Day: 2 September 2023

The Security Council’s programme of work for September features three open debates — including one on the maintenance of Ukraine’s peace and security — its President for the month told reporters at a Headquarters press conference today, adding that he will privilege the voices of women on the ground in meetings this month.

Ferit Hoxha (Albania) — whose country holds the 15-nation organ’s rotating presidency for September — said that the open debate on 20 September, chaired by his country’s Prime Minister, will be an opportunity for “a real summit on Ukraine, which has not happened since the start of the war”. Since February 2022, the ongoing war has not only shattered lives in Ukraine, but has also had numerous adverse consequences for countries in the region, the European architecture and the entire world.

The open debate on 14 September — on advancing public-private humanitarian partnership — will be chaired by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Albania and will focus on ways to mobilize private resources more effectively. Stressing the need to enlarge “the radius of contributions”, he said the meeting will announce the creation of a private-sector humanitarian alliance that will serve as a platform for major corporations to come together.

Other meetings in September will focus on the Middle East, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan (UNITAMS), the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Further, the Council is expected to adopt several resolutions, with those relating to the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (UNITAD) and the European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation already in the plan of work. He said that he also anticipates the Council will soon negotiate a text on the situation in Haiti.

Noting that the Council is expected to have meetings upon request by Member States, he underlined the need to strike a balance between open meetings and consultations — a tool for meaningful discussion to find common ground on complex issues. He also highlighted the shared commitment to women, peace and security, stating that he will privilege the presence of on-the-ground women.

Responding to numerous questions from journalists about the 20 September meeting, he said that he can “almost confirm” that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend — marking his first presence in the Security Council. There has not yet been a meeting at the level of Heads of State or Government on the topic, he pointed out, adding that it will outline avenues on how this situation can be brought to an end and how a meaningful peace process could start. He stressed that the peace process must respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

To questions about the 14 September open debate, he said that the CEO of Mastercard and Eric Schmidt — the former CEO of Google — are expected to brief the Council, and that a total of 15 to 18 large corporations will be represented in the room. The meeting will serve as momentum “to launch the idea, which will be consolidated as time goes by”, he added. To a concern that the private sector could use the UN as a forum for self-promotion, he responded: “I don’t think that Google needs the UN to be promoted”. Rather, he observed that “we need them”, highlighting their power and ability to save time in raising resources.

He also fielded questions on the Council’s failure to gain the trust of people in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, Syria and the State of Palestine. Responding in his national capacity, he acknowledged that, any time the Council is locked, taken hostage or vetoed, “it fails those it has committed to help”. “We do not have the answer”, he said, noting that “things do not come immediately” in diplomacy.

On the cross-border mechanism in Syria, he said that “we are witnessing a new arrangement” resulting from the veto that ended a system in place since 2014. Currently, the Bab al-Hawa border crossing remains open. However, the local population does not trust the Government, he cautioned, describing the situation as “a very delicate arbitrage”. The priority, however, is to provide basic needs for 4.2 million people through that crossing, which processes most of those needs.

When asked about concerns raised by human-rights groups in Kenya over police brutality and about its export to Haiti, he said that a zero-draft is expected to be shared with Council members soon; however, it is too early to anticipate their positions.

Regarding the situation in West Africa, he pointed out that eight coups have occurred in that region since 2020. Albania is resolutely against any seizure of power by force, he noted in his national capacity, emphasizing that military seizure and overthrow of Governments will never be the solution. He said there are no scheduled meetings on West Africa so far.

On the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), he stressed the need to stay cognisant of the realities on the ground in order to implement its mandate. To this end, cooperation between the Interim Force and the Lebanese armed forces — “one of the pillars of stability in the country” — is crucial, he added.

Source: EMM/ United Nations

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine warned of the growth of very disturbing and dangerous phenomena that threaten Palestinian society, most notably the increasing number of suicides and illegal immigration, especially among young people.

