Aha Dua Permata

Friday, 14 July 2023

‘NATO is the real troublemaker’ – China

Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China, speaks at a Security Council meeting on May 15, 2023 in New York City.
©Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP

NATO is “the real troublemaker” that has fully embraced “Cold War thinking and ideological prejudice” as it continues to generate global tensions, China’s permanent representative to the UN has said.

In a statement on Thursday, Zhang Jun hit back at the communique issued by NATO members at the Vilnius summit earlier this week, which accused China of pursuing “coercive policies” that challenge the bloc’s interests. It also claimed that Beijing uses a wide array of tools to increase its global footprint and undermine the alliance’s security.

The envoy rejected this as “slander” and the “smearing” of China, claiming that the US-led military bloc is still trapped in a Cold War mentality.

He recalled that, while NATO claims to be a regional organization, it violates this principle by entering the Asia-Pacific region and “bringing more negative impacts and destructive factors on regional and global security.”

Zhang said that, although NATO claims to be a defensive alliance, it encourages its members to increase military spending, continue to cross borders, and provoke confrontation.

The bloc, he added, portrays itself as the champion of the ‘rules-based international order,’ but “has repeatedly violated international law…, interfered in the internal affairs of other countries, provoked many wars, bombed diplomatic facilities, [and] killed innocent civilians.”

Individual NATO members pursue double standards, promote nuclear sharing, ‘nuclear alliance’, and further exacerbate regional tensions. Numerous facts have proved that NATO is the real troublemaker.

“China does not cause trouble, but it is not afraid of trouble,” Zhang warned, adding that Beijing will resolutely oppose any encroachment on China’s territorial integrity and national interests.

Zhang’s remarks come after China’s foreign ministry warned NATO against opening a liaison office in Japan, the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region. However, while Tokyo signaled that it was considering the idea, it was not mentioned in the NATO communique. According to Nikkei Asia, the relevant statement was removed from the final version of the document, with a decision on the matter deferred to a later date.

The apparent reversal came after France opposed the plan for a liaison office, fearing that the move would further antagonize Beijing.

China has not forgotten NATO’s 'debt of blood' for bombing embassy in Yugoslavia — MFA

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying
©AP Photo/Andy Wong

The Chinese people haven’t forgotten the 1999 bombing of the country’s embassy in Belgrade, which killed three Chinese citizens, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Twitter.

"We haven't forgotten the debt of blood NATO owes the Chinese people in bombing the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia. Asia-Pacific countries don't welcome a war machine, still less an ‘Asia-Pacific version of NATO’ that stokes bloc confrontation or a new Cold War," the tweet reads.

"China having coercive policies? Isn't NATO the one who has engaged in bloc politics and military operations around the world, threatening other countries with force and challenging the interests, security and values of the world?" Hua said.

"Isn't NATO the one who has trampled underfoot international law and basic norms governing international relations by interfering in other countries’ internal affairs and engaging in wars, causing sufferings to millions of people in the world?" the Chinese diplomat added.

On Tuesday, NATO countries participating in the bloc’s annual summit in Vilnius adopted a communique stating, in particular, that China’s "ambitions and coercive policies" challenge the bloc’s interests, security and values. The NATO members expressed concern about the expansion and diversification of China’s nuclear arsenal. NATO also believes that the deepening strategic partnership between China and Russia runs counter to its values and interests.

The communique adds that the EU and NATO will coordinate their steps "to address the systemic challenges posed by the People’s Republic of China to Euro-Atlantic security." In addition, NATO allies expressed readiness to boost cooperation with their partners in the Asia-Pacific Region, including Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan, in countering common security threats.

In May 1999, a missile struck the Chinese embassy in Belgrade during NATO’s operation in Yugoslavia, killing three Chinese nationals. The alliance claims that the incident was a mistake and the nearby building of the Yugoslav Federal Directorate for Supply and Procurement was the target of the attack.

Hollywood actors to strike at midnight, join writers on picket lines

Hollywood actors will go on strike at midnight on Thursday after talks with studios broke down, joining film and television writers who have been on picket lines since May and deepening the disruption of scores of shows and movies.

Studios now face their first dual work stoppage in 63 years, forcing them to halt many productions across the United States and abroad. The twin strikes will add to the economic damage from the writers walkout, delivering another blow to an industry struggling with changes to its business.

