Latest news with #U.N.SecurityCouncil
Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
UK backs Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, Lammy says
FILE PHOTO: British Foreign Secretary David Lammy walks on the day of the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain, March 10, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes/File Photo RABAT - Britain's foreign minister, David Lammy, said on Sunday that the UK considers Morocco's autonomy proposal as the most feasible basis to resolve the conflict over Western Sahara. The long-frozen conflict pits Morocco, which considers the territory as its own, against the Algeria-backed Polisario front, which seeks an independent state in the desert autonomy plan submitted by Morocco in 2007 stands "as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute," Lammy told reporters after talks with Morocco's foreign minister. "The UK will continue to act bilaterally, including economically, regionally and internationally in line with this position to support the resolution of the conflict," Lammy said on a visit to Rabat. The position places Britain as the third permanent U.N. Security Council member to endorse Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, following the United States and France. Morocco's foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, hailed the UK's position as historic, saying it was part of "a momentum to speed up the solution of the conflict."UK investments in the territory were under examination, Bourita said. The two countries signed deals to cooperate in healthcare, innovation, port and water infrastructure and procurement. Lammy said the deals would "ensure British businesses score big on football's biggest stage," as Morocco pushes for infrastructure investment in preparation for the 2030 World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
16 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
UK backs Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, Lammy says
RABAT (Reuters) -Britain's foreign minister, David Lammy, said on Sunday that the UK considers Morocco's autonomy proposal as the most feasible basis to resolve the conflict over Western Sahara. The long-frozen conflict pits Morocco, which considers the territory as its own, against the Algeria-backed Polisario front, which seeks an independent state in the desert autonomy plan submitted by Morocco in 2007 stands "as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute," Lammy told reporters after talks with Morocco's foreign minister. "The UK will continue to act bilaterally, including economically, regionally and internationally in line with this position to support the resolution of the conflict," Lammy said on a visit to Rabat. The position places Britain as the third permanent U.N. Security Council member to endorse Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, following the United States and France. Morocco's foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, hailed the UK's position as historic, saying it was part of "a momentum to speed up the solution of the conflict."UK investments in the territory were under examination, Bourita said. The two countries signed deals to cooperate in healthcare, innovation, port and water infrastructure and procurement. Lammy said the deals would "ensure British businesses score big on football's biggest stage," as Morocco pushes for infrastructure investment in preparation for the 2030 World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal. (Reporting by Ahmed Eljechtimi, Editing by William Maclean)
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Divided UN extends arms embargo on South Sudan as fears of renewed civil war grow
A divided U.N. Security Council voted Friday (May 30, 2025) to extend an arms embargo on South Sudan, where escalating political tensions have led the U.N. to warn that the country could again plunge into civil war. A U.S.-sponsored resolution to extend the embargo and other sanctions was approved by the narrowest margin — the minimum nine 'yes' votes required. Six countries abstained — Russia, China, Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Pakistan. The arms embargo, and travel bans and asset freezes on South Sudanese on the U.N. sanctions blacklist, were extended for a year until May 31, 2026. There were high hopes for peace and stability after oil-rich South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, becoming the world's newest nation. But the country slid into civil war in December 2013 when forces loyal to President Salva Kiir, who is from the largest ethnic group in the country, the Dinka, started battling those loyal to Riek Machar, who is from the second-largest ethnic group, the Nuer. A 2018 peace deal that brought Machar into the government as first Vice-President has been fragile, and implementation has been slow. A presidential election has been postponed until 2026. Last month, the U.N. envoy to South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, warned that the escalating rivalry between Kiir and Machar had degenerated into direct military confrontation between their parties and led to Machar's arrest. A campaign of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech is 'fueling political and ethnic tensions — particularly on social media,' he warned. And 'these conditions are darkly reminiscent of the 2013 and 2016 conflicts, which took over 400,000 lives.' U.S. Minister Counselor John Kelley thanked the council after the vote, saying the arms embargo 'remains necessary to stem the unfettered flow of weapons into a region that remains awash with guns.' 'Escalating violence in recent months has brought South Sudan to the brink of civil war,' he said, urging the country's leaders to restore peace. Russia's deputy U.N. ambassador Anna Evstigneeva countered by saying the easing of Security Council sanctions on South Sudan is long overdue. She said the arms embargo and other sanctions are restricting implementation of the 2018 peace agreement. She accused the resolution's supporters of 'putting a brake on a successful political process unfolding in Sudan, as well as complicating the deployment and proper equipping of the national armed forces.' South Sudan's U.N. ambassador, Cecilia Adeng, expressed 'deep disappointment' at the extension of the arms embargo and other sanctions. 'The lifting of the sanctions and the arms embargo is not only a matter of national security or sovereignty, but also a matter of economic opportunity and dignity,' she said. 'These measures create barriers to growth, delay development, discourage foreign investment, and leave the state vulnerable to non-state actors and outlaws.'
