La transition énergétique vue d’ailleurs

20.11.2023

Ayant eu la chance de participer à la seizième édition de la World Policy Conference (WPC16) tenue à Abou Dhabi du 3 au 5 novembre 20231, j’ai pu constater que les points de vue de nombreux grands pays de la planète, notamment ceux de l’Inde, étaient en matière de transition énergétique, bien différents des nôtres. Ce n’est pas qu’ils nient en quoi que ce soit l’ampleur du réchauffement de la planète et encore moins l’importance des phénomènes climatiques extrêmes, ce sont eux qui en subissent les premiers les lourdes conséquences directes (inondations, sécheresse, fortes chaleurs) ou indirectes (maladies parasitaires et croissance du coût de l’énergie), surtout quand surviennent quasi simultanément une épidémie nouvelle et un bouleversement des marchés des matières premières dû aux conflits en cours et, notamment, à la guerre en Ukraine.

En Europe, comme en France, cette guerre a eu un effet inflationniste sur les matières premières agricoles et le coût de l’électricité. Pour ne citer que ce seul chiffre, les factures d’électricité des hôpitaux français ont été multipliées par trois entre 2019 et 2022, pour un surcoût global d’environ un milliard d’euros, soit 1% des dépenses hospitalières. Mais, si j’ose dire, il ne s’agit que d’argent. Dans les pays du sud, il s’agit de vie et de mort. En effet, les pays riches ont détourné à leur profit les matières premières, le gaz, le pétrole, voire le charbon qui parvenaient dans les pays pauvres, si bien que la population mondiale en situation d’extrême pauvreté (moins de 2,15 $ par jour et par personne) a cessé de décroître et a très sensiblement augmenté en 2022 (environ 100 millions de personnes), pour atteindre un total de 700 millions d’êtres humains. Si notre égoïsme confiscatoire passe inaperçu sous nos latitudes tempérées, soyez persuadés que le comportement des pays riches laisse ailleurs de profondes traces et beaucoup de ressentiments.

Aujourd’hui, en matière de lutte contre le réchauffement climatique, l’exemple de la Chine semble exemplaire, même si ce pays continue de construire des centrales électriques à charbon. Il s’engage en effet à ne plus le faire à partir de 2026, les centrales nucléaires et les énergies vertes répondant alors à leur demande croissante d’électricité. Les pays du Sud, dont l’Inde, ont examiné de près l’exemple chinois. Ils savent que l’incroyable croissance de l’espérance de vie de ce pays depuis 1960 (45 années entre 1960 et 2021 !) est due à son développement économique, elle-même tirée par ses succès industriels permis par une énergie aussi bon marché que polluante. L’accès à l’énergie est crucial pour la croissance. Même si la réduction de la pollution atmosphérique devient enfin une priorité de l’Empire du milieu, l’effet sanitaire bénéfique d’une croissance économique fut bien supérieur aux effets sanitaires délétères de la pollution atmosphérique, insistons : 45 années de vie en plus, ce n’est pas rien !

[…]

Retrouvez l’article entier écrit par Jean de Kervasdoué sur Le Point.

Wybory prezydenckie na Ukrainie: Odroczenie związane z wojną z Rosją

14.11.2023

Ukraiński prezydent, Wołodymyr Zełenski, rozważa korzyści i wady przeprowadzenia wyborów prezydenckich na wiosnę 2024 roku, powiedział jego minister spraw zagranicznych w piątek. Jednak istnieją poważne obawy dotyczące organizacji wolnych i uczciwych wyborów w czasie trwania wojny z Rosją.

Po inwazji Rosji w lutym 2022 roku, Ukraina ogłosiła stan wojenny, co zabrania przeprowadzania wyborów.

Jednak pojawiło się kilka wezwań, w tym ze strony republikańskiego senatora USA Lindseya Grahama, aby wybory odbyły się, nawet jeśli wojna nie zakończy się, jako dowód na demokratyczną kondycję kraju.

„Nie zamykamy tej strony. Prezydent Ukrainy rozważa różne zalety i wady”, powiedział Dmitro Kuleba, dodając, że wybory wiązałyby się z nie precedensowymi wyzwaniami.

Ukraina miała zaplanowane przeprowadzenie wyborów parlamentarnych w październiku i wyborów prezydenckich w marcu 2024 roku.

Kuleba wypowiedział się podczas swojego wystąpienia online na World Policy Conference w Zjednoczonych Emiratach Arabskich, kiedy został zapytany, czy Ukraina przeprowadzi wybory prezydenckie na wiosnę.

Wskazał na problemy związane z ryzykiem w zakresie bezpieczeństwa oraz sprawą zapewnienia możliwości głosowania dla setek tysięcy żołnierzy, milionów Ukraińców mieszkających za granicą i tych, którzy żyją pod rosyjską okupacją.

ZELENSKIY CHCE DRUGIEJ KADENCJI, JEŻELI ODBĘDĄ SIĘ WYBORY

Zełenskiy powiedział, że wybory mogą się odbyć, jeśli jest to konieczne, ale że parlament musiałby zmienić prawo, a zagraniczna pomoc byłaby potrzebna do sfinansowania kosztów i znalezienia miejsc do głosowania dla milionów Ukraińców mieszkających za granicą.

Zełenskiy powiedział również, że chciałby ubiegać się o kolejną kadencję, jeśli wybory się odbędą. Jego popularność pozostaje bardzo wysoka, chociaż nieco spadła od pierwszego roku wojny.

Rosja kontroluje niemal jedną piątą terytorium Ukrainy, a około 6 milionów Ukraińców mieszka teraz w różnych krajach Europy.

Analitycy polityczni i niektórzy politycy opozycyjni twierdzą, że byłoby niezwykle trudno dla Ukrainy zagwarantować wolny, uczciwy i bezpieczny proces wyborczy, gdy Rosja nadal atakuje kraj dronami i pociskami.

Kilka głównych stacji telewizyjnych, które są kluczowymi platformami dla kampanii wyborczych, nadal transmituje jedną emisję wojenną.

Przeciwnicy przeprowadzenia wyborów obawiają się, że Rosja podejmie działania mające na celu uniemożliwienie ich przeprowadzenia, a walka o wpływy polityczne osłabi jedność narodową.

Read the article on Mundurowe Wiadomości.

Living In The Limelight: Can Central Asia Sustain Surge Of Newfound Diplomatic Activity Without Russia?

14.11.2023

ALMATY, Kazakhstan — When Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Kazakhstan last week, he was greeted by his counterpart, Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev, and accorded the full pomp befitting a strategic ally.

But there was a change in emphasis that was difficult to ignore.

For Putin, the November 9 visit to Astana was one of only three known foreign trips since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with alleged war crimes committed in Ukraine.

For Kazakhstan and Central Asia as a whole, by contrast, high-level meetings with the leaders of powerful countries have become rather routine.

Of late, the diplomatic calendar has afforded next to no breathing space.

As the Russian and Kazakh presidents held talks, neighboring Uzbekistan was hosting a meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit, where high-profile visitors included Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, with Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov standing in for his president.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella was also in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, on the same day for talks with Uzbek leader Shavkat Mirziyoev and other top officials.

On November 3, Astana hosted the summit of the Council of Turkic States which, like the ECO, is a Russia and China-free organization.

Before that, Toqaev and Mirziyoev welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron to their respective homes in perhaps the noisiest diplomatic visit of the season.

And if October was something of a lull, September was plenty busy, with the region’s five national leaders holding talks with U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York before all of them headed to Berlin to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

[…]

A Region Of ‘Great Gain For All’?

Macron’s November 1-2 visit to the region excited a raft of foreign media headlines describing rising geopolitical competition in Central Asia, with references to a new “Great Game” and Paris stepping into the “backyard” of Russia and China.

This kind of framing is less popular inside the region — Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko optimistically suggested “Great Gain for all” as an alternative during an appearance at the World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi on November 5.

But Macron was clearly feeling competitive when he praised Kazakhstan for “refusing to be a vassal of any power” — an apparent reference to Astana’s neutrality over Ukraine in the face of obvious pressure from Moscow.

During his visit, Kazakh and French businesses signed agreements worth $1.4 billion on transport, engineering, health care, and agribusiness, not including another recent agreement for a nearly $2 billion wind farm that France’s Total Energies will build in southern Kazakhstan.

In Uzbekistan, too, Paris’s focus was on deepening and widening economic cooperation.

After Macron’s departure, Uzbek Minister of Mining and Geology Boris Islamov said that he expected incoming investments of more than $500 million from France’s state-run nuclear company Orano, providing that agreements could be reached to develop two new uranium deposits. The two sides also agreed on investments in a network of logistical centers to help boost agricultural exports.

Perhaps the defining visual of the trip was Macron and Mirziyoev’s warm, drawn-out embrace and handshake prior to a nighttime walk around the Silk Road city of Samarkand.

If images like that play well on Uzbek sections of Instagram, they are likely less popular in Moscow.

So it was unsurprising that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an interview broadcast November 12 argued that the European Union was trying — but failing — to drive Moscow out of Central Asia, where he said Russia had been “historically present.”

The day before it emerged that Macron might soon be coming to a third Central Asian country, Kyrgyzstan, after the office of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said the French president had responded positively to his invitation.

[…]

Read the article on RadioFreeEurope.

