Free Republic

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini participated in the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. This will be 68-year-old Rouhani’s second term as president. […] In his speech to Iran’s parliament, Rouhani said his country will not be the first to violate the nuclear deal, but will also not stand by the deal if other countries violate it. […] In a pre-ceremony meeting with Mogherini, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Khonsari said the EU must remain alert to Trump’s efforts to “undermine the deal and blame Iran.” In her response, Mogherini promised that the EU...

Security Council became a kangaroo court, turning a perverted version of “international law” against the Trump administration for its just defense of the Jewish state of Israel and Israel's right to choose its own capital On December 6th, President Trump announced his decision to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to instruct the State Department to begin the process of relocating the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Two days later, at a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council, the other 14 members of the Council, including U.S. allies such as France, the United...

The European Union (EU) on Sunday denounced the death sentence handed down to Egypt’s ousted president Mohammed Morsi and at least 100 others, noting the penalty stemmed from a flawed trial, according to AFP. “The court decision to seek the death penalty… was taken at the end of a mass trial that was not in line with Egypt’s obligations under international law,” the EU’s top diplomat Federica Mogherini said in a statement. She added that Egypt has to guarantee defendants’ rights to a fair trial and to an independent investigation, noting the EU believes the sentence will be revised upon...

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called Wednesday on Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) to resume peace negotiations, saying the situation on the ground was "not sustainable," according to AFP. Mogherini issued the remarks after eyewitnesses said the Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out four strikes on terror targets in Gaza on Wednesday, hours after terrorists launched five rockets at civilians in the Jewish state. "We see the situation on the ground as not sustainable and (it is) an illusion to think the status quo is an option," Mogherini said at the opening of an annual meeting in Brussels...

..... "We will continue not to decide on the status of Jerusalem until it is determined in negotiations."

"I strongly condemn any attack on Jews anywhere in the world and on Israeli citizens," the EU foreign minister said...

The EU's diplomatic chief Monday bluntly rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's suggestion that Europe would follow the US in recognising Jerusalem as the Jewish state's capital, saying there would be no change to its stance on the holy city. Netanyahu said the controversial announcement by US President Donald Trump -- which prompted diplomatic alarm and street protests across the Islamic world -- had "put facts squarely on the table". As he arrived for talks in Brussels, Netanyahu said he expected "all or most" European countries would follow the US -- but the 28-nation bloc's foreign policy head Federica Mogherini...

The EU foreign policy chief says Europe does “not see eye to eye” with the Trump administration on major issues such as trade, climate change and funding of U.N. agencies, but can “easily” work with the U.S. on Syria and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Federica Mogherini spoke Saturday during a regional gathering of the World Economic Forum. Mogherini warned that threatened U.S. cuts in funding U.N. agencies “would create a major security issue worldwide, including in Europe.” …

(AFP) - The European Union warned on Tuesday of possible "serious repercussions" if United States President Donald Trump decides to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and move the US embassy there. EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini's office said, in a statement, that "any decision or unilateral action affecting Jerusalem's status" might have "serious repercussions on public opinion in large parts of the world." It added, "The focus should therefore remain on the efforts to restart the peace process and avoiding any action that would undermine such efforts." ....

Plans to move towards the creation of a European army are reportedly being kept secret from British voters until the day after next month’s referendum. Drawn up by the EU’s foreign policy chief, the Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy foresees the formation of new European military and operational structures. This first step towards an EU army is supported by Germany and other countries, The Times reports. In 2011, similar proposals were vetoed by Britain, although there were concerns that a loophole could allow nine states to group together to bypass opponents. In an effort to avoid derailing the...

Iran’s foreign minister on Saturday called on the United States to ease restrictions on non-American banks doing business with the Islamic Republic, saying it would help reassure Iranians over last year’s nuclear deal. “Iran will definitely put pressure on the United States to pave the way for the cooperation of non-American banks with Iran,” Mohammad Javad Zarif said during a press conference with visiting EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. “The other party, particularly the United States, is required to implement its commitments in banking cooperation,” he said, referring to the historic agreement, which lifted sanctions on Iran in return...

