Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (left), Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (centre) and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu shake hands after their meeting on Syria, in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday. The foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey on Tuesday said here they have agreed to make efforts at convening the first session of the Syrian Constitutional Committee in early 2019. — XINHUA/VNA PhotoViet Nam News GENEVA — Russia, Turkey, Iran and the United Nations voiced hope on Tuesday that a committee charged with writing a new Syrian constitution will start work early next year. The Damascus government, which is backed by Moscow and Tehran, has not yet agreed to the committee, saying it will only support a process that alters Syria’s existing constitution. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov - flanked by his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and Turkey’s Mevlut Cavusoglu - read a joint declaration after talks with UN … [Read more...] about Russia, Turkey, Iran renew push for new Syrian constitution
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Ukraine leader vows to bring home sailors captured by Russia
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (center of the table) talks with relatives of the sailors arrested after the seizure of their navy vessels by Russia. (MYKOLA LAZARENKO/UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP) "For me there's nothing more important than getting them out," Poroshenko told relatives of some of the 24 seamen taken by Russia last month. "All of Ukraine is now proud of your loved ones," he said during the emotional meeting in his office, hugging the captives' family members, some teary-eyed. Late last month Russia opened fire on and seized three Ukranian navy vessels as they tried to pass through the Kerch Strait from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov. The 24 Ukrainian crew members, three of whom were wounded, were detained. The incident was the most dangerous in years between the ex-Soviet neighbours, which have been locked in a confrontation since 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea and supported an insurgency in eastern Ukraine. More than 10,000 people have been … [Read more...] about Ukraine leader vows to bring home sailors captured by Russia
China and Russia call for easing of North Korea sanctions
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks at the United Nations Security Council meeting on North Korea. (Don EMMERT/AFP) Led by the United States, the Security Council adopted three sanctions resolutions last year aimed at depriving North Korea of revenue for its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a council meeting that the "positive developments" in relations between North and South Korea - combined with warmer US-North Korean ties - should lead to sanctions relief. Wang said the council should consider "in due course" a provision to "modify the sanctions measures in light of the DPRK's compliance." Russia backed China's call to consider a sanctions review. Declaring that sanctions should not become a form of "collective punishment," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov argued that it was time to send a positive signal to Pyongyang to encourage concessions. "Steps by the DPRK toward gradual disarmament should be followed by an easing of … [Read more...] about China and Russia call for easing of North Korea sanctions
Google fights French ‘right to be forgotten’ in EU court
Google clashed with France in a top EU court on Tuesday arguing it feared for freedom of speech if forced to apply Europe's "right to be forgotten" principle worldwide. Google told the top EU court it feared for freedom of speech if forced to apply Europe's "right to be forgotten" principle worldwide AFP/Lionel BONAVENTURE Google clashed with France in a top EU court on Tuesday (Sep 11) arguing it feared for freedom of speech if forced to apply Europe's "right to be forgotten" principle worldwide. "The court is hearing a wide range of testimonies today, which is highly unusual for a case like this," said a legal source at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, on condition of anonymity. The two sides are battling over a shock 2014 decision at the same court, that imposed a right for individuals, under certain conditions, to have references to them scrubbed from search engine results. The US tech giant firmly opposed the decision, but complied with the ruling by … [Read more...] about Google fights French ‘right to be forgotten’ in EU court
Russia says ‘has killed, will kill terrorists’ in Syria
Russia will continue to kill "terrorists" in Idlib and elsewhere in Syria to bring back peace, the foreign ministry said Thursday. A Russian Sukhoi Su-24 bomber lands at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, in the northwest of Syria, on December 16, 2015 "We have killed, we are killing and we will kill terrorists...whether that be in Aleppo, Idlib or other parts of Syria. Peace must return to Syria," said spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in comments reported by Russian agencies. "This is a question of our security," she added. Idlib, Syria's last major rebel stronghold, is held by a complex array of anti-regime fighters, many of whom have been blacklisted as "terrorists" by world powers. Sporadic bombardment has targeted armed groups on Idlib's fringes in recent days, with fresh Syrian artillery and Russian air bombardment of the southeast of the province on Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The attacks have prompted terrified residents to … [Read more...] about Russia says ‘has killed, will kill terrorists’ in Syria