#OSCE summit

[latestnews-now]

Western and Russian diplomats faced off at the OSCE summit in Malta, with Ukraine's war taking center stage. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s "misinformation," while Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha branded Lavrov a "war criminal." This video dives into the heated exchanges and the ongoing geopolitical tensions.

[ohtumbly]

Top Object Summit (TOS): a Tumblr Novel Object 'Show'

Day 1

On a lush, green plain where the warm sun glows, were some objects having their fun and relaxation. The time at the plain took a break when they found a cold and tall mountain up on the horizon. They made their way towards the mountain, out of the warmth they're used to live on.

The cold snow made a crunch everytime a foot stepped on it. There were conifer trees topped with more snow, and the mountain was still far away.

The trees were cleared out and they've reached a field of white, when they've heard a voice.

"Look who's there! Are you climbing up the mountain?"

The looked around and there was a snowman made of two snowballs, a big one for the body and small one for the head, eyes, nose, a mouth and buttons made of coal, arms made of twigs, and a dashing black top hat resting comfortably on its head.

"I'm sure you are." Says the snowman. "I'm Chilly."

"Gosh. Need a blanket?" Tape laughed with a humour that clings on to her like her sticky tape.

"Aw, don't be silly. My name is Chilly. And if you're climbing up this mountain, may it be yours!"

Who do we have here? 22 objects on their way to the top?

Birthday Card

A yellow birthday card. Birthday Card is full of excitement and always look forward for the next birthday, including hers. She would die if she's ripped into two.

Buoy

A red floating buoy. Buoy ensures the safety of anyone and keeps a good eye out for his team.

Cash Register

A cash register with buttons and a drawer. He has left his cash out of his drawer inside him when he had gone out on his journey up the mountain.

Dime

A white coin. She is nothing related to Nickel, or Coiny, or Penny. Dime has gone around looking for an object show that looks forward to have her in, and there she is. Sometimes she treats the objects as objects instead of characters.

Encyclopedia

A blue book. He just knows everything because his everything is inside him.

Ice Cream

A blue cup of vanilla ice cream. Ice Cream cares for his teammates when they have trouble or they're feeling down. The cold would save him from melting, so his only death threat is if his ice cream falls out of his cup.

Jelly

A jar of grape jam. She isn't too careful with her surroundings. Jelly would die if she shatters.

Jotter Book

A teal (jotter) book. He reflects what he has done and writes them in the pages inside him.

Lamp

A purple table lamp. Lamp is usually wide awake because each half of her takes turns to sleep.

Lapis

A neatly-cut piece of lapis lazuli. One of Ruby's 35 sisters.

Magnifying Glass

A magnifying glass. Inquisitive, Magnifying Glass always asks questions wherever she goes.

Microwave

A white microwave with buttons and a digital face. Microwave is glad to be someone useful and always care for others. His inside heats up when doing strenuous exercise. He would die if he blows up.

Nine of Hearts

A 9 of hearts playing card. She can do magic with her hands which other objects couldn't do. She is not related to Ace from PPT2.

Nut

An iron hex-nut. Nut may be small but he's a strong fellow, with arms (and his own body) of steel.

Orange Pop

A bottle of orange soda. He doesn't really care about anyone else. If he gets mad, the soda in him bubbles more and more. And just like Jelly, he would die if he shatters.

Potato

A brown potato. Potato is a klutz and doesn't know what he sees. He would die if he's mashed, chopped into two, or blown up.

Reflector

A yellow sign board. Whatever light that comes to her, Reflector brings up with the best ideas for the team.

Skiffle Board

A brown and blue washboard. Skiffle Board grew up out in the outback and made melodius tunes with a country band of other instruments.

Sugar Cube

A small, white sugar cube. She's cute being itty-bitty but also pretty sensitive. She would die if she was melted or smashed.

Tape

A yellow tape dispenser. Tape is just full of sticky jokes.

Yo-yo

A yellow and green yo-yo. Yo-yo is self-cenetred and thinks he's cool. He may be self-centered but he also cares for a people he's close to.

Zipper

A red zipper. Objects can enter him but they wouldn't know where he'll take them.

"That one object who gets to

Top Object Summit

first, wins this mountain. However, like I said, only one gets to have it."

Magnifying Glass, full of curiosity, came forward and approached Chilly.

"Why only one of us? How will it be decided?"

"How will it be decided?" Responded Chilly. "You'll see."

Chilly went off and returned with feeders for each contestant hanging on his twig arms. The feeders have sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and peanuts stuck on them.

"The first few challenges are team games."

"These feeders will decide the teams. Hang them in the woods and it will attract either a bird or squirrel. So everyone, take one from my twig arms!"

Everyone took a feeder, hurried into the woods and hung them on branches of the conifer trees.

Dime's feeder fell off the tree and onto her face. A moment later, a bluejay went hopping and fluttering around her face.

"Ow- ouch! Ah! STOP!"

At another part of the forest, Orange Pop waited for something to nibble on the seeds. A squirrel popped out of a hole in the tree. Another came out, then another, and then another. When the feeder went empty, the squirrels jumped onto Orange Pop's bottle cap.

"GAAAAAH!!"

Orange Pop ran out of the forest and back onto the snowy field where Chilly laid two carpets on the snow.

"If you got a squirrel on your feeder, get on the green carpet. And get on the blue carpet if you got a bird."

Soon, the carpets were almost full.

Sugar Cube came in with a squirrel taking a nap on her head.

Magnifying Glass arrived with a red-chested robin perched on her hand.

Jelly was the last to arrive, sorting everyone into two sides.

"Is everyone here?" Asked Chilly.

"Great. The ones' feeders which attracted a squirrel and are now standing on this green carpet, welcome to

The Land Team."

"And for those's feeders which lured a bird and are standing on the blue carpet, you are on

The Sky Team."

The list of the teams:

The Land Team

Birthday Card

Buoy

Cash Register

Encyclopedia

Lapis

Nut

Orange Pop

Potato

Reflector

Sugar Cube

Yo-yo

The Sky Team

Dime

Ice Cream

Jelly

Lamp

Magnifying Glass

Microwave

Nine of Hearts

Skiffle Board

Tape

Zipper

Each team has 11 members each.

"You can all go up the mountain now." continued Chilly. "I've set up two campsites for each team."

They all began walking up a steady slope up the mountain.

Later at night, the objects got to the campsite. They tucked into the sleeping bags around a campfire for each team.

"Goodnight Yo-yo." Began Reflector.