Both SAG-AFTRA - Hollywood's largest union, representing 160,000 film and television actors - and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) are demanding increases in base pay and residuals in the streaming TV era plus assurances that their work will not be replaced by artificial intelligence (AI).

The actors' union announced at a Thursday press conference that the strike will begin at midnight after its national board unanimously authorized the walkout.

Fran Drescher, former star of "The Nanny" TV show and the president of SAG-AFTRA, called the studios' responses to actors' concerns "insulting and disrespectful."

"I am shocked by the way the people that we have been in business with are treating us," Drescher said. "I cannot believe it, quite frankly, how far apart we are on so many things, how they plead poverty that they're losing money left and right when giving hundreds of millions to their CEOs. It is disgusting."

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the trade association that negotiates on behalf of Netflix Inc (NFLX.O), Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) and other companies, said it was "deeply disappointed that SAG-AFTRA has decided to walk away from negotiations."

The group said it had offered the highest percentage increases in minimum pay levels in 35 years, "substantial increases" in pension and healthcare contribution caps, and a 76% increase in foreign residuals paid from big-budget streaming shows, among other benefits.

The studios also put forward "a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors' digital likenesses," the AMPTP said. Actors are worried that their digital images will be used without their permission or proper compensation.

"Rather than continuing to negotiate, SAG-AFTRA has put us on a course that will deepen the financial hardship for thousands who depend on the industry for their livelihoods," the AMPTP said.

ECONOMIC DAMAGE

The strike by roughly 11,500 writers has sent late-night television talk shows into endless reruns, disrupted most production for the fall TV season and halted work on big-budget movies.

The walkout by SAG-AFTRA, which represents actors from bit-part players to Hollywood's biggest movie stars, will effectively shutter the studios' remaining U.S.-based productions of film and scripted television.

It will also hamper many overseas shoots involving SAG-AFTRA talent, such as Paramount Pictures' sequel to "Gladiator," which director Ridley Scott has been shooting in Morocco and Malta.

Some production work not involving SAG-AFTRA performers can proceed, such as location scouting or some post-production editing. But the loss of actors, who will also not promote their films or TV shows while on strike, will put more pressure on media companies to find a resolution.

Hollywood has not faced simultaneous strikes since 1960, when members of the WGA and the Screen Actors Guild both walked off the job in a fight over residuals from films sold to TV networks.

Disney CEO Bob Iger, speaking from a gathering of media and tech moguls at a resort in Idaho, told CNBC on Thursday that the writers' and actors' unions had unrealistic expectations.

"It's very disturbing to me," Iger said, noting the entertainment industry's ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. "This is the worst time in the world to add to that disruption."

Actors say the rise of the streaming era has made it harder to earn their livelihoods, especially for the many thousands of SAG-AFTRA members who are not household names.

"You have to make $26,000 a year to qualify for your health insurance and there are a lot of people who get across that threshold through their residual payments," actor Matt Damon said at a promotional event held for the film "Oppenheimer" on Wednesday. "There's money being made and it needs to be allocated in a way that takes care of people who are on the margins."

Many streaming services, however, have yet to turn a profit after companies spent billions of dollars on programming to try and attract customers.

Disney, Comcast Corp's (CMCSA.O) NBCUniversal and Paramount Global (PARA.O) each lost hundreds of millions of dollars from streaming in the most recent quarter. At the same time, the rise of online video has eroded television ad revenue as traditional TV audiences shrink and movie ticket sales remain below pre-pandemic levels.

The WGA's work stoppage has rippled throughout California and beyond, hitting caterers, prop suppliers and others who rely on Hollywood productions for business. The economic damage is expected to spread after actors join the picket lines on Friday.

Broadcast networks have already announced fall schedules heavy with reality shows, which are not affected by the strikes.

Jawaban Lengkap Anies yang Merasa Heran Ditanya soal IKN di Rakernas Apeksi XVI Makassar

Makassar - Rapat Kerja Nasional Asosiasi Pemerintah Kota Seluruh Indonesia (Apeksi) XVI melahirkan sejumlah rekomendasi untuk kelanjutan pembangunan, termasuk mendukung kelanjutan proyek Ibu Kota Nusantara.

