Thousands of people in Israel have joined the family of Gilad Shalit, a captured Israeli soldier, on a week-long march to the house of Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, in Jerusalem. Police said around 15,000 protesters rallied in Tel Aviv on Monday, the ninth day of a 12-day march across the country from the Shalit family's hometown of Mitzpe Hila, near the Lebanon border. Shalit's supporters hope the march will increase the pressure on Netanyahu to forge a deal with the Palestinians for Shalit's release.Shalit was captured by Palestinian fighters near the Kerem Shalom border crossing on June 25, 2006, and is believed to have been held prisoner in the Gaza Strip ever since.
Thousands of people in Israel have joined the family of Gilad Shalit, a captured Israeli soldier, on a week-long march to the house of Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, in Jerusalem.
Police said around 15,000 protesters rallied in Tel Aviv on Monday, the ninth day of a 12-day march across the country from the Shalit family's hometown of Mitzpe Hila, near the Lebanon border.
Shalit's supporters hope the march will increase the pressure on Netanyahu to forge a deal with the Palestinians for Shalit's release.Shalit was captured by Palestinian fighters near the Kerem Shalom border crossing on June 25, 2006, and is believed to have been held prisoner in the Gaza Strip ever since.
Pakistani police have arrested six people allegedly linked to attacks on two mosques in May that killed at least 80 people in Lahore. Authorities said on Monday that they seized almost 18 tonnes of explosives, 21 grenades, six-47s and a lot of bomb-making material from the the group. Aslam Tareen, Lahore's police chief, said the suspects were running "a sort of bomb-making factory". He said four of the suspects provided logistical support to the attackers by purchasing motorcycles, cell phones and SIM cards.
Pakistani police have arrested six people allegedly linked to attacks on two mosques in May that killed at least 80 people in Lahore.
Authorities said on Monday that they seized almost 18 tonnes of explosives, 21 grenades, six-47s and a lot of bomb-making material from the the group.
Aslam Tareen, Lahore's police chief, said the suspects were running "a sort of bomb-making factory".
He said four of the suspects provided logistical support to the attackers by purchasing motorcycles, cell phones and SIM cards.
Israel has retained tight limits on desperately needed construction materials while easing restrictions on the entry of consumer goods into the Gaza Strip. In a statement, Israel said all items would be allowed into Gaza except "weapons, war material and dual-use items". However, prospects for rebuilding the damage from Israel's military offensive on the Palestinian territory last year remain uncertain. Construction materials like iron and steel will only be allowed to enter under Israeli supervision for use in projects overseen by the United Nations or other international bodies.
Israel has retained tight limits on desperately needed construction materials while easing restrictions on the entry of consumer goods into the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, Israel said all items would be allowed into Gaza except "weapons, war material and dual-use items".
However, prospects for rebuilding the damage from Israel's military offensive on the Palestinian territory last year remain uncertain.
Construction materials like iron and steel will only be allowed to enter under Israeli supervision for use in projects overseen by the United Nations or other international bodies.
"Any system of prior restraints of expression comes to this Court bearing a heavy presumption against its constitutional validity" ... The Government "thus carries a heavy burden of showing justification for the imposition of such a restraint." SCOTUS Pentagon Papers Decision A coalition of press outlets have written DOD General Counsel Jeh Johnson, calling that the banning of four Gitmo reporters for publishing the name of Omar Khadr interrogator Joshua Claus an unconstitutional example of prior restraint.
"Any system of prior restraints of expression comes to this Court bearing a heavy presumption against its constitutional validity" ... The Government "thus carries a heavy burden of showing justification for the imposition of such a restraint." SCOTUS Pentagon Papers Decision
A coalition of press outlets have written DOD General Counsel Jeh Johnson, calling that the banning of four Gitmo reporters for publishing the name of Omar Khadr interrogator Joshua Claus an unconstitutional example of prior restraint.
Leading officials in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition declared Monday that the temporary construction freeze in West Bank settlements must not be renewed once it expires in September. The faction whips of all the right-wing parties convened for an emergency meeting on Monday evening, a day before President Barack Obama was expected to urge Netanyahu during their talks in Washington to extend the freeze beyond the 10-month period.
