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Foreign Affairs / Finland Continues To Buy Russian Gas by BidenDConquerer: 4:16pm On Mar 21, 2023
The EU country has vowed to end energy imports from Moscow

Finnish state-run energy provider Gasum intends to continue buying gas from Russia, Yle news outlet reported on Monday, citing a statement from the company.

Gasum has a long-term gas supply contract with Russia, which was signed before Ukraine-related EU sanctions and Russian counter-sanctions were introduced last year, according to the statement. This will be valid “for several more years,” the company said, noting that it is obliged to pay under the contract and doesn’t intend to breach this agreement.

“The contract is a so-called take-or-pay contract, which is common in gas supply contracts. It means that Gasum is obliged to pay for a certain amount of liquefied natural gas (LNG) every year, whether we get it from Russia or not,” the company explained to Yle in an email. Gasum noted that it has no legal grounds to terminate the contract or take it to arbitration.

In response to EU sanctions last year, Moscow demanded that buyers in countries that supported them must pay for Russian gas supplies in rubles instead of dollars or euro. Finland refused to accept the change in payments, and Gazprom suspended pipeline gas deliveries to the country.

However, Helsinki continued to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russian Novatek’s Cryogas-Vysotsk LNG plant. Gasum claims that it imports only the bare minimum of the fuel from Russia to avoid a breach.

“Gasum has only imported the minimum amount of LNG from Russia as stipulated in the contract. We have not agreed on any additional shipments and we do not intend to do so in the future,” it explained.

According to the Finnish customs service, Gasum has bought around $188 million worth of natural gas from Russia since February 2022. In 2021, Gazprom supplied Gasum with 1.49 billion cubic meters of gas, which equated to two-thirds of Finland’s total consumption.



CodeTemplar:
Cheaper cooking gas is needed also.

WastedSpyPlane:

Use Fire wood.
Food is the most important..
But instead of the grain getting to the countries that need it (impoverished/developing countries like Nigeria), it finds it's way to Western ports... that's cruel, barbaric and inhumane.

CodeTemplar:
there is something called open market. A seller fixes his/her price and those who can afford come and buy accordingly.

WastedSpyPlane:

I'm not going to pay attention to what you wrote bc it makes no sense.
The grain finds it's way to ports of countries that sanctioned Russia. Meanwhile, African countries that took no part in the folly of the West bear the brunt of the hardship.
Where is the morality?
And then when you made mention of cooking gas, that was when I knew your skull was empty...what about kerosene? grin Nigeria is an oil producing country and you shouldn't shift the blame of the failures and irresponsibility of your 'democratic' govt to Russia. Just look at Saudi Arabia (an Arab monarchy where the royals are the heads of state & government).
Have you given the firewood option a serious thought?

CodeTemplar:
and how did the grains end up in EU? Theft or force?

WastedSpyPlane:

I'm not shifting the goal post with you.
If I continue to engage with you..it'll give you relevance you're craving for.
From every indication, you've admitted that African countries haven't been positively impacted by the grain deal.
The bottomline is ...either by theft or force, grain meant for impoverished/developing/starving countries like Nigeria do not get there.
It should be suspended. Russia should engage with Africa directly instead of going through fraudulent UN mechanisms.


To end this on a lighter note, it seems Finland doesn't like Firewood grin

Foreign Affairs / Re: Concluded Russia-Africa Conference Shows Shaped Multipolar World — Official by BidenDConquerer: 3:44pm On Mar 21, 2023
Dabronze:
Who Represent Nigeria in that conference?
Me grin
Foreign Affairs / Many International Institutions, Including UN Bodies, No Longer Effective by BidenDConquerer: 3:43pm On Mar 21, 2023
Andrey Klishas added that people saw it as well and asked reasonable questions about why Russia remained part of these organizations


. Many interstate institutions have lost their importance today and are no longer effective, but cutting off dialogue with them is not an option, Russian Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building head Andrey Klishas said on Tuesday.

"I am absolutely convinced that today many interstate institutions have lost their importance. We see it. We see how ineffective many institutions are, including within the UN," the senator said.

Klishas added that people saw it as well and asked reasonable questions about why Russia remained part of these organizations. "But it is very important to always, no matter how acute the situation is, to maintain dialogue with these international institutions and to continue to defend one’s point of view, one’s understanding of people’s rights and freedoms <…> in the context of the cultural and historical tradition. Only in that case can these rights and freedoms be effectively implemented within the framework of national mechanisms of protection of rights and freedoms," Klishas pointed out.

The lawmaker also noted that he was "deeply convinced" that the violation of the state’s sovereignty inevitably led to the violation of the rights and freedoms of citizens. According to the senator, the situation unfolding with the violation of Russian citizens' rights clearly proves this thesis.
https://tass.com/politics/1592061



WastedSpyPlane:

I'm not going to pay attention to what you wrote bc it makes no sense.
The grain finds it's way to ports of countries that sanctioned Russia. Meanwhile, African countries that took no part in the folly of the West bear the brunt of the hardship.
Where is the morality?
And then when you made mention of cooking gas, that was when I knew your skull was empty...what about kerosene? grin Nigeria is an oil producing country and you shouldn't shift the blame of the failures and irresponsibility of your 'democratic' govt to Russia. Just look at Saudi Arabia (an Arab monarchy where the royals are the heads of state & government).
Have you given the firewood option a serious thought?


