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Putin says US ‘hasty’ Afghan exit ‘more like an escape’

By
IFP Media Wire
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US Forces Afghanistan

“The urgent task facing our organization is to pursue a single and coordinated policy based on the assessment of serious risks related to the mounting tensions in Afghanistan following the hasty withdrawal – if not more like a downright escape – by US and NATO troops from the country,” Putin emphasized, addressing the Dushanbe-hosted Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit via video link.

According to the Russian leader, the developments in Afghanistan are clearly affecting the security interests of SCO nations. He also added that a number of the organization’s members shared borders with Afghanistan.

“I think that first of all, we need to employ the organization’s potential to facilitate the launch of an inclusive intra-Afghan peace process in every possible way and at the same time, make every effort to block the threats of terrorism, drug trafficking and religious extremism emanating from this country,” Putin stated.

He also called for encouraging the new Afghan authorities to make good on their promises.

“The change of government [in Afghanistan] has been practically bloodless, which is, undoubtedly, a positive thing. The Taliban now control almost all of Afghanistan so the new Afghan authorities should be encouraged to fulfill their own promises to establish peace, normalize public life and guarantee security for all,” the Russian head of state stressed.

Putin emphasized that it was symbolic that the SCO’s 20th anniversary summit was taking place in Dushanbe, the city where the leaders of the Shanghai Five nations had supported the establishment of a regional organization for multilateral cooperation back in July 2000.

According to Putin, the SCO has been working successfully throughout its 20-year existence.

“The SCO is rightfully considered to be one of the most influential centers of the multipolar architecture of international cooperation, it contributes a lot to ensuring security in Eurasia and its sustainable socio-economic growth, along with efforts to maintain global peace and stability in general,” the Russian leader noted.

Source: TASS

EU lawmakers call for Lebanon sanctions over ‘corruption’, ‘Beirut blast’

By
IFP Media Wire
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In a vote on Thursday, 571 out of 681 members of European Parliament backed the resolution, which condemned Lebanese political parties for the country’s devastating economic crisis, which has plunged about three-quarters of the population into poverty and for delaying any semblance of economic recovery and accountability.

The resolution, spearheaded by parliamentarian Christophe Grudler, who belongs to the Renew Europe bloc, urged the EU to maintain pressure on political leaders in Lebanon, where a government was formed last week following more than a year of political deadlock.

“We know who is responsible for the political and the economic crisis: all factions, most ministries, many corrupted MPs,” Grudler told Al-Jazeera, adding, “We are writing black and white what everyone in Lebanon knows.”

The resolution notably condemned the rejection of an IMF-approved bailout plan presented by the previous Lebanese government.

It said Lebanese legislators and political leaders rejected the plan as a result of “vested interests in preserving the interests of Lebanon’s banks”, and stalled a forensic audit of the Central Bank while its governor, Riad Salameh, is being investigated by France for money laundering.

The resolution also slammed officials for obstructing the Beirut Port explosion investigation, and echoed calls from international rights groups Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, and from some victims’ families, for an international and independent fact-finding mission.

In late July, the EU adopted a legal framework to sanction Lebanese officials engaged in corruption, stalling of economic and accountability reforms, as well as obstructing government formation.

Lebanon last week formed a full-fledged government for the first time in over a year under Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

Grudler noted that all eyes are on the Beirut Port explosion investigation and the economic recovery process.

“We call on all EU Member States, and the UK and Switzerland, to work together and put on the EU sanctions list the names of high-level corrupted politicians, who obstruct the investigation of the explosion, who obstruct the recovery plan,” Grudler said, adding, “We have to freeze the assets and ban the travel of key political figures, at the EU level. We have to listen to the Lebanese people.”

The resolution also called for general elections to be held on time in May 2022 and the creation of an international humanitarian task force under the auspices of the United Nations to ensure that aid distribution is effective and protected from political patronage networks, in order to improve donor confidence.

