Diplomatic Briefing

Newsline: Bomb squad called to embassies in Australia

diplomaticbriefing — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:42:56 +0000

Bomb squad officers were called to the French and Israeli embassies in Australia on Monday following the discovery of suspicious packages that were later found to be harmless. Police said a bomb response team dispatched to the diplomatic posts in Canberra determined that the items were not suspicious and road closures around the embassies were lifted, a police spokesperson said. It was not clear if the incidents were linked. The French embassy said the drama was sparked by a courier parcel delivered on Monday morning. The building was evacuated while police officers examined the parcel but it was deemed not to be dangerous, she added. The embassies are near one another in Yarralumla, a suburb of Canberra that is home to a large number of foreign missions.

http://www.news24.com/World/News/Bomb-squad-called-to-embassies-in-Australia-20120130

Newsline: American workers shelter at US embassy in Cairo

diplomaticbriefing — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:42:14 +0000

Several American workers facing prosecution at the hands of the Egyptian government took shelter at the U.S. embassy in Cairo, fearing they could be detained. “A handful of U.S. citizens opted to stay at the U.S. embassy compound while waiting for permission to leave Egypt,” State Department spokesman Noel Clay told FOX News Channel. The irregular action, which effectively protects the Americans from being arrested (because the embassy is considered to be on U.S. soil), was taken after several U.S. workers at non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were barred from flying out of Cairo a week ago. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s son Sam LaHood, the director of the Egyptian program for the International Republican Institute (IRI), is among those on the Egyptian government’s “no fly list.” Egyptian authorities raided more than a dozen offices belonging to local and foreign rights groups in late December, including at least two American ones, drawing a sharp rebuke from the State Department, which said it was “deeply concerned” by the actions. The raids, part of an investigation into alleged illicit foreign funding, targeted the American groups National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the IRI — an NGO operating throughout the world that has close ties to GOP congressional leadership. A State Department official told The Washington Post, who first reported the story, that it was not believed the “handful” of NGO staff who had decided to take shelter at the Cairo embassy were in “immediate physical danger.” Sam LaHood told FOX by phone Friday that an Egyptian judge claims he, along with the other Americans barred from leaving the country, worked for an unregistered NGO and took a salary.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/01/30/fearing-detention-american-workers-shelter-at-us-embassy-in-cairo/

Commentary: Police cowed by abusive, arrogant diplomat

diplomaticbriefing — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:41:40 +0000

Early this month, an abusive Korean-American, Dean Chang, a “second secretary” (or a member of the diplomatic staff) of the US Embassy in the Philippines, while driving to a Korean restaurant, almost bumped a young Filipino woman. Because of this, he vituperated her and challenged her uncle to a fistfight. When confronted by responding police officers, Chang refused to show his “diplomatic ID” and just asked the police to check on his identity with a phone number he himself gave to the police. An authentic diplomat, American or not, would readily produce his diplomatic ID anytime upon request by proper authorities. He is duty-bound to respect local laws. He knows that diplomatic immunity attaches only to acts of an envoy in the course of the performance of his official functions. He is aware that diplomatic privileges would be lost if abused. In extreme circumstances, the diplomat may be declared persona non grata and sent back home. The police officers should have taken him to a judge before whom Chang would be obliged to prove whether he was a real American diplomat and not a fake. But the police failed to do their duty, fearing, no doubt, that if Chang were proven to be a real diplomat, they would have a problem—not with the US Embassy but with their own superiors—for disregarding a claim to “diplomat immunity,” and not following a bias honed by a deep-seated “colonial mentality.” Recall that not too long ago, any Caucasian, especially American, need not produce any ID to identify himself. Things have not changed much, indeed.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/22057/police-cowed-by-abusive-arrogant-diplomat

Newsline: Libyan government to review its ambassadors

diplomaticbriefing — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:33:55 +0000

The Libyan government is reassessing its ambassadors worldwide and will dismiss those who had ties with ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi, a foreign ministry official said. The move appears to be a bid by the National Transitional Council (NTC) to quell growing discontent from Libyans who fear that the corruption of Gaddafi’s rule did not die with him and that his cronies continue to hold positions of power. Libya is trying to rebuild and reconcile after 42 years of rule under Gaddafi, and a civil war last year that toppled and killed him. Many Libyan ambassadors defected from Gaddafi during the war and still hold their posts under the new leadership. “These are the people whose jobs will be reassessed,” the official said, adding that ambassadors is some countries have already resigned in anticipation of the move.

