Excerpts: Canada re Syrian refugees. Germany seeks stronger ties with KSA.US
provides Lebanon with security aid, intel.Turkey seeks to ease tensions with
Russia. King Abdullah,President Putin hold talks. Prince Hassan re: regional
networking November 25, 2015


+++SOURCE:Al Arabiya News 25 Nov.’15:Canada delays deadline to take in
25,000 refugees”, by Reuters
SUBJECT: Canada re Syrian refugees

QUOTE:”Original Jan.1 target was too difficult to meet”

FULL TEXT: The Canadian government on Tuesday[24 Nov] pushed back to the end
of February its deadline for accepting 25,000 Syrian refugees, in a
concession that its original Jan. 1 target was too difficult to meet.

Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, sworn in this month, made the initial
pledge part of his election campaign but a wide array of critics said the
goal was unrealistic.

Some provincial and municipal leaders have complained the short timeline did
not allow for enough security checks to root out possible ISIS militants.
Others said they could not cope with such a heavy flow of new arrivals.

“We just looked at the logistics, we looked at what it would take to bring
them in by Jan. 1, and we had options around that,” Trudeau told the
Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

“We realized that we wanted to make sure that it was done absolutely right.”

The government will fly in 10,000 refugees by the end of the year and the
remainder by end-February.

In another sign of the challenges it is facing, Ottawa cut back its
commitment to sponsor all 25,000. Instead, 10,000 will be sponsored
privately, with Ottawa aiming to reach its 25,000 target by the end of 2016.

The opposition Conservative Party said it was pleased Trudeau “had abandoned
a timeline that was not workable”.

One of the biggest political challenges for the government is the fear that
militants could sneak into Canada disguised as refugees. Since the Nov. 13
attacks in Paris claimed by ISIS, an anti-refugee petition launched in
Quebec has garnered more than 75,000 signatures nationwide.

Canada will spend up to $510 million (C$678 million) over six years flying
in the refugees from Turkey, Syria and Jordan and then helping resettle
them. The first flight is due to leave from the region early next month.

The federal government will give priority to complete families, women at
risk and gay or transgender people.

It will prioritize single adult men only if they are gay, bisexual or
transgender, or if they are accompanying their parents. Private groups will
be allowed to sponsor any single adult man regardless of his sexual
orientation.

+++SOURCE: Saudi Gazette 25 Nov.’15: German delegation eyes to strengthen
ties with KSA [Kingdom Saudi Arabia]
SUBJECT:Germany seeks stronger ties with KSA
EXCERPTS:RIYADH — The German–Saudi Arabian business relations are scaling
new heights this year. One particular reason for this success is the
craftsmanship and the entrepreneurial spirit of the companies from the
German state Baden-Württemberg.

A big business delegation arrived in Riyadh on Saturday[21 Nov] evening, and
it was headed by the Deputy Minister President and Minister of Finance and
Economics of the State of Baden-Württemberg Dr. Nils Schmid. The delegation
focused on companies from the following sectors: engineering, environmental
technology, construction, architecture and crafts.

The three-day trip was jointly organized by the German-Saudi Arabian Liaison
Office for Economic Affairs (GESALO), the German Embassy Riyadh, the
Ministry for Finance and Economic Affairs of Baden-Württemberg,
Baden-Württemberg International GmbH (bw-i) and Handwerk International
Baden-Württemberg / BW Construction.

The delegation head and other members met the board of directors of the
Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and later held B2B meetings with
Saudi Arabian companies in the chambers premises. This was an integral part
of the delegation trip. The meeting with SAGIA and German companies already
doing business in Saudi Arabia will give further insights into the market.
The visit program also included the King Abdullah Financial District and the
company Al Fanar in Riyadh.

SOURCESaudi Gazette


+++SOURCE: Naharnet (Lebanon) 25 Nov.’15:”(U.S.Charge d’affairs)Jones says
U.S.toKeep Providing Lebanon with Security Aid, Intel “ by Naharnet Newsdesk
SUBJECT: U.S. provides Lebanon with security aid.intel.

