Mediaboss Marketing

Estonia stands with Israel on security issues, including opposing Russias role in supporting both Syrian President Bashar Assad and Iran's military presence there, its Foreign Minister Sven Mikser told The Jerusalem Post.

The role that the Russians play [in Syria] by way of trying to keep Assad in power and by the apparent collusion with the Iranians, yes, that is a shared concern, Mikser said.

He arrived Tuesday night for a two-day trip and met Wednesday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On Thursday the Israeli leader flew to Moscow to talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the importance of halting Iranian activities in Syria.

The small former Soviet bloc country that borders Russia has a population of only some 1.3 million people and a long history of resisting Russian expansionist drives.

We have seen the expansionist ambitions of the leadership in the Kremlin, said Mikser, including Russias recent activity in illegally annexing Crimea.

We can say with some confidence that they [Russia] will not shy away from using military force to achieve political aims, Mikser told The Jerusalem Post during a Wednesday interview in Jerusalem.

The Kremlin is doing this in Syria, where it is working to keep Assad in power and operating in some sort of symbiosis with the Iranians, Mikser said, adding that this is a legitimate concern for Israel.

Putin is not an irrational player. He is a cool and calculating player who sees the world very much in zero sum terms, Mikser said. He is in constant competition and standoff with the West in general and with the Americans in particular. Whenever he sees the lack of unity and resolve on behalf of the adversaries, [he knows] that is a weakness [that can] be exploited, Mikser said.

It is important to present [Putin] with a resolute and unified front and by doing that, he can be deterred. So it is important that we speak with a very unambiguous and unified voice, Mikser said.

The bigger the coalition or the community of democratic states that can speak with a unified voice, the better, Mikser added.

Addressing the common struggles Israel and Estonia share, Mikser went on to say that Israel has its own security interests and concerns, but there are things [concerns] we share, the way the Russians have dragged or facilitated the Iranian entry into the Syrian situation."

I can imagine that is very threatening to the Israeli security interests, he said.

It is in Israel and Estonias joint interest to put pressure on Russia to make them return to the internationally accepted behavior by way of not unduly interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, he concluded.

His country, is a member state of the European Union and in July, Estonia will take over the presidency of the EU Council, which is a rotating six-month position.

Estonia is a strong supporter of Israel in the EU and the United Nations, but when it comes to the Palestinian conflict, it has a no-tolerance policy toward Israeli settlement activity.

Its positions falls within the larger EU belief that settlement building is an obstacle to peace and to the achievement of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

We are definitely looking for ways to get to the two-state solution in such a way that does not compromise Israeli security on one hand, but would also allow the Palestinians to realize their national aspirations, Mikser said.

Speaking on behalf of both Estonia and the EU, he said, we do not think that the settlement activity should continue at all, in that sense it is impossible for me to say that [this] much is acceptable and not more.

Similarly, he said, Estonia opposes unilateral Palestinian steps to achieve statehood, holding that such recognition should come only as part of a final status agreement for a two-state solution.

We do not think that unilateral action by the Palestinians can bring about the realization of their national ambitions or be helpful in moving toward a sustainable settlement of the conflict, Mikser said.

The only way to get there is to engage in direct talks, he said. The international community can act as a facilitator that supports the parties in hammering out an agreement, he added.

Pre-conditions for talks are not helpful and both sides have to be prepared to make compromises, he said.

We are ready to work together with the Palestinians just as we are ready to work with the Israelis for the achievement of a two-state solution, he stated.

Resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as broader peace in the Middle East is in the best interest of Estonia and the EU, he said.

Without this, he said, it is very difficult if not impossible for Europe to be secure.

Stressing the importance of remaining proactive in the attempts to bring about a resolution to the conflict, Mikser concluded by saying that History has proven that if there are unresolved conflicts, even far away, they will eventually come to our doorstep."

Relevant to your professional network? Please share on Linkedin

Read this article:
Estonian FM in Israel: 'We're concerned by Russia's collusion with Iran in Syria' - Jerusalem Post Israel News

Nikki Haley. (photo credit:SAUL LOEB / AFP)

UNITED NATIONS - The United States supports the UN-led Syria peace talks, UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said on Wednesday, saying Syria could no longer be a "safe haven for terrorists" and that it was important "we get Iran and their proxies out."

