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Environment, ‘openness’ on priority list as India, EU prepare for summer summit
NEW DELHI: As India and Europe prepare to meet this summer for a special informal summit, both sides are converging on key outcomes at the summit.
On May 8, India, led by prime minister Narendra Modi, will hold a summit meeting with all 27 heads of government of the European Union at the Portuguese city of Porto. The summit will be followed by a bilateral meeting between Modi and the Portuguese PM, Antonio Costa, as well as a business roundtable between Indian and European industry.
European sources said Europe and India are now converging on their national and continental priorities. “We have five priorities. All these are priorities for India,” they said.
These, they described as green transition, digital transition, social transition, resilience and “openness”, a reaffirmation of a multipolar world.
“Europe believes there should be a multipolar Asia because India’s role in Asia is just as important as the relationship between Europe and Asia,” said European officials.
An early February “17+1” summit between China and Eastern European countries saw an unprecedented six dropouts — Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia and the three Baltic states — raising eyebrows among China watchers in Europe and Asia.
Last week, Valdis Dombrovskis, commission executive vice-president responsible for trade said, “We recently had a high-level economic dialogue between the EU and India and we are also exploring options on what can be done in the area of trade, keeping in mind the EU-India Summit.” The new trade strategy of the EU also refers to a partnership with India as one of the aims.
Portugal took over the presidency of the EU in January 2021. Interestingly, the first India-EU summit in 2000 was also under a Portuguese presidency, officials pointed out.
Europe has to approve its own climate law, with the aim of becoming the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050. Digital transition, they said, is self-explanatory. Social transition has become important in the aftermath of the pandemic, which will include steps to protect citizens from the effects of the pandemic. “We will have a social summit simultaneously on the day of the India summit,” sources said.
Economic resilience is crucial, as economies splutter after the pandemic. But the European side is looking at more than economic resilience as part of their priorities. A reaffirmation of “common values” will be on the cards — “democracy, rule of law and respect for minorities.”
The last priority they list is “openness” — which is interpreted as being as much about pushing back against protectionism as it is about reiterating the importance of a multipolar world.
From the Indian perspective, the summit will give India an opportunity to showcase its commitment to climate, connectivity and trade and investment.
India is one of the big votaries of a multipolar world, particularly a multipolar Asia.
Indo-Pacific is expected to be a focus topic of conversation between the two sides. While India sees itself in the heart of the Indo-Pacific both in terms of geography and geo-strategy, three EU countries — France, Germany and the Netherlands — have published policy papers on the Indo-Pacific. This may get wider acceptance in the coming months.
Evangelicals have never agreed on politics says world alliance leader explaining what they are
Around the world evangelicals have “never agreed” on politics and the term that denotes this group of followers of Jesus describes the enthusiasm for the DNA of Christianity, the new leader of the World Evangelical Alliance says.
“And you can see this around the globe. We have countries, in which we have evangelical members in Parliament, on the government side and in the opposition,” said Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher in his inaugural speech as WEA secretary general and CEO in Bonn, Germany.
“We did not agree on politics yesterday and we did not agree on politics in 1846,” he said on Feb. 27.
“This is not the secret of the evangelical movement,” said the new WEA CEO in a speech in which he spelled out the role of evangelical movement in the fight against religious persecution and for religious freedom.
The WEA head said that in 1846, the World Evangelical Alliance was the first large religious body speaking up for religious freedom.
“And that meant speaking up against State churches and against Christian nationalism – we know that this is even within our own ranks still a very ‘hot potato’ today” and “against the state pressing its religion and its thoughts on the Church.”
BELIEF IN PENTECOST
“We believe in the resurrection of Jesus and we believe in Pentecost where the Holy Spirit filled the believers, the members of the church.
Some may question the historical actuality say “it did not happen” or “does not need to have happened in real history.
Schirrmacher said, “We [as evangelicals] stand for the historicity of our faith.
