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At a United Nations intergovernmental forum opening in Nairobi, Kenya, today, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged participants to focus on strong collaboration, equality and inclusion in trade, finance and investment in order to better align action with agreed-upon sustainable development targets and help restore trust in the global economy.

From a national park to a fossil site and a naval dockyard, the United Nations cultural agency today inscribed 12 new sites of special cultural or physical significance on its World Heritage List.

July 16, 2016 (NYALA) - Unidentified gunmen have stormed a house in Al-Salam neighbourhood in South Darfur state capital, Nyala killing one woman and severely wounding her son.

Internally displaced women carry food to their shelter at Alsalam camp - ElFasher 7 Nov 2010 (Reuters)

A family relative of the victims by the name of Salih Nyam told Sudan Tribune that 3 masked men broke into the victims' home in the early morning hours on Saturday and opened fire on the family members who attempted to resist them.

He pointed that a woman died immediately and her son sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Nyala Teaching Hospital, saying the perpetrators fled toward the north-eastern part of the town.

According to Nyam, the security organs failed to arrest the culprits despite its readiness and wide presence across the town.

He further said that hundreds of residents have attended the funeral at A-Salam cemetery and expressed anger that perpetrators have evaded justice.

In a separate incident, 3 gunmen have stormed the house of Al-Fadil Issa, an employee working for the locality of Nyala, in Al-Khartoum Bellail neighbourhood at 3:00 am (local time) on Saturday and stole his property at gunpoint before fleeing to an unknown destination.

Nyala residents have recently expressed concern over the return of the lawlessness situation which prevailed in Nyala before imposing the emergency situation.

Following several looting and killing incidents last month, South Darfur state deployed large military reinforcements to enhance security and curb looting crimes in Nyala.

Since July 2014, the governor of South Darfur Adam Mahmoud Jar al-Nabi, declared an indefinite emergency situation in the state, including a curfew from 07:00 pm to 07:00 am (local time) in Nyala.

The decision also banned riding of motorcycles by more than one person, holding weapons while wearing civilian clothes, vehicles driving around without license plates, and wearing a kadamool (a turban which covers the face).

(ST)

July 16, 2016 (NAIROBI) – World leaders should uphold to commitments made during the 2012 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) held in Doha.

Panelists at the civil society forum in Nairobi, Kenya July 15, 2016 (Photo credit:TJN-A))

The call from civil society organisations came as the UNCTAD Secretary General, Mukhisa Kituyi opened a forum in Nairobi, Kenya on 15 July.

He challenged civil society entities to maintain the momentum in making their demands.

“There must be greater efforts made towards inclusion of all stakeholders, especially women and youth, if at all we are to achieve the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals]”, said Kituyi.

“There can be no Sustainable Development Goals without Least Developed Countries".

In the recent past, western member states of UNCTAD have reportedly come under intense criticism for their sluggishness in supporting the agency's initiatives and expanding its roles to cover other areas crucial for the advancement of developing nations.

Concerns have also been raised on the role UNCTAD will play in influencing global trade and development in the future as it is gradually relegated to an implementation mechanism for trade agreements.

“As negotiations begin, we are calling for a mandate that addresses specific constraints of developing countries, adoption of gender-sensitive policies on trade and development, institution of measures that curb the illicit transfer of economic resources from developing countries,” said Tax Justice Network-Africa's executive director, Alvin Mosioma,

This year, civil society organizations have attended two hearings at the UNCTAD headquarters in Geneva, making contributions into the negotiating text of the conference.

Over 7,000 delegates are expected at the forum on the theme, From Decisions to Actions.

(ST)

July 16, 2016 (JUBA) - As African and world leaders met at African Union summit in Kigali, Rwanda, South Sudan's recent conflict dominated the continental gathering.

A view of the 22nd African Union summit in Addis Ababa on January 31, 2014 (AFP Photo/Solan Gemechu)

South Sudan witnessed violent clashes last week when forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar fought in Juba, leaving hundreds dead.

At a mini-summit held in Nairobi Monday, regional leaders discussed how South Sudan's ongoing power struggle could be resolved and how the two factions can be reined in, to end the hostilities which has reportedly displaced more than 40,000 civilians.

The UN warned of tension and the possibility of fresh fighting in the country's Juba, where a shaky ceasefire has held since late Monday.

Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon appreciated Rwanda's contribution to the world body's peacekeeping, including in the Central African Republic, Darfur, Sudan and South Sudan.