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini warned on Tuesday that Russia and Turkey are headed towards a "hot war," as she voiced concerns that the growing tensions between the two on the Syrian border risk spilling over into open warfare. Speaking at a debate at the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee in Brussels, Mogherini said, "we are always referring to Syria as a proxy war among regional actors. This risks to become something bigger than this." "I'm not thinking of a cold war. No, we risk a hot war among different actors than the one we always think of. Not...

European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini says she is preparing to visit Iran following the implementation of a landmark nuclear deal between Tehran with world powers. Mogherini said Saturday there was no set date had been set, but that preparations with Tehran were well underway. She insisted all 28 EU nations were backing the opening with Iran. ...

EU member states agreed Tuesday (17 November) to grant military assistance to France following Friday's terror attacks in Paris. For the first time in EU history, defence ministers unanimously decided to activate the "mutual defence clause" of the EU treaty. "France is requesting help and assistance from Europe. And today all Europe, united, answers yes," EU diplomacy chief Federica Mogherini said at a press conference. "The European Union expressed its strongest, full support and readiness to provide all the aid and assistance asked for and needed." French president Francois Hollande had invoked article 42.7 of the EU treaty in an...

The European Union will soon render its decision on whether to label goods produced by Jews in Judea and Samaria. Speaking at the conclusion of a summit of European foreign ministers in Luxembourg, EU foreign policy chief Frederica Mogherini said a special committee would soon submit its conclusions on the issue. "The work of the committee dealing with the issue is coming to a close - these are the last steps before we submit the conclusions," she said. Luxembroug's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said that in his opinion labeling Jewish-made goods produced across the Green Line was an important policy....

INTERNAL SECURITY In desperation INHABITANTS OF LESVOS shouting: "What do you want us to die?" The "illegal" is now armed: They smashed windows and grabbed from butcher store cleavers, knives and Hajar! The situation in Mytilini mostly shows beyond any limit with illegal immigrants they even threaten the very life of the people that they themselves describe as helping them. Angry residents reveal that illegal immigrants are now armed with knives, Hajar, axes as yesterday broke into big butcher in the region of Moria and took only the tools of the work of butchers. At the same time as themselves...

The Greek island of Lesbos has been turned into a war zone by rioting migrants, leaving the island’s 85,000 residents in despair. Around 25,000 migrants are currently camped out on the island with hundreds more arriving daily, leading to frequent violent clashes and rioting despite their claim to be fleeing violence. Located just 6 miles from the Turkish shore, the migrants come over in inflatable boats which they cut up on arrival to prevent being turned back, expecting to be able to quickly travel on by ferry to mainland Europe, German station RTL has reported. Instead, they are being held...

Europe's handling of its refugee crisis has led to much criticism and left even more to be desired, but until now Europe's general population was largely on the side of the misplaced migrants who are trying to reestablish their lives away from the daily horrors of the middle east, all in the name of a Qatari gas pipeline. Just today, the Globe and Mail reported that French public opinion has swung dramatically to majority support for an intake of more migrants from war zones like Syria, a new poll showed as the country welcomed further busloads of asylum seekers...

As thousands of refugees pour into Europe, Pope Francis has called on every parish and religious community to take in one family each. He said the Vatican state would set the example, with its two parishes each taking in a family of refugees in the coming days. There are more than 25,000 parishes in Italy alone, and some 12,000 in Germany, where many refugees fleeing war and hardship in the Middle East hope to end up. “Faced with the tragedy of tens of thousands of refugees, the Gospel calls us and asks us to show solidarity to the most vulnerable...

Pope Francis has called on every European parish and religious community to take in one refugee family each in a gesture of solidarity he said would start in the tiny Vatican state where he lives. Pope Francis said: “I appeal to the parishes, the religious communities, the monasteries and sanctuaries of all Europe to … take in one family of refugees,” he said after his customary Sunday address in the Vatican. “Every parish, every religious community, every monastery, every sanctuary of Europe, take in one family,” the pope said, to applause from the crowd at St. Peter’s Square. …