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Iran under ‘most robust’ nuclear inspection: IAEA

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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has defended the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries, saying the Islamic Republic is under “the world’s most robust” nuclear inspection regime. IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano made the remarks at a panel discussion on global nuclear governance in the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia earlier this week amid Washington’s pressure on the agency to request access to Iran’s military sites.The IAEA “is now verifying and monitoring Iran’s implementation of its nuclear-related commitments under that agreement, acting as the eyes and ears of the international community”, the UN nuclear chief said. Under the deal, Amano said, Iran has accepted restrictions on its nuclear program and the IAEA has expanded access to its sites and information.

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Switzerland halts ‘mutual legal assistance’ with Egypt in Mubarak family funds case

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Swiss judicial authorities have decided to halt mutual legal assistance to the Egyptian government in the investigations into the funds of former President Hosni Mubarak, his family and others, as the investigations have not yielded any tangible results, according to a statement issued by the Swiss Embassy in Cairo on Wednesday.The statement also said that the Egyptian attorney general’s office was informed of this decision in late August distinguishing between the conclusion of mutual assistance and the continuation of the investigation, as mutual legal assistance is only one “part of the investigation”, and that no final decisions regarding the funds have been taken.Judicial cooperation between Egypt and Switzerland began after Mubarak was deposed in February 2011. However, the Swiss embassy asserts that “despite this cooperation, Swiss judicial authorities had to conclude that the legal requirements were not met, particularly with regard to the link between the alleged crimes and Switzerland”.

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Washington still deliberating cuts in aid package to Cairo: Egypt foreign ministry

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The Egyptian foreign ministry said on Thursday that the US is still discussing whether it will be introducing cuts to its financial aid package to Cairo for the fiscal year 2018.Egypt’s foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement that a House of Representatives’ subcommittee on foreign operations passed the bill without reducing aid to Cairo, though a Senate committee demanded that cuts be introduced to the assistance programme.Egypt receives approximately $1.3 billion in US military aid yearly, as well as an annual economic assistance package, which amounted to $150 million in 2016.The US said last month it would withhold part of its aid to Cairo, saying $195 million would be held in reserve until the US “can see progress on democracy” in Egypt.In response, Cairo said the move is not in line with the strategic relations between Egypt and the US, and that cuts could have “negative repercussions” in achieving the common interests of the two countries.

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: Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia Energy Ministers Discuss Gas Supply Projects

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Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia will deepen their cooperation on projects ensuring the security of gas supplies to Southeast Europe. This was agreed by the energy ministers of three Balkan countries: Temenouzhka Petkova of Bulgaria, Giorgos Stathakis of Greece, and Alexander Antic of Serbia. The sides agreed that the diversification of gas supplies will make it possible to have competitive prices and meet the challenges in the region. Petkova underscored the strategic importance of the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector for ensuring natural gas supplies from various sources. “The Bulgarian government firmly supports the project and is negotiating extra funding with the European Commission”, she said. She expressed confidence that Greece and Serbia will play an important role in the development of Europe’s Balkan Gas Hub. First and foremost, if the concept of the Bulgarian government is to be implemented, the infrastructure should be built with Bulgaria’s neighbours and gas supplies from at least three different sources should be available. The creation of a single regional energy market will meet the three countries’ priorities for security of deliveries and affordable prices for consumers, Petkova said.

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Azerbaijan, NATO mull military cooperation

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Colonel General Sadikov, Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces and First Deputy Defense Minister met with a delegation led by General Pavel, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, the Defense Ministry referred. Sadikov hailed the successful development of military relations between Azerbaijan and NATO. He spoke about military cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO, including the activities of the Azerbaijan Armed Forces within the framework of various NATO programs, as well as the contribution of Azerbaijan to the NATO-led non-combat Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan. Pavel, in turn, especially noted that Azerbaijan is a reliable partner on Alliance, highly appreciating the country’s participation in the fight against terrorism, the significant contribution in providing airspace to cargo transportation for peacekeeping operations, including the high level of professionalism of Azerbaijani peacekeepers in Afghanistan.

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Pakistan’s army chief says cannot fight Afghanistan’s war in Pakistan

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The Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said the country cannot fight Afghanistan’s war in Pakistan, apparently gesturing towards the demands by Kabul and Washington to eliminate the sanctuaries of the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist network based in the key cities of the country. The remarks by Gen. Bajwa could be a gesture of Pakistan to reject the calls for the elimination of the terror sanctuaries as he said the country would prefer to remain impartial in the ongoing violence in Afghanistan. The US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had earlier said Pakistan is expected to “take decisive action against militant groups based in Pakistan that are a threat to the region.” The pressures by Washington on Pakistan regarding the safe havens of the terror groups are on the rise after the announcement of the new strategy by US President Donald Trump last month.

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What Russian “peacekeepers” want

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The National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine in February 2015 approved an appeal to the UN and the European Union regarding the deployment of a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. “The issue was considered and a decision was made to appeal to the UN and the EU regarding the deployment of peacekeeping and security missions in Ukraine,” NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov told journalists at the time. It was noted that the peacekeepers should be deployed both along the line of contact in Donbas and along the uncontrolled section of the Russian-Ukrainian border. The reason for the decision was another escalation in Donbas. But Moscow’s reaction was unequivocal: Minsk accords do not presuppose any peacekeepers – exclamation mark.

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EU divided over calls to block Turkey’s bid

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European Union member countries are presenting a divided picture on whether to continue full membership talks with Turkey. Strongest opposition to Merkel’s call came from Paris, as President Emmanuel Macron stated that ties with Turkey should continue despite the fact that the Turkish government has failed to meet EU democratic and human rights norms of late. Merkel’s appeal received positive response from Austrian Foreign Minister Sebestian Kurz, who has long been an advocate of suspending talks with Turkey, and from the Netherlands Foreign Minister Bert Koenders. On the other hand, Finland and Lithuania similarly spoke out against breaking off negotiations.

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Turkey to deliver 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Rohingya in 2nd batch, Erdoğan says

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Turkey will distribute 10,000 tons of aid to Rohingya Muslims after initially delivering 1,000 tons, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Wednesday. The president underscored that there is an attempt to remain silent and push the Rakhine crisis under the carpet and added that the intensity of the crisis can be seen through the fact that none of the humanitarian groups have been allowed to deliver aid. “The world has witnessed enough of pain and suffering. We will continue to be the voice of Rakhine’s Muslims, to help them,” Erdoğan added, reiterating his call to end the violence and to find a permanent solution to the Rohigya issue. The president vowed to bring up the Rohingya issue during Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Kazakh capital Astana, which will take place between September 7-11, and during the U.N. General Assembly set for September 20 in New York.

 

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Aid Enters Syrian Town After Is Siege Breached

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Syria’s state news agency says a convoy of 40 trucks carrying 1,000 tons of humanitarian aid has arrived in Deir el-Zour after troops secured a corridor to the eastern city. The land convoy is the first since Syrian government forces and allied militiamen breached a nearly three-year-old siege by the Islamic State group on government-held parts of the city on Tuesday. The convoy reached a garrison on the southwestern edge of the city Thursday, carrying thousands of food baskets, fruits and vegetables, medicine, school books and stationary.

 

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