Swiss ambassador writes: Fighting together for a peaceful world



International Desk, Barta24.com
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As a Swiss diplomat, one of my tasks is to explain the realities and policies of my country.

Today marks the end of Switzerland’s month-long presidency of the United Nations Security Council. For that reason, let me try and explain a little about the twin strands of Switzerland’s foreign policy “DNA” – peace promotion and the protection of civilians in zones of armed conflict.

First, some background.

It has been repeatedly pointed out by historians that the Russian invasion of Ukraine represents a giant step backwards for Europe. Specifically, a return to the troubled history of the 19th century, a period of nationalism on steroids with the direct consequence of a series of wars on the European continent.

Wars were fought over the desire to obtain more land, historical grievances, and other reasons which now seem irrational to us in the 21st century.

Switzerland itself has not always been a peaceful country. Around the year 1500, Swiss Cantons were expanding into Northern Italy. My country was ravaged by several civil wars between Catholics and Protestants for a period of up to 300 years. The last of our civil wars dates back to 1847. The experience of 1847 led to a moment of deep reflection for the Swiss people and their political leadership. In 1848, the Swiss Confederation was born out of a civil war. It was then that the Swiss people set up inclusive federal institutions to build domestic peace. It is indeed an achievement for a diverse country like Switzerland that we have been able to live peacefully together ever since. But remember, we spent a long period on civil wars before we learned the hard lessons that enabled us to create the institutions that sustained 175 years of peaceful coexistence within our very diverse nation.

Switzerland’s history helps to explain the choice of the Swiss government’s priorities for our two-year term in the UNSC (2023/24) – building sustainable peace and protecting innocent civilians caught up in zones of armed conflict.

In the course of my three years here in India, I have learned that these priorities are also the same ones ingrained in ahimsa – the Indian religious and ethical principle of not causing harm to other living things.

It is only logical, then, that India, the land of Gautama Buddha and Mahavira, in whose teachings the non-violence values are rooted, is a natural partner when it comes to Swiss foreign policy priorities.

Switzerland has been active in pushing forward these principles:

On May 23, the President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset convened a UNSC open debate on the protection of civilians in zones of armed conflicts. Earlier, on May 3, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis while chairing a high-level open debate focusing on building mutual trust to promote sustainable peace, declared that “it is time for the Security Council to grasp its responsibilities and to reflect on its potential for action in the face of the increasing number of crises. It is time to refine our tools to restore confidence and consolidate a lasting peace.”

Just like Switzerland’s experience with civil war in 1847 triggered the thinking on a future of a peaceful Switzerland, the mounting number of wars, the return of a fully-fledged interstate war on Ukrainian soil and the geopolitical rivalry playing out all over the globe should be a moment of introspection for the world.

In 1848, Switzerland was able to imagine a peaceful country by crafting a new and inclusive constitution. In 1920, the League of Nations was founded in Geneva as an answer to World War I. In 1945, the global community was able to imagine a peaceful world with the founding of the United Nations. Why should our generation not be able to imagine a peaceful world?

It is in this light that we need to see the two open debates of the Security Council that Switzerland presided over in May in New York. Both had one objective – to kick-start a deep reflection by the UNSC members on a peaceful future for our planet.

There are evident convergences when it comes to Swiss and Indian foreign policy priorities. Both of which aim at peace promotion. My country firmly stands behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that this is “not an era of war”. In addition to that, peace and harmony are also integral to India’s G20 presidency vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the profound conviction that, at the end of the day, “the world is one family”.

At this historic moment, Switzerland and India together can contribute greatly to world peace – Switzerland as a non-permanent member of the Security Council in New York, and India by presiding over the G20.

Source: India Express

   

Hamas says 'yes' to Gaza ceasefire



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Hamas has accepted a ceasefire proposal brokered by Qatar and Egypt. But so far nothing has been reported from Israel in this regard. They are looking into the matter.

On Monday (May 6), Qatar-based media Al Jazeera reported this information.

According to a statement by Hamas leader Ismail Haniya, the head of Hamas' political wing, Ismail Haniya, called Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and informed him that Hamas had approved the proposal for a ceasefire agreement. Ismail Hania also said the same thing to the Minister of Intelligence of Egypt, Abbas Kamal.

Meanwhile, the residents of Gaza expressed joy at the news of Hamas agreeing to a ceasefire.

It should be noted that at least 34 thousand 737 people have been killed and 78 thousand 108 people have been injured in the Israeli attack on Gaza since October 7. And the number of dead in Israel is 1 thousand 139 people.

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Campuses can be battlegrounds around graduation ceremonies in the United States



International Desk, Barta24.com,Dhaka
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Protests against the Israeli attack on Gaza have erupted in several US universities. The student protests there have entered their second week. Last Saturday (May 4), police arrested at least 25 more pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Virginia.

Al-Jazeera reported that more than two and a half thousand students have been arrested from campuses across the United States. In the meantime, graduation ceremony in universities is approaching.