WastedSpyPlane:

I'm not shifting the goal post with you.
If I continue to engage with you..it'll give you relevance you're craving for.
From every indication, you've admitted that African countries haven't been positively impacted by the grain deal.
The bottomline is ...either by theft or force, grain meant for impoverished/developing/starving countries like Nigeria do not get there.
It should be suspended. Russia should engage with Africa directly instead of going through fraudulent UN mechanisms.

https://tass.com/politics/1592061

Foreign Affairs / Re: Twenty Years Later, US Still Struggling With Anarchy Unleashed By Iraq Invasion by BidenDConquerer: 3:19pm On Mar 21, 2023
BidenDConquerer:

Top Iraqi Military Official Tells Sputnik of American Crimes During 2003 Invasion of Iraq

Decades before the fall of Baghdad, America had nurtured plans to destroy Iraq. Even 20 years after the US invasion of Iraq, the wounds continue to bleed owing to the Americans having destroyed all the foundations of the country's statehood.

Sputnik spoke to Brigadier General Ayad al-Tufan, commander of the Iraqi Army's 7th Border Guard Brigade, about the wound that left an indelible mark on the memory of every Iraqi, military and civilian. His job was to secure a 574-kilometer stretch from the Iraqi-Jordanian border to the middle of the Iraqi-Saudi border. There were 22 border posts: they were the most dangerous areas of confrontation with US troops before they arrived in Baghdad. He witnessed American crimes during the occupation.

He dates the beginning of the American invasion not from March 20, as it is accepted in the world, but from March 17. According to his recollections, it was March 17, 2003, when the first signs of military aggression surfaced.

Sputnik: Did you expect a ground operation by US troops in Iraq after the years-long blockade and exhaustion of the army amid perpetual news reports that the country had weapons of mass destruction?
Ayad al-Tufan: It would be wrong and short-sighted to say that the American war in Iraq began on March 17, 2003, and ended on April 9. It actually began on August 2, 1990, when the Iraqi army invaded Kuwait. This was the forerunner to all the tragedies Iraq has experienced since leaving the neighboring country.
There was a blockade during the whole period after the operation in Kuwait, and it was very tight. And the Iraqi army was the first to suffer, both in terms of training and exercises. Even the air force didn't have a winter or summer training system.

Sputnik: What do you think about the arguments and reasons given by America for going to war against Iraq?
Ayad al-Tufan: Time has shown that all the reasons for starting the war were fabricated. And here I would like to quote US Secretary of State [Colin] Powell, who was shaking a test tube during the Security Council meeting. He said that this moment marked the end of his political and military career and that it was the saddest decision he had ever made.

Meanwhile, despite claims that they made mistakes, they cannot be considered spontaneous. The US planned the collapse of Iraq.

Sputnik: As one of the commanders of the Iraqi army, how did you prepare for the war and what happened after the American ground operation began?
Ayad al-Tufan: There is a moment that I want to reveal for the first time: at 2 a.m. on March 17, 2003, two or three hours before the American bombing of Baghdad, two American helicopters flew in from the Ruwayshid air base in Jordan and two from a military base in the Arar region of Saudi Arabia. They destroyed all the outposts where the personnel of the 7th Brigade, which I commanded, were stationed.

We were forced to withdraw the remaining forces. At the same time, the destroyed outposts were monitoring American reconnaissance operations on the Jordanian and Saudi fronts. And before that, these planes had been operating at a certain distance on Saudi and Jordanian soil. We understood that US aircraft carriers were not moving in the area except to carry out important strategic tasks. We had already observed these movements and realized that war was inevitable.

Sputnik: What was going on as the Americans prepared to enter Baghdad?
Ayad al-Tufan: US occupation forces used excessive force, using medium and heavy weapons near residential areas in violation of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit this in times of war.
They used all kinds of weapons against the civilian population in order to lower their morale and make them refuse to support the embattled Iraqi army. That is why their bombings targeted not only military installations but also cities; leaving aside the fact that the Americans had already committed massacres in Iraq before 2003.

Among them was the so-called "Highway of Death" massacre when the Iraqi army withdrew from Kuwait under Russian mediation and UN supervision. It resulted in thousands of deaths and the destruction of tens of thousands of pieces of equipment. The airstrikes that followed did not discriminate between military and civilian targets, and many other crimes were committed at the time, especially in the southern and central provinces, which were subjected to the heaviest US bombing.

Sputnik: What was it like in the first hours after US troops approached Baghdad?
Ayad al-Tufan: By that time, most of the Iraqi troops had been redeployed to neighboring areas, and we had multiple contingency plans for every situation.
An important factor that gave the Americans the advantage was the huge difference in weapons. When they could not get through the Umm Qasr sector, they managed to enter the desert near Nasiriyah and As-Samawah until they reached the outskirts of Najaf. Then they reached the Karbala desert and from there to Musayyib and on to Baghdad. Their military equipment provided them with supplies and equipment.

We did not have the simplest of air defenses in the face of considerable US air superiority. It is fair to say that the tragedy of the blockade had a negative impact on the Iraqi army in terms of its lack of weapons. Nevertheless, the tenacity that our military had demonstrated from March 17 to April 9 was a symbol of the tenacity of the Iraqi soldier defending his country.

