Interview mit Ex-Botschafter Peter Ford
Archiv: ambassadors
Deadly car bombing in Pakistan targets hotel hosting Chinese ambassador
The province is home to the newly expanded Gwadar deepwater port that is key to a planned $65 billion investment in China’s Belt and Road Initiative economic corridor.
Transition Highlights: Biden Plans to Name Blinken, Sullivan and Thomas-Greenfield to Cabinet
Together, Mr. Blinken and Mr. Sullivan, good friends with a common worldview, have become Mr. Biden’s brain trust and often his voice on foreign policy matters. And they led the attack on President Trump’s use of “America First” as a guiding principle, saying it only isolated the United States and created opportunities and vacuums for its adversaries to fill.
Armenia Recalls Israel Ambassador Over Arms Sales to Azerbaijan
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a leading conflict and armaments think-tank, Israel provided Azerbaijan with some $825 million in weapons between 2006 and 2019.
Those exports included drones, loitering munitions, anti-tank missiles, and a surface-to-air missile system, information from SIPRI’s Arms Transfers Database showed.
US ambassador to China stepping down
Branstad, a former Iowa Republican governor who has served as ambassador to China since 2017, confirmed his decision to leave the position in a phone call to President Trump last week, according to a news release from the embassy. The embassy did not mention a reason for his departure.
Trump expected to name new ambassador to Afghanistan
Administrative officials see Ruger’s selection as the president’s signal of intent to reduce the U.S. military presence in the region drastically.
When a wave of torture and murder staggered a small U.S. ally, truth was a casualty.
(Jun 11, 1995)
* The CIA was instrumental in training and equipping Battalion 316. Members were flown to a secret location in the United States for training in surveillance and interrogation, and later were given CIA training at Honduran bases.
* Starting in 1981, the United States secretly provided funds for Argentine counterinsurgency experts to train anti-Communist forces in Honduras. By that time, Argentina was notorious for its own „Dirty War,“ which had left at least 10,000 dead or „disappeared“ in the 1970s. Argentine and CIA instructors worked side by side training Battalion 316 members at a camp in Lepaterique, a town about 16 miles west of Tegucigalpa.
* Gen. Gustavo Alvarez Martinez, who as chief of the Honduran armed forces personally directed Battalion 316, received strong U.S. support – even after he told a U.S. ambassador that he intended to use the Argentine method of eliminating subversives.
* By 1983, when Alvarez’s oppressive methods were well known to the U.S. Embassy, the Reagan administration awarded him the Legion of Merit for „encouraging the success of democratic processes in Honduras.“ His friendship with Donald Winters, the CIA station chief in Honduras, was so close that when Winters adopted a child, he asked Alvarez to be the girl’s godfather.
Negroponte endorses Biden: He beats Trump on ‚character, compassion and life experience‘
John Negroponte, who served as director of national intelligence under former President George W. Bush, endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden in his race against President Trump on Thursday in an interview with the Daily Beast.
“All roads lead to Trump in a way,” Negroponte told the website. “I’m just not sure the country can withstand another four years of the presidency with a man who has shown such disregard to the office.”
Trump picks antiwar favorite Douglas Macgregor to be German ambassador
Macgregor is a favorite among Trump supporters who want to pull US troops from the Mideast and Afghanistan. As ambassador, he would oversee Trump’s plan to slash the substantial US troop presence in Germany.
Coalition Against Annexation Meets Israeli Diplomats in 18 Cities Worldwide
Meetings like this have also taken place at the Israeli consulates in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco, as well as at the Israeli embassies in Berlin, Paris, Madrid and Copenhagen.
“In each meeting we have between three to ten representatives of local Jewish groups attend, because it’s important for us to show that this isn’t a concern just among the ‘usual suspects’ of the left.
Tzipi Hotovely Is the Ugly, Extremist Face of Israel. British Jews Should Welcome Her
(19.06.2020)
Hotovely is the right Israeli ambassador for our time. She will remind British Jews how powerless they are (as is the British government, to be fair) to influence matters in Israel and how distant the current Israeli leadership is from the mainstream of British Jewry.
And if left-wing British Jews are serious about trying to get their community to finally wake up to the damage the occupation is doing to Israel’s soul, then having Hotovely as ambassador is the best thing that could happen to them.
Did Putin save Israel from Obama at UN, and why are we hearing this now?