それでも「アブラハム合意」に基づく「アラブとイスラエルの接近」が終わることはない

14.11.2023

日本経済新聞コメンテーターの秋田浩之が11月14日、ニッポン放送「飯田浩司のOK! Cozy up!」に出演。イスラエル・パレスチナ情勢について解説した。
記者会見するイスラエルのネタニヤフ首相=2023年10月28日、中部テルアビブ(ロイター=共同)

World Policy Conference(ワールド ポリシー カンファレンス)

飯田)秋田さんは11月3~5日に、アラブ首長国連邦(UAE)のアブダビで開かれた「World Policy Conference」に参加したそうですね。

秋田)アブダビの会議では主に中東や、フランスが主催する会議ですのでヨーロッパ、またアフリカからも大勢の政治家、識者が来ました。当然ですが、いまの中東情勢が話題になりました。

飯田)イスラエルとハマスの戦闘が行われている最中ですからね。

イスラエルが多くの死傷者を出したことへの反発

秋田)2つ発見がありました。1つは、いま中東の上空に、方向性がまったく逆の2つの気流が渦巻いています。1つは当然、憎悪や怒りの感情で、パレスチナ問題をめぐるものです。特にイスラエルが死傷者を大勢出してしまっていることについては、かなり反発が聞かれました。

アブラハム合意に基づくアラブとイスラエルの接近が終わることはない ~スローダウンしても反転することはない

秋田)ただ、もう一方で「地政学のベクトル」も相変わらず消えてはいないのだなと思いました。長期的には、こちらの方が重要だと思います。いまは感情の部分でぶつかり合っていますが、共通の脅威であるイランに対応するため、「アラブ諸国とイスラエルが接近する」という動きです。2020年秋から「アブラハム合意」のもとに、それまでずっと宿敵だったアラブ、特にサウジアラビア、バーレーン、モロッコ、UAE。このうちサウジアラビアはまだですが、参加国の湾岸アラブ諸国が、イスラエルと電撃的な国交樹立を決めました。これは事実上、イランに対抗するためにアメリカが主導した「反イラン連合」なのですが、地政学の計算から結びつくのです。サウジアラビアも、つい最近まではイスラエルとの国交正常化が言われていました。

アブラハム合意は長期を見据えた国家戦略の決定
秋田)それが「もう壊れてしまったのかどうか」が今回、私の最大の関心でした。いろいろと個別に話を聞くと、UAEやエジプト、サウジアラビアの人もいましたが、「アブラハム合意に基づくアラブとイスラエルの接近が終わることはない」と言っていました。

飯田)そうなのですね。

秋田)アブラハム合意に関与している国のある高官は、「これは長期を見据えた国家の戦略決定だ」と言っていました。ですので、いま起きている情勢によって多少スローダウンはするけれど、「反転することはない」と言っていたのが印象的です。

飯田)イランの思惑とは違ってくる。

秋田)ハマスはそれを壊そうとしたのですが、傷は付いても完全に消滅はしないというような話でしたね。

飯田)それは現地に行かないと、なかなかわからないですよね。

秋田)彼らは表立っては言いません。私が今回会議へ行ったいちばんの目的は、「アブラハム合意」という地政学接近が終わるのかどうか、本音を聞こうと思って行ったのです。会議でそのようなことを公式に言う人はいませんが、会場で個別に話を聞くと、だいたいみんな「いまは静かにしているけれど、途切れることはないだろう」と話していました。

将来的には「イラン連合」と「アラブ・イスラエル連合」の二極構造に

飯田)報道によると、イランのライシ大統領がサウジアラビアに行き、トップと会っていたようです。「もはや対イスラエルで、アラブとペルシャも手を組むのか」という話になっているように感じますが、そうではないのですか?

秋田)非常に複雑なのですが、基本的に、イランは「イスラム革命を輸出しようとしている」と言われているイスラム国家ですよね。

アラブは王政なので、イスラム革命のような状況が起きて、イランのようになってしまうことを恐れているのです。
飯田)イランはイスラム革命によってパーレビ王政を追放したわけですものね。

秋田)彼らは他国にもイラン革命が起きて、自分たちのようになることを望んでいるのです。だからハマスやレバノンのヒズボラなど、イスラム教シーア派を支援している。相容れないわけです。

飯田)イランとアラブは。

秋田)では現在、なぜイランとサウジアラビアなどが接近しているのかと言うと、融和のためではなく、米ソ冷戦時代のデタントのようなものです。

飯田)雪解けですか。

秋田)イランも、国内では女性のスカーフ着用の問題でデモが起きて大変ですし、経済制裁も長い。サウジアラビアは今後、再びトランプ大統領に代わるかも知れないアメリカの状況をみると、アメリカがどこまで守ってくれるのかわからない。緊張緩和しているだけで、やはり全部引き剥がせば、「アブラハム合意」のパラダイムと言うか、アラブとイスラエルが接近して「反イラン同盟」を築いていく。イランはそれに対抗するため、シリアやレバノン、また半ばシーア派が多いイラクなどと組んでいく。

飯田)それぞれ。

秋田)いまのパレスチナ問題の激情と言っていい対立は長く続くと思いますが、10~20年先を見ると地政学は、旧ペルシャ帝国の連合である「イラン連合」と、イスラエルの軍事力とハイテクを使って対峙していく「アラブ・イスラエル連合」という二極構造になる。それが安定の鍵を握ると思います。

The article was published on Excite.news.

Is the West’s patience with Israel waning?

12.11.2023

Global pressure on Israel has started to take the form of a soft ultimatum amid growing co-operation between American and European countries, as well as between Arab and other Muslim countries.

Meanwhile, the Gulf countries are providing humanitarian support to Gaza and closely co-operating with Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority to establish a pragmatic de-escalation strategy, outlining the path towards “lasting peace”.

Currently, these efforts are clashing with Israel’s rejection of ceasefire calls until its stated mission of destroying Hamas is accomplished – no matter the humanitarian cost to the people of Gaza and the political cost to world leaders, and no matter how long it would take. However, prolonging the war will not serve Israel’s official objective, nor will it succeed in indefinitely displacing Palestinians to southern Gaza or beyond the occupied territory – as some extremist elements in the government have called for.

US President Joe Biden cannot issue a blank cheque to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his military to proceed with the alleged ethnic cleansing of Gaza under the pretext of purging Hamas. Similarly, European governments are not willing to endorse the fantasies of extremist elements within the Israel government under the pretext of self-defence. Regional security is crucial to Europe, as it is to the US and other G7 member states. The consequences of endorsing such actions could cost the leadership in all these countries.

During a meeting in Tokyo earlier in the week, G7 foreign ministers affirmed their support for “ceasefires and humanitarian corridors” and discussed ways to revive peace efforts on the “day after” once the conflict subsides. They emphasised the two-state solution principle as the only way to settle the conflict. They also condemned Hamas’s attack and called on Iranian authorities to refrain from supporting the group as well as its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah.

The final statement underscored that G7 members, alongside their regional partners, are working to prevent the expansion of the conflict in the Middle East and are collaborating, including on sanctions and other measures, to prevent Hamas from receiving financing.

Interestingly, some of the rhetoric around the issue of sanctions was heard in the context of Israel’s war effort.

Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter recently said that it was time to impose sanctions on Israel for its “inhumane” bombing campaign in Gaza, adding that it was clear that Israel does not care about international calls for a ceasefire. She said that the EU should immediately suspend its economic and political co-operation partnership agreement with Israel, calling for banning Israeli politicians and soldiers responsible for “war crimes” from entering the continent.

The Belgian leader’s position is, however, an exception. It is also confined to a minority in Europe and unlikely to be echoed across the Atlantic. Indeed, in the US, it is inconceivable that either Republicans or Democrats would impose sanctions on Israel. Which also explains why Israel persists with its actions.

Still, the problem for Mr Biden is that American public opinion is shifting away from unconditional and unlimited support for Israel. The Democratic Party is divided to the extent that opposition to Israeli actions from its left flank, and from Arab-American voters, could jeopardise Mr Biden’s electoral prospects.

While Mr Netanyahu might view calling a ceasefire as tantamount to bringing about his own political undoing, Mr Biden could face political upheaval if he submits to Israel’s rejection of a ceasefire.

Interestingly, large sections of European and American societies believe that the solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in Egypt welcoming millions of Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula with substantial international assistance, primarily from Arab countries. This is in addition to the demand for other Arab countries to rehabilitate thousands of Palestinians within their boundaries.

[…]

Three years ago, Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, first mentioned the policy of “de-escalation” in the virtual political circles of the fourth Beirut Institute Summit in Abu Dhabi. Last week, while speaking at the World Policy Conference on Saadiyat Island, he pointed out that the October 7 attack proved that the policy of “containment” had failed.

“Containment has limitations, and we need to find solutions today,” Dr Gargash said, while highlighting the opportunity that the US has to play the role of “problem solver” in the region, and stating that the UAE is among the “most constructive”, albeit not the loudest countries, in working quietly to find solutions.

To echo this sentiment, the Israel-Gaza war indeed demands bold leadership from all the stakeholders.

The Palestinian Authority has a chance to renew itself after years of failing to use the Arab and international readiness to assist it. The Biden administration should dare to compel Israel to cease its actions. For its part, Iran should dare to restrain its proxies from further pyrrhic victories.

Everyone is watching and waiting, especially now.

Read the article on The National.

UAE warns against regional spillover from Gaza war

03.11.2023

The UAE warned on Friday against the risk of a regional spillover from the Israel-Hamas fighting in Gaza, highlighting its efforts to secure an “immediate and full” humanitarian ceasefire to facilitate aid.