Sputnik: Did the Iraqis greet the Americans with flowers, as George W. Bush tried to depict?
Ayad al-Tufan: All these rumors had nothing to do with reality and were only spread to break the morale of the Iraqi people and army. The invaders robbed us of our dignity and sovereignty, took the lives of thousands of Iraqis and are still committing atrocities. And their crimes and treachery know no end.
And this was not only true for the US forces, but also for the PMCs, who attacked and killed civilians for no reason.
How many massacres were committed in the heart of Baghdad? America's atrocities in Iraq are shameful and disgraceful. We saw it in 1991 when they bombed the Amiriyah shelter. And all their crimes confirm that they are an army rooted in violating human rights and constantly humiliating the weak.

Sputnik: Did you have a plan prepared in advance to defend Baghdad?
Ayad al-Tufan: Yes, but the plan to defend Baghdad was limited. Little was known about it, so the Americans quickly moved into Baghdad after arriving at the airport and from there into the government compound.
We know that many of the units that were present in Anbar, Salah Al-Din and Kirkuk Governorates did not fight. After the US troops arrived at the government headquarters, they laid down their weapons because there was no point in fighting anymore.

Sputnik: What are the most serious crimes against humanity committed by the US occupation forces after their arrival in Baghdad?

Ayad al-Tufan: Perhaps one of the most heinous crimes committed by US troops occurred during the battle for Baghdad Airport. The Iraqis set up a very large ambush there after receiving information that 12 American Chinook helicopters had arrived at the airport full of soldiers.
As soon as they landed, the Iraqi soldiers fired a massive electrical charge, incinerating 11 American helicopters and the soldiers on board, and only one managed to escape the trap.
During the second battle at the airport, Iraqi fighters managed to capture a large number of soldiers, killing more than 200.

The Americans then resorted to the use of chemical weapons that literally melted human flesh. I saw many burnt skeletons with my own eyes. And it looked very strange, especially since the area where the fighting took place was later turned into a no-go zone for all Iraqis.
Five years later, US troops issued tenders to deliver soil from outside the city. It was delivered to the Americans, who unloaded the dirt and brought it back. The price of a wagon reached $1,000.
In order to hide any and all traces of the chemical weapons crime, the soil in the area was replaced to a depth of 5-10 meters.
https://sputniknews.com/20230321/top-iraqi-military-official-tells-sputnik-of-american-crimes-during-2003-invasion-of-iraq-1108638138.html
Foreign Affairs / Re: Invasion Of Iraq Anniversary: The US Learned Absolutely Nothing by BidenDConquerer: 3:17pm On Mar 21, 2023
Decades before the fall of Baghdad, America had nurtured plans to destroy Iraq. Even 20 years after the US invasion of Iraq, the wounds continue to bleed owing to the Americans having destroyed all the foundations of the country's statehood.

Sputnik spoke to Brigadier General Ayad al-Tufan, commander of the Iraqi Army's 7th Border Guard Brigade, about the wound that left an indelible mark on the memory of every Iraqi, military and civilian. His job was to secure a 574-kilometer stretch from the Iraqi-Jordanian border to the middle of the Iraqi-Saudi border. There were 22 border posts: they were the most dangerous areas of confrontation with US troops before they arrived in Baghdad. He witnessed American crimes during the occupation.

He dates the beginning of the American invasion not from March 20, as it is accepted in the world, but from March 17. According to his recollections, it was March 17, 2003, when the first signs of military aggression surfaced.

Sputnik: Did you expect a ground operation by US troops in Iraq after the years-long blockade and exhaustion of the army amid perpetual news reports that the country had weapons of mass destruction?
Ayad al-Tufan: It would be wrong and short-sighted to say that the American war in Iraq began on March 17, 2003, and ended on April 9. It actually began on August 2, 1990, when the Iraqi army invaded Kuwait. This was the forerunner to all the tragedies Iraq has experienced since leaving the neighboring country.
There was a blockade during the whole period after the operation in Kuwait, and it was very tight. And the Iraqi army was the first to suffer, both in terms of training and exercises. Even the air force didn't have a winter or summer training system.

Sputnik: What do you think about the arguments and reasons given by America for going to war against Iraq?
Ayad al-Tufan: Time has shown that all the reasons for starting the war were fabricated. And here I would like to quote US Secretary of State [Colin] Powell, who was shaking a test tube during the Security Council meeting. He said that this moment marked the end of his political and military career and that it was the saddest decision he had ever made.

Meanwhile, despite claims that they made mistakes, they cannot be considered spontaneous. The US planned the collapse of Iraq.

Sputnik: As one of the commanders of the Iraqi army, how did you prepare for the war and what happened after the American ground operation began?
Ayad al-Tufan: There is a moment that I want to reveal for the first time: at 2 a.m. on March 17, 2003, two or three hours before the American bombing of Baghdad, two American helicopters flew in from the Ruwayshid air base in Jordan and two from a military base in the Arar region of Saudi Arabia. They destroyed all the outposts where the personnel of the 7th Brigade, which I commanded, were stationed.

We were forced to withdraw the remaining forces. At the same time, the destroyed outposts were monitoring American reconnaissance operations on the Jordanian and Saudi fronts. And before that, these planes had been operating at a certain distance on Saudi and Jordanian soil. We understood that US aircraft carriers were not moving in the area except to carry out important strategic tasks. We had already observed these movements and realized that war was inevitable.