The resolution is a departure from previous softer efforts to lobby Lebanese officials.

Following the devastating Beirut Port explosion in August 2020, French President Emmanuel Macron has tried to press Lebanese officials into resuming talks with the IMF, and implementing economic reforms, but to no avail.

Imad Salamey, associate professor of Middle East political affairs at the Lebanese American University, says the strongly-worded resolution from Europe is an attempt to “reassert its negotiation leverage and position of power”.

“I think, in general, the European Union led by France in particular … is trying to display a strong stance and ability to penalise those who defy its guidance,” Salamey told Al-Jazeera.

“It also sends a strong message to Lebanese politicians that Europe remains a key player and has not evicted the country to the interests of Iran or Syria,” Salamey added.

The Lebanese government has yet to comment on the resolution.

Schams El Ghoneimi, political adviser for the Renew Europe bloc in the European parliament, told Al-Jazeera that the resolution could signal a potential EU policy shift towards Lebanon.

“We went from statements calling for reforms to an EU sanctions regime against those who obstruct anti-corruption reforms in Lebanon,” he continued.

The resolution could create the political space for European countries to take more hardline stances and measures against the Lebanese authorities for corruption, and for stalling reforms and accountability mechanisms, he added.

US okays $500m copter maintenance deal with Saudi Arabia

By
IFP Media Wire
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Six UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters assigned to U.S. and Saudi Arabian forces approach the final objective during Friendship and Ironhawk 3, a two-week military-to-military exercise at the Tactical Training Center in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, April 14. The exercise allowed the Soldiers assigned to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division and 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade of the New York National Guard to share tactics, techniques and procedures at the platoon, company, battalion and brigade level in order to improve interoperability and strengthen ties with their Saudi counterparts.

Despite the deal being a continuation of a prior agreement, the US package includes maintenance support services for helicopters, including Saudi Arabia’s Apache and Black Hawk helicopters, as well as a future fleet of CH-47D Chinook helicopters.

“This proposed sale will support US foreign policy and national security objectives by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic growth in the Middle East,” the State Department announced.

Washington said the deal would also help improve Saudi Arabia’s capability “to meet current and future threats”.

The deal will also aid in maintaining Saudi Arabia’s rotary-wing aircraft fleet, engines, avionics, weapons, and missile components, the State Department added.

“Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces,” it continued.

The deal has been sent to Congress for review and approval.

Thursday’s announcement comes after the Joe Biden administration froze weapons sales to Saudi Arabia shortly after taking office.

Biden also halted US support to “offensive operations” in Yemen in support of Saudi Arabia while removing the Iran-backed Houthis from the terror blacklist.

Last week, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia and meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The visit was rescheduled at the last minute due to a scheduling conflict.

Source: Al-Arabiya

China rules out foreign interference in countries’ affairs

By
IFP Media Wire
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Countries should be firmly supported to explore their own development paths and models of governance suited to their domestic conditions, Xi stated

“The future of our country’s development and progress should lie firmly in our own hands,” he added.

Xi was addressing a meeting of the heads of state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Tajikistan via video link.

Source: Reuters

Raisi: Unilateralism on the decline globally

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Raisi was addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s summit in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe on Friday.

He said today, the world has entered a new stage and unilateralism is on the decline globally. The world order is shifting toward a bipolar system and redistribution of power among independent countries.

Raisi however noted that the world is now being threatened by domination, terrorism, extremism and separatism.

The Iranian president said peace and development are possible through cooperation among key regional countries and that strengthening infrastructural links between different nations plays an important role in this regard.

Raisi also added that the belt and road initiative, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the North-South Corridor, as key projects, can play a key role in strengthening mutual interests of developing countries and regional peace.

The Iranian president further spoke of the Covid pandemic, saying the challenge is not only endangering the health of people around the world but it also has economic, social and security ramifications.

He also thanked the SCO’s members, China, Russia and India for their help with the global vaccination.

