Iran, US, EU envoys return to Vienna for revival of nuclear talks

Iran, the United States and the European Union have said they
would send representatives to Vienna amid what appears to be a
last-ditch effort at reviving talks over Tehran's tattered 2015
nuclear deal with world powers.

It wasn't immediately clear from Wednesday's announcement if

other parties to the landmark accord would attend the surprise
summit.

It was also unclear if there had been any progress after a

monthslong stalemate and fruitless round of indirect talks between
Iran and the US in Doha.

The European Union official who chairs the talks, Enrique Mora,
wrote on Twitter that the negotiations would focus on the most
recent draft on restoring the agreement.

Tehran said it was dispatching nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani to

the Austrian capital.

US Special Representative for Iran Rob Malley was expected to go

to Vienna for the talks on Thursday, two American officials said.

They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the plans before

they were announced.

Pushing to break the deadlock

The prospects for the deal's restoration have darkened in the past
few months with major sticking points remaining, including
Tehran's demand that Washington provide guarantees that it won’t
again quit the pact and that it lift terrorism sanctions on Iran's
Revolutionary Guard.
The abruptly called meeting in Vienna comes after EU foreign affairs
chief Josep Borrell has repeatedly pushed to break the deadlock
and salvage the deal in past weeks.
He recently wrote in The Financial Times that “the space for
additional significant compromises has been exhausted.”
Former President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the 2015
deal, which lifted most international sanctions on Tehran in
exchange for tight restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program.
Since then, Iran has massively expanded its nuclear work and now
has enough highly enriched uranium to fuel one nuclear weapon,
according to nonproliferation experts.
However, Iran still would need to design a bomb and a delivery
system for it, likely a monthslong project.
Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, though UN experts
and Western intelligence agencies say Iran had an organised
military nuclear program through 2003.
https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/iran-us-eu-envoys-return-
to-vienna-for-revival-of-nuclear-talks-59416
Ukraine starts pullout of peacekeepers from
Kosovo - report
August 3, 2022
BELGRADE, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Ukraine will start the pullout of its
peacekeepers from the NATO-led mission in Kosovo, the RBK-Ukraine news
portal reported on Wednesday citing sources from Ukraine's military
command.

Ukraine currently maintains a contingent of 40 peacekeepers in Kosovo as

part of the 3,800-strong NATO-led 'KFOR' mission, but in March President
Volodymyr Zelenskiy issued a decree ordering all missions to return home to
assist in the war with Russia.

"The return of the (Ukrainian) national contingent will mean the temporary
termination of its participation in the KFOR mission," RBK-Ukraine quoted
remarks from Ukraine's army command as saying.

It also said that the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Kosovo is in line with
Zelenskiy's March 7 decree ordering missions to come home following
Russia's invasion on Feb 24.

KFOR officials in Kosovo could not be immediately reached for comment.

The NATO peacekeeping mission deployed to Kosovo in 1999 after alliance's

78-day bombing campaign forced Serbian troops to end their crackdown
against Albanians in the now-independent Kosovo, formerly a southern
province of Serbia.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, and is recognised by

over 100 countries, but not by others, including Ukraine, five European Union
member countries, Russia and China.

The government in Belgrade, which remains opposed to Kosovo's

independence, recognises Ukraine in its entirety and has three times
condemned the Russian invasion in the UN.

But Serbia, which is almost completely dependant on Russian gas, also

refuses to join sanctions against Moscow.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-starts-pullout-peacekeepers-
kosovo-report-2022-08-03/?rpc=401&
Kazakhstan, Morocco debate coop in transport sector

3 August 2022

Ambassador of Kazakhstan Saulekul Saylaukyzy met with the Minister of

Transport and Logistics of the Kingdom of Morocco Mohamed Abdejalel,
Kazinform cites the press service of the Kazakh MFA.

The ambassador gave brief information on the current state and prospects of
cooperation between the two countries, the existing potential for cooperation
in the transport and logistics sector, work within the AIFC, etc.