Leading officials in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition declared Monday that the temporary construction freeze in West Bank settlements must not be renewed once it expires in September.
The faction whips of all the right-wing parties convened for an emergency meeting on Monday evening, a day before President Barack Obama was expected to urge Netanyahu during their talks in Washington to extend the freeze beyond the 10-month period.
A ballot of BT workers for strikes over pay has been cancelled following legal advice, according to the Communication Workers Union (CWU). The CWU was balloting members in support of a 5% pay rise after what it called a period of wage freezes and a round of redundancies. The firm has offered a 5.1% rise over 21 months and several one-off payments. The union said that there were technical breaches of the ballot which could have invalidated the result.
A ballot of BT workers for strikes over pay has been cancelled following legal advice, according to the Communication Workers Union (CWU).
The CWU was balloting members in support of a 5% pay rise after what it called a period of wage freezes and a round of redundancies.
The firm has offered a 5.1% rise over 21 months and several one-off payments.
The union said that there were technical breaches of the ballot which could have invalidated the result.
Overall PRI candidates won nine of the twelve gubernatorial elections, taking Zacatecas, which had been governed by the PRD for twelve years, Aguascalientes, which had been governed by the PAN for twelve years, and Tlaxcala which had been governed by the PAN for six years and by the PRD for six years before that, all by large margins. The PRI also won the gubernatorial elections in Tamaulipas, where the PRI's candidate had been assassinated a few days before the election, by a two-to-one margin, and easily won the gubernatorial elections in Chihuahua. The PRI also won the municipal elections in both Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, two of the country's largest cities which have been important cities for the implementation of President Calderón's strategy against organized crime. Indeed, the PRI won all five municipalities in Baja California, long a bastion of the PAN. Nonetheless, the election results have demonstrated that the PRI is far from invincible.
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) -- Venezuela and Chile will head a new regional bloc that will include all countries in the Americas except Canada and the United States to be inaugurated in July 2011, Venezuela's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC, its Spanish-language acronym), will have among its goals tightening trade and institutional cooperation in the region, in step with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's so-called "Plan Caracas."
Lexington Herald-Leader (July 4, 2010)
Tea Partiers assail Rand Paul for taking D.C. money "I am deeply disappointed that he did that," said Warren Scoville of London, an attorney who served more than 20 years in various positions with the state Republican Party. "I voted for (Paul) because of where he was, and now he's not where he was." Last year, with the primary election still months away, Paul pledged not to accept contributions from any senator who voted for a federal bailout of the banking industry. That was in response to plans by Paul's main opponent, Secretary of State Trey Grayson, to attend a Washington fund-raiser hosted by Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and others who voted to shore up giant banks with taxpayer money. Paul has been sharply critical of the bailout, citing it as a reason he got into the race. After trouncing Grayson, however, Paul benefited from a $1,000-a-person fund-raiser June 24 in Washington hosted by McConnell and attended by senators who voted for the bailout. Attorney General Jack Conway, Paul's Democratic opponent, said the move showed Paul had become part of the very thing he railed against in the primary, and Conway accused him of hypocrisy.
"I am deeply disappointed that he did that," said Warren Scoville of London, an attorney who served more than 20 years in various positions with the state Republican Party. "I voted for (Paul) because of where he was, and now he's not where he was."
Last year, with the primary election still months away, Paul pledged not to accept contributions from any senator who voted for a federal bailout of the banking industry.
That was in response to plans by Paul's main opponent, Secretary of State Trey Grayson, to attend a Washington fund-raiser hosted by Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and others who voted to shore up giant banks with taxpayer money.
Paul has been sharply critical of the bailout, citing it as a reason he got into the race.
After trouncing Grayson, however, Paul benefited from a $1,000-a-person fund-raiser June 24 in Washington hosted by McConnell and attended by senators who voted for the bailout.
Attorney General Jack Conway, Paul's Democratic opponent, said the move showed Paul had become part of the very thing he railed against in the primary, and Conway accused him of hypocrisy.