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL5E8CT02Y20120129

Newsline: Syrian opposition urges Russian embassy protest

diplomaticbriefing — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:33:03 +0000

The opposition Syrian National Council urged Syria’s diaspora to protest outside Russian embassies against Moscow’s opposition to a draft resolution on Syria at the UN Security Council. “We call upon all Syrians abroad to show solidarity with our people inside the country and protest against the Russian position by holding sit-ins in front of the embassies of the (Syrian) regime, Russian embassies, and at UN centres,” Samir Neshar, a member of the SNC’s executive committee, said at a news conference in Istanbul. He also announced that the SNC would send a delegation to the United Nations on Sunday to demand the protection of Syrian civilians and accused Iran of taking part in the crackdown on protests by the Syrian regime. European and Arab countries submitted a new draft resolution to the UN Security Council but Russia rejected the text on Thursday, opposing any form of sanctions or arms embargo against its former Syrian ally. The SNC also condemned the alleged “participation of the Iranian regime in the killings of Syrians who demand freedom and call on it to stop taking part in the repression of the Syrian revolution in order to protect relations between the two peoples,” Neshar said. Turkey, which cut ties with the Damascus regime, has hosted numerous meetings of the Syrian opposition and deserters from the Syrian army who are leading the armed opposition.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jwitpGjYKCILuRY55jKMyifNMfYw?docId=CNG.1e1deb6f2b7d184453e7a7321dc2fe0f.821

Newsline: Croatian top envoy shoots for new embassy in Seoul

diplomaticbriefing — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:32:23 +0000

Croatian Ambassador to Korea and Japan Mira Martinec presented copies of her letter of credentials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Seoul. Martinec was also to discuss with officials possibly opening a chancery in Korea, solicit Korea investment for a port modernization project and bolster academic ties during her four-day visit from Croatia’s representative office in Tokyo, Japan. Martinec said Croatia looks to open a chancery here this year or in 2013. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Korea and Croatia. Korea recognized Croatia on April 15, 1992, and opened an embassy in Zagreb in 1994. The main reason Croatia had not yet opened an embassy was because of the debilitating war with Serbia, recovery and then EU membership negotiations which lasted for six years.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2012/01/176_103655.html

Newsline: US Embassy counters Defence Secretary’s statements

diplomaticbriefing — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:16:40 +0000

The US Embassy in Islamabad issued a statement on Sunday countering Defence Secretary Leon Panetta’s statement about Pakistani officials being aware of Osama bin Laden’s hideout. Defense Department spokesman George Little, in the statement, clarified that Panetta’s interview aired by CBS was old and was recorded at the time when the Defence Ministry was unsure whether the Bin Laden network was present in Pakistan or not. Little further said that Panetta, in the same interview, had also said that there was no proof that Pakistani government and the higher authorities were aware of Bin Laden’s whereabouts. He added that Panetta, along with other officials, are working for the betterment of ties with Pakistan that were strained after the US operation in Abbottabad that killed al Qaeda chief Bin Laden on May 2. In an interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes”, Panetta said that he still believed someone in authority in Pakistan knew where Bin Laden was hiding before US forces went in to find him.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/328890/obl-hideout-us-embassy-counters-panettas-statements/

Newsline: Philippine foreign minister discusses re-opening embassy in Iraq

diplomaticbriefing — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:04:33 +0000

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiar Zebari discussed today with Philippines foreign minister Albert del Rosario bilateral relations and re-opening the Philippines embassy in Baghdad. In a statement issued by the ministry, both sides reviewed bilateral relations and importance of full diplomatic representation, as well as reviewing economic and trade agreements.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/%28S%280u1ui155jqamlpvhgixvvtrj%29%29/Default.aspx?page=article_page&c=slideshow&id=146699

Newsline: Candle causes fire at Indonesian embassy in Ottawa

diplomaticbriefing — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:03:36 +0000

Five people were taken to hospital after a fire at the Indonesian embassy in east Ottawa. Firefighters said they responded to the call at 740 Manor Avenue around 4:40 p.m. after a candle sparked a fire in a basement bedroom. Ottawa Fire Services spokesperson Marc Messier tweeted the fire was put out by a resident with a fire extinguisher. Paramedics said four men and a woman, all embassy staff, were taken to hospital. The woman and the 48-year-old man who put out the fire were given oxygen, while the other three were monitored. There was $50,000 damage caused to the home and its contents, but Messier said nobody will be displaced.

http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120128/OTT-indonesian-ambassador-house-fire-120128/20120129/?hub=OttawaHome

Newsline: Syrian ambassador holds Egyptian authorities responsible for Cairo embassy attack

diplomaticbriefing — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:23:29 +0000

In response to an assault on the Syrian embassy in Cairo on Friday, Syrian Ambassador Yusuf Al-Ahmed told SANA news agency that he holds the Egyptian authorities fully responsible for failing to protect the embassy. The Syrian embassy in Cairo was stormed by dozens of Syrians who stated their attack was a response to the Syrian government’s crackdown on protesters in the country. SANA news agency claimed the attackers were funded by Gulf states. Al-Ahmed said the Egyptian authorities did not take punitive action against the attackers, despite knowing their names beforehand. He told SANA: “We have given a list of names to the authorities, but no measures have been taken.” “Syria holds the Egyptian authorities responsible and will demand compensation for material and moral damages resulting from this attack,” he added.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/33073/Egypt/Politics-/Syrian-ambassador-holds-Egyptian-authorities-respo.aspx