US Ambassador Angers Bahrain For Meeting With Civil Society Group
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America's new ambassador to Bahrain, Steven Bondy, is only the latest U.S. diplomat to upset the applecart at the small Gulf kingdom for meeting with people who aren't fully in line with the government. Bondy had just presented his credentials to King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa when he invited a small group of Bahrainis to visit at the embassy residence. But the guests were viewed by Bahrain as representing groups critical of the government, the interior minister issued a sharp statement against Bondy, and the foreign minister called him in for a dressing down. By Bahrain's definition, Bondy's discussion did not "conform to international laws and norms."
The incident was not the first diplomatic fuss between the United States and Bahrain. After the Arab Spring revolt in Bahrain was put down in 2011, Ambassador Thomas Krajeski was condemned for meeting with government opponents, Then three years later, a U.S. assistant secretary of state, Tom Malinowski, was expelled from Bahrain for unscheduled meetings with opposition groups. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called Bahrain's actions unacceptable, and Malinowski later was elected to Congress.
Iran says it’s ready to exchange prisoners. Israel's prime minister expects a nuclear agreement with Iran that will be shorter and weaker than the previous accord. Saudi Arabia wants a fifth round of direct talks with Iran even though the negotiations so far haven't shown progress. Tribal leaders in Yemen tried but failed to negotiate the release of kidnapped United Nations workers because the kidnappers want $5 million in ransom.
And News from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Yemen, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, and More.
Bahrain is displeased that the United States ambassador, Steven Bondy, met with government critics, so they summoned him for a lecture at the Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bahrain's foreign minister, Abdullatif al-Zayani, "informed Bondy of the kingdom's reservation about the meeting that took place, with its implications that do not conform to international laws and norms in this regard." Bondy, who only recently presented his credentials, hosted four Bahraini figures at the embassy residence, and Bahrain's media compared the reaction to that of two former U.S. officials who had similar run-ins with Bahrain, Ambassador Thomas Krajeski and former U.S Assistant Secretary of State Tom Malinowski. Krajeski was criticized during his term from 2011 to 2014 for meeting with government opponents, and Malinowski was expelled from the country for meeting with opposition members in 2014. Malinowski is now a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey.
Arab Weekly, US ambassador angers Bahrain days after receiving credentials.
Medialine, New US ambassador to Bahrain stirs anger by meeting with civil society figures.
Iran is ready to swap prisoners with the United States. "We believe prisoner swap is a humanitarian issue," Iran's foreign minister, Amirabdollahian said at the Munich Security Conference. "We can do it immediately." He added that the prisoner issue is unrelated to the nuclear accord, but that the talks to revive a 2015 nuclear deal could succeed "at the earliest possible time" if the U.S. makes the necessary political decisions.
Reuters, Iran's top diplomat says ready for immediate prisoner swap with U.S.
Israel's prime minister predicts a shorter and weaker nuclear agreement with Iran. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Iran may "shortly" sign an agreement, but warned it will be weaker than the 2015 accord. "We may see a deal shortly," he said, but it will be "shorter and weaker than the previous one." He also warned that revenue Iran may gain if sanction are removed is money that will "eventually go to terrorism."
Al Jazeera, Israel PM: New Iran nuclear deal coming 'shortly' will be 'weak.'
Saudi Arabia wants a fifth round of direct talks with Iran despite a "lack of substantive progress." The Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, said if the nuclear agreement with Iran is revived in the Vienna talks, that would be "a starting point, not an end point" in addressing regional concerns with Iran. He said bilateral talks between the two countries need "a serious desire to find a new modus operandi," but that Saudi Arabia so far has not seen substantive progress.
Reuters, Saudi Arabia plans for fresh round of talks with Iran, says foreign minister.
Arab News, Saudi Arabia plans for fresh round of talks with Iran: foreign minister.
Tribal mediation efforts in Yemen pfailed to free five kidnapped United Nations employees. A high-ranking committee of tribal figures in Abyan province conducted negotiations with the armed group believed responsible for the kidnappings but the talks "ended in deadlock" because the abductors demanded a $5 million ransom. U.S. officials and local Yemeni authorities are refusing to pay ransom.
A new mediation committee is expected to be formed and to resume talks with the kidnappers.
Xinhua, Tribal mediation fails to release kidnapped UN staff in Yemen.
Yemen's Houthi forces fired a drone that hit a school in Marib province and critically injured students. The drone attack struck a primary school in Marib's Harib district as the students were leaving their classes. At least three students were injured.
Xinhua, Houthi explosive-laden drone strikes school in Yemen's Marib
Qatar's foreign minister has been questioned anew about how airport officers stripp-searched and conducted invasive medical examinations on 13 Australian women at Qatar's Hamad International Airport in 2020. The minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, speaking at Chatham House in London, was confronted by Australian media asking about the incident and whether the women had been compensated. The incident occurred when a newborn baby girl was found abandoned at the airport terminal, and the women were removed from a Qatar Airways flight. The women are suing in an Australian court, and the Doha News reported that a security official responsible was fined and given a six-month prison sentence.
Doha News, Qatar's FM renews apology over invasive searches at Hamad International Airport.
A British court ordered plane manufacturer Airbus to delay its cancellation of aircraft sales to Qatar Airways. The judge's order prevents Airbus from allocating delivery slots to other airlines pending an April court hearing. Qatar Airways is asking the court to reinstate its contract with Airbus for 50 A321neo aircraft. Airbus cancelled the order after Qatar refused to accept a fleet of larger A350 passenger planes due to alleged defects.
Al Jazeera, UK court orders Airbus to delay Qatar Airways plane cancellations.
Simpleflying, Airbus cancellation of Qatar Airways A321neo order put on hold.