FULL TEXT:U.S. Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Richard Jones met Wednesday with
Interior Minister Nouhad al-Machnouq as part of his courtesy meetings with
various ministers, reassuring that Washington will continue to provide
Lebanese security agencies with assistance and “information.”

“We exchanged views on the situation. Of course we're all very concerned,
seized I would say, with the security situation,” Jones said after the
meeting.

“I assured the Minister that the United States would stand by Lebanon. We
will continue to provide support for the security services of the country,
in terms of training and equipment, and also information,” he added.

On Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama also vowed continued support for
Lebanon.

The U.S. remarks come amid a major security crackdown in the country that
was launched in the wake of twin suicide blasts in the southern Beirut
suburb of Bourj al-Barajneh that killed 43 people and wounded 239 others.

The bombings, among the worst in years, were claimed by the jihadist
Islamist State group, which has recently claimed responsibility for a series
of attacks around the world, most notably the unprecedented assault in the
French capital Paris.



+++SOURCE:Naharnet (Lebanon) 25 Nov.’15:”Turkey Seeks to Ease Tensions after
Downing of Russian Warplane”, by Agence France Presse
SUBJECT: Turkey seeks to ease tensions with Russia

QUOTE: “Erdogan:’We have no intention to escalate this incident.We are just
defending our security and the rights of our brothers”

FULL TEXT:President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sought to play down tensions with
Russia Wednesday[25 Nov] after Turkey's downing of a Russian warplane on the
Syria border sparked fears among NATO allies of a wider conflict.

Moscow said Russian and Syrian special forces had rescued one of the pilots
who ejected from the plane after being shot down early Tuesday[24 Nov] but
confirmed another was dead, in an incident that threatens to damage
relations between two rival players in the Syrian conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reacted furiously to what he described as a
"stab in the back committed by accomplices of terrorists", recommending that
Russians do not visit Turkey, a key tourist destination.

Turkey said the Russian Su-24 warplane had violated its airspace 10 times
within a five-minute period, but Russia insisted it had never strayed from
Syrian territory.

The shooting also risks derailing efforts to bring peace to Syria that were
gaining tentative momentum following the November 13 Paris attacks claimed
by Islamic State militants who control swathes of northern Syria.

Erdogan vowed to always defend Turkish borders but appeared to want to avoid
provoking further one of the biggest crises between Russia and a NATO member
in recent years.

"We have no intention to escalate this incident. We are just defending our
security and the rights of our brothers," Erdogan said in a televised speech
in Istanbul.

U.S. President Barack Obama said Washington's NATO ally Turkey had a right
to defend its airspace but said his priority was to make sure the standoff
did not escalate.

"Hopefully, this is a moment in which all parties can step back and make a
determination as to how their interests are best served," Obama said.

Erdogan and Obama agreed on the need to reduce tensions and prevent a repeat
of similar incidents in a phone call late Tuesday[24 Nov], the Turkish
presidency said.

Following an extraordinary meeting of the alliance called by Ankara, NATO
chief Jens Stoltenberg said "diplomacy and de-escalation are important to
resolve this situation," he said.

The Turkish ambassador to the United Nations Halit Cevik said in a letter to
the Security Council that two planes were involved, one of which was shot
down while the other left Turkish airspace.

He said both planes had flown 1.36 miles (2.19 kilometers) into Turkish
airspace for 17 seconds from 0724 GMT Tuesday[24 Nov].

Ankara and Moscow are already on starkly opposing sides in the over
four-year Syrian civil war, with Turkey wanting to see the ousting of
President Bashar Assad but Russia one of his last remaining allies.

Assad's other key ally Iran also slammed Ankara's behavior. Turkey's
behavior "sends the wrong message to the terrorists" in Syria, Iranian
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told his Russian counterpart Sergei
Lavrov.

In apparent response to Turkey's move, Russian Defense Minister Sergei
Shoigu said Moscow would be sending its most hi-tech S-400 air defense
system to its airbase in Syria.

