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world news Diasabra 15 Januari 2022

Ethiopia objects to alleged “misconduct” of WHO chief Tedros

(AP) — The government and called for humanitarian from the northern part of
of Ethiopia has sent a let- access to the conflict-ridden Ethiopia. But I am saying this
ter to the World Health region of Ethiopia. without any bias.”
Organization, accusing its
Ethiopian director-gener- “Nowhere in the world are The Ethiopian government
al of “misconduct” after we witnessing hell like Ti- said Tedros was using his
his sharp criticism of the gray,” said Tedros at a media office “to advance his politi-
war and humanitarian cri- briefing Wednesday. He cited cal interest at the expense of
sis in the country. a missive WHO had received Ethiopia” and said he con-
recently from a physician in tinues to be an active mem-
Ethiopia nominated Tedros the region, who said health ber of the Tigray People’s
Adhanom Ghebreyesus to be authorities had run out of Liberation Front; Tedros was
the head of the U.N. health basic medicines for diseases foreign minister and health
agency four years ago, but including diabetes in June minister when the TPLF
says he has “not lived up to and were now using expired dominated the country’s rul-
the integrity and professional stocks and intravenous fluids. ing coalition.
expectations required from
his office,” accusing him of Tedros condemned Ethio- The Tigray People’s Libera-
interfering in Ethiopia’s in- pia’s blockade of internation- tion Front, the political party
ternal affairs, according to al access to Tigray, saying that that runs the Tigray region,
a press release issued late WHO had not been allowed has been clashing with Ethio- time any candidate was not Tedros has been a leading
Thursday. to send any supplies to the pian federal forces since the supported by his or her home voice urging rich countries
region since July, noting the country’s Nobel Peace Prize- country. Tedros is expected and vaccine makers to do
“Through his acts, (Tedros) U.N. agency had access to winning prime minister ac- to be confirmed for another more to improve access to
spread harmful misinfor- Syria and Yemen even during cused the heavily armed re- five-year term in May, as he COVID shots in the devel-
mation and compromised their worst conflicts. gional government of attack- is running unopposed. oping world — a call that has
WHO’s reputation, indepen- ing a military base. Each gov- largely gone unheeded.
dence and credibility,” Ethio- He said there should be “un- ernment regards the other as Under Tedros, WHO came
pia’s ministry of foreign af- fettered” humanitarian ac- illegitimate after a months- under withering criticism Last year, WHO faced
fairs said. cess to Tigray and said that long falling-out amid politi- from the U.S. Trump ad- mounting pressure over rev-
“just respecting the consti- cal reforms. ministration over allegations elations from an AP investi-
WHO had no immediate re- tutional order ”would bring of grievous missteps in re- gation and an independent
sponse to the claims. this problem into a peaceful In September, France, Ger- sponding to COVID-19 and panel that found senior man-
conclusion.” many and other European for allegedly “colluding” with agement were informed of
Tedros, an ethnic Tigrayan, countries nominated Tedros China in the early phases of sexual abuse allegations dur-
has repeatedly deplored the He continued: “Of course, for a second term as WHO’s the outbreak. ing the agency’s response to
situation in his home country I am from that region and director-general, the first an Ebola outbreak in Congo.

Russia demands US, NATO response next week on Ukraine

(AP) — Russia on Friday expand eastward despite a Russian troop buildup sustained a massive cyberat- are secondary in respect to
strongly reaffirmed its de- the rejection of that by near Ukraine. tack Friday, which hit web- Moscow’s main demand for
mand that NATO doesn’t the military alliance amid sites of multiple government the non-expansion of NATO
Foreign Minister Sergey agencies. and the non-deployment of
Lavrov warned that Moscow its weapons near the Russian
wouldn’t wait indefinitely for This week’s negotiations in territory, emphasizing that
the Western response, say- Geneva and a related NATO- the Russian proposals repre-
ing he expects the U.S. and Russia meeting in Brussels sent a “package, not a menu.”
NATO to provide a written were held amid a significant
answer next week. Russian troop buildup near “They must understand that
Ukraine that the West fears the key to everything is the
Lavrov described Moscow’s might be a prelude to an in- guarantee that NATO will
demands for binding guaran- vasion. not expand eastward,” Lavrov
tees that NATO will not em- said.
brace Ukraine or any other Russia, which annexed
ex-Soviet nations, or station Ukraine’s Crimean Penin- He countered the U.S. and
its forces and weapons there sula in 2014, has denied hav- NATO’s argument that Rus-
as essential for the progress ing plans to attack its neigh- sia doesn’t have veto power
of diplomatic efforts to de- bor but warned the West to prevent other nations
fuse soaring tensions over that NATO’s expansion to from joining the alliance
Ukraine. Ukraine and other ex-Soviet by pointing to international
nations is a “red line” that agreements emphasizing that
He argued that NATO’s de- mustn’t be crossed. the security of some states
ployments and drills near mustn’t be achieved at the
Russia’s borders pose a se- Washington and its allies expense of others.
curity challenge that must be firmly rejected Moscow’s de-
addressed immediately. mand for security guarantees Russia’s top diplomat warned
precluding NATO’s expan- that “if our proposals are re-
“We have run out of pa- sion, but Russia and the West jected ... we will make a de-
tience,” Lavrov said at a news agreed to leave the door open cision on how to ensure our
conference. “The West has to possible further talks on security in a reliable way,”
been driven by hubris and arms control and confidence- citing President Vladimir Pu-
has exacerbated tensions in building measures intended tin’s warning that Moscow
violation of its obligations to reduce the potential for will take unspecified “mili-
and common sense.” hostilities. tary-technical measures” if
the West stonewalls its de-
Amid the tensions, Ukraine Lavrov said that those issues mands.