Category: Governance

The ruling parties of Trkiye, Azerbaijan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) signed a cooperation agreement on Tuesday. The agreement aims to further political relations between the countries on the basis of “three states, one nation.” The signing ceremony was held in the TRNC’s capital, Lefkosa, between representatives of Trkiye’s Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Azerbaijan’s New Azerbaijan Party and the TRNC’s National Unity Party (UBP). TRNC Vice President and Parliament Speaker Zorlu Tore, Prime Minister Unal Ustel, Deputy Prime Minister Fikri Ataoglu, Public Works and Transport Minister Erhan Arikli and other ministers, members of parliament and officials as well as delegations from political parties from all three countries attended the ceremony, which was held at the Concorde Hotel. The agreement was signed by Deputy Chairman Efkan Ala on behalf of the AK Party, Deputy Chairman Tahir Budagov on behalf of the New Azerbaijan Party, and chairman and Prime Minister Ustel on beh
alf of the UBP. Speaking at the event, Ustel drew attention to the importance of the agreement reached between the parties. “Today, in accordance with the motto ‘Three states, one nation,’ the parties signed a historical, international and institutional agreement to further strengthen the bridges of love and take the cooperation between their countries to even higher levels. With these signatures, our ‘Three states, one nation’ discourse has now gained an international legal dimension.” AK Party Deputy Chairman Ala congratulated the TRNC on the 40th anniversary of its founding and expressed his satisfaction with the signing of the cooperation agreement. He emphasized that the world needs cooperation and wished that the agreement they reached with the UBP and New Azerbaijan Party would be an example for the parties of the countries in the region. In his speech, he also condemned Israel’s attacks in Gaza. “What remains under the ruins in Gaza are the feelings of humanity, justice and mercy. I condemn Isra
el’s attacks, massacres and killing of children. A cease-fire should be concluded in Gaza as soon as possible,’ he said. Budagov said the TRNC had taken its place as an observer member in the Organization of Turkic States (TDT) with the support of Azerbaijan and Trkiye and emphasized that they will make the necessary efforts for the TRNC to be more recognized in the international community. Pointing out the importance of the TRNC in continuing on its way with the support of the Republic of Trkiye despite all obstacles, he noted that he believes that relations between the TRNC and the Turkish world will develop further through the TDT.

Source: EN – Anadolu Agency

The hospitals should not be battlegrounds, said a UN spokesman on Wednesday following the Israeli military’s raid at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza. “Hospitals should not be battlegrounds. The parties should not be fighting in a hospital. Hospitals should not be battlegrounds anywhere in the world. Full stop,” Stephane Dujarric said at his daily press briefing. An Israeli tank shell on Wednesday targeted patient rooms at Al-Shifa Medical Complex, according to the Gaza’s Health Ministry. “We’re very concerned about what we’re seeing. We’re only seeing the reports right now because we don’t have any people on the ground. What is clear to us is that hospitals in no way can be used in any combat. They are protected under international humanitarian law,” Dujarric said. The UN is monitoring and seeing “very disturbing” images and reports coming out Al-Shifa Hospital, he added, calling on all parties to respect international humanitarian law. Accident of UNICEF executive director Meanwhile, Dujarric announced that
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell was involved in a traffic accident in Egypt on her way to Gaza on Tuesday. “The vehicle in which she was flipped on its side but she and along with the passengers are fine,” he said, adding she visited Gaza through Rafah crossing despite her injuries. “However, after the visit, she was examined by doctors again and she was told that her injuries required further care. As a result, she postponed the rest of her visit to the region, which also had included a stop in Israel where among other things she’d hoped to meet with the families of abducted children. “Catherine Russell tells us that she does intend to return to the region issue as soon as she is medically cleared,” he added. As the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip entered its 40th day, at least 11,320 Palestinians have been killed, including over 7,800 women and children, and more than 29,200 others have been injured, according to the latest figures from Palestinian authorities. Thousands of buildings, inc
luding hospitals, mosques, and churches, have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel’s relentless air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave since last month. The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.

Source: EN – Anadolu Agency

Palestine and its people “are not included” in the international human rights declaration, said the wife of the Prime Minister of Libya, Amina Ali Mohammed Al-Shawush Al-Dilaw, on Wednesday. As part of the “One Heart for Palestine” meeting of first ladies in the Turkish metropolis Istanbul, Al-Dilaw emphasized the full support of her country for the Palestinian cause, stating, “The first article of the Declaration of Human Rights expresses that all individuals are born free and equal in rights. “Likewise, Article 3 states that every individual has the right to life and peace. However, today, we have all witnessed an exception within the International Declaration of Human Rights. We have seen and observed that Palestine and the Palestinian people are not included in this declaration. This has been the case not just today but for years,” she added. Al-Dilaw pointed out that civilian people are being indiscriminately killed with military weapons, indicating a complete humanitarian crime and catastrophe in Ga
za. Stressing the unprecedented double standard witnessed in the silence of the entire world in the face of these events, she stated that all countries in the world should take action to stop the massacre. Emine Erdogan hosted the summit “One Heart for Palestine” with other first spouses from around the world in Istanbul as part of Ankara’s efforts to end the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza. As the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip entered its 40th day, at least 11,320 Palestinians have been killed, including over 7,800 women and children, and more than 29,200 others have been injured, according to the latest figures from Palestinian authorities. Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques, and churches, have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel’s relentless air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave since last month. The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.