It is feared that various university campuses in the United States may turn into battlefields around graduation ceremonies in the coming days.

At 47 US universities, students are protesting against Israeli aggression and genocide in Gaza. This protest has been going on since April 17. Since the beginning, the police have used excessive force to suppress this peaceful protest.

In this way, the rights activists protested the suppression of the protest and the arrest of the protesting students. They demanded to ensure the freedom of expression of the students.

Graduation ceremonies are scheduled for the end of this week at four universities hit by protests. The event is scheduled to take place this month or next June at several other universities, including New York's Columbia University, the epicenter of the protests.

The university authorities fear that the protesting students may disrupt the graduation ceremony. For this reason, the authorities are taking initiatives to strengthen the security system.

The protesting students have threatened that if their demands are not met, they are thinking of alternative programs including boycotting these events and walking out of the venue. In such circumstances, some universities have canceled these programs. Some are procrastinating.

The peaceful protests at the University of Virginia continued until Saturday morning. At that time a video spread among the students. In the video, police are seen detaining some protesting students from the campus lawn.

Apart from this, the police are using chemical sprays to quell the protests. After that the protest turned into a riot.

In a statement, University President Jim Ryan said that the protesters were detained when campus security informed the police that they would be protesting in tents last Friday night. However, it is not clear how many university students are among those detained.

Pro-Palestinians protest in front of the stage at the graduation ceremony at the University of Michigan. But this protest was peaceful. Campus police quickly surrounded the protesters and escorted them to the back of the stadium. But dozens of students dressed in flags, kaffiahs and graduation caps staged a university graduation ceremony.

A day later, Northeastern University and Ohio State University were supposed to hold the closing ceremony on Sunday, but the commencement ceremony was disrupted.

Meanwhile, apart from the United States, this protest has now spread to new countries. Students from France, UK, Italy, Australia, Canada, Japan, India, Lebanon, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland and Mexico have come to protest for the Palestinians.

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Israel launched a ground attack in Rafah amid ceasefire talks



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Israel launched a ground attack in Rafah in the midst of Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks in Gaza.

A delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas is in the Egyptian capital for ceasefire and prisoner-release talks. Sources said Ceasefire talks have progressed.

International media Al Jazeera reported in a report that despite the negotiations, Israel continued its ground attack on Rafah, the southernmost city of Gaza.

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Saturday to meet with mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United States to negotiate a 40-day ceasefire, according to reports published by the United Kingdom.

The talks are at a critical stage, sources told Al Jazeera, as a Qatari technical team is working out the details of a potential deal with the Egyptians.

As technical teams indicate, we are moving into the operational side of a deal. They are monitoring the issues in detail in this agreement.

A senior Hamas spokesman, Osama Hamdan, told Al Jazeera, "It is clear that we are moving forward. There are some good points.

"So far we are still talking about the main issue, which is a complete ceasefire and a complete withdrawal from Gaza," he said. We hope to find some good and positive answers today.

Israel said it will continue to attack Rafah despite talk of a possible deal with Hamas. UN agencies and aid groups have long warned that the ground operation would spell disaster for the 15 lakh people taking refuge there.

Hamdan said, "Unfortunately, Netanyahu has made a clear statement that no matter what happens, if there is a ceasefire or not, he will continue to attack." That means there will be no ceasefire, and that means that the offensive will continue.

Al Jazeera's Ahlbara said the talks were focused on convincing Hamas that it should refrain from demanding a permanent ceasefire from Israel during the first phase of the deal because it is unlikely to happen.

On October 7, Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel, killing more than 1,100 people. During this time, more than 240 people were captured by Hamas.

Later, more than 34,600 Palestinians have died in Israel's attack on Gaza. More than 70 percent of Palestinian territory has been reduced to rubble, pushing the region toward famine.

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Attacks on environmental journalists are on the rise worldwide: UN



News Desk, Barta24.com
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According to a recently published report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO, 44 environmental journalists from 15 countries around the world lost their lives in violent attacks from 2009 to 2023; And 24 people managed to return alive.

This information was reported in the report of the news agency Reuters on Friday (May 3).

According to the report, attacks on environmental journalists are increasing around the world. UNESCO representatives interviewed 905 environmental journalists from 129 countries to prepare the report.

In the interview, 749 out of 905 journalists (more than 70 percent) said that they had to face physical attacks or intimidation, threats, and pressure at some point in their lives to perform their professional duties. Many have also had to deal with the legal problems of detention and defamation cases.

Analyzing the cases of assault-harassment, it has been found that the cases of physical assault have occurred more among male journalists. On the other hand, women journalists are more victims of harassment.

Journalists have been attacked and harassed while reporting on various environmental issues. These issues include various mining irregularities, land tenure conflicts, deforestation, extreme weather related disasters, pollution and environmental damage, fossil fuel sector and its trade etc.

All of these attacks and harassment have come from individuals and groups associated with the power structure of the state. In this context, the UNESCO report said, 'Police, army, government officials and employees, people of local government authorities are responsible for these attacks and harassment. 

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