Speaking at the World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi, Noura Al-Kaabi, the UAE minister of state at the ministry of foreign affairs, said it was important to look at the war within the broader context of the rising geopolitical challenges and the underlying issue of terrorism.

“As we continue working to stop this war, we cannot ignore the wider context and the necessity to turn down the regional temperature that is approaching a boiling point.”

She warned, “The risk of regional spillover and further escalation is real, as is the risk that extremist groups will take advantage of the situation to advance ideologies that will keep us locked in cycles of violence.”

Al-Kaabi urged the international community to use “all available tools and wisdom acquired through the often-painful lessons” as a drive to overcome extremism.  

She called for “strong diplomacy and cooperation” amid the rising geopolitical tensions, stressing that the war in Palestine was a result of “decades-long failure to make progress toward a political horizon that ends the occupation and brings peace for the Palestinians and Israeli alike.”

The UAE normalized ties with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords.  

On the country’s humanitarian efforts in Gaza, Al-Kaabi said the country was “working relentlessly to reach an immediate and full humanitarian ceasefire so lifesaving aid could be delivered to the Gaza Strip.”

On Thursday, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed ordered the treatment of 1,000 injured Palestinians children in the country’s hospitals.

Al-Kaabi called for the protection of civilians, adding that “every effort must be made to protect civilians and immediately put an end to this conflict.”

She pointed to the increased polarization that the United Nations Security Council has been lately witnessing.

[…]

Read the article on Arab News.

أيّ مستقبل للشرق الأوسط بعد غزة على مشرحة مؤتمر السياسات العالمية في أبو ظبي

07.11.2023

على اهمية الملفات الساخنة التي طرحها مؤتمر السياسات العالمية « World Policy Conference » الذي استضافته مدينة #أبو ظبي

على مدى ثلاثة ايام، تحت عنوان « النظام العالمي بين العولمة والتفكك، أيّ قوى ستفوز »، فإن الحرب الدائرة في غزة واستمرار تفاقمها يوماً بعد يوم وسط العجز أو الفشل الدولي في وضع حدّ لها، حتى على المستوى الانساني، ما يهدد بتوسعها، شكّل مادة حوارية مهمة في النقاشات العامة كما في مداخلات المشاركين، علماً انه كان لهذه الحرب تأثيرها ايضا على مستوى المشاركة وحجمها، حيث تراجعت نسبة الحضور المسجَّل اساساً في ظل المخاوف وتحذيرات دول ولاسيما لرعاياها باتخاذ الحيطة في السفر. لم تخلُ النقاشات من طروحات تضع الاصبع على الجرح النازف للقضية الفلسطينية التي عادت الى واجهة الاحداث الدولية انطلاقاً من شرارة الحرب التي اندلعت في السابع من تشرين الاول الماضي. فكانت مقاربات مختلفة لم تقف عند ماضي القضية وانما ذهبت أبعد في البحث عن مرحلة ما بعد غزة، انطلاقاً من مجموعة اسئلة لم يكن لدى المشاركين سوى طرحها من دون وجود جواب عليها، لأن أي جواب يتطلب قرارا سياسيا وارادة دولية وتنفيذا متوازنا لا يأخذ بمصلحة دولة على حساب اخرى. وهذا الامر الصعب نظراً الى الانحياز الواضح لدول الغرب الى جانب إسرائيل وصفه احد المشاركين بمشاهدة غرب معزول واتحاد اوروبي صامت ووسطٍ عربي شعبي غاضب يلتقي على اجماع حول ضرورة اللجوء الى اميركا لإحلال…

Read the article on An Nahar.

ھقطنم تسین . تاراما هدحتم یبرع دقتعم تسین ھک ناریا طیارش رد ھنایمرواخ ار یب تابث یم دنک شیامھ رد یبرع

04.11.2023

هدحتم تاراما سیئر رواشم شاقرق رونا ،کینتوپسا شرازگ ھب ھک تسا دنمقلاع ناریا ھک درک ملاعا یبظوبا رد Conference Policy World یسایس کشوم زاغآ و لیئارسا کاخ ھب هزغ راون زا سامح نایماظن ھبش ھناحلسم ذوفن زا س . دنک یمن هدافتسا طیارش یزاس تابث یب یارب لیئارسا و نیطسلف یاھ رد نارھت نتشاد تسد دروم رد اھ اعدا صوصخ رد یریگ عضوم رد یو یم ام » :درک دیکات لیئارسا ھب سامح یطارفا ینیطسلف شبنج ھلمح ھقطنم ییافوکش زا یشخب ھک تسا دنمقلاع رما نیا ھب ناریا ھک میناد . » یا دشاب ھب ھتفگ ،شاقرق تاراما هدحتم یبرع ینارگن یاھ یاھروشک یبرغ رد صوصخ ھکنیا ناریا رد ھیاس طیارش رد راون هرغ یم دناوت دراو لباقت میقتسم اب لیئارسا دوش ار کرد یمن دنک . نامزمھ یو ناشنرطاخ درک ھک  » عفانم یلم و کیژولوئدیا فلتخم رد . » ھنایمرواخ دوجو دنھاوخ تشاد ناراب لیئارسا زا یوس ،ناینیطسلف عاضوا رد ھنایمرواخ ھب تدش ور ھب تماخو هدیئارگ تسا . سامح نیا ھلمح ار یخساپ ھب تامادقا تاماقم یلیئارسا ھیلع دجسم یصقلاا رد تیب سدقملا ملاعا هدرک تسا . حبص زور متفھ ،ربتکا لیئارسا رد بوچراچ تایلمع نافوط یصقلاا ھک طسوت ، ھخاش یماظن شبنج ینیطسلف سامح ملاعا ،دش دروم ھلمح یکشوم یب ھقباس یا زا راون هزغ رارق تفرگ . سپ زا تلامح یکشوم هدرتسگ . ناگدنمزر سامح ھب قطانم یزرم بونج روشک نایدوھی ذوفن دندرک رد ،خساپ شترا لیئارسا تایلمع یاھریشمش نینھآ ار ھیلع سامح رد راون هزغ زاغآ دندرک . دنچ زور سپ زا ،ھلمح شترا لیئارسا لرتنک مامت کرھش یاھ کیدزن زرم هزغ ار ھب تسد تفرگ و تلامح ییاوھ ھب یفادھا زا ھلمج نایماظنریغ رد راون هزغ ار زاغآ درک . لیئارسا نینچمھ . زا هرصاحم لماک راون هزغ ربخ هداد و ندناسر ،بآ ،اذغ ،قرب وراد و تخوس ھب نیا ھقطنم ار فقوتم درک دادعت ناینابرق رد راون هزغ ھب ھتفگ ترازو تشادھب یلحم زا 9 رازھ رفن رتارف ،تفر شیب زا 18 رازھ رفن حورجم دندش و ھب ھتفگ عبانم . ،فلتخم شیب زا 200 یلیئارسا رد تراسا سامح دنتسھ ترازو روما ھجراخ ھیسور زا نیفرط تساوخ ات تموصخ اھ ار فقوتم دننک . ھب ھتفگ ریمیدلاو ،نیتوپ لح نارحب ھنایمرواخ اھنت رب ساسا لومرف  » ود تلود  » بوصم یاروش تینما نامزاس للم دحتم ناکما ریذپ تسا ھک داجیا کی روشک لقتسم ینیطسلف رد یاھزرم 1967 اب . تختیاپ نآ رد تیب سدقملا یقرش ار مھارف یم دنک ھشقانم نیطسلف و ،لیئارسا طبترم اب عفانم یضرا ،نیفرط یارب نیدنچ ھھد عبنم شنت و یریگرد رد ھقطنم هدوب تسا . میمصت نامزاس للم . دحتم اب شقن لاعف داحتا ریھامج یوروش رد لاس ،1947 داجیا ود روشک – لیئارسا و نیطسلف ار رد رظن ،تفرگ اما طقف لیئارسا داجیا دش . لیئارسا نمض ملاعا تقفاوم اب لصا ود ،یتلود نیمزرس یاھ نیطسلف ار ھب روط لماک دازآ

Read the article on Sputnik Iran.

Religions can help to renew democracies, says Ecumenical Patriarch

10.11.2023

THE Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew of Constantinople, has insisted that religious institutions can help to resolve current world problems by offering “hopes for unity” based on their accumulated historical wisdom.

“The crisis of democracy, increased crime and xenophobia, the weakened sense of citizenship — these are the direct results of a spiritual and ethical regression,” Patriarch Bartholomew said.

“Yet religions have resisted this trend. Having often been marginalised, in part by their failure to adapt, their resistance is now becoming an asset. . . As more and more people turn to them in search of spirituality and hope, religions have the necessary elements to fill the void that has settled in souls. They can contribute to breathing new life into democratic societies.”

Speaking on Sunday at a World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi, the Patriarch said that the end of the Cold War had released a “wave of hope” around the world, which had been curtailed by financial, environmental, climatic, and energy crises, followed by the pandemic and latest wars.

He said, however, that religion could “inspire significant hopes” in an interregnum between old and new world orders, by countering the “reductionism” forged from an over-reliance on “physical science methods” in human relations.

“Globalisation has unified the world superficially, and today we see strong trends towards fragmentation, as memories of the colonial era resurface, and the Russian invasion in Ukraine and terrible war between Hamas and Israel reveal a growing spiritual gap between the West and global South,” the Patriarch said.

“Most religious networks extend across continents and borders, thus forming a spiritual structure that can attenuate the forces of dissociation and division. . . In a world currently threatened by fragmentation, religions can offer a hope of unity, a role of mediation between economically, politically, and culturally distinct worlds.”