Haley spoke to reporters after UN Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura briefed the Security Council behind closed doors on 10 days of talks between the warring parties in Geneva, which ended last week.

She did not respond to questions on whether the United States believed Syrian President Bashar Assad, backed by Russia and Iran, should step down.

All eyes have been on how Washington would approach ending the six-year war in Syria, given pledges by President Donald Trump to build closer ties with Russia, especially in the fight against Islamic State. Trump's Syria policy has been unclear.

"The United States absolutely supports Staffan de Mistura and the work that he's doing, we support the UN process, we support the talks in Geneva, we want to see them continue," Haley said.

"This is very much about a political solution now ... and that basically means that Syria can no longer be a safe haven for terrorists, we've got to make sure we get Iran and their proxies out, we've got to make sure that, as we move forward, we're securing the borders for our allies as well," she said.

Iran is backing fighters in Syria from Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim group Hezbollah.

A crackdown by Assad on pro-democracy protesters in 2011 led to civil war and Islamic State militants have used the chaos to seize territory in Syria and Iraq. Half of Syria's 22 million people have been uprooted and more than 400,000 killed.

De Mistura told reporters after briefing the council that he planned to convene another round of peace talks on March 23.

He said the most recent round ended with an agenda and a timeline and "some agreement even on substance."

"We did not expect miracles and frankly we did not have miracles, but we achieved much more than many people had imagined we could have. No one left, everybody stayed," de Mistura told reporters.

The remarks came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that Israel hopes to reach specific understandings with Russia to prevent Tehran from permanently setting up a base of operations in Syria against Israel.

At the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu announced that he will be traveling to Moscow on Thursday for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the discussions will focus on current efforts to put together new arrangements in Syria. Those efforts have taken place in recent weeks in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, and Geneva.

With the framework of these arrangements, and also without them, there is an Iranian effort to become firmly established on a permanent basis in Syria, either through the presence of ground forces, or naval forces, Netanyahu said. He also said the Syrians are involved in a gradual attempt to open up a front against us on the Golan Heights.

Herb Keinon contributed to this report.

Relevant to your professional network? Please share on Linkedin

Prev Article

Jordan: Israeli bill to quiet mosques is a violation of international law

Estonian FM in Israel: Were concerned by Russias collusion with Iran in Syria'

Next Article

Read more:
US envoy to UN: We must oust Iran, terror proxies from Syria - Jerusalem Post Israel News

BBC News

Iraq: IS suicide bombers kill 26 at Tikrit wedding party BBC News The wedding party on Wednesday evening was for a family who had been displaced from Iraq's western Anbar province and is affiliated with a major anti-IS tribe there, AP reported. The jihadists captured swathes of northern and central Iraq, including ... Suicide Bombers Strike Wedding in Iraq, Kill at Least 26Voice of America Suicide bomb blasts hit wedding near Iraq's TikritAljazeera.com Suicide Bombers Kill Dozens at Wedding Party in IraqNew York Times Daily Mail -Deutsche Welle -Hindustan Times all 46 news articles »

Visit link:
Iraq: IS suicide bombers kill 26 at Tikrit wedding party - BBC News

The Queen stands beside the memorial after its unveiling in Embankment Gardens. Photograph: Toby Melville/PA

The Queen paid tribute to the many thousands of UK military and civilians who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Gulf as a new memorial was unveiled on the banks of the Thames.

The prime minister, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and senior figures from the cabinet attended a military drumhead service on Thursday alongside 2,500 invited guests on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, London.

They were joined by former prime ministers Tony Blair, David Cameron and Sir John Major before the unveiling of sculptor Paul Days 1m memorial in nearby Victoria Embankment Gardens in the shadow of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Commemorating the twin themes of duty and service and featuring two large stone monoliths supporting a bronze medallion, the memorial will stand as a permanent reminder not just to members of the armed forces, but also to all British citizens who worked in areas such as aid distribution, education, healthcare, infrastructure and governance.

It honours the 680 military who died in the regions a total of 456 during Operation Herrick, the MoD code name for the war in Afghanistan, 179 on Operation Telic, the deployment to Iraq in the US-led 2003 invasion, and 47 killed during the first Gulf war. There is a memorial to the lives lost at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

This new memorial bears no names and its design gives equal prominence to the military and civilians, with the double-sided medallion bearing images of doctors, schools, wells, and aid distribution.

