Page 2 - aruba-today-20170807

A2 UP FRONT
Monday 7 august 2017
Welcome boost from China to global pressure on North Korea

gling sought to build on the late the U.N.’s decision or
sweeping new North Korea provoke international soci-
sanctions passed by the ety’s goodwill by conduct-
U.N. Security Council a day ing missile launching or nu-
earlier — the strongest in a clear tests,” Wang said, in
generation, the U.S. said. As an unusually direct admo-
diplomats gathered in the nition. Tillerson did not meet
Philippines for an annual with North Korea’s envoy,
regional meeting, President Ri Yong Ho.
Donald Trump was cheer- In fact, on his first day in
ing the move. Manila, Tillerson appeared
He cited the “very big fi- to go out of his way to
nancial impact” of the avoid crossing paths with
sanctions and noted opti- Ri. Though Beijing repeated
mistically that both China its call for the United States
and Russia had joined in and North Korea to resume
the unanimous vote. “It talks, the U.S. said that was
was a good outcome,” U.S. still premature, and reject-
Secretary of State Rex Til- ed yet again a Chinese call
lerson said in characteristi- for the U.S. to freeze joint
cally understated fashion. military exercises with South
For the U.S., it was a long- Korea in exchange for the
U.S. State Secretary Rex Tillerson, center, applauds after linking arms with ASEAN Foreign Ministers
during the 10th Lower Mekong Initiative Ministerial Meeting part of the Association of Southeast awaited sign of progress North halting nuclear de-
Asian Nations Regional Forum in Manila, Philippines, Sunday Aug. 6, 2017. for Trump’s strategy of try- velopment. The U.S. also
(Mohd Rasfan/Pool via AP) ing to enlist Beijing’s help warned it planned to rigor-
By JOSH LEDERMAN nomic lifeline, as Beijing closely to ensure it didn’t to squeeze North Korea ously monitor China’s com-
Associated Press called on its neighbor to ease up on North Korea diplomatically and eco- pliance with the new pen-
MANILA, Philippines (AP) halt its missile and nuclear if and when the world’s nomically. Chinese Foreign alties. Susan Thornton, the
— A global pressure cam- tests.The Trump administra- attention is diverted else- Minister Wang Yi, meeting top U.S. diplomat for Asia,
paign on North Korea pro- tion cautiously embraced where. But there were no with North Korea’s top dip- said Beijing had historically
pelled by sharp new U.N. China’s apparent new- signs the U.S. would ac- lomat during the gathering cooperated with sanctions
sanctions received a wel- found cooperation, while quiesce to China’s call for in Manila, urged the North after flagrant North Korean
come boost Sunday from putting it on notice that a quick return to negotia- to “maintain calm” despite violations but then slipped
China, the North’s eco- the U.S. would be watching tions. The diplomatic wran- the U.N. vote. “Do not vio- back over time.q

Russia ready for more engagement with US, despite sanction

By JOSH LEDERMAN publicly disclose details.
Associated Press Last month, the Kremlin said
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — the U.S. must cut its em-
Russia’s top diplomat said bassy and consulate staff
Sunday his country was in Russia by 755 people, a
ready for more engage- move that echoed former
ment with the United States President Barack Obama’s
on North Korea, Syria, action last year to kick out
Ukraine and other pressing Russian diplomats in punish-
matters, even as Moscow ment for Moscow’s med-
braced for new sanctions dling in the 2016 American
from the Trump administra- election. The Russian an-
tion.Foreign Minister Sergey nouncement has caused
Lavrov, after meeting with confusion because the U.S.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex is believed to have far few-
Tillerson for the first since the er than 755 American em-
U.S. imposed the additional ployees in the country.
penalties, said Russian and Word that U.S. special rep-
the U.S. had agreed to re- resentative Kurt Volker
sume a suspended high- plans to visit the Russian
level diplomatic channel capital was the latest sign
and Washington would that Washington is giving
send its Ukraine envoy to fresh attention to resolving
Moscow for negotiations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, July 13, 2017. Lavrov the Ukraine conflict.
Lavrov’s upbeat assess- said Sunday his country was ready for more engagement with the United States, even as Moscow The U.S. cut military ties to
ment came amid what the braced for new sanctions from the Trump administration. Russia over Moscow’s an-
U.S. has called a diplomatic (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) nexation of Crimea and
low point unseen since the the diplomats discussed, counterparts need to keep expel American diplomats accuses the Kremlin of fo-
end of the Cold War. and Tillerson didn’t respond the dialogue open,” Lavrov and shutter a U.S. recre- menting unrest in eastern
It wasn’t immediately clear to shouted questions from said. “There’s no alterna- ational facility on the out- Ukraine by arming, support-
whether the U.S. shared journalists allowed in briefly tive to that.” skirts of Moscow. Lavrov ing and even directing pro-
Lavrov’s rosy view of the for the start of the hour-plus Lavrov said Tillerson had said he explained to Tiller- Russian separatists there
meeting. The U.S. offered meeting in the Philippines. asked him for details about son how Russia will carry who are fighting the Kiev
no comment about what “We felt that our American Moscow’s recent move to out its response, but did not government.q