Day: March 17, 2024

ANKARA: The Gaza Strip is “catastrophic” according to a Doctors Without Borders (MSF) nurse working in the region. “The current situation in Gaza is catastrophic and words can’t describe it,” MSF wrote on X, citing Loay Harb who is working in northern Gaza. Harb said the group has no electricity, water, flour or internet connection, which has created instability for residents. “We are going through very difficult times due to the siege, poverty, and starvation,” he added. Harb is one of four remaining MSF staffers in Gaza City. He said the medical situation of patients is very complex and there are not enough beds and spaces. Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack led by Hamas in which 1,163 people were killed. More than 31,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, and 73,546 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities. The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displace ment amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.? Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide, and guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza. Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL: Russia on Sunday said that it took control of a village in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region. In a statement on Telegram, the Russian Defense Ministry said that troops captured the village of Myrne, located about 81 kilometers (50 miles) from the city of Zaporizhzhia. It further said that its forces also repelled an attack by the Ukrainian military near the village of Vodiane in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on the claims. Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL: Moldova on Sunday protested Russia’s “illegal” electoral activities in its breakaway Transnistria region, as well as in Ukrainian territories that are under the control of Moscow. “We strongly condemn Russia’s unauthorized electoral activities on the sovereign territory of Moldova in the Administrative Territorial Units of the Left Bank of the Nistru (the Dniester),” Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi said in a statement on X. Popsoi called on the international community to “uphold a rule-based order” and “denounce Russia’s actions.” He also expressed Moldova’s condemnation of the electoral activities conducted on Ukrainian territories controlled by Russia. “We firmly support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the internationally recognized borders,” he added. Three days of voting to elect Russia’s president began on Friday, with Vladimir Putin seeking a fifth term in office. The other three candidates include the New People Party’s Vladislav Davankov, the Liberal-Democrat Party of Russia's Leonid Slutsky and the Communist Party's Nikolai Kharitonov. Polling stations were opened in over 80 subjects of Russia, including the four Ukrainian regions illegally annexed by the country on Sept. 30, 2022 - Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia - as well as the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014. Russian Ambassador to Chisinau Oleg Vasnetsov announced last Tuesday that voting stations will also be opened in Moldova's breakaway Transnistria region. In response, Vasnetsov was summoned by the Moldovan Foreign Ministry, which protested the opening of polling stations contrary to its request and said Moscow “defies the norms and principles of international law and undermines the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova.” The breakaway Transnistria region which is internationally recognized as part of Moldova has been controlled by pro-Russian separatists since the early 1990s. Source: Anadolu Agency

ANKARA: NATO allies on Sunday completed the initial phase of the Exercise Steadfast Defender 24 in Poland, the "largest military exercise in Europe since the Cold War," according to the alliance. "Exercise Steadfast Defender 24, conducted in Poland with the participation of 24 countries including Türkiye has been successfully completed," the Turkish National Defense Ministry said on X. About 90,000 troops are to take part in the exercise “poised to test and refine NATO’s defence plans for reinforcing European defences against a near-peer adversary,” the alliance had said earlier in a statement before the drills began. “STEADFAST DEFENDER 2024 is designed to provide valuable insights for enhancing NATO’s defence plans, improving interoperability, efficiency, and resilience. “This effort aims to demonstrate NATO’s commitment to collective defence and send a robust message about its readiness to protect all Allies in the face of emerging threats,” the statement noted. “As tensions persist in Eastern Europe, this exercise sends a clear message that NATO is prepared to defend its members, its values, and uphold collective security in the Euro-Atlantic area,” the alliance underlined. According to the statement, the first phase of the exercise, between the end of January and mid-March, focused on "maritime reinforcement across the Atlantic and in the Arctic." The second phase from mid-February to the end of May shifts to "using deployed reinforcements across all domains, from the Arctic to the Eastern Flank." Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL: Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia is considering holding a referendum on joining Russia, a local official told Russian media on Sunday. “When we, together with Russia, come to this idea (about joining the Russian Federation), we will do it,” Alan Alborov, the head of the breakaway region’s parliament, told the state news agency RIA in response to a question about the possibility of holding a referendum on this matter. “We are discussing all these issues in close coordination with the Russian Federation, taking into account our bilateral relations and agreements,” Alborov said. In 2008, a five-day conflict broke out between Georgia and Russia over the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Tbilisi ultimately lost control of both regions, which Russia later recognized as independent states. In response, Georgia cut off diplomatic relations with Russia, prompting Switzerland to step in as a mediator. Both regions are still internationally recognized as Georgian territories. Source: Anadolu Agency

