Day: February 3, 2022

TEHRAN– An Iranian lawmaker said yesterday that, the ground is de facto prepared, for reaching a win-win agreement in the Vienna talks, on the restoration of the 2015 nuclear deal, between Iran and world powers.

This will take place, if the Western sides show goodwill and determination, Mahmoud Abbaszadeh Meshkini, spokesman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, noted, adding, Iran’s chief negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, described the trend reflected in the Vienna talks as positive.

However, no direct talks have so far been held between the Iranian and U.S. delegations, Meshkini quoted the chief negotiator as saying.

The Iranian lawmaker explained that, by the conclusion drawn at the end of the committee’s Tuesday meeting, it is not clear yet, whether direct negotiations with the United States would produce any concrete outcome, under the present circumstances.

Although the talks are showing a positive and progressing trend, there are still important unresolved issues, which need to be discussed and agreed upon, as the other side has so far only agreed to lift part of the sanctions against Tehran, he noted.

The Iranian nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was signed in 2015. However, former U.S. President, Donald Trump, pulled Washington out of the pact in May, 2018, and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran, which prompted the latter to breach the deal’s restrictions, one year later, and advance its once-halted nuclear programmes.

Since Apr, 2021, several rounds of talks have been held between Iran and the other remaining parties to revive the deal.

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

PHNOM PENH– The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), yesterday urged all sides in Myanmar, to promote conducive conditions for a constructive dialogue, to seek a peaceful solution to the current political crisis in the country.

“It is of critical importance for all sides to promote a conducive condition for a constructive dialogue among all parties concerned, to seek a peaceful solution to the current crisis in the interest of the people of Myanmar, and in order to speedily return the situation to normalcy and prevent prolonged suffering to the people of Myanmar,” said the ASEAN chairman’s statement.

Cambodia is the rotating chair of ASEAN for 2022.

The statement said, ASEAN member states remained deeply concerned over the developments in Myanmar, calling for efforts from all parties there, to ensure “safe and timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to those most in need.”

Meanwhile, it urged the Myanmar authorities to take concrete actions, to fully implement the five point consensus reached at the ASEAN leaders’ meeting, in Apr last year.

It said, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Prak Sokhonn, is appointed as the special envoy of the ASEAN chair on Myanmar, and called on the Myanmar authorities to facilitate his early visit to Myanmar, to meet with all parties concerned.

The statement noted that, durable peace and national reconciliation can only be achieved in Myanmar, through an inclusive political solution.

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

LONDON— Top oil-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia and Russia announced another modest increase in output on Wednesday despite soaring crude prices and geopolitical tensions rattling the markets.

 

The 23-nation OPEC+ group said in a statement that it will increase production by 400,000 barrels per day in March, the same amount as in previous months.

 

The group, which includes the 13 members of the Saudi-led Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and their 10 allies, including Russia, has resisted US pressure to further boost production to tame prices.

 

OPEC+ said in its statement following a ministerial videoconference that the decision was made “in view of current oil market fundamentals and the consensus on the outlook”.

 

The alliance’s prudent approach dates back to the spring of 2021 as demand recovered after drastic 2020 cuts in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

The announcement Wednesday “was hardly surprising, as the group has rigidly followed this approach since it was first agreed upon, even in December when oil prices plunged following the emergence of Omicron,” said Edward Gardner, commodities expert at Capital Economics.

 

“What matters going forward is whether OPEC+ can keep up with its planned production increases,” he said.

 

Oil prices hit seven-year highs in January, with the main international crude contract, Brent, topping $90. Prices are now hovering under $90.

 

Victoria Scholar, an expert at Interactive Investor, said she expected “further gains” due to solid demand and “drip-feed production increases” by OPEC+.

 

OPEC+ is already struggling to meet its quotas with some members, such as Angola and Nigeria, unable to scale up their production and others, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, unwilling to do so, said Carsten Fritsch of Commerzbank.

 

In December, the total volume of OPEC+ output increased by only 90,000 barrels per day, far short of the 400,000 target, according to a survey by the Bloomberg news agency.

 

Russia was complying with its commitments, Moscow’s energy minister, Alexander Novak, told Rossiya 24 television.

 

But there were “a number of uncertainties” weighing on demand while the coronavirus pandemic was still ongoing, he said.

 

The market has been further boosted by soaring geopolitical tensions plaguing stalwarts of oil production — Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

 

The United Arab Emirates on Monday intercepted another ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, the latest attack on the Gulf country, which is part of a Saudi-led military coalition.

 

In Europe, tensions between Moscow and Western allies are at their highest point since the Cold War after Russia massed troops on its border with Ukraine.

 

“Ukraine-Russia (tensions) can only keep pushing it up as long as the situation keeps getting worse,” said Neil Wilson, analyst at Markets.com.

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

UNITED NATIONS— The UN Security Council called for an “immediate cessation of all forms of violence” in Myanmar and expressed hope that a special envoy would be allowed to travel there to mediate the crisis.

 

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations wants to send its representative, Cambodia’s foreign minister Prak Sokhonn, to Myanmar, where last year’s coup triggered mass protests and a deadly crackdown on dissent.

 

The UN Security Council looks forward to the minister’s visit to Myanmar “at the earliest opportunity to meet with all parties concerned and carry out mediation that facilitates the dialogue process, as well as the provision of humanitarian assistance,” the body said in a statement.

 

In the statement, drafted by Britain and passed unanimously on the first anniversary of the deadly coup, the Council “expressed deep concern at further recent violence in the country and expressed alarm at the large numbers of internally displaced.”

 

More than 1,500 people have been killed by security forces and more than 11,000 arrested since the coup, according to a local monitoring group.

 

The country’s former civilian leader, Nobel prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, and former president Win Myint have been jailed.

 

In its statement, the Council renewed calls for the two leaders to be released and “reiterated the need for full, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all people in need, and for the full protection, safety and security of humanitarian and medical personnel.”

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

MANAMA– The Philippine Embassy in Bahrain successfully repatriated a total of 50 overseas Filipinos (OFs) via commercial Gulf Air flight GF154, which departed Manama on 30 January 2022, and arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila on 31 January 2022.

 

The departure of this first batch of repatriates effectively launched the Embassy’s Repatriation Program for 2022. The repatriates included pregnant, overstaying OFs, deportees, medical patients, minors, and wards at the Embassy Shelter.

 

Quarantine facilities of all returning repatriates were arranged through the efforts of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)-Bahrain, in coordination with the OWWA Main office in Manila.

 

The Embassy coordinated with Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior, particularly the National, Passport and Residence Affairs and immigration officials to secure the exit clearances/permits of the repatriates.

 

The Embassy continues to provide assistance in repatriating stranded Filipinos in Bahrain as part of the Philippine Government’s COVID-19 response program.

 

Source: Republic of Philippines Department Of Foreign Affairs