Day: April 18, 2024

ISTANBUL: Turkish building manufacturer Karmod announced Thursday the completion and delivery of a prefabricated military facility in the West African country of Nigeria. The building was constructed in the northern state of Kano and is the sixth military structure set up by the company in Nigeria. Abdullah Yuceer, general manager of Karmod, pointed to the durability of the prefabricated structures and their quick installation process, critical in military applications. "Prefabricated buildings are increasingly chosen for military projects due to their rapid production and assembly capabilities on site, leveraging cutting-edge technology," Yuceer was quoted as saying in the statement. "Our projects span across Africa, with significant undertakings in nations such as Somalia, Eritrea, Algeria, Congo, Kenya, Senegal, and Ghana," he added. The newly completed military facility in Kano is part of a broader series of projects previously executed in Nigeria's capital Abuja, as well as its most populous city of Lagos, and the states of Borno and Maiduguri, Yuceer added. Source: Anadolu Agency

It is our obligation to take urgent and decisive action to reverse challenges facing maritime ecosystems, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Dr. Maria Panayiotou, said, addressing the opening reception of the Commonwealth Ocean Ministers Meeting (COMM) in Pafos on Thursday evening. Panayiotou pointed out that climate change combined with overfishing, plastic pollution and habitat destruction are some of the major challenges that are rapidly degrading our marine environments. ''These threats not only endanger marine biodiversity but also jeopardize the livelihoods of coastal communities that depend on fishing and undermine the health and well-being of people around the world,'' she added. ''Addressing these challenges requires coordinated international efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to the impacts of climate change, and protect marine ecosystems and biodiversity,'' Panayiotou pointed out. ''As custodians of the oceans, it is our obligation to take urgent and decisive action to reverse these alarming trends. We shall work together to establish robust conservation measures, enforce sustainable fishing practices, and combat pollution at source,'' the Cypriot Environment Minister emphasised, noting that ''this requires a coordinated and multi-faceted approach, involving governments, civil society, the private sector, and local communities.'' ''At the heart of our efforts must be a commitment to promote ocean literacy and raise awareness about the importance of marine conservation. Education and public engagement are essential tools for inspiring action and fostering a culture of stewardship towards our oceans'' she said. ''In conclusion, let us reaffirm our commitment to the principles of sustainability, equity, respect to international law by implementing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and further cooperation as we strive to safeguard our oceans for generations to come. Together, we can create a future where our oceans thrive, and all life flourishes,'' she pointed out. In her address, the Shipping Deputy Minister, Marina Hadjimanolis, said that ''as a maritime nation, Cyprus acknowledges the immense value our seas and oceans hold, not only for our economy but also for our cultural identity''. She also expressed the conviction that intensified efforts are imperative to conserve marine ecosystems and safeguard marine life. "Cyprus recognises that the challenges our oceans are facing are monumental and cannot be tackled single-handedly by any nation," Hadjimanolis pointed out, adding that "Cyprus is a fully fledged maritime centre, comprised of a quality ship registry and a maritime cluster providing ship management services and numerous other shipping related services." Furthermore, the Shipping Deputy Minister stated that that the first National Maritime Spatial Plan was recently approved by the Council of Ministers and has already entered into force. "Through the Maritime Spatial Plan, the Republic aims to contribute to the sustainable development of the Blue Economy as well as the protection, preservation and improvement of the marine environment," she added. "It is envisaged that the plan will encourage investments in the marine waters of the Republic by creating predictability, transparency and clearer licensing rules," she pointed out. Hadjimanolis indicated that, "despite the current turbulent times and the various challenges we face, the Shipping Deputy Ministry stays firm in its commitment to navigating a course towards a more efficient, sustainable, and prosperous future for shipping and maritime affairs." Source: Cyprus News Agency

ANKARA: Palestine's representative at the UN Security Council on Thursday said granting Palestine a full membership in the UN "would alleviate some of the historical injustices endured by the Palestinian people," state news agency Wafa reported. Ziad Abu Amr, UN special representative of the observer state of Palestine, made his statement ahead of voting on the Palestine membership bid at the Security Council. Abu Amr said granting Palestine the full membership "would open broad prospects for achieving genuine peace and safeguarding the two-state solution." He stressed that "Palestinians, who faced the Nakba in 1948 and Israeli occupation in 1967, continue to aspire to exercise their right to self-determination and live freely, securely, and peacefully in an independent state, like all other peoples of the world." "The time has come for the Security Council to bear its historical responsibility by justly supporting the Palestinian people through adopting a resolution to accept Palestine as a full UN membe r." the Palestinian official said. The Palestinians are currently a non-member observer state, a de facto recognition of statehood that was granted by the 193-member UN General Assembly in 2012. The Security Council requires nine votes to pass a resolution for the 15-member group with a condition that none of the five permanent members -- the US, UK, France, Russia and China -- votes against it. The Palestinian application for full UN membership comes amid a deadly Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 33,900 victims since Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which claimed 1,200 lives. Source: Anadolu Agency