The annual World Policy Conference, founded in 2008 by the French economist Thierry de Montbrial, brings together politicians, diplomats, media, and civil society representatives for a discussion of current global issues, and was also addressed by Muslim and Jewish leaders.

In his speech, Bartholomew said that religious institutions, although declining in the West, were growing elsewhere, and had a greater potential reach in areas such as environmental protection than other international organisations, think tanks, or NGOs.

[…]

Read the article on Church Times.

UAE says US should push for quick end to war in Gaza

04.11.2023

The United States needs to push for a quick end to the Israel-Hamas war and a new process to resolve the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian issue or Washington will be seen as ineffective, the diplomatic adviser to the United Arab Emirates president said on Saturday.

Anwar Gargash also said that Israel’s response to the Palestinian militant group Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack has been « disproportionate », while the two decade policy of containment of the Palestinian issue by Israel had failed.

Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip has angered Arab states who are concerned about sharply rising civilian casualties and Israel’s blockade of the coastal Palestinian enclave that has limited humanitarian aid access.

« US involvement will be seen by when we end this war, the quicker the better, and whether we can have another …, sort of process at problem solving, at issue solving, » Gargash said at a policy conference in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi.

« If this crisis continues, and especially the humanitarian side, and if this crisis, brings us back full circle, to the old containment policy of pre-Seventh of October, I think the American role here… is not going to be seen as effective, » he added.

A Gulf Arab power, the UAE is one of the United States’ closest partners in the Middle East and hosts U.S. forces, has pursued a more independent and assertive foreign policy over the past decade.

It was the most prominent Arab state to sign the 2020 Abraham Accords, a pact brokered by Washington to establish diplomatic ties with Israel that broke with decades of pan-Arab policy that called for a Palestinian state before normalisation.

[…]

Read the article on Reuters.

Ukraine’s Zelenskiy ponders idea of 2024 election during war

03.11.2023

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is weighing the pros and cons of a spring 2024 presidential vote, his foreign minister said on Friday, though there are major concerns over how to organise a free and fair vote during war with Russia.

After Russia invaded in February 2022, Ukraine declared martial law which prohibits elections.

But there have been some calls, including from U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, for votes to proceed even if the war does not end, as evidence of democratic health.

« We are not closing this page. The president of Ukraine is considering and weighing the different pros and cons, » said Dmytro Kuleba, adding that elections would bring unprecedented challenges.

Ukraine was scheduled to hold a parliamentary election in October and a presidential vote in March 2024.

Kuleba made his comment during an online appearance at the World Policy Conference in the United Arab Emirates when asked whether Ukraine would hold a presidential election in spring.

He pointed to problems of security risks and how to ensure votes for hundreds of thousands of soldiers, millions of Ukrainians abroad and those living under Russian occupation.

[…]

Read the article on Reuters.

Central Election Commission: Elections are not held during wartime

07.11.2023

According to Ukraine’s legislation, elections are not held during wartime under martial law, the Central Election Commission’s deputy chair, Serhii Dubovyk, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on Nov. 7.

The Commission did not receive any information regarding possible preparations for presidential elections in the spring of 2024 and, based on Ukraine’s law, « also could not receive them, » Dubovyk said.

When asked whether the presidential powers would be automatically extended next year, the official said that the « Constitution clearly states that the President of Ukraine exercises his powers until the newly elected President of Ukraine takes office. »

With President Volodymyr Zelensky’s traditional five-year mandate span coming to an end next year, discussions arose about whether a new presidential vote would be held amid the ongoing Russian invasion.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Zelensky is considering holding elections as scheduled in the spring of 2024.

« We are not closing this page. The president of Ukraine is considering and weighing the different pros and cons, » Kuleba said during an online appearance at the World Policy Conference.

[…]

Read the article on Kyiv Independent.

Kuleba: Zelensky considering whether to hold elections on schedule

03.11.2023

President Volodymyr Zelensky is considering holding elections as scheduled in the spring of 2024, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said during a briefing on Nov. 3.

« We are not closing this page. The president of Ukraine is considering and weighing the different pros and cons, » Kuleba said during an online appearance at the World Policy Conference, Reuters reported.

Ukraine’s parliamentary elections were supposed to be held in October 2023, while presidential elections were scheduled for March 2024.

Under Ukraine’s Constitution, elections are prohibited while the country is in a state of martial law.

Kuleba said that there are clearly logistical and security challenges involved in holding free and fair elections during wartime.

Millions of voters live abroad or in territories currently occupied by Russia.

[…]

Read the article on Kyiv Independent.

Proche-Orient: le long chemin vers le jour d’après

07.11.2023

Une solution à deux Etats, une autorité palestinienne renforcée, et avant tout un cessez-le-feu, le tout passant par une grande conférence internationale: notre chroniqueur a écouté les pistes évoquées à la World Policy Conference.

A deux reprises, la Suisse a réaffirmé fin octobre devant l’ONU que « le seul socle sur lequel la paix et la stabilité peuvent reposer au Moyen-Orient est la solution à deux Etats ». C’est l’idée qui a généralement cours dans les chancelleries et qui reste en effet la base de toutes les résolutions des Nations unies. Toutefois, certains experts dans notre pays doutent de la possibilité de mettre en œuvre une telle formule en raison de la présence de 750 000 colons israéliens en Cisjordanie, qui constitueraient l’obstacle majeur à la création d’un Etat palestinien. 

Il était donc intéressant d’entendre, le week-end dernier, l’ancien ministre égyptien Nabil Fahmi défendre ladite solution à deux Etats. Il s’exprimait à Abu Dhabi, lors de la World Policy Conference de cette année, tenue sous la présidence de Thierry de Montbrial. A son avis, il n’y a pas d’alternative: régler le problème palestinien au sein d’un seul Etat n’est pas réaliste et n’amènerait pas la paix; cela supposerait que les composantes israélienne et palestinienne doivent renoncer à leur identité respective au profit de l’identité sui generis du nouvel Etat, ce qui est impensable. Quand reviendra le temps de la diplomatie, les Etats arabes devraient prendre l’initiative de convoquer une conférence internationale avec l’aide des grandes puissances mondiales pour relancer le processus de paix entre Arabes et Israéliens, avec en son cœur le dialogue israélo-palestinien. Cette fois, on ne saurait se contenter de « contenir » le problème, selon l’expression d’Anwar Gargash, conseiller diplomatique du président des Emirats arabes unis, de le gérer comme on l’a fait depuis vingt-cinq ans. Il s’agit au contraire d’aller au fond des choses et de trouver une formule définitive, qui s’appliquerait à tous les aspects du problème et qui déboucherait sur la création d’un Etat palestinien viable et souverain. Aux côtés d’Israël dont la sécurité serait garantie. Israël et l’Autorité palestinienne devraient adopter une meilleure gouvernance, en particulier dans le respect du droit international. 

L’ancien premier ministre palestinien Salam Fayyad, que d’aucuns verraient bien un jour à la tête de l’Autorité palestinienne, renchérit à ce propos dans un article de la revue Foreign Affairs: il plaide depuis dix ans pour l’élargissement de l’OLP à toutes les factions palestiniennes, y compris le Hamas, de manière à conférer plus de poids à l’Autorité palestinienne, qui serait alors en mesure de prendre pleinement ses responsabilités y compris sur le territoire de Gaza. Pour l’heure, l’urgence commande de se mettre en mode de gestion de crise (objectif: trêve humanitaire, prévenir l’escalade du conflit) selon un autre participant, Volker Perthes, haut fonctionnaire de l’ONU, avant de songer à la résolution du conflit proprement dite. Pour Nabil Fahmi, l’ex-ministre égyptien, les tueries quotidiennes, la destruction de Gaza ne sauraient servir de base à de futures relations; elles nourrissent un nouveau discours de haine et de revanche, ce qui rend d’autant plus urgent un cessez-le-feu, ne serait-ce que pour préserver les chances d’une reprise des négociations sur le fond. Il ajoute: « La thèse selon laquelle les « dommages collatéraux » seraient acceptables en raison de la source initiale du conflit n’est pas recevable. » Le professeur israélien Itamar Rabinovitch déclare que l’actuel gouvernement israélien n’est pas capable d’adopter une vue suffisamment large pour traiter avec les Palestiniens mais qu’il sera remplacé après la fin de la guerre, d’une manière ou d’une autre. Il souligne qu’Israël n’est pas seulement aux prises avec le Hamas, mais qu’il combat également les quatre autres organisations qui agissent par procuration de l’Iran (Hezbollah, Djihad islamique, houthis, groupe islamique de Syrie): les pays du Golfe en sont conscients. 

Le risque d’une extension du conflit a été peu évoqué au cours de ce riche débat: pourtant, c’est un autre facteur de tension. La présence des porte-avions américains en Méditerranée orientale, d’un navire dans la mer Rouge et de renforts britanniques et américains à Chypre sert ainsi à la dissuasion vis-à-vis de l’Iran. 

L’article a été publié sur Le Temps.

Sa Toute-Sainteté le Patriarche œcuménique Bartholomée World Policy Conference

05.11.2023

La religion, espoir dans un monde en mutation

Éminences,

Excellences,

Honorables participants,

Cher Thierry de Montbrial,

Mesdames et Messieurs,

Chers amis,

La fin de la guerre froide a créé un grand élan d’espoir partout dans le monde. Les deux décennies qui l’ont suivie ont semblé confirmer ces attentes. Un vent de liberté a soufflé sur le monde entier. Les marchandises, les capitaux, les informations et les personnes, désormais débarrassés des obstacles à leur circulation, ont commencé à se déplacer librement à travers le globe. 

