moment”, but more would “be published in due course”.

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Nigeria’s Election sequence: Court sets April 25 for judgment

in AFRICA/POLITICS by

The Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed April 25, 2018 to deliver judgment in a suit filed by the Accord Party (AP) seeking an order of court restraining the National Assembly from acting on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018. President Muhammadu Buhari had on March 13, 2018 refused to sign the bill into law, which sparked arguments as to whether or not the National Assembly would use its powers to override the President’s decision. Counsel to the National Assembly, the first defendant, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), in his preliminary objection, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter on the grounds that its jurisdiction was not properly invoked. He said the court could only have jurisdiction over the matter if the bill has become an act.

“No matter how it is construed, the Electoral Act Amendment Bill as at the day the originating summons was filed, up till date, is a bill, it becomes an act upon the happenings of two eventualities Where a president acting under provisions of Section 58, assents to the bill, it then becomes an Act of the National Assembly. Where he refuses to assent under Section 58, the bill is returned to the National Assembly for use of their powers to override. At that point, it remains a bill because there is no guarantee that they will muster the required two- thirds majority to veto it,” Mr. Joseph Daudu stated. Daudu said that it was only where the National Assembly successfully used its power to over-ride the President’s veto and transform the bill to an act that the jurisdiction of the court over it would be ignited.

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Montenegro’s Democratic Front against expelling Russian diplomats

in EUROPE/POLITICS by

Democratic Front (DF) deputy Jovan Vučurović urges the Government of Duško Marković not to expel Russian diplomats from Montenegro, and to hold to the honor and dignity of Montenegro, which has already been obstructed several times. It is clear to Vučurović that, at this moment, the government is in great difficulty because on the one hand, as NATO members, Montenegro should expel Russian diplomats as a result of the shameful attack, while on the other hand, they are thinking of the presidential elections, aware that it is ultimately unpopular to show again the open hatred towards Russia.

The government of Duško Marković has repeatedly shown hostility towards Russia and is continuing to pursue this policy even though it is aware that it is once again humiliating Montenegro. According to Vučurović, there is no single reason why Montenegro, in this case, should follow the interests of Western countries, especially of those who are waiting to seize the opportunity to confront Russia.

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