Cyprus government has expressed its satisfaction as regards the conclusions on the EU-Turkey relations adopted Wednesday, during the European Council Summit, and points out that Ankara is now responsible to make the next step. Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos speaking to the press Thursday, said that the outcome is really the materialization of the goal that was set by our side for linking the EU-Turkey relations with the Cyprus problem and a specific moment was picked as to make this effort a reality. He explained that this is the beginning of a process for Turkey which has specific conditions and prerequisites and it is based on an evaluative basis of criteria that have to do with both general obligations and obligations related to Cyprus, but also issues that concern the Republic, something that was also reflected in the recent conclusions. Kombos went on to say that Cyprus has made an important opening in this direction and now the Turkish side has to make a very specific choice. He said that we ha ve conveyed to our EU partners the message that the Republic of Cyprus has responded in a way to give a revival to the effort to resume the Cyprus talks. FM said that now the Turkish side has a choice either to go ahead and make the next step or to let things to affect the Euro-Turkish process. Replying to a question of how this connection with the Cyprus issue will be put in practical terms, given the six-month timetable that the Turkish side is giving to the UNSG special envoy's mission, Kombos said that the Borrell report on Turkey, which was the subject of the consultations in European Council, includes concrete steps in various sectors. He explained that this process is one that can now begin based on the way the European Union works adding that COREPER was assigned the task for the next steps, always within the framework of the competences of the EU institutions. Therefore, he continued, this effort begins, and each benchmark has requirements and one cannot expect that a period of time so short will be sufficient to have a conclusion on all the issues raised in the report. The Foreign Minister said that this was a principle that the Turkish side ardently pursued, and our side has now taken the position that we are willing to see all these possibilities that the report lists, which are within the framework of the way the EU operates, with the requirements and criteria that exist and apply to each of the cases. Replying to a question about the approval on Tuesday by the Plenary of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) of an opinion on the subject of Kosovo's accession to the Council of Europe (CoE), the Minister said that this is not a pleasant development for Cyprus and the illegal entity in the Turkish-occupied areas of the island. He went on to say that certainly is not a pleasant development for any side committed to the international law. He said however that it is a different case, if we take into account that the Kosovo side has been recognized. He said that last year when a voting took place for the commencement of the process, Cyprus voted against and so it did a few days ago in the voting to approve the report for Kosovo to join CoE. Our position, the Minister said, is firmed and cannot be changed as it is based on principles. He said however that a risk as regards our issue with the illegal entity does exist as we are in a position where we are trying to prevent the coordinated actions and initiatives of this entity. Replying to another question if it is worrying that such a development comes from a country like Greece, the Minister replied that it is worrying that this particular effort has found wide support and therefore it is a development that does worry our side. He went on to say that we are in contact with countries that had the same point of view as ours and with those which has a different approach. Asked if this is a development that can be overturned in the Council of Ministers Kombos said 'let's wait to see the results there'. He went on to say that if we tak e into account the initial vote last March to start the process 'there's a good indication of where things could go'. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Columbia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue. Source: Cyprus News Agency

ISTANBUL: Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused the Israeli military of involvement in illegal Israeli settler attacks in the West Bank, resulting in displacement from 20 communities, with at least seven communities entirely uprooted since Oct. 7, 2023. HRW investigated attacks that forcibly displaced all residents of Khirbet Zanuta and Khirbet al-Ratheem south of Hebron, al-Qanub east of Hebron, and Ein al-Rashash and Wadi al-Seeq, east of Ramallah, in October and November 2023. A report by HRW highlighted illegal Israeli settlers' acts against Palestinians during the ongoing hostilities in Gaza, including assaults, torture, sexual violence, theft, death threats, and demolitions of homes and schools. Bill Van Esveld, associate children's rights director at Human Rights Watch, stated: 'While the attention of the world is focused on Gaza, abuses in the West Bank, fueled by decades of impunity and complacency among Israel's allies, are soaring.' The report said numerous Palestinians, including whole communities, have fled their homes and lands, with the military failing to ensure their security or allow their return, leaving them in 'precarious' situations elsewhere. Illegal Israeli settlers reportedly threatened Palestinians to "flee to Jordan" or face extermination, grazing their sheep on Palestinian lands, causing fear and mental harm, especially among children. HRW found instances where armed illegal settlers, often with army units, blocked roads, raided Palestinian communities, detained, assaulted, and terrorized residents, forcibly evicting them from their homes and preventing them from taking their belongings. Over 700 attacks since Oct. 7 It said: 'UN has recorded more than 700 settler attacks between Oct. 7 and April 3, with soldiers in uniform present in nearly half of the attacks.' The report also demonstrated Israeli police's failure to enforce laws against illegal Israeli settlers. It claimed Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir instructed police not to enforce the law against illega l settlers, citing a report by an Israeli investigative journalist. HRW said countries, including the United States, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, have authorized weapons exports to Israel, raising 'concerns' of complicity in human rights abuses. The report suggested forcible transfer or deportation and the extensive destruction and appropriation of property in occupied territory are 'war crimes' and called for accountability for those who are responsible. The organization said: 'The US, the EU, UK, and other countries should take action to ensure accountability for those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.' It also called for sanctions, and measures to suspend military support to Israel. HRW underlined a surge in illegal settler attacks after Oct. 7, with soldiers present in nearly half of these incidents, led to over 1,200 displaced individuals, including 600 children, with at least 17 Palestinians killed and 400 wounded. After the Oct. 7 attacks, the Israeli military enl isted 5,500 illegal settlers, some with criminal records, into West Bank "regional defense" battalions, distributing 7,000 firearms to members. Nearly 34,000 Palestinians have been killed and 76,800 others injured in the Israeli onslaught since Oct. 7, 2023, amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities. Israel says nearly 1,200 people have been killed in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed. Source: Anadolu Agency