Sputnik: What was going on as the Americans prepared to enter Baghdad?
Ayad al-Tufan: US occupation forces used excessive force, using medium and heavy weapons near residential areas in violation of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit this in times of war.
They used all kinds of weapons against the civilian population in order to lower their morale and make them refuse to support the embattled Iraqi army. That is why their bombings targeted not only military installations but also cities; leaving aside the fact that the Americans had already committed massacres in Iraq before 2003.

Among them was the so-called "Highway of Death" massacre when the Iraqi army withdrew from Kuwait under Russian mediation and UN supervision. It resulted in thousands of deaths and the destruction of tens of thousands of pieces of equipment. The airstrikes that followed did not discriminate between military and civilian targets, and many other crimes were committed at the time, especially in the southern and central provinces, which were subjected to the heaviest US bombing.

Sputnik: What was it like in the first hours after US troops approached Baghdad?
Ayad al-Tufan: By that time, most of the Iraqi troops had been redeployed to neighboring areas, and we had multiple contingency plans for every situation.
An important factor that gave the Americans the advantage was the huge difference in weapons. When they could not get through the Umm Qasr sector, they managed to enter the desert near Nasiriyah and As-Samawah until they reached the outskirts of Najaf. Then they reached the Karbala desert and from there to Musayyib and on to Baghdad. Their military equipment provided them with supplies and equipment.

We did not have the simplest of air defenses in the face of considerable US air superiority. It is fair to say that the tragedy of the blockade had a negative impact on the Iraqi army in terms of its lack of weapons. Nevertheless, the tenacity that our military had demonstrated from March 17 to April 9 was a symbol of the tenacity of the Iraqi soldier defending his country.

Sputnik: Did the Iraqis greet the Americans with flowers, as George W. Bush tried to depict?
Ayad al-Tufan: All these rumors had nothing to do with reality and were only spread to break the morale of the Iraqi people and army. The invaders robbed us of our dignity and sovereignty, took the lives of thousands of Iraqis and are still committing atrocities. And their crimes and treachery know no end.
And this was not only true for the US forces, but also for the PMCs, who attacked and killed civilians for no reason.
How many massacres were committed in the heart of Baghdad? America's atrocities in Iraq are shameful and disgraceful. We saw it in 1991 when they bombed the Amiriyah shelter. And all their crimes confirm that they are an army rooted in violating human rights and constantly humiliating the weak.

Sputnik: Did you have a plan prepared in advance to defend Baghdad?
Ayad al-Tufan: Yes, but the plan to defend Baghdad was limited. Little was known about it, so the Americans quickly moved into Baghdad after arriving at the airport and from there into the government compound.
We know that many of the units that were present in Anbar, Salah Al-Din and Kirkuk Governorates did not fight. After the US troops arrived at the government headquarters, they laid down their weapons because there was no point in fighting anymore.

Sputnik: What are the most serious crimes against humanity committed by the US occupation forces after their arrival in Baghdad?

Ayad al-Tufan: Perhaps one of the most heinous crimes committed by US troops occurred during the battle for Baghdad Airport. The Iraqis set up a very large ambush there after receiving information that 12 American Chinook helicopters had arrived at the airport full of soldiers.
As soon as they landed, the Iraqi soldiers fired a massive electrical charge, incinerating 11 American helicopters and the soldiers on board, and only one managed to escape the trap.
During the second battle at the airport, Iraqi fighters managed to capture a large number of soldiers, killing more than 200.

The Americans then resorted to the use of chemical weapons that literally melted human flesh. I saw many burnt skeletons with my own eyes. And it looked very strange, especially since the area where the fighting took place was later turned into a no-go zone for all Iraqis.
Five years later, US troops issued tenders to deliver soil from outside the city. It was delivered to the Americans, who unloaded the dirt and brought it back. The price of a wagon reached $1,000.
In order to hide any and all traces of the chemical weapons crime, the soil in the area was replaced to a depth of 5-10 meters.
https://sputniknews.com/20230321/top-iraqi-military-official-tells-sputnik-of-american-crimes-during-2003-invasion-of-iraq-1108638138.html
Foreign Affairs / Concluded Russia-Africa Conference Shows Shaped Multipolar World — Official by BidenDConquerer: 1:31pm On Mar 21, 2023
The Russia-Africa International Parliamentary Conference, which was held in Moscow on March 19-20, has shown that a multipolar world has already shaped, Alexander Babakov, Russian State Duma Deputy Speaker and chairman of the conference’s organizing committee, told reporters.

"The result of the conference is that the multipolar world has already shaped. A number of those African countries that have come demonstrated these states’ readiness to recognize what was unfolding, and to treat it positively, as well as not to regard Russia as an isolated country, but as a reliable partner. There is no isolation of Russia either," the lawmaker stressed.

The second Russia-Africa International Parliamentary Conference was held on the platform of the State Duma. Over 40 official parliamentary delegations from African countries took part in the event. The conference was aimed at strengthening parliamentarian cooperation with African countries in the context of a multipolar world, developing relations and elaborating common approaches to legal regulation in the field of economy, science and education and security.