He met with Rwandan President, Paul Kagame at ongoing African Union's extraordinary summit, which is taking place in Kigali, Rwanda.

Both leaders, the UN said in a statement, expressed deep concern at the recent escalation of violence in South Sudan, its impact on the civilian population and consequences for the peace process. They urged South Sudanese leaders to demonstrate the commitment required to bring to an end the tragedy unfolding in their country and fulfill their people's aspirations to peace, security and reconciliation.

“The Secretary-General and the President agreed on the need and urgency of renewed international engagement to advance the quest for peace in South Sudan,” it stated.

According to the world body, the role of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union, including within the framework of the AU High-Level ad hoc Committee on South Sudan, of which Rwanda is a member, was stressed.

“The Secretary-General seized the opportunity to recall the recommendations he made to the Security Council, including an arms embargo, targeted sanctions, and strengthening the capacity of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS),” it further noted.

Also discussed during the meeting in Kigali was the volatile situation in Burundi, where Rwanda was also applauded for hosting thousands of Burundian refugees.

(ST)

July 16, 2016 (JUBA) - The South Sudanese government has imposed restrictions on the movement of its nationals, denying them access to their families in neigbouring nations in violation of their constitutional and basic rights to freedom of movement.

The arrivals of Juba International Airport (File Photo)

It is still unclear as to who issued the directive and for what purpose.

The director of Juba international airport, Kur Kuol confirmed receiving directives from the authorities that no government official should be allowed out of the country without permission.

Even ordinary citizens are said to be affected as they have been turned away at the airport and denied possession of their passports.

A South Sudanese national studying in Uganda could not return for exams as Friday, the day he intended to travel, witnessed deadly clashes the presidential palace said his passport was confiscated.

He was later asked to see security officials for clearance to his destination country, only to be told on arrival that they were not permitting people to travel out of the country at the time of war.

"If you go out, who will fight, who will fight this war, just go home", narrated the student, whose passport was still with state operatives.

"I do not know what to do now. I was supposed to sit exams on Tuesday 12 July, and that was why I wanted to travel on Friday 10th, but there was no seat in the flight. I wanted to use the next available flight was on Sunday 10, but fighting erupted on Friday evening and carried on for four days. When it stopped on Monday 11, I had hoped I would fly normally, [but] unfortunately I was denied travel and my passport was seized", he added.

But Kuol said no official letter from government denied ordinary citizens from traveling out of the country, except for its officials.

"There is no official letter preventing South Sudanese from traveling to various destinations but what I know is that any official from the government who wants to travel has to get permission from his place of work", Kuol told reporters, but did not elaborate further.

The undersecretary in the ministry of transport, Captain Martin declined to comment on the behaviour of the government operatives, when asked in a separate interview.

Amnesty International also said it had received reports from two charter companies that National Security Service officers have ordered them not to carry South Sudanese nationals, particularly men. It has also been told by an entity that one of its South Sudanese staff was prevented from boarding a flight to Uganda.

“This arbitrary conduct by South Sudanese security forces is totally unacceptable. South Sudan must respect people's right to freedom of movement, including the right to leave their own country,” said Elizabeth Deng, the organisation's South Sudan researcher.

“It is absolutely critical that both parties to the conflict do not obstruct safe passage of civilians fleeing to places of refuge both inside and outside the country,” she added.

Thousands of South Sudanese have reportedly gathered at the country's southern border seeking to enter into Uganda, but they are being prevented from crossing over.

(ST)

July 16, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir has arrived in the Rwandan capital, Kigali on Saturday to attend the 27th African Union Summit.

Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir salutes his supporters as he disembarks from the plane, after attending an African Union conference in Johannesburg South Africa, at the airport in the capital Khartoum, Sudan June 15, 2015 (REUTERS)

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued two arrest warrants against al-Bashir in 2009 and 2010 for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Darfur.

Al-Bashir is the first sitting head of state charged by the Hague based court since its inception in 2002.

On Saturday, al-Bashir travelled to Kigali accompanied by senior delegation including the Minister of the Presidency Fadl Abdalla, Minister of Welfare and Social Security, Mashair Al-Dawalab and State Minister and Director of the President's Office Taha Osman.

Last week, Rwandan President Paul Kagame announced that his country will not arrest Al- Bashir during his visit to Kigali to participate in the AU summit.

“President Al Bashir is welcome in Kigali at any time. He will be free in his second home country. We will not respond to the ICC calls to arrest him. We will not take any action of such type against him,” he said.

