Japan Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs visits Iraq’s Baghdad, Basra

Japan Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs visits Iraq’s Baghdad, Basra
Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Takagi Kei visited Iraq's Baghdad and Basra from Nov. 1-4. (Supplied)
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Updated 07 November 2022

Japan Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs visits Iraq’s Baghdad, Basra

Japan Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs visits Iraq’s Baghdad, Basra
  • Takagi participated in the 46th Baghdad International Fair held for the first time in four years

DUBAI: Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Takagi Kei visited Baghdad, the capital of the Republic of Iraq, and Basra Governorate in the south of the country from Nov. 1-4.

On Nov. 2, Takagi participated in the 46th Baghdad International Fair, which was held for the first time in four years. He delivered an opening speech and participated in the ribbon-cutting at the Japan Pavilion on “Japan Day.”

Many Iraqi guests, including Atheer Daoud, Minister of Commerce of the Republic of Iraq, and Hummam Ahmed AbdulJabbar, Dirctor General of the State Company for Iraqi Fairs and Commercial Services, attended the “Japan Day” event.

Takagi met with Mohammed Al-Sudani, Prime Minister of Iraq, and exchanged views on the friendly bilateral relations and the regional situation.

During the meeting, Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister welcomed the fact that Iraq overcame the difficult political situation and formed the new government almost a year after the election of the Iraqi Council of Representative last October.

He also expressed his hopes that the new government would play an important role towards the stability in the Middle East region and economic reforms in Iraq.

In response, Prime Minister Al-Sudani expressed his gratitude for the support from Japan over the years and emphasized that the new government intends to strengthen the stability and safety of Iraq and promote economic reforms.

Takagi also met with Omar Al-Barazanchi, Undersecretary for Administrative, Technical and Legal Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq and exchanged views on bilateral relations and cooperation between Japan and Iraq.

On Nov. 3, the Japanese official visited Basra Governorate in southern Iraq. He attended the completion ceremony of “Hartha Thermal Power Station Rehabilitation Project” and “Basrah Water Supply Improvement Project,” which are symbolic projects of Japan’s assistance to Iraq via ODA loans.

Takagi noted that Japan’s assistance has contributed to improving the lives of the Iraqi people and presented his compliments to the efforts of the people involved from both countries. Ziyad Fadhel, Minister of Electricity of Iraq, who participated in the ceremony of Hartha Thermal Power Station, expressed his appreciation for Japan’s assistance in providing the stable supply of electricity.

He also participated in the dinner hosted by Dargham Abdul Wahed, Second Deputy Governor of Basra, and exchanged views on activities of Japanese companies in Basra Governorate.

Japan’s Ambassador to Iraq Matsumoto Futoshi was part of Takagi’s delegation. 

 

 


Houthis abduct 17 Baha’is in Sanaa raid: HRW

Houthis abduct 17 Baha’is in Sanaa raid: HRW
Updated 18 sec ago

Houthis abduct 17 Baha’is in Sanaa raid: HRW

Houthis abduct 17 Baha’is in Sanaa raid: HRW
  • Human Rights Watch: ‘The Houthis have systematically violated the rights of minorities in Yemen’
  • UN expert: Militia engaging in ‘persistent pattern of persecution’ of Baha’is

LONDON: Yemen’s Houthi militia detained and disappeared 17 people belonging to the Baha’i faith in the capital Sanaa on May 25, Human Rights Watch reported.

The religious minority has faced significant persecution under Houthi rule, with the Baha’i International Community, the faith’s world body, saying its members were deliberately targeted in the raid.

The abductions took place during an annual meeting by Yemeni Baha’is to elect members to their national body.

The 17 people were joined by other attendees via Zoom, one of whom described the incident to HRW based on footage he witnessed and recorded in the video call.

About 15 minutes into the meeting, he said, a loud bang, which “sounded like a door being knocked in,” shook the room.

The attendees “looked frightened and stood up,” and were then met by four armed Houthis who had entered the room and forced everyone to sit.

“I heard screaming and crying voices in the background. I saw their faces … They were shocked and some of them automatically raised their hands,” he said.

One of the Houthis then closed the laptop in the room, ending the footage of the event. The Baha’i International Community said all 17 people present in the meeting were detained and transported away, with Houthi authorities refusing to respond to requests for information on their whereabouts.

Niku Jafarnia, Yemen and Bahrain researcher at HRW, said: “Houthi authorities’ flagrant targeting of Baha’i solely on the basis of their religious beliefs is a clear violation of their human rights.

“They (the Houthis) should immediately reveal the condition and whereabouts of the detained Baha’i, release everyone detained solely for the peaceful religious practice, and respect the rights of all Yemenis to freedom of expression and belief.”

