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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 20 February 2019

China, Iran meet amid efforts to preserve nuclear deal

By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN barter-type system known between our two countries
Associated Press as INSTEX set up last month and to ensure fresh prog-
BEIJING (AP) — The Iranian by France, Germany and ress of the bilateral com-
foreign minister’s passion- Britain to allow business- prehensive and strategic
ate defense of his coun- es to skirt direct financial partnership,” Wang said.
try’s interests at the Munich transactions with Iran, and Zarif responded by saying
Security Conference has thereby evade possible U.S. Iran’s relationship with Chi-
made him “a famous per- sanctions, fell short of com- na “is very valuable to us.”
son” in China, his Chinese mitments to save the nucle- “We consider the compre-
counterpart told him Tues- ar deal. He addressed the hensive strategic partner-
day, as the sides met amid conference a day after U.S. ship between Iran and Chi-
efforts to preserve the 2015 Vice President Mike Pence na as one of our most im-
nuclear deal with Tehran. prodded Germany, France portant relations,” he said.
Foreign Minister Moham- and Britain to follow Wash- Prior to parliamentary
mad Javad Zarif is leading ington in withdrawing from speaker Larijani’s depar-
an Iranian delegation to the deal and to “stop un- ture from Tehran, China’s
Beijing that includes parlia- dermining U.S. sanctions.” official Xinhua News Agen-
mentary speaker Ali Larijani Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, left, and his Wang made no direct cy quoted him as saying
Chinese counterpart Wang Yi shake hands during their meeting
and the ministers of finance at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing Tuesday, Feb. 19, comments on China’s posi- that Iran and China have
and petroleum, as well as 2019. tion on the deal in opening “close and amicable” rela-
the CEO of the country’s Associated Press remarks before reporters on tions in diverse areas, and
central bank. “Yesterday evening I saw A perception held by many Tuesday, but said he was that both sides have en-
Germany, Britain, France, on TV how you defended Chinese that the U.S. seeks “really delighted” to meet joyed the support of each
China, Russia and the Eu- the rights of Iran loud and to contain their nation’s with Zarif “given the major other in the international
ropean Union have been clear at the Munich Secu- global rise generates sym- changes in the Middle East arena.
trying to preserve the 2015 rity Conference,” Chinese pathy among the public and the international land- Asked about China’s posi-
deal meant to keep Iran Foreign Minister Wang Yi for Iran and other countries, scape.” tion on the Iran deal and
from obtaining nuclear told Zarif. “I think an audi- such as Venezuela, identi- “I would like to take this Washington’s re-imposition
weapons in exchange for ence of hundreds of millions fied by Washington as hos- opportunity to have this in- of sanctions, foreign min-
sanctions relief after the of Chinese also watched tile powers. depth strategic communi- istry spokesman Geng Sh-
unilateral withdrawal of the what you said and you are Zarif told the Munich con- cation with my old friend to uang said China had made
United States last year. a famous person now.” ference on Sunday that a deepen the strategic trust clear its disapproval.q

4 Indian soldiers killed in fighting with Kashmir rebels

Associated Press injured civilian and the sol- of Kashmir, but both claim
SRINAGAR, India (AP) — dier were reported to be in the region in its entirety.
Four army soldiers were critical condition. Rebels have been fighting
killed Monday in a gun- Police said the exchange Indian control since 1989.
battle with militants fighting of gunfire had stopped, Most Kashmiris support the
against Indian rule in dis- but that troops were still rebels’ demand that the
puted Kashmir on Monday, conducting searches in the territory be united either
officials said. area. under Pakistani rule or as
Another soldier and a civil- Tensions have escalated an independent country,
ian were wounded in the in the already restive re- while also participating
gunbattle, which came af- gion since Thursday’s at- in civilian street protests
ter a local Kashmiri militant tack, which India blamed against Indian control.
rammed an explosive-lad- on Pakistan, promising a The anti-India unrest grew
en van into a paramilitary “jaw breaking response.” especially after a popu-
convoy bus on Thursday, Pakistan warned India not lar rebel leader was killed
killing at least 40 soldiers in Members of various Indian Hindu organizations light candles as to link it to the attack with- in 2016. The Indian gov-
the worst attack against In- they pay tribute to the Indian soldiers killed in Thursday’s attack out an investigation, say- ernment responded with
dian government forces in on a paramilitary convoy in Kashmir, in Jammu, India, Sunday, ing that it was part of New stepped-up anti-rebel op-
Kashmir’s history. Feb.17, 2019. Delhi’s “known rhetoric and erations, leading to more
The fighting erupted early Associated Press tactics” to divert global at- protests.
Monday after government were hiding there, security gunfire, leading to fatali- tention from human rights About 70,000 people have
forces surrounded a village officials said. As troops be- ties, police said. violations in Kashmir. been killed in the uprising
in the southern Pulwama gan conducting searches The dead included an In- Archrivals India and Paki- and the ensuing Indian
area on a tip that militants they came under heavy dian army major. Both the stan each administer part crackdown since 1989.q