Yo-yo responded. "Nighty-night."

"Goodnight Lapis, goodnight Sugar Cube."

Lapis hugged Sugar Cube to keep her much warmer in the cold.

"Goodnight Tape." Whispered Magnifying Glass.

And Tape replied. "Goodnight. Catch 'ya tomorrow."

The objects fell asleep, the fires glowed and crackled, the cold wind blew, and a day is coming to an end.

The first team challenge will be on day 2.

[dontforgetukraine]

Twitter Thread by Dmytro Kuleba

To those who have missed the previous 30 years, here is a short list of the results of negotiations with Russia that it never respected:   1. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994. Russia agreed to “respect independence, sovereignty, and the existing borders of Ukraine” as well as “refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine”. Breached by Russia invading Crimea in 2014.   2. The Russian-Ukrainian Friendship Treaty of 1997. Russia agreed to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and “reaffirmed the inviolability of the borders” between the two countries. Russia breached it in 2014.   3. The OSCE Istanbul Summit in 1999. Russia committed to withdrawing its troops from Moldova’s Transdniestrian region and Georgia until the end of 2002. That never happened.   4. The 2008 Georgia ceasefire agreement following Russian aggression against the country. Russia agreed that “Russian military forces must withdraw to the lines prior to the start of hostilities”. That never happened.   5. The Ilovaysk “Green Corridor” in August 2014 and other “humanitarian” death corridors. Russia pledged to let Ukrainian forces leave the encircled town of Ilovaysk in the east of Ukraine, but instead opened fire and killed 366 Ukrainian troops. In the following years, Russia attacked numerous humanitarian corridors in Syria.   6. The “Minsk” agreements of 2014 and 2015. Russia agreed to cease the fire in the east of Ukraine. There had been 200 rounds of talks and 20 attempts to enforce a ceasefire, all of which the Russian side promptly violated. On February 24th, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.   7. The 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative. Russia pledged to “provide maximum assurances regarding a safe and secure environment for all vessels engaged in this initiative." It then hindered the initiative's operation for months before withdrawing unilaterally a year later.   NB: I am only focused on deals made with Russia to address specific issues and conflicts. I am not mentioning almost 400 international treaties that Russia has breached since 2014.   There are no conclusions to be drawn here, except that no one can seriously use the words "Russia" and "negotiations" in the same phrase.   Putin is a habitual liar who promised international leaders that he would not attack Ukraine days before his invasion in February 2022.   Russia's tactic has remained consistent in its many wars over the last three decades: kill, grab, lie, and deny.   Why would anyone genuinely believe that Russia in 2023 is any different from Russia in 1994, 1997, 1999, 2008, 2014, 2015, and 2022?

[mariacallous]

When there was no mention of Transnistria — Moldova's Russia-led breakaway republic — in Vladimir Putin's speech on Feb. 29, Moldovans sighed with relief.

A day prior, the leaders of the unrecognized breakaway entity, sandwiched between Ukraine and Moldova, had asked Russia for "protection" — a plea that some saw as an invitation for Moscow's covert attack against Chisinau.

There were fears that the Kremlin would repeat the February 2022 scenario when it recognized the "independence" of the Russian-controlled militant groups in eastern Ukraine to justify its all-out war against the country launched a few days later.

As Moldova is preparing for highly contested elections in October, and the pro-Russian opposition is seeking to increase its standing, experts agree that Russia can use the highly dependent region to increase the threat for Kyiv and Chisinau.

There are several interpretations of what happened at the so-called "all-deputies congress" in Tiraspol, Transnistria's capital, on Feb. 28.

The gathering passed seven resolutions to Moscow, as well as the UN, OSCE, the European Parliament, and the Red Cross, asking them to stop the "pressures" coming from Chisinau.

Since Jan. 1, Transnistrian businesses trading with the EU are compelled to pay duty to Chisinau. With the trade between the EU and Transnistria reaching 70% of the entity's total turnover, the Russian-influenced region saw its customs revenues plummet.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu dismissed the Tiraspol congress' plea as an attempt to "ask for money.

Former minister for reintegration, Alexandru Flenchea, added that the monopoly of Sheriff, the largest enterprise in the breakaway region that controls everything from petrol stations and shops to TV channels and factories, is incompatible with further economic reintegration with Moldova.

But, the Moldovan government saw events in Tiraspol not simply as an economic protest but as a "Russian psyops."

The Transnistrian political elite has at least two known factions — the pro-Russian group led by "foreign minister" Vitaly Ignatiev, who holds a Ukrainian passport and is suspected of treason in Ukraine, and the Sheriff-linked group led by "president" Vadim Krassnoselsky and Sheriff founder Victor Gushan, who have EU passports and properties in Ukraine.

According to Moldovan analyst Victor Ciobanu, the plea for protection could have been a balancing act to put pressure on Chisinau and Kyiv but not to invite military action from Moscow.

Despite the fact that Moscow agreed to withdraw its army from Transnistria in 1999 at the OSCE Istanbul summit, Russian troops are still stationed in Transnistria.

But most of these 1,500 soldiers are locals and could be easily outnumbered by the Ukrainian army.

Yet there was a plan to demand more from Russia, going as far as a request for annexation, Ciobanu said. "Russia is irrational," he added.

On Feb. 20, opposition politician Ghenadie Ciorba, a former "minister of communication" in Tiraspol, leaked the plan to the wider public.

"I noticed an attempt to try and cover up this failure, as the (pro-Russian) Socialists party (in Chisinau) immediately announced energy tariff protests," Ciobanu said, explaining this as an attempt to draw away attention.

Kremlin-linked Moldovan politician Renato Usatii immediately demanded snap elections.

However, the majority of the people living in Transnistria are not supportive of increasing the level of conflict.

According to Chisinau, about 340,000 people in Transnistria, 97% of the region's population, hold Moldovan passports. Meanwhile, about 220,000 people also have Russian documents, according to Tiraspol.

Moldova's mounting problems

After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moldova has been walking a fine line. On one hand, Chisinau supported Ukraine and tailed Kyiv's move toward the EU. On the other hand, Moldova did little to provoke Russia, holding enormous sway over the country.

And with presidential elections and a foreign policy referendum scheduled for October, the country is awaiting Russian-led political turmoil.

"What we've seen in Transnistria was a show put on so that the Kremlin has a reason to disrupt the situation in Moldova, particularly the upcoming referendum on whether Moldova wants to join the EU and the presidential elections," Moldovan lawmaker Oazu Nantoi of the pro-European ruling party PAS told the Kyiv Independent.