Also on Thursday, Rwanda's Foreign Minister, Louise Mushikiwabo, said “Bashir will be granted his safety and security as a head of state, ICC issues will be addressed by those who are concerned and I don't think they expect him to be arrested in Rwanda”.

Rwanda is not a state party to the tribunal of war crimes but has the obligation as a member of the United Nations to cooperate with the court. However like many other African capitals, Kigali is critical to ICC and to its focus on Africa.

Last year al-Bashir attended the 26 th AU summit in Johannesburg. His recent trip to South Africa drew international attention after he flew out of the country defying a High court order which order the government to ban his departure until an application calling for his arrest had been heard.

Several African governments and the AU have voiced concerns over the ICC's fairness, and accused it of targeting African leaders.

They further to say that war crimes court has violated its founding treaty the Rome Statute, when it prosecutes cases investigate by the national jurisdiction.

Since the issuance of the two arrest warrants, Bashir limited his trips abroad to ICC non-party states but he also traveled to five signatory states including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Malawi, Djibouti and South Africa.

In May this year, Al-Bashir visited Uganda and Djibouti, which are ICC state members of Rome Statute.

Last week, the ICC said it had referred Djibouti and Uganda to the United Nation Security Council for failing to arrest al-Bashir while he was on their territory.

July 16, 2016 (JUBA) – Germany has, in the wake of the deteriorating situation in South Sudan, "temporarily" closed its embassy and evacuated its nationals from the country.

“There was street to street fighting directly in front of the homes of many employees and aid workers, after four days of heavy fighting, which we had to witness up close, there remained no other option but to evacuate," Johannes Lehne, the German envoy told Radio Tamazuj

Germany evacuated all it staffs and nationals from South Sudan after clashes between the country's rival forces killed hundreds.

Several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Uganda and Sudan also evacuated their citizens from South Sudan, but their embassies are still operating.

On Friday, however, the German Air Force airlifted about 200 of its national and some from other countries to Entebbe, Uganda.

"Germany has also closed its embassy in South Sudan ‘temporarily' owing to violent conflict in the capital," Radio Tamajuz reported Saturday.

US TROOPS IN JUBA

The United States President Barrack Obama on Thursday said 47 American soldiers have been deployed in South Sudan to protect the American embassy and the staff.

"In response to the deteriorating security situation in South Sudan, I have ordered the deployment of additional U.S. Armed Forces personnel to South Sudan to support the security of U.S. personnel, and our embassy in Juba.," the White House said in a letter to the Speaker for House of Representatives and Senate President.

The first of these additional personnel, approximately 47 individuals, reportedly arrived in the South Sudanese capital, Juba on 12 July, 2016, supported by military aircraft.

Although equipped for combat, these additional personnel are deployed for the purpose of protecting U.S. citizens and property," the letter reads in part.

The US embassy in Juba evacuated non-essential staffers out of South Sudan, while South Sudanese working in the embassy were asked to stay away from the premises.

Fighting erupted between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar last week, leaving hundreds dead and thousands displaced. Both sides declared a ceasefire on Monday after President Kiir's forces overran Machar's base.

Obama said the American soldiers will remain in the country until the security situation improve but added that more troops might be sent to the country if needed.

"Additional U.S. Armed Forces, including approximately 130 military personnel currently pre-positioned in Djibouti, are prepared to provide support, as necessary, for the security of U.S. citizens and property, including our embassy in South Sudan," it stressed.

The US sent troops to Juba the onset of conflict in December 2013 to guard its embassy.

(ST)

Is South Africa's constitution too liberal for its people, asks the BBC's Milton Nkosi.

July 12, 2016 (JUBA) - At least 42,000 civilians have been displaced in the recent fighting that occurred in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, a United Nations official said.

The head of the UN peacekeeping mission, Herve Ladsous speaking in Juba (UNMISS photo)

The UN peacekeeping chief, Hervé Ladsous told the Security Council that 7,000 of those displaced were accounted for at the two UN compounds and the remaining about 35,000 were sheltering between the World Food Programme (WFP) compound, other non-governmental organisations and churches in the city.

He expressed concerns over potentials for the resumption of violence and spill over into others parts of the young nation.

On Wednesday, according to Ladsous, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) was been able to conduct limited patrolling again to assess the security situation, the safety and security of personnel and assets at UN compounds.

The senior UN official, however, noted that securing freedom of movement remains an uphill battle as security forces limit the mission's movement every step of the way.
He urged the South Sudanese government to allow UNMISS and humanitarian actors' freedom of movement and access to provide vital assistance to the civilian population.