"Ada tiga konsentrasi kami di sini, salah satunya kami tidak mau tahun politik ini pembangunan terhenti. Jadi transisi ini harus berlanjut," ujar Ketua Umum Apeksi Bima Arya di sela Rakernas tersebut di gedung Upper Hills Jalan Tanjung Bunga Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan, seperti dikutip Antara, Kamis, 14 Juli 2023.

Selain itu, ada beberapa rekomendasi yang diusulkan dari enam wilayah Apeksi. Seperti wilayah V merekomendasikan penataan IKN. Begitu pula rekomendasi di wilayah I yang dibacakan Wali Kota Medan Boby Nasution, mulai dari smart city, stunting, inflasi, dana kelurahan, hingga nasib dan kelanjutan tenaga honorer.

Bima Arya bersama Wali Kota Makassar Moh Ramdhan Pomanto juga menyerahkan hasil rekomendasi rakernas kepada tiga bakal calon presiden, Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto dan Ganjar Pranowo usai memaparkan gagasannya masing-masing.

Bima Arya sempat menanyakan ihwal IKN pada Anies setelah mantan Gubernur DKI Jakarta itu selesai menjawab pertanyaan Wali Kota Mojokerto Ika Puspitasari. Bima Arya meminta pandangan Anies tentang perencanaan pembangunan IKN yang selama ini telah berjalan.

"Ini yang bakal jadi headline. Padahal kita mau bicara kota lebih luas,” seloroh Anies disambut tepuk tangan dan tawa hadirin.

Anies kemudian menjelaskan bahwa semua kepala daerah dipilih secara politik melalui proses pilkada. Dalam mengelola sebuah program, kata dia, kepala daerah tentu merasakan bahwa sesuatu yang direncanakan dengan baik dan matang serta memiliki dasar yang kuat, maka tak perlu otot politik dalam melaksanakannya. “Dengan sendirinya akan menggelinding,” kata Anies seperti yang dipantau melalui siaran Youtube.

Sebaliknya, kalau program tersebut tak punya dasar kuat, termasuk siapa yang merasakan manfaatnya, maka wali kota akan bekerja keras memakai otot politik untuk membuat program itu berjalan. "Saya melihat, kalau ini (IKN) rencana yang baik, ya pasti jalan terus," tutur dia.

“Tapi bila ini (IKN) ada masalah....saya kadang-kadang heran, kenapa sering ditanyakan ya? Apa ada masalah, ya, sebetulnya? Kok saya tak ditanya bagaimana dengan pangan murah, bagaimana dengan subsidi BBM. Kok selalu IKN yang ditanyakan. Apa sesungguhnya dalam alam bawah sadar kita ada pertanyaan? Cukup sampai di situ jawaban saya,” kata Anies.

Anies Baswedan Ungkap Gagasan Soal Kementerian Perkotaan

Anies Baswedan mengungkapkan gagasannya soal pembentukan lembaga tersendiri khusus dalam hal menangani sejumlah persoalan perkotaan.

Gagasan itu ia ungkapkan saat menjadi salah satu pembicara di Rapat Kerja Nasional Asosiasi Pemerintah Kota Seluruh Indonesia atau APEKSI ke-XVi di Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan, Kamis, 14 Juli 2023.

"Jadi ada badan khusus nantinya, namanya kementerian atau badan. Tapi tujuannya adalah yang mengakomodir terkait urusan perkotaan. Hari ini belum ada menangani perkotaan, tapi hanya pedesaan (Kementerian Desa Pembangunan Daerah Tertinggal dan Transmigrasi)," kata dia seusai acara kemarin.

Anies mengatakan APEKSI adalah organisasi wali kota dengan diisi orang-orang yang sudah berpengalaman.

"Saya sampaikan, saya tidak menggarami laut, di sini semua adalah wali kota berpengalaman. Yang saya sampaikan tadi bagaimana sikap dan masa depan kita akan punya penduduk banyak di kota dari pada di desa, sehingga perlu perencanaan lebih komprehensif," kata dia kepada wartawan.

Selain itu, kata mantan Gubernur DKI Jakarta ini, perencanaan pembangunan kota mesti sesuai dengan kondisi perkotaan. Bila tidak, maka akan menjadi masalah yang sama, seperti masalah polusi udara, sampah, hingga ketimpangan sosial. Oleh karena itu, harus disiapkan dari sekarang.