Before the service some military widows criticised organisers for failing to inform them about the event or offer invites to all the bereaved families. The MoD, which said invitations had been handled by various charitable and support organisations, said at the eleventh hour arrangements would be made for any bereaved who wished to attend.

There were calls for May to apologise for what was described as a careless oversight. She had told parliament no one from the bereaved community had been turned away, adding that the MoD would make every effort to ensure relatives who wanted to attend were able to do so.

But widow Wendy Rayner, 45, whose husband Sgt Peter Rayner was killed in Afghanistan in 2010, said the offer was too little, too late, while Brenda Hale, 48, a former Democratic Unionist party MLA whose husband, Capt Mark Hale, died in Afghanistan in 2009, described the handling of the event as completely crass. Victoria Bateman, from Colchester in Essex, whose husband, L/Cpl James Bateman, was killed in Afghanistan in 2008, was attending having answered an email from the Army Widows Association but described the belated invitation to other bereaved families as a bit of a slap in the face.

In a foreword to the order of service, the Queen said: It is with pride that we honour the contribution of all those members of the armed forces and civilians who served our country at home and abroad while endeavouring to bring peace and stability to Iraq and Afghanistan. We shall be forever grateful to them for the part they played.

I am sure the new memorial will provide a fitting opportunity for all to reflect upon the events of that 25-year period, remembering the many examples of personal courage and achievement in adversity, and the great sacrifices that were made.

Paying tribute to the extraordinary courage and dedication of those who served, May said in a message: No matter how much time passes this memorial will stand, reminding all those who pass that their rights and freedoms do not come for free, but are paid for by the hard determination and sacrifice of others.

Prince Harry, an Afghanistan veteran, gave a Bible reading from the books of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Sgt Paul Stafford, 36, of the Royal Tank Regiment, who served three tours of Iraq and two of Afghanistan during which three members of his squadron were lost and many more injured, said the power of the memorial was that it honoured all, not only those killed in action.

Its the civilian organisations, the contractors sent to help, the Naafi staff who served us milkshakes when we came in, which was one of the best things in the world when you have been there a few weeks, said Stafford, who spent most of his time in Afghanistan away from the HQ Camp Bastion, living in the desert or empty buildings.

He said a nurse, a reservist attached to his unit, saved one of our guys. Its nice to remember that, and to honour those killed, or who suffered life-changing injuries for what they have done, and to know they have not been forgotten.

Tommy Roberts, 48, a Royal Marine commando who completed two tours of Afghanistan and one of Iraq, losing colleagues and friends in both conflicts, said the service of dedication was a time to reflect on those who made the ultimate sacrifice. If you focus, youve always got that snapshot picture. You can hear their laugh, and see their eyes, when it comes to times like this, he said.

Wendy Phillips, 57, a Department for International Development deputy head of office in Afghanistan who did three tours working with aid workers, said: Everyone who took part was a cog in a much bigger wheel; everyone had an important role to play and it is right that weve marked that down in history. In Afghanistan we knew it was going to be tough and we knew change would be incremental, but we are in it for the long haul and we are starting to see real reform in the country.

Read the rest here:
Queen unveils Iraq and Afghanistan war memorial in London - The Guardian

MOSUL, Iraq -- The antiquities museum in the Iraqi city of Mosul is in ruins. Piles of rubble fill exhibition halls and a massive fire in the buildings basement has reduced hundreds of rare books and manuscripts to ankle-deep drifts of ash.

Associated Press reporters were granted rare access to the museum on Wednesday after Iraqi forces retook it from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, the day before.

Brig. Gen. Abbas al-Jabouri can smell victory against ISIS, CBS News correspondent Holly Williams reports. On Monday, he estimated there were only around 2,000 ISIS fighters left in the city.

Play Video

The battle to liberate Iraq's second largest city from Mosul has come to a critical stage. Iraqi troops backed by U.S airstrikes and special oper...

They dont have a chance, he told Williams.

After examining AP photographs of the destruction, two Iraqi archeologists confirmed that many of the artifacts destroyed by ISIS were the original ancient stone statues dating back thousands of years, rather than replicas as some Iraqi officials and experts previously claimed.

ISIS captured Mosul in 2014 and released a video the following year showing fighters smashing artifacts in the museum with sledgehammers and power tools. The voice narrating the ISIS video justified the acts with verses from the Quran referencing the Prophet Muhammads destruction of idols in the Kaaba.