"We will see the meaning of this show later on," he said, adding that while Ukraine continues to fend off the Russian onslaught and there is no direct corridor for Russia to reach Transnistria, there is a limited scope of how the Kremlin can use Tiraspol.

Experts agree that the crisis in Transnistria is set to help influence the upcoming elections, where pro-European incumbent Maia Sandu is set to see a runoff with one of the pro-Russian candidates, possibly her predecessor Igor Dodon, head of the Socialists Party, Chisinau Mayor Ion Ceban, who now claims he is pro-European, or former governor of Gagauzia Irina Vlah.

Pulling Moldova apart

Unlike other Russian-controlled or occupied regions, Transnistria's dependence on Moscow is more economic and political than military.

After helping the breakaway region fight the government in Chisinau, Moscow kept a small illegal military presence in Transnistria, enough to keep pressure on Moldova. Yet, having no border with Tiraspol, Moscow focused on economic and political mechanisms of control.

Moscow kept supplying Transnistria with "free" gas and blackmailing Chisinau to pay for the "debt." Transnistria unilaterally adopted the Russian flag as one of its "national" symbols and kept the Soviet hammer and sickle on its own flag.

When election campaigns in Moldova pick up the pace or Chisinau gets closer to Brussels, Russia increases economic and political pressure on the country through the region, not forgetting to saber-rattle.

Russia uses a similar tactic in another Russian-friendly Moldovan region – Gagauzia, located further west of Transnistria and home to 130,000 people.

According to Ciobanu, Gagauzia would have followed in Transnistria's footsteps had Tiraspol asked to join Russia. Gagauz independent journalist Mihail Sirkeli said there was an attempt to "provoke" Chisinau to interfere in Comrat, the region's capital, to create a precondition for more escalation.

In recent years, the EU has invested more than 100 million euros to build infrastructure and help repair Gagauzia's kindergartens, schools, and state institutions.

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Transnistria too has increased its trade with the EU.

More and more people from Transnistria commute to work in Chisinau, which is located 70 kilometers west of the breakaway region.

In the first weeks of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, people living in Transnistria formed queues to renew their Moldovan passports in order to be able to flee to Europe if war also came to Moldova.

"A victory for Ukraine would mean an end to the Transnistrian conflict," Ciobanu added.

[globalnews1]

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has travelled to Malta for a European security summit, marking his first visit to an EU state since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.His Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiga, who is also attending the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) meeting, walked out of the hall ahead of Lavrov's remarks, according to the country's foreign ministry.Lavrov's attendance has proved controversial, with Poland's foreign minister refusing to meet him and Sybiga branding the diplomat a "war criminal".The Russian foreign minister accused the West of fuelling a new Cold War "with a much greater risk of a transition to a hot one".Sybiga said Russia's involvement in the OSCE was contrary to the organisation's aims, describing it as the "biggest threat to our common security".US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also attended. He accused Russia of escalating the war in Ukraine and spreading a "tsunami of misinformation"."Let's not fool ourselves and let's not allow [Lavrov] or anyone else to fool us," he said."This is not about and has never been about Russia's security. This is about Mr Putin's imperial project to erase Ukraine from the map."Blinken and Lavrov, who have had limited interaction since the war in Ukraine began, are not scheduled to meet at the summit.Kyiv boycotted last year's OSCE meeting in North Macedonia, which is not an EU member, due to Lavrov's attendance and has previously called for Russia's expulsion from the group.Several diplomats and officials were seen leaving the hall ahead of Lavrov's remarks.Moscow has grown increasingly critical of the OSCE, which was set up to ease east-west tensions during the Cold War and aims to prevent conflict and manage crises in Europe.The forum of 57 states meets to discuss security issues on the continent and carries out practical security work, including sending observers to conflicts and elections globally.Last year, Lavrov claimed the OSCE was "being turned into an appendage of Nato and the European Union", while Russia has hampered the group's ability to function in recent years by vetoing several major decisions.Moscow voted to suspend its involvement in its parliamentary assembly earlier this year, calling it anti-Russian and discriminatory.Ahead of this week's summit, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Lavrov would use the occasion to criticise the OSCE's "institutional crisis".She said the OSCE had been "Ukrainised" and accused Western states of "using this platform for their own interests".Zakharova also wrote on Telegram that Malta had annulled her visa to accompany Lavrov to the meeting.The Maltese foreign affairs office said that three OSCE member countries had objected to extending the visa to Zakharova, who is facing a travel ban. While Lavrov is subject to EU sanctions, he is not under a travel ban.

[thxnews]

Narendra Modi Meets Zelenskyy at G7

During the G7 Summit in Italy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and finding peaceful resolutions to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This pivotal meeting underscores India's commitment to diplomatic dialogue and its growing influence on the global stage.  

Strengthening Bilateral Relations

Enhanced Cooperation Prime Minister Modi and President Zelenskyy engaged in a productive dialogue aimed at enhancing cooperation between India and Ukraine. Modi expressed gratitude for Zelenskyy's warm wishes upon his re-election and emphasized India's eagerness to bolster ties with Ukraine. The leaders discussed various areas of mutual interest, including trade, technology, and cultural exchanges, aiming to build a robust partnership.   Humanitarian Support India's neutral stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has allowed it to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine without entangling in the geopolitical struggle. During the meeting, Modi reiterated India's commitment to support Ukraine through humanitarian aid and stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving conflicts.  

Addressing the Ukraine Conflict

India’s Stance Modi reaffirmed India's position on the Ukraine conflict, advocating for a peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy. He emphasized the need for a human-centric approach to address the ongoing hostilities and conveyed India's readiness to support any peace initiatives. This balanced stance highlights India's strategic autonomy and its role as a mediator in global conflicts.   Impact of the Russian-Ukrainian War The ongoing war has had severe repercussions on media freedom and the safety of journalists, as highlighted in the recent OSCE report. Modi and Zelenskyy discussed these issues, acknowledging the need for protecting journalists and ensuring free and independent media in conflict zones. The Indian PM called for the immediate release of journalists imprisoned in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories, advocating for media freedom as a cornerstone of democratic security.  

