Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 2 November 2017
Putin, in Iran for talks, offers support for nuclear deal

By NASSER KARIMI Russia and Iran have a
Associated Press complicated history. Many
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Rus- still remember how Russia,
sian President Vladimir Pu- alongside Britain, invaded
tin on Wednesday strongly and occupied Iran dur-
backed Iran and its nucle- ing World War II to secure
ar deal with world powers, oil fields and Allied sup-
saying Moscow opposed ply lines.But while Britain
“any unilateral change” withdrew, Russia refused
to the accord after U.S. to leave, sparking the first
President Donald Trump re- international rebuke by
fused to re-certify it. the nascent U.N. Secu-
Putin made the comments rity Council in 1946. During
on a one-day trip to Tehran the Soviet occupation of
for trilateral talks between Afghanistan, Iran allowed
Azerbaijan, Iran and Rus- refugees into the country
sia, a meeting largely fo- and backed mujahedeen
cused on improving road rebel fighters — as did
and rail links to the neigh- the U.S. and Saudi Ara-
boring countries on the bia.While Gulf Arab states
Caspian Sea. sought the protection of
However, the nuclear deal the U.S. after the 1991 Gulf
loomed large as Putin met In this photo released by an official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, Iran’s President War, Iran tilted toward Rus-
with both Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting at sia. Russia has supplied sur-
Hassan Rouhani, who eas- the Saadabad Palace in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. Putin arrived Wednesday for tri- face-to-air missiles to Iran,
ily won re-election this year lateral talks with Tehran and Azerbaijan, a meeting that comes as the Islamic Republic’s nuclear and helped it to build its
after securing the atomic deal is threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump’s refusal to re-certify the accord. first nuclear power plant,
deal, and Supreme Leader (Iranian Presidency Office via AP) in the southern port city of
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, defensive issues.” The U.S. Congress now will but which American offi- Bushehr, which went online
who has the final say on all Moscow has stood by make a decision regard- cials say violates the spirit in 2011. The two countries
state matters. Tehran while Trump has ing the 2015 nuclear deal, of the accord.Khamenei are now partnering in the
“We oppose any unilateral refused to re-certify the in which Iran agreed to limit praised Putin’s “strong” construction of two more
change in the multilateral nuclear deal between Iran its enrichment of uranium character.“Because of nuclear reactors at the site.
nuclear deal,” Putin said and world powers, includ- in exchange for the lifting this reason, it is possible to Russia and Iran have both
while meeting Khamenei, ing Russia. The other par- of economic sanctions. In have logical dialogue and provided crucial support
according to a statement ties to the accord — Britain, recent days, lawmakers cooperation with Russia as to President Bashar Assad’s
from the supreme leader’s China, France, Germany have targeted Iran with a big power about big jobs forces in the Syrian civil
office. “We oppose link- and the European Union — new sanctions over its bal- that require determination war, something Rouhani
ing Iran’s nuclear program have also urged Trump to listic missile program, which and effort,” the supreme praised during his meeting
with other issues including stay in the deal. wasn’t included in the deal leader said. with Putin.q
Ousted Catalan government members to appear in Madrid court

By ELENA BECATOROS bellion, sedition and em- to Madrid and appear in
Associated Press bezzlement against Puig- court to “denounce the
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) demont, his ousted Vice lack of guarantees of the
— Some members of Cat- President Oriol Junqueras Spanish justice system.”The
alonia’s ousted govern- and another 12 members statement described the
ment will appear before a of the now-fired Catalan charges sought by pros-
Spanish judge Thursday for government. Convictions ecutors as “disproportion-
questioning in the rebel- carry potential decades- ate,” saying they were
lion investigation stemming long prison sentences. “equivalent to crimes such
from the region’s declara- The legal moves are part as murder or terrorism.” The
tion of independence, but of the Spanish central gov- direction of the criminal
the former regional presi- ernment’s implementation probe demonstrates “we
dent does not plan to be of extraordinary constitu- are facing a political trial
among them.A Belgian tional powers after Cata- brought by orders of the
lawyer representing the lan lawmakers voted on Spanish state,” they said.
sacked Catalan president Oct. 27 to secede from Puigdemont and other re-
said Wednesday he was Sacked Catalonian President Carles Puigdemont smiles after Spain in an escalation of moved Catalan officials
seeking to have Carles a press conference in Brussels, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017. Puig- what has become Spain’s intend to remain in Brussels
demont will not return to Spain for questioning this week by a
Puigdemont questioned National Court judge investigating him for possible rebellion worst political crisis in de- and respond to any crimi-
instead in Belgium. Puigde- charges, his Belgian lawyer said Wednesday. cades.Under that author- nal charges “according to
mont turned up in Brussels (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) ity, the Spanish govern- the mechanisms foreseen
this week along with sev- know if Spanish authorities makers voting in favor of ment sacked the Catalan in the European Union in
eral of his former Cabinet would accept the offer. independence from Spain Cabinet, dissolved the such circumstances,” the
members.“He is not going All 14 of the regional of- last Friday.In a news con- regional parliament and statement read without
to Madrid, and I suggest- ficials removed by the ference in Brussels on Tues- called an election for Dec. elaboration.The 14 have
ed that they question him Spanish government face day, Puigdemont said the 21.A statement issued by been summoned to ap-
here in Belgium,” the law- possible charges of re- Catalan officials who trav- the ousted cabinet, which pear in the National Court
yer, Paul Bekaert, told The bellion, sedition and em- eled to Belgium were seek- described itself as “the in Madrid at 9 a.m. Thurs-
Associated Press. Bekaert bezzlement for driving the ing “freedom and safety.” legitimate government” day for questioning that is
said such an arrangement series of moves that cul- Spain’s chief prosecutor of Catalonia, said some scheduled to last through
was possible, but he didn’t minated in Catalan law- is seeking charges of re- members would travel Friday. q