Russia's Moskva guided missile cruiser will now be stationed near the Syrian
Mediterranean port of Latakia, the defense ministry said.

As well as canceling a visit to Turkey planned for Wednesday[25 Nov], Lavrov
warned Russians against travel to the country, which would be a huge blow
for the Turkish tourism industry.

Putin Wednesday[25 Nov] backed the recommendation as a "necessary measure".

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev accused Turkey of "practically
protecting Islamic State (IS) militants", even accusing Turkish officials of
benefiting from trade with the jihadists.

There had been fears of such a mid-air incident since Russia launched air
strikes in Syria in September, to the consternation of nations already
involved in a U.S.-led anti-IS coalition.

Turkey had bitterly condemned Russia's campaign, saying it was aimed at
hitting Syrian rebels and buttressing the Assad regime rather than hurting
IS jihadists.

Two Russian pilots were seen on images parachuting to the ground after the
shooting down but their fate risked creating further tensions.

Russian military spokesman General Sergei Rudskoi said one had been killed
by fire from the ground while Shoigu said the other had been freed by
Russian and Syrian special forces and is now at a Russian airbase.

Rudskoi said another soldier had been killed in a failed bid to rescue the
pair after one of his squadron's helicopters was damaged by gunfire and had
to land. The other members of the squad were successfully evacuated.

Turkey's pro-government press applauded the shooting down, with Ilnur Cevik
in Daily Sabah saying the Russian incursion was "the last drop for Turkey to
break its silence towards Russia's violence in the region".

However columnist Mehmet Yilmaz in the mainstream Hurriyet daily accused
Erdogan of plunging Turkey into a "quagmire", warning of "grave political
and economic consequences for Turkey".

The repercussions of the incident also affected global markets with oil
prices turning higher and stocks down, with shares in airlines and travel
firms particularly hit.russia


+++SOURCE: Jordan Times 25 Nov.’15:”Current regional developments will push
int’l community to work together — King”

SUBJECT: King Abdullah, President Putin hold talks

QUOTE:”His Majesty King Abdullah holds talks with Russian President Vladimir
Putin in Sochi, Russia, on Tuesday[24 Nov]”

FULL TEXT:AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday[24 Nov] said the
current regional developments will compel the international community to
work together both militarily and diplomatically in the context of the
Vienna talks.

Before a summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, the
King said that such efforts "are something that you have been a strong
sponsor of", according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty added that "Daesh, Al Qaeda and their offshoots want this to be
a fight against humanity as well as Islam."

"Your fight against Daesh is a fight that all of us have to do together, not
only in Syria and Iraq, but also you and I have said that this is a global
war, a war that binds all of us together," the King noted.

"You and I have both talked for many years about the holistic nature of the
challenge, how we have to combine international efforts... to fight this in
Africa, in Asia as well as in our region.”

His Majesty, who returned to Jordan later on Tuesday[24 Nov], added that
these are not just the challenges "we face in Syria and Iraq, but we have
also seen terrorism in Saudi Arabia, Beirut, and unfortunately recently in
Paris as well as Mali."

"I know that this is a fight that both you and I, our countries and many
others in the world are determined to win," the statement quoted King
Abdullah as saying.

"Again, this is an opportunity for all of us in the international community
to come together and fight this fight as part of a coordinated international
body."

Turning to Syria, the King told Putin that: "I have said for many, many
years that the only way of finding a political solution in Syria is with the
strong role that both you and Russia play for a political solution for the
Syrian people."

His Majesty also offered his condolences and those of the Jordanian people
over "the innocent Russians that lost their lives in the Metrojet terrorist
attack, as well as the loss of your pilot today".

Commending the strong bilateral ties, the King added that: “I have known you
for many years and our relationship has always been a strong one, and I know
that it will always continue from strength to strength.”

The Russian president welcomed His Majesty and the accompanying delegation,
stressing Russia’s keenness on developing ties with Jordan and coordinating
on various developments in the region.