The conference was a preparatory event for the second Russia-Africa summit to be held on July 27-28 in St. Petersburg. The first international conference took place in Moscow in 2019.
https://tass.com/politics/1592009

1 Like

Foreign Affairs / Re: BREAKING NEWS!!! President Putin Makes Surprise Visit To Mariupol, Russia. by BidenDConquerer: 12:40pm On Mar 21, 2023
Zelensky makes surprise visit to Bakhmut grin grin
Lol... just kidding...NL was boring this morning.
Modified...morning/afternoon.
Foreign Affairs / Re: Ukraine Ceasefire ‘unacceptable’ – White House by BidenDConquerer: 12:39pm On Mar 21, 2023
China Reiterates Readiness to Play Constructive Role in Settlement of Ukraine Crisis

Chinese President Xi Jinping has confirmed to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting in Moscow that Beijing is ready to continue playing a constructive role in promoting a political settlement of the Ukraine conflict, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Xi arrived in Moscow on Monday for a three-day state visit at Putin's invitation to hold talks on further development of the bilateral comprehensive partnership, strategic interaction between Russia and China, and the Ukraine conflict. Upon his arrival in Moscow, the Chinese leader held an informal 4.5-hour meeting with Putin.

"China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting the political settlement of the Ukraine issue ... Russia has carefully studied China's position paper on the political settlement of the Ukraine issue and is open to talks for peace. Russia welcomes China to play a constructive role in this regard," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement, following the meeting in Moscow.

During the talks with Putin, Xi also noted that "voices for peace and rationality are building" around the world. Many countries support easing tensions, facilitating peace talks and are against escalating the situation by "adding fuel to the fire," the Chinese president added.

"A review of history shows that conflicts in the end have to be settled through dialogue and negotiation. China released a document on its position on the Ukraine crisis, advocating the political settlement of the crisis and rejecting the Cold War mentality and unilateral sanctions," the statement read.

In February, China released a 12-point document titled "China' Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis," promoting, among other things, respect of the sovereignty of all countries, the cessation of hostilities and the resumption of peace talks between Moscow and Kiev.
https://sputniknews.com/20230321/china-reiterates-readiness-to-play-constructive-role-in-settlement-of-ukraine-crisis-1108639204.html

Foreign Affairs / Indonesia To Ditch Visa And Mastercard by BidenDConquerer: 12:26pm On Mar 21, 2023
PREV Threads:
Indonesians Urged To Abandon Western Payment Systems
https://www.nairaland.com/7617715/indonesians-urged-abandon-western-payment



Russia Bans Swift
https://www.nairaland.com/7620411/russia-bans-swift



Tanzania & India Switch From US Dollar To Local Currencies In Bilateral Trade
https://www.nairaland.com/7617235/tanzania-india-switch-us-dollar



Jakarta wants to reduce its dependence on foreign payment systems, citing sanctions on Russia.

The Bank of Indonesia is preparing to phase out Visa and Mastercard while introducing its own domestic payment system, Antara news agency reported on Monday, citing the regulator.

Last week, Indonesian President Joko Widodo urged regional authorities to wean themselves away from foreign payment systems and start using cards issued by local banks. He argued that Indonesia needed to shield itself from geopolitical disruptions, citing the sanctions targeting Russia’s financial sector from the US, EU, and their allies over the conflict in Ukraine.

“Be very careful. We must remember the sanctions imposed by the US on Russia. Visa and Mastercard could be a problem,” he said.

Commenting on the initiative, the central bank’s spokesperson, Erwin Haryono, said that the regulator was in talks with local businesses “and the progress is about 90%,” adding that domestic cards will have many advantages, including lower fees. Also, according to him, “offshore settlements and dependence on foreign payment networks such as US Visa or Mastercard will no longer be necessary.”

Board member of the Indonesian Credit Cards Association (AKKI), Dodit Proboyakti, told RIA Novosti that Indonesia would apply the experience of Russia and its Mir payment system to promote the domestic financial network.

Indonesia’s interbank system, GPN, currently supports only local debit cards and requires some adjustments to properly serve credit cards and international transactions, according to AKKI executive director Steve Marta.

Moscow rolled out its own national card system, Mir, soon after the US first targeted the country with sanctions in 2014, and created the domestic National Payment Card System (NSPK) to smoothly take over all Visa and Mastercard transactions should the US-based companies pull the plug.
https://www.rt.com/business/573306-indonesia-ditching-visa-mastercard/

1 Like

Foreign Affairs / Re: Ukraine Ceasefire ‘unacceptable’ – White House by BidenDConquerer: 12:06pm On Mar 21, 2023
BidenDConquerer:

The West is still licking the wounds of the succesful Iran-Saudi peace deal mediated by China...the war mongering West won't survive another blow.
That Iran-Saudi peace deal was like a miracle.

Foreign Affairs / Re: Ukraine Ceasefire ‘unacceptable’ – White House by BidenDConquerer: 12:01pm On Mar 21, 2023
Presidents Putin and Xi Jinping discussed China’s peace plan for Ukraine.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry in February published a document laying out its position on a political settlement of the crisis in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed China’s plan for the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine when they met one-on-one on Monday, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.

"That they have discussed it is obvious because they said they would," the spokesman said.

When asked if there’s any progress with that issue, Peskov said, "I won’t make any assessments. Let’s wait for the statements [by the leaders] for the news media [following the talks on Tuesday]."

The spokesman didn’t say if the issues of natural gas contracts, military-technical cooperation and others had been brought up at the meeting.

"The leaders will talk about this when they make their statements," Peskov said.

The Kremlin spokesman referred to the Defense Ministry the question whether the defense ministers of Russia and China will hold a separate meeting during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia.

"That’s something you need to ask the Russian Defense Ministry, as I’m not aware of this. I can only speak about the presidential agenda," he said.