Upcoming Peace Summit

Summit on Peace Both leaders expressed their anticipation for the upcoming Summit on Peace hosted by Switzerland. Modi conveyed India's support for the summit and its objectives, aiming to foster international cooperation for conflict resolution. The meeting between Modi and Zelenskyy sets the stage for constructive dialogue and collaboration at the summit, reinforcing India's diplomatic efforts on the global front.   India's Diplomatic Strategy Modi's approach to international diplomacy is characterized by neutrality and strategic autonomy. By engaging with major powers and maintaining balanced relations, India aims to maximize its global influence while safeguarding its national interests. This pragmatic strategy is evident in India's handling of the Ukraine conflict, where it has managed to provide humanitarian aid without compromising its relations with Russia or the Western powers.   Key Points from Modi-Zelenskyy Meeting Key Point Details Strengthening Bilateral Relations Discussed enhancing trade, technology, and cultural exchanges between India and Ukraine. Humanitarian Support India’s neutral stance allows for humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Peaceful Resolution Advocated for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the Ukraine conflict. Media Freedom Addressed the impact of the war on journalists and called for their protection. Summit on Peace Expressed support for the upcoming peace summit hosted by Switzerland.   In Conclusion Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G7 Summit in Italy was a significant step towards strengthening India-Ukraine relations and promoting peace in the conflict-ridden region. By advocating for dialogue, diplomacy, and humanitarian support, India continues to play a pivotal role in international diplomacy, underscoring its growing influence and commitment to global peace and security. India’s diplomatic strategy, under Modi’s leadership, remains focused on pragmatic engagement and strategic autonomy. This balanced approach not only enhances India’s global standing but also contributes to a more peaceful and stable world. The Modi-Zelenskyy meeting at the G7 Summit exemplifies India’s dedication to fostering international cooperation and resolving conflicts through peaceful means.   Sources: THX News, Twitter & Indian Government. Read the full article

[head-post]

Communication with Russia may take place, Ukrainian FM says

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has spoken about possible “communication” with Russia after a peace conference on Ukraine is held in Switzerland, Foreign Policy reports.

Answering the question what is the point of holding a peace conference on Ukraine in Switzerland without Russia, the minister said:

“Communication with Russia may take place and Russia can be part of the talks. Because you are right: In the end, you cannot put the war to an end without both parties.”

Meanwhile, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that any talks on Ukraine without Russia would not lead to a peaceful dialogue. He said in a statement:

“We don’t understand what kind of milestone this peace conference is. This is, first of all. What kind of serious conference with serious expectations, some kind of results can be talked about without Russia’s participation. It is absolutely impossible.”

Switzerland will hold a peace conference on Ukraine near the city of Lucerne on 15-16 June. Among the invitees are the G7, G20 and BRICS countries. Representatives of such international organisations as the UN, the OSCE and the European Council have also been invited to the summit. Russia is not on the list of invited participants “at the moment,” but the ministry noted the openness of the idea to send an invitation.

Read more HERE

[odinsblog]

Violated agreements:

1991, Russia cosigns Ukraine's independence and agrees to its territorial sovereignty and integrity as a successor of the Soviet Union.

1994, Budapest Memorandum: Russia pledges to safeguard Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty in exchange for Ukraine giving up the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world, it had at the time.

1997, The Russian-Ukrainian Friendship Treaty: Russia once again reiterates its commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

1999, Istanbul OSCE Summit: Russia promises to withdraw troops from Moldova and Georgia.

2008, Ceasefire Agreement: Russia promises to withdraw troops from Georgia.

2014, The Ilovaisk Green Corridor Agreement: Russia guarantees that it'll provide safe passage for Ukrainian soldiers that are surrendering and instead fires upon them and kills upwards of 360 people.

2014-2015, Minsk Agreements: Russia commits to a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine after invading it.

2022, The Black Sea Grain Initiative: Russia promises safe passage to grain shipments, instead hinders the initiative and then withdraws completely.

I would also give a special mention to the 2006 speech of Vladimir Putin, where he says that there is no issue that Russia has with Ukraine:

“Actually, Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty has been resolved and has been pre agreed upon. And areas like Crimea really don't concern Russia because there is no ethnic conflict and Russia doesn't want to have anything to do with them. They're Ukrainian anyways.”

What is this list?

This list is all of the promises and agreements that Russia violated, off the top of one's head.

Yeah.

Let's pressure Ukraine into a ceasefire agreement. Let's pressure Ukraine into concessions. Let's give Russia more time to violate all other promises and re-attack once they can.

Great idea.

Great idea.

[cyberbenb]

OSCE Skopje summit starts amid disputes over Lavrov's presence

The two-day ministerial summit of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in North Macedonia’s Skopje began on Nov. 30 amid controversies regarding the presence of the Russian Source : kyivindependent.com/osce-skop…

[qudachuk]

Moscow’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov was expected to attend the conference in North Macedonia.

[kneedeepincynade]

The West is decaying, and it's clear that it is better to join mechanisms not tied to the dying unipolar world

The post is machine translated

Translation is at the bottom

The collective is on telegram

☑️ 上海合作组织 | LA CRESCENTE IMPORTANZA DELL'ORGANIZZAZIONE PER LA COOPERAZIONE DI SHANGHAI 🥰

🇮🇹 Filippo Bovo - giornalista, analista e saggista per Le Nuove Vie del Mondo, ha pubblicato un Articolo dal titolo: "L'Organizzazione per la Cooperazione di Shanghai, attore sempre più globale", che analizza dettagliatamente il ruolo e l'importanza il ruolo della 上海合作组织 ☑️

🌐 上海合作组织 - l'Organizzazione per la Cooperazione di Shanghai rappresenta un'importante piattaforma per la Costruzione del Vero Multilateralismo (真正的多边主义), che promuove lo 上海精神 - Spirito di Shanghai, caratterizzato da:

一 相互信任 - Fiducia Reciproca 🐼

二 合作共赢 - Cooperazione a Mutuo Vantaggio 🤝

三 平等 - Uguaglianza 🤝

四 咨询 - Consultazione 💬

五 尊重多样文明 - Rispetto per le diverse Civiltà 💕

六 谋求共同发展 - Ricerca dello Sviluppo Comune ⭐️

📰 Nell'articolo, Filippo Bovo pone l'attenzione sui numerosi vertici legati al multipolarismo tenutisi nei mesi precedenti, dalla Riunione BRICS a Johannesburg al Summit G77+China a l'Avana, focalizzandosi poi sulla Riunione dell'Organizzazione per la Cooperazione di Shanghai, che nel 2023 ha visto l'entrata ufficiale come Membro dell'Iran e come Osservatori di Bielorussia e Mongolia 😍

