Day: December 28, 2021

Libya’s House of Representatives (parliament) has proposed postponing the country’s presidential elections by six months.

The assembly held a session in the eastern city of Tobruk late Monday to discuss the polls, which were scheduled to take place on Dec. 24.

Acting Parliament Speaker Fawzi Al-Nuwairi presented several proposals by deputies on the polls, one of which called for delaying the vote by six months.

Last week, Libya’s High National Elections Commission proposed postponing the Dec. 24 polls by one month, citing obstacles hindering the holding of timely elections.

Al-Nuwairi demanded that the elections commission issues an explanation on the compelling reasons that prevented the elections from taking place

Meanwhile, the acting speaker said the parliament will ask the Presidency Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to restrict the movement and visits of foreign ambassadors in Libya, without further details.

On Friday, European countries and the US urged the Libyan authorities to decide on a final date for elections without delay.

In a joint statement, France, Germany, Italy, UK, and the US appealed to the Libyan authorities “to respect the aspirations of the people for prompt elections by swiftly determining a final date for the polling and issuing the final list of presidential candidates without delay.”

Libyan rival parties have been in disagreement over the voting timetable for the presidential and parliamentary elections to be held simultaneously or one after the other.

Libyans hope that the upcoming elections will contribute to ending an armed conflict that has plagued the oil-rich country for years.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The United Nations warned on Tuesday that human rights violations will not go on with “impunity” in war-torn Yemen.

We stress “that violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Yemen cannot continue with impunity,” UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said in a statement.

The UN envoy “denounced the recent major military escalation in Yemen”, and urged the warring sides “to immediately de-escalate”.

The ongoing “escalation undermines the prospects of reaching a sustainable political settlement to end the conflict in Yemen,” Grundberg warned.

Yemen has been engulfed by violence and instability since 2014, when Iran-aligned Houthi rebels captured much of the country, including the capital Sanaa.

A Saudi-led coalition aimed at reinstating the Yemeni government has worsened the situation, causing one of the world’s worst man-made humanitarian crises, with nearly 80% or about 30 million needing humanitarian assistance and protection, and more than 13 million in danger of starvation, according to UN estimates.

Since February, Houthi rebels have stepped up attacks to take control of the oil-rich Marib province, one of the most important strongholds of the legitimate government and home to the headquarters of Yemen’s Defense Ministry.

“The continued offensive on Marib and the continued missile attacks on the governorate are also resulting in civilian casualties, damage to civilian objects and mass displacement,” Grundberg said.

He also blamed the Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on Sanaa for causing loss of civilian lives and damage of “civilian infrastructure and residential areas.”

The UN diplomat decried the impact of the escalation on the humanitarian situation and reminded all sides that any indiscriminate attacks on civilians constitute “a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and must stop immediately.”

Grundberg expressed his dismay that the year 2021 “is ending on a tragic note for Yemenis, millions of whom are struggling with poverty, hunger and severe restrictions on their freedom of movement.”

He underscored his readiness to facilitate de-escalation of violence with all parties and “address urgent humanitarian needs, and enable a political process aimed at sustainably and comprehensively ending the conflict in Yemen.”

A recent United Nations report projected that by the year’s end, the death toll from the seven-year Yemeni conflict will reach 377,000.

Source: Anadolu Agency

China and Japan have agreed to establish a communications hotline between defense ministries after the two countries held virtual bilateral talks on Monday.

In a statement, the Chinese Defense Ministry said that two sides will establish a direct telephone line under the sea and air liaison mechanism “in a bid to build a constructive and stable bilateral relationship.”

The decision was made when Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe held video talks with Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi late Monday.

Pointing to the importance of Japan as China’s neighbor and “cooperative partner,” Wei told the Japanese counterpart: “China will firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”

The statement comes amid tensions between the countries over disputed islets in the East China Sea.

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan.

“The two sides should follow the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries to enhance strategic mutual trust, handle differences properly and achieve win-win cooperation,” the Chinese defense minister said.

The ministers discussed issues over the East China Sea, the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, Taiwan Strait, and other regional issues in the meeting that lasted for about two hours.

“Since there are (unresolved) issues with China, we need to try and keep having candid communication so we can promote exchanges and foster mutual understanding and confidence,” Kishi told reporters after the virtual meeting.

Japan expressed “extreme grave concern” over Chinese coast guard ships’ activities in waters surrounding the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands, which Beijing claims and calls Diaoyu, Kishi added.

However, the Chinese defense minister called on the two sides “to bear in mind the big picture of bilateral relations and make joint efforts to maintain stability in the East China Sea.”

“On historical issues, Japan should face history squarely and learn from history, which is the correct attitude and wise choice,” he told Kishi.

“The defense departments of both sides should strengthen high-level exchanges and practical cooperation, further expand the content of the sea and air liaison mechanism, jointly control risks, prevent the escalation of conflicts, and continuously improve the level of defense cooperation,” Wei said.

In a Twitter statement, the Japanese defense minister said he “opposed unilateral attempts to change the status quo”, referring to activities of Chinese vessels.

He also sought an explanation from the Chinese side on its new coast guard law which China implemented on Feb. 1.

The law allows the Chinese coast guard “to use weapons against foreign ships that it deems as illegally entering its waters.”

Source: Anadolu Agency

The UN on Tuesday denounced the recent military escalation in Yemen and expressed concern for the wellbeing of its two staff members detained in the capital Sanaa.

In a statement, the UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg called on the warring parties to immediately de-escalate.

“The escalation in recent weeks is among the worst we have seen in Yemen for years, and the threat to civilian lives is increasing,” Grundberg said.

“Airstrikes on Sanaa have resulted in the loss of civilian lives and damaged civilian infrastructure and residential areas,” he added.

The UN envoy said the continued offensive on Ma’rib and the ongoing missile attacks on the governorate resulted in civilian casualties, damage to civilian objects, and mass displacement.

Grunberg said that “2021 is ending on a tragic note for Yemenis,” with millions of people struggling with poverty, hunger, and severe restrictions on their freedom of movement.

He called for opening the Sanaa airport and removing the obstacles hindering Yemenis’ ability to move within or between governorates inside Yemen.

Grundberg also expressed his concern about sustained attacks against Saudi Arabia, resulting in civilian casualties and damaged civilian infrastructure.

Separately, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulayand UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said they are “deeply concerned” for the wellbeing of two of their staff members detained in early November in Sanaa.

“Although the two staff members remain in custody, the UN has not received information about the grounds or legal basis for their detention, or their current status, despite earlier assurances” by Houthis of their immediate release, they said in a statement.

Citing the privileges and immunity accorded to the UN staff under international law, the UN officials called for their immediate release.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Israeli military forces on Tuesday demolished a Palestinian house in the West Bank, in the latest demolitions in the occupied territory, according to its owner.

“Israeli authorities cited lack of a building permit for razing the house in the town of Jabal al-Sundas in Hebron,” Mohamed al-Atrash told Anadolu Agency.

The house demolition has triggered clashes between angry Palestinian residents and Israeli forces, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter on the ground.

The two-storey house was located in Area C, which is under Israel’s administrative and security control until a final status agreement is reached with the Palestinians.

Under the 1995 Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, was divided into three portions – Area A, B, and C.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), a total of 768 Palestinian structures in Area C and the occupied East Jerusalem have been demolished by Israel between January and November 2021.

Source: Anadolu Agency