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A30 world news
Diasabra 19 september 2020

Amal Clooney quits UK role over 'lamentable' Brexit plan

(AP) — Amal Clooney has One major element of the
become the highest pro- Brexit withdrawal agreement
file lawyer to quit an of- is the section related to en-
ficial job over her opposi- suring an open border on the
tion to the British govern- island of Ireland to protect
ment's suggestion that it the peace process in North-
could break international ern Ireland. The EU wanted
law in the event it fails to assurances the border would
agree a trade deal with the not be used as a back route
European Union. for unlicensed goods arriv-
ing in Ireland from the rest of
In a letter Friday to British the U.K. — England, Scot-
Foreign Secretary Dominic land and Wales. As a result,
Raab, the human rights law- the two sides agreed there
yer said she is quitting her would be some kind of regu-
role as the U.K.'s special en- latory border between main-
voy on media freedom over land Britain and Northern
the government's "lamenta- Ireland, an agreement that
ble" suggestion. the planned legislation could
breach.
She said she was "dismayed"
to learn that the government Clooney said she had ac-
intends to pass legislation cepted the role in April 2019
that would effectively over- because she believed "in the
ride sections of the Brexit importance of the cause, and
withdrawal agreement that year ago," she said in her let- cured. admitted that the legislation appreciate the significant role
Prime Minister Boris John- ter. Clooney, who married movie could potentially break in- that the U.K. has played and
son had himself negotiated. The Internal Market Bill, star George Clooney in 2014, ternational law, but argues can continue to play in pro-
"Although the government which is currently being de- becomes the latest lawyer to that it's an insurance policy moting the international legal
has suggested that the vio- bated by British lawmakers, resign over the planned leg- for that potential 'no-deal' order."
lation of international law has led to a furious outcry islation. Richard Keen, the scenario. Johnson has said Clooney said she had spoken
would be 'specific and lim- within the EU as it would di- British government's law of- the legislation is needed to to Raab about her concerns
ited', it is lamentable for the minish the bloc's previously ficer for Scotland, and the end EU threats to impose a but that she had "received no
U.K. to be speaking of its agreed oversight of trade be- head of its legal department, "blockade" in the Irish Sea assurance that any change of
intention to violate an inter- tween mainland Britain and Jonathan Jones, have also quit that the prime minister as- position is imminent."
national treaty signed by the Northern Ireland if a U.K.- in the past couple of weeks. serted could "carve up our As a result, she said she had
Prime Minister less than a EU trade agreement isn't se- The British government has country." "no alternative but to resign."

France: EU sanctions on Turkey an option over gas standoff

cuss how to respond to Tur- baros, currently operating He said a list of sanctions
key prospecting in areas of south of Cyprus. will be put before EU lead-
the sea that Greece and Cy- Turkish President Recep ers at next week's summit
prus insist are only theirs to Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey and whether they'll be imple-
explore. Turkey triggered a withdrew the surveying ves- mented will depend on Tur-
naval standoff with NATO sel, Oruc Reis, from Greece- key's actions.
ally Greece after dispatching claimed waters for mainte- "I'm hoping that it won't be-
a warship-escorted research nance to give diplomacy a come necessary to reach that
vessel in a part of the eastern chance. But he warned that point," Dendias said.
Mediterranean that Greece the ship wasn't done working Turkey doesn't recognize
says is over its continental and would be back. ethnically divided Cyprus as
shelf. Greece deployed its a state and insists it has every
own warship and naval pa- "As soon as the repairs and right to search for oil and gas
trols in response. maintenance process is over, in the eastern Mediterranean.
Oruc Reis will again return It has vowed to defend its
Greek and Turkish mili- to its duties," Erdogan said. rightful claims to the region's
tary officers are also holding The Turkish president also energy reserves, as well as
talks at NATO headquarters said he's ready to meet with those of breakaway Turkish
to work out ways of ensur- Greek Prime Minister Kyria- Cypriots.
ing that any standoff at sea kos Mitsotakis to end the
(AP) — France on Friday 27-member bloc considers doesn't descend into open military buildup and standoff Cypriot officials insist the
backed Cyprus' calls for employing if Turkey contin- conflict. at sea, but he warned Greece EU shouldn't set a "double
the European Union to ues to "endanger the security The tensions appeared to against actions that could poi- standard" by imposing sanc-
consider imposing tough- and sovereignty of a member ease in the last week, with son the negotiating climate. tions against Belarus for al-
er sanctions on Turkey if state." Greek and Turkish officials "We have no problem on the leged voter fraud and police
the Turkish government "But we consider that the having contact after Turkey issue of meeting Mitsotakis. brutality while avoiding do-
won't suspend its search Union should also be ready temporarily pulled back the But what will we discuss, ing so when Turkey carries
for energy reserves in east- to use all the instruments at research vessel. But Ankara under which framework will on its exploration at the ex-
ern Mediterranean waters its disposal, among them the extended until mid-October the discussion take place, that pense of EU members.
where Cyprus and Greece one of sanctions, if the situ- the stay of another drill ship, is important," Erdogan said. Beaune said the EU cannot
claim exclusive economic ation didn't not evolve posi- Yavuz, in an area southeast Greek Foreign Minister accept Turkish actions and
rights. tively," Beaune said after talks of Cyprus that lies inside the Nikos Dendias said Turkey's that France has "committed"
with Cypriot Foreign Minis- island nation's exclusive eco- withdrawal of its survey ship to resolving the issue while
French Minister for Eu- ter Nikos Christodoulides in nomic zone. and warship escorts was a making its military presence
ropean Affairs Clement Nicosia. Ship tracking website Ma- positive step, but that Greece felt in the eastern Mediter-
Beaune said sanctions should EU leaders are set to hold a rine Traffic showed a second needs to make sure Ankara is ranean in support of its EU
be among the options the summit in a few days to dis- Turkish research vessel, Bar- sincere. partners.