The Chinese president is paying a state visit to Russia on March 20-22. On Monday he held a one-on-one meeting with Putin that lasted about 4 1/2 hours. Talks are scheduled to continue in the Kremlin after 3 pm on Tuesday. The leaders are expected to make statements for the press afterward.




China’s peace plan
The Chinese Foreign Ministry in February published a document laying out its position on a political settlement of the crisis in Ukraine. It includes 12 points, including calls for a ceasefire, respect for the legitimate security interests of all countries, the settlement of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, the exchange of prisoners of war between Moscow and Kiev, and the rejection of unilateral sanctions without an authorization by the UN Security Council. The document described the talks as "the only way to resolve the crisis in Ukraine" and called on all sides to support Moscow and Kiev in "moving toward each other" and promptly resuming a direct dialogue. It urged the global community to create conditions and provide a platform for the resumption of talks.
https://tass.com/politics/1591949

Foreign Affairs / Re: Twenty Years Later, US Still Struggling With Anarchy Unleashed By Iraq Invasion by BidenDConquerer: 8:44pm On Mar 20, 2023
‘No state is safe’ 20 years after Iraq invasion – Russian envoy to US

Washington learned nothing from the 2003 aggression, Ambassador Anatoly Antonov has said.

Although the entire world has known for years that the invasion of Iraq was based on false pretenses and a violation of international law, the US continues to insist it was justified in the name of its global hegemony, the Russian ambassador to Washington said on Monday.

Commenting on the anniversary of the attack on Iraq, Anatoly Antonov called it a “dark page in American history,” when the US “once again demonstrated complete disregard for the UN Charter and the norms of international law” and violated Iraqi sovereignty using “open deceit” to justify its actions.

The pretext for the war was “deliberately fabricated,” Antonov said, pointing to the infamous incident when Secretary of State Colin Powell waved a vial of powder at the UN pretending it was a sample of Iraqi WMDs, which did not exist.

“Hundreds of thousands of people died. Millions fled their homes, becoming refugees,” Antonov said. The destruction of the city of Fallujah, the massacres perpetrated by Blackwater mercenaries, and the torture at Abu Ghraib prison, he added, will be long remembered as examples of US “democratization.”


By sowing chaos in Iraq, the US created fertile soil for the rise of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) and other terrorist groups in the Middle East, which still threaten regional and international security, Antonov noted.

Even now, after 20 years, the US continues to insist that the invasion to overthrow the government of Saddam Hussein was somehow justified, which in Antonov’s opinion is an attempt to convince the world “that the Americans have the right to do whatever they please.”

“This means no state can feel safe if it does something to displease Washington,” Antonov said.

US troops are still in the region “under the guise of the noble counter-terrorism mission,” but are in fact trying to play world police and control both resource-rich Iraq and its neighborhood, the ambassador pointed out.

British, Australian, and Polish troops joined the US in invading Iraq on March 20, 2003, based on Washington’s claims that Baghdad had weapons of mass destruction and was somehow connected to Al-Qaeda, which was blamed for the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Though the conventional Iraqi resistance was broken by May 1, an uprising against the US occupation government continued on for years.

US troops had officially withdrawn from Iraq at the end of 2011, but returned in 2014 to fight against IS, which had taken over a third of the country.

https://www.rt.com/news/573308-us-iraq-invasion-anniversary/

Foreign Affairs / Re: Russia Bans Swift by BidenDConquerer: 8:22pm On Mar 20, 2023
BidenDConquerer:

True.
Tanzania & India Switch From US Dollar To Local Currencies In Bilateral Trade
https://www.nairaland.com/7617235/tanzania-india-switch-us-dollar



Indonesians Urged To Abandon Western Payment Systems
https://www.nairaland.com/7617715/indonesians-urged-abandon-western-payment
Foreign Affairs / Re: Ukraine Ceasefire ‘unacceptable’ – White House by BidenDConquerer: 8:13pm On Mar 20, 2023
Global Wrench
Stopping the ongoing genocide of the Ukrainian people is "Unacceptable".

My interpretation.
If there's any merit to the warrant issued by the ICC, then attempts to put a stop to the millitary activities that lead to that psuedo judicial action (warrant) shouldn't be unacceptable. The West doesn't care about the lives of Ukrainians..they're disposable and should be sacrificed on the altar of Western pride.

Or

At least one side accuses the other of committing genocide.
Diplomatic attempts to put a stop to the activities that lead to this genocide shouldn't be unacceptable.

Foreign Affairs / Re: Russia Opens Criminal Probe Into ICC by BidenDConquerer: 7:56pm On Mar 20, 2023
pol23:
As it should be….
ICC has only been able to jailed African leaders.
European and American leaders are always perfect despite their shortcomings..::
If Obama is not a criminal, then Putin isn’t.
Word
Foreign Affairs / Re: How Was Life In Saudi Arabia Before Oil Was Found? by BidenDConquerer: 7:51pm On Mar 20, 2023
Is Saudi Arabia a Western Democracy?

The King of Saudi Arabia, officially the King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Arabic: ملك المملكة العربية السعودية), is the monarchial head of state and ruler of Saudi Arabia who holds absolute power.

Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (Arabic: محمد بن سلمان آل سعود, romanized: Muḥammad bin Salmān Āl Su‘ūd; born 31 August 1985), colloquially known by his initials MBS or MbS, is Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.