🤐 L'Occidente, afferma Bovo, è sempre rimasto in silenzio su questi eventi, dando un po' più di importanza al Vertice di Samarcanda del 2022, ma solo per politicizzare le Relazioni Sino-Russe: «l'attenzione riposta [dall'Occidente] pareva basarsi soprattutto sulle mosse del demonizzato Putin e del suo alleato Xi Jinping, col quale evidentemente nelle paure riposte dai nostri media il leader Russo intendeva dar vita ad un nuovo "Patto d'Acciaio" anti-Occidentale» 🤪

🌸 Questo tema venne trattato anche da Collettivo Shaoshan nei mesi precedenti, quando i propagandisti anti-Cinesi e anti-Russi promuovevano costantemente prima l'assurda idea di una Cina "ambigua" nei confronti della Russia, e poi il suo opposto, con articoli ricchi di distorsioni, come: "Russia e Cina siglano il nuovo «Asse del Male» 🤡

📰 Nell'articolo, Filippo Bovo tratta il tema del "corteggiamento" dei Paesi G7 nei confronti dell'India, in funzione anti-Cinese, promuovendo un wishful-thinking ben distante dalla realtà: «L'Occidente finisce spesso con l'immaginarsi qualche Paese come suo "esclusivo alleato" o come "fiero nemico del suo nemico", anziché come portatore di una propria [...] linea di terzietà» 🤔

📰 Infine, nell'ultima parte dell'articolo, il giornalista pone l'accento sulla nascita e sulla crescita dell'Organizzazione, trattando le sfide affrontate e osservando le numerose intersezioni dei suoi Membri in ulteriori organizzazioni multilaterali, come il CSTO - Organizzazione per il Trattato di Sicurezza Collettiva, OSCE - Organizzazione per la Sicurezza e la Cooperazione in Europa e il Movimento dei Paesi Non-Allineati 👍

💬 «[La SCO] è la più grande organizzazione regionale al Mondo, con 34 milioni di km² di superficie, [...] ha una popolazione di ben 3 miliardi di persone a sostenere un PIL che solo per i 9 Membri permanenti si quantifica in 20 Trilioni USD, 3/4 dei quali dalla sola Cina» 👏

🇨🇳 Il motore economico ed infrastrutturale della 上海合作组织 è, ovviamente, la 一带一路 - Nuova Via della Seta «che proprio come un grande fiume sorge per poi svilupparsi attraversando vari territori» 🤩

🌸 Iscriviti 👉 @collettivoshaoshan 😘

☑️ 上海合作组织 | THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF THE SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION 🥰

🇮🇹Filippo Bovo - journalist, analyst and essayist for Le Nuove Vie del Mondo, published an article entitled: "The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, an increasingly global player", which analyzes in detail the role and importance of the role of 上海合作组织 ☑️

🌐 上海合作组织 - the Shanghai Cooperation Organization represents an important platform for the Construction of True Multilateralism (真正的多边主义), which promotes the 上海精神 - Shanghai Spirit, characterized by:

一 相互信任 - Mutual Trust 🐼

二 合作共赢 - Mutual Benefit Cooperation 🤝

三 平等 - Equality 🤝

四 咨询 - Consultation 💬

五 尊重多样文明 - Respect for different civilizations 💕

六 谋求共同发展 - Research on Common Development ⭐️

📰 In the article, Filippo Bovo draws attention to the numerous summits linked to multipolarism held in the previous months, from the BRICS Meeting in Johannesburg to the G77+China Summit in Havana, then focusing on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Meeting, which in 2023 saw the official entry as a Member of Iran and as Observers of Belarus and Mongolia 😍

🤐 The West, states Bovo, has always remained silent on these events, giving a little more importance to the 2022 Samarkand Summit, but only to politicize Sino-Russian relations: «the attention paid [by the West ] seemed to be based above all on the moves of the demonized Putin and his ally Xi Jinping, with whom the Russian leader evidently intended to create a new anti-Western "Pact of Steel" in the fears placed by our media" 🤪

🌸 This topic was also covered by Shaoshan Collective in the previous months, when anti-Chinese and anti-Russian propagandists constantly promoted first the absurd idea of ​​an "ambiguous" China towards Russia, and then its opposite, with rich articles of distortions, such as: "Russia and China sign the new «Axis of Evil» 🤡

📰 In the article, Filippo Bovo deals with the theme of the "courtship" of the G7 countries towards India, in an anti-Chinese function, promoting a wishful-thinking far from reality: «The West often ends up imagining some Country as its "exclusive ally" or as the "proud enemy of its enemy", rather than as the bearer of its own [...] line of thirdness" 🤔

📰 Finally, in the last part of the article, the journalist places emphasis on the birth and growth of the Organization, dealing with the challenges faced and observing the numerous intersections of its Members in further multilateral organizations, such as the CSTO - Organization for Collective Security Treaty, OSCE - Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Non-Aligned Movement 👍

💬 «[The SCO] is the largest regional organization in the world, with 34 million km² of surface area, [...] it has a population of 3 billion people to support a GDP which can only be quantified for the 9 permanent members in 20 Trillion USD, 3/4 of which from China alone" 👏

🇨🇳 The economic and infrastructural engine of the 上海合作组织 is, obviously, the 一带一路 - New Silk Road «which just like a great river rises and then develops through various territories» 🤩

🌸 Subscribe 👉 @collectivoshaoshan 😘

[xtruss]

‘Criminal Thug Zelensky’ Admits He Never Intended to Implement Minsk Agreements

Berlin (Sputnik, February 9, 2023) — Volodymyr Zelensky admitted that he had previously told German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron that the Minsk agreements were "impossible" and he did not plan to implement them.

"As for Minsk as a whole, I told Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel: we will not be able to implement it like that," Zelensky said in an interview with a German magazine published on Thursday.

According to Zelensky, he said the same thing to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the first and last meeting with him in the Normandy format in 2019.

"I told him the same thing as the other two. They were surprised and replied: 'If we knew in advance that you would change the meaning of our meeting, then there would be problems even before the summit,'" Zelensky added.

According to him, the Ukrainian side used the agreement only for the exchange of prisoners of war.

The Minsk Agreements Explained

Signed in 2014 and 2015 by representatives of Ukraine, the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, Russia, France and Germany, the Minsk Agreements failed to bring a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Donbass.

Speaking at a meeting of the Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin, mentioned the issue of the 2014 Minsk Peace Agreements.

The Russian president said that western politicians prefer to remain tight-lipped when he reminds them of the accords, which were supposed to pave way for the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine but ultimately failed to do so.

