Diplomatic Briefing
Your exclusive news aggregator handpicked daily!Archive for June 26, 2022
Newsline: EU Ambassador dismisses Brexit plan as ‘Illegal and unrealistic’
Boris Johnson’s Protocol aimed at scrapping the Irish Sea checks border is “illegal”, the EU Ambassador to the UK, João de Almeida, has condemned. The new bill, introduced by Foreign Secretary Lizz Truss, was meant to address the DUP’s concerns around the Irish Sea border after they refused to share power with Sinn Fein in the Northern Ireland’s Assembly. To put an end to the political crisis, Secretary Truss put forward a bill that she said respects international law and addresses the DUP’s concerns. Speaking to Sky News, the EU Ambassador to the UK refuted that position. When asked about the UK’s chances of resolving the Northern Ireland conundrum, Mr De Almeidas said: “We remain very much committed to that. We want to find a way out. I’m afraid the government’s strike may be, probably, unfortunately, the road to nowhere. And we would like to avoid that. (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/road-to-nowhere-eu-ambassador-shuts-down-boris-brexit-plan-as-illegal-and-unrealistic/ar-AAYSwhJ) Liz Truss came forward with a bill that would scrap the Irish Sea border and impose a system of lanes. Goods travelling from Great Britain to the EU would go through checks via the red line, while goods destined to Northern Ireland would go via the green line without checks. However, the EU has called the bill “illegal”, further exacerbating the Northern Ireland issue.
Newsline: Russian ambassador overheard in DC restaurant complaining about lack of respect from US
Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov was reportedly overheard at Washington, D.C.’s Café Milano complaining about a lack of respect toward his nation. Antonov was photographed sitting for dinner with former U.S. envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad and CEO of the Center for the National Interest Dimitri Simes. The three officials were allegedly engaged in a discussion on the conflict in Ukraine, according to the Politico journalist who took the photo. (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russian-ambassador-overheard-in-dc-restaurant-complaining-about-lack-of-respect-from-us/) Antonov reportedly expressed deep confusion on American support for Ukrainian resistance forces.
Newsline: New U.S. ambassador to South Korea to arrive in Seoul on July 10
Philip Goldberg, the new U.S. ambassador to South Korea, will arrive in Seoul on July 10 to begin his term, the U.S. Embassy here said. “The entire team at the U.S. Mission to Republic of Korea looks forward to welcoming Ambassador-designate Philip Goldberg to Seoul on July 10th,” the embassy said on its Twitter page. (https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20220625000900325) Goldberg will fill the vacancy left by his predecessor, Harry Harris, since January 2021, when U.S. President Joe Biden took office. The career diplomat previously served as ambassador to Colombia and worked as a coordinator for the implementation of U.N. Security Council resolutions on North Korea from 2009-2010.
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