Danon appealed to his Russian counterpart Vitaly Churkin, and the matter went up to the Netanyahu-Putin level. The Russians did not agree to veto Resolution 2334 condemning settlements, but they were opposed to the second one, and generally did not approve of the Obama administration making these last-minute moves right before Trump took office.
The Israeli source posited that the Obama administration did not want to be seen as less pro-Israel than Russia, so they backed down from the second initiative.
Chinese Ambassador Is Found Dead at Home in Israel
An embassy worker found the body of Du Wei, 57, in his bed in a coastal suburb north of Tel Aviv, officials said.
Designation of Ambassador Ronald J. Gidwitz as Acting Representative of the United States to the European Union
Ambassador Gidwitz will continue serving as U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Belgium, strengthening our bilateral economic and security relationship to the benefit of both nations.
U.S. to send ambassador to Bolivia for first time in over a decade
The United States intends to send an ambassador to Bolivia to help restore a “normal relationship” between the two countries, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale said in a video statement posted online on Thursday.
Pompeo to investigate charges of surveillance against Yovanovitch
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday said he will investigate allegations that former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch was under surveillance by private American citizens intent on her removal from Kyiv and possibly threatening harm.
New documents from Lev Parnas show more texts about possible surveillance of former US ambassador to Ukraine
The Belgian country-code number sends Hyde a screenshot of an official photo of Yovanovitch. The Belgium number, whose identity is not known, writes „My contacts are checking,“ adding, „I will give you the address next week.“
Hyde replied, „Awesome.“
In another series of texts, the Belgian number tells Hyde at 2:05 p.m., „Nothing has changed she is still not moving they check today again,“ shortly adding, „It’s confirmed we have a person inside.“
„To say this is rare is an understatement.“ — Fmr. federal prosecutor Berit Berger reacts to the announcement that Giuliani associate Lev Parnas will speak out on @maddow tonight.
Parnas, ‚on the hook criminally,‘ makes surprising choice to give TV interview: MSNBC legal analyst
Berit Berger and Maya Wiley, both formerly of the Southern District of New York, react to the news that Giuliani associate Lev Parnas is being interviewed by Rachel Maddow.
All roads lead to Giuliani
Text messages and documents provided to Congress by Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas show Giuliani’s efforts to get material in Ukraine he could use to attack President Trump’s Democratic opponents.
Giuliani says he has „no idea“ about efforts to track ex-Ukraine ambassador
In a lengthy conversation with CBS News on Wednesday, Giuliani denied having knowledge of any efforts to keep tabs on Yovanovitch, who was abruptly recalled from her post amid fears for her safety, according to her earlier congressional testimony.
Sanders calls for investigation into possible surveillance of Yovanovitch
“It is outrageous that the President’s personal lawyers appear to have directed the surveillance of a U.S. ambassador. This must be fully investigated as the Senate conducts the impeachment trial,” Sanders tweeted Wednesday. “We have a responsibility to hold this lawless administration to account.”
READ: Documents from Giuliani associate Lev Parnas released by House impeachment investigators
Read the documents here:
New Lev Parnas Documents Suggest U.S. Ambassador Was Under Surveillance In Ukraine
A lawyer for former U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch is calling for an investigation after materials released Tuesday night as part of the impeachment inquiry suggested she was under surveillance by individuals linked to President Trump’s personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani.
That detail was among a trove of documents provided by Giuliani associate Lev Parnas that were made public by the House Intelligence Committee late Tuesday.
Shocking new evidence released in Trump impeachment case
House impeachment investigators turned over shocking evidence from Lev Parnas, the Rudy Giuliani associate who is awaiting trial on campaign finance charges. The emails, text messages and documents appear to show the president’s connection to Parnas and the general Ukraine plot.
Thanks for the many goodwill messages. Can confirm I wasn’t taking part in any demonstrations! Went to an event advertised as a vigil for victims of #PS752 tragedy. Normal to want to pay respects- some of victims were British. I left after 5 mins, when some started chanting.
Arrest of Ambassador to Iran: Foreign Secretary statement
Following the brief detention of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Iran Rob Macaire, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said:
The arrest of our Ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law. The Iranian government is at a cross-roads moment. It can continue its march towards pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that entails, or take steps to deescalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards.“
UN cultural agency chief meets with Iran ambassador amid current tensions
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and Iranian Ambassador to the UN agency, Ahmad Jalali, met in Paris against a background of mounting threats between his country and the United States.
