Diplomatic Briefing
Your exclusive news aggregator handpicked daily!Archive for August 21, 2022
Newsline: UAE Ambassador to Iran to Resume Duties in Coming Days
The United Arab Emirates ambassador to Iran, Saif Mohammed Al Zaabi, will resume his duties at the embassy in Tehran in the coming days, the UAE’s foreign ministry said on Sunday. (https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-08-21/uae-ambassador-to-iran-to-resume-duties-in-coming-days-foreign-ministry) The decision came “in line with UAE efforts to strengthen relations with Iran and as part of a previous decision to increase diplomatic representation to the rank of ambassador”, the ministry said.
Newsline: Austria summons Russian ambassador for tweeting inflammatory statements
The Austrian government has announced that it summons the Russian ambassador to the country, Mikhail Ulyanov, over a controversial Twitter message in which he wrote “No mercy for the Ukrainian people” before qualifying that he was in fact accusing the Ukrainian authorities of rejecting any diplomatic efforts to end the war. Ulyanov reacted on Twitter to a news story about the new military aid package announced by the United States with the aforementioned message. Ulyanov’s arguments have not convinced the Austrian authorities. “We are outraged by the inhuman statements of the Russian Permanent Representative and his attempts to put into perspective what cannot be put into perspective,” a spokeswoman for the Austrian Foreign Ministry has made known in a written statement picked up by ORF. “While the Ministry defends freedom of expression, it is also free to resolutely oppose such inflammatory statements,” the spokeswoman added before confirming that the ambassador is summoned on Sunday. (https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/austria-summons-russian-ambassador-for-tweeting-no-mercy-for-the-ukrainian-people/ar-AA10SrQI) The ambassador, also his country’s representative to international institutions in Vienna, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), shortly afterwards deleted the tweet and claimed that his intention was to accuse Kiev of ignoring the population and “categorically rejecting diplomatic efforts to focus exclusively on the Western arms buildup.”
Newsline: China complains US not cracking down on ‘anti-China thugs’ outside embassy
State media in China has complained of harassment outside the country’s embassy in the U.S., saying that the government must step in the diffuse tensions. A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy answered state media outlet CGTN’s question on the situation, calling protestors “anti-China thugs.” “Over a long period of time, abetted and organized by anti-China forces, some anti-China thugs have been harassing the Chinese Embassy in the United States at its various locations,” the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy said. “They have been constantly attacking China and the Communist Party of China at high volumes, insulting and intimidating the Embassy staff, fabricating and spreading disinformation, and even resorting to violence.” The embassy spokesperson went on to demand that the United States legally crackdown on demonstrations for the sake of the staff’s “dignity” and “safety.” “The Chinese side has lodged stern representations with the US side for numerous times. But these anti-China thugs have not been stopped, but gone even more reckless,” the spokesperson said. “The Chinese side demands that the US side earnestly implement the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and adopt effective measures to protect the dignity and safety of the Chinese Embassy and its staff.” (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-complains-us-not-cracking-down-on-anti-china-thugs-outside-embassy/ar-AA10SltE) Chinese officials have frequently utilized the language of offense and insult in complaints foreign commentary on the country.
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