Selain Anies, di tempat yang sama bakal calon presiden dari Partai Gerindra juga ikut menyampaikan pidatonya.

Menurut Prabowo, berkaitan dengan persoalan penataan dan pencitraan kota, kata dia, masukan-masukan yang dilahirkan dalam Rakernas APEKSI akan ditampung dan dikaji lebih dalam untuk mendapatkan solusinya.

Perkuat Posisi dalam Perdagangan Global, Indonesia Percepat Penyelesaian Perjanjian Multilateral

Pemerintah akan terus memperjuangkan akses produk Indonesia agar tetap diterima di pasar internasional, seperti pasar Uni Eropa dan Amerika Serikat. Hal ini akan membantu perdagangan internasional Indonesia yang sedang bangkit lagi setelah selesainya status pandemi Covid-19 di negeri ini. Jikalau jumlah ekspor meningkat, maka cadangan devisa Indonesia pun akan tetap berada di level yang bagus.

Hal itu disampaikan Menko Airlangga saat keterangan Pers di Istana Merdeka usai Rapat Internal bersama Presiden RI terkait Penyelesaian I-EU CEPA, Tindak Lanjut Pemberlakuan EUDR dan Kerja Sama IPEF, di Jakarta, hari Kamis, 13/07/2023.

Airlangga mengatakan, jikalau jumlah ekspor meningkat, maka cadangan devisa Indonesia akan tetap berada di level yang bagus. Salah satu akan yang akan memajukan perdagangan Indonesia dan negara-negara di Uni Eropa adalah dengan tercapainya kesepakatan dalam Indonesia—European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA).

Ia mengatakan, Kamis kemarin, 13/07/2023, pihaknya membahas terkait progres dari perjanjian I-EU CEPA. Ia melaporkan kepada Presiden Joko Widodo ada 21 isu yang menjadi pembahasan dalam perjanjian. Beberapa itu antara lain: Trade in Goods, State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), Government Procurement, Trade and Sustainable Development.

"Investment Court System, Rules of Origin, Technical Barriers to Trade, Anti Fraud Clause, Energy and Raw Materials, Dispute Settlement, Intellectual Property Right, dan sebagainya,” jelas Menko Airlangga.

Politisi yang juga Ketua Umum Partai Golkar itu menjelaskan bahwa pembahasan Indonesia sudah masuk dalam ronde ke-5, perundingan ke-15 yang sedang berlangsung hari ini di Yogyakarta (sampai 14 Juli 2023).

Ia mengatakan, pihaknya melaporkan kepada Jokowi isu strategis yang pertama terkait dengan government procurement atau pembelian pemerintah.

"Tentu mereka meminta agar pembelian pemerintah terbuka dan Indonesia mengusulkan akan menyiapkan positive list, yang mana barang-barang yang bisa diberikan untuk akses internasional,” terang Airlangga.

Isu selanjutnya terkait dengan state-owned enterprises (BUMN). Posisi Indonesia yakni mengungkapkan bahwa ada BUMN yang mendapatkan penugasan khusus, dan ada yang tidak. “(Yang dapat penugasan khusus) itu mereka bisa terima, sedangkan yang tidak mendapatkan penugasan khusus diminta kerja samanya untuk tidak diskriminatif, dan untuk yang bersifat komersial (harus) berdasarkan business to business. Ini kita sedang dalam perundingan juga, jadi artinya kita memberikan akses kepada BUMN yang sifatnya komersial,” tutur Mantan Menteri Perindustrian itu.

Terkait Bea Keluar, menurut Menko Airlangga, posisi Indonesia adalah untuk mengembangkan industri sehingga tidak akan melepaskan hal tersebut. Selain itu, Indonesia juga minta akses terhadap trade and sustainable development, terutama untuk produk berwawasan lingkungan.

“Nah, di sini Indonesia menekankan pentingnya standarisasi, seperti untuk furnitur atau kayu adalah SVLK, untuk kelapa sawit itu ISPO atau RSPO, jadi kita minta Eropa membuka pasar lebih besar untuk itu,” kata Airlangga.

Mengenai penyelesaian sengketa (dispute settlement), Indonesia memilih cara mekanisme Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) melalui International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) yang bersifat Ad Hoc dan mempertimbangkan aspek konsultatif (mediasi).