Cette liberté, résultat de l’abaissement des frontières, s’est combinée avec des progrès fulgurants dans les transports et surtout dans les moyens de communication. L’activité économique a pu bénéficier de la fluidité généralisée. La croissance économique, le recul de la pauvreté et la diminution des inégalités sur le plan mondial n’ont pas seulement confirmé les espoirs mais sont allés bien au delà de ce qu’on a pu imaginer au moment de la chute du mur.

Quinze ans nous séparent de la première grande déception:

« la crise des subprimes ». Depuis, les crises se succèdent: crise environnementale et climatique, crise du covid, crises géopolitiques avec l’invasion de l’Ukraine et la guerre entre le Hamas et Israel, crise énergétique, crises migratoires, crise de la démocratie. L’avenir s’assombrit de plus en plus. 

Si l’économie et la politique ne peuvent plus inspirer l’espoir, est-ce que nous pouvons nous tourner vers la religion?

Pour les personnes, les familles et les communautés, la religion a toujours constitué une source d’espoir et de réconfort. Mais cet aspect, certes fondamental pour la mission des institutions religieuses, n’est pas l’objet de notre réunion. La question posée se rapporte à une échelle plus large: celle du devenir global. Elle concerne l’influence politique et géopolitique de la religion. 

Dans le nouveau contexte mondial, celui d’un interrègne entre un monde que nous laissons derrière nous et une nouvelle organisation qui n’a pas encore pris forme, la religion représente en effet un enjeu majeur. Elle peut inspirer d’importants espoirs; mais elle peut aussi être utilisée comme une arme. L’extrême diversité du fait religieux, combinée à l’ambiguïté de la distinction entre ce qui est “religieux” et ce qui ne l’est pas, entraîne des amalgames et des confusions, rendant toute généralisation complexe. Malgré ces précautions, nous tenterons d’avancer quelques idées et de proposer des pistes de réflexion.

La religion, facteur de renouveau démocratique

Les énormes progrès technologiques depuis le XIXe siècle ont créé un sentiment d’arrogance, qui est à l’origine de l’exploitation irréfléchie des ressources naturelles et du mépris pour les équilibres des systèmes naturels. Cette hybris s’est étendue au domaine des relations humaines. Les critères économiques, définis dans une logique inspirée des méthodes des sciences physiques, sont devenus prédominants dans l’organisation des rapports humains, à toutes les échelles : à l’intérieur des États, entre États, et, de plus en plus, dans l’émergence de réseaux transnationaux. Le même réductionnisme qui a conduit aux crises environnementales et sanitaires explique également, en grande partie, les dérives dans les relations humaines. Décennie après décennie, les préoccupations spirituelles et éthiques ont régressé, malgré les leçons de la Seconde Guerre mondiale et de l’Holocauste.

Les conséquences de cette évolution sont évidentes. Crise des institutions, crise de la démocratie, hausse de la criminalité, xénophobie, et affaiblissement du sens de la citoyenneté sont les résultats directs de cette régression spirituelle et éthique.

Les religions et leurs institutions ont résisté à cette tendance. Elles ont souvent été marginalisées, en partie à cause de leur non-adaptation. Pourtant, aujourd’hui, leur résistance devient un atout. Dans leurs enseignements, leurs rituels, et l’organisation des liens sociaux, les religions mobilisent une sagesse accumulée sur des millénaires. Elles opposent la profondeur et la résilience de la temporalité longue à la superficialité et la fragilité de l’éphémère. De plus en plus de personnes se tournent vers la religion à la recherche de spiritualité et d’espoir.

Les religions ont, dans leurs traditions, les éléments nécessaires pour combler le vide qui s’est installé dans les âmes. Elles peuvent contribuer à redonner du souffle aux sociétés démocratiques.

La religion comme lien entre les peuples

La globalisation a unifié le monde de manière superficielle. Aujourd’hui, on constate de fortes tendances vers la fragmentation. Cette réorganisation de l’espace va au-delà de la dimension économique. Les fractures qui émergent ou resurgissent sont également politiques, géopolitiques et identitaires.

Un des principaux aspects de cette tendance concerne les relations entre l’Occident et le reste du monde. Les crises ont touché de manière bien plus prononcée les pays pauvres, beaucoup d’entre eux accusant les pays développés de faire preuve d’égoïsme et de manquer de solidarité. Les souvenirs de l’époque coloniale resurgissent. L’invasion russe en Ukraine et maintenant la terrible guerre entre le Hamas et Israel ont révélé un fossé spirituel grandissant entre ces deux blocs, et ce, malgré l’extrême diversité qui caractérise ce que l’on appelle le Sud global.

Où se situent les religions face à ce défi ?

La répartition géographique des religions est, certes, complexe. Toutefois, la plupart des réseaux religieux s’étendent à travers les continents et franchissent les frontières. Ils forment donc une structure spirituelle qui peut aider à atténuer les forces de dissociation et de division. L’unité prônée par les religions ne se limite pas à la seule dimension économique, comme celle de la globalisation. Elle se fonde sur d’anciennes traditions ancrées dans la “longue durée” : les siècles durant lesquels différentes religions ont cohabité sur un même territoire et des territoires variés ont été le berceau d’une religion commune.

Dans un monde actuellement menacé par la fragmentation, les religions peuvent offrir un espoir d’unité. Leur rôle de médiation pourrait faciliter le dialogue entre des mondes économiquement, politiquement, et culturellement distincts.

Le Patriarcat œcuménique de Constantinople, présent dans le monde entier, est un exemple notable. Sa présence et son acceptation pourraient s’avérer particulièrement bénéfiques. Sa longue histoire de coexistence, de dialogue et d’échanges, non seulement avec le judaïsme, mais aussi avec l’islam, est un véritable atout pour le monde chrétien.

La religion dans la protection de l’environnement

Bien que le lien avec la religion ait connu un recul considérable en Occident, la religiosité demeure présente dans le reste du monde. Les régions enregistrant une forte croissance démographique, notamment l’Inde et, encore plus, l’Afrique, continuent d’accueillir des communautés religieuses grandissantes. Ainsi, les institutions religieuses ont le potentiel d’atteindre, par leurs enseignements, davantage d’individus que les organisations internationales, les think tanks ou les ONG.

Dans le domaine de la protection de l’environnement, le nombre d’individus sensibilisés est crucial. Ce sont d’innombrables gestes individuels qui entraînent la dégradation des paysages, les atteintes à la flore et à la faune, la pollution des océans et toutes les autres formes de destruction induites par l’activité humaine. La capacité d’influencer ces actes individuels peut donc avoir un impact considérable. Mobiliser les institutions religieuses pour enseigner le respect de l’environnement est par conséquent essentiel.

Le Patriarchat œcuménique a pris conscience de ce besoin très tôt. Nous restons activement engagés dans le dialogue inter-religieux pour la protection de l’environnement.

 La religion instrumentalisée

L’idéal d’unification de l’humanité sur la base de la rationalité économique, loin de rassurer, a engendré des angoisses identitaires et des ressentiments. Après avoir poursuivi l’idéal de la liberté et de la prospérité pour tous, c’est désormais la quête de la sécurité et du prestige qui prédomine. La fragmentation que nous observons découle de cette évolution.

Dans ce contexte, la religion devient une ressource politique majeure, car elle peut fonctionner comme élément de différenciation des populations. Ceci a été observable lors de la crise ukrainienne, où elle a été fréquemment instrumentalisée dans des antagonismes politiques et géopolitiques.

On a souvent tendance à considérer son rôle géopolitique à travers le prisme des confrontations entre populations de religions différentes. Ainsi, la thèse célèbre de Samuel Huntington sur le “Choc des Civilisations” envisageait le monde divisé en grands blocs religieux. Pourtant, la réalité est tout autre. La valorisation de la religion comme marqueur identitaire et instrument de pouvoir génère des conflits aussi intenses au sein même des grands ensembles religieux. D’où un paysage complexe de tensions entre religions et à l’intérieur des religions.

Cette géopolitisation de la religion confère d’énormes responsabilités aux institutions religieuses. Elles ne peuvent ignorer les aspirations des populations à l’indépendance et à la liberté. En parallèle, il est primordial d’accentuer le rôle apaisant et pacificateur de la religion. La riche expérience des institutions religieuses est cruciale. 

Il est indéniable que la religion est parfois présente dans des situations de conflit et de guerre. Le fanatisme religieux a mené à d’atroces crimes, et, malheureusement, diverses formes d’oppression et de discrimination continuent d’être justifiées par des discours religieux. Cependant, doit-on blâmer la religion en tant que telle, ou plutôt ceux qui la déforment à des fins politiques?

Si l’on parvenait à éliminer la religion, comme le souhaitaient certaines idéologies, aurions-nous aussi éradiqué les causes de haine, de conflits et de crimes ? Le domaine religieux est un champ de bataille où le meilleur côtoie le pire. Mais ce qui rend la religion fondamentalement positive, c’est son ancrage historique. Les institutions religieuses séculaires détiennent un patrimoine de sagesse qui leur permet de contrer les plus grands dangers. Cette perspective devient évidente lorsqu’on considère les ravages causés par les idéologies de la modernité, dépourvues d’une telle profondeur historique.