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Russia tells UN West must stop arming Ukraine during any ceasefire
UNITED NATIONS: Russia is prepared to consider a ceasefire in Ukraine to pave the way for a lasting settlement, but during any truce Moscow wants Western states to stop arming Kyiv and for Ukraine to stop mobilising troops, Russia's U.N. ambassador said on Friday. However, Vassily Nebenzia told the U.N. Security Council that a simple ceasefire was not enough to end Moscow's more than three-year war in Ukraine. 'To achieve a sustainable and lasting settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, we need to address its root causes,' Nebenzia said. 'What we're proposing is a second round of talks in Istanbul this coming Monday … where we can exchange memoranda about both parties' approaches to the negotiations process.' The United States wants Russia to agree to a comprehensive 30-day land, air, sea and critical infrastructure ceasefire. A first round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine on May 16 failed to yield a truce deal. Ukraine keeps Russia guessing over participation in June 2 peace talks A U.S. diplomat told the Security Council on Friday: 'We share the concern expressed by other members of this council that Russia could be uninterested in peace and instead bent on achieving a military victory.' Moscow initially said its combat mission was to 'disarm' Ukraine so it could not be a threat to Russia, and 'denazify' it by rooting out leaders it characterized as nationalists. Western countries believe Russia's true initial aims were to defeat Ukraine's military and overthrow its pro-Western government. 'We will continue fighting for as long as that's necessary - no threats to our borders, no anti-Russian, neo-Nazi education in neighbouring countries. We won't allow for any of that to happen,' Nebenzia said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Russia may 'consider' ceasefire if Ukraine stops mobilization, arms deliveries, ambassador says
Russia is prepared to consider a ceasefire in its war against Ukraine, but only if Kyiv stops receiving Western weapons and halts mobilization, Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's envoy to the United Nations, said on May 30, according to the Russian state news agency TASS. "In principle, we are ready to consider the possibility of establishing a ceasefire, which would subsequently allow for a sustainable resolution of the root causes of the conflict," Nebenzya said at a U.N. Security Council meeting. Russia, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, convened the meeting to accuse European nations of undermining peace efforts. The Russian ambassador said that any ceasefire would require Western governments to end their support for Ukraine's armed forces. "During the ceasefire, it is essential that Western countries stop supplying weapons to the Kyiv regime (the Ukrainian government) and that Ukraine halt its mobilization," Nebenzya said. The statement comes just days ahead of the next round of peace talks in Istanbul on June 2. Despite the stated offer, Nebenzya also pledged that Moscow would "continue and intensify military operations for as long as necessary." Ukraine swiftly rejected the demand as disingenuous. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the remarks a "slap in the face to all who advocate for peace," including countries like China and Brazil, which have pressed both sides to end the war. "When the entire world insists that it is time to stop the killing immediately and engage in meaningful diplomacy, Russia uses the highest fora to spew such belligerent rhetoric," Sybiha wrote on X. "We insist that the pressure on Moscow be increased already now. They do not understand normal attitude or diplomatic language; it is time to speak to them in the language of sanctions and increased support for Ukraine." Despite growing global calls for a truce, Russia has so far rejected Ukraine's U.S.-backed proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire. The Kremlin has instead escalated its aerial assaults across Ukrainian territory and is reportedly preparing a new summer offensive. Moscow is expected to present a draft "ceasefire memorandum" at the June 2 talks in Istanbul. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on May 29 that the proposal would be delivered by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, who led Russia's delegation at the previous round of talks. President Volodymyr Zelensky's Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak said on May 29 that Kyiv is open to the talks but insists that Russia share the memorandum ahead of the meeting. According to Reuters, Moscow's demands for ending the war include Ukraine's withdrawal from four partially occupied regions, a pledge to abandon NATO ambitions, and the lifting of key Western sanctions — conditions Kyiv and its allies have categorically rejected. Read also: Ukraine attacks elite Russian unit base nearly 7,000km away in Vladivostok, source claims We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
