The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Visits Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis

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The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Visits Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis

By Eleni Vasiliki Bampaliouta

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, made his first visit to Athens in his political capacity to meet with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Accompanying him were his chief of staff, ministers of Transport, Energy, Trade and Industry, Culture, the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, the Director of Studies and Research, and the CEO of the Qatar Investment Authority, one of the largest public investment bodies in the world.

The visit and meeting between Al Thani and Mitsotakis signaled a strengthening of bilateral cooperation across various sectors, with a focus on the economy, investments, energy, tourism, defence, and regional developments on the international stage. Diplomatic relations between the EU and Qatar were also on the agenda.

In his statements, the Greek Prime Minister highlighted the “progress of our country in terms of development” and mentioned that the discussions also focused on regional developments, particularly in the Middle East.

In his remarks, the Qatari leader called the strengthening of bilateral relations “an opportunity” for his country, “especially in terms of the economy and investments.” At the beginning of their meeting, the two leaders exchanged the following dialogue:

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Athens. I would like to point out how much we value the partnership between our two countries. I believe this visit is a real opportunity to consider how we can further strengthen our relationship, especially in the economic field. Greece is currently making significant progress in terms of development. And of course, we will discuss regional developments. So it is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Athens and repay your wonderful hospitality when I had the opportunity to visit Doha a few months ago.”

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani: “First of all, my dear friend Kyriakos, thank you very much for this invitation. I am very happy to be here for my first official visit. As you mentioned, we have a great historical relationship. But I believe this is an opportunity for us to strengthen these bilateral relations, especially in terms of the economy and investments. I am really looking forward to this meeting. Of course, we will also discuss regional issues, especially what is happening in Gaza. So I’m really looking forward to this meeting. Thank you very much.”

A Military Cooperation Agreement Signed

During the meeting and extended discussions involving both delegations, the mutual desire to strengthen Greece-Qatar relations was confirmed and formalized with the signing of two agreements: the Military Cooperation Agreement between the Greek Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Defense of Qatar, and a Memorandum of Cooperation for conducting political consultations on issues of common interest between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries.

The talks also focused on enhancing cooperation in areas such as the economy, investments, energy, and culture. The Greek Prime Minister outlined the wide range of investment opportunities Greece offers due to its geostrategic position and its connections with the markets of the Balkans, Southeastern Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Black Sea, as well as initiatives like the development of infrastructure projects, including FSRU Alexandroupolis.

Views on international and regional developments were also exchanged, with particular emphasis on the situation in Gaza. The Greek Prime Minister reiterated the need for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages while expressing his growing concern over the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Gaza. Kyriakos Mitsotakis also expressed his appreciation for Qatar’s role in the Gulf region and particularly in the Gaza crisis, emphasizing that the strong relations between Greece and Qatar contribute to stability in the region.

The Greek side’s extended talks included participation from Foreign Minister Georgios Gerapetritis, National Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, Environment and Energy Minister Theodoros Skylakakis, Culture Minister Lina Mendonis, Maritime and Insular Policy Minister Christos Stylianides, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kostas Fragogiannis, Director of the Prime Minister’s Diplomatic Office Ambassador Anna-Maria-Elene Boura, Greece’s Ambassador to Qatar Ioannis Ioannidis, Head of the Prime Minister’s Economic Office Alexis Patelis, and Director of the Office of International Strategic Planning and Communication Aristotelia Peloni.

Fugitive Italian crime leader arrested in Slovenia

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Fugitive Italian crime leader arrested in Slovenia

The Hague, 22 August 2024 – A fast and coordinated action by Italian and Slovenian authorities, supported by Eurojust, has led to the arrest of a dangerous criminal hiding in Koper, Slovenia. The leader of an Italian organised crime group (OCG) was on the run from a 21-year prison sentence. He had been convicted of several crimes including drug trafficking, extortion and kidnapping.

The Italian OCG leader, of Calabrian origin, fled on the eve of his conviction in February this year. A national and European Arrest Warrant was issued for the 40-year-old fugitive. Complex investigations lasting several months were launched. The fugitive was finally located in Slovenia through a phone tapping and surveillance operation.

It was at this point that Eurojust became involved in the operation by executing a European Investigation Order (EIO). The EIO enabled surveillance activities in Slovenia, including phone tracking and physical tailing. In just 10 days, the EIO was executed and the Slovenian and Italian authorities were able to pinpoint the fugitive’s precise location in Koper, leading to his arrest on 20 August.

In February, the OCG leader was sentenced to 21 years in prison. The Italian was the leader of a criminal organisation that trafficked cocaine throughout Italy. He was also convicted of other crimes such as robbery, fraud, embezzlement, extortion, kidnapping and the illegal possession of weapons. In a separate trial, he was found guilty of mafia-related offences.