GENEVA: Demonstrations in support of Palestine were carried out Saturday in Germany and Switzerland to protest Israel's onslaught against the Gaza Strip. A large number of people gathered in the area near Sonnenallee Train Station in Berlin’s Neukölln district. Demonstrators marched to Hermann Square carrying Palestinian flags, banners and placards with messages that read: "Stop the genocide in Gaza", "Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine", "Ceasefire now" and "Freedom for Palestine." Some joined with pans, symbolic dolls and bags of flour to draw attention to hunger in Gaza. In Geneva, thousands gathered at Parc Des Cropettes Square to protest. Adam McBeth, a Scottish citizen, told Anadolu that he participated to show solidarity with Palestine and the Palestinian people. Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL: Gaza population is ‘on the verge of famine,” the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) warned on Sunday. “People in Gaza are on the verge of famine,” UNRWA said in a statement. “UNRWA needs to be able to reach as many people as possible with critical aid.” The UN agency said the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in Gaza “remains the most efficient and safest way.” “Safe, unimpeded and sustained access throughout the Gaza Strip is a matter of life and death,” it added. Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed nearly 1,200 people. More than 31,600 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, and nearly 73,700 others injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities. Israel has also imposed a crippling blockade on Gaza, leaving its population, particularly residents in the north, on the verge of starvation. The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into inte rnal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN. Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza. Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL: The European Commission chief on Sunday warned that Gaza is facing famine and called for a “rapid” cease-fire in the besieged Palestinian enclave. “Gaza is facing famine and we cannot accept this,” Ursula von der Leyen said at a joint news conference with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo. "It is critical to achieve an agreement on a cease-fire rapidly now that frees the hostages and allows more humanitarian aid to reach Gaza,” she added. Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on Gaza since a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed nearly 1,200 people. More than 31,600 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in the enclave, and nearly 73,700 others injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities. The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN. Isr ael stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza. Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL: Türkiye is striving to ensure peace and stability from the Black Sea to the Middle East, the country’s defense minister said on Sunday. “In a time when tensions are escalating and conflicts are increasing worldwide, as Türkiye, we are exerting intense efforts for peace and stability to prevail from the Black Sea to Africa, from the Middle East to the Caucasus,” said Yasar Guler during his speech commemorating the 18 March Gallipoli Victory and Martyrs Memorial Day. Guler said Türkiye has become an “effective actor” in ensuring global peace, and stability through multifaceted diplomacy under the leadership of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He added that the country has become an "indispensable member" of the negotiating table and the international security framework. “Instead of the limited and temporary operations in past, today we are conducting continuous and comprehensive operations aimed at eradicating the source of the terrorist threat, dealing significant blows to terrorist organi zations,” he said. “Had we not been present there now, attacks by these organizations against our country and people would have continued domestically, as they did before, and the current stability would not have been maintained,” the minister added. Guler reaffirmed Ankara's determination to combat terrorism with resolve and steadfastness for the sake of the country's peace and security. Türkiye’s persistent support to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Guler said Türkiye will continue to support the legitimate interests of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). “Just like before, we will continue to be present on the island for security, peace, and stability, and to support the legitimate interests of our brother, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, under all circumstances,” he pledged. “Simultaneously with our fight against terrorism, we are also resolutely protecting our rights and interests in our blue homeland. In this context, we continue our activities in Cyprus within the framewo rk of the Guarantee and Alliance Treaties, which are our national issues. I would like to stress once again that the confirmation of the acquired rights of our Turkish Cypriot brothers, namely sovereign equality and equal international status, is indispensable for us,” he added. He also urged his counterparts to abandon "outdated, status quo-oriented, and provocative rhetoric," and instead approach the resolution reasonably and logically, taking into account historical and current realities. Ankara aspires to maintain the process with Athens by fostering good neighborly relations, dialogue, and a positive agenda under the Athens Declaration framework, Guler said, adding that Türkiye will never compromise its national rights and interests in the pursuit of a peaceful solution. “Therefore, we emphasize the importance of adopting a constructive attitude and the necessity of refraining from statements that could harm the process,” the minister added. He said Türkiye prioritize maintaining the security environ ment and stability in the Caucasus, as well as promptly implementing projects that will contribute to the region's development. “With this understanding, we will continue to support our brotherly nation Azerbaijan with the principle of two states, one nation, standing united with them under all circumstances,” the minister vowed. Türkiye’s activities in the Mediterranean are continued intensively, he said, adding that the country, with the longest coastline in the Mediterranean, will maintain a principled stance in maritime jurisdiction areas, aiming to preserve equal sovereign rights and ensure “fair resource-sharing.” “On the other hand, we have taken and continue to take significant initiatives in the region via the agreement signed with our neighbor Libya in the Mediterranean,” he said. Türkiye supporting people in Gaza Türkiye has provided all necessary support and assistance, primarily through air transportation, for the people of Gaza's urgent medical, food, and humanitarian needs, Guler said. “I n recent times, our relations with Egypt have regained momentum and are progressing positively. Meanwhile, under the efforts of President Erdogan, we are actively engaged in initiatives to end the Israeli aggression and massacre in Gaza,” he said. He said the recently signed military cooperation agreement with Somalia is a valuable step towards enhancing the security and stability of the region, in addition to Ankara’s ongoing military training, assistance, and advisory activities in the area. “In Ukraine, as we mark the second year since the onset of the devastating conflict, Türkiye remains steadfast in its multifaceted efforts to bring about an end to the war, continuing with the same determination since the very beginning,” he added. Türkiye has “diligently, responsibly, impartially, and unwaveringly” adhered to the Montreux Convention in reducing tensions and maintaining balance in the Black Sea, and the country will continue to do so resolutely in the future, Guler said. “In addition to all of this, we contribute significantly to the establishment of security, peace, and tranquility in our heartland countries such as Qatar, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and many other regions,” the minister noted. Source: Anadolu Agency