Ahmed Shaheed, the UN expert on freedom of religion, previously warned that the Houthis were engaging in a “persistent pattern of persecution” of Baha’is.

He noted that Abdel Malik Al-Houthi, the militia’s leader, had referred to Baha’is as “infidels” and “urged Yemenis to defend their country from the Baha’is and members of other religious minorities,” in a 2018 speech.

The raid on May 25 was the latest in a series of targeted attacks against Baha’is in Houthi-controlled areas across Yemen, HRW said.

In 2016, the militia raided a conference hosted by the faith in Sanaa and arrested more than 60 people.

Two years later, at least 22 Baha’is were charged with espionage and apostasy in a Houthi court, with the cases still remaining active.

The Baha’i member who spoke to HRW about the latest raid said many Yemenis of his faith were “forced to relocate to new houses, sometimes to new cities,” and that they have been forced to “keep a low profile.”

Jafarnia said: “The Houthis have systematically violated the rights of minorities in Yemen and show no sign of letting up on the pressure.

“The international community should stand in solidarity with the Baha’i community and exert pressure on the Houthi authorities to release the detained people immediately.”


Blast at Palestinian base in Lebanon kills five: security source

Blast at Palestinian base in Lebanon kills five: security source
Updated 31 May 2023

Blast at Palestinian base in Lebanon kills five: security source

Blast at Palestinian base in Lebanon kills five: security source
  • Palestinian group accused accused Israel of carrying out “overnight raids” at the base in Qusaya
  • Israel denied any involvement

BEIRUT: Five fighters from a pro-Syrian Palestinian militant group were killed in an accidental explosion at a base in eastern Lebanon, a Lebanese security source said Wednesday.
A spokesman for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) instead accused Israel of carrying out “overnight raids” at the base in Qusaya, near the Syrian border. Israel denied any involvement.
“An old rocket exploded in an arms depot on the base and five fighters were killed,” the security source said, requesting anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media.
The Damascus-based group has close ties with the Syrian government and its main Lebanese ally Hezbollah, and has bases in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley.
PFLP-GC spokesman Anwar Raja said Israel had carried out “overnight raids” on the base.
“Five fighters were killed,” he told AFP, adding that “for now we do not have more detailed information on the operation.”
The Israeli military, however, denied any involvement in the deadly blast.
“This is not IDF (Israeli army) activity,” a spokeswoman told AFP.
In August 2019, suspected Israeli strikes targeted the PFLP-GC in Qusaya.
In July 2015, a security official said a blast at a PFLP-GC base in Qusaya wounded seven people, while the Palestinian group blamed it on an Israeli strike.


Sudanese army suspends talks over cease-fire — diplomatic source

Sudanese army suspends talks over cease-fire — diplomatic source
Updated 31 May 2023

Sudanese army suspends talks over cease-fire — diplomatic source

Sudanese army suspends talks over cease-fire — diplomatic source

DUBAI: Sudan’s army has suspended talks over a cease-fire and enabling humanitarian access, according to a Sudanese diplomatic source, raising fears of fresh bloodshed.
The talks with the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in early May and had produced a declaration of commitments to protecting civilians and two short-term cease-fire deals that had been repeatedly violated.
The army and the RSF had agreed to extend a week-long cease-fire deal by five days just before it was due to expire late on Monday.
The truce was brokered and is being remotely monitored by Saudi Arabia and the United States, which say it has been violated by both sides but has still allowed for the delivery of aid to an estimated 2 million people.
The war has forced nearly 1.4 million people to flee their homes, including more than 350,000 that have crossed into neighboring countries.
Areas of the capital have been hit by widespread looting and frequent cuts to power and water supplies. Most hospitals have been put out of service.
The United Nations, some aid agencies, embassies and parts of Sudan’s central government have moved operations to Port Sudan, in Sudan’s Red Sea state, the main shipping hub which has seen little unrest.
Leaders of the army and the RSF had held the top positions on Sudan’s ruling council since former leader Omar Al-Bashir was toppled during a popular uprising in 2019. They staged a coup in 2021 as they were due to hand leadership of the council to civilians, before falling out over the chain of command and restructuring of the RSF under the planned transition.


UN says new dynamic on Syria could create ‘much-needed momentum’ for progress

UN says new dynamic on Syria could create ‘much-needed momentum’ for progress
Updated 31 May 2023

UN says new dynamic on Syria could create ‘much-needed momentum’ for progress

UN says new dynamic on Syria could create ‘much-needed momentum’ for progress
  • Real action must now match recent diplomacy, urges envoy Geir Pedersen
  • Safe return of refugees and fate of missing, detainees remain critical issues

NEW YORK: The recent diplomatic moves on Syria need to be matched with real action, the UN special envoy for Syria told a Security Council meeting on Tuesday.