Raisi said Iran believes any action to hamper efforts toward global vaccination under the pretext of sanctions is a violation of human rights and a crime against humanity. He likened sanctions to economic terrorism, which he described as an obstacle to regionalism and convergence. In other comments, Raisi said Iran helped Iraq and Syria in their battle against terrorism and is ready to assist the SCO’s members in tackling the threat.

On Afghanistan, Raisi said the US is fully responsible for the dire situation in the country.

Regional countries must join hands and help Afghans overcome their problems. And other countries must only play the role of facilitators in this regard because only Afghans themselves must decide their future without foreign interference.

Turning to the Iran nuclear deal and the Vienna talks, the Iranian president said no one can stop Iran’s nuclear program as all atomic activities of the Islamic Republic are within the confines of international law.

Raisi urged the SCO’s member to not recognize the US’s anti-Iran sanctions, saying the removal of sanctions is an inalienable right of the Iranian people.

Iran becomes full SCO member

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

The SCO made the unanimous decision to give Iran full membership at its 21st summit in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe on Friday.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi thanked members of the organization for their unanimous vote.

“We hope that the Shanghai Organization which has succeeded in quickly gaining a prominent regional and international position, will continue on its ascending path,” the Iranian president said in a speech to the summit.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization now comprises of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran as the permanent member states.

Iran had an observer status at the Eurasian political, economic and security alliance since 2005.

Iran Berates GCC Statement on Three Persian Gulf Islands

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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khatibzadeh-Iran

“The three Persian Gulf islands of the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa definitely belongs to Iran, and annoying and threadbare statements issued in this regard will not change Iran’s eternal ownership of the islands,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran rejects any interference in its peaceful nuclear and missile programs as well as issues pertinent to its defense policies,” the spokesman added.
Khatibzadeh once again underscored the priority that Iran, especially of the 13th administration, attaches to the enhancement of cooperation and relations with all neighbouring countries without foreign intervention.
He expressed hope the few GCC member states which seek to impose their anti-Iran viewpoints will change tack and pay attention to intra-regional talks and adopt confidence-building measures to give diplomacy a shot in the arm rather than focus their attention beyond the region and make impractical demands to countries outside the region.
“The GCC should know that making unacceptable demands, levelling baseless accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran and rehashing threadbare statements are not the solution to the problems facing the region and these countries,” he added.
“Rather, the region needs a paradigm shift to rid itself of outside dependence and turn to constructive intra-regional interaction and go for inclusion rather than exclusion,” he noted.

France says Biden acted like Trump in submarine deal with Australia

By
IFP Media Wire
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“This brutal, unilateral and unpredictable decision reminds me a lot of what Mr. Trump used to do,” Le Drian told franceinfo radio, according to the wire service.

“I am angry and bitter. This isn’t done between allies,”he added.

The U.S., Australia and the United Kingdom on Wednesday established a new trilateral security partnership in the Indo-Pacific. The three planned to launch an 18-month review exploring how Australia could best acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

In the process, however, France was left behind.

France had worked on the submarines since 2016, when Australia had selected Naval Group, a French shipbuilder, to build $40 billion worth of subs to replace their two-decade-old ones, Reuters reported. Australia even reconfirmed the deal with France just two weeks ago.

“It’s a stab in the back,” Le Drian said of the new deal, according to the news outlet.

“We created a relationship of trust with Australia and that trust has been broken,” he stated.

While Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron did not have a strong relationship, some diplomats say that there have been concerns about Biden’s relationship with EU allies.

On Wednesday, Biden called France a “key partner in the Indo-Pacific”.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a statement that the country looked forward to continuing to work “closely and positively” with France, adding that “France is a key friend and partner to Australia and the Indo-Pacific”.

The New York Times reported French officials on Thursday canceled a gala at the country’s Washington, D.C., embassy over the Biden administration’s decision.