“Jesus did receive new life from His Father, the Holy Spirit did fall on the believers. And then some will say: ‘that is evangelical.’ But we do not believe in this because we think of it as something confessional, something specific [only] we believe in.
“Rather, we think it’s the DNA of Christianity that we owe everything to what Jesus did and what the Holy Spirit does.”
When it comes to the Bible, evangelicals are deeply convinced that the Bible is the confession of the Church.
“The idea of a paper document that would rule the people comes from the Old Testament. The Torah in the Old Testament was above David, was above the king, was above everybody.
‘PAPER POPE’
“Some people mock us and say we have a ‘Paper Pope.’ We are proud to have a Paper Pope, because the Paper Pope assures that none of us, including me, are above the Word of God. (Photo: Courtesy Global Christian Forum)Dr. Casely Essamuah
“We all submit to the Word of God, no one is above it. No, there is [in fact] someone above him, it is Jesus himself, who is the center of Holy Scripture, and the Holy Spirit, who is the author of Holy Scripture – at least according to our belief.”
“And this is where we think that a movement like ours can bring together the huge emphasis of the Reformation 500 years ago on Holy Scripture with a lot of revival movements including our Pentecostal friends and our charismatic friends and their emphasis on the Holy Spirit as the only
“One who can transform us and can transform the world.” (Photo: Albin Hillert / WCC)Dr. Billy Wilson, member of the Pentecostal World Federation executive committee speaking at a Global Christian Forum gathering in Bogota, Colombia on April 27. 2018.
Among those who read greetings at the hybrid ceremony that was both live and virtual were Casely Essamuah secretary of the Global Christian Forum and Billy Wilson chairman of the Pentecostal World Fellowship and president of Oral Robert University in Oklahoma in the US.
“Jesus, it is now the gospel of salvation, the gospel of healing, the gospel that brings meaning to our lives, his passion, and purpose to our daily lives is needed now more than ever, as we are all behind closed doors and needing the presence of the one who comes to us and says, peace, my peace I give unto you,” said Essamuah in his message.
Wilson said, “We believe that God is calling us in the 21st century, to unite with our brothers and sisters across the body of Christ, for the greater good, and most importantly, so the witness of Jesus can be known by every person on this planet over the next several years.” (Photo: © Peter Kenny / Ecumenical News)World Evangelical Alliance Secretary General Bishop Efraim Tendero photographed in Tirana, Albania on Nov. 4, 2015.
Fruit & vegetable exporters should tap into the Nordic’s niche market
Forecasts by the Vietnamese Cong Thuong Industry & Trade newspaper say that Vietnamese businesses exporting fruit and vegetables to the Nordic and Northern Europe are believed to possess opportunities. The market however remains relatively small and the newspaper suggests Vietnamese businesses explore niche markets with organic and sustainable production to satisfy the growing trend for clean food in Northern Europe.
The import of tropical fruit has been decreasing in recent years and this has opened up opportunities for both existing and new exporters from developing countries including Vietnam.
According to the Vietnamese trade office in Sweden, Northern European countries are very much dependent on imported fruits and vegetables due to unfavorable weather conditions and the region imports over 90 percent of fruits and 40 percent of vegetables from foreign sources.
The recent EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which took effect on August 1, 2020, has also generated considerable advantages for Vietnamese firms, as most tariffs on fresh fruit and vegetables have been slashed to zero percent, the trade office noted.
Despite the optimistic market forecast, Cong Thuong newspaper noted that the market is relatively small when compared to others in Europe and 90 percent of vegetables imported to Northern Europe are grown in Europe and only 10 percent are imported from developing countries.
Because of that, the newspaper suggests that Vietnamese companies consider producing organic and convenience products, pointing out European consumers’ increasing preference for healthy diets with clean and natural food, as well as those that serve their busy lifestyles. The article said that Vietnamese businesses need to ensure that product quality meets requirements and more attention needs to be paid to sustainable and responsible production and business practices.