Geir Pedersen said the Syrian people continue to suffer “on a massive scale,” and “while they have observed recent diplomatic developments, they have not yet seen any improvement in the reality of their lives, whether they live inside Syria or outside Syria.”

Only “confidence building (measures) on the ground” and the resumption of the political process to end the war would signal that “the current opportunity has been seized.”

Pedersen welcomed the recent dialogues with the Syrian government that took place in Amman, Jeddah and Moscow, which focused on several key issues. These include the humanitarian situation and safe access for aid delivery, a dignified and voluntary return of refugees, reconstruction, restoring Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and countering terrorist groups.

He said these were all concerns at the heart of UN Resolution 2254 and “common attention to these themes and points could present a real opportunity to move forward.”

If such issues begin to be addressed, even if incrementally, Pedersen said this new dynamic could create a “much-needed momentum.”

He said he “can only welcome” the recent intensified regional consultations and work in the direction of finding ways in which to unblock progress on Syria.

“After all, even minimal progress on some issues of resolution 2254 would require the confidence and resources of many different players and serious actions too.”

This month has seen the Arab League officially welcome Syria’s government back into its fold. This ended over a decade of exile from the pan-Arab body over President Bashar Assad’s crackdown on protests which spiraled into a war that killed more than 500,000 people and displaced millions.

Pedersen said that he reiterated, during his engagements with Syrian, regional and international interlocutors, his appreciation of “the dangers of the status quo, both for the Syrian people and for regional and other actors, who want to curb instability emanating across Syrian borders, including from narcotics, and who continue to host millions of Syrian refugees.”

In order for there to be real confidence building and a serious resumption of the political process, however, Pedersen emphasized the importance of work toward a safe and dignified return of Syrian refugees, that takes into account their security and economic fears.

Attention to this issue is important “because it tells us that if the Syrian government were to start to address in a more systematic manner the protection concerns of the displaced, working closely with the United Nations, and if donors were to help the United Nations to do more to address the concerns all Syrians have about livelihoods, then this could help to do what we all say we want to do — build confidence, and begin to change realities on the ground for all Syrians — not only the displaced.

“It could help bring about movement towards a more safe, calm and neutral environment in Syria, and it could help alleviate hardship inside the country.”

The UN envoy also emphasized that addressing the fate of over 130,000 missing people and detainees in Syria’s prisons remains a “core issue for moving forward in Syria.”

“It is hard to see how there could be genuine confidence-building without some progress on this issue, which impacts nearly all Syrians and is fundamental to families, communities, and repairing Syria’s social fabric.”

He urged countries to support the UN’s efforts toward the establishment of an institution dedicated to the search for missing Syrians.

Ghada Eltahir Mudawi, deputy director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told the Security Council that Syria must remain a “global priority.”

Over 70 percent of Syria’s population is now in need of humanitarian assistance. For the first time in the history of the conflict, 15.3 million people, across every sub-district in Syria, are experiencing some degree of humanitarian stress, Mudawi said.

The twin earthquakes earlier this year have added to this dire humanitarian situation, displacing more than 330,000 people and leaving thousands more without access to basic services and livelihoods.

She called for greater solidarity and urged countries to increase humanitarian funding, adding that while efforts are ongoing to reach a political solution “we must ensure that the urgent needs of women, men and children of Syria — life-saving aid and early recovery — are prioritized and adequately resourced.”

“They are counting on your support to stay the course,” she told council members.


UAE left Combined Maritime Forces two months ago, foreign affairs ministry says

UAE left Combined Maritime Forces two months ago, foreign affairs ministry says
Updated 31 May 2023

UAE left Combined Maritime Forces two months ago, foreign affairs ministry says

UAE left Combined Maritime Forces two months ago, foreign affairs ministry says

DUBAI: The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) says the country is committed to peaceful dialogue and diplomatic engagement as a means of advancing the shared goals of regional security and stability, state news agency WAM reported on Wednesday.

The statement came as the ministry revealed it had withdrawn its participation in the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

“As a result of our ongoing evaluation of effective security cooperation with all partners, two months ago, the UAE withdrew its participation in the Combined Maritime Forces,” the statement explained.

According to the CMF website, the organization is a “multinational maritime partnership which exists to uphold the Rules-Based International Order (RBIO) by countering illicit non-state actors on the high seas and promoting security, stability, and prosperity across international waters.”

The UAE’s MoFA statement concluded that the UAE remained committed to responsibly ensuring the safety of navigation in its seas, in accordance with international law.

 

Joint land exercises have been taking place between the UAE and US. (WAM)

The news of the UAE’s withdrawal broke as its military took part in join exercises with the US, dubbed ‘Iron Union 19.’

The joint exercise, staged in the UAE, featured military scenarios aimed at strengthening joint coordination and to build combat readiness, as well as tactical proficiency.