Ainsi, le diagnostic concernant le rôle des religions dans les conflits est nuancé. Si la religion est souvent instrumentalisée à des fins étrangères à son essence, l’engagement des institutions religieuses dans les situations de conflit peut aussi modérer leur virulence.

Conclusion

Dans un monde en constante évolution, confronté à des crises et exposé à des menaces à court et long terme inédites il y a quelques décennies, le rôle de la religion est indubitablement positif. Elle représente ainsi un vecteur d’espoir. Cependant, les réflexions précédentes démontrent que cette question est complexe. En effet, dans certaines circonstances, la religion peut aussi être associée à des comportements négatifs. De ce fait, une immense responsabilité repose sur les épaules des institutions religieuses et de leurs dirigeants. Sans renier leurs doctrines et convictions, les responsables des différentes religions se doivent de coordonner leurs efforts afin de magnifier les effets bénéfiques de leurs traditions ancestrales. C’est pour cette raison que le dialogue inter-religieux est primordial.

Le renforcement croissant du rôle des religions peut donc susciter de l’espoir. Cet espoir doit être consolidé par une attention accrue des milieux académiques et de la recherche. Nous attendons de ces milieux une contribution originale, innovante et positive à une meilleure connaissance de la géopolitique des religions, dans un souci d’action. Comme nous le soulignions lors de notre précédente réunion : 

“Les théologiens et autres spécialistes des questions ayant à faire avec le fonctionnement des églises doivent sans doute s’ouvrir aux autres perspectives et developper le dialogue avec les autres disciplines. Il est aussi important que les spécialistes des sciences sociales, des sciences politiques et des relations internationales dépassent une certaine hésitation à approfondir les questions religieuses. La compréhension du nouveau monde qui se constitue sous nos yeux ne peut pas faire abstraction du fait religieux”. Merci pour votre attention !

Le discours est à retrouver sur Ecumenial Patriarch.

Ο Οικ. Πατριάρχης στο Συνέδριο “World Policy Conference”: «Οι Θρησκείες διαδραματίζουν θετικό ρόλο στην επικράτηση της ειρήνης»

06.11.2023

Στη σημασία του ρόλου των θρησκειών στον σύγχρονο κόσμο αναφέρθηκε η Α.Θ. Παναγιότης ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης κ.κ. Βαρθολομαίος την Κυριακή, 5 Νοεμβρίου 2023, στην επίσημη ομιλία του στο Διεθνές Συνέδριο “World Policy Conference”, που πραγματοποιήθηκε στο Abu Dhabi. Απευθυνόμενος στο πολυπληθές ακροατήριο του Συνεδρίου, στη γαλλική γλώσσα, επεσήμανε, μεταξύ άλλων, ότι στον κόσμο μας που σήμερα απειλείται από κατακερματισμό, οι θρησκείες μπορούν να προσφέρουν ελπίδα για ενότητα, και υπογράμμισε ότι ο διαμεσολαβητικός τους ρόλος θα μπορούσε να διευκολύνει τον διάλογο μεταξύ οικονομικά, πολιτικά και πολιτισμικά διαφορετικών κόσμων. Ο Παναγιώτατος αναφέρθηκε στις πολυδιάστατες κρίσεις που δοκιμάζουν την ανθρωπότητα, κάνοντας ιδιαίτερη αναφορά και στους εν εξελίξει πολέμους στην Ουκρανία αλλά και στη Μέση Ανατολή.

Ο Παναγιώτατος αναφέρθηκε στη διακονία και το έργο του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου, καθώς και στη μακρά εμπειρία του από την συνύπαρξη και τον διάλογό του τόσο με τον Ιουδαϊσμό όσο και με το Ισλάμ, γεγονός που αποτελεί πλεονέκτημα για τον χριστιανικό κόσμο, καθώς και, γενικότερα, στον θετικό ρόλο που μπορούν να διαδραματίσουν οι θρησκείες στο ζήτημα της προστασίας του περιβάλλοντος αλλά και της επικράτησης της ειρήνης στον κόσμο.

Η ομιλία του Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχου πραγματοποιήθηκε στο πλαίσιο της 16ης Θεματικής Ενότητας του Συνεδρίου, στην οποία προήδρευσε ο Ελλογιμ. κ. Thierry de Montbrial, Ιδρυτής του WPC, και μίλησαν, επίσης, ο Δικαστής Ελλογιμ. κ. Mohamed Abdelsalam, Γενικός Γραμματέας του Μουσουλμανικού Συμβουλίου των Γερόντων, καθώς και ο Σοφολ. Haim Korsia, Αρχιραββίνος της Γαλλίας.

Το βράδυ της ιδίας ημέρας, ο Πατριάρχης και η συνοδεία του παρεκάθησαν σε δείπνο το οποίο παρέθεσε προς τιμήν τους ο Πρέσβυς της Τουρκίας στα Ηνωμένα Αραβικά Εμιράτα Εξοχ. κ. Tugay Tunçer στην πρεσβευτική κατοικία.

The article was published on Dogma.

The Ecumenical Patriarch at the “World Policy Conference”

08.11.2023

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew referred to the importance of the role of religions in the modern world on Sunday, November 5, 2023, in his official speech at the World Policy Conference, held in Abu Dhabi.

Addressing the large audience at the conference, he pointed out, among other things, that in our world, which is currently threatened by fragmentation, religions can offer hope for unity, and stressed that their mediating role could facilitate dialogue between economically, politically, and culturally diverse worlds. The Ecumenical Patriarch referred to the multidimensional crises testing humanity, making particular reference to the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The Ecumenical Patriarch referred to the ministry and work of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as well as to its long experience of coexistence and dialogue with both Judaism and Islam, which is an advantage for the Christian world, and, more generally, to the positive role that religions can play in the issue of environmental protection and the prevalence of peace in the world.

The Ecumenical Patriarch’s speech was delivered in the context of the 16th Thematic Session of the Conference, which was chaired by Mr. Thierry de Montbrial, Founder of the WPC, and also featured speeches by Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Elders, and Haim Korsia, Chief Rabbi of France.

In the evening of the same day, the Patriarch and his entourage attended a dinner hosted in their honor by the Ambassador of Turkey to the United Arab Emirates, Tugay Tunçer, at the Embassy Residence.

Read the article on Orthodox Times.

Kuleba, ‘Zelensky sta valutando se tenere presidenziali 2024’

03.11.2023

Il presidente ucraino Volodymyr Zelensky sta « soppesando i pro e i contro » dell’organizzazione delle elezioni  presidenziali nel 2024, nonostante la guerra e le numerose « sfide pratiche ». Lo ha annunciato oggi il suo  ministro degli Esteri Dmytro Kouleba, intervenuto in videoconferenza alla World Policy Conference,  organizzata negli Emirati Arabi Uniti. « Non è che non voglia tenere le elezioni, ma tenerle nelle circostanze  attuali richiederebbe un lavoro senza precedenti e richiederebbe affrontare sfide senza precedenti », ha  aggiunto. Prima dell’inizio dell’invasione russa dell’Ucraina nel 2022, le elezioni presidenziali erano state  previste per il 2024. Ma la legge marziale, in vigore dall’inizio della guerra, ne ostacola il funzionamento  elettorale. All’inizio di settembre Zelensky si era già detto « pronto » a organizzare elezioni nel suo Paese in 

tempo di guerra « se la gente ne avesse avuto bisogno ». « Non è una questione di democrazia » ma « solo di  sicurezza », ha assicurato, sottolineando anche che i problemi da risolvere sono « molti ». Tra questi, il voto dei  soldati che combattono in trincea, o l’arrivo di osservatori internazionali in una zona di guerra, ha spiegato.  Una lista alla quale Kouleba ha aggiunto anche l’organizzazione del voto per milioni di ucraini all’estero e il  rischio che i seggi elettorali in Ucraina possano diventare « bersagli perfetti per missili e droni russi ».

Read the article on SKY tg 24.

阿聯籲中東國家:勿因以巴戰爭暫停緩解地區局勢

05.11.2023

(中央社杜拜4日綜合外電報導)阿拉伯聯合大公國高官今天說,儘管以色列與哈瑪斯交戰,中東大國仍應透過貿易和經濟緩和區域局勢。另一方面,阿拉伯領導人也向美國國務卿布林肯施壓,要求確保加薩立即停火。

巴勒斯坦伊斯蘭主義組織哈瑪斯(Hamas)10月7日對以色列發動致命攻擊,以色列隨後對哈瑪斯控制的加薩發動回擊。在此之前,中東地區經歷一段修補關係的時期,其中包括阿聯與其鄰國沙烏地阿拉伯。

儘管在加薩的這場戰爭為該地區帶來衝擊,阿聯總統顧問加爾加希(Anwar Gargash)在阿布達比(Abu Dhabi)舉行的世界政策會議(World Policy Conference)表示:「國家行為者基本上試圖利用經濟作為緩和緊張局勢的方式。我認為我們沒有理由放棄這種行動方針。」

加爾加希表示,這場戰爭顯示出,阿拉伯聯合大公國和其他國家仍須「與其他地區行為者合作,以確保區域穩定得到保障」。

阿聯和盟友巴林以及摩洛哥和蘇丹打破阿拉伯國家長期共識,在2020年與以色列實現關係正常化。

與此同時,全球最大的石油出口國沙烏地阿拉伯與伊朗在斷交7年後,於今年3月恢復外交關係。目前在加薩的這場戰爭爆發之前,沙國與以色列也曾就潛在的關係正常化進行談判。

美國國務卿布林肯(Antony Blinken)今天在約旦首都安曼(Amman)會見沙烏地阿拉伯、卡達、阿聯、埃及和約旦外交部長。約旦外交部長沙法迪(Ayman Safadi)在隨後的記者會上表示:「現在我們必須確保這場戰爭停止。」

布林肯表示,所有人都同意和平的必要性以及加薩現狀無法維持,但他認知到華府與其盟友之間存在分歧。

布林肯表示:「現在停火只會讓哈瑪斯得以重新集結,並重複10月7日所做的事。」這是以色列和哈瑪斯開戰以來,他第2次訪問這個地區。

Read the article on Central News Agency.

