Is Turkey tilting towards Russia?



Md. Kawsar Ahmed, Barta 24.com
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As the geographical location of Turkey is situated in both Asia and Europe the country has occupied an important position in world politics geopolitically or strategically. From the time of the founder of modern Turkey by Mostofa Kamal Atartuk the country has been maintaing close relations with USA and European countries. But when USA lent their support to the Kurdish, the country’s present ruling Islamist party government wants to build a relation with Russia for maintaining balance of power who was a rival during cold war.

For the last one decade Turkey was trying to join the EEU. But the talk has become stalled after an abortive coup against president Tyep Erdowan in July of 2016.

The EEU leaders are accusing president Erdowan that he has violated the very norms and pre-conditions and visa free movement as he carried on arrests and cleansing campaign across the country after the abortive coup.

On the other hand the Turkish president is of opined that we should not be in a fix regarding the joining of EEU. Rather we can join a Eurasian group with Russia and China. Erdowan has said that he has already discussed the matter with Russian president Vladimir Putin. He has discussed the matter with the policy makers of Kazakhstan.

On the other hand these two countries are members of Songhai pact which is a loose security and economic alliance. The other members of this alliance are China, Kirgizstan and Tajikistan.

Erdoan-Putin
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Let us come to the core point. Can Turkey is maintaining balance of power? Or it is tilting towards Russia? In NATO led by USA, Turkey is second largest army personnel owned country. Turkey is now carrying on onslaughts in Syria against US interests cooperating with Russia. The relation between Turkey and USA further strained when Turkey purchased most modern missile S-400 from Russia.

US vice-president Mike Pence has warned Turkey for purchasing aircraft destroying missile S-400 technology from Russia. The US is considering it as a threat for the US air power.

Mike Pence has said that now Turkey is to select that whether they will remain as the important member of NATO or they would prefer to take irresponsible decision putting them into security risk?

In reply, the Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Chavusuglu said that it is not possible to scrap that pact with Russia.

Turkish vice president Fuat Oktey twitted that ‘the USA must select whether they want to remain as friend of Turkey? Nor they want to put the long friendship into risk joining their hand with the terrorists. Those who want to weaken the NATO allies against their fight with the enemies. (Source: BBC, April 4 2019).

Now let us know, what are features contained in the S-400 missile defense system for which it is getting so much importance to every one. According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute researcher Simon Watzemon “ S-400 is the most modern air defense system till now, it is far in advance than the Western countries’ systems. The capacity of its radar, missiles technology and sensor is much more powerful. Its radar can keep vigil up to 600 kilometers. The range of its missile is up to 400 kilometers. It is also unmistakable in fixing targets.”

The other important features are that it is easily portable, can be installed within shortest time and can be fired on the targets very correctly.

Erdoan-Putin
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The military expert of Council on Foreign Relations Kevin Brand said that,” this missile system is very much advanced having many unqualified features. With this missile short range, medium range and long range rockets can be fired. It will depend on the users.” (Source: Al Zajira)

According to foreign policy analysts Ankara is making close relations with Moscow after its relations with US and Europe became sour.

The reason of close relation between Ankara and Moscow lies with the fact that the US encouragement to Turkish leader Fetullah Gulen by giving him asylum and to stage a coup in Turkey by Gulen’s followers. But its root is more deep that the attitudes of Turkey and USA are on different poles on Syria policy.

   

Netanyahu in fear of ICC arrest



International Desk, Barta24.com
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photo: Collected

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Israel's attack on Gaza did not stop. The death procession is increasing every day under the orders of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli army is not paying attention to the ongoing movement around the world. On the other hand, Tel Aviv is listening to the calls of pro-Palestinian world leaders.

Killing, torture and destruction are being carried out indiscriminately in violation of international law. The blockaded area is being gradually completed, including women and children. On the other hand, the world is not able to do anything about such activities in Israel.

But now it is known that the International Criminal Court (ICC) may issue an arrest warrant against the Prime Minister of Israel.

This is what the country's local media reported on Saturday (April 27). According to The New Arab, citing unnamed sources, Maariv newspaper reported that Netanyahu is under stress and panic over the threat of an ICC arrest warrant.

Not only Netanyahu, but also some of his prominent officials may receive this arrest notice, according to reports in the Israeli media.

According to Israeli media reports, the names of the country's Defense Minister Yoav Galant and Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi will be included in the list. Senior government officials held an emergency meeting in Tel Aviv this week to discuss that possibility.