These statues and idols, these artifacts, if God has ordered its removal, they became worthless to us even if they are worth billions of dollars, the narration said.

The sacking of the Mosul museum was just a single act in nearly three years of systematic destruction of Iraqs cultural heritage at the hands of ISIS. The militants leveled ancient palaces, temples and churches throughout Nineveh province and beyond, often releasing videos boasting of their acts. ISIS has even demolished some mosques, saying they were used to venerate saints, which ISIS considers a form of polytheism.

Inside the Mosul museums main exhibition hall, the floor was littered with the jagged remains of an ancient Assyrian bull statue and fragments from cuneiform tablets.

Play Video

In Iraq, U.S.-backed forces continued to battle ISIS in western Mosul over the weekend. Since late last month, more than 45,000 refugees are repo...

These are the remains of a lamassu and the lions of Nimrud, Layla Salih, an Iraqi archaeologist and former curator of the Mosul museum said as she examined AP photographs of the remains. Salih said when ISIS took over Mosul, the museum housed two massive lamassu statues - winged lions recovered from the ancient Assryrian city of Nimrud.

They were priceless, she said, they were in perfect condition.

Hiba Hazim Hamad, a former archaeology professor in Mosul, confirmed Salihs assessment, saying she believed the building held hundreds of ancient artifacts at the time ISIS overran the city, thousands if you count the small pieces, she added.

Adjoining rooms on the two main floors were largely empty save for a set of carved wooden coffins and doors left untouched. There were also smaller piles of rubble from what appeared to be additional destroyed artifacts, but the stones were crushed beyond recognition.

Play Video

U.S.-backed Iraqi forces are battling to retake the second-largest city in their country. Iraqi forces have seized control of the eastern part of...

Hamad said these could be the remains of destroyed replicas, but even if replicas were on display, the original pieces would have still been inside the museum in the basement safe when ISIS overran the building.

Its standard procedure for all museums (in Iraq), she said referring to the practice of keeping the most valuable pieces locked away from view.

Mosuls antiquities museum - built in the 1970s and the second largest in Iraq - once housed priceless Mesopotamian artifacts dating back thousands of years and a collection of rare Islamic and pre-Islamic texts.

Daesh came to Iraq to destroy our heritage because they dont have their own, said Federal Police Cpl. Abbas Muhammad, using the Arabic acronym for the group. Muhammad was one of the first to enter the building after it was retaken from ISIS Tuesday and was holding the site with a handful of other troops on Wednesday.

The museum now effectively marks the front line in the fight against ISIS for Mosuls western half after Iraqi forces retook it during a push up along the Tigris River. Troops have turned one of its halls and its garden into a makeshift base, placing machine gunners at the buildings corners under olive trees and blocking nearby roads with rubble, old cars and mounds of dirt.

The territory ISIS overran in Syria and Iraq is home to some of the regions most important historical sites and monuments. The extremist group is also believed to have looted ancient artifacts in order to sell them on the black market to finance its operations.

Lamia al-Gaylani, an Iraqi archaeologist who has been working in the field of preservation in Iraq since the 1960s, said ISIS destroyed Iraqs heritage in an effort to erase the countrys identity and legitimize their own state in its place.

They want their own history, she said. Especially in a city like Mosul where the people are very proud of their history, I think (ISIS) did this as a form of revenge.

While al-Gaylani said destruction like what was wrought at Mosuls museum sparked outrage across Iraq, she said she worries that that anger wont necessarily translate to better protection in the future for the heritage Iraq has left.

Most Iraqi people are focused on their own survival, she said, and the government is not concerned with heritage.

A handful of history books remained in the main entryway of the museum beside a bag of placards from old exhibits.

They describe flint objects found in Nineveh dating back to about 4,000 B.C., copper oil lamps discovered in Ur dating back to 2,600 B.C. and Sumerian statues dating back to 2,050 B.C.

Mosul is the heart of Iraqi civilization, said Federal Police Maj. Muhammad al-Jabouri, a Mosul native from a nearby neighborhood.

When I heard how Daesh destroyed this place, he said, as his eyes filled with tears. Death would have been a greater mercy for me.

The rest is here:
ISIS leaves Mosul museum in ruins as Iraq forces advance - CBS News