Re: World -- A sign of the times? (none / 0) Jesus, what a depressing cartoon... by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jul 5th, Re: World -- A sign of the times? (none / 0) The fact of its publication rather cheered me up! I hope lots of McClatchey papers pick it up. European Salon de News, Discussion et Klatsch - 5 July
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jul 5th,
Re: World -- A sign of the times? (none / 0) The fact of its publication rather cheered me up! I hope lots of McClatchey papers pick it up.
European Salon de News, Discussion et Klatsch - 5 July
By Richard Kline, a Seattle-based polymath and poet 1 Whispers 3 Summering 10 The idea of America is . . . tremendous. Few as good; fewer better. Freedom. Equality. The room to strive. Justice in equal measure. Live and let live, and do harm to none. In our day, it is the execution that is wanting; which effort is slack miserable, misaimed, selfish, deranged. A failure to live up to our best and a purveyance of all the worst we have to offer. And the worst part in this execration of the ideals which we claim to profess, and at times have embodied in part and whole, is that it is we who fail ourselves. Our delusion, our venality, our lies, forced on us by nothing and no one else. No foreign master or occupation, though we bring such to others thoughtless. No leaden obligation to another folk or failed cause which drags us down. No shortage of wealth, of resource, of enterprise, of education, of alternative. No; unforced we err, we cringe, we accuse falsely, we embrace the worse and leave the best undone; double failure, redoubled down: of ourselves and all around. We are in a Hell of our own devise, some few think it Heaven; some few who profit midst the misery of others, all the rest . . . . On the 4th day of July, I stood on a high place and watched explosions in the sky; bright, pretty things to look up to, live up to. I looked down and saw a rat in darkness venture out for supper and for fortune. That rat and its kindred: they're social and intelligent creatures, full of enterprise, who care for their own let the world or some putative God(s) think what they will. Those rats, they treat each other better than do we Americans each other; better far than do we treat others who never asked for the receipt of our unwisdom. They only eat the dead, not make them so. What we need, we Americans, is to look down and learn from these least beings; to leave others to make their own way untormented by our avarice and self-deceptions; to love wealth less and each other more. That is the one, the only revolution worth having. My brothers and sisters, be it soon; make it now. --from the daybook for my fellow citizens Richard Wyndbourne Kline
1 Whispers 3 Summering 10
The idea of America is . . . tremendous. Few as good; fewer better. Freedom. Equality. The room to strive. Justice in equal measure. Live and let live, and do harm to none. In our day, it is the execution that is wanting; which effort is slack miserable, misaimed, selfish, deranged. A failure to live up to our best and a purveyance of all the worst we have to offer.
And the worst part in this execration of the ideals which we claim to profess, and at times have embodied in part and whole, is that it is we who fail ourselves. Our delusion, our venality, our lies, forced on us by nothing and no one else. No foreign master or occupation, though we bring such to others thoughtless. No leaden obligation to another folk or failed cause which drags us down. No shortage of wealth, of resource, of enterprise, of education, of alternative. No; unforced we err, we cringe, we accuse falsely, we embrace the worse and leave the best undone; double failure, redoubled down: of ourselves and all around. We are in a Hell of our own devise, some few think it Heaven; some few who profit midst the misery of others, all the rest . . . .
On the 4th day of July, I stood on a high place and watched explosions in the sky; bright, pretty things to look up to, live up to. I looked down and saw a rat in darkness venture out for supper and for fortune. That rat and its kindred: they're social and intelligent creatures, full of enterprise, who care for their own let the world or some putative God(s) think what they will. Those rats, they treat each other better than do we Americans each other; better far than do we treat others who never asked for the receipt of our unwisdom. They only eat the dead, not make them so.
What we need, we Americans, is to look down and learn from these least beings; to leave others to make their own way untormented by our avarice and self-deceptions; to love wealth less and each other more. That is the one, the only revolution worth having. My brothers and sisters, be it soon; make it now.
--from the daybook for my fellow citizens Richard Wyndbourne Kline
International editor questions war in country with 'fewer than 100 al Qaeda fighters'Since the resignation of General Stanley McChrystal as the commander of US forces in Afghanistan and CIA Director Leon Panetta's admission a week ago that there may be no more than fifty to a hundred al-Qaeda members in that nation, there have been increasing signs of a loss of support for the Afghan War.Fareed Zararia, the editor of Newsweek's international editions and CNN host, criticized the war in his strongest terms yet on his CNN program Sunday. "If Al Qaeda is down to a hundred men there at the most," Zakaria asked, "why are we fighting a major war?"