“Diharapkan kalau lima isu ini bisa selesai, maka di akhir tahun ini I-EU CEPA bisa diselesaikan. Tinggal satu perundingan lagi,” imbuh Menko Airlangga.

Perkembangan isu European Deforestation (EUDR) juga menjadi salah satu bahasan. Disampaikan Menko Airlangga bahwa perhatian Indonesia tentang regulasi ini yang sudah diundangkan di Uni Eropa. Regulasi EUDR itu akan kena pada tujuh komoditas yaitu sapi, kakao, kopi, kelapa sawit, soya, timber, dan karet. Barang-barang yang masuk Uni Eropa dari komoditas itu diminta memenuhi syarat deforestation free yang tergantung kepada undang-undang di negara masing-masing, serta sudah dilakukan due diligence.

“Yang paling penting kita ingin agar implementation guideline-nya itu mengadopsi apa yang sudah menjadi best practices. Persoalan bagi Indonesia juga mengenai country benchmark, jadi negara akan diklasifikasikan (menjadi) high risk, standard risk, atau low risk. Nah, pada saat dia jadi high risk 8 persen dari barang ini harus diverifikasi, standard risk 6 persen, sedangkan low risk 4 persen. Hal ini akan sangat mengganggu smallholder atau petani kecil yang ada di Indonesia, yang jumlahnya mencapai 15 sampai 17 juta orang. Termasuk juga masalah geo-location,” ujar Menko Airlangga.

Terakhir terkait dengan Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), yang perundingannya diharapkan bisa diselesaikan pada November 2023 mendatang. Terdapat 4 pilar dalam IPEF, yakni trade, supply chain, clean economy, dan fair economy.

“Di dalam perjanjian ini, Indonesia memasukkan mengenai critical mineral di pilar pertama, sehingga tentu harapannya produk Indonesia yang berbasis nikel bisa masuk ke pasar Amerika, dan menjadi bagian dari supply chain otomotif,” tutup Airlangga.

Perkelahian brutal di parlemen Kosovo setelah anggota parlemen menyiramkan air ke PM

Perkelahian pecah di parlemen Kosovo dan air disemprotkan ke perdana menteri setelah debat publik tiga hari yang memanas mengenai rekaman audio antara anggota partai yang berkuasa dan seorang pejabat dari mayoritas Serbia di utara.

Partai oposisi Kosovo telah lama menuduh nasionalis Perdana Menteri Albin Kurti menangani ketegangan di utara yang telah membuat tegang hubungan dengan sekutu lama Barat Amerika Serikat dan Uni Eropa.

Kerusuhan di utara telah meningkat baru-baru ini sejak walikota etnis Albania menjabat di Kosovo utara setelah pemilihan April bahwa Serbia memboikot tuntutan penerapan kesepakatan sepuluh tahun untuk otonomi lebih. Etnis Albania merupakan 90% dari populasi Kosovo, sementara Serbia mencapai sekitar 5%.

Pada hari Kamis, video dari dalam parlemen menunjukkan seorang anggota parlemen dari partai oposisi menyiram air ke arah Kurti dan wakilnya. Perkelahian kemudian menyebar ketika anggota parlemen oposisi dan koalisi pemerintahan lainnya mendekati podium tempat para menteri duduk.

Kurti didorong menjauh dari anggota parlemen dan pengawalnya saat anggota parlemen dari kedua belah pihak saling menyerang sampai polisi turun tangan.

Perdebatan itu terjadi setelah media online Nacionale minggu ini menerbitkan percakapan audio antara ketua partai Kurti, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, dan kemudian anggota parlemen Serbia, Slavko Simic. Audio direkam pada bulan Juni tahun lalu.

Kusari terdengar mengatakan bahwa dia sebelumnya berbicara di telepon dengan seorang pejabat etnis Serbia, Milan Radojcic, yang dikenai sanksi oleh pemerintah AS atas kejahatan terorganisir dan kegiatan koruptif.

Radojcic juga menjadi buronan otoritas Kosovo.

"Apa yang terjadi di parlemen Kosovo tidak dapat diterima dan penggunaan kekerasan dapat dihukum," kata juru bicara parlemen Kosovo Glauk Konjufca, dan memerintahkan penundaan sesi selama dua jam.

Pada hari Rabu, Kurti mengatakan dia telah setuju dengan UE untuk mengurangi kehadiran polisi di utara dan mengambil tindakan lain untuk menurunkan ketegangan.

