EUROPE DIPLOMATIC

Ceuta: Spanish borders are EU borders

Brussels 18.05.2021 The European Council President Charles Michel expressed “full solidarity” with Spain after holding urgent talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who cancelled his trip to Paris to address with what he has described a “serious crisis” for both the Iberian country and the EU. Todo nuestro apoyo y solidaridad con España @sanchezcastejon…

Spain: Morocco migrant tactic

Brussels 18.05.2021 Some 6,000 undocumented migrants arrived illegally in the Spanish exclave city of Ceuta in North Africa on Monday 17 and Tuesday May 18, according to the central government’s delegate in the city. Government sources told Spanish news agency Efe that around 1,500 of the migrants may be minors, although their age still needs…

China monk on diplomatic mission

Brussels 17.05.2021 Rabban Bar Sauma left China in 1275, followed the Silk Road, and made his way to Baghdad, Constantinople, and France, meeting khans, kings, and a pope. The remarkable Bar Sauma was born in Zhongdu, China, in 1220. His ancestors were descendants of the Uighurs, a Turkic ethnic group from Central Asia. Bar Sauma…

Kremlin draws unfriendly states list

Brussels 17.05.2021 The Czech Republic and the United States have been put on Russia’s blacklist of unfriendly states because of their hostile steps against Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday, May 17. (Image: Moscow, Russia, photo Evgeny Grabovsky) The Czech Republic and the United States have been put on Russia’s blacklist of…

Russia chairs Arctic Council

Brusssels 17.05.2021 The climate change, human capital development and support for the low-numbered indigenous peoples will be the key topics the Arctic Council will address in 2021 – 2023. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has inked the concept of Russia’s chairing the organisation. The economic cooperation section will include topics of the shelf’s development and close…

Gaza: Hamas inside AP building

Brussels 16.05.2021 Israel shared intelligence with the US showing how Hamas operated inside the same building with Associated Press and Al-Jazeera in Gaza, officials in Jerusalem said on Sunday, 16 May. Israel showed US ‘smoking gun’ on Hamas in AP office tower, officials say https://t.co/0WrxNjgQgC — Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) May 16, 2021 Officials in more…

GAZA: EU diplomacy urgent meeting

16.05.2021 The EU top diplomat Josep Borrell has announced an extraordinary meeting of the Foreign ministers of the bloc to discuss the ways of contributing to the de-escalation of the situation in Gaza. The gathering of the top diplomats will take place via Video-Tele-Conferencing (TVC) on Tuesday 18 May. In view of the ongoing escalation…

Gaza: EU engaged in de-escalation efforts

Brussels 15.05.2021 The European Union is actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to contribute to defusing the ongoing violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Over the past days, High Representative for foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell has been continuing his outreach to support efforts to…

France: leadership vs. citizens

Brussels 14.05.2021 One year before the next presidential election, a new poll indicates that the 2017 duel Macron-Le Pen could be re-played again in 2022. Will in 2022 once again Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen compete at the polls in the second round of the presidential election? In 2017, Emmanuel Macron won against his…

Italy: Draghi reopens tourism

Brussels 14.05.2021 “Our goal is to reopen Italy for tourism, domestic and international,” Italy Prime Minister Mario Draghi said as he answered questions from Parliament on Wednesday, May 12. “The pandemic has had vast economic effects on the tourism industry and we’re working to get it going again as soon as possible and in maximum…