Minister Abdejalel noted the importance of developing cooperation with

Kazakhstan, in particular the opening of charter flights, which will give impetus
to tourism and trade and economic cooperation, further exploring the
possibility of opening regular flights Almaty-Casablanca and signing the
relevant agreement.

https://www.inform.kz/en/kazakhstan-morocco-debate-coop-in-transport-
sector_a3962675
Iran, U.S., EU to send envoys to
Vienna for nuclear talks
3 August 2022

Iran, the United States and the European Union said Wednesday they would send representatives
to Vienna amid what appears to be a last-ditch effort at reviving talks over Tehran’s tattered 2015
nuclear deal with world powers.

It wasn’t immediately clear if other parties to the landmark accord would attend the surprise
summit, nor if there had been any progress after a monthslong stalemate and recent fruitless
round of indirect talks between Iran and the U.S. in Doha.

The European Union official who chairs the talks, Enrique Mora, said the negotiations would focus
on the most recent draft to restore the agreement, while Tehran said it was dispatching nuclear
negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani to the Austrian capital.

U.S. Special Representative for Iran Rob Malley wrote on Twitter that he was preparing to travel to
Vienna for talks. He cautioned that American “expectations are in check” ahead of the negotiations.

“The United States welcomes EU efforts and is prepared for a good faith attempt to reach a deal. It
will shortly be clear if Iran is prepared for the same,” Malley added.

Russia’s chief representative at the talks, Mikhail Ulyanov, also wrote on Twitter that negotiators
from Russia, a key signatory of the nuclear deal, “stand ready for constructive talks in order to
finalize the agreement.”

The prospects for the deal’s restoration have darkened in the past few months with major sticking
points remaining, including Tehran’s demand that Washington provide guarantees that it won’t
again quit the pact and that it lift terrorism sanctions on Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

The abruptly called meeting in Vienna comes after EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell has
repeatedly pushed to break the deadlock and salvage the deal in past weeks. He recently wrote in
The Financial Times that “the space for additional significant compromises has been exhausted.”

Former President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 deal, which lifted most
international sanctions on Tehran in exchange for tight restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program.
Since then, Iran has massively expanded its nuclear work and now has enough highly enriched
uranium to fuel one nuclear weapon, according to nonproliferation experts.

However, Iran still would need to design a bomb and a delivery system for it, likely a monthslong
project. Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, though U.N. experts and Western
intelligence agencies say Iran had an organized military nuclear program through 2003.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-iran-us-eu-to-send-envoys-to-
vienna-for-nuclear-talks-2/
OPEC to slightly raise oil output in September
2022-08-03