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Airbus wants an "amicable solution" to its dispute with Qatar Airways even as the Qatar airlines goes to court seeking $600 million in damages. The two countries are locked in a months-long dispute over Airbus' delivery of A350 passenger jets. Qatar Airways claimed the planes had paint that eroded and anti-lightning protections that deteriorated. Airbus argued that the problems didn't cause safety risks and revoked other orders from Qatar. But the Airbus chief executive, Guillaume Faury, said "We continue to hope for an amicable solution."
Reuters, Airbus hopes for 'amicable solution' in Qatar plane dispute.
If a nuclear agreement with Iran is reached in Vienna, OPEC+ will add Iran's oil production to its market plan. A successful outcome to the Vienna talks would lift U.S. sanctions on Iran's oil exports, potentially bringing 1.3 million barrels a day of oil back into the world market. Such an increase would ease tight global supplies and reduce prices, now nearing $100 a barrel. Then OPEC+ would want Iran to join its program of limited monthly production increases. An OPEC+ source said: "It is very likely OPEC will adjust Iran into the deal, as there is no other option."
Reuters, OPEC+ would seek to bring Iran into oil supply deal.
Leaders from gas exporting countries are gathering in Qatar for the Gas Exporting Countries Forum. Iran's president, Ibrahim Raisi, was scheduled to attend, on his first trip to a Gulf Arab state since tasking office, and Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, greeted Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Morocco's prime minister, and other officials over the weekend. The meeting is to begin Tuesday, with attendance also including Egypt, Libya, Russia, Venezuela, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Bolivia, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Doha News, Algerian president meets Qatar's emir ahead of gas exporting forum.
The visit to Qatar by Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi is expected to look at connecting the two countries' electric power grids using an undersea transmission line. An agreement has been discussed previously, and Iran is now reported interested because it could make the country an energy hub for the region. Iran would need to strengthen its infrastructure, and an Iranian adviser has recommended that a joint Iran-Qatar commission be established.
Jerusalem Post, Qatar, Iran may move to connect electric grids to make Iran 'energy hub' - analysis.
Qatar's exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) have been reduced at two facilities, one because of maintenance, the other unknown. LNG exports from Qatar's Ras Laffan liquefaction plant have been lower recently, and sources said slowdowns at trains 6 and 7 were responsible. ( A train is a natural gas plant's facility to liquefy and purify the product.) Train 6 is expected to be down until March for regular maintenance, usually conducted in the spring shoulder months. No explanation was given for the closure of Train 7.
Reuters, Qatar LNG exports down on mega trains outage.
Lebanon's interior minister wants to prosecute organizers of an anti-Bahrain symposium held in Beirut. The Al-Wefaq Society, banned in Kuwait, was prohibited from meeting in a Beirut hotel but Hezbollah arranged a meeting in a suburban theater. Lebanese minister Bassam Mawlawi urged the public prosecutor to "prosecute the organizers and speakers at the symposium." Bahrain had lodged a "strongly-worded" protest with Lebanon, calling the Al-Wefaq meeting hostile to Manama.
Middle East Monitor, Lebanon seeks to prosecute organisers of anti-Bahrain event.
Libya's interim prime minister proposes popular spending plans as he fights to keep his job. Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, seeking to strengthen his position as the eastern-based parliament tries to push him out, said he would raise state salaries, give land plots and bank loans to young Libyans, and subsidize weddings. He claimed that the legitimacy of Libya's parliament expired after eight years and said he would issue his own roadmap for new elections in June.
Reuters, Libya interim PM, fighting ouster, promises populist spending plan.
Libyan Observer, Dbeibah says his government will give land plots and bank loans to young Libyans.
The U.S. Army sent more tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, to Syria to strengthen the fight against the Islamic State. The M2A3 Bradleys were loaded onto Air Force C-47 Globemaster aircraft and delivered to northeast Syria as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. The number of Bradley vehicles shipped was not made known by the U.S. Combined Joint Task Force in an announcement of the increase. The northeast Syria area was the scene of recent heavy fighting between Kurdish-led forces, supported by U.S. troops with tanks and aircraft, when the Islamic State invaded a prison and tried to free their militants held there.
Defense Blog, US Army deploys more M2A3 Bradley fighting vehicles to Syria.
Tunisian President Kais Saied ordered a state of emergency across the country to be continued until the end of the year. The 10-month extension is one of the longest since a state of emergency was first declared in 2015, following a bomb attack on a bus that killed 12 presidential guards.
Xinhua, Tunisia extends state of emergency until year-end.
A member of Tunisia's suspended parliament said a military court had sentenced him in absentia to 10 months in prison for insulting the president. Yassin Ayari said he had described on Facebook the suspension of parliament by President Kais Saied as a military coup. Ayari, in Paris, said Saied claimed he wasn’t a dictator, but the military then "issues a prison sentence against freedom of expression for a lawmaker... It's ridiculous."
Reuters, Tunisia's military court sentences lawmaker on charges of insulting president.
Thousands of demonstrators staged a protest in Morocco against high fuel prices and commodities in the country. Demonstrators in the Moroccan capital of Rabat protested outside the parliament building, holding signs and chanting slogans against the government for failing to control prices, which has led to poverty. Smaller protests took place in other cities.
Associated Press, Thousands in Morocco protesst high fuel prices, soaring inflation.
MORE: Lebanon needs to step up reform, says Saudi FM, Asharq Al-Awsat... Bomb attack targets Iraq parliament speaker's party in Anbar, Middle East Monitor... Iran top diplomat says U.S. must show goodwill gesture for direct talks, Reuters... U.S.-UAE push for another $4bln in farming climate change investment, Reuters... Israel-UAE ties grow as US pushes allies to cut back on China relations, South China Morning Post... Israel fires on new Hezbollah drone from Lebanon army, AFP.
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