President Obama Addresses Iranian Nuclear Talks
By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
TEHRAN, Iran-US President Barack Obama has informed Iranians that they “deserve better” and that a comprehensive agreement on the nuclear issue will help move Iran “along the new path that so many Iranians seek.”
In his address, Obama said, “A comprehensive agreement on the nuclear issue would help move Iran along the new path that so many Iranians seek.”
Obama remarked on Thursday in a message marking Nowruz, the Persian New Year, a day after the conclusion of the latest round of negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program.
This is Obama’s first Nowruz address since talks began in earnest to reach a lasting settlement about Iran’s nuclear activities and the first since Hassan Rouhani was elected to the office of president.
Iran has denied developing the capability to produce atomic weapons. The US, the European Union and the United Nations have imposed sanctions on Iran because of its refusal to suspend enrichment and other sensitive atomic activities.
“But the economic hardship that so many Iranians have endured in recent years – because of the choices of Iranian leaders – has deprived your country and the world of the extraordinary skills and contributions you have to offer. And you deserve better.”
On Wednesday Catherine Ashton, the European Union foreign policy chief, and Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, told reporters in Vienna that they had held “substantive” and “useful” talks.
The P5+1, a group comprised of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US, hope to honor the July deadline set in November for a long-term nuclear deal between the six powers and Iran.
Obama said: “If Iran meets its international obligations…It means more economic growth and jobs for Iranians…more opportunities for Iranian students…real diplomatic progress this year can help open up new possibilities and prosperity for the Iranian people for years to come.
That deadline was agreed as part of an interim deal, reached in November, under which Iran stopped some parts of its program in exchange for limited sanctions relief.
“That’s the message the Iranian people sent at the ballot box last year. I hope that the entire Iranian government hears that message too.”
A meeting between the P5+1 and Iran is set for April 7th in Vienna.
For more information, please see the following:
Aljazeera-Obama: Iranians ‘deserve better’ from leaders-20 March 2014
Daily Star-Obama calls on Iran to seize opportunity of nuke talks-20 March 2014
White House-Statement by President Obama on Nowruz-20 March 2014
Zee News-Obama calls on Iran to seize opportunity of nuclear talks-20 March 2014
South Korea Seeks China’s Support to Refer North Korea to the ICC
By Brian Lanciault
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
SEOUL, S. Korea– South Korea has requested China’s support for a United Nations resolution seeking to hold North Korea’s leadership responsible for human rights violations. To date, Beijing has opposed referring the case to an international court.
The U.N. Human Rights Council is seeking to pass a resolution on North Korea’s bleak human rights record this week in Geneva after a U.N. Commission of Inquiry concluded last month that “crimes against humanity” have been, and continue to be, committed by ranking officials in the socialist country.
The United States, the European Union and Japan are working to bring North Korea’s human rights situation before the U.N. Security Council, which has the power to refer the issue to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Prospects remain dismal because China, key ally of the North, holds a veto.
“We have continued to discuss the issue with the Chinese side, but Chinese officials told us that it would not be an appropriate approach to try to openly address North Korea’s human rights situation,” a South Korean diplomat said on the condition of anonymity.
“The Chinese side maintains that North Korea’s human rights situation should be handled through constructive dialogue and that it opposes such an explicit way” of referring North Korea’s leaders to the ICC, the diplomat said.
China has publicly announced that it would vigorously oppose any move at the U.N. to bring North Korea’s leaders before the global criminal court.
“To bring the human right issues to the International Criminal Court does not help improve a country’s human rights conditions,” China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Feb. 17, when the U.N. commission published the report.
Concluding a year-long investigation, the U.N. commission reported widespread executions of people, enslavement and sexual violence by North Korea. It marked the clearest indictment against North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, in his speech at the U.N. human rights session in early March, proposed strengthening the role of the U.N. commission on North Korea’s human rights.
“For the international community, it is now time to begin the discussions on next steps to effectively follow up on the commission’s recommendations to improve the human rights situation in North Korea,” Yun said.
“In this vein, we strongly support the strengthening of the U.N. mechanisms to implement the commission’s recommendations. We also look forward to the leading role of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea,” Yun said.
For further information, please see:
Global Post– North Korea Newsletter No. 305— 20 March 2014
Mail Online– A smoking Un! Kim Jong smiles from ear to ear as he oversees army shooting exercise— 18 March 2014
Korea Joongang Daily– EU rep says North Korea felt stable— 20 March 2014
Washington Post– While slaughtering thousands, North Korea’s dictators published children’s books— 18 March 2014
Spain And Morocco Break Up Militant Cell Suspected Of Sending Fighters To Syria, Arrest 7
by Tony Iozzo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
MADRID, Spain – Spanish and Moroccan authorities executed a series of arrests on Friday, in an effort to dismantle an Islamist militant cell that supplied fighters to areas engaged in fighting, most notably Syria.