The following authorities were involved in the actions:

  • Italy: General Prosecution Office at the Court of Appeal of Perugia; Carabinieri – ROS (Special Operational Department); Anti-crime Section of Ancona and Investigation Unit of Fermo; SIRENE Office at the Italian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
  • Slovenia: Public Prosecution Office of Koper; Police Directorate in Koper.

Eurojust supports large-scale anti-mafia operation leading to arrest and freezing of EUR 50 million

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Eurojust supports large-scale anti-mafia operation leading to arrest and freezing of EUR 50 million

An investigation lasting over two years has uncovered an intricate money laundering scheme run by a mafia family from Palermo. The total value of their profits is estimated at over EUR 500 million. They reinvested the profits of their crimes in multiple companies in Brazil. Cooperation between Italian, Brazilian and Swiss authorities led to the arrest of a member of the organised crime group (OCG) during an action day on 13 August, as well as the freezing of financial assets worth EUR 50 million during several searches in Italy, Brazil and Switzerland.

To support other major mafia families, the OCG was involved in various criminal activities, including extortion, money laundering and the fraudulent transfer of valuables. An integrated network of financial professionals in Italy and around the world helped the OCG to invest its profits in companies in Italy, including a well-known hotel.

In 2016, the suspects moved their activities to Brazil to support another Italian criminal and launder more of their profits. The money arrived in Brazil through multiple transit bank accounts and with the support of their network of financial professionals in Italy.

One of the main members of the mafia family moved to Natal, Brazil, to start several companies using straw men and shell companies. Most of the companies were involved in large real estate and construction projects, such as a building site near the northeastern coast of Brazil. As these real estate projects were guaranteed to generate exceptionally high profits, it was easy for the OCG to hide their criminal gains. The total assets of the family are estimated at over EUR 500 million.

The Italian and Brazilian authorities have been investigating the activities of the OCG since 2022 through a joint investigation team (JIT), set up with the support of Eurojust. Their investigations uncovered the activities of the OCG in Switzerland. Through Eurojust, the Swiss authorities were involved in the JIT’s investigations.

On 13 August, a large coordinated operation took place in Italy, Switzerland and Brazil, with support from Eurojust. In Italy, 21 searches were carried out at the homes of the OCG members and the offices of their companies. A suspect was arrested in Brazil and financial assets worth EUR 50 million euros belonging to 17 individuals (all under investigation) were seized, as well as 12 companies involved in the real estate, construction and hospitality sectors. In Switzerland, the house of an Italian businessman was searched.

The following authorities were involved in the actions:

  • Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Office of Palermo – District Antimafia Directorate; Guardia di Finanza – G.I.C.O. (Organized Crime Investigative Group) of Palermo
  • Brazil: Federal Prosecutor’s Office of Rio Grande do Norte
  • Switzerland: Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland; Federal Office of Police fedpol

Ecuador Week in the Netherlands

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Ecuador Week in the Netherlands

The Embassy of Ecuador in The Hague is set to celebrate their National Day with a week-long series of promotional events showcasing the country’s flourishing commerce, rich gastronomy, and diverse tourist destinations represented by its various provinces. This annual tradition, initiated in 2017 by the Embassy  and Pro-Ecuador, their commercial branch, has grown in popularity and continues to exceed expectations each year.

Ecuador at Embassy Festival 2023

“We will celebrate National Day on September 3rd, featuring food stations representing each region of Ecuador. Our three chefs will not only serve these dishes but also provide explanations about each one,” stated H.E. Mr. Andres Teran Parral, the Ambassador of Ecuador to the Netherlands.

Following this, on September 4th, the Embassy will host the Investors and Buyers Reception, where the three chefs will present a specially curated menu for the occasion.

Ecuador Business Conference and Dinner

The highlight of the week will be the Ecuador Food Festival, taking place on September 5th and 6th at the Leonardo Royal Hotel. This event will feature the same menu designed for the Investors and Buyers Reception and will be open to the public. Reservations can be made via frontoffice.royaldenhaag@leonardo-hotels.nl.

Ambassador Caroline Chipeta of the United Republic of Tanzania to the Netherlands.and H.E. Dr. Eniola Olaitan Ajayi, Ambassador of the Republic of Nigeria at Ecuador Food Festival, Leonardo Royal Hotel 2023.
Starters at Ecuador Food Festival.

Ecuador Week will conclude with the Embassy’s participation in the Embassy Festival, where the three chefs will offer special tastings centered around Ecuadorian cocoa, as highlighted by Juan Carlos Yepez, Counsellor and Head of the Commercial Section at PRO ECUADOR.

Ecuador Food Festival 2024

Prime Minister of Curaçao Attends Swearing-In of Dominican President Luis Abinader

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Prime Minister of Curaçao Attends Swearing-In of Dominican President Luis Abinader

Prime Minister Gilmar Simon Pisas of Curaçao arrived in Santo Domingo on the afternoon of August 14 to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of President Luis Abinader, marking his second term as the head of the Dominican Republic.