The newspaper stated that only products complying with sustainable standards will be accepted by Northern European consumers and brand building and product storytelling are also tools necessary for marketing new products, particularly those for niche markets.
Zim/EU talks set to resume
The Sunday Mail
Deputy News Editor
THE ongoing formal political dialogue between Zimbabwe and the European Union, to normalise strained relations between the two, will continue despite the recent extension of sanctions on Harare by Brussels.
The EU extended its embargo against Zimbabwe a fortnight ago, citing alleged human right violations.
Harare opened formal dialogue with Brussels in 2019, which has culminated in a measured thawing of relations.
Another round of talks scheduled for December last year was cancelled as a result of Covid-19 and its attendant restrictions.
Dialogue between the two sides has now been elevated to Ministerial level.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade spokesperson Ms Constance Chemwai told The Sunday Mail that a date for the third round of talks was being finalised.
“The Cotonou Partnership Agreement Article 8 Political Dialogue between Zimbabwe and the European Union (EU) takes place twice a year as agreed between the two sides,” said Ms Chemwai.
“The dates for the third session of this dialogue are yet to be finalised. The agreed agenda of the political dialogue at the launch on June 3, 2019 covers a broad range of areas of focus that include investment, trade and economic development, humanitarian assistance, human rights, democracy, good governance and the rule of law, development co-operation and regional, continental and global co-operation.”
Asked whether the recent extension of sanctions will disrupt the dialogue process, she said, “No it will not.”
Responding to questions from The Sunday Mail, EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Timo Olkkonen, said continuing the dialogue process was essential.
“The EU and Zimbabwe held two formal political dialogues under Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement since 2019.
“The second political dialogue held in November 2019 was held at ministerial level, which was a welcome development in view of establishing a regular and formal engagement. The third meeting of the political dialogue was postponed last December due to the Covid-19 situation, but the EU is ready to have the next talks at the earliest occasion and once the situation allows.
“The meetings allowed for the continuation of discussions on topics that are of common interest and are priorities in EU-Zimbabwe relations: human rights, democratisation, rule of law and good governance; economic developments and reforms, the investment climate and implementation of our free trade agreement, the Economic Partnership Agreement; development cooperation, humanitarian assistance and global and regional partnerships”, Mr Olkkonen said.
The EU, he said, was keen to support Government in undertaking economic and political reforms.
The 28-member bloc imposed sanctions on Harare in 2002 but has been progressively reviewing the embargo in recognition of reforms being undertaken by Government.
Last year, the EU suspended sanctions against three senior Government officials — Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga; Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander General Philip Valerio Sibanda; and the late former Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri.
“The EU is willing to engage with and support the government across a wide range of policy fields where we can bring EU co-operation and assistance to bear, especially with regard to governance and capacity building, based on a genuine government commitment,” said Mr Olkkonen.
“The EU is currently planning for its future co-operation with Zimbabwe so the timing would be opportune to discuss these issues.”
Pope appeals for release of 317 schoolgirls kidnapped in Nigeria – Vatican News
By Devin Watkins
Speaking at the Angelus prayer on Sunday, Pope Francis forcefully condemned the “vile kidnapping of 317 girls” in Nigeria’s Zamfara State.
He invited everyone to pray for them, so that they might return home soon.
“I am near to their families and to them,” said the Pope. “Let us pray that Our Lady might keep them safe.”
And he led the faithful in the recitation of the Hail Mary.
What happened?
The incident took place on Friday morning in the town of Jangebe, in Nigeria’s Zamfara State.
Unidentified gunmen entered Jangebe Government Girls’ Secondary School around midnight, shooting sporadically.
The state’s Information Commissioner said they carried the girls off in vehicles and on foot. Security forces launched a search for the abducted schoolgirls.
Two attacks in quick succession
Friday’s attack follows on the heels of a similar kidnapping earlier last week.