ARMS EMBARGO

Ladsous accused South Sudan's warring parties of “deliberately” attempting to stall the implementation of the peace agreement, and echoed the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon's call for reconsideration of an arms embargo, as well as additional targeted sanctions on leaders and commanders blocking implementation of the peace deal.

We can no longer afford to sit idle as South Sudanese bear the brunt of the intransigence of their leaders, he stressed.

Meanwhile, the UN Children Fund (UNICEF) said it was, together with its partners, providing urgent life-saving assistance to thousands displaced by the fighting in Juba.

"Four trucks of supplies were dispatched from UNICEF warehouses and taken to a UN displacement site in Juba as soon as movement became possible in the city earlier today [Wednesday]. These include supplies for the treatment of malnutrition as well as sanitation items [such] as water containers and soap. Primary health care kits as well as recreational items for children will be distributed tomorrow," the UN said in a statement.

(ST)

July 16, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan's leader, Salva Kiir has called for direct talks with first vice-president, Riek Machar, saying he detests further bloodshed in the young nation.

President Salva Kiir greets First Vice President Riek Machar before to start a meeting at the South Sudanese presidency in Juba on 3 June 2016 (Photo Moses Lomayat)

President Kiir said he and the opposition leader should talk to salvage peace.

The South Sudanese leader has now dispatched Nhial Deng Nhial, his special envoy and an adviser on foreign affairs to the African Union summit in Rwanda, with an assurance to regional and global leaders about his commitment to talks with his rival.

"I don't want any more bloodshed in South Sudan," stated Kiir.

"I have been ready to resume talks on the issues we were discussing before this thing [violence] erupted. We were left with few things to conclude the discussions so that we begin with the implementation [the August 2015 peace agreement]", he added.

The president was speaking for the first time since his forces clashed at the presidential palace with those loyal to Machar last week, leaving more than 270 soldiers from the two sides dead, officials have confirmed.

The head of Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), Festus Mogae and the African Union special envoy, Alpha Oumar Konare stood alongside President Kiir.

President Kiir also vowed he would provide protection to Machar and his forces, citing the amnesty he had issued after declaring ceasefire as a guarantee for the security of his deputy and his forces.

"Nobody is hunting for him and his forces. If he comes, I will protect him. He will stay with me if feels he is not safe staying alone", he said.

ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT??

Meanwhile, Machar claimed the fighting that erupted between his bodyguards and Kiir's forces in the capital was calculated to kill him.

The ex-rebel leader told BBC Focus on Africa on Friday after abandoning his base in the outskirts of Juba, that he is “around Juba” but would neither disclose his location nor return to town to meet the president until the security issues were addressed.

Machar was responding to the call by President Kiir to meet him.

The country's first vice-president, however, said he feared for the lives of his officials and for himself after the incident, adding he was also worried about the safety of his ministers currently inside Juba.

“We have a pending meeting, he as president and me as vice president. And also if it were a normal situation, we would meet, but the incident that took place on the 8th [July] in the State House is a very despicable incident, where there was a shootout, and a dog fight, when we were in a meeting,” Machar told the London-based station.

“To me that was a calculated plan to kill me,” he added.

Machar, who also leads an opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, said he was willing to return back to Juba, but after a third force is deployed the South Sudanese capital to take charge and ensure safety and no return to violent confrontations.

He said he could not trust Kiir's assurance to protect him and his officials.

“That is why the IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development] Council of Ministers decided that there should be an intervention force, third force, that be deployed in Juba and Juba be demilitarized,” he said.

Machar said he was now waiting for the outcome of a proposed meeting in Juba of the chiefs of defence forces from the region on how to tackle security in Africa's newest nation.

(ST)

Paradoxes have always abounded in the relationship between the Turkish military and the country’s politicians. Turkey’s armed forces — or factions within them — have justified their repeated interventions in politics with claims that they are saving the state from corrupt, populist politicians. The political class, for its part, frustrated as its leaders turn rotten, blames its degradation on over-dominant army interventions that keep wrecking the country’s democratic progress.