The prime minister of Saudi Arabia is the chair of the Council of Ministers and head of government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Mohammed bin Salman has been Prime Minister since 27 September 2022. The post has always been held by either the King or the Crown Prince.

1 Like

Religion / Re: Methodist Bible College Fires Aaron Edwards Over Homosexuality Tweet by BidenDConquerer: 2:37pm On Mar 20, 2023
Hussein035:


That's why I love Muslims. By the time you said you are homononsense your head is gone within 3 days if you refuse to repent
Me too.
Religion / Re: Methodist Bible College Fires Aaron Edwards Over Homosexuality Tweet by BidenDConquerer: 2:35pm On Mar 20, 2023
ronalmagic10:
Remember Pandora was pictured with the prime minister in his office in UK. Notice how the western world were supporting him and trying to force him on us

The westerners are not after the best interest of the country. They have never been!!

They always give their support to the person they can use to exploit the nation, plunder their resources and enforce their wayward lifestyle on

They thought they could use buhari since Jonathan refused their agenda but they've seen their mistake that buhari is even more stubborn and refused to yield. The main reason they don't want to support Tinubu is cos they know he will never agree for them as he's even more stubborn and decisive than buhari


I'm a Christian but it's a shameful thing to see Christian nation doing and tolerating rubbish. Look at US, UK and other countries

They tried to bully Qatar during the world cup and I'm glad they never gave up their principle

Tinubu a devout Muslim with a Christian pastor for a wife will never give in to their homosexuality agenda

Pandora must have sold us out for him to enjoy their support and patronage but God forbid

God bless Nigeria
God bless President buhari
God bless President elect Tinubu
God bless you bro.

1 Like 1 Share

Religion / Re: Methodist Bible College Fires Aaron Edwards Over Homosexuality Tweet by BidenDConquerer: 2:33pm On Mar 20, 2023
Sitwalkstand:
The west has gone mad and far into spiritual darkness.

They promote free speech but clamps down on you when it doesn't suit their narrative.

Many landlords in England will openly tell you no kids when renting a house to you. As in they will tell you that if you have children they can't rent to you.

is that not discrimination against children.

Foreign Affairs / Re: Russia-Ukraine War: World News, Weapons & Battlefield Discussions - Live by BidenDConquerer: 2:29pm On Mar 20, 2023
Alamkir:


If u say that, u are making it look like anyone take him serious b4. D dude was seriously searching for relevance but got non
cheesy grin
You're a murderer, a war criminal grin

1 Like

Foreign Affairs / Re: Banned From Russian Airspace, U.S. Airlines Look To Restrict Competitors Because by BidenDConquerer: 2:28pm On Mar 20, 2023
bassdow:


Funny enough, other countries are watching and learning and soon enough, most (if not all) countries would be LESS vulnerable to SANCTIONs.
True.
Tanzania & India Switch From US Dollar To Local Currencies In Bilateral Trade
https://www.nairaland.com/7617235/tanzania-india-switch-us-dollar



Indonesians Urged To Abandon Western Payment Systems
https://www.nairaland.com/7617715/indonesians-urged-abandon-western-payment
Foreign Affairs / Re: Ukraine Ceasefire ‘unacceptable’ – White House by BidenDConquerer: 2:24pm On Mar 20, 2023
BidenDConquerer:

Zelensky should just say (to the West) give me more weapons or I'll accept a Chinese brokered peace deal (which will gravely embarrass the West).
The West is still licking the wounds of the succesful Iran-Saudi peace deal mediated by China...the war mongering West won't survive another blow.
That Iran-Saudi peace deal was like a miracle.


EU Agrees on Ammunition Plan for Kiev Worth $2.1Bln, Reports Say

The European Union has agreed on the ammunition plan for Ukraine worth two billion euros ($2.1 billion), media reported on Monday, citing diplomats.
Brussels hosts a meeting of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers is taking place in Brussels on Monday.
Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, after the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics appealed for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian provocations.

Western countries have been supplying Ukraine with various types of weapons systems, including air defense missiles, multiple launch rocket systems, tanks, self-propelled artillery and anti-aircraft guns since Russia launched its special military operation. In late January, Germany committed to sending 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks to Kiev, with other states announcing similar steps or promising to join the initiative. Moscow has continuously warned that sending more lethal aid to Kiev risks escalating the conflict and involving NATO in direct confrontation with Russia.
The Kremlin has repeatedly warned against arms deliveries that could further escalate hostilities, leading to the US and NATO's direct involvement in the conflict.

https://sputniknews.com/20230320/eu-agrees-on-ammunition-plan-for-kiev-worth-21bln-reports-say-1108602341.html

1 Like

Foreign Affairs / Re: Russia Welcomes China’s Readiness To Help Ukrainian Crisis Settlement by BidenDConquerer: 2:22pm On Mar 20, 2023
bassdow:


and if this conflict doesn't end soon enough, Russia just might acquire much more regions than they already have.
kiss

1 Like

Foreign Affairs / Re: Ukraine Ceasefire ‘unacceptable’ – White House by BidenDConquerer: 2:18pm On Mar 20, 2023
Adjovi:
Like say Russia self want ceasefire grin grin grin grin. Russia is ready for as long as Una want make the war last. Na only Ukraine and Ukrainians I pity
I agree.
BidenDConquerer:

The thing is.
Whether Nazi Ukraine agrees to a peace deal or not...it doesn't affect China or the outcome of the SMO for Russia(the only loser here is Nazi Ukraine). But China will not fail for lack of trying (vis a vis peace negotiations/diplomacy). So, I applaud China's moves. They might actually reach a peace deal. They brokered a peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran...it was thought to be impossible.