Source: EN – Anadolu Agency

Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee (KNSC) announced on Wednesday that a group of people was arrested in the republic on charges of attempted coup. “On Nov. 15, 2023, the KNSC in coordination with the Prosecutor General’s Office neutralized cells of a radical religious group in the cities of Astana, Atyrau and Zhezkazgan as part of a pre-trial investigation,” the national security said in a statement. The arrested people are suspected of terrorism propaganda, the formation of an extremist group, and taking part in its activities, it noted. “Twelve of (the group’s) members were detained simultaneously. According to investigators, they pursued the goal of overthrowing the secular system in Kazakhstan. To do this, they spread extremist ideology and recruited new supporters,” it said. While searching the suspects’ homes, the statement said law enforcement found prohibited literature and evidence. “A number of members of the group have a criminal record for committing serious crimes, including the murde
r of a police officer, banditry, robbery, heist, theft and rape,” it said. Kazakhstan, according to the country’s constitution, is a secular state.

Source: EN – Anadolu Agency

Rejecting a high-profile policy meant to help deal with migration, the UK Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful. The controversial plan that seeks to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda while their claims are being assessed was ruled unlawful by the highest court, as they found the East African country is not a safe place for asylum seekers to be housed. The court’s judges unanimously upheld a Court of Appeal decision that the policy was unlawful. Announcing the order, Supreme Court President Lord Reed said that there was a “real risk” migrants could be sent from Rwanda to the places they fled from. In January campaigners and asylum seekers won a legal challenge to the Rwanda plan as the Court of Appeal ruled that the deportation scheme was unlawful. Sunak still committed to stop boats Following the ruling, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak released a statement, saying it was not the outcome they wanted, however he added that his government is sti
ll “completely committed to stopping the boats.” The Supreme Court has “confirmed that the principle of sending illegal migrants to a safe third country for processing is lawful” and it “confirms the government’s clear view from the outset,” he added. “The government has been working on a new treaty with Rwanda, and we’ll finalize that in light of today’s judgment. If necessary, I am prepared to revisit our domestic legal frameworks,” said Sunak. According to Downing Street, the British premier will hold a press conference on the issue later on Wednesday. Meanwhile, new Home Secretary James Cleverly reacted to the verdict, saying the UK’s partnership with the East African country, “while bold and ambitious,” is just one part of a way to stop the boats and tackle illegal migration. “But clearly there is an appetite for this concept. Across Europe, illegal migration is increasing and governments are following our lead – Italy, Germany and Austria are all exploring models similar to our partnership with Rwa
nda,” he said. “We will carefully review today’s judgment to understand implications and next steps,” added Cleverly, who replaced Suella Braverman as home secretary on Monday. ‘Huge victory’ Many described the verdict as victory and called on the government to reconsider its approach on tackling the issue. Britain’s opposition Labour Party said that the Conservative Party’s Rwanda plan has failed and Sunak is “too weak” to deliver on his promises to the British people. “He should adopt Labour’s plan to reduce the backlog and go after criminal gangs,” it said on X. Labour leader Keir Starmer said: “My Labour government will stop squandering taxpayer’s money and deliver the secure borders that the country needs.” London Mayor Sadiq Khan reacted to the government’s plan, saying: “it’s not cruel, callous and morally reprehensible – the Supreme Court has confirmed it’s unlawful too.” Sending people fleeing violence and persecution to a country thousands of miles away is “shameful,” he said on X. Meanwhil
e, Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf called the plan “morally repugnant,” adding that the policy “must be scrapped.” “We need a humane system that doesn’t leave asylum seekers stuck in destitution for years without the right to work,” he said on X. “This is a huge victory, but the fight for a humane asylum policy is not over. We cannot stop campaigning until there is safe passage for all those just trying to survive,” former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wrote on X. In a statement, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said that Britain has “a moral and legal responsibility” to those who come to the country seeking safety and refuge. Nongovernmental organizations, including Save the Children and Refugee Council, also welcomed the court ruling and called on the British government to reconsider its approach. European rights court stops 1st flight to Rwanda last year The plan has been one of the most controversial planks of the government’s migration policy, as it sparked international criticism and mas
s protests across the UK. The plan, signed in April 2022 by then-UK Home Secretary Priti Patel and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta, proposed sending asylum seekers trying to enter the UK to Rwanda for resettlement. The European Court of Human Rights stopped the first deportation flight to Rwanda at the last minute in June last year. Tackling small boat crossings by irregular migrants across the British Channel is among five priorities of the British government, as more than 45,000 migrants arrived in the country that way last year.

