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A6 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 13 auguSt 2022
Paraguay vice president to quit after U.S. alleges corruption

By DANIEL POLITI President Mario Abdo
Associated Press Benítez said the U.S. allega-
BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Para- tions “surprised us all” but
guay Vice President Hugo congratulated Velázquez
Velázquez Moreno said Fri- for his quick decision to
day he will resign next week drop out of the presiden-
shortly after he was includ- tial race and announce he
ed on a U.S. corruption list would be stepping down
for his alleged involvement as vice president.
in offering bribes to a pub- “I congratulate him for his
lic official. mature attitude in prioritiz-
The inclusion of Velázquez ing the interests and the
on the corruption list, an- construction of credibility
nounced by U.S. Ambas- of our nation in announc-
sador to Paraguay Marc ing to the Paraguayan
Ostfield Friday morning, people that he will resign
rocked Paraguay’s politi- as a candidate and as vice
cal world not only due to president,” Abdo said.
Moreno’s role in President “Duarte’s act of corrup-
Mario Abdo Benítez’s ad- tion abused and exploited
ministration but also be- his powerful and privileged
cause he is seen as a lead- public position within the
ing contender to become Yacyretá Bi-National Entity,
a presidential candidate Paraguay’s Vice President Hugo Velazquez smiles during “Te Deum” at the Cathedral in Asuncion, risking public confidence
for the Colorado Party in Paraguay, Aug. 15, 2018. in one of Paraguay’s most
next year’s elections. Associated Press vital economic assets,” the
Minutes after Ostfield spoke with a local radio station. “I dent Velázquez, Duarte, his tions, Velázquez, Duarte State Department said.
at a news conference at don’t know what he’s refer- close personal and profes- and their immediate family Duarte has been removed
the U.S. embassy in the Par- ring to because he didn’t sional partner, offered a members will no longer be from his post at Yacyretá,
aguayan capital of Asun- give too many details.” bribe of more than $1 mil- allowed to enter the United Abdo said.
ción, Velázquez expressed Juan Carlos Duarte, a for- lion to a public official.” States. The designation comes
his innocence but said he mer prosecutor who is a This offering of a bribe was Velázquez said he is “com- mere weeks after a former
would drop his presiden- close personal and busi- “consistent with an appar- pletely and totally” in the president of Paraguay,
tial candidacy and would ness associate of Moreno, ent pattern of corrupt ac- dark about the allegations Horacio Manuel Cartes,
present his resignation to was also included in the tivity” and in this case it was detailed by Ostfield. was also included on a
Congress next week so corruption list, Ostfield said. carried out to “obstruct an Paraguay’s vice president U.S. corruption list for his
he could defend himself Ostfield said Secretary of investigation that threat- said he would resign be- “involvement in significant
against the allegations. State Antony Blinken “re- ened the vice president cause he wants to “go out corruption.” Cartes served
“It really hit me like a bucket ceived credible informa- and his financial interests,” like a common citizen to as president of Paraguay
of cold water,” Velázquez tion” that showed how “at Ostfield said. defend what I think is an in- between August 2013 and
said during an interview the request of Vice Presi- As a result of the designa- justice.” August 2018. q

India criticizes China for blocking UN sanctions on militant

By ASHOK SHARMA Associ- position of U.N. sanctions tremist group designated on an Indian air force base U.N. blacklist. Makki has
ated Press sought by it and the United by the United Nations as a in Pathankot. been under U.S. sanctions
NEW DELHI (AP) — India States against the deputy terrorist organization. An official at China’s U.N. since November 2010, and
on Friday criticized China’s chief of Jaish-e-Moham- “It is unfortunate that when Mission, who was not au- India says he has been in-
decision to block the im- mad, a Pakistan-based ex- it comes to our collective thorized to speak publicly, volved in raising funds, re-
battle against terrorism the said on Wednesday that his cruiting and radicalizing
international community country put the proposed young people to resort to
has been unable to speak listing of Azhar for sanctions violence, and planning at-
in one common voice,” In- on hold because it need- tacks, including in Mumbai
dian External Affairs Minis- ed more time to study the in 2008.
try spokesperson Arindam case. He said the U.N. Se- The Indian spokesperson
Bagchi said. curity Council committee said on Friday there should
Abdul Rauf Azhar has been monitoring sanctions allows be no double standards in
under U.S. sanctions since “holds” on people pro- dealing with terrorists. “The
December 2010 for act- posed for sanctions, “and practice of placing holds
ing for or on behalf of the there have been quite a and blocks without giving
group, known as JEM. India number of similar holds by any justification must end.
says Azhar was involved in committee members on It is most regrettable that
the planning and execu- listing requests.” genuine and evidence-
tion of numerous terror at- In June, China put a hold based listing proposals
tacks, including the 1999 on adding Abdul Rehm- pertaining to some of the
hijacking of an Indian Air- an Makki, deputy chief of most notorious terrorists in
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, front and Chinese President lines aircraft, the 2001 at- another Pakistani group the world are being placed
Xi Jinping shake hands with leaders at the BRICS summit in Goa,
India, Oct. 16, 2016. tack on the Indian Parlia- proscribed by the U.N., on hold,” Bagchi said in a
Associated Press ment and the 2016 attack Lashkar-e-Taiba, to the statement.q