Page 9 - ARUBA TODAY

A9
WORLD NEWS Wednesday 21 March 2018

Russian diplomats arrive home from Britain after spy attack

By ANGELA CHARLTON fessionals, and there is no
JILL LAWLESS problem for Britain, the U.S.
Associated Press and other developed na-
MOSCOW (AP) — Nearly tions to create such weap-
two dozen Russian diplo- on," he said.
mats expelled by Britain Rink said Novichok had
over the poisoning of an a different name when it
ex-spy arrived home Tues- was designed in the Soviet
day, while a scientist in- Union, arguing that Brit-
volved in the creation of ish officials used the name
the nerve agent said it Novichok to convince the
could be manufactured by public that Russia was to
other countries. blame for the poisoning.
Former Russian double Britain has dismissed claims
agent Sergei Skripal and his the nerve agent could
daughter, Yulia, are in criti- come from the U.K. On Sun-
cal condition in the English day, Russia's ambassador
city of Salisbury after be- to the EU suggested the
ing poisoned on March 4. nerve agent could have
Britain said they were poi- come from Britain's chemi-
soned with a class of nerve cal weapons research fa-
agent known as Novichok cility, Porton Down. The Brit-
and blamed Russia for the ish government said that People with suitcases leave the Russian Embassy in London, Tuesday, March 20, 2018. Moscow is
awaiting nearly two dozen Russian diplomats ordered to leave Britain as part of a standoff over a
attack. was "nonsense." nerve agent attack on British soil.
Russian scientist Leonid Rink On March 14, British Prime (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
told the state RIA Novosti Minister Theresa May gave
news agency that Britain the 23 diplomats — whom ed to leave in the coming vehicles to Stansted Airport Skripal, who was convicted
and others could easily she said were undeclared days. Diplomats and their near London for a flight to of spying for Britain but re-
synthesize Novichok after intelligence agents — a families emerged from the Moscow that landed later leased in a 2010 spy swap. It
chemical expert Vil Mirzay- week to leave Britain. Rus- Russian Embassy in west Tuesday. said that it had completed
anov emigrated to the U.S. sia responded by expelling London with suitcases, bags Russia has fiercely denied the destruction of its chemi-
and revealed its formula. the same number of British and pet carriers. Some any involvement, saying cal arsenals last year under
"It's easily available to pro- diplomats, who are expect- hugged before boarding that it had no motive to kill international oversight.q

Aid groups slam EU-Turkey deal, as asylum applications drop

BRUSSELS (AP) — Interna- lives in more prosperous Eu- rope's failure to design and of whom have been there fast-track EU membership
tional aid groups on Tues- ropean countries. implement a unified refu- for up to two years. Only talks, visa free travel for its
day slammed the Euro- The numbers of people gee and migration policy those deemed to be vul- citizens and up to 6 billion
pean Union's migrant deal arriving on Greek islands which would respect the nerable cases are moved euros ($7.4 billion) to help
with Turkey, as new figures dropped dramatically after human rights of those cross- from the islands to camps Ankara deal with almost
showed that the number of the agreement. But while ing its borders seeking asy- on the mainland. Some three million refugees on
people seeking asylum in the EU sees the deal as a lum," said Jenny Kavounidi, 13,400 people are currently its territory. The EU has tried
Europe dropped by almost great success, Amnesty In- board member of the Soli- stranded on the islands. The to duplicate elements of
half last year compared to ternational, Human Rights darityNow aid group. agreement with Turkey stip- the Turkey deal in agree-
2016. The deal, sealed ex- Watch and others called it Rights groups have repeat- ulated that those arriving ments with other countries
actly two years ago, aimed a failure by Europe to deal edly complained of precar- after March 20, 2016 would — mostly in Northern Africa
to halt the flow of hundreds with the refugee issue ad- ious security, poor health be held on the islands and — that migrants leave or
of thousands of people equately, saying it leaves caused by overcrowding returned to Turkey unless transit to reach Europe. The
from Turkey — most of them people trapped in often and increasing mental they successfully applied bloc has always pointed to
fleeing conflict in Syria — hopeless situations. health problems due to for asylum in Greece. In the sharp drop in arrivals
to nearby Greek islands in "The (EU-Turkey) deal is the uncertainty faced by return for helping Europe, over the last two years in
search of better and safer a glaring example of Eu- those in the camps, many Brussels promised Turkey response to criticism. q