Kosovo: Dialogue and building trust, key to defusing tensions

Kosovo: Dialogue and building trust, key to defusing tensions

Briefing ambassadors, Caroline Ziadeh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General cited a “serious” incident on 24 September, that saw five people – including a Kosovo police officer – killed and others injured. “[These events] exacerbated an already deteriorating security environment, characterized by an atmosphere of mutual suspicion and contradictory perceptions touching much of the population,” she…

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Lebanon faced ongoing insecurity amid regional tensions and weak international cooperation

Lebanon faced ongoing insecurity amid regional tensions and weak international cooperation

Mohammad Najib Azmi Mikati argued that one of the primary challenges facing Lebanon was filling the presidential vacancy, along with instituting reforms needed to achieve economic recovery, ease the financial crisis, and promote institutional and political stability in the country.  He expressed hope that the Lebanese Parliament would elect a president the Lebanese people could…

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Central African Republic: ‘Tensions and divisions’ eroding human rights

Central African Republic: ‘Tensions and divisions’ eroding human rights

“Given the tensions and divisions arising from the constitutional referendum, the Central African authorities urgently need to engage all actors in a genuine political dialogue aimed at de-escalating the situation”, said Yao Agbetse, the UN Independent Expert on the Central African Republic, at the end of a 10-day visit to the country.  Inclusive talks “Only an…

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Tensions in the West Bank, Israel-Saudi Arabia relations more difficult to restore, US Secretary of State

Tensions in the West Bank, Israel-Saudi Arabia relations more difficult to restore, US Secretary of State

US Secretary of State Anthony Blanken says that the restoration of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia is not impossible, but will be more difficult due to the tension between Jewish settlers and Palestinian citizens in the West Bank. Speaking at a Council on Foreign Relations event in New York, Antony Blanken said the expansion…

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US remarks, diplomatic tensions in China and South Korea

US remarks, diplomatic tensions in China and South Korea

South Korea summons Chinese ambassador for commenting on US relations South Korea’s foreign ministry has summoned China’s ambassador to protest comments that accused Seoul of leaning toward the U.S. and distancing itself from China as the competition between Washington and Beijing for global influence intensifies. Adopting South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin warned Chinese…

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Israel-Palestine: UN calls for restraint following violence at Al-Aqsa mosque

‘No time to spare’: Israel-Palestine ceasefire holds, but hunger, tensions mount

“There is no time to spare,” said Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. “We must take action, not only to ensure Palestinian well-being and governance, but as an integral part of ending the occupation and restoring a political horizon toward a viable two-State solution, based on UN resolutions, international…

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