ОАЭ назвали непропорциональными действия Израиля в ответ на нападение ХАМАС

04.11.2023

Атака армии Израиля по сектору Газа является непропорциональным ответом на массированную атаку палестинского движения ХАМАС на еврейское государство, заявил советник президента Объединенных Арабских Эмиратов Анвар Гаргаш во время политической конференции World Policy Conference в Абу-Даби, трансляция которой велась на YouTube. По его словам, необходимо остановить боевые действия в Газе и страдания мирных жителей.

Реакция Израиля на нападение 7 октября непропорциональна. <…> Необходимо прекратить боевые действия, остановить страдания в Газе и освободить всех заложников, — сообщил Гаргаш.

Он заявил, что удары Израиля по сектору Газа, захват заложников бойцами ХАМАС и убийство мирных жителей не оставили возможности для урегулирования конфликта дипломатическим путем. Советник президента также добавил: чем дольше продолжаются атаки на Газу, тем выше вероятность расширения конфликта на весь Ближний Восток.

Ранее на севере сектора Газа и Западном берегу реки Иордан шли ожесточенные столкновения израильских военных с членами ХАМАС. В частности, конфликтующие стороны вели бои в районе контрольно-пропускного пункта «Эрез» и в городе Бейт-Сахур в Вифлееме.

Read the article on News.ru.

Blinken rebuffs Arab states’ push for immediate Gaza ceasefire

04.11.2023

Arab leaders have urged an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, pressing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to convince Israel, but the top US diplomat said such a halt right now would only allow Hamas to regroup and attack Israel again.

In a rare public disagreement at a news conference in Amman, foreign ministers of Jordan and Egypt, standing alongside Blinken, repeatedly pushed for a cessation of hostilities, saying the death of thousands of civilians could not be justified as self-defence.

“A ceasefire now would simply leave Hamas in place, able to regroup and repeat what it did on October 7,” Blinken said.

“No nation, none of us would accept that … So it is important to reaffirm Israel’s right and its obligation to defend itself.”

Middle East powers should maintain their push to de-escalate the region through trade and economic ties despite the Gaza conflict, a senior United Arab Emirates official has said, AFP reports.

According to UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash, countries should maintain that strategy even though the conflict is sending shockwaves through the region.

“National actors are basically trying to use economics as a way to de-escalate tension,” Gargash told the World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi. “I think there is no reason why we should also veer away from that course of action.”

He added: “I think the other message is also [that] national plans have to move on. I don’t think that national plans have to be on pause, because there will always be a major regional issue that will surprise us.”

The article was published on Pakistan Today.

Indian delegates attend World Policy Conference at Abu Dhabi

13.11.2023

The conference deliberated on varied topics of global significance ranging from World Economy, AI and Global Health to Food Security, Ukraine War, and Crises in the Middle East.

Hyderabad: The prestigious 16th Edition of the World Policy Conference 2023, of thought leaders and policy shapers from across five continents was held at Abu Dhabi. The Conference deliberated on varied topics of global significance ranging from World Economy, AI and Global Health to Food Security, Ukraine War, and Crises in the Middle East. Former Governor of West Bengal and NSA MK Narayanan and social entrepreneur Manu Mallikarjun who is son of former union minister and Telangana movement leader Dr Mallikarjun, were amongst the four delegates from India invited to the conference.

Speakers included distinguished guests such as Mariam Al-Mheiri (Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE), Dmytro Kuleba (Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ukraine), Jean-Claude Trichet (Former President of the European Central Bank), Dr Bogdan Klich (Senator and former Minister of Defence, Poland) and Dr John Lipsky (Senior Fellow of the Foreign Policy Institute at John Hopkins University, SAIS).

MK Narayanan had worked in the administration of Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao in whose cabinet Dr Mallikarjun had also served as Minister of State for Defence and Railways. While Narayanan is a stalwart of Indian diplomacy and security, Manu Mallikarjun contributed perspectives from his experience in the private sector, additionally drawing on his engineering studies and Master’s degree in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University (SAIS), USA. From India, Narendra Taneja (Founder President, World Energy Policy Summit) and Tobby Simon (Founder President, Synergia Foundation) also participated in the panels at the conference and shared their respective expertise on matters concerning Energy Policy and challenges posed by AI.

The article was published on Bizz Buzz.

Kazakhstan’s Approaches to Regional and Global Problems Presented at Conference in UAE

06.11.2023

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko presented the country’s approaches to solving current regional and global problems at the World Policy Conference held on November 3-5 in Abu Dhabi. More than 200 representatives of governments, leading think tanks and international companies from Europe, Asia, Africa and America attended the conference, organized for the 16th time by the Institut Français des Relations Internationales (IFRI) and held this year under the title “The International System between Globalization and Disintegration: Which Forces Will Prevail?”

In his remarks at the session devoted to Eurasian perspectives on the changing geopolitical configurations, the Kazakh diplomat outlined his country’s commitment to the UN Charter and compliance with its basic principles, including, first of all, respect for territorial integrity, the inviolability of borders and the sovereignty of states. It is the position of Kazakhstan that it is on this basis that the solution to international conflicts and contradictions should be based.

In this context, he drew the attention of conference participants to the approaches of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to reforming the UN, including those voiced from the rostrum of this global organization. He noted that Kazakhstan stands for strengthening and reforming the UN by increasing the authority of the UN General Assembly as the most representative body and expanding the membership of the UN Security Council by including states, including the so-called middle powers, representing different regions of the world.

Answering the moderator’s questions, Roman Vassilenko expressed Kazakhstan’s interest in the speedy conclusion of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan and in establishing an atmosphere of trust and cooperation between them and in that region generally, which will contribute to the further opening and unblocking of transport communications in the South Caucasus. According to him, this will have a beneficial impact on the further intensive development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) — the Middle Corridor — something that will meet the interests of Kazakhstan, the countries of Asia and Europe.

During the discussion, the Deputy Foreign Minister identified three interrelated trends affecting the development of the situation in Central Asia and around it.

First, it has to do with the persistence of problems in the field of socio-economic and environmental security caused by global warming, and political security related to the challenges posed by the situation in Afghanistan; secondly, there’s a growing and closer cooperation of Central Asian states in responding to these challenges, leading to an increase in the subjectivity of the region in world politics; and thirdly, there’s more active involvement and interaction of external actors, such as Russia, China, the United States, the European Union, Türkiye and the Arab nations, with the countries of the region in both bilateral and multilateral formats. (He added currently there are already 11 dialogue platforms with international partners in the “Central Asia Plus” format.)

In this context, citing as an example the strong reaction of the people in Kazakhstan to recent headlines in some western media, Roman Vassilenko noted the irrelevance, unacceptability and fallacy of perceiving the countries of Central Asia through the prism of outdated concepts of the “Great Game”. He emphasized that Astana, on the contrary, proposes and promotes the concept of “Great Gain for all”, believing that common challenges, such as the need to increase interconnectivity, fight climate warming, and ensure sustainable economic growth, should play a unifying role.

[…]

Read the article on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan keen on unblocking communications in South Caucasus – MFA

06.11.2023

BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. The unblocking of transportation communications in the South Caucasus will meet the interests of Kazakhstan, Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko said at the World Policy Conference held in Abu Dhabi, Trend reports.

In response to queries, Vassilenko highlighted Kazakhstan’s desire for a rapid conclusion of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the building of a climate of trust and collaboration between them and throughout the region.

According to him, this will help to further open and unblock transportation communications in the South Caucasus.

« This will have a favorable impact on further intensive development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TMTM, or Middle Corridor), which will meet the interests of Kazakhstan, Asian and European countries, » the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications stated.

The conference, organized for the 16th time by the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), was attended by more than 200 representatives of governments, leading think tanks and international companies from Europe, Asia, Africa and America.

Read the article published on Trend News Agency.

Kazakhstan’s approaches to regional and global problems presented at conference in UAE

06.11.2023

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko presented the country’s approaches to solving current regional and global problems at the World Policy Conference held on November 3-5 in Abu Dhabi. More than 200 representatives of governments, leading think tanks and international companies from Europe, Asia, Africa and America attended the conference, organized for the 16th time by the Institut Français des Relations Internationales (IFRI) and held this year under the title “The International System between Globalization and Disintegration: Which Forces Will Prevail? » the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

In his remarks at the session devoted to Eurasian perspectives on the changing geopolitical configurations, the Kazakh diplomat outlined his country’s commitment to the UN Charter and compliance with its basic principles, including, first of all, respect for territorial integrity, the inviolability of borders and the sovereignty of states. It is the position of Kazakhstan that it is on this basis that the solution to international conflicts and contradictions should be based.

In this context, he drew the attention of conference participants to the approaches of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to reforming the UN, including those voiced from the rostrum of this global organization. He noted that Kazakhstan stands for strengthening and reforming the UN by increasing the authority of the UN General Assembly as the most representative body and expanding the membership of the UN Security Council by including states, including the so-called middle powers, representing different regions of the world.