Paris has angrily scrapped the “240th Anniversary of the Battle of the Capes” event meant to take place Friday evening at the French embassy and aboard a French frigate in Baltimore, a French official told The Times.

The event was meant to celebrate the French navy’s aid to America’s fight for independence in 1781.

Following the perceived snub, France’s top naval officer, who had traveled to Washington for the gala, will now return to Paris early.

Asked about France’s displeasure later on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that the United States values its relationship and partnership with France “on a variety of issues facing the global community”.

She cited cooperation on economic and security issues and the coronavirus pandemic, and maintained that the Biden administration was engaged with French officials “in advance of the announcement”.

Psaki also indicated that Biden would speak with Macron “soon” but added she had no calls with French officials to preview.

Asked later what Biden thinks about the French foreign minister comparing him to Trump and the French cancelling the gala, Psaki answered that Biden “doesn’t think about it much” and that he is focused on maintaining the U.S. relationship with France, the U.K. and Australia.

She also noted a handful of times that it was Australia’s decision to seek nuclear-powered submarine technology.

Biden is slated to deliver remarks at the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. Psaki wouldn’t say whether Biden has plans to meet with Macron on the sidelines of the annual event.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken also on Thursday sought to assure France, stating it was a vital partner, according to remarks made after he spoke with Australian foreign and defense ministers in Washington, Reuters reported.

Dutch FM steps down over Afghanistan crisis

By
IFP Media Wire
-

Kaag has resigned from her post amid criticism of the country’s handling of evacuations from Afghanistan.

MPs in the Netherlands passed a motion of censure against both Kaag and Defense Minister Ank Bijleveld on Thursday for failing to ensure the safe passage of dozens of Afghan personnel out of the country following the Taliban takeover.

A day earlier, Kaag had acknowledged that some local embassy staff and translators for Dutch troops had not been evacuated from Kabul. She stated that this was due to the government’s muddled response to warnings about the situation on the ground.

After the motion was passed Thursday, Kaag immediately said she would tender her resignation, noting parliament had decided that “the Cabinet has acted irresponsibly”.

“I can only accept the consequences of this judgment as the minister with ultimate responsibility,” she said in a short resignation speech, adding, “I can do no more than accept the consequences. The minister must go if the policy is rejected.

“The commitment to Afghanistan continues, even without me. I am convinced that the staff of the Dutch Foreign Ministry will continue their excellent work unabated,” she continued.

Kaag is also the leader of liberal democratic party D66 and is involved in drawn-out talks on forming a new coalition government that have run since the general election in March. She took on the foreign ministry brief in May, having previously served as trade minister.

A total of 1,673 people were evacuated by the Netherlands before the operation ended on August 26. They included more than 700 Dutch nationals, close to 600 Afghans who worked with Dutch forces and diplomatic missions, and others considered at-risk such as activists and journalists.

Don Ceder, a member of the faith-based Christian Union, had stated earlier on Thursday that his party supported the motions against Kaag and Bijleveld because the government had “failed to show decisiveness, to show compassion, to pick up on signals and ultimately to take responsibility for people for whom we bear responsibility”.Bijleveld is still in post.

Source: Euro News

Putin: Iran’s membership in SCO to increase its authority

By
IFP Media Wire
-

“All of us attach much importance to the SCO’s cooperation with the countries that seek to build open and equal dialogue with our organization and are considering the possibility of joining its activities,” the Russian head of state pointed out.

“In this regard, Russia supports the decision to start Iran’s SCO membership process, which has been submitted for approval to the SCO Council of Heads of State,” Putin added, addressing an SCO summit via video link on Friday.

“We have always been in favor of Iran’s full-fledged participation in the organization’s work because the country plays an important role in Eurasia and has long been fruitfully cooperating with the SCO,” the Russian leader emphasized.

According to Putin, “Iran’s SCO accession will undoubtedly contribute to enhancing the organization’s international authority.”

Source: TASS

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