Prime Minister Pisas landed at Las Américas International Airport, accompanied by a delegation from the Netherlands. Upon his arrival, he was welcomed by the Director of Ceremonial and Protocol of the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other officials.

Later that evening, at 6:30 pm, Prime Minister Pisas was received at the National Palace by President Abinader for a bilateral meeting lasting approximately 40 minutes. The two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest to Curaçao and the Dominican Republic, including current international and regional political matters. The Vice Minister of Bilateral Foreign Policy, José Julio Gómez, represented the Dominican Minister of Foreign Affairs during the meeting.

Gilmar Simon Pisas, a Dutch politician from Curaçao and a member of the Movement for the Future of Curaçao (MFK), previously served as Prime Minister in 2017 and has held the position again since June 14, 2021.

President Luis Abinader was inaugurated on Friday, August 16, for his second consecutive four-year term after winning 57% of the vote in the May 19, 2024, elections. During his 2024-2028 term, Abinader has pledged to contribute to the transformation of the Caribbean nation, which has a population of around 11 million, focusing on fighting corruption and reducing poverty.

Abinader initially won the presidency in the general elections on July 5, 2020, becoming the 67th president of the Dominican Republic, succeeding Danilo Medina Sánchez.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including King Felipe VI of Spain; President José Raúl Mulino of Panama; President Santiago Peña of Paraguay; President Luis Lacalle Pou of Uruguay; President Bernardo Arévalo of Guatemala; President Chan Santokhi of Suriname; and President Xiomara Castro of Honduras. Also in attendance were Vice President Félix Ulloa of El Salvador and the special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong.

The Prime Minister of Curacao, held bilateral meetings in The Hague with the Dominican Ambassador to the Netherlands, H.E. Dr. Juan Bautista Duran earlier this year where the latter effectively motivated his attendance to the inauguration of President Abinader.

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Santo Domingo Joint Declaration on Venezuela

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Santo Domingo Joint Declaration on Venezuela

Friday, August 16, 2024 – A coalition of countries, convened in Santo Domingo during the inauguration of the new presidential term of Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader, issued a strong appeal for wisdom and prudence in Venezuela. They urged all social and political actors to exercise the utmost restraint in this critical moment for Venezuela and the region.

“We call for the respect of democratic principles, as well as the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Venezuelans, particularly the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. It is deeply concerning that this is not currently the situation in Venezuela. Reports of arbitrary detentions without due process are alarming, and we demand the immediate release of those detained.”

The declaration strongly condemned the repression of demonstrators and the violence that has claimed the lives of many Venezuelans in the post-election context. The signatories made an urgent plea for Venezuelan authorities to end the violence and release all detainees, including opposition representatives.

“We further urge that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights be allowed to return to Venezuela as a matter of urgency, and we call on Venezuela to guarantee the conditions necessary for it to fully carry out its mandate.”

The declaration also demanded that Venezuela, as a State Party to the Caracas Convention on Diplomatic Asylum of 1954, comply with its provisions and issue safe-conducts for the six asylum-seekers who remain in the official residence of the Argentine Republic, allowing them to safely leave Venezuelan territory.

The signatory countries called for the immediate publication of all original tally sheets and the impartial, independent verification of those results, preferably by an international entity, to ensure that the will of the Venezuelan people expressed at the polls is respected. “Any delay in this process calls into question the results officially published on August 2, 2024.”

“Our nations have a history of advocating dialogue and understanding to resolve serious conflicts. Today, more than ever, Venezuela must honor that legacy to restore peaceful coexistence, public security, and political stability, which, according to reports from the UN Human Rights Council’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, are currently being jeopardized by Venezuela’s own security authorities.”

The declaration concludes with a commitment to always support a genuinely Venezuelan solution in which democracy, justice, peace, and security prevail.

Signed in Santo Domingo:

Republic of Argentina, Canada, Republic of Chile, Czech Republic, Republic of Costa Rica, Republic of Ecuador, Kingdom of Spain, United States of America, Republic of Guatemala, Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Italian Republic, Kingdom of Morocco, Kingdom of the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Republic of Panama, Republic of Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Portuguese Republic, Oriental Republic of Uruguay and the European Union.

Fall of Hasina: Gen Z uprising

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Fall of Hasina: Gen Z uprising

By Sazzad Haider

As like the Arab Spring, “the monsoon movement” is stirring the skies of South Asia. The youth of the South Asian countries have taken to the streets with unprecedented courage, pouring blood from their chests, chanting “We Want Justice”.

Bangladeshi students took to the streets to remove discrimination. In this movement, they dismissed the old political philosophy—they wanted to end all inequalities. They rejected nepotism, muscle power, corruption, lawlessness and dictatorship in politics.

After Bangladesh, the air of India and Pakistan is now full of similar slogans. These are the uprising of Generation Z “the group of people who were born between the late 1990s and the early 2010s, who are regarded as being very familiar with the internet.”

Following month-long movement in Bangladesh- Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year democratic dictatorship has been swept away by this Generation Z uprising. Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League are now in the past in Bangladesh. Like every other infamous dictator, Sheikh Hasina did not hesitate to commit genocide before her fall. According to the United Nations, 650 people lost their lives, including 32 children.

From mid-July to August 5, the people of Bangladesh spent a night of death, murder, fire and terror. On the afternoon of August 5, hours after Sheikh Hasina had fled to India, a large sculpture Sheikh Mujib that had been placed on the streets of Dhaka fell to the ground. Hasina saved her life by putting her ministers, party workers, police and other law enforcement officers in danger.

As like Romanian Ceaușescu or North Korean Kim, several hundred status of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of Bangladesh were installed and Hasina had taken a variety of legal measures to ensure the people’s respect for her father.

Like an autocrat, she had created Sheikh-family, giving a monarchy status, making law to protect her own family. The Sheikh family was involved in every development project which she promoted. In her latest press conference as Prime Minister, she made a comment that her office peon owns 40 million rupees by malpractice. From this example one can infer some of the corruption of the last 15 years. It can be said that the Sheikh family became the owner of the entire country. People’s anger against this family is so great that after Hasina’s fall, numerous sculptures of her father built with people’s money all over the country were razed to the ground, her father’s residence was set on fire – Sheikh Hasina’s official residence, her personal residence, relatives, ministers and party leaders’ residences were also burnt.

All the qualities of a modern dictator were existed in this democratic autocrat. Sheikh Hasina fell due to the following five reasons among numerous reasons.

1. Hasina came to power in 2008 and adopted an approach that ensured her power would last forever. For this she set a vision 41 – that is, her party Awami Leugue will be in power till 2041, in other words she will be in power for as long as life lasts. After coming to power, she set into motion the plan to remove the obstacles by suppressing dissentients. She never hid her love for India. To get India’s favor, she fulfilled all India’s demands, signed India favored unequal treaties. Within months of coming to power, a mutiny by Bangladesh Rifle ( Border Guards) killed around eighty military officials. Sheikh Hasina wasted unnecessary time in taking a decision to suppress this rebellion-which makes this rebellion as a mysterious event.

Allegedly, this rebellion took place at behest of India to weaken the Bangladesh Army, which had anti-India attitude. The lack of transparency in government investigations further fueled this allegation. After this mutiny, a purge was carried out in the army and Hasina’s staunch loyalists were appointed to high posts. Then Sheikh Hasina embarked on a mission to eradicate the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the main political opponent. The leaders and workers of this party are burdened with assault cases and torture. Hasina turned the police into a party force.

Then she brought the high court under her directive. As a Chief Justice refused to write a verdict on Hasina’s wish, that Justice was tortured by military intelligence forces and sent out of the country. She politicized the entire administration as she politicized administration, the military and the high courts. She brought the Election Commission under her will. In the future, only Awami League people get all the government jobs, therefore, she set a quota of 30% of government job for the grandson/granddaughter of the so-called freedom fighters.

2. Hasina’s obedient, the Election Commission, conducted North Korea-style three national elections without voters, without participation of opposition parties. The younger generation has never given vote in their lifetime. Sheikh Hasina formed the so-called opposition party in parliament with a faction of her own party. She was slowly moving towards one-party rule.

3. Sheikh Hasina enacted various laws to curtail freedom of expression – one of which was the Digital Security Act. One of the goals of this law was to control various media based on the Internet, especially social media. During her tenure, all the newspapers and television channels were owned by her flatterers. So, through all these propaganda tools, the drum of development activities was constantly played as like North Korea style. She sent independent journalism into exile successfully. There are allegations that many journalists were jailed, some had gone missing, and a writer has been killed in jail.

4. She used to spread the myth of Islamic militancy to keep the opposition under pressure and gaining western supports. She used various laws to suppress militancy. Her police were given a license to kill so called militants in a sight. Another force—the Rapid Action Battalion—or RAB ( which is under US sanctions) was tasked with staging cross-fire dramas and killing people in the name of counter-militancy. Thousands of people were victims of these extrajudicial killings every year. Sheikh Hasina built a torture house called “Mirror House” operated by army intelligence. Suspects were brought to this building to be tortured before being killed, and the suspects were held for years without any information being provided to the families.

From politicians to common people used to suffer from mirror anxiety. After the fall of Hasina, many people were rescued from this Mirror House who had been missing for eight years. Their families assumed these members were not alive. Apart from this, there were the gangs of ruling Awami League and its wing organizations Jubo League and Chhatra League. They set many precedents of beating people to death and shooting indiscriminately.

5. In the last fifteen years, Sheikh Hasina had manifested corruption all over the country. From cabinet to throughout the administration, a group of “yes man” were nominated—whose main job was to support Sheikh Hasina’s corruption. Moreover, members of the Sheikh family acted as godfathers to supervise the ministers. Other autocrats in the world, Sheikh Hasina took many big projects for the country’s needs/non-needs. The Hasina family used to get a large share of all these big projects. The Hasina family used to get a large share of all these big projects. Ousted Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and niece Tulip Siddiq embezzled $5 billion from overpriced $12.65 billion Rooppur nuclear power plant through Malaysian banks, according to report by Global Defense Corporation.

Several cases of genocide has been filed against Sheikh Hasina. Various international organizations, including the United Nations, have also started investigating Sheikh Hasina’s crimes. Sheikh Hasina has no chance to sleep in peace even though she is under political asylum in India.

About the author:

Sazzad Haider is Writer & journalist, lives in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is Editor-in-Chief of Diplomatic Journal.

Uzbek Ambassador Akhatov in visit to Munich

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Uzbek Ambassador Akhatov in visit to Munich

July 2024, Munich, Bavarian State Chancellery: Bavarian Minister of European and International Affairs, Eric Beißwenger held a bilateral conversation with Dilshod Akhatov, the Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Germany. 

After an exciting historical discourse focusing on Uzbek cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara and Tashkent that once were important trading centers on the famous Silk Road, the two dignitaries talked about possible future cooperation between Bavaria and Uzbekistan.

The “Development Strategy for a New Uzbekistan 2022-2026” is a crucial basis for the latter collaboration framework. Among other things, this aims to promote the development of a free civil society and private sector. Bavaria is committed to monitoring this closely and looks forward to further reform successes.

For further information 

Embassy of Uzbekistan in Germany: https://www.uzbekistan.de/frontend/web/

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and strengthening the EU-Kyrgyzstan partnership

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The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and strengthening the EU-Kyrgyzstan partnership

By The International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies / IFIMES

The ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war and the evolving security situation in the Red Sea, due to attacks by the Yemeni Houthi movement on ships in this critical global trade corridor, have forced European countries to find an alternative commercial transport route that connects them with China without going through Russia, the Red Sea, or the Suez Canal.

Europe’s attention is now focused more than ever on the Middle Corridor, a combined land, sea, and rail trade route that can link China with the EU. In 2023, China was the EU’s third-largest export partner accounting for 8.8% of EU exports, while imports from China made up 20.5% of the EU’s total imports. Germany is leading European efforts to strengthen the infrastructure of this corridor to bypass the northern trade route, which connects China to Europe and passes through Russia. The three largest exporters to China from the EU are Germany (€97 billion), France (€25 billion), and the Netherlands (€22 billion)[2].

The Middle Corridor “TITR”

The Middle Corridor, known as the “Trans-Caspian International Transport Route” (TITR), is one of the three global trade corridors between China and Europe. Spanning 4,256 kilometres, it includes both land roads and railways, as well as 508 kilometres of sea routes. The corridor begins in the Chinese city of Kashgar and continues through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to the port of Türkmenbaşy on the Caspian Sea coast in Turkmenistan. From there, goods are transported in containers through Azerbaijan and Georgia to the railway station in Kars in northern Turkey, and then onward to Turkish sea ports before reaching Europe.

There are two main trade routes connecting Asia with Europe:

  • The first is the sea route through the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the Suez Canal, and the Mediterranean Sea, which serves as the main artery for international trade. Recent tensions in the Red Sea resulted in a 50% reduction in traffic since the beginning of 2024, forcing maritime traffic to take a longer route around the African continent via the Cape of Good Hope.
  • The second route is the Northern Corridor, which connects China with Europe via a railway that passes through Russia.

According to data from the Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the Middle Corridor is notably faster compared to the Northern Corridor, which passes through Russia. In comparison, the Northern Corridor spans around 10,000 kilometres and requires at least 15 days for transport. The Southern maritime route, approximately 20,000 kilometres long, takes between 45 and 60 days[3].

The World Bank (WB) presented key findings from its latest study on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, during a regional presentation in Tbilisi on 27 February 2024[4]. Cargo transport volume on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route increased by 88% in the first nine months of 2023, reaching two million tons. This underscores the growing reliance of global trade on this corridor[5].

New geopolitical alliances in Central Asia 2024

Historically, Central Asia — encompassing Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — has served as a geostrategic hub connecting Asia and Europe through infrastructure, trade, and energy networks. It remains the largest landlocked region in the world without access to global seas.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Central Asian countries encountered significant challenges. Geopolitically, they have enhanced their infrastructure by forging stronger ties with China. 

Simultaneously, these nations have aligned their long-term economic policies towards the West to attract investments and support development efforts.

U.S. policy towards the region

Historically, there was little significant Western interest in Central Asia, but the situation has now changed as the region has become a focal point of geopolitical competition among major powers: Russia, China, the United States, and the EU.

In September 2023, American President Joe Biden met for the first time with the presidents of the five Central Asian states (Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. President Biden described this meeting as a “historic moment.”[6]

The sudden U.S. withdrawal from neighbouring Afghanistan in 2021, coupled with Russian-Chinese rivalry in the region, has paved the way for new alliances in Central Asia. In essence, it is no longer a “forgotten region” but rather an emerging region preparing for a “decisive game.”

Despite challenges, leaders of Central Asian states are persistently working to institutionalize their regional alliance, particularly through regular annual meetings aimed at creating better conditions for trade and investment.

President Biden has proposed launching the C5+1 Dialogue on critical minerals to develop and harness the abundant mineral wealth of Central Asia. Kazakhstan looks to the United States for support in establishing a UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals. Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan is actively encouraging international investors to invest in its hydropower sector.

Japan: A new player in Central Asia

Interestingly, Japan has recently embarked on efforts to engage in the geopolitical game of courting Central Asian countries. While Tokyo and Central Asian nations have shared historical ties since ancient times, Japan’s recent interest in the region appears to be growing.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans to visit Central Asia in August 2024 and participate in the inaugural summit with the leaders of the five-country group (Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). Meanwhile, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov visited Tokyo on 2 November 2023, aiming to reduce the dependency of Central Asian countries on Russia and China. During a joint press conference, the Japanese prime minister emphasized the significance of strengthening cooperation with Central Asia, particularly in sustainable development, infrastructure support, and human resource development. Looking ahead, Japan could potentially assist in developing the Caspian Sea transport route, and Tokyo may also actively participate in projects involving renewable energy and decarbonization in Central Asian countries[7].

EU policy towards Central Asia

President of the European Council, Charles Michel, visited Kyrgyzstan on 3 June 2023, to participate in the Second Summit between the European Union and Central Asia, a region currently experiencing intense competition among major powers. The event took place just two weeks after President Xi Jinping’s summit with the leaders of the five Central Asian states on 18 May 2023. China is consolidating its economic dominance in this traditionally Russian-influenced region, which is pivotal for China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), valued at one trillion dollars.

The Russo-Ukrainian war has given new impetus to relations between Central Asia and the European Union. With Moscow preoccupied with the conflict and ensuing sanctions, leaders of Central Asian states are taking steps to diversify their partnerships and reduce dependency on Russia and China, while simultaneously enhancing relations with Turkey, India, Japan, UAE, and others.

The European Union is the largest donor to the region, providing 1.1 billion euros in aid between 2014 and 2020. Furthermore, the EU stands as the leading investment partner in Central Asia, representing 42% of total investments, significantly ahead of the United States (14.2%), Russia (6%), and China (3.7%).

In early 2023, the EU threatened to impose additional sanctions on countries accused of aiding Russia in circumventing Western sanctions, including Central Asian states. This EU move aims to mitigate the impact of sanctions against Russia, which could indirectly affect Central Asian countries and potentially push them closer into Moscow’s embrace. Despite the region’s declared commitment to pursuing a multilateral foreign policy, these nations maintain close ties with Russia due to military, economic alliances, and cultural connections. Meanwhile, China has taken a more active role in the region by approving significant loans to finance the “New Silk Routes” massive infrastructure projects.

Political systems in Central Asia remain the focus of Western non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which characterize them as authoritarian. However, the official policy of the EU is not influenced by such considerations. The truth is that these countries have strong central administrations with significant presidential powers, similar to many Western states such as the US, France, and others.

President Japarov enhanced EU-Kyrgyzstan partnership

Five years after concluding negotiations and initialling the draft Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), Kyrgyzstan and the European Union signed the agreement in Brussels during the working visit of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on 25 June 2024. The ceremony took place in the presence of President Japarov and President of the European Council Charles Michel[8].

EPCA replaces the earlier Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) from 1999, which had previously formed the basis of EU-Kyrgyzstan relations.

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, stated: “We are happy to count the Kyrgyz Republic amongst our close partners.” He characterized the EPCA as a demonstration of the EU’s “steadfast commitment to strengthening and deepening our bilateral relations based on shared values and common interests in all areas of mutual benefit, reflecting new geopolitical and economic realities.” The European External Action Service (EEAS) later released a statement quoting Borrell, emphasizing that the EU is “pleased to count the Kyrgyz Republic amongst our close partners.”

The EEAS highlighted key areas of cooperation including trade, investment, sustainable development, connectivity, research, innovation, education, environmental protection, climate change, as well as governance, human rights, and civil society.

The EU anticipates that this agreement will facilitate “strengthening cooperation in foreign and security policy, including conflict prevention and crisis management, risk reduction, cybersecurity, regional stability, disarmament, non-proliferation, arms control, and export control.”[9]

Analysts highlight the significance of advancing EU-Kyrgyzstan relations, largely attributed to President Sadyr Japarov’s efforts and commitment to improve ties with the European Union. The signed EPCA agreement serves as the formal foundation for enhancing relations across all sectors.

Ljubljana/Bruxelles/Bishkek, 9 August 2024     

Footnotes:
[1] IFIMES – International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies, based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, has a special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council ECOSOC/UN in New York since 2018, and it is the publisher of the international scientific journal “European Perspectives.”

[2] China – EU – International trade in goods statistics. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=China-EU_-_international_trade_in_goods_statistics   

[3] Türkiye’s Multilateral Transportation Policy. Available at:  www.mfa.gov.tr/turkiye_s-multilateral-transportation-policy.en.mfa .

[4] World Bank Presents Key Findings of Latest Study on Middle Corridor in Tbilisi. Available at: https://astanatimes.com/2024/03/world-bank-presents-key-findings-of-latest-study-on-middle-corridor-in-tbilisi/

[5] Cargo Transportation Along Middle Corridor Soars 88%, Reaches 2 Million Tons in 2023 

[6] First Central Asia – USA summit in New York – Agenda and Initiatives. Available at:  www.newscentralasia.net/2023/09/20/first-central-asia-usa-summit-in-new-york-agenda-and-initiatives/   
https://astanatimes.com/2023/12/cargo-transportation-along-middle-corridor-soars-88-reaches-2-million-tons-in-2023/

[7] Japan looks to wean Kyrgyzstan off reliance on China, Russia. Available at: https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Japan-looks-to-wean-Kyrgyzstan-off-reliance-on-China-Russia

[8] Factsheet on Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Kyrgyz Republic, Available at: www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/factsheet-enhanced-partnership-and-cooperation-agreement-between-eu-and-kyrgyz-republic_en

[9] Kyrgyzstan, EU Sign Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. Available at:  https://thediplomat.com/2024/06/kyrgyzstan-eu-sign-enhanced-partnership-and-cooperation-agreement/ 

A law that can ‘legalize pedophilia’ is on the table

Diplomat Magazine
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A law that can ‘legalize pedophilia’ is on the table

Critics say that the amendment would allow legal child marriage and harm women’s status

The Jerusalem Post (05.08.2024) – A proposed amendment to Iraq’s Personal Status Law is causing controversy, especially among women’s rights supporters. The amended law would allow men to decide upon marriage whether to follow Sunni or Shiite family law and would give clerics unprecedented legal authority. Critics say it would deprive Shiite women of basic rights and even open the door to child marriage.

The draft amendment would change inheritance law in Iraq by mandating that inheritance operate by sect. Under the current law, which is based on Sunni inheritance customs, a woman whose husband dies inherits his estate. The amended law would allow women in Sunni marriages to inherit from their husbands but would ban women in Shiite marriages from doing so, in accordance with Shiite custom.

Custody law is also differentiated by sect under the amendment. Sunni custody customs, which currently apply to all Iraqis, mandate that a divorced woman maintain custody of her children until they reach puberty, at which point the children can decide which parent to live with. Under Shiite law, the children’s father automatically receives custody unless he chooses otherwise.

A woman seeking divorce from a Shiite man under the amended law would be forced to pay a sum of money to her husband to end the marriage. In current Iraqi family law, based on Sunni custom, a woman can request a separation and be granted a divorce by a judge if she provides adequate justification.

One of the most controversial effects of the amended law would be the legalization of “pleasure marriage,” a concept unique to the Shiite sect. A pleasure marriage, known in Arabic as nikah mut’ah, is a temporary marriage that can last as little as an hour. Unlike a permanent marriage, a pleasure marriage does not require registration in court or the presence of witnesses.

Critics say that the legalization of pleasure marriage would be devastating to the status of Shiite women and could be used to legitimate child marriage and prostitution.

Iraqi nongovernmental organizations, human rights activists, lawyers, Sunni clerics, and many political parties have heavily criticized the amendment. But the ruling Shiite coalition, known as the Coordination Framework, insists on passing the amendment, as do Iraq’s Shiite clerics.

An Iraqi parliamentary source, who declined to be named, told The Media Linethat the Shiite authority in Najaf, Iraq is pushing the Shiite parties to pass the amendment.

“They are now negotiating with us—either we pass the law or no other law proposed by the rest of the blocs will be passed, and since they are the majority, they may pass this law, but they need more votes,” the source said.

Much of the discussion of the amendment relates to dynamics between Iraq’s Shiite majority and Sunni minority and is taking place in a parliament obstructed by those same dynamics. The parliament, the Council of Representatives of Iraq, has been without a speaker since November 2023, when the Federal Supreme Court removed Sunni Speaker of Parliament Mohamed al-Halbousi from his post. (According to Iraqi custom, the speaker is always Sunni, the prime minister is Shiite, and the president is Kurdish.) Divisions between the two major Sunni parties have kept the parliament without a speaker for the past eight months.

Amendment to the law

The parliamentary source said that the authority that the law gives to clerics is unconstitutional, as is the lack of reference to religious groups other than Sunni or Shiite Muslims. Around 2% of Iraq’s population, or about 890,000 people, are not Muslim.

While Shiite parties are intent on passing the Personal Status Law amendment, Sunni parties are working to pass a general amnesty law, the source said. That law would grant amnesty for the many Iraqis convicted of terrorism without just cause, most of whom are Sunni.

The source said that negotiations will likely lead to both the amended Personal Status Law and the general amnesty law being passed or to neither of them passing.

In a statement published on its website, the Coordination Framework called on the Council of Representatives to proceed with the first reading of the amendment. It described the proposed amendment as “in harmony with the constitution, which stipulates that Iraqis are free to make their choices in a manner that does not conflict with the constants of Sharia and the foundations of democracy.”

“The Shiite woman is the biggest loser from this law if it is passed,” Heba Al-Naib, an Iraqi journalist and member of several women’s associations, told The Media Line. She said that the new law would lead to legalized child marriage in Iraq, in contradiction to the original 1959 Personal Status Law, which requires that both members of a couple be above 18 years old to marry.

“The law legalizes pedophilia,” Al-Naib said. “There are cases of marriage outside the law for young children, some of them 8 or 9 years old. This used to happen outside the courts and only with a contract from a cleric. Now this will become official. Instead of the state fighting it, it will become legal.”

She also said that the legalization of pleasure marriage would lead to “official prostitution.”

The Shiite Women’s Support Association has seen thousands of cases of women involved in pleasure marriages, Al-Naib said. “After the man spent a day or two with them and they became pregnant, the husband refused to acknowledge the children, considering that they might be children from another temporary marriage and not from him,” she explained.

Nawar Assem, founder of the Dream Women’s Organization, told The Media Line that unofficial estimates suggest that more than half a million marriages in Iraq involve children under the age of 15. Official figures show that around 250,000 Iraqi girls under 18 are married, she said.

“Shiite women in particular will be wronged, and Iraqi women in general, if child marriage is allowed,” Assem said. “Most of these marriages end either in crime, divorce, an unhappy life, or death, as a result of the girl becoming pregnant before she can bear children and raise them.”

She said that she and other activists will fight against the amendment even if they are threatened with murder.

Talal al-Azzawi, an Iraqi lawyer, noted that the amendment allows a man, but not a woman, to choose which sect the couple will follow.

“What is the fault of the Sunni woman that the provisions of the Shiite sect are imposed on her because it is the sect of the husband? The proposal is contrary to the provisions of the Iraqi constitution,” he told The Media Line.

“The other problem is that the law will be subject to the mood of the clerics. Does he want to divorce the wife or not?” he added.

He also said that the legalization of pleasure marriages would cause problems in Iraqi courts.

“There are women who want to cheat on their husbands, or husbands who want to cheat on their wives, so they get married temporarily for a few hours or a few days, and then the cheating begins,” he said. “The cleric who signed the marriage contract does not know whether it is cheating or not, and problems and murders occur Imagine if this matter will be legal and take place in court.”

Iraqi human rights activist Mohammed Ezz said that the amendment would be a step “thousands of years backward” for Iraq. “Maybe later we will see a law that restores slavery,” he told The Media Line.

Shiite cleric Sayed Jafar al-Mousawi defended the amendment. “Islam is what governs us,” he told The Media Line. “It’s our law.”

Al-Mousawi said that the Personal Status Law was originally legislated by “secular people who do not understand religion.”

He criticized Westerners as hypocritical for opposing child marriages when children in the West begin having sex “at an early age, maybe 12 or even 11.”

“When a woman reaches puberty and gets her period, she becomes a full woman, and she has the right to marry. And when a child reaches puberty, he has the right to marry too, so why do we refuse?” he said.

“The matter remains in the hands of the fathers.”

He also defended the Shiite legal regulations that allow pleasure marriages and forbid a woman from inheriting her husband’s estate.

“The amendment will pass,” al-Mousawi said. “Otherwise, we have other ways to pass it.”

Iraqi Sunni cleric Muawiya al-Badri harshly criticized the amendment, saying it has “nothing to do with Islam.” Now that child marriage is no longer acceptable in society, it should no longer be acceptable religiously either, he told The Media Line.

“Their problem with the law is that it took into account the Sunni opinion in 1959, and since 2003 until now they have tried to amend it several times, but they always fail,” al-Badri said of Iraqi Shiites. “The one who drafted the law saw what was most beneficial for women and society, and put it in law, but now they reject it just because it is a law according to the legitimate Sunni opinion.”

Published by HRWF: https://hrwf.eu/iraq-a-law-that-can-legalize-pedophilia-is-on-the-table/

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