NATO mengatakan 93 tentara penjaga perdamaiannya terluka dalam bentrokan dengan pengunjuk rasa Serbia, beberapa di antaranya parah, pada 29 Mei. Dokter di utara mengatakan 52 orang Serbia juga terluka.

UN rights council approves resolution on religious hatred after Qur’an burning

The United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday approved a disputed resolution on religious hatred in the wake of the burning of a Koran in Sweden, prompting concern by Western states who say it challenges long-held practices in rights protection.

The resolution, introduced by Pakistan on behalf of the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), calls for the U.N. rights chief to publish a report on religious hatred and for states to review their laws and plug gaps that may "impede the prevention and prosecution of acts and advocacy of religious hatred."

It was strongly opposed by the United States and the European Union, who say it conflicts with their view on human rights and freedom of expression. While condemning the burning of the Koran, they argued the OIC initiative was designed to safeguard religious symbols rather than human rights.

An Iraqi immigrant to Sweden burned the Koran outside a Stockholm mosque last month, sparking outrage across the Muslim world and demands by Muslim states for action.

The vote's outcome marks a major defeat for Western countries at a time when the OIC has unprecedented clout in the council, the only body made up of governments to protect human rights worldwide.

Twenty-eight countries voted in favour, 12 voted against, and seven countries abstained. Representatives of some countries clapped after the resolution passed.

Marc Limon, director of the Geneva-based Universal Rights Group, said the outcome showed "the West is in full retreat at the Human Rights Council."

Advertisement · Scroll to continue "They're increasingly losing support and losing the argument," he said.

Michele Taylor, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the U.N. Human Rights Council, said the United States' concerns about the initiative "were not taken seriously."

"I believe with a little more time and more open discussion, we could have also found a way forward together on this resolution," she said.

After the vote, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the U.N. in Geneva, Khalil Hasmi, accused the West of "lip service" to their commitment to prevent religious hatred.

"The opposition of a few in the room has emanated from their unwillingness to condemn the public desecration of the Holy Koran or any other religious book," he said.

"They lack political, legal and moral courage to condemn this act, and it was the minimum that the Council could have expected from them."

Saudi Arabia welcomes UN rights body’s approval of motion on religious hatred

Saudi Arabia welcomed on Wednesday the UN Human Rights Council’s approval of a measure calling on countries to do more to prevent religious hatred in the wake of Qur’an burnings in Europe.

The resolution comes after copies of the Qur’an were burned in Sweden, and calls on countries to take steps to “prevent and prosecute acts and advocacy of religious hatred that constitute incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.”

Saudi Arabia said the approval of the resolution, which came after vigorous demands from the Kingdom and a number of countries around the world, is an embodiment of the principles of respect for religions and cultures and a promotion of human values guaranteed by international law.

The Kingdom indicated that it will continue all its efforts in support of dialogue, tolerance, and moderation, and rejects all destructive acts that seek to spread hatred and extremism.

Jassem Albudaiwi, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, also praised the action.

He said incidents, such as the burning of the Qur’an by extremists in Sweden and similar events, highlighted the urgent need for international resolutions to address despicable acts that promote religious hatred and encourage violence and discrimination.

He added that the GCC countries always seek to promote tolerance and mutual understanding between different cultures and religions, and stressed respect for freedom of religious belief as one of the most important foundations of human rights and peaceful coexistence in a way that enables everyone to practice their faith freely without discrimination.

He also expressed the GCC’s rejection of any violence or action that affects religions and holy books.

Meanwhile, the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue praised the intervention of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, which he made during the Human Rights Council’s emergency session on the Qur’an burning incident.

“While KAICIID rejects the link between freedom of expression and insulting beliefs, it asserts that what happened greatly and seriously threatens the efforts exerted to maintain world peace, the coexistence of nations, and the acculturation of peoples and civilizations,” the Portugal-based international dialogue center said in a statement.

It warned of the “danger of such disgraceful acts, which ignite hatred and unleash violence, especially in a world moaning from the blows of racism and chauvinism, and suffering from the awakening of extreme nationalist movements.”

The statement added: “Despite the pain of the current moment, KAICIID renews the call to all countries and groups, especially those seeking to consolidate the roots of harmony and peace, to make more creative efforts that support stability.

Laman