International editor questions war in country with 'fewer than 100 al Qaeda fighters'
Since the resignation of General Stanley McChrystal as the commander of US forces in Afghanistan and CIA Director Leon Panetta's admission a week ago that there may be no more than fifty to a hundred al-Qaeda members in that nation, there have been increasing signs of a loss of support for the Afghan War.
Fareed Zararia, the editor of Newsweek's international editions and CNN host, criticized the war in his strongest terms yet on his CNN program Sunday. "If Al Qaeda is down to a hundred men there at the most," Zakaria asked, "why are we fighting a major war?"
For those who did not catch wind of it, the Peterson Foundation, which has long had Social Security and Medicare in its crosshairs, held a bizarre set of 19 faux town hall meetings over the previous weekend to scare participants into compliance and then collect the resulting distorted survey data, presumably to use in a wider PR campaign. It's important to keep tabs on this propaganda effort, since its big budget (the Foundation has a billion dollars to its name), means it will keep hammering away on this topic. But it appears that they overestimated how much public opinion expensively produced and stage-managed presentations can buy. .... The amusing part is that the event moderators had trouble force feeding the geese they had thought to stuff with their message. For instance, from Lambert Strether: When the primary facilitator stated the agenda and explained its purpose, a number of people immediately called for a discussion of the purpose of the event and questioned whether there really was a fiscal crisis. I pointed to the Government's option to deficit spend without issuing debt and pointed out that doing this would save nearly $1.4 Trillion in interest costs in 2025, alone, and that, the cumulative effect of a no debt issuance policy would be to eliminate a good part of the deficits projected between now and then. Another participant, active, in the DC non-profit world, mentioned the continuing recession and high levels of unemployment. She pointed out that SS had no immediate fiscal problems, and that the "crisis" was caused by people in the financial industry, who are not the ones being asked to sacrifice, but who are now asking others to do so. Yet another, an economist at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, talked about most of the difficulties being due to health care cost increases and the current recession. He denied that there was any long-term fiscal problem. Still others also questioned whether the topic of the meeting was appropriate. From Suzie Madrak: For the first time in a long time, I might have some faith in America. Because no matter how many times the facilitators of this event (which was funded heavily by Pete Peterson, the conservative billionaire who wants to cut Social Security) tried to steer us toward cutting Social Security and Medicare, the 3500 or so people who took part in this national town hall weren't buying it. Sure, there were Fox News junkies here and there, and some cautious, low-information voters who kinda-sorta disagreed, but the majority who attended seemed to have their own ideas about how to solve the deficit "problem." You know what most of them wanted to do? Soak the rich -- and cut defense spending. (Are you listening, President Obama?)
....
The amusing part is that the event moderators had trouble force feeding the geese they had thought to stuff with their message. For instance, from Lambert Strether:
When the primary facilitator stated the agenda and explained its purpose, a number of people immediately called for a discussion of the purpose of the event and questioned whether there really was a fiscal crisis. I pointed to the Government's option to deficit spend without issuing debt and pointed out that doing this would save nearly $1.4 Trillion in interest costs in 2025, alone, and that, the cumulative effect of a no debt issuance policy would be to eliminate a good part of the deficits projected between now and then. Another participant, active, in the DC non-profit world, mentioned the continuing recession and high levels of unemployment. She pointed out that SS had no immediate fiscal problems, and that the "crisis" was caused by people in the financial industry, who are not the ones being asked to sacrifice, but who are now asking others to do so. Yet another, an economist at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, talked about most of the difficulties being due to health care cost increases and the current recession. He denied that there was any long-term fiscal problem. Still others also questioned whether the topic of the meeting was appropriate.
From Suzie Madrak:
For the first time in a long time, I might have some faith in America. Because no matter how many times the facilitators of this event (which was funded heavily by Pete Peterson, the conservative billionaire who wants to cut Social Security) tried to steer us toward cutting Social Security and Medicare, the 3500 or so people who took part in this national town hall weren't buying it. Sure, there were Fox News junkies here and there, and some cautious, low-information voters who kinda-sorta disagreed, but the majority who attended seemed to have their own ideas about how to solve the deficit "problem." You know what most of them wanted to do? Soak the rich -- and cut defense spending. (Are you listening, President Obama?)
You know what most of them wanted to do? Soak the rich -- and cut defense spending. (Are you listening, President Obama?)
Washington's Involvement in April 2002 Coup in Venezuela - Key Evidence The U.S. involvement in the 2002 coup is important because it has been the fundamental cause of Venezuela's conflictual relationship with the United States. There are five key pieces of evidence for this involvement (these are presented in the film, South of the Border). 1) A U.S. State Department document says: "...it is clear that NED [the National Endowment for Democracy], Department of Defense (DOD), and other U.S. assistance programs provided training, institution building, and other support to individuals and organizations understood to be actively involved in the brief ouster of the Chavez government." 2) The CIA had advance knowledge of the coup, as shown in these documents: "Conditions Ripening for Coup Attempt" Date: April 6, 2002] "Dissident military factions, including some disgruntled senior officers and a group of radical junior officers, are stepping up efforts to organize a coup against President Chavez, possibly as early as this month... To provoke military action, the plotters may try to exploit unrest stemming from opposition demonstrations slated for later this month or ongoing strikes at the state-owned oil company PDVSA...[April 8:, 2002] "Disgruntled military officers are planning a coup..." 3) ARI FLEISCHER (White House spokesman) claimed Chavez's departure was not the result of a coup, despite this advance knowledge: "We know that the action encouraged by the Chavez government provoked this crisis. According to the best information available, the Chavez government suppressed peaceful demonstrations. Government supporters, on orders from the Chavez government, fired on unarmed, peaceful protestors, resulting in 10 killed and 100 wounded. The Venezuelan military and the police refused to fire on the peaceful demonstrators and refused to support the government's role in such human rights violations. (...) The results of these events are now that President Chavez has resigned the presidency. Before resigning, he dismissed the vice president and the cabinet, and a transitional civilian government has been installed." The combination of (2) and (3) makes a very compelling case of involvement. To take an analogy: Imagine that you tell me that you are going to kill someone, and then you do so. But then, when questioned by the prosecutor, I say that the killing was actually self-defense - despite my knowledge of the plan. That is a form of involvement. In other words, the CIA documents show that Bush Administration officials had advance knowledge of the coup, and even how it would unfold. But when it happened they pretended that it was not a coup at all, trying to convince the world that Chavez had "resigned" because of popular anger over his alleged orders to shoot demonstrators in the streets. This by itself was an important form of involvement by the Bush Administration in the coup. It also helped to provide international legitimacy for the overthrow of Venezuela's democratically elected government.
The U.S. involvement in the 2002 coup is important because it has been the fundamental cause of Venezuela's conflictual relationship with the United States.
There are five key pieces of evidence for this involvement (these are presented in the film, South of the Border).
1) A U.S. State Department document says:
"...it is clear that NED [the National Endowment for Democracy], Department of Defense (DOD), and other U.S. assistance programs provided training, institution building, and other support to individuals and organizations understood to be actively involved in the brief ouster of the Chavez government."
2) The CIA had advance knowledge of the coup, as shown in these documents:
"Conditions Ripening for Coup Attempt" Date: April 6, 2002] "Dissident military factions, including some disgruntled senior officers and a group of radical junior officers, are stepping up efforts to organize a coup against President Chavez, possibly as early as this month... To provoke military action, the plotters may try to exploit unrest stemming from opposition demonstrations slated for later this month or ongoing strikes at the state-owned oil company PDVSA...[April 8:, 2002] "Disgruntled military officers are planning a coup..."
"Conditions Ripening for Coup Attempt" Date: April 6, 2002]
"Dissident military factions, including some disgruntled senior officers and a group of radical junior officers, are stepping up efforts to organize a coup against President Chavez, possibly as early as this month... To provoke military action, the plotters may try to exploit unrest stemming from opposition demonstrations slated for later this month or ongoing strikes at the state-owned oil company PDVSA...[April 8:, 2002] "Disgruntled military officers are planning a coup..."
3) ARI FLEISCHER (White House spokesman) claimed Chavez's departure was not the result of a coup, despite this advance knowledge:
"We know that the action encouraged by the Chavez government provoked this crisis. According to the best information available, the Chavez government suppressed peaceful demonstrations. Government supporters, on orders from the Chavez government, fired on unarmed, peaceful protestors, resulting in 10 killed and 100 wounded. The Venezuelan military and the police refused to fire on the peaceful demonstrators and refused to support the government's role in such human rights violations. (...) The results of these events are now that President Chavez has resigned the presidency. Before resigning, he dismissed the vice president and the cabinet, and a transitional civilian government has been installed."
The combination of (2) and (3) makes a very compelling case of involvement. To take an analogy: Imagine that you tell me that you are going to kill someone, and then you do so. But then, when questioned by the prosecutor, I say that the killing was actually self-defense - despite my knowledge of the plan. That is a form of involvement.
In other words, the CIA documents show that Bush Administration officials had advance knowledge of the coup, and even how it would unfold. But when it happened they pretended that it was not a coup at all, trying to convince the world that Chavez had "resigned" because of popular anger over his alleged orders to shoot demonstrators in the streets. This by itself was an important form of involvement by the Bush Administration in the coup. It also helped to provide international legitimacy for the overthrow of Venezuela's democratically elected government.
no way!!! ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
Setting up an inquiry into the death of the Congolese human rights defender Floribert Chebeya Bahizire, stepping up support to human rights organisations, tackling illegal exploitation of minerals and putting an end to sexual violence against women and girls, were the key demands of MEPs at Thursday's Human Rights Subcommittee hearing on the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). ... A more structured dialogue with the Congolese authoritiesTo follow up the hearing, MEPs asked that the human rights situation be addressed at the next ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, on 2-5 December 2010 in Kinshasa. Charles Goerens (ALDE, LU) called for the establishment of a preventive mechanism in the form of an ACP-EU joint standing committee, which should take action when abuses of human rights take place. ... Possible EP mission to the DRCBesides passing urgent resolutions, Parliament should a mission to the DRC to highlight the issues of sexual violence and the illegal exploitation of natural resources as well as demonstrating support for human rights defenders, said Ana Gomes (S&D, PT).
...
A more structured dialogue with the Congolese authorities
To follow up the hearing, MEPs asked that the human rights situation be addressed at the next ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, on 2-5 December 2010 in Kinshasa. Charles Goerens (ALDE, LU) called for the establishment of a preventive mechanism in the form of an ACP-EU joint standing committee, which should take action when abuses of human rights take place.
Possible EP mission to the DRC
Besides passing urgent resolutions, Parliament should a mission to the DRC to highlight the issues of sexual violence and the illegal exploitation of natural resources as well as demonstrating support for human rights defenders, said Ana Gomes (S&D, PT).
Human rights and relations with Moscow and Beijing were in the spotlight when EP President Buzek discussed his recent visits to China and Russia with MEPs on 24 June. As the first holder of the post to visit the Kremlin in over a decade, he described his talks with President Medvedev as "open minded". He also said that he had brought up human rights cases with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during their talks. ... China and Russia: Europe's strategic partnersReferring to both China and Russia Buzek stressed that Europe must fully engage with its strategic partners on addressing common challenges like climate change, the economic and financial crisis and the fight against terrorism. However, at the same time there had to be "an open and frank dialogue on human rights".He went on to say: "China and Russia are independent states. Our problems are centred on democracy, the rule of law and human rights. But if we want to keep relations, mutual respect is necessary. We can't pressure too hard. It is their decision if they want good relations with the EU and develop."
China and Russia: Europe's strategic partners
Referring to both China and Russia Buzek stressed that Europe must fully engage with its strategic partners on addressing common challenges like climate change, the economic and financial crisis and the fight against terrorism. However, at the same time there had to be "an open and frank dialogue on human rights".
He went on to say: "China and Russia are independent states. Our problems are centred on democracy, the rule of law and human rights. But if we want to keep relations, mutual respect is necessary. We can't pressure too hard. It is their decision if they want good relations with the EU and develop."