   
VIENNA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Organization of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, a group known as OPEC+,
on Wednesday announced a slight production boost in September
despite calls for speedier increases to rein in high crude prices.
The oil alliance decided to increase production by 100,000 barrels per
day (bpd) for September, according to an OPEC statement released
after the 31st OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting.
The meeting noted the "dynamic and rapidly evolving oil market
fundamentals" and "severely limited availability" of spare capacity due
to long-term underinvestment in the oil sector, the statement said.
It warned that insufficient investment into the oil industry's upstream
sector will "impact the availability of adequate supply in a timely manner
to meet growing demand beyond 2023."
The alliance's decision on Wednesday came as crude prices remained
high amid continued tight supplies and geopolitical tensions. Although
both the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and the Brent crude have
dropped amid recession fears since the last OPEC+ ministerial meeting
in late June, both benchmarks are still hovering around 100 U.S. dollars
a barrel in recent weeks, continuing to drive up inflation in many
countries.
OPEC+ slashed oil production massively in 2020 when the COVID-19
pandemic hammered demand. Since July 2021, the group has been
unwinding the output cuts by raising production by 400,000 to 648,000
bpd every month.
In theory, the alliance's total output is supposed to have returned to pre-
pandemic levels by the end of August, but some of its members have
reportedly been struggling to meet their quotas. OPEC's most recent
monthly report showed that Angola and Nigeria fell significantly behind
their production targets in June.
OPEC+ has so far resisted the pressure from the United States and
other major oil consumers, who have for months been pressing the
group to open taps wider to tame sky-high crude prices and soaring
inflation.
U.S. President Joe Biden visited Saudi Arabia in mid-July in an effort to
urge the de facto leader of OPEC to pump more oil, but Riyadh has
repeatedly stressed its commitment to the OPEC+ alliance.
The next OPEC+ ministerial meeting will convene on Sept. 5. ■
https://english.news.cn/
20220803/1be9783b1c7d4054b7f1f34d4a2adaa0/c.html
Sri Lankan president urges political parties to work for an all-party gov't
Source:
2022-08-03
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday urged
political parties to join him in establishing an all-party government that
can lead Sri Lanka out of the economic crisis.
In delivering the government's policy statement following the ceremonial
opening of the third session of the 9th Parliament, Wickremesinghe said
that he has already started discussions with political parties on the
matter.
He said Sri Lanka needs to modernize its economy and that it should no
longer depend on foreign loans to maintain the economy.
The current economic crisis is the result of not making necessary
adjustments to the economy, he said, adding that Sri Lanka has to plan
for the future and a national economic program for the next 25 years will
be formulated.
Wickremesinghe said that while fuel shortages will continue till the end
of the year, steps are being taken to ensure that everyone has fair
access to fuel supply.
"The problems are lessening. Steps have been taken to assure a steady
supply of gas, food, and medicines," he said.
Sri Lanka can come to a staff-level agreement with the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) by the end of August, he said.
"We will present this to the IMF soon. Then we will start talking to
countries that have given us loans and private investors that have
bought our bonds," he said.
https://english.news.cn/
20220803/5e4b7b44e92d47cf90292e26c2db13fd/c.html
Lebanon needs to enhance
capacity building to end
human trafficking:
minister

Source: Xinhua
Editor: huaxia
2022-08-03 22:18:00
   
BEIRUT, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon needs to enhance its capacity
building and resources to end human trafficking and help its victims, a
Lebanese minister said on Wednesday.
"Lebanon is currently enduring severe crisis episodes, which makes it
crucial for victims to seek help. To achieve that, capacity-building and
resources should be enhanced in order to use technology as a
gamechanger to end human trafficking," Lebanon's Minister of Justice
Henry Khoury was quoted as saying in a statement released by the
United Nations Information Center in Beirut.
Khoury's remarks came during awareness-raising sessions on
trafficking, which were organized by the International Organization for
Migration and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in
Lebanon, to mark the World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2022.
The sessions gathered more than 150 migrants from various
communities and discussed the topics of sexual exploitation, the
sponsorship system and trafficking for forced labor, in addition to an
overview of smuggling and trafficking in the context of irregular
migration.
"Whatever its nature, the crime of human trafficking remains one of the
most heinous crimes. Its perpetrators deserve the most severe
penalties, and its victims require protection and assistance to enable
them to reintegrate into society," said Claudine Aoun, president of the
National Commission for Lebanese Women's Affairs.
The World Day against Trafficking in Persons was proclaimed by the
United Nations General Assembly on July 30, 2013 to "raise awareness
of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and
protection of their rights." ■
https://english.news.cn/
20220803/0f1ab2f73e264938843043e035b5796e/c.html
55th ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting, related meetings kick off in
Cambodia
2022-08-03
The 55th ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Foreign
Ministers' Meeting and related meetings kicked off here on Wednesday,
with a focus on post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery and key regional
and global challenges.
Cambodia is the chair of ASEAN for 2022, which groups Brunei,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Cambodian Prime Minister
Samdech Techo Hun Sen said the post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery,
regional security, Myanmar issue, the war in Ukraine, and climate
change, among others, would be high on the agenda during the
meetings.
"ASEAN needs to exert its utmost care to ensure that its unity remains
strong and its centrality is respected," he said.
Hun Sen said it is necessary for all ASEAN member states to pool
collective efforts and combine a sense of "togetherness" to tackle the
above-mentioned issues in the most effective way possible.
"Cambodia emphasizes our stance in 'unity for cooperation' and not in
'unity for confrontation'. We strive to focus on issues that bind us rather
than those that divide us," he said.
Meanwhile, the Cambodian leader said the war in Ukraine has caused
serious economic disruptions, exacerbated food and energy security,
and threatened to divide the world once again.
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn
said it is remarkable that foreign ministers of ASEAN and its dialogue
partners are able to meet face-to-face for the first time in two years
since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Our gathering here today reflects the success of our collective efforts to
overcome and recover from the crisis and its adverse effects on public
health, social, economic and the daily livelihood of the people," he said.
Sokhonn said over the course of three days, the participants would
deliberate on many key regional and international issues, especially the
pressing security challenges that could destabilize regional peace and
stability if they are not handled properly. 
https://english.news.cn/20220803/
f0650554d2cd4a11a4eac9111f128bed/c.html
US, British envoys hail Türkiye's diplomatic efforts for Ukraine grain
exports