The Front promised that the indicators of suicide cases will increase and thousands of young people will flock to obtain permits and permits to travel to regional countries that constitute the first stops for illegal immigration and boarding death boats into the unknown. It is caused by the continuation of the Zionist aggression and the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip for many years, and the dangerous repercussions of the Palestinian division that created an environment for the generation and localization of crises, due to the complicity of the official authorities and their inaction at other times, in addition to their irresponsible decisions and procedures that contributed greatly to the management of these crises based on profit and loss calculations. And the ruling forces of power in a way that exacerbated the suffering of citizens, especially the youth, and also increased the role played by interest groups and parasitic economies that invested in it and created their influence and interests at the expense of the poor citizen and the youth to a greater extent, which deprived thousands of families of the most basic components of a decent life and food security. Which in turn led to the growth of the phenomenon of begging at crossroads

She added in her statement:“At a time when the Front is monitoring the criminal practices of the occupation and its successive threats to the resistance and its leadership, and is exercising its struggle role alongside the various resistance forces and formations in the various arenas of struggle action to respond to the crimes of the occupation, it is also following with high responsibility these societal and economic indicators and their recent increase in frequency.” Official and civil data indicated a significant increase in poverty rates in the Gaza Strip to more than 50% and an unprecedented rise in unemployment rates among graduates, reaching about 75%, while the general unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip reached 46%, as well as an increase in the number of suicides and attempted attempts. In it, as the cases of suicide that led to death in the Gaza Strip until the third quarter of this year amounted to 17 deaths, compared to 18 cases recorded last year, while official reports within the Strip indicate that the cases of attempted suicide that are recorded annually range between 500 and 600 cases. Except for that oneWhich are not officially documented, and all of them are indicators that explain the significant increase in cases of illegal immigration among young people that was recently revealed through the strong demand for travel permits registered by the relevant local companies.”

The Popular Committee called on all sectors of our people, with all their political and societal shades, and their civil institutions, to confront these challenges and dangerous phenomena that are plaguing Palestinian society in general and Gaza in particular, especially among the youth in particular, through a national and societal movement in which the energies of all are united through the launch of an urgent national rescue programme. It discusses societal diseases that threaten societal security, develops a plan to limit their repercussions in the short and long term, and approves policies and procedures that open up horizons for young people in work and political participation, enabling them to possess the elements of steadfastness and invest their energies and creativity, directing them towards the national liberation project.

The Front also called on the free people of the world to stand alongside our Palestinian people in order to stop the aggression and break the Zionist siege imposed on our people, which is the primary cause of all their suffering

Source: Maan News Agency

Foreign Minister, Hisham Sharaf, sent on Saturday a cable of congratulations to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of San Marino, Luca Beccari.

In the cable, Sharaf expressed his congratulations to Beccari on the occasion of his country’s National Day

Source: Yemen News Agency

His Excellency Field Marshal Mahdi Al-Mashat, Head of the Supreme Political Council, visited Sufyan District, Amran province.

The President, along with Amran’s Governors , Dr. Faisal Juman, and Al-Jawf Faisal bin Haider, and the Chief of the General Staff, Major General Muhammad Al-Ghamari, were briefed on the needs of the people of Harf Sufyan District for service and development projects according to the available capabilities.

President Al-Mashat met a number of the district’s people, sheikhs, notables, and social figures, stressing the Supreme Political Council’s interest in the district’s people and meeting their needs for projects.

He said, “Today we are preparing to welcome the anniversary of the honorable birth of the Prophet, and the sons of Sufyan will celebrate this occasion in a distinguished way to tell the world that our connection to our Prophet Muhammad, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family, is great, and our celebration of the anniversary of his birth is a source of honor and pride for all the Yemeni people.”

President Al-Mashat called for concern for the poor and needy, and for sympathy and compassion, out of joy on this solemn religious occasion. He praised the heroic roles of the sons of Sufyan in confronting the American-Saudi aggression during the past nine years, and for making great sacrifices.

He stressed that the fronts know the journeys and tours of Sufyan’s sons, and many of them are leaders on the various fronts of pride and dignity, which requires them to bear the great responsibility of doubling their efforts until achieving freedom, independence and victory for the Yemeni people.