 Benoît Durieux (dir.), La guerre par ceux qui la font. Stratégie et incertitude, Editions du Rocher, Monaco, 2016
L’ouvrage dirigé par le général Benoît Durieux, directeur du Centre des hautes études militaires (CHEM – qui forme les futurs responsables des armées), constitue une publication importante à plus d’un titre. En premier lieu, il permet de renouer avec – ou de confirmer – une tradition de réflexion militaire française sur la guerre et la stratégie : les auteurs de ce volume sont des officiers du CHEM qui s’expriment ici à titre personnel, en marge de leur formation, ce qui mérite d’être salué. Ensuite, le niveau de formation, de réflexion, d’expérience des auteurs sollicités ici est naturellement précieux à tous ceux qui travaillent sur la guerre. L’auteur de ce blog, qui avait eu la chance d’être invité en 2013 par le général Duquesne, alors patron de l’IHEDN, à participer à une rencontre franco-chinoise à Pékin, au sein d’une délégation dont il était le seul civil, avait déjà été témoin de l’extrême maîtrise des dossiers, et de la qualité de réflexion critique de ceux qu’il est convenu d’appeler les « chemistes ». Enfin, les présentes contributions jettent de nombreuses passerelles en direction du monde universitaire : les papiers rassemblés ici à la fois intègrent très largement les grands débats académiques de war studies, et s’en démarquent (car bien évidemment le métier ni les finalités ne sont les mêmes) pour en être parfaitement complémentaires.
L’ouvrage est construit en trois partie, traitant de trois temps : celui du doute (l’incertitude), celui de la sagesse (stratégique), celui de l’action (les opérations militaires globales). L’introduction par Benoît Durieux (par ailleurs auteur de plusieurs travaux de référence, dont une thèse doctorale ensuite publiée, sur Clausewitz – à l’époque où l’on n’attribuait pas encore de doctorats sans thèse…) pose la problématique en insistant d’abord sur les « freins à la guerre ». Freins politiques et économiques d’abord, qui rendent la guerre coûteuse et impopulaire ; freins proprement militaires ensuite : il est de moins en moins cher d’entraver l’efficacité des systèmes d’armements les plus chers ; freins moraux enfin, en une époque où la guerre reste considérée comme la pire des solutions. Mais ce déclin de la guerre signe d’abord la fin d’une institutionnalisation et d’un contrôle de la violence. cette dernière est désormais le fait d’un plus grand nombre d’individus et non plus de seuls professionnels ; expulsée jadis de la citée pour être confinée au champ de bataille, longtemps limitée dans son emploi par la poursuite des intérêts politiques dont elle devait être l’instrument, elle rejette aujourd’hui ses chaînes, pour reprendre le titre de l’introduction. « L’asymétrie est devenue la règle » (p.15) dans un espace désormais mondialisé où la technologie permet des frappes à distance, et où un continuum s’est établi entre combattants et non combattants. La « pulvérisation de la violence » s’est imposée. La guerre pourtant, rappelle Durieux, est toujours le fait des hommes, et – grosso-modo – toujours pour les mêmes raisons, déjà identifiées par Thucydide : la peur, l’honneur (ou la croyance, les valeurs), l’intérêt.
Les articles qui suivent sont suffisamment variés pour que chacun y trouve son compte, et passent en revue de nombreux concepts, revisités par des acteurs dont la théorie n’est pas le métier (même si beaucoup d’entre eux n’ont rien à envier aux théoriciens). Asymétrie, surprise, transgression, foquisme et révolution (dans un parallèle original entre Guevara et Ben Laden), Clausewitz au Mali, politiques publiques de la défense (notamment rédaction comparée d’un Livre Blanc), dissuasion (comme intimidation, au-delà du nucléaire), nouveaux espaces (l’Arctique), stratégie des moyens, light footprint et ses limites parfaitement analysées, importation américaine du French way of warfare, lutte contre-insurrectionnelle, renouveau du rezzouen milieu désertique, mis en comparaison avec le swarming (attaque en essaim) maritime, et caractère transposable (ou plutôt non transposable) des concepts stratégiques américains à la puissance française (ce qui lancerait un bel agenda de recherche sur le fonctionnement de l’OTAN…) : il ne manque pas grand-chose, et nous tenons-là le manuel français d’études stratégiques tant attendu.
D’un point de vue universitaire, osons dire que l’exercice est rafraîchissant par son éloignement des séquences de références consacrées. Aux figures imposées se substituent des figures libres qui convoquent allègrement, dans le même volume, che Guevara, Gilles Kepel et T.E. Lawrence, pour un étrange melting pot dont l’originalité laisse à penser que c’est de ce type de hors-piste que viendra le salut.
La guerre par ceux qui la font, les livres par ceux qui les lisent, le terrain par ceux qui y vont : saine trinité pour un renouveau des études stratégiques.