One student was killed and 42 people were spirited off from a boarding school in the north-central state of Niger in the earlier incident. They were released on Saturday, according to the Zamfara State governor.
Nigerian Bishops sound alarm
The Catholic Bishops of Nigeria have decried the deteriorating situation in the country.
They released a press statement on 23 February, following on the heels of the first kidnapping but before this most recent attack.
“We are really on the brink of a looming collapse, from which we must do all we can to pull back before the worst overcomes the nation,” wrote the Bishops.
They said insecurity and corruption have put into question “the very survival of the nation.”
Host of threats
The Bishops also called on the government to step up to the challenge of seriously governing, especially as armed groups threaten to take the law into their own hands.
And they list a host of crises afflicting Nigerians, including “assassinations, Covid-19, kidnappings, murders, banditry, and armed robberies.”
“We, of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, with members from all parts of Nigeria, are very highly disturbed about the present state of instability in the land,” read the statement. “This must not be allowed to continue to fester and degenerate.”
The EU and Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement enters into force
EU and Armenia: On 1 March 2021, the European Union-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) will enter into force. It has now been ratified by the Republic of Armenia, all EU Member States and the European Parliament. This represents an important milestone for EU-Armenia relations.
This Agreement provides a framework for the EU and Armenia to work together in a wide range of areas: strengthening democracy, the rule of law and human rights; creating more jobs and business opportunities, improving legislation, public safety, a cleaner environment, as well as better education and opportunities for research. This bilateral agenda also contributes to overall aim of the EU to deepen and strengthen its relations with the countries of its Eastern neighbourhood through the Eastern Partnership framework.
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, said: “The entry into force of our Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement comes at a moment when Armenia faces significant challenges. It sends a strong signal that the EU and Armenia are committed to democratic principles and the rule of law, as well as to a wider reform agenda. Across political, economic, trade, and other sectoral areas, our Agreement aims to bring positive change to people’s lives, to overcome challenges to Armenia’s reforms agenda.”
Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, underlined that: “While these are trying times for Armenia, the European Union continues to stand by the Armenian people. The entry into force of the bilateral EU-Armenia agreement on 1 March will allow us to strengthen our work on the economy, connectivity, digitalisation and the green transformation as priority areas. These will have concrete benefits for the people and are key for socio-economic recovery and the longer-term resilience of the country. In the current turbulent days, maintaining calm and respect for democracy and constitutional order are key.”
The Agreement was signed in November 2017 and substantial parts of have been provisionally applied since 1 June 2018. Since then, the breadth and depth of the bilateral cooperation between Armenia and the European Union have advanced steadily. At the 3rd EU-Armenia Partnership Council held on 17 December 2020, the European Union and Armenia reiterated their full commitment to implementing the CEPA.
The Agreement plays an important role for the modernisation of Armenia, in particular through legislative approximation to EU norms in many sectors. This includes reforms in the rule of law and respect of human rights, particularly an independent, efficient and accountable justice system, as well as reforms aimed at enhancing the responsiveness and effectiveness of public institutions and at favouring the conditions for sustainable and inclusive development.
From the entry into force of the Agreement on 1 March, cooperation will be strengthened in those areas which to date were not subject to the provisional application of the Agreement. The European Union stands ready and looks forward to working even more closely with Armenia on the full and effective implementation of the Agreement, in our mutual interest and to the benefit of our societies and citizens.
For More Information
EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement text
EU Delegation to Armenia website
EU-Armenia relations factsheet
EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement factsheet
European Council extends mandate of special representative for South Caucasus
By Trend
The European Council has extended the mandates of six EU special representatives (EUSRs), Trend reports citing the Council.
This incudes Toivo Klaar who has had his mandate as the EUSR for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia extended for a further 12 months, until 28 February 2022. Mr Klaar was first appointed in November 2017.
EU special representatives promote the EU’s policies and interests in specific regions and countries, as well as on issues of particular concern or interest for the EU. They play an active role in efforts to consolidate peace, stability and the rule of law. The first EUSRs were appointed in 1996.
Currently, nine EUSRs support the work of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.
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EU Ambassador Visits the Press Union of Liberia Leadership – Promises Full cooperation
The Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Liberia, Laurent Delahousse Thursday paid a courtesy visit on the leadership of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) in Monrovia.
The visit is part of series of acquittance meetings the ambassador has embarked on to various media institutions in Liberia.
Ambassador DelaHouse held a fruitful discussion with the leadership of the Union was focused on supporting efforts of the PUL in fostering press freedom, describing the Union as the heart and voice of Journalists in Liberia.
He expressed appreciation for the balance position of the Press Union of Liberia in handling issues involving the media.
The Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Liberia also stressed the importance of adherence to ethical standards in the practice of journalism in Liberia.
Speaking further on matters of free speech and freedom of the press, Ambassador DelaHouse described the situation in Liberia as being better than other countries on the continent despite other challenges being experienced by the Media.
In remarks, The President of the Press Union of Liberia Charles B.Coffey Jr. lauded the European Union for its continued support to the growth and development of the Liberian media.
Mr. Coffey indicated that the EU recently founded media forums and trainings for journalists during the just ended special Senatorial election helped a lot in stabilizing Liberia.
The PUL President also outlined several areas that the Union needs support including transitional justice , Civil education on the decriminalized free laws speech, the extractive industry sector particularly forest governance, the establishment National Media Commission and the training of Journalists among others.
Foundation laid for House of Worship in DRC as Kenya temple nears completion
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic Of The Congo — Recent weeks have seen steady progress in the construction of the two Bahá’í Houses of Worship in Africa.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, just eight weeks after the excavation for the foundations of the House of Worship were completed, the reinforced concrete slab that will form the floor of the central edifice has been finished. Work on additional buildings on the site is steadily advancing.
Meanwhile, over 3,000 kilometers away, the local House of Worship in Matunda Soy, Kenya, is entering the final stages of construction. The exterior of the temple is nearly complete, as are auxiliary structures on the grounds. Residents of the area are assisting to prepare the gardens around the temple, carrying out tasks with reverence as they regularly gather on the grounds for prayers.
The progress in the construction of both temples over the past few months is explored in the selection of images below.
A moisture barrier is laid across the entire floor area of the temple in preparation for building the reinforced concrete floor slab. Encircling the foundations, earthworks are being prepared for the ground immediately outside the central area.
The staff who have been working on the construction of the temple gathered Thursday on the newly completed floor slab to mark this key milestone in the project.
A visitors’ center is being built near the entrance to the site of the House of Worship in Kinshasa.
Foundations for the visitors’ center have been built around trees already present on the site, preserving them to beautify the courtyard.
Floor slabs for the visitors’ center are now being poured.
Elsewhere on the site, several existing buildings are being renovated. One building, pictured here, is being used as a construction office. In the future, these buildings will be used as educational facilities and as offices for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
As the exterior of the local Bahá’í House of Worship in Matunda Soy, Kenya, nears completion, the elegant form of the temple’s design is becoming visible. The design is inspired by huts that are traditional to the region. Exposed roof beams highlight the nine sides of the edifice.
Skylights have been installed on all nine sides of the roof of the temple, and roof tiles are being placed, creating a diamond motif familiar to Kenyan culture.
The interior and exterior of the temple’s nine doorways are being decorated with wood and paster. The latticework around each door is being prepared at a workshop in the Matunda Soy area and is made from mvule, a wood native to eastern Africa.
Construction of the reception center and other facilities on the site are nearly complete, and they will soon be prepared to welcome visitors to the temple site.
The main gate to the temple grounds nears completion.
Local residents have played an important role in assisting with various tasks on the site, including with preparations for gardens that will surround the temple.
The residents of Matunda Soy, a farming community with generations of experience tending the land, have taken to the task of beautifying and maintaining the temple grounds with enthusiasm.