03.08.2022

The diplomatic missions of the US and UK in Türkiye on Wednesday

separately hailed Ankara for efforts to resume export of Ukrainian grain
stuck for months due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The first grain-laden ship to leave Ukraine since the war with Russia
began on Feb. 24 continues to sail to Lebanon after Wednesday's
inspection by a team from the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) in
Istanbul.
“We welcome the arrival of the cargo ship Razoni in Istanbul today as a
vital step towards mitigating the global food security crisis. We applaud
Türkiye for its diplomacy to ensure safe passage of grain from Ukraine
to global markets,” the US consulate general in Istanbul said on Twitter.
The Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship Razoni, carrying over 26,500 tons
of corn, anchored off the Turkish coast near the Black Sea entrance of
the Istanbul Strait on Tuesday night for joint inspections. It departed
from Ukraine's port of Odesa on Monday under a historic deal brokered
by Ankara and the UN last month.
The inspections lasted over an hour, and after getting a security
clearance in Istanbul, the ship passed through the Turkish Straits en
route to the port of Tripoli in Lebanon.
Separately, in his first video message in Türkiye, Ajay Sharma, British
Embassy’s Chargé d'Affaires, said the Ukraine grain deal was only
possible because of the diplomatic efforts led by Türkiye and the UN.
“We, as the UK, attach great importance and support to this agreement.
This diplomatic success is indeed crucial to eliminating the threat to
food security and ending the grain blockade of Ukraine,” Sharma added.
He said the UK will continue to support the implementation of the
agreement as it is in the world's interest.
Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed the deal on July 22 to
reopen three Ukrainian ports – Odesa, Chernomorsk, and Yuzhny – for
grain export.
The JCC opened on July 27 comprising representatives from Türkiye,
the UN, Russia, and Ukraine to enable safe transportation by merchant
ships of commercial foodstuffs and fertilizers from the three key
Ukrainian Black Sea ports.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/russia-ukraine-war/us-british-envoys-hail-
turkiyes-diplomatic-efforts-for-ukraine-grain-exports/2652762
Turkish coast guards save 194 irregular migrants pushed back by
Greece
Turkish navy drone records footage of illegal pushback by Greek forces
in Aegean Sea
Zehra Nur Düz |
03.08.2022
Türkiye's coast guards saved the lives of 194 irregular migrants in the Aegean Sea who were illegally
pushed to the Turkish side by Greek forces, the National Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. 

A Turkish navy drone recorded footage of Greek forces pushing a boat carrying the migrants to the
coast of Cesme in Izmir province, the ministry said on Twitter. It added that the situation was
immediately reported to the Turkish Coast Guard Command and the migrants were rescued.

Meanwhile, the coast guards saved the lives of 188 others off Urla and Cesme districts between
Monday and Tuesday, the service said.

The migrants were moved to the provincial migration office.

Human rights groups and media outlets have frequently reported on illegal pushbacks and other human
rights breaches by Greek authorities.

Türkiye and global rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice, saying it
violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants,
including women and children.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkish-coast-guards-save-194-
irregular-migrants-pushed-back-by-greece/2652622