Diplomacy Archives - Page 116 of 120

11 Jan

Turkish Defence Minister warns Syrian rebels against ‘provocation’ amid Ankara-Damascus thaw

Ankara, Jan 11 (IANS) Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar has warned Syrian opposition groups against "provocations" amid ongoing protests over normalisation talks between Ankara and Damascus. Akar pledged his country will not take any actions against the Syrian rebels, and urged them to remain calm and "act with this awareness," according to the semi-official Anadolu news agency. The Turkish Minister told reporters on Tuesday after a cabinet that the reconciliation efforts between the two neighbouring countries were "in good faith" and aimed to improve bilateral times and promote regional peace. "We hope that (the talks) develop through mutual negotiations and turn…

09 Jan

Iran, Pakistan call for setting up joint military task force

Tehran, Jan 9 (IANS) Top Iranian and Pakistani military commanders have called for establishing a joint military working group, the official IRNA news agency reported. The remarks were made in a phone conversation on Sunday between the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri and the newly-appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Pakistan Army Sahir Shamshad Mirza. Noting the good relations between the armed forces of the two countries and the development of defence and security cooperation especially on the common borders, Bagheri announced full readiness of the Iranian armed forces to speed…

08 Jan

Iran’s exports to Saudi Arabia witness rapid growth in 2022 amid detente: Report

Tehran, Jan 8 (IANS) Iran's exports to Saudi Arabia have increased dramatically in 2022 amid the two countries' efforts to ease tensions, Iran's IRIB news agency reported. Iran's customs administration on Saturday said during the period from the Iranian New Year that fell on March 21 to November 1, 2022, the value of Iranian exports to Saudi Arabia reached $14.71 million, which is a record high since Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2016. During the same period in 2021, the trade volume only stood at $42,000, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the IRIB report, the main exports include…

08 Jan

Embarrassment for Shehbaz Sharif as IMF rejects Pakistan’s claim its MD initiated telephone call

New Delhi, Jan 8 (IANS) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Sunday said that a call between Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took place on the request of the PM -- a statement that indicates Islamabad has not refrained from doing politics despite nearing default, media report said. "The call took place in response to a request by the Prime Minister of Pakistan to discuss the International Conference on resilient Pakistan," Esther Perez, the resident representative of the IMF confirmed to The Express Tribune. It is pertinent to note that on Friday an official handout released…

07 Jan

Guterres has strongly advocated issues for ‘Voice of South’: Spokesperson

United Nations, Jan 7 (IANS) The issues to be raised at next week's virtual Voice of the South Summit announced by India, align with matters that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been strongly advocating, according to his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. On Friday, India announced that the Voice of the South Summit with the expected participation of 120 countries will discuss global issues from the perspective of developing countries. Dujarric said that on the issues on its agenda, Guterres "has been very vocal about and flagging how much the developing countries have been hurt by the conflict in Ukraine, by the unequal…

07 Jan

India may have role in diplomacy to end Russia-Ukraine war: US State Dept spokesman

New York, Jan 7 (IANS) India may be among countries that can have a role in diplomacy to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine even though New Delhi and Washington may not see eye-to-eye on policy issues, State Department spokesman Ned Price said. "We do believe that countries like India, countries that have a relationship with Russia and with Ukraine may be in a position to help bring about dialogue and diplomacy that could one day put an end to this war," Price said on Friday while briefing foreign correspondents. "We have been in regular, close contact with India regarding what we can…

07 Jan

Israel announces sanctions against Palestinian Authority

Jerusalem, Jan 7 (IANS) Israeli security cabinet has announced a series of punitive measures against the Palestinian Authority. The move comes in response to the Palestinian Authority's request to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an advisory opinion on Israel's occupation of territories in the West Bank, Xinhua news agency reported. As part of the sanctions, revenues amounting to about $40 million from taxes Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority will be diverted to families of Israeli victims who were attacked by Palestinian assailants, according to the statement released by the Israeli Prime Minister's office. Additionally, Israel will…

06 Jan

Erdogan says he may meet Syrian President for peace

Ankara, Jan 6 (IANS) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he might meet his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad as part of the new normalisation process between the two nations. "We will bring our Foreign Ministers together and then, depending on developments, we will come together as leaders," Erdogan said at a party meeting on Thursday. "Our objective is to ensure peace and tranquility in the region, and to let peace prevail in the region," he added. On December 28, 2022, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and Head of the National Intelligence Organization Hakan Fidan met their Syrian counterparts Ali Mahmoud…

06 Jan

Russia to refrain from UNSC discussions over Syrian chemical weapons issue

United Nations, Jan 6 (IANS) Russia will refrain from the monthly UN Security Council discussions over the chemical weapons issue of Syria due to the "lack of substance" in the topic, said an envoy. "It is a pity that this year begins with another briefing on the Syrian chemical file. Those meetings are getting on nerves due to their complete lack of added value," Xinhua news agency quoted Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia's first deputy permanent representative to the UN, as syaing. Thursday morning's meeting on the Syrian nuclear weapons issue was the first open event of the Security Council for 2023. "Alongside…

05 Jan

Indian-American in House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries’ team

New York, Jan 5 (IANS) Indian-American Moh Sharma is part of the senior leadership team announced by Hakeem Jeffries, who was recently elected as the Democratic Party's leader in the new US House of Representatives. Sharma will join the team as director of member services, the Politico reported. She has served as a Senior Policy Advisor and the Director of Outreach and Member Services for the Committee on Small Business in the US House of Representatives under Ranking Member Nydia Velazquez. Sharma was previously a Legislative Aide for the Office of Congresswoman Judy Chu and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus…