President Biden meets Guterres, reaffirms 'strong partnership' between US, UN

WASHINGTON DC, September 21: US President Joe Biden on Monday evening (local time) met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and reaffirmed strong partnership between the United States and the United Nations which, in particular, is based on common values that include respect for universal human rights, fundamental freedoms, and international law. "The strong partnership between the United States and the UN is based on common values and principles. And at this moment, those bonds are more important than ever," said Biden. They discussed the importance of multilateralism and the defense of democracy and the rules-based international order, which is anchored by the United Nations, as critical to addressing today's greatest challenges, read White House statement. Both leaders met on the sidelines of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. "America is back. We believe in the United Nations and its value. Because of the challenges we face today in ending COVID-19 and dealing with the gravest threat to humanity we've ever seen, which is the whole climate crisis we're undergoing that can only be met with global solutions, no one country can -- no ten countries can do it. And the Secretary-General and I share a strong commitment to the principles of human freedom and human dignity on which the UN was founded," added Biden. Specifically, they spoke of the urgency to work together, along with Member States of the United Nations, to end the COVID-19 pandemic, prepare for future health security threats, combat climate change, strengthen food systems and food security, address humanitarian needs, prevent and mitigate conflict, and promote and defend human rights worldwide. The President reaffirmed that complex, global challenges can only be addressed by genuinely global solutions, an approach reflected in the President's vision of building back better, and he emphasized the unique role of the United Nations in delivering prosperity, peace and security for everyone, added the release. Thanking President Biden, Guterres said, "I am delighted to have this opportunity to meet you, as you have clearly affirmed the strong commitment of the United States to the UN and to multilateralism -- a multilateralism that we also want to see reformed, more effective, and more in line with the need to solve the dramatic problems of this world." Stressing on the importance of cooperation between the US and the UN, said that it is a fundamental pillar for the work of the UN. "The United States, with its strong commitment to human rights; its strong commitment to peace and security in the world; its strong commitment to development, cooperation; and now, with your leadership, a very strong commitment on climate change, the United States represents a fundamental pillar of our activity," said UN chief. "And you can be absolutely sure that we share the same values, the same concerns, and the same commitment to the people of this world, especially to the most vulnerable and to those that have been more than dramatically impacted both by the COVID, the climate, and other challenges that we face together," added Guterres.

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Ukraine war: Biden tells Zelensky his country will never stand alone

Dec 22: "You will never stand alone," Mr Biden told Mr Zelensky as he visited the White House on his first overseas trip since the Russian invasion began. Mr Biden confirmed a new package of more than $2bn (£1.7bn) in assistance for Ukraine and promised another $45bn. Mr Zelensky expressed his gratitude for Washington's backing. At Wednesday's joint news conference, Mr Biden told reporters he was "not at all worried" about holding the international coalition together. Amid concerns that some allies may be feeling the strain of the conflict's cost and disruption to global food and energy supplies, the US president said he felt "very good" about the solidarity of support for Ukraine. Mr Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin had "no intention of stopping this cruel war". As Ukraine's most important ally, the US has already committed $50bn (£41bn) of humanitarian, financial and security assistance - far more than any other country. Mr Zelensky - wearing his trademark combat-green sweatshirt and boots - expressed hope that Congress would pass the extra $45bn in aid to Ukraine to "help us to defend our values, values and independence". Republicans - who will take control of the House of Representatives in January - have warned they will not write a "blank cheque" for Ukraine. But Mr Zelensky, who travelled on a US Air Force jet from the Polish city of Rzeszow, said that "regardless of changes in the Congress", he believed there would be bipartisan support for his country. After the White House meeting, the 44-year-old Ukrainian president gave an address to a joint session of Congress, where he was welcomed with a standing ovation. He told US lawmakers his country was still standing "against all odds" and predicted "a turning point" in the conflict next year. While vowing Ukraine would never surrender, he said it needed more weaponry. "We have artillery, yes, thank you," he told his audience. "Is it enough? Honestly, not really." "For the Russian army to completely pull out, more cannon and shells are needed," he added. Concluding his speech, Mr Zelensky presented Congress with a battle flag signed by the defenders of Bakhmut, a frontline city in the east of Ukraine that he visited on the eve of his Washington trip. The package of security assistance announced by Washington on Wednesday includes a new Patriot missile system, which is expected to help Ukraine protect its cities from missiles and drones that Russia has fired at critical facilities. A rare moment of levity arose in Wednesday's news conference as Mr Zelensky, a former comedian, answered reporters' questions. The Ukrainian president said: "What's going to happen after the Patriots are installed? After that we will send another signal to President Biden that we would like to get more Patriots." "We are in a war, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry," he deadpanned in English, as the audience in the East Room laughed. Mr Biden chuckled and said: "We're working on it." Russia's foreign ministry has said the delivery of the advanced surface-to-air missile system would be considered a provocative step. Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Putin said he believed his country was not to blame for the war in Ukraine, adding both countries were "sharing a tragedy". Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, the US military estimates that at least 100,000 Russian and 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or injured, along with some 40,000 civilian deaths. The UN has recorded 7.8 million people as refugees from Ukraine across Europe, including Russia. However, the figure does not include those who have been forced to flee their homes but remain in Ukraine.

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Is Russia invading Ukraine and what does Putin want?

FEB 22: Russia has deployed at least 150,000 Russian troops close to Ukraine's borders and recognised two breakaway regions inside it. What happens next could jeopardise Europe's entire security structure. Has Putin ordered an invasion? He has sent in so-called peacekeeping troops, but few believe they are there to keep the peace. Australia's PM says that idea is nonsense and one Ukrainian general said it was clear they would be regular forces. President Putin has torn up a peace agreement with neighbouring Ukraine, recognising the independence of two eastern areas seized and occupied by Russian-backed rebels in 2014. " That was the year Russia first invaded Ukraine, a country of 44 million people, seizing then annexing its southern region of Crimea. President Joe Biden warned that the Russian leader had decided to attack "in the coming days" and latest satellite images show Russian forces deployed within 9 to 19 miles (15-30km) of the frontier. The eight-year conflict in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region has never ended, and Russia could pour more troops into those breakaway regions, but it could go beyond. It has more than 150,000 troops deployed close to Ukraine's borders. President Putin always maintained he did not want war and was ready to negotiate, but ending the peace accords with Ukraine and recognising breakaway areas as independent makes further talks look dead in the water for now. Until now he has threatened "appropriate retaliatory military-technical measures" if his demands for "security guarantees" from the West are not met. Mr Putin has warned Ukraine that it will be responsible for further bloodshed if the country does not halt hostilities in the east. But there have already been a series of bogus incidents in the region and any one of them could be used as a pretext for attack. When rebel leaders ordered a civilian evacuation claiming a Ukrainian offensive was imminent, it emerged a video appeal had been pre-recorded two days earlier. Why is Russia targeting Ukraine? Russia has long resisted Ukraine's move towards European institutions, both Nato and the EU. Mr Putin has now claimed Ukraine is a puppet of the West, and was never a proper state anyway. His core demand is that the West to guarantee Ukraine will not join Nato, a defensive alliance of 30 countries. Ukraine shares borders with both the EU and Russia. As a former Soviet republic it has deep social and cultural ties with Russia, and Russian is widely spoken there, but ever since Russia invaded in 2014 those relations have frayed. Russia attacked Ukraine when its pro-Russian president was deposed in early 2014. The war in the east has since claimed more than 14,000 lives. Why is recognition of rebel areas dangerous? Until now these so-called people's republics of Donetsk and Luhansk have been run by Russian proxies. Under Mr Putin's decree of recognition, Russia can also build military bases, By pouring Russian troops into an area witnessing hundreds of ceasefire violations every a day, the risk of open war becomes far higher. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned Russia's recognition of independence as a violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty and the West says it is a violation of international law. Two Minsk peace agreements of 2014-15 aimed at ending the conflict would have given them special status inside Ukraine. The accords were never fulfilled but negotiations were still going on, with France and Germany fully committed to them. They now look doomed. Russia had already prepared the ground, with unfounded accusations that Ukraine had committed "genocide" in the east. It has handed out some 700,000 passports in rebel-run areas, so it can argue any action is aimed at protecting its own citizens. How far will Russia go? Much of the attention is on the east in Ukraine, where Russian troops could soon be on the ground. But President Biden has warned: "We believe they will target Ukraine's capital Kyiv, a city of 2.8 million innocent people." Although Moscow previously insisted "there is no Russian invasion", Russia could mobilise troops in Crimea, Belarus and around Ukraine's eastern borders. How far will the West go on Ukraine? The West has made clear there are no plans to send combat troops to Ukraine itself so the main response will be sanctions on Russia. Nato countries have offered Ukraine other support, in the form of advisers, weapons and field hospitals. Meanwhile, 5,000 troops have been deployed in the Baltic states and Poland. Another 4,000 troops could be sent to Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia. So what would sanctions look like? The US says it would target Russia's financial institutions and key industries; the EU says it will limit Russian access to financial markets and the UK has warned "those in and around the Kremlin will have nowhere to hide", with restrictions imposed on Russian business accessing the dollar and pound. Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany looks under threat too. It's complete but not yet approved by Germany's regulator. The ultimate economic hit would be to disconnect Russia's banking system from the international Swift payment system. But that could badly impact the US and European economies. What does Putin want? Russia has spoken of a "moment of truth" in recasting its relationship with Nato and has highlighted three demands. First, it wants a legally binding pledge that Nato does not expand further: "For us it's absolutely mandatory to ensure Ukraine never, ever becomes a member of Nato," said Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. Mr Putin has complained Russia has "nowhere further to retreat to - do they think we'll just sit idly by?" In 1994 Russia signed an agreement to respect independent Ukraine's independence and sovereignty. But last year President Putin wrote a long piece describing Russians and Ukrainians as "one nation", and now he has claimed modern Ukraine was entirely created by communist Russia. He sees the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991 as the "disintegration of historical Russia". President Putin has also argued that if Ukraine joined Nato, the alliance might try to recapture Crimea. His other core demands are that Nato does not deploy "strike weapons near Russia's borders", and that it removes forces and military infrastructure from member states that joined the alliance from 1997. That means Central Europe, Eastern Europe and the Baltics. In reality Russia wants Nato to return to its pre-1997 borders. What Nato says Nato is a defensive alliance with an open-door policy to new members, and its 30 member states are adamant that will not change. Ukraine's president has called for "clear, feasible timeframes" to join Nato, but there is no prospect of it happening for a long time, as Germany's chancellor has made clear. The idea that any current Nato country would give up its membership is a non-starter. In President Putin's eyes, the West promised back in 1990 that Nato would expand "not an inch to the east" but did so anyway. That was before the collapse of the Soviet Union, however, so the promise made to then Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev only referred to East Germany in the context of a reunified Germany. Mr Gorbachev said later "the topic of Nato expansion was never discussed" at the time. Is there a diplomatic solution? Germany has accused Russia of deliberately destroying a peace process covering eastern Ukraine without apparent reason. There looks to be no way of restoring that international peace deal. There was talk of a Putin-Biden summit but that now seems doomed too. Russia wanted a treaty with the US barring nuclear weapons from being deployed beyond their national territories. The US offered to start talks on limiting short- and medium-range missiles as well as on a new treaty on intercontinental missiles. Russia had been unhappy with the West's response but was positive towards a "transparency mechanism" of mutual checks on missile bases - two in Russia, and two in Romania and Poland. BBC

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Taliban celebrate defeating the United States

KABUL, August 31 : The Taliban joyously fired guns into the air and offered words of reconciliation on Tuesday, as they celebrated defeating the United States and returning to power after two decades of war that devastated Afghanistan. The last of 6,000 US troops who oversaw a desperate evacuation effort flew out of Kabul airport on Monday night, ending the war that has diminished the United States' status as a superpower. Taliban fighters quickly swept into the airport and fired weapons into the sky in jubilation, an astonishing return after US forces invaded in 2001 and toppled the hardline Islamists for supporting Al-Qaeda. "Congratulations to Afghanistan... this victory belongs to us all," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters hours later from the runway of the airport. Mujahid said the Taliban's victory was a "lesson for other invaders". However the Taliban have repeatedly promised a more tolerant and open brand of rule compared with their first stint in power, and Mujahid continued that theme. "We want to have good relations with the US and the world. We welcome good diplomatic relations with them all," he said. Many Afghans are terrified of a repeat of the Taliban's initial rule from 1996-2001, which was infamous for their treatment of girls and women, as well as a brutal justice system. - Terror threat - The withdrawal came just before the end of an August 31 deadline set by President Joe Biden to call time on America's longest war -- one that ultimately claimed the lives of more than 2,400 US service members. The early finish followed a threat from the regional offshoot of the Islamic State group, rivals of the Taliban, which was seeking to attack the US forces at the airport. Thirteen US troops were among more than 100 people killed when an IS suicide bomber late last week attacked the perimeter of the airport, where desperate Afghans had massed in the hope of getting on board an evacuation flight. More than 123,000 people were evacuated from Kabul aboard the US-led airlift operation, which began just after the Taliban swept into the capital on August 14. Biden said he would address the nation on Tuesday in Washington, as his critics continued to savage him for his handling of the withdrawal. "We can't fight endless wars, but the scope & consequence of Biden's failure here is staggering," Republican Senator Rick Scott said. "President Biden has brought great shame on the American people," added congressman Richard Hudson. Biden's top diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, was able to offer little more than stern words for the Taliban. "Any legitimacy and any support will have to be earned," Blinken said, as he announced the United States had suspended its diplomatic presence in Kabul and shifted its operations to Qatar. - Airport uncertainty - All eyes will now turn to how the Taliban handles its first few days with sole authority over the country, with a sharp focus on whether it will allow other foreigners and Afghans to leave the country. Blinken said a small number of US citizens remained in the country -- "under 200" but likely closer to just 100 -- and wanted to leave. Many thousands of other Afghans who had worked with the US-backed government and fear retribution also want to get out. Western allies have voiced heartbreak in recent days that not all Afghans who wanted to flee could get on the evacuation flights. The UN Security Council adopted a resolution Monday, requiring the Taliban to honour a commitment to let people freely leave Afghanistan in the days ahead, and to grant access to the UN and other aid agencies. But they did not agree to call for the creation of a "safe zone" in Kabul, as envisaged by French President Emmanuel Macron. Talks are ongoing as to who will now run Kabul airport. The Taliban have asked Turkey to handle logistics while they maintain control of security, but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has not yet accepted that offer. It was not immediately clear which airlines would agree to fly in and out of Kabul. - Civilian deaths - The regional Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) group had posed the biggest threat to the withdrawal after it carried out the devastating suicide bombing outside the airport last week. On Monday, they also claimed to have fired six rockets at the airport. A Taliban official said the attack was intercepted by the airport's missile defence systems. And in an echo of the tragedies of civilian deaths that plagued the war and cost the United States local support, a US air strike in Kabul targeting a purported IS car bomb on the weekend appeared to have killed children. The United States said Sunday it had carried out a drone strike against a vehicle threatening the Kabul airport. Members of one family told AFP they believed a fatal error had been made, and that 10 civilians were killed. "My brother and his four children were killed. I lost my small daughter... nephews and nieces," Aimal Ahmadi told AFP.

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Taliban says to form inclusive gov't as int'l community urges peace

BEIJING, Aug. 19: The Taliban said Tuesday it intends to form an inclusive government in Afghanistan and does not want to have any internal or external enemies. The group's pledge came after its takeover of most parts of Afghanistan, including the capital city of Kabul, on Sunday, which has stunned the world. While the international community is calling for peace and restraint in the war-torn country, criticism against the White House are mounting. INCLUSIVE GOV'T At the first press conference since Sunday's takeover, the Taliban's spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said they want to have good relations with everybody to develop the country's economy and achieve prosperity. "We don't want to repeat any conflict, any war again," he said. "Animosities have come to an end, and we would like to live peacefully. We don't want any internal and external enemies." Talking about the current discussion of forming a new government, Mujahid said all Afghans would have representation in the future set-up of Afghanistan. "Talks and consultations are continuing very seriously with politicians on the formation of the new government, over its name and its flag." The spokesman said the Taliban supreme leader had declared a general amnesty, promising to ensure the safety of the contractors and translators who had worked for the United States and allied forces, the government soldiers who had been fighting the Taliban for years, and those whose families were attempting to leave Afghanistan. "We have pardoned everybody for the benefit of stability or peace in Afghanistan," Mujahid said, who also called on Afghans to stay as they are the nation's assets. Taliban fighters stand on a military vehicle in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Aug. 16, 2021. (Str/Xinhua) Regarding Afghan women's rights, he said women could work and study in different fields within the framework of sharia or Islamic law, and they would be offered all rights within the Islamic principles, because women are vital parts of society. CALL FOR PEACE Since the U.S. troops started to pull out of Afghanistan on May 1, the Taliban has been advancing quickly on the battlefield. During the past two weeks, the group has captured most of Afghanistan's territories. The fast-evolving situation in Afghanistan has aroused deep concerns among the international community, which is calling for restraint and peace in the war-battered country. China hopes the Taliban can work with all parties in setting up an open and inclusive political framework, and pursue a peaceful and friendly foreign policy, particularly developing friendly relations with neighboring countries, to achieve reconstruction and development in Afghanistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing in Beijing on Tuesday. On the same day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for inclusive dialogue with the participation of all domestic forces in normalizing the situation in Afghanistan. "We are seeing encouraging signals from the Taliban, who have expressed their willingness to form a government with the inclusion of other political forces," Lavrov said. Meanwhile, Josep Borrell, the European Union (EU) foreign affairs chief, said the EU will have to talk with the Taliban and that any cooperation by the EU with the new government of Afghanistan "will be conditioned on a peaceful and inclusive settlement and respect for the fundamental rights of all Afghans." Also on Tuesday, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the country is closely following the development of the situation in Afghanistan and hopes a comprehensive peace will be achieved in the framework of the inter-Afghan talks in Doha. Photo taken on Aug. 15, 2021 shows a road in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. (Photo by Rahmatullah Alizadah/Xinhua) Earlier, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the Taliban and all other parties to exercise utmost restraint to protect lives and ensure that humanitarian needs can be addressed. The UN remains determined to contribute to a peaceful settlement, promote the human rights of all Afghans, notably women and girls, and provide life-saving humanitarian assistance and critical support to civilians in need, he said on Sunday. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday that Iran stands ready to "continue its peacemaking efforts." Also on Sunday, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the need to ensure the safety of civilians in Afghanistan, calling for a peaceful transfer of power to pave the way for a political settlement which involves all Afghan parties and achieves security and stability in the country, according to a statement on its official website. CRITICISM AGAINST WHITE HOUSE "I stand squarely behind my decision (to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan)," said U.S. President Joe Biden in a televised speech from the White House on Monday. "The truth is this did unfold more quickly than we had anticipated." However, with the news of Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani leaving the country and the images of the United States scrambling to evacuate staff and officials from its embassy in Kabul broadcast worldwide, U.S. experts said Washington should regret its premature and irresponsible troop withdrawal. "Today is the culmination of President Biden's strategic error in directing the rapid and complete withdrawal of U.S. -- and thus all international -- forces and the failure to have done the planning necessary to prevent the resulting catastrophic collapse of the Afghan government," James B. Cunningham, non-resident senior fellow at the South Asia Center and former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, said in a statement. Cunningham said Biden had made the wrong choice on troop withdrawal. "Biden could have declared that U.S. withdrawal was conditioned on a genuine peace agreement and ceasefire, and focused on that objective with an extensive diplomatic effort." The Republicans are taking the opportunity to attack Biden's policy. A recent article published by The Washington Post analyzed "How Republicans are slamming Biden on Afghanistan," saying the Republicans' major accusations against Biden on the Afghan issue include "Biden is responsible for this," "Biden didn't see or didn't prepare for what was coming," "the U.S. is less safe because of how poorly the withdrawal is going" and "Biden seems aloof from it all." Criticism against the White House has also come from the U.S. allies, who are blaming the Biden administration for insufficient consultations with its partners before the withdrawal of troops. British Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace said the U.S. decision to pull its troops out of Afghanistan was a "mistake," adding that the U.S. withdrawal "causes a lot of problems and as an international community, it's very difficult for what we're seeing today." The manner and implementation of the U.S. withdrawal has left its allies feeling betrayed, said Cathryn Cluver Ashbrook, director of the German Council on Foreign Relations. Meanwhile, experts believe the Biden administration is repeating the mistakes made by previous U.S. governments. "I strongly recommend to President Biden that he take responsibility ... admit the mistakes that were made," said former U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in an interview with CNN. According to Adam Weinstein, research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and an Afghanistan combat veteran, the real failure lies with the mistaken belief that "the United States could shape conditions and foster effective governance through the force of arms." "The chaos that follows intervention and the chaos that follows withdrawal are rooted in the same fundamental mistake -- that the U.S. thinks it can use its military to affect permanent social and political change in countries that it occupies," Weinstein said in a statement.

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