Officials from both countries announced that they had made seven arrests in connection with the cell, including the group’s leader, a Spanish citizen. Mustafa Maya Amaya, a nationalized Spaniard that was born in Belgium, was arrested in Melilla, a Spanish enclave surrounded by Moroccan territory. Two French citizens were arrested alongside Amaya in connection with the cell, according to Spain’s interior ministry. A Tunisian individual from Malaga, Spain, and three additional Moroccans were also arrested.
Over the course of recent conflicts such as that in Syria, fighters from Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and more, have joined rebel forces in conflicted countries. Spanish Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez stated that this particular cell was the largest in Europe actively recruiting jihadists for the Syrian conflict. Fernandez also stated that some of the cell’s members have had involvement with al-Qaeda-affiliated groups.
Fernandez stated that the cell is completely disassembled as all of the components had been infiltrated with arrests; document forgers, logistics organizers and jihadists all have been arrested.
“The cell was dismantled in coordination with Spanish security forces. Three Moroccans were arrested at the same time as the [Spanish] head of the cell and his acolytes have been arrested by the Spanish security services,” the Moroccan interior ministry said in a statement.
The Moroccan statement further stated that Amaya had close connections to another cell that was linked to a North African al-Qaeda branch, referred to as AQIM. AQIM had been similarly dismantled last year before it was to send fighters to Mali and Syria. According to Spanish reports, Amaya used the internet to recruit jihadists and aided them in joining movements such as the Al Qaeda group Islamic State in Iraq, as well as the Levant (IDIL), al Qaeda’s Nusra Front branch in Syria.
Morocco stated that it has broken up radical Islamist cells accused of plotting both inside and outside of its kingdom. Morocco has experienced numerous bombings by suspected Islamist guerrillas, most recently in 2011 in Marrakesh, but militant groups have so far failed to gain any power in the kingdom.
For more information, please see:
CNN – Spain Arrests 7 Suspected of Sending Militant Fighters to Syria – 14 March 2014
Fox News – Spain, Morocco Police Break up Jihadist Recruitment Cell, Arrest 7 – 14 March 2014
Reuters – Morocco, Spain Break up Militant Cell Sending Fighters Abroad – 14 March 2014
UPI – France Detains Seven Suspected of Sending Jihadists to Syria – 14 March 2014
Egypt’s Mansour Will Expedite Trial of Detained Australian Journalist
By Thomas Murphy
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
CAIRO, Egypt – In a rare move, Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour, has committed to expediting the trial of Australian journalist Peter Greste. The interim President made this known in a recent letter written to Greste’s family. Mansour is also the current Chief Justice presiding over the Supreme Constitutional Court, Egypt’s highest court.
“I would like to assure you in my capacity as president of Egypt, that I will spare no effort to work towards the speedy resolution of the case, in a fashion consistent with the law and that guarantees the reunion of the family in the near future,” Mansour wrote in the letter, seen by The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The Al Jazeera Network has called the gesture an “encouraging sign.” Additionally, a spokesperson for the organization stated that it demonstrates the actions of their journalists in Egypt were legal and that there is no case against them.
Greste, was arrested with two Al Jazeera producers, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, on December 29. They have now been detained for 81 days. The three are charged with joining a terrorist organization, the Muslim Brotherhood, and broadcasting false information without proper working permits. They have all plead not guilty.
It remains unclear if the letter mentions Fahmy or Baher, even though they arrested together with Greste and thus, under the same circumstances. The trial also includes seventeen other journalists charged with similar crimes.
The trial has drawn criticism from international human rights groups who say that Egypt is merely attempting to suppress free speech. Institutions including the White House, the European Union and the United Nations have called for the release of the journalists, and for press freedoms to be upheld.
The arrests occurred at the same time as a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood. Egyptian authorities accuse the Al Jazeera Network of aiding the Muslim Brotherhood. As a result, Al Jazeera has been banned from reporting in the country.
The trial has been adjourned until March 24.
For further information, please see:
Al Jazeera – Egypt’s Mansour to expedite Al Jazeera trial – 19 March 2014
CNN – Egypt President will ‘spare no effort’ to resolve case of Al Jazeera journalist – 19 March 2014
Montreal Gazette – Egypt leader says will try to expedite trial of detained Australian journalist – 18 March 2014
Al Jazeera – Al Jazeera journalists appear in Egypt court, see trial adjourned – 5 March 2014