It is ‘Global Village Today’ that delivers major news from various countries around the world.
Host) What news do you have today?
Reporter) Tension levels are rising in the Black Sea area as the Russian military launched a missile strike on the port of Odessa on the Black Sea coast following a warning shot at a civilian cargo ship passing through the Black Sea. Israel has protested Saudi Arabia’s decision to appoint a non-resident Palestinian ambassador for the first time in history.
Host) Global Village Today, I’ll start with news from Ukraine. There have been frequent reports of dangerous movements in the Black Sea lately.
Reporter) Yes. Ukrainian authorities said Russia fired warning shots at a merchant ship loaded with Palau earlier on the 13th and attacked Odessa, a major port city on the Black Sea coast, on the 14th.
Host) First, let’s look at the situation in which the Russian military fired warning shots at merchant ships shipping in Palau. Where was the merchant ship going?
Reporter) Yes. The Palau shipping cargo ship ‘Sukrokan’ was heading to the port of Izmail, Ukraine. The port of Izmail is one of the main ports through which Ukrainian grain is exported.
Moderator) But why did the Russian military fire a warning shot at the merchant ship?
Reporter) The Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement on the 13th and said that the Russian patrol ship ‘Vasily Bikou’ had spotted a cargo ship entering the Black Sea and requested that the vessel be stopped to investigate whether or not it was carrying contraband. revealed. However, when there was no response from the ship, he explained that after firing automatic weapons and forcing the ship to stop, soldiers entered the ship using a helicopter and inspected the interior. The Russian Ministry of Defense said the ship is continuing its voyage after inspections have been completed.
Moderator) It was a warning shot, but it must have been a fairly urgent situation, right?
Reporter) Yes. In the video released, helicopters are seen hovering around the ship from above, and the ship’s crew are seen huddled on the deck in fear. After announcing its suspension of participation in the Black Sea Grain Agreement last month, Russia warned that any ships going through the Black Sea to Ukrainian waters would be considered potential military transports carrying weapons. In fact, it was the first time that a merchant ship sailing in the Black Sea was fired upon.
Host) How did the Ukrainian government react?
Reporter) The Ukrainian government immediately protested strongly, saying it was a violation of international law. In a post on social media on the 13th, Mikhailo Podolyak, adviser to the president of Ukraine, condemned the actions of the Russian military as a crime against civilian ships of third countries in other countries’ waters and a clear violation of international law. In addition, Ukraine warned that it would find out the best response.
Host) There was also an air raid on Odessa, a port city on the Black Sea coast?
Reporter) Yes. Odessa is the largest port city on the Black Sea coast, about 250 km northeast of Izmail. Olesa Governor Olesa Kipper said on social media on the 14th that at least three people were injured in a missile strike by Russian forces at dawn. The attack set fires in several parts of the city and broke windows in several buildings. However, he said he was unable to determine the exact extent of the damage.
On the other hand, Ukraine is also stepping up its aggression against Russia in the Black Sea?
Reporter) Yes. The Russian Ministry of Defense said on the 12th that Ukraine attacked the bridge twice. The Khrm Bridge is a 19-kilometer-long bridge that connects the Russian mainland with the Ukrainian Kram Peninsula, which Russia forcibly annexed in 2014. Russia also claimed to have intercepted all 20 Ukrainian drones flying toward the Crimean Peninsula on the same day, and the Black Sea is turning into a new battlefield following the eastern and southern Ukrainian fronts.
Reporter) In the midst of this, is there any news that the Chinese defense minister is visiting Russia?
Reporter) Yes. Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Li Shangfu will visit Russia and Belarus from the 14th to the 19th. The Chinese Ministry of National Defense said in a statement on the 14th that Director Li Sangfu would visit Russia and Belarus at the invitation of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Hrenik.
Moderator) Did the Chinese Defense Minister explain the purpose of visiting these countries?
Reporter) Yes. China’s Ministry of National Defense said Li will speak at the Moscow International Security Conference during his visit to Russia. Li will also meet with senior Russian defense officials, including national defense heads attending the meeting. It is known that Li Sangfu will also meet with national leaders and military leaders in Belarus and inspect military units.
Moderator) What kind of meeting is the Moscow International Security Conference?
Reporter) Yes. Security conference hosted by the Russian Ministry of Defense. First opened in 2012, this year marks the 11th. We discuss issues related to international security. Participating countries are usually countries friendly to Russia. Defense ministers from about 30 countries attended the Moscow International Security Conference held in August last year.
Moderator) Recently, China and Russia continue to expand military cooperation, right?
Reporter) Yes. The two countries are stepping up military cooperation through joint reconnaissance and a series of joint military exercises. Defense Minister Ri Sang-fu also visited Russia in April and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, pledging to expand military cooperation. He also met with the chief of staff of the Russian Navy last month.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, left, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman during a meeting in Riyadh in October 2019. (data photo)
Host) Global village today, the next news. A new conflict has arisen between Israel and Saudi Arabia?
Reporter) Yes. Saudi Arabia established a non-resident Palestinian ambassador on the 12th and appointed an ambassador to Jordan to the position. The Israeli government immediately protested the next day (13th). Currently, Saudi Arabia and Israel are pursuing normalization of diplomatic relations. Attention is focusing on what impact this measure will have.
Host) Is this the first time that Saudi Arabia has appointed a Palestinian ambassador?
Reporter) Yes. So far, Palestinian-related affairs have been handled by the Saudi Arabian embassy in Jordan. However, the Saudi embassy in Jordan announced on social media on the 12th that “Ambassador Nayef al-Sudairi will serve as the consul general in Jerusalem along with the non-resident Palestinian ambassador in the future.”
Moderator) How did Ambassador Sudairy react to being assigned the position of ambassador to Palestine for the first time in history?
Reporter) Yes. “This appointment is an important step that strongly reflects the King and Crown Prince’s desire to strengthen ties with our Palestinian brothers,” Ambassador Sudairi told Saudi Arabia’s state-run Al-Aqbariyah Broadcasting.
Host) On the other hand, is Israel rebelling?
Reporter) Yes. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told local radio station on the 13th that Ambassador Sudairi could be the one to meet with the Palestinian Authority representative, but he would not allow a Saudi official to physically reside in Jerusalem. Cohen also said it was out of coordination with Israel and that the incident was related to negotiations to normalize diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Moderator) In a situation where Saudi Arabia and Israel are pursuing normalization of diplomatic relations, wouldn’t this kind of action act as a bad thing?
Reporter) Yes. However, Minister Cohen argues that the Saudi government took this step to send a message that it has not forgotten the Palestinians even while negotiating with Israel. Saudi Arabia has not recognized Israel as a state for decades. He has adhered to the Arab League (AL) position not to establish diplomatic ties with Israel until the Palestinian conflict is resolved.
Host) But is this position changing?
Reporter) Yes. Saudi Arabia and Israel have been pushing to normalize diplomatic relations with the mediation of the United States. In the midst of this, the ‘Wall Street Journal’ recently reported that Saudi Arabia had reached an agreement with the United States to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel.
Moderator) How did Palestine react to the news of the appointment of a non-resident ambassador?
Reporter) responded positively. Bassam al-Gah, the Palestinian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, welcomed the appointment of al-Sudairi in an interview with ‘Radio Palestine’, saying, “Al-Sudairi’s appointment signifies Saudi recognition of Palestine as a state and the continuation of Saudi Arabia’s existing position.” He also interpreted the Saudi government’s refusal to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017.
Host) I will listen to the global village today.
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2023-08-14 14:20:32