Turkish BMC Kirpi Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle

(BRUXELLES2) De façon assez spectaculaire, un hélicoptère militaire «black hawk» turc a atterri à Alexandroupoli, la ville la plus proche de la frontière turque (coté européen), ce samedi (16 juillet).

L’hélicoptère escorté jusqu’à l’atterrissage

Selon les médias grecs, l’hélicoptère, a lancé une alerte «mayday » (appel de détresse) demandant un atterrissage d’urgence et a demandé la permission pour atterrir. Deux chasseurs F-16 grecs ont immédiatement décollé pour l’escorter jusqu’à son arrivée sur l’aéroport. Le ministre de la Défense Panos Kammenos et le Premier ministre Alexis Tsipras ont été avertis et donné leur accord pour l’accueil.

Les 8 occupants « arrêtés »

L’appareil transportait des partisans du coup d’Etat militaire. Les huit passagers et équipage (2 majors, un capitaine et cinq soldats) ont été interceptés à leur arrivée, et « accompagnés »  jusqu’au commissariat de police où ils ont officiellement demandé l’asile politique. Le ministre turc des Affaires étrangères, Mevlüt Cavusoglu a demandé leur extradition vers la Turquie.

Un cas délicat

Si le renvoi de l’appareil aux Turcs ne devrait pas poser de problème. C’est la règle habituelle (du moins entre alliés au sein de l’OTAN), pour les personnels, c’est plus compliqué. Ne pas accorder l’asile serait contraire aux valeurs européennes et aux règles tenant au droit d’asile. Mais le dossier est très délicat. En remettant en cause un pouvoir légitimement élu, ces militaires ont mis en cause la démocratie. De façon plus politique, cette arrivée risque aussi de remettre en cause la bonne entente grecquo-turque et l’accord UE-Turquie sur le contrôle des réfugiés syriens passant de Turquie en Europe.

Respect des règles démocratiques ou droit d’asile

Très vite d’ailleurs, le ministre grec des Affaires étrangères Nikos Kotzias s’est entretenu avec son homologue turc, rappelant que la Grèce « condamne » le coup d’Etat et soutient la lutte du peuple turc pour la démocratie et la défense de l’ordre constitutionnel en Turquie ». « La tentative de renversement du gouvernement turc démocratiquement élu constitue un acte punissable ». Le ministre s’est cependant refusé à accéder (immédiatement) à la demande turque. Cette « question sera examinée sur la base des dispositions du droit grec et du droit international, et les procédures prévues par le droit international devront être respectées » a-t-il expliqué selon le communiqué publié par le ministère. Mais Kotzias a dit prendre « très au sérieux que les personnes arrêtées sont accusées d’avoir, dans leur pays, violer la légalité constitutionnelle et tenter de renverser la démocratie ».

Mr. Kotzias reiterated to his Turkish counterpart the Greek government’s view that the attempted overthrow of the democratically elected Turkish government constitutes a punishable act. With regard to the request for asylum, Mr. Kotzias stressed that, while the issue will be examined based on the provisions of Greek and international law, and the procedures provided for under international law will be complied with, it will be borne very seriously in mind that the arrested parties stand accused in their country of violating constitutional legality and attempting to overthrow democracy.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

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VIENNA, 16 July 2016 – OSCE media freedom representative Dunja Mijatović today said she was deeply saddened upon learning of the death of photojournalist Mustafa Cambaz in Turkey, and worried about the state of media freedom in the country.

“I was deeply saddened to learn about Cambaz’ death,” Mijatović said. “The authorities must do their utmost to ensure journalists’ safety and free flow of information during times of crisis.”

Cambaz, a photojournalist with the media outlet Yeni Safak, was shot last night during the unrest in Turkey. Reportedly, a number of members of the media were detained last night for a short period of time. Some journalists were also injured, including Reporters Without Borders correspondent Selçuk Şamiloğlu who was beaten when reporting from the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul.

“Journalists continue to put themselves in great danger in order to provide information to the public,” Mijatović said. “They must be able to report freely and safely.”

Further, Mijatović noted reports that the editorial offices of several newspapers, including the Hürriyet newspaper, Hürriyet Daily News, and broadcaster CNNTürk, were raided and taken over for a few hours by a group of soldiers in Istanbul.

The Representative also welcomed the attention attributed to journalists’ safety by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in his public remarks today, expressing regret for any harm that media workers might have suffered during the events.

Mijatović said she will continue to follow and closely monitor all issues related to media freedom and safety of journalists in the country.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: www.twitter.com/osce_rfom and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom. 

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