1 Like

Foreign Affairs / Re: Ukraine Ceasefire ‘unacceptable’ – White House by BidenDConquerer: 2:17pm On Mar 20, 2023
Abrahamweb:
USA industrial complex fit die if President Xi succeed in negotiating and ending this war.
Zelensky should just say (to the West) give me more weapons or I'll accept a Chinese brokered peace deal (which will gravely embarrass the West).
The West is still licking the wounds of the succesful Iran-Saudi peace deal mediated by China...the war mongering West won't survive another blow.
That Iran-Saudi peace deal was like a miracle.

5 Likes 1 Share

Foreign Affairs / Re: Twenty Years Later, US Still Struggling With Anarchy Unleashed By Iraq Invasion by BidenDConquerer: 1:20pm On Mar 20, 2023
How US Invasion Devastated Iraq's Cultural Treasure (Video)

In March 2003, the US-led coalition invaded Iraq and overthrew the country's president, Saddam Hussein, ushering in more than a decade of instability in the nation and across the region.

The National Museum of Iraq is the main attraction in Baghdad, and Iraq as a whole. It is the largest and oldest museum in the country.
In 2003, during the US invasion of Iraq, the National Museum, one of the largest museums in the world, was looted. In April 2003, unknown bandits plundered the museum.
About 15,000 items were stolen, including 5,000 valuable cylinder seals.

https://sputniknews.com/20230320/how-us-invasion-devastated-iraqs-cultural-treasures-1108593003.html

Politics / Re: Funke Akindele Deletes Politics-Related Posts From Her Instagram Page by BidenDConquerer: 1:11pm On Mar 20, 2023
Osesbrainwave:
Funke Akindele deletes all politics-related posts on her Instagram page as she switches back to Public Figure.
...
Me to o, I'm done with anything politics

Back to sports, influencing, travels & plans ahead of the photography & digital marketing masterclass this year.

So much still to be achieved this year.

Ire o 🔥❤️🇳🇬
Instagram followers didn't transform into votes grin

3 Likes

Foreign Affairs / Re: South Africa Should Have Arrested Sudan’s President, I.C.C. Rules by BidenDConquerer: 1:08pm On Mar 20, 2023
madridguy:
I remember this news then. How come the ICC want SA to do their job for them. Maybe by now SA fit don be like South Sudan tongue
Abi o grin
Foreign Affairs / Re: China's President Xi Jinping Arrives In Moscow by BidenDConquerer: 1:08pm On Mar 20, 2023
Badassniggga:
what a foølish remark. But of course you're entitled to believe your own BS.
The thing is.
Whether Nazi Ukraine agrees to a peace deal or not...it doesn't affect China or the outcome of the SMO for Russia(the only loser here is Nazi Ukraine). But China will not fail for lack of trying (vis a vis peace negotiations/diplomacy). So, I applaud China's moves. They might actually reach a peace deal. They brokered a peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran...it was thought to be impossible.

1 Like

Foreign Affairs / Re: Putin Arrest Warrant Flouts International Law – Medvedev by BidenDConquerer: 12:53pm On Mar 20, 2023
BidenDConquerer:
PREV Thread:
How The ICC Warrant Successfully Isolates Russia?
https://www.nairaland.com/7616094/how-icc-warrant-successfully-isolates

The order cannot be executed and highlights the deficiencies of the International Criminal Court, the ex-Russian president said.

The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin is a sign of the collapse of the system of international law, Former President Dmitry Medvedev has said.

Medvedev dismissed the judicial body as “s**tty and wanted by nobody,” citing its poor record of holding high-profile suspects accountable. Even former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who has been wanted by the court since 2005, “spits on the charges, and despite a military coup at home [in 2019], remains unavailable,” (more on this later) the former president, who currently serves as deputy chair of the Russian Security Council(do you know why this is bolded?) , said in a social media post on Monday.

The biggest demonstration of the ICC’s impotence was its failed attempt to investigate war crimes committed by US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, he stated.

Washington derailed the court’s probe. John Bolton, the national security adviser under then-President Donald Trump, mused at the time that “for all intents and purposes, the ICC is already dead,” so Washington will allow it to “die on its own.”

South Africa Should Have Arrested Sudan’s President, I.C.C. Rules
https://www.nairaland.com/7619888/south-africa-should-arrested-sudans

grin grin
Foreign Affairs / Re: China's President Xi Jinping Arrives In Moscow by BidenDConquerer: 12:25pm On Mar 20, 2023
shegzhkn:

Lol, well lemme give you some.
Xi doesn't care about Putin or Russia, it all just business for the Chinese & they are gaining from his foolishness. I damn sure China doesn't want the war to end anytime sooner cos it good for their national interest.
Ok boy. grin
Foreign Affairs / Re: China's President Xi Jinping Arrives In Moscow by BidenDConquerer: 11:57am On Mar 20, 2023
For someone that volunteered to fight for Russia (I was rejected) and risk/lose my life... I consider my activity on Nairaland a very very small service to humanity.
I don't know why shegzhkn is using paracetamol for my headache.

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