Source: EN – Anadolu Agency

Ethiopia offered neighboring countries a part in its dam project and shares in its national airline in a diplomatic move Tuesday to address its maritime challenges. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed presented the proposal during an address to parliament, where he emphasized the need for a win-win approach in negotiations for sea access. “Ethiopia didn’t ask an inappropriate question that is out of the law. Ethiopia has no desire to fire a shot at neighboring countries. But we are saying let us discuss this in terms of the law and business,” he said. Abiy said despite experiencing significant growth in its population and the economy, Ethiopia finds itself without a direct route to the sea, and that has prompted the government to explore innovative solutions to address the strategic concern. ‘We have no intention of threatening the sovereignty of any nation, but we would like a rules-based access to the Red Sea. Our request is to initiate discussions towards sustainable solutions,” he said. The prime minister exp
ressed gratitude to Djibouti for its pivotal role in supporting Ethiopia’s growth and development by permitting the use of its port facilities over the past years. Ethiopia lost its Red Sea ports in the early 1990s after the Eritrean War of Independence, which lasted from 1961 to 1991. In 1991, Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia, leading to the establishment of two separate nations, the separation resulted in Ethiopia losing direct access to the Red Sea and key ports. Ethiopia has since been landlocked, affecting its ability to conduct efficient maritime trade.

Source: EN – Anadolu Agency

The S and P 500 recorded its best daily performance since April on Tuesday as US stocks jumped with slowing inflation. The index increased 84 points, or 1.91%, to finish the day at 4,495. The Dow Jones Industrial Average meanwhile rose 489 points, or 1.43%, to close at 34,827. The Nasdaq jumped 326 points, or 2.37%, to end the session at 14,094. Annual consumer inflation in the US came in at 3.2% in October, slowing from a 3.7% gain in September, according to Labor Department figures released earlier. On a monthly basis, the consumer price index in October remained virtually unchanged from the previous month, slowing down from a 0.4% increase in September. The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, dove 4.1% to 14.16. The 10-year US Treasury yield lost 3.9% to 4.453%. The dollar index lost 1.5% to 104.08, while the euro added 1.7% to $1.0878 against the greenback. Precious metals were in positive territory, with gold rising 0.9% to $1,963 an ounce and silver increasing 3.5% to $23.09. Oi
l prices were mostly flat, with global benchmark Brent crude at $82.45 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude at $78.16.

Source: EN – Anadolu Agency

Our governments should cooperate to protect media freedom, adapting to new realities and addressing new threats as they appear, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said on Tuesday. Ioannou was addressing a Democratic Quality Forum entitled “Democratic Quality: Challenges of Democracy in the 21st century”, at the “Circulo de Bellas Artes” cultural centre in Madrid. “The main concern of nations should be to understand the needs of civil society in this rapidly changing environment, promoting strong political competition and reducing the democratic deficit,” he said. In this context, he added, it is necessary “to continuously review and modernise electoral legislative framework as well as making the most of the possibilities offered by technology, always ensuring security in cyberspace and facilitating the participation of all citizens groups.” The aim, Ioannou noted, “should be stronger political parties, more representative electoral systems and fair election processes so that citizens can feel that their vote really counts and they and play an active role in politics.” Another necessary step, the Interior Minister said, is “promoting quality journalism and independent media.” “Citizens need free media to provide them with accurate information and substantiated analyses so that, among other things, they can determine if governments are acting in accordance with good governance rules and whether they are doing a good job or whether improvements must be made,” he added. In all places where journalists and news organisations are free to do their job independently and with safety, societies prosper and communities are in a position to recognise the problems that need to be addressed, he pointed out. Ioannou also referred to attacks against the human rights of journalists, noting that the view that murders happen only somewhere far away and they mainly concern war correspondents is not correct. According to him there are many examples that show that the lack of safety of the people who work in news and information “has no borders.” He also spoke of misinformation and propaganda which appear in social media and have become more targeted. “Our governments should cooperate to protect media freedom, adapting to new realities and addressing new threats as they appear,” he said. Establishing alliances and realistic strategies to enhance media independence, editorial freedom and strengthen pluralism is of vital importance for our democracy’s overall prosperity, he said. Ioannou further outlined the ongoing efforts in Cyprus to reform local administration, aiming to create stronger municipalities and community clusters, with administrative and financial independence in line with the guidelines of the European Map of Local Administration, with enhanced internal audit and transparency mechanisms, increased level of responsibilities and a greater participation of citizens in decision making.

Source: Cyprus News Agency