Answering the moderator’s questions, Roman Vassilenko expressed Kazakhstan’s interest in the speedy conclusion of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan and in establishing an atmosphere of trust and cooperation between them and in that region generally, which will contribute to the further opening and unblocking of transport communications in the South Caucasus. According to him, this will have a beneficial impact on the further intensive development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) — the Middle Corridor — something that will meet the interests of Kazakhstan, the countries of Asia and Europe.

During the discussion, the Deputy Foreign Minister identified three interrelated trends affecting the development of the situation in Central Asia and around it.

First, it has to do with the persistence of problems in the field of socio-economic and environmental security caused by global warming, and political security related to the challenges posed by the situation in Afghanistan; secondly, there’s a growing and closer cooperation of Central Asian states in responding to these challenges, leading to an increase in the subjectivity of the region in world politics; and thirdly, there’s more active involvement and interaction of external actors, such as Russia, China, the United States, the European Union, Türkiye and the Arab nations, with the countries of the region in both bilateral and multilateral formats. (He added currently there are already 11 dialogue platforms with international partners in the “Central Asia Plus” format.)

In this context, citing as an example the strong reaction of the people in Kazakhstan to recent headlines in some western media, Roman Vassilenko noted the irrelevance, unacceptability and fallacy of perceiving the countries of Central Asia through the prism of outdated concepts of the “Great Game”. He emphasized that Astana, on the contrary, proposes and promotes the concept of “Great Gain for all”, believing that common challenges, such as the need to increase interconnectivity, fight climate warming, and ensure sustainable economic growth, should play a unifying role.

[…]

Read the article on Kazinform.

Kazakhstan Outlines Its Vision on Regional and Global Issues at World Policy Conference

07.11.2023

By Saniya Sakenova

ASTANA – At the 16th World Policy Conference held from Nov. 3-5 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko outlined Kazakhstan’s approach to addressing regional and global challenges, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service.

The conference, themed The International System between Globalization and Disintegration: Which Forces Will Prevail? brought together over 200 government representatives, leading think tanks, and international companies from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States.

At the session on Eurasian perspectives concerning evolving geopolitical configurations, Vassilenko reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to the principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter, emphasizing respect for territorial integrity, border inviolability, and state sovereignty, which are fundamental to resolving international conflicts and disputes.

The Kazakh diplomat also echoed President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s calls for UN reform, stressing the need to increase the authority of the UN General Assembly as the most representative body, and expand UN Security Council membership to include states from various global regions, particularly middle powers.

Vassilenko expressed Kazakhstan’s interest to expedite a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan and establish an atmosphere of trust and cooperation in the region. He noted that such developments would facilitate the reopening and unblocking of transport communications in the South Caucasus, which would benefit the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.

[…]

Read the article on The Astana Times.

Armenian Deputy FM presents the “Crossroads of Peace” project at World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi

04.11.2023

On November 3, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan participated in the World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi, which is traditionally organized by the French Institute of International Relations.

During the panel discussion dedicated to the Eurasian region, the Deputy Minister presented the priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy, the efforts of the Armenian government aimed at normalizing relations with neighbors, underscoring the provisions of the Quadrilateral Declaration adopted in Granada as a guideline in the process of normalizing relations with Azerbaijan. The perspectives of Armenia-Turkey relations were touched upon.

Deputy Minister Kostanyan introduced the participants to the “Crossroads of Peace” project of the Armenian side and highlighted its importance in the context of both regional cooperation and international transportation.

In his remarks, Vahan Kostanyan emphasized the need to protect the rights of the forcibly displaced refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh.

Read the article published on Public Radio of Armenia.

Zelensky Declares It’s ‘Not The Right Time For Elections’ In Ukraine

07.11.2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that it is “not the right time for elections” in Ukraine in the midst of the ongoing war against Russia. His comment comes as his five-year presidential term is coming to an end.

On Monday, Zelensky made an announcement in a video where he claimed that Ukraine should not have to “deal with” the upcoming elections, as the country is continuing to repel Russia, which raided Ukraine in February 2022.

The Ukrainian president said that presidential elections should not be held in the country in 2024, claiming that it would be “irresponsible” to do so due to the continuing war.

“We all understand that now, in wartime, when there are many challenges, it is utterly irresponsible to engage in topics related to an election in such a frivolous manner,” Zelensky said in his video address to Ukraine on Monday.

Prior to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Ukraine’s presidential elections were originally planned for March 2024. However, the nation’s constitution orders that it cannot go ahead with the elections until any declaration of martial law is lifted, which is doubtful to occur. The country was scheduled to hold a parliamentary election in October.

Martial law refers to the suspension of an ordinary law, which is administered by the military.

In Ukraine, martial law is scheduled to end on November 15th.

Zelensky initially mandated martial law on February 24th, 2022, which is also the day that Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated an invasion on Ukraine.

“We need to recognize that this is a time for defense, a time for battle, upon which the fate of the state and its people depend… I believe that elections are not appropriate at this time,” Zelensky claimed.

Additionally, Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Alexey Danilov announced that “no elections can be held” due to the martial law in place in the country.

Previous to Zelensky’s announcement, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba made a statement during an online appearance at the World Policy Conference in the United Arab Emirates saying that the Ukrainian president was “weighing the pros and cons” of racing in the election next year.

“We are not closing this page. The president of Ukraine is considering and weighing the different pros and cons,” said Kuleba.

“And finally, the waves of any politically divisive things must stop,” he said Monday. “We must realize that now is the time of defense, the time of the battle that determines the fate of the state and people, not the time of manipulations, which only Russia expects from Ukraine. I believe that now is not the right time for elections.”

“And if we need to put an end to a political dispute and continue to work in unity, there are structures in the state that are capable of putting an end to it and giving society all the necessary answers. So that there is no room left for conflicts and someone else’s game against Ukraine,” he said. 

[…]

Read the article on One America news.

Has Zelensky Canceled Ukraine’s Elections? Here’s What Happened

09.11.2023

As the conflict in Ukraine continues President Volodymyr Zelensky has recently said, « I believe that now is not the right time for elections. »

In a nightly video address on Monday, Zelensky said it was « utterly irresponsible to engage in topics related to an election in such a frivolous manner. »

« Now everyone should think about defending our country. We need to pull ourselves together, avoid unwinding and splitting up into disputes or other priorities, » he said. « If there is no victory, there will be no country. Our victory is possible. »

Zelensky was elected for a five-year term in March 2019, with presidential elections originally scheduled for March 2024. Ukraine was due to hold a parliamentary election in October.

Zelensky declared martial law on February 24, 2022, the day Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine’s constitution mandates that elections cannot go ahead until any declaration of martial law is lifted, which is unlikely to happen soon.

Some characterized the announcement as meaning that Zelensky had canceled elections.

A post on X, formerly Twitter, by user @WarClandestine, posted on November 6, 2023, viewed 402,500 times, stated: « Zelensky to cancel Ukrainian election!

« Says now is ‘not the right time for elections’ and that Ukraine must dedicate all resources to defense.

« Zelensky holding Ukraine hostage and refusing to relinquish power. Zelensky has been upgraded to dictator. »

This was a claim made earlier this year by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, a Republican, who said: « The biggest recipient of American welfare, Ukraine, canceled its next presidential election. »

Ukrainian law states that elections for the presidential office of Ukraine, Ukraine’s parliamentary body the Verkhovna Rada, the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and local self-government bodies, are prohibited under martial law.

[…]

Newsweek has contacted the Ukrainian government via email for comment.

Whether an election could happen is theoretical and the Ukrainian government could explore if the rules on elections during martial law could change.

A few days ahead of Zelensky’s announcement on Monday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the Ukrainian president was weighing the pros and cons of a presidential vote in spring 2024.

« We are not closing this page. The president of Ukraine is considering and weighing the different pros and cons, » he said during an online appearance at the World Policy Conference in the United Arab Emirates on November 3.

There would be any number of challenges in trying to hold an election. As well as the difficulties of ensuring a fair election across the country, particularly with regions in the east of the country under Russian control, millions of displaced Ukrainians may be unable to vote or be able to access tools to ensure their vote is counted.

Read the article on Newsweek.

Zelensky Refuses To Hold Elections in Wartime Ukraine

07.11.2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said presidential elections will not be held in the country next year, saying that it would be « irresponsible » to do so during the ongoing war.

« We all understand that now, in wartime, when there are many challenges, it is utterly irresponsible to engage in topics related to an election in such a frivolous manner, » Zelensky said in his nightly video address to the nation on Monday.

Prior to the war, Ukraine’s presidential elections were scheduled for March 2024, but the country’s constitution mandates that they cannot go ahead until any declaration of martial law is lifted, which is unlikely to happen in the near future. Ukraine was due to hold a parliamentary election in October.

Martial law in Ukraine, which must be extended every 90 days, is next set to expire on November 15. Zelensky first declared martial law on February 24, 2022, the day Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of his country.

« We need to recognize that this is a time for defense, a time for battle, upon which the fate of the state and its people depend… I believe that elections are not appropriate at this time, » Zelensky said.

Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Alexey Danilov has also said that « no elections can be held » under martial law in the country.

Days earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said during an online appearance at the World Policy Conference in the United Arab Emirates that Zelensky was weighing the pros and cons of a presidential vote in spring 2024.

« We are not closing this page. The president of Ukraine is considering and weighing the different pros and cons, » said Kuleba.

Zelensky has said he would run for second term if an election proceeds.

The article was published on Newsweek.