So what exactly were these agreements about and what prompted the parties involved to sign them?

What Were the Minsk Agreements?

In February 2014, the democratically elected government of Ukraine was toppled by the so-called Euromaidan coup backed by western powers. The coup sparked a bloody conflict in the country's eastern regions where people who refused to bow down to the new Kiev leadership formed the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR, respectively) and proclaimed their independence.

Attempts by Kiev to quickly bring the newly formed republics to heel via the use of military power failed. The hastily formed DPR and LPR militias, armed with whatever weaponry they could scrounge from local armories, managed to hold their ground against the onslaught of the forces loyal to the new Ukrainian government.

Having failed to secure a decisive victory on the battlefield and with Russia and the European powers calling for a peaceful solution to the conflict, Kiev resorted to negotiations, which were hampered by the fact that the Ukrainian government was reluctant to talk directly with the leaders of the DPR and LPR.

Amid this delicate and precarious situation, the newly formed Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine comprised of Ukraine, Russia, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Normandy Format comprised of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France managed to work out what became known as the Minsk Agreements. They were named so because the talks were being held in the Belarussian capital of Minsk that served as a neutral ground.

MThe first of these accords, the Minsk Protocol, was signed on September 5, 2014, with an updated version of it, known commonly as the Minsk-2 Accords, being signed on February 12, 2015, when the previous iteration of the agreement failed to bring an end to the fighting.

The documents are in full known as “the Protocol on the results of consultations of the three-member Contact Group on joint steps aimed at the implementation of the peace plan by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and the initiatives by Russian President Vladimir Putin.” Poroshenko became the president of Ukraine following the overthrow of Yanukovich during the Maidan coup.

Lavrov Warns Reversing Minsk Agreements Could Lead to Massacre in Donbass (04.28.2021)!

What Did the Minsk Agreements Say?

Under the auspices of the agreements:

The parties pledged to a ceasefire and withdraw their forces from the line of contact.

The presence of heavy weapons in the area of the buffer zone was strictly prohibited.

The multiple-launch rocket systems Uragan and Smerch as well as the Tochka short-range ballistic missile system were supposed to be pulled out 70 km away from the line of contact.

OSCE observers were due to monitor the implementation of these rules.

In addition to the exchange of prisoners in line with the "all-for-all" principle, the sides were obliged to carry out the amnesty of those captured during the armed clashes.

The Ukrainian side was also supposed to adopt the law on the special status of separate DPR and LPR districts and hold local elections there, taking into account the position of the representatives of both Donbass republics. The day after the elections, Ukraine was set to take full control of the state border.

Additionally, the Minsk Protocols stipulated the implementation of a reform in Ukraine, which envisaged the introduction of a concept of decentralization into the country’s Constitution that should have taken into account the specifics of “certain districts of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions."

Who Signed the Minsk Agreements?

The Minsk Protocol was signed by the members of the contact group, as well as the heads of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.

On February 12, 2015, a 13-point spate of measures on the implementation of the Minsk Agreements (the so-called Minsk-2 accords) was signed, and, on the whole, the document coincided with the September protocol in terms of content.

On behalf of the OSCE, the Minsk Agreements were signed by the OSCE’s Ukraine special envoy Heidi Tagliavini, while on the part of Ukraine and Russia, the document was inked by former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and then-Russian Ambassador to Kiev Mikhail Zurabov, respectively.

Kiev, Washington Responsible for Failure of Minsk Peace Agreements, Ukraine's Former President Says! (03.14.2022) Kiev and its US patrons are squarely to blame for the failure of the Minsk Agreements on peace in eastern Ukraine, former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has told Sputnik. "An initiative group was formed from a variety of regions and countries - Ukraine, Russia, Israel, the US, and others. These were industrialists, businessmen, religious leaders, academics, journalists. A plan to implement the Minsk Agreements was quickly developed," Yanukovych said.

"Starting from 2015 and until the beginning of 2022 this initiative group carried out a tremendous amount of organizational work, negotiations, persuasion, clarification with the representatives of Ukraine, Russia, the US and some EU countries. As a rule, we were heard out, discussions were mostly conducted in a correct manner, no one denied that peace must be achieved. But in the end we received neither a 'yes' nor a 'no,'" he added.

"Our representatives handed this project to Volodymyr Zelensky for review and study. It was agreed that they would study it and get back to us with an answer. The answer came very promptly: 'we are not interested in this.' My people were indignant - if they are not interested in peace, what are they interested in?" the former president stressed.

Zelensky's election was accompanied by hopes that he could resolve the conflict in the Donbass, Yanukovych said. "Unfortunately, this did not take place. The people said that [confectionary oligarch Petro] Poroshenko came in and things became unsweet. Zelensky came in and things became unfunny."

"The history of this conflict began a long time ago, eight years ago. Yes, it was not not Zelensky who started the war in 2014, but [former National Security and Defence Council chief Oleksandr] Turchynov. Poroshenko continued it and made business off of blood. But it was Zelensky who during the election campaign who promised Ukrainians that while he wasn't the one to start the military conflict in Ukraine, he was the one who would finish it. Voters believed him and elected him president. Unfortunately, he deceived them. But today the masks have been dropped, the moment of truth has arrived. There is still a chance to stop the tragedy," Yanukovych concluded.

The Minsk Protocol was also signed by Alexander Zakharchenko, then-head of the DPR, and his LPR counterpart at the time Igor Plotnitsky.

The Minsk-2 agreement was clinched during a meeting of the Normandy Format, which included Russian President Vladimir Putin, then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, then-French President Francois Hollande and then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

Who Violated the Minsk Agreements?

Over the past five years, the Ukrainian side simply refrained from implementing political clauses of the Minsk Agreements, demanding instead that the control of the border between the DPR and LPR territories should be handed over to Kiev first.

These demands, however, were rejected by DPR and LPR authorities and by Moscow, who suspected that once Ukrainian forces got control of the border and effectively cut off the republics from the outside world, Kiev may then attempt to crush all opposition there through the force of arms.

The DPR and the LPR authorities, as well as Russia, have also repeatedly accused Kiev of illegally occupying settlements in the buffer zone and deploying heavy military equipment there.

The situation was further exacerbated by the fact that the European powers repeatedly turned a blind eye to Kiev's blatant refusal to adhere to the Minsk agreements, while at the same time constantly berating the DPR and LPR for the alleged violations of the very same accords.

