WASHINGTON, 17 May 2022, (TON): Counselor of the Department Derek Chollet will lead an interagency delegation to Chisinau, Moldova, from May 17 to 18.

He will meet with Moldovan government officials to discuss the impact of the war in Ukraine on Moldova, continue discussions of our 30-year U.S.-Moldovan partnership under the framework of our Strategic Dialogue, and meet with refugees fleeing Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Counselor Chollet’s visit will reinforce U.S. support for Moldova’s democracy, prosperity, and security.

Counselor Chollet will travel to Tbilisi, Georgia, from May 18 to 19 to for consultations with our Georgian partners about European security and democratic development.

He will meet with government, opposition, and civil society representatives for discussions on Russia’s continuing occupation of parts of Georgia, on the Kremlin’s brutal war against Ukraine.

RIYADH, 17 May 2022, (TON): The governor of Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region, Prince Faisal bin Khalid, received Natalie Fustier, UN resident coordinator in the Kingdom.

During the meeting, the pair discussed a number of issues of common interest.

There are currently 21 UN agencies, funds and programs working with Saudi Arabia, including regional offices, and the Kingdom is a major contributor to the UN’s development assistance.

WASHINGTON, 17 May 2022, (TON): The United States intends to continue working to strengthen relations with the United Arab Emirates.

This was announced by US Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking on Monday in Abu Dhabi to American journalists who accompanied her on a trip to the funeral ceremony of the previous leader of the Middle Eastern country, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The deputy head of the US administration said “Harris’ remarks led her press pool, we are here to discuss the strength of this partnership and this friendship, as well as our commitment to continue working in the future to strengthen this relationship.”

“We are here as a delegation on behalf of President [US Joe Biden], the American people and our administration, to express our condolences to our friend and partner in the United Arab Emirates. And also to congratulate the new [UAE] President and reaffirm our common commitment to security and prosperity.”

The Vice President emphasized “in this region, [to state that] this relationship benefits the American people in terms of security and prosperity.”

RAMALLAH, 17 May 2022, (TON): The Palestinian Authority has reiterated its appeal to the EU to provide its pledged aid without conditions.

The authority is concerned about the continuing uncertainty over the EU’s annual financial support for its budget despite holding several meetings with senior EU officials in recent months.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyieh, who met EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles in Brussels last week, urged the bloc to expedite the transfer of its financial support, which has been suspended for two years.

Shtayyieh pointed to a growing financial crisis caused by the drop in external support and the continuation of Israel’s deductions from the tax it collects on behalf of the PA.

Shtayyieh said “we have called on the European Union to provide its pledged aid without conditions. We hope to accomplish this very soon.”

PARIS, 17 May 2022, (TON): Elisabeth Born, who has until now headed the Ministry of Labor, has become the new Prime Minister of France.

This is stated in a statement from the Elysee Palace, received by the Paris bureau of TASS.

The communiqué said “the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, has appointed Elisabeth Born to the post of Prime Minister and instructed her to form a new government.”

Born replaced Jean Castex, who led the Cabinet since July 2020 and resigned on Monday during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, at the head of the French government . Bourne became the second woman in French history to be appointed prime minister.

As expected, after the official appointment, Born should start forming a new cabinet. Its important task will be to prepare for the parliamentary elections, which will be held in France in two rounds – June 12 and 19.

MOSCOW, 17 May 2022, (TON): President Vladimir Putin said “Russia had no issue with Finland and Sweden, but that the expansion of military infrastructure on their territory would demand a reaction from Moscow, as the Nordic countries move closer to joining NATO.”

Putin, speaking in Moscow at a summit of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization, said “ATO’s expansion was a problem for Russia and that it must look closely at what he said were the US-led military alliance’s plans to increase its global influence.”

RIYADH, 17 May 2022, (TON): Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman paid a visit to Abu Dhabi to offer his condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

The crown prince was received at the airport by the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is received by the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

The visit comes under the direction of King Salman, and Sheikh Mohamed expressed his thanks and appreciation to the crown prince for his sincere feelings toward the UAE and its people in their time of grief.

The crown prince departed for the Kingdom after paying his respects and Sheikh Mohamed saw him off at the airport.

HYANGAN, 17 May 2022, (TON): The Taiwanese military began its annual Hanguang command post exercise, which will take into account the latest changes in military tactics in Ukraine. This was re-ported by the Taiwan Central News Agency.

According to the head of the defense department of the island, Qiu Guozheng “the exercises will reflect the experience of hostilities in Ukraine, as well as imitate the aggravation of relations with mainland China. Their first stage will last five days and end on May 20th.”

Only senior command personnel will take part in the exercises, which will develop both defensive and offensive operations for various branches and types of troops.

According to the Hong Kong newspaper “South China Morning Post, the Hanguang exercises will be held in several stages: on July 25, after the completion of the command and staff unit, their second stage will begin.”

It will include live firing and will also last five days. According to the publication, the troops will work out the tactics of using Javelin anti-tank missile systems and Stinger man-portable air defense systems, which are used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

LONDON, 17 May 2022, (TON): Saudi Arabia aspires to strengthen its position as a global logistics hub connecting three continents, improve services and increase integration between logistics systems and modern modes of transportation.

Eng. Abdulaziz Al-Sugair, the director general of the Saudi Railway Polytechnic Institute, and Munir Jolamyehiya, the director general of the British X-Rail Group, signed a training agreement to train Saudis in the railway industry in the Kingdom.

The agreement was signed in presence of the chairman of the Saudi-British Joint Economic Committee, Dr. Majed Al-Qasabi, the Saudi Minister of Transport Saleh Al-Jasser, the UK Minister of Railways Wendy Morton.

Al-Sugair said “the collaboration with X-Rail Group is a new step towards the development of national skills in transportation, particularly rail transport services. He stated that the agreement intends to train and qualify high school graduates and equip them to work in a variety of industries.”

These include signaling, communication, and railway control systems, in order to assist the transportation labor market and meet the growing demand for specialist cadres in this industry.

Chairman of the Saudi-British Joint Economic Committee, Dr. Majed Abdullah Al-Qasabi pose for a group photo with Saudi and UK officials in Riyadh.

RIYADH, 17 May 2022, (TON): Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with his Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai in Riyadh.

During the meeting, the two officials reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to enhance, develop, and advance them in various fields.

They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest.

Ties between the Kingdom and Thailand were renewed in January, following Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s visit to Riyadh on the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.