Category: Key Issues

The Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg discussed on Monday the Russian aggression against Ukraine in a joint session gathering both EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs and EU Ministers of Defense.

The Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, and the Ukrainian Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov joined the beginning of the meeting via video conference and provided updates on the latest developments on the ground and Ukraine’s current priorities.

The two Ukrainian ministers said, “in addition to missiles and drones, Ukrainians have reported 7000 guided bombs fired by Russia in 4 months of this year, which is about 60 guided bombs a day, and there is constant shelling in the East, this is part of Putin’s strategy.” On the other hand, the ministers added, “it is clear that Ukraine lacks weapons for self-defense and to reject Russia’s aggression.” “There is a clear sense of urgency for the European Union and all Ukrainian allies to act, the ministers noted.

“The most important way of acting is provid
ing air defense batteries and ammunition for these batteries,” the ministers said.

Meanwhile, Josep Borrell, High Representative for EU Foreign Affairs underlined the importance of providing air defense systems and missiles to Ukraine and proposed to coordinate the urgent delivery of these items at EU level.

During the ministerial discussion, several member states showed their readiness to consider specific assistance or to contribute to existing initiatives such as the Czech one on ammunition, or the German one on air defense.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

The Iraqi Economic and Political Center called on the government to take advantage of the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to resolve many outstanding issues, the most important of which is the ‘water file.’

The center’s director, Wissam Hadmal Al-Hilu, said in a statement: “The Iraqi government must use the visit to clearly present all outstanding issues with Turkey, and work to produce positive results that are satisfactory to both parties and meet the aspirations of the Iraqis.”

Al-Hilu pointed to five important files: ‘the water file, the Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the development road, and the establishment of an economic city in southern Iraq, and entry visas for Iraqis to Turkey through the Gateway company.’

He explained: ‘The water issue is the main concern of the Iraqis, and this file is more important than the oil file at the present time, even though Turkey was harmed by the cessation of pumping Iraqi oil through the closed Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, which transports 500 thousand ba
rrels per day from the Kurdistan region to the port of Ceyhan in Turkey.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, arrived in Istanbul today, Monday, on an official visit to Turkey that will last 3 days.

During his visit to the Istanbul train station, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was subjected to angry mass protests, where hundreds of Turks gathered, denouncing Germany’s policy of supporting the Zionist entity and its crimes against the people of Gaza.

The Turkish protesters carried banners written in Turkish and German demanding that Steinmeier return to his country and that he is not wanted in Turkey, and other pictures, half of which were of the Turkish president and the other half of Hitler, in which Steinmeier resembled Hitler in criminality.

It is expected that the German President will face similar protests during his scheduled tour in Ankara, Gaziantep, and other cities that he is scheduled to visit during the next two days.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Sunday that his country is keen on the security environment in Africa’s Sahel is of strategic importance not only for the region but also for the entire African continent and beyond.

In a joint press conference, Fidan and Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug said that they discussed, during their meeting, the latest developments in the Sahel region and Gaza in Istanbul.

The two ministers delved into current developments in the Sahel region, regional issues and the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza.

The meeting also focused on the political and economic issues between the two nations and steps to strengthen and diversify cooperation.

Highlighting the serious security challenges facing the Sahel region and its significant transformation, was also tackled during the meeting.

Calling Mauritania’s role a stabilizing factor in the “volatile” Sahel region, Fidan said “our country prioritizes the establishment of peace, security, prosperity, and lasting sta
bility in the Sahel region.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Jordanian King Abdullah II stressed the importance of civilian safety in Gaza, and the delivery of humanitarian aid and support from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

King Abdullah II, in a phone call with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, discussed current developments in the region, the Royal Jordanian Court said in a statement on Sunday. The Jordanian King cautioned against the escalating danger in the region that threatens the peace between nations, calling on the international community to emphasize the importance of a permanent ceasefire to end the catastrophic humanitarian condition in Gaza.

Source: Kuwait News Agency