VIF Information Alerts - 27 September 2018

US will consider Chabahar factor in Indian, Afghan impact of Iran sanctions

Published: The Economic Times
27 Sep 2018

The US will take into consideration the impact of American sanctions against Tehran will have on India's Chabahar Port project in Iran that provides a surface link between New Delhi and Kabul, according to a senior State Department official.
"When it comes to Chabahar, we are in the process of reviewing the imposition of sanctions," Alice Wells, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia, told IANS in an interview. "So that process (of review) is underway and we take India's concerns and interest in being able to expand exports to Afghanistan and to increase Afghanistan exports to India, very seriously.Click here to read.... [2]

United States: Bill proposes visa ban on Chinese officials denying Americans access to Tibet

Published: Scroll.in
26 Sep 2018

The United States Congress on Tuesday passed a bill that seeks to impose a visa ban on Chinese officials who deny American citizens, officials and journalists access to Tibet, reported PTI. The Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, passed by a unanimous voice vote by the House of Representatives, seeks the same access to Tibet for Americans that Chinese citizens have to the US.

“The Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act is about fairness, human rights and careful US diplomacy at its core,” Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal told the House. “For too long, China restricted access to Tibet, preventing journalists from observing human rights abuses in Tibet and preventing Tibetan Americans from visiting their home country. This bill seeks to reset that table.”Click here to read.... [3]

China slams Nasheed for questioning its projects

Published: The Hindu
26 Sep 2018

China on Wednesday slammed remarks by former Maldivian President, Mohamed Nasheed, who has called for a review of all agreements that Male had inked with Beijing. “Whether the cooperation between China and Maldives can work out or bring benefits to the two countries is all up to what the two peoples say. It cannot be smeared by certain individuals,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang asserted in response to a question.Click here to read.... [4]

Trump for 2-state solution to resolve Mideast conflict

Published: The Tribune
27 Sep 2018

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he wanted a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the clearest expression yet of his administration’s support for such an outcome. Trump, at a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations, also said he wanted to unveil a peace plan in the next two to three months.Click here to read.... [5]

Indian NSA visits Iran for first of its kind regional meet to counter ISIS threat

Published: The Economic Times
26 Sep 2018

India's National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval visited Iran on 26 September to participate in a first of its kind of meeting, of regional players, focussing on the rising threat posed by terrorism, including Daesh/ISIS, to regional and global peace, security and stability.

Other participants included NSAs/Secretaries to the National Security Council/ Deputy Minister of Security from Afghanistan, China, Iran and Russia. The visit by these NSAs to Tehran is also significant coming days after terror attack in Iran.Click here to read.... [6]

India reneges on deal to get power projects inspected

Published: The Dawn
26 Sep 2018

India has postponed inspection of its two hydropower projects — 1,000MW Pakal Dul and 48MW Lower Kalnal — by Pakistani experts on the pretext of some local issues. Sources see it as a possible impact of the recent cancellation of talks between the foreign ministers of the two countries on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.Click here to read.... [7]

EU and Iran create 'special vehicle' for trade despite US sanctions

Published: Deutsche Welle
25 Sep 2018

The remaining signatories of the Iran nuclear deal announced on Monday that they would establish a channel to facilitate payments for Iran's exports, including oil, as well as its imports. The decision was reached after high-level closed-door talks at the UN in New York.

"Mindful of the urgency and the need for tangible results, the participants welcomed practical proposals to maintain and develop payment channels, notably the initiative to establish a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to facilitate payments related to Iran's exports, including oil," Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the EU announced in a joint statement.Click here to read.... [8]