WASHINGTON, 28 April 2022, (TON): Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to congratulate the French people on their successful election and to welcome continued close cooperation and strong ties with President Macron.

The two discussed providing more security assistance to Ukraine’s armed forces as they resist the Russian government’s brutal and unprovoked invasion and additional measures to hold President Putin and his regime accountable.

The Secretary and Foreign Minister also discussed intensifying support for both North Macedonia and Albania on their EU accession paths.

Also, Blinken, Secretary of State announced the release of U.S. citizen Trevor Reed, who was wrongfully detained in Russia.

We extend our deep appreciation to our many allies and partners who helped us in this effort.

RIYADH, 28 April 2022, (TON): The Kingdom’s foreign ministry said “Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan made a phone call to his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias.”

During the call, they discussed “ways to strengthen bilateral relations and develop coordination frameworks on issues of common interest.”

WASHINGTON, 28 April 2022, (TON): U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer has reappointed Commissioner Frederick A. Davie to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom for an additional two-year term, ending in 2024.

USCIRF Chair Nadine Maenza stated “Commissioner Davie’s insight and knowledge are a valuable asset to USCIRF’s work. His personal commitment to international religious freedom has enhanced our work and contributed to USCIRF’s policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.”

“On behalf of the Commission, we are thrilled that he will be continuing to share his expertise for another two-year term.”

Commissioner Davie was initially appointed to USCIRF by Senator Schumer in June 2020 for a two-year term.

During his first term, for example, he advocated for Nigerians Mubarak Bala and Yahaya Sharif-Aminu as part of USCIRF’s Religious Prisoners of Conscience project.

GENEVA, 28 April 2022, (TON): Federal Council said in a statement “Switzerland has adopted a fifth package of sanctions against Russia, which includes a ban on imports of coal, timber, cement and caviar.”

As noted, the new measures are similar to those adopted on April 8 by the European Union and include sanctions against a number of goods, including a ban on the import of brown and hard coal, as well as goods that are important sources of income for Russia, such as timber, cement, seafood. and caviar.

In addition, a ban is introduced on the export of goods, which can help strengthen the industrial potential of Russia.

Additional sanctions are also taking effect in the financial sector.

Any support for Russian organizations owned or controlled by the state will be prohibited. From the moment sanctions come into force in Switzerland, it will no longer be possible to register trust funds for Russian citizens, individuals or legal entities residing in Russia. Various services for such trust funds will also be prohibited.

NEW YORK, 28 April 2022, (TON): The UN special envoy for Syria announced “he has sent invitations to the Syrian government and the opposition for an eighth round of talks starting in late May, aimed at revising the constitution of the conflict-torn country.”

Geir Pedersen told “UN Security Council that agreement on a revised constitution could contribute to a political solution of the 11-year conflict.”

He said “the seventh session of the Syrian Constitutional Committee ended on March 25, with delegations offering at least some revisions to some of the texts presented.”

Pedersen said deputy special envoy Khawla Matar visited Damascus and Istanbul afterward for further discussions with the committee’s co-chairs and he had issued invitations for the eighth session from May 28 to June 3 in Geneva.

He stressed that the drafting process will only move forward if the committee’s work is “governed by a sense of compromise and constructive engagement aimed at reaching general agreement of its members.”

NEW DELHI, 28 April 2022, (TON): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on an official visit to three European countries - Germany, Denmark and France - from May 2-4.”

In a statement, the MEA said “this will be the Prime Minister's first visit abroad in 2022.”

In Berlin, PM Modi will hold bilateral talks with Olaf Scholz, Federal Chancellor of Germany, and the two leaders will co-chair the sixth edition of the India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations.

The biennial IGC is a unique dialogue format that also sees the participation of several Ministers from both sides.

This will be Prime Minister's first IGC with Chancellor Scholz, and also the first such Government-to-Government consultations of the new German government, which assumed office in December 2021.

During his visit, PM Modi and Chancellor Scholz would also jointly address a business event.

NEW DELHI, 28 April 2022, (TON): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will begin a three-day visit to Bangladesh and Bhutan today, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation and exchanging views on key issues.

Ministry of External Affairs said announcing the visit “in Dhaka, Mr Jaishankar will call on Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and hold discussions with Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen.”

It is learnt that Mr Jaishankar's trip to Bangladesh is aimed at preparing the grounds for a visit to India by Hasina.

MEA said in a statement "the forthcoming visit of the external affairs minister to Bangladesh may be seen in the context of frequent bilateral high-level visits and exchanges particularly as both sides commemorate 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties.”

DHAKA, 28 April 2022, (TON): Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen reiterated “there was no scope for Bangladesh to get into Chinese ‘debt trap’ noting that the economists who say such things might have an intention to appease the United States.”

He said Bangladesh has borrowed the highest amount from Japan but nobody talks about it with their only headache about Chinese loan.

He told reporters while responding to a question “we remain very careful. There’s no scope that we’ll fall into debt trap. We cut our coat according to our clothes.”

The Foreign Minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina takes decisions through proper scrutiny and analyzing every aspect and in no way Bangladesh should be compared with the Sri Lankan case.

He said ‘‘we don’t know what we hear from you sometimes. You write Bangladesh is falling into the Chinese debt trap. Later, I see that you write completely illusory words.”

KABUL, 28 April 2022, (TON): Talking at an event held to distribute food assistance provided by China to vulnerable people, Haqqani said “the human traffickers are encouraging the Afghan youth to leave the country.”

He said “listen you all, from now on, if anyone is captured engaging in human trafficking and encouraging people to take others outside the country through illegal ways, they will be treated with legal measures.” 

Haqqani admitted “the Afghans are struggling with severe economic conditions and said that the Islamic Emirate is making an all-out effort to tackle the existing crisis.”

He said “we are trying to find jobs for our youth and nation by launching projects for our infrastructure, mineral resources and mines.” 

KABUL, 28 April 2022, (TON): A source at the Afghanistan embassy in Iran confirmed that Tehran accredited an Islamic Emirate diplomat in the embassy.

The source told media “although diplomats of the former government are still heading up the issues related to consulate services in Iran, the Islamic Emirate’s diplomat is working as third secretary.”

Sayed Noorullah Raghi, an Afghan former diplomat said “Iran is willing to address some issues via engagement, the two countries share a long border and things like drug and human smuggling happen along the border, so Iran wants to solve these things by engagement.”

Abbas Hussaini, an Afghan journalist in Iran said “this move will increase engagement and the Islamic Emirate will be aware of movements happening between countries, especially about Afghan refugees in Iran.”

In the meantime, officials of the Islamic Emirate did not offer any information about a new diplomat in Tehran, stating only that several diplomats of the Islamic Emirate are working in embassies.