Iran summons Swiss envoy, condemns US ’state terrorism‘
Iran has summoned the Swiss charge d’affaires, whose country represents US interests in Iran, over Washington’s assassination of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, decrying the attack as a „blatant instance of state terrorism“.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Friday that the Swiss envoy was notified of Tehran’s „strong protest“.
Libya, Germany review economic cooperation
The meeting focused on ways to boost economic relations between the two countries with an emphasis on the role of Germany in the implementation of infrastructure projects in Libya.
Kim Darroch: Johnson joins defence of press over cables publication
“It cannot conceivably be right that newspapers or any other media organisation publishing such material face prosecution,” he added.
“In my view there is no threat to national security implied in the release of this material. It is embarrassing, but it is not a threat to national security. It is the duty of media organisations to bring new and interesting facts into the public domain. That is what they are there for.”
Terror cops probe leak of Darroch emails about Trump: Scotland Yard is accused of ‚police state‘ tactics with threat to prosecute publishers who print more secrets
– Police are investigating alleged leaking of ambassador Sir Kim Darroch’s emails
– Scotland Yard say its counter-terrorism command is leading the investigation
– Met Police say ‚there has been damage caused to UK international relations‘
– They said there is clear public interest in bringing person responsible to justice
Johnson under fire as Kim Darroch quits as UK ambassador to US
After the ambassador submitted his resignation, explaining that he felt that speculation over his future was “making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like”, Johnson faced sharp criticism over his role in the affair, with one minister accusing him of throwing the ambassador “under the bus”.
And in language that will be viewed as an implicit criticism of Johnson’s failure to back Darroch, Theresa May told MPs: “I hope the house will reflect on the importance of defending our values and principles, particularly when they are under pressure.”
Public Split on Kim Darroch Resignation
YouGov have conducted some remarkably speedy polling of the public’s attitude towards the Kim Darroch affair, although the fieldwork was conducted before his resignation.
UK could join US military action against Iran, Jeremy Hunt says
(24.06.2019)
Mr Hunt, who is battling to become the next prime minister, earlier said he has been speaking to counterparts “regularly” about the Iran crisis which he called “extremely serious”.
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said on Sunday that he was seeking to build a “global coalition” against Iran, branding Tehran “the world’s largest state sponsor of terror”.
Deeply saddened to hear of the resignation of Sir Kim Darroch. Standing up for Britain means standing up for the finest diplomats on the world. It should never have come to this.
Trump hits back after UK’s top envoy calls his Iran policy ‘incoherent’
He allegedly said the president’s assertion that he called off retaliatory missile strikes against the Iranian regime after a US drone was shot down because it risked killing 150 Iranians, “doesn’t stand up.”
“It’s more likely that he was never fully on board and that he was worried about how this apparent reversal of his 2016 campaign promises would look come 2020,” Darroch reportedly stated, referring to the next presidential election.
Sir Kim Darroch: UK ambassador to US resigns in Trump leaks row
The US president had branded him „a very stupid guy“ after emails emerged where the ambassador had called his administration „clumsy and inept“.
In a letter to the Foreign Office, Sir Kim said he wanted to end speculation about his position: „The current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like.
Inching away from Saudi-UAE axis, Jordan restores ties with Qatar
Jordan and Qatar announced the restoration of full diplomatic ties by naming their respective ambassadors, two years after Amman downgraded its relations with Doha due to pressure from a Saudi-led block.
In June 2017, Jordan recalled its ambassador to Qatar siding with the regional axis of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain, which imposed a land, sea, and air blockade of the gas-rich state.
Earlier this week, Qatar named Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, a member of the royal family, as its ambassador to Jordan, Al Jazeera Arabic reported.
U.S. Ambassador Says Israel Has Right to Annex Parts of West Bank
Israel has a right to annex at least some, but “unlikely all,” of the West Bank, the United States ambassador, David M. Friedman, said in an interview, opening the door to American acceptance of what would be an enormously provocative act.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to begin annexing Jewish settlements in the West Bank, a move that would violate international law and could be a fatal blow to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
New US ambassador to Saudi Arabia arrives in Riyadh
Trump nominated Abizaid, who led the US Central Command during the Iraq war, for the position in November 2018. He was approved by the Senate in April.
