Comisia Europeană: Vizita lui Juncker în Rusia nu contravine politicii de sancțiuni a Uniunii Europene
May 30, 2016
Vizita pe care președintele Comisiei Europene, Jean-Claude Juncker, o va întreprinde luna viitoare în Rusia nu contravine politicii de sancțiuni a Uniunii Europene (UE) la adresa Moscovei, adoptată ca urmare a rolului Federației Ruse în conflictul din Ucraina, a declarat luni un purtător de cuvânt al executivului european, informează AFP.
Jean-Claude Juncker și Vladimir Putin în 2012
Cu toate acestea, preşedintele Comisiei Europene a provocat nemulţumiri la Washington, într-o serie de state membre UE şi chiar printre membrii echipei sale atunci când a anunţat ca doreşte să facă o vizită în Rusia, în luna iunie. Juncker doreşte să participe la Forumul Economic de la Sankt Petersburg, cunoscut drept un Davos în versiune rusă.
Purtătorul de cuvânt al preşedintelui Comisiei Europene a confirmat că acesta doreşte să meargă în Rusia în perioada 16-18 iunie pentru a “discuta cu conducerea rusă şi cu alţi participanţi la eveniment despre perspectiva UE asupra relaţiilor cu Rusia”.
Uniunea Europeană își menține politica de sancțiuni la adresa Rusiei și restricțiile vor fi ridicate doar dacă Moscova își va respecta angajamentele asumate în cadrul așa-numitelor Acorduri de pace de la Minsk cu privire la criza din Ucraina, a declarat luni, în cadrul unui briefing de presă, purtătorul de cuvânt al Comisiei Europene, Margaritis Schinas, care nu a vrut să spună dacă Juncker va avea o întrevedere tete-a-tete cu președintele rus Vladimir Putin.
Uniunea Europeană a impus prima dată sancțiuni la adresa Federației Ruse după ce Moscova a anexat peninsula ucraineană Crimeea, în martie 2014, și le-a înăsprit după ce Kremlinul a acordat sprijin forțelor separatiste proruse din estul Ucrainei, în războiul împotriva armatei ucrainene.
Potrivit unor surse diplomatice citate de Politico.eu, există temeri că o asemenea vizită ar întări poziţia Rusiei înaintea deciziei UE de a reînnoi sancţiunile economice împotriva Moscovei. În martie, o iniţiativă similară a Înaltului Reprezentant al UE, Federica Mogherini, a fost respinsă de miniştrii de Externe din ţările UE. Diplomaţi de la Bruxelles au spus pentru Politico.eu ca opiniile au fost foarte contradictorii atunci.Vladimir Putin şi ministrul de Externe Serghei Lavrov au început deja vizitele în ţările UE care ar putea susţine poziţia rusă de ridicare a sancțiunilor. Deocamdată, Ungaria şi Grecia.
Defense News
UK sales of arms to Israel hit record in 2017 – $294 million
LONDON/27.05.2018: United Kingdom’s defense contractors supplied Israel with record amounts of arms in 2017, The Guardian newspaper reported last Sunday.
According to the figures provided by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), in 2017 the UK sold arms to Israel worth 221 million pounds ($294 million), indicating a huge increase from 86 million pounds in 2016 and 20 million pounds in 2015, The Guardian outlet reported. According to the newspaper, the list includes equipment, small arms ammunition, missiles, weapon sights and sniper rifles.
Trump accepts offer to meet Kim Jong Un
U.S. President Donald Trump said he was prepared to meet North Korea’s Kim Jong Un in what would be the first face-to-face encounter between the two countries’ leaders and potentially mark a major breakthrough in nuclear tensions with Pyongyang. “A meeting is being planned,” Trump posted on Twitter. Trump had agreed to meet by May in response to Kim’s invitation.
The White House said Trump had agreed to the encounter. “He will accept the invitation to meet with Kim Jong Un at a place and time to be determined” said White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders.
Argentina Navy Chief fired after ARA San Juan submarine tragedy
ARGENTINA – Argentina has fired the head of its Navy a month after one of its submarines vanished with 44 crew members on board. Admiral Marcelo Eduardo Hipolito Srur was sacked by the country’s defence minister. The ARA San Juan was last heard from on November 15 when it reported a fire on board. A navy spokesperson said the message added that the issue was resolved. But it was still ordered to return to base at Mar del Plata.
The ARA San Juan has not been heard from since, despite a multi-national search effort some 250 miles off the Argentinian coast. Hopes for finding the submarine and its crew faded when the search passed 10 days, which was the amount of time the San Juan would have been able to sustain life with its limited oxygen supply.
U.S. Displays Weaponry It Says Proves Iran’s Influence
New UN report says investigators couldn’t definitively conclude missiles came from Iran. The U.S. for the first time publicly displayed what officials said were Iranian-made missiles, drones and other weaponry as proof of Tehran’s growing military influence in the Middle East.
At a hangar on an Air Force base in Washington, D.C.—where weapons remnants were on display— Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said the debris pointed to Iran’s threat to the region. Pentagon officials exhibited the weaponry to make their case that Tehran is actively fomenting instability, arming Houthi rebels inside Yemen who in turn have used the arms against American allies, particularly Saudi Arabia. Iran has denied that it arms the Houthis.
Olli Ruutu appointed Deputy Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency (EDA)
The EDA Steering Board today appointed Mr Olli Ruutu as next Deputy Chief Executive of the Agency. He will take up his duties in March 2018.
Mr Ruutu is currently the Deputy National Armaments Director at the Finnish Ministry of Defence and Director of the Materiel Unit at the Resource Policy Department. He chairs the Defence Administration Commercial Board and the Export Control Advisory Group and is also Deputy Chairman of the Defence Materiel Steering Group, as well as a member of the Defence Forces’ Technology Board and the Defence Administration’s Industrial Cooperation Group. Also Mr Ruutu worked at the EDA between 2009 and 2014, in the Strategy and Policy Unit.
Mattis visits India to ask more help in Afghanistan
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was in the Indian capital on Tuesday, marking the first visit to the country by a Cabinet-level official from President Donald Trump’s administration. In meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other officials, Mattis was expected to focus discussions on security in Afghanistan, military technology and a possible deal on fighter jets. Over the weekend, the US Defense Department said that the “US views India as a valued and influential partner.” Last month, Trump urged India to help more with security efforts in Afghanistan, as Washington steps up its own military campaign against Taliban insurgents who have gained ground. (AP)
North Korea fires second ballistic missile over Japan
North Korea has fired a ballistic missile across Japan, creating new tension in the region after its nuclear bomb test less than two weeks ago. The missile reached an altitude of about 770km (478 miles), travelling 3,700km before landing in the sea off Hokkaido, South Korea’s military says. It flew higher and further than one fired over Japan late last month.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his country would “never tolerate” such “dangerous provocative action”. South Korea responded within minutes by firing two ballistic missiles into the sea in a simulated strike on the North. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also condemned the launch and the UN Security Council will meet later on Friday, 15 September 2017, in New York at the request of America and Japan.
Libya will hold election next spring
Libya’s two main rival parties announced a cease-fire on Tuesday and said they intend to hold elections next spring after they met in Paris for negotiations mediated by French President Emmanuel Macron.
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