On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recalled that both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his predecessor Petro Poroshenko openly said that they were not going to implement the Minsk Accords.

The remarks came after Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned Ukrainian authorities for effectively killing the Minsk Agreements, stating in late February that the document stopped existing long before Russia decided to recognize the DPR and the LPR.

Putin signed a decree to recognize the Donbass republics – which later became a part of Russia - as independent states on February 21, 2022, in a move that came amid escalating shelling, sniper and sabotage attacks against the LPR and the DPR. The decree was followed by the Russian president announcing the beginning of a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24.

[ohtumbly]

Top Object Summit (TOS): An Object 'Show' Novel

The Sky Team had lost yesterday's contest, and are now up for elimination. The ski lift waited for one of their fellow members to go on board.

They've all written on tiny slips of paper, and around the campfire, they've whispered to each other, and not a single sound was heard on the other member's ears.

"We need Nine of Hearts's magic for the team." Magnifying Glass whispered to Skiffle Board, and she replied back to her. "Yes. And we haven't seen Zipper's fill potential."

"Lamp would be the most redundant on the team now."

Chilly rolled in with the results. "Again, Sky Team. Seriously, how close are you and 'losing' to each other? Are you relatives?"

"But now, all of you have voted for one of your members out of the show. Microwave, Zipper, Skiffle Board and Nine of Hearts all received no votes."

"Tape and Ice Cream both had one vote, and now the remaining three are here to see who would leave the mountain by the ski lift."

Magnifying Glass would not believe she's in the top two once again. She knew she changed, but they still picked her.

"The ones safe at two votes are...

...Jotter Book...

...and Magniying Glass."

"I'm sorry Lamp, you're now eliminated from the game."

But Lamp didn't seem to mind. "It's okay Chilly, I would finally get to relax on the green grass once again."

When Lamp reached the bottom of the mountain, she came across Dime, an already eliminated contestant, who told her about what new things she had seen and learnt, and if it would part her away from her old reputation.

18/22 contestants remain:

The Land Team

Birthday Card

Buoy

Cash Register

Lapis

Nut

Orange Pop

Potato

Reflector

Sugar Cube

Yo-yo

The Sky Team

Ice Cream

Jotter Book

Magnifying Glass

Microwave

Nine of Hearts

Skiffle Board

Tape

Zipper

Day 6

The objects woke up from the mountain camp as Chilly the Snowman rolled in.

He said, "Greetings contestants, there are weather reports that a snowstorm is coming around the mountain. Better be prepared, because that'll be in the next contest!"

Magnifying Glass stepped forward with the urge to ask a why question. "But why are we doing this in a snowstorm? What are we going to do in the contest, in the snowstorm?"

"I'll tell you later. Now get out of your camps and have a good breakfast."

The objects gathered some food to make at their camps. It wasn't enough for them, but they've accepted it, and down the mountain they go for the next challenge.

They were brought onto two large stones with flat floors, 2,000 feet up on the mountain above ground.

"Now contestants, you're going to have to stay on these stones high up on the mountain. Keep all your members on your team's stone, and survive the storm. The team who lost all their members will be up for elimination. Now go!"

The objects huddled on to each other to tackle toe storm.

"It's either one or all!" Reflector shouted through the howl of the wind.

"I won't let you go, Sugar Cube." Said Lapis.

The thin paper objects were the first to be blown away by the storm.

"And Birthday Card is the first one out, and look! There goes Nine of Hearts!"

On the Sky Team's stone, the wind blew Ice Cream and he lost his balance. He tripped over a leg and fell, spilling his ice cream on the floor, killing him.

Jotter Book turned open and all the pages flipped to the other side.

Magnifying Glass got an idea. She held his covers to close it, and Tape sealed his front cover to the back with a small piece of her tape.

"We'll remove the tape when the storm's over." Tape said to him.

The storm reduces its blow and it had left lots of snow on the stones.

Tape looked at the snow on the floor and picked up some.

"Look!" She called out. "There's some snow on the floor. Let's throw them onto the Land Team!"

And all of the Sky Team agreed. They picked up some snow and threw snowballs at the members of the opposing team.

"What are these?" Reflector asked, her eyes squinting at the dots in the sky.

"They're heading for us!" Warned Buoy. "Move out to safety!"

Lapis found their own pile of snow on their stone.

"Maybe this snow," She thought, "This snow, is what they're throwing!" and she picked up some snow and threw it back.

The two sides were throwing snowballs through the snowstorm, trying to knock each other off their stones.

"More contestants had fallen in the snowball onslaught! Magnifying Glass and Skiffle Board fell from the Sky Team's side, and Orange Pop, Potato, Reflector and Sugar Cube, had lost their ground on the Land Team's stone!"

"We're outnumbered!" Buoy told the team.

"We're not going to win like this!" Lapis cried. "But only if there's a miracle when I need one..."

But then the storm raged once again, and the winds grew stronger. The cold made the stones shrink and crack, and their platforms start to fall piece by piece.

"Uh oh," Lapis gulped, tiptoeing on her broken piece of stony land.

Slowly, the objects fell from their crumbling ground to the depths below.

"Wait, what's going on?" Jotter Book asked in shock, watching all his teammates fall from the crumbling stone. When the storm slowed to its end, he was the only member left on the Sky Team's side.

Lapis and Yo-yo, the last two standing Land Team members, saw their opportunity to take him down.

"You'll need this!" Lapis shouted, and she threw a snowball onto JB's face.

"That's the challenge done!" Chilly announced. "The Land Team wins again! You may return to the camp and get some bandages and hot chocolate!"

"Phew," Reflector rubbed her sore head, "Thanks Chilly! My head hurts and I'm in need of lots of warmth!"

All the members of the Land Team went for a nice warm stay around the campfire at their new camp higher up the mountain, helping each other aid their dents and bruises, and cuddling onto each other.

Back down the mountain, Chilly sculpted Ice Cream out of snow, and brought him back to life once again.

"The Sky Team had lost again, that's right, again. And now they're up for elimination tonight."

Ice cream rolled his eyes. "Yeah, again. I'm so ready to lose another teammate."

[summit9999]

Fandoms/communities i'm in goes as follow (along with maybe the tags)

Hazbin Hotel/Helluva Boss

Object Show Community (OSC)

EDM

Countryballs/Polandball (community)

Also here's a reference for my OC, Summit

[mariacallous]

Fake profiles claiming to know the whereabouts of the girl, politicians claiming to have hidden information about the kidnappers, conspiracy theories and use of an AI-generated image of the young victim to generate clicks, have all surged on social media channels in North Macedonia related to the double murder that has shocked the country.