Trump Nominates Disgraced Ambassador to Represent US in Bogota
Before leaving the South American city, Goldberg was accused of conspiring against the government of Evo Morales and declared a “persona non grata” by the state. Washington has denied all conspiracy allegations and has not commented on the pending nomination. However, Goldberg will have to be approved by both the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Upper House and by the plenary.
Trump says he made Golan Heights decision after a quick history lesson
Speaking at the Republican Jewish Coalition gathering in Las Vegas, Trump said he made the snap decision during a discussion with his top Middle East peace advisers, including the U.S. ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
“I said, ‘Fellows, do me a favor. Give me a little history, quick. Want to go fast. I got a lot of things I’m working on: China, North Korea. Give me a quickie,” Trump said to laughter from the Las Vegas crowd.
Juan Guaido Arrived in Venezuela Without Obstacles
His supporters gathered at the airport of the capital city Caracas without any problems. Guaido was accompanied by German and Netherlands embassadors
Gov’t taps new ambassadors for China, Japan, Russia: sources
South Korea has named new ambassadors to China, Japan and Russia in a recent regular spring reshuffle of senior diplomats, as it seeks to bolster diplomacy for its peace efforts with North Korea, sources said Monday.
Meet Juan Guaido’s First Ambassador, Fake Twitter Diplomat Slammed by Costa Rica for ‘Unacceptable Entry’
Maria Faría, the daughter of a would-be Hugo Chávez assassin, illegally barged into Venezuela’s embassy in Costa Rica and declared herself ambassador. The embarrassing stunt highlighted everything wrong with Juan Guaidó’s reality-show government.
‚They Conveniently Forgot To Notify Us‘: EU Diplomat Downgraded In D.C.
Updated Jan. 9 at 11 a.m. ET The United States has quietly reclassified the European Union’s Mission to the U.S., marking a snub that comes amid two years of tempestuous relations during the Trump administration.
„German Arrogance“
Poland’s ambassador to Germany is raising serious accusations against the Federal Republic. „More than half of the past 100 years of German policy toward Poland have been a disaster,“ the diplomat from Warsaw declared at a conference in Berlin.
Heads of Iran, Russia’s central banks meet in Moscow
Hemmati has traveled to the Russian capital at the head of a high-ranking delegation. Iranian Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaei was also present in the Thursday meeting.
US ambassador to Estonia resigns in frustration over Trump
„Earlier today, the United States‘ Ambassador to Estonia, Jim Melville, announced his intent to retire from the Foreign Service effective July 29 after 33 years of public service,“ the statement read in its entirety.(…)
„Having served under six presidents and 11 secretaries of state, I never really thought it would reach that point for me.“
Netanyahu Meets Controversial Right-wing U.S. Ambassador to Germany in Berlin
Richard Grenell told ‚alt-right‘ website Breitbart he wants to empower ‚other conservatives‘ in Europe and cited Austria’s government as an example
BREAKING: Netanyahu says at a press conference with Merkel he will meet with U.S. ambassador to Germany Rick Grenell at the airport in Berlin later todat at the latter’s request
President Trump nominates Harris as U.S. ambassador to S. Korea
It has been reported that the White House withdrew its nomination of Victor Cha, a veteran Korea expert, in January for the post because of Cha’s opposition to military options against the DPRK.
Israeli troops kill dozens of Palestinians in protests as US embassy opens in Jerusalem – as it happened
Foreign ministries in the UK, France and Egypt expressed concern about the the violence. UK prime minister Theresa May’s spokesperson said: “We urge calm and restraint to avoid actions destructive to peace efforts.”
Officials Confirm That Trump Bombed Syria to Validate His Tweets
(18.4.2018) Last week, the United States launched an act of war against a sovereign government because failing to do so would have cast doubt on the credibility of the statements that Donald Trump makes while livetweeting Fox & Friends.
That may sound like hyperbolic snark, or the premise of an Andy Borowitz column, but it is a plain description of the rationale behind last Friday’s missile strikes in Syria, according to multiple military and administration officials.
#US Ambassador breaks ground in #Kurdistan for largest consulate complex
23.4.2018
Inspectors not allowed into Douma: UK envoy
Karen Pierce said in an interview with The Associated Press that ‘it’s incumbent upon them more than ever to allow the team in, to escort it, to make sure it’s safe, and to make sure it can do its work.’