In the meantime, Netanyahu has spoken on the phone with international friends, especially US President Joe Biden, to prevent the arrest warrant. It is not clear when an arrest warrant may be issued, and it is not standard for courts to disclose such information.

But fears of an arrest warrant against Netanyahu were first aired on Thursday by British-pro-Israel commentator Douglas Murray in an opinion piece in the US tabloid New York Post.

A warrant could be issued within days, Murray wrote. Netanyahu will not immediately face trial. But it would be a major blow to the prime minister on the world stage and put pressure on Israel's allies and ICC members to act.

Earlier in an interview on Friday, Netanyahu wrote, "Israel's natural and self-defense rights are undermined, and this country will not accept any such efforts by the ICC under my leadership." Threats to seize military officers of the Middle East's only democracy and the world's only Jewish state are outrageous. We will never bow down to it.'

Senior Israeli officials are said to be concerned about what such a warrant would mean for military operations against Hamas in Gaza.

Israel's Channel 13 broadcaster quoted officials as saying they believed the tribunal would target policy makers rather than junior soldiers.

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20 soldiers were killed in an explosion at an army base in Cambodia



International Desk, Barta24.com
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Picture: Collected

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An ammunition explosion at a military base on Cambodia's western border has killed 20 soldiers. Prime Minister Hun Manet said the explosion happened on Saturday afternoon.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Facebook that the explosion occurred at a military base in Kampong Speu province in western Cambodia.

He said, we are deeply shocked by this. However, the cause of the explosion is not yet known.

Expressing his condolences to the families of the slain soldiers, he said that the funeral expenses of the deceased would be paid.

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Endangered hippos stranded in dry rivers in Botswana amid severe drought



International Desk, Barta24.com , Dhaka
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African countries are suffering from severe drought. A herd of endangered hippos trapped in the mud of a dry reservoir in the drought-stricken African country of Botswana is at risk of dying.

South Africa has been hit by severe drought due to El Nino weather, AFP reported. Crops in the region are under threat, millions of people are starving. Several countries in the region have recently declared national disasters.

Herds of hippos become trapped in dried-up rivers near the vast wetlands of the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana.

Lesego Moseki, spokesman for the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) in Botswana's capital Gaborone, said the river system had dried up and the animals were in a compromised situation.

Botswana is home to the world's largest population of hippos living in the wild. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are approximately 2,000 to 4,000 hippos.

Moseki said hippos in Ngamiland (North West District) depend on water flowing through the Okavango Delta system. They are still investigating how many hippos died in the pools.

Hippos have thick but sensitive skin. They need to bathe regularly in water to avoid sunburn and they usually live in humid areas.

Without water they can become aggressive and approach villages. Local authorities have called for the hippos to be relocated to protected areas to avoid conflict with humans.

El Niño is a naturally occurring climate pattern usually associated with global warming, leading to drought in some parts of the world and heavy rainfall in others.

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India has allowed onion export to 6 countries including Bangladesh



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
Photo: Barta24

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India has approved the export of 99 thousand 150 tons of onions to 6 countries including Bangladesh. Other countries are - United Arab Emirates, Bhutan, Bahrain, Mauritius and Sri Lanka.

This information was given on the website of the Government of India on Saturday (April 27).

It said onion exports were banned to ensure domestic supply due to lower kharif and rabi seasons in the country in 2023-24 compared to the previous year. This increases the demand in the international market. Indian agency National Cooperation Exports Limited (NCEL) exports onions to these countries. They procure onions from internal sources through e-platform at lowest price (L1). Then, on a 100% advance payment basis, the rates are negotiated and supplied to the agencies or government-designated agencies in the destination countries.

NCEL fixes the prices with the buyers taking into consideration the prices of the countries where onion is bought, international and domestic prices. Now the quotas are allocated according to the demand of the countries where onion export is allowed.

Maharashtra is the largest onion producer in India. They are the largest supplier of onions to NCEL for export.

Earlier, Bangladesh had sent a formal letter to the Indian government to allow the export of certain quantities of onion to reduce the price of onion in the country's market during the holy month of Ramadan.

In addition, the country's government has allowed the export of additional 2000 metric tons of white onion. These onions are mainly exported to Middle East and some European countries. Due to the high production cost of white onion, its price is relatively high.

India is the world's largest onion exporter. The country's government had imposed a ban on onion exports till March 31, 2024 in December last year to maintain supply in the domestic market. Later it was extended indefinitely. The new decision to export onions is good news for India's friendly countries.

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