The authorities on Sunday found the bodies of both victims,14-year-old Vanja Gjorcevska from Skopje, who went missing last week, and Pance Zezovski, 74, a retired barber from the town of Veles who was reported missing a few days before the girl.

Five suspects are in custody, including the main suspect, Ljupco Palevski, a far-right activist and a businessman, who was seized in Turkey.

Wild theories and fake news run riot

But the spread of theories began far before the discovery, right after the teenage girl was reported missing on November 27, when profiles on Facebooks started sharing information on her alleged whereabouts, which the Interior Ministry later determined were fake profiles, urging people to get their information from the official sources.

One day before the gruesome discovery of the bodies of the victims, following the confessions of some of the suspects on Saturday, the leader of a small political party, Macedonian Concept, Petar Bogojeski, on his social profile posted the “disturbing news” asking the Interior Ministry  to answer him within 30 minutes, whether the alleged information they got, that the kidnappers had been released from police custody and allowed to flee to neighbouring Kosovo, was true.

The post, which was released when the police had only said that they had apprehended five people and found one vehicle, contained a strong hint that the perpetrators were ethnic Albanians, which turned out not to be false.

At that time, information that the bodies of the victims had been found was not yet published.

In a country where Albanians make up the second-largest ethnic group after Macedonians, the Interior Ministry was prompted to quickly dismiss this “information” and warn against the spread of false data that might ignite ethnic tensions.

It was later revealed that all five suspects were ethnic Macedonians.

But when the girl’s body was found on Sunday, both X (Twitter) and Facebook saw a real explosion of reactions, including fake news and misinformation.

That day, a former TV host,. Milenko Nedelkovski, posted on X a suggestion that both the police and the government knew that the girl was dead five days before they shared the information – but had kept it a secret so as not to disturb last last week’s OSCE Summit in the country.

The post, and its claim, which was quickly rebuffed, went viral nonetheless.

That day also, on December 4, some social media users shared graphic but unverified details about how the girl died. An X user claimed that she was first strangled, had her jaw broken, and then was shot in the back, saying that he got the information from a police officer.

The tweet was soon deleted, but other social media users continued to repost the claim on their accounts.

Another group on Facebook posted an AI-generated picture of thje girl, calling on others to join their group called “Justice for Vanja”.

Users on X also spread conspiracy theories about the second victim, Pance Zezovski. In another post on X that went viral the user claimed that Zezovski wasn’t killed over an alleged debt of 500 euros, as police suspected. The real reason had been his alleged possession of maps where gold was hidden.

Authorities suspect that the first victim owed a small debt to one of the perpetrators and that his car was later used for the kidnapping of the girl.

Reactions also focused on the girl’s father and his subsequent arrest for suspected involvement in the affair.

Some social media users on X suggested that he had ordered the kidnapping of his daughter. Such tweets quickly went viral, prompting scores of hate speech aimed at the father.

Police in fact are still investigating the father’s role, after other suspects said he might have revealed his daughters’ schedule on the day of the kidnapping.

Authorities suspect that the motive for the girl’s kidnaping was to extort money from her mother, but are yet to determine whether the girl was later killed in a panic, when the case went public.

Meanwhile, after police earlier this week confirmed that the main suspect was Ljupco Palevski, a far-right activist who made frequent anti-Western and pro-Russian posts, a group on social media called “Justice for Palco” [his nickname], started conspiracy theories alleging that Palevski, whom they regard as a patriot, has been framed so that he could be removed from the political scene.

“Ljupco Palevski Palco is a true Macedonian patriot and as such he has been unwanted for a long time among all anti-Macedonian political subjects, especially Kurto and Murto [a common term for the two main parties]. The system … has accused him falsely,” wrote Facebook user Toni Desna.

Authorities pledge to sanction hate speech

“Cases that stir hatred on ethnic or religious ground or stir hysteria will be prosecuted,” the chief of the Prosecution in Skopje, Gavril Bubevski, said earlier this week.

On Tuesday, PM Dimitar Kovacevski also addressed the issue, saying that the groups and individuals that have been spreading fake news on the internet and stirring tension and hysteria are the same ones that did the same during previous times of crisis, during the COVID-19 pandemic and the global financial crisis.

He also appealed for these individuals to be “sanctioned”.

However, North Macedonia has a poor track record of sanctioning hate speech.

While criminal law in theory sanctions these acts in two articles, human rights groups, including the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, noted earlier this year that almost none of the files they and others had come across have seen a legal conclusion in court.

[interkomitet]

Telephone conversation of Vladimir Putin with President of France Emmanuel Macron

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron.

The two presidents discussed in detail the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh. The President of Russia emphasised that the situation in the region was stabilising and that, in general, the agreements fixed in the November 9 Statement of the Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia are being consistently fulfilled. Successful operation of the Russian peacekeepers, ensuring the ceasefire and the security of civilians at the requests of Baku and Yerevan, was noted.

It was reaffirmed that both parties are ready for further coordination on different aspects of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, in particular, within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. The most acute problems include, among others, humanitarian problems such as the return of refugees, the restoration of the infrastructure, and the preservation of religious and cultural landmarks, in particular, with the assistance from the International Humanitarian Response Centre.

Exchanging views on Ukraine’s internal conflict, the parties expressed interest in stepping up efforts to implement the key provisions of the 2015 Minsk agreements and the decisions adopted at the Normandy summit held in Paris on December 9, 2019. In this context, the Russian President again emphasised that Ukraine must fulfil its commitments on the political aspects of the settlement, including the legalisation of the special status of Donbass and the inclusion of the Steinmeier formula in national legislation. It was agreed to continue work within the Normandy format.

The presidents agreed that, as regards the situation around the Iranian nuclear programme, it is necessary to make a concerted effort to preserve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

The two leaders discussed the situation in Syria and Libya, emphasising with regard to Libya the importance of observing the ceasefire and promoting an effective political process with the participation of all key Libyan parties.

A number of urgent issues of bilateral cooperation with an emphasis on countering the coronavirus pandemic were also discussed. The parties reaffirmed their determination to develop contact between relevant organisations of the two countries on producing vaccines and conducting large-scale vaccination.

Vladimir Putin congratulated Emmanuel Macron on his recent birthday and wished him a complete and speedy recovery.

http://interkomitet.com/news-of-the-day/telephone-conversation-of-vladimir-putin-with-president-of-france-emmanuel-macron/