The President warned of the enemy’s plans, which seek to stir up disputes and conflicts among the Yemeni people to target the unity of the national ranks.

He stressed the necessity of resolving disputes between citizens by fair means, as this is one of the factors of steadfastness.

President Al-Mashat also visited Khamer District in Amran province, and met with a crowd of district residents, sheikhs, notables, and social figures who welcomed the President to visit the district.

He was briefed on the needs of the people of the Directorate and their requirements for development ,service projects, and listened to their concerns and aspirations in various aspects.

He praised the positions of the people of the Khamer National Directorate and their steadfastness in the face of the American-Saudi aggression over the past years.

He stressed interest in meeting the needs of citizens in the directorate for service and development projects according to what is available and possible.

He was accompanied during the visit by the heads of the Zakat and Endowment Commissions, Sheikh Shamsan Abu Nashtan, and the Endowments Authority, Abdul Majeed Al-Houthi, the Chairman of the Supreme Agricultural and Fisheries Committee, Ibrahim Al-Madani, the Commander of the Fifth Military Region, Major General Youssef Al-Madani, and the Director of the Prime Minister’s Office, Taha Al-Sufyani.

Source: Yemen News Agency

The Parliament Speaker , Yahya Ali Al-Ra’i, sent a congratulatory message to the Speaker of the Vietnamese National Assembly, Mr. Vuong Dinh Hue, on the occasion of his country’s celebrations of the National Day.

In the cable, Al-Ra’i congratulated the people of Vietnam on the occasion of the country’s National Day.

Source: Yemen News Agency

An expanded meeting was held on Saturday in Sanaa and included the Parliament Speaker, Yahya Al-Rai, Prime Minister, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Habtoor, Head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Ahmed Al-Mutawakkil, and the Shura Speaker, Muhammad Al-Aidaroos,.

In the meeting, the draft plan of the Presidency of the Republic to commemorate the Noble Prophet’s birthday anniversary in 1445 AH, and the government’s plan to commemorate the occasion were approved.

The two draft plans included the tasks and activities of the Supreme Political Council, the Parliament, the Councils of Ministers, the Supreme Judicial Council, the Shura Council, and the Office of the Presidency of the Republic.

The meeting dealt with the general objectives of the activities commemorating the Prophet’s birthday anniversary in showing the extent of Yemenis’ adherence to the Holy Quran in light of the efforts of the atheist west to distort and desecrate the Book of Allah.

The meeting stressed the need for the state institutions to carry out the responsible implementation of all the tasks and activities included in the two plans and touched on the tasks and activities of ministries, government agencies, and localities in the capital Sana’a and the provinces.

Source: Yemen News Agency

Schools in Hajjah province organized protest vigils on Saturday denouncing the presence of American soldiers in schools in Hadramout province.

Participants in the vigils disowned the enemies of Allah and held banners denouncing the American presence in Hadramout and other occupied provinces.

Statements issued during the vigils confirmed the risk of the American presence in the southern and eastern provinces, which reflects the reality and intentions of America in violating Yemeni sovereignty.

They expressed dissatisfaction with the miserable state reached by the tools of the US-Saudi aggression coalition in the occupied provinces, most notably by allowing armed American soldiers to enter educational institutions and violating the sanctity of educational schools.

The statements called on the free people of the occupied provinces to play their role in confronting the occupation and aggression forces and their mercenaries and expelling them from every inch of the land of Yemen.

Source: Yemen News Agency

A 4.6-magnitude earthquake struck on Saturday near the port of Jask, west of Hormozgan province in southern Iran.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 17 kilometers below the Earth’s surface, according to the Seismological Center affiliated with Tehran University’s Institute of Geophysics.

The region experienced four earthquakes earlier today, ranging in magnitude from 3 to 4.6, with no reports of damage so far. The port of Jask is located north of Qeshm Island in Hormozgan province.

Source: Qatar News Agency