“We are in close contact with each other. It is obvious that today, when
there is such an intensive fight against international terrorism, we need to
get united. And I am aware that our military and special forces are working
in that right direction,” he said.

Apart from that, Putin said there are also other issues to discuss, and
thanked the King for his condolences.

“This event goes beyond [the] framework of regular fights against terrorism.
Naturally, our military are pursuing a heroic path against terrorism. They
are sacrificing themselves... But today’s event is the blow that has been
given to us in our back by the accomplices to terrorists. There is only one
way to qualify the event that took place today,” the Russian president said.

“Our jet was downed over the territories of Syria, by the air-to-air missile
[of] the Turkish jet F-16. It fell on the territory of Syria, 4 kilometres
from the borders with Turkey,” he added, stressing that the Russian pilots
and their plane did not threaten Turkey.

When the aircraft was attacked in the air, it was flying at an altitude of
6,000 metres, 1 kilometre away from the Turkish territory, Putin said.

The pilots were conducting an operation to fight Daesh in northern Latakia —
a mountainous area where militants, mainly those coming from Russian
territories, are concentrated, he noted.

They were “doing their direct duty” of delivering “preventive blows” at
terrorists who could threaten Russia’s security.

People behind that, the president stressed, should be classified as
international terrorists.

Putin also said that Russia has been “recording the movement of a large
amount of oil and petroleum products” in Turkey, which were being seized
from Syrian territory, noting that this is how the terror groups receive
their funding.

“Now they are stabbing us in the back by hitting our planes that are
fighting terrorism. This is happening despite the agreement we have signed
with our American partners to prevent air incidents, and, as you know,
Turkey is among those who are supposed to be fighting terrorism within the
American coalition,” he added.

Daesh, he added is making “about tens or maybe even hundreds of millions,
possibly billions of dollars in oil trade” and protecting itself through its
armed militants.

“That is why... they are so blatant in their activities, why they are
killing so many people using so many atrocities; why they are committing
terrorist attacks throughout the world including in the heart of Europe,”
Putin said, noting that Moscow will examine what happened “carefully”, and
that the incident “will have significant consequences for Russian-Turkish
relations”.

“We have always treated Turkey not merely as a close neighbour, but as a
friendly state,” he added, stressing that Russia “certainly” does not
benefit from what happened today.

“Instead of immediately getting in contact with us, as far as we know, the
Turkish side immediately turned to their partners in NATO in order to
discuss this incident. As if it was us who downed the Turkish jet and not
vice versa. Do they want to put NATO at the service of [Daesh]?” he asked.

“I understand that every state has its regional interests and we always
respected that; but we would never tolerate these atrocities... I really
hope that the international community will make it and [unite] in the fight
against common evil,” the Russian president said.

“In this context, we really count on the active participation of all
countries of the region. And we are really glad to have you here today, Your
Majesty. We will continue working with your experts, with your special
forces and military...”

In extended talks, attended by senior officials from both countries, King
Abdullah and Putin also expressed their keenness to develop bilateral
relations at all levels to achieve the interests of both countries and
peoples, highlighting the importance of expanding their strategic
partnership, especially at the economic and military levels.

Deliberations also covered crises in regional countries and efforts to deal
with them in a way that maintains their security and stability, the
statement added.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh; King’s Military
Adviser and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Gen. Mashal Al Zaben; King’s
National Security Adviser and General Intelligence Department Director Gen.
Faisal Shobaki; and National Policies Council Rapporteur Abdullah Wreikat
attended the meeting.

In addition, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other senior Russian
officials were present at the talks.

Putin also hosted a lunch banquet in honour of King Abdullah and the
accompanying delegation in the presence of senior Russian officials



+++SOURCE: Jordan Times 25 Nov’’15:”Prince Hassan says dialogue with 'the
other' is only way forward”by RulaSamain

SUBJECT: Prince Hassan re regional networking

QUOTE:”Dialogue with ‘the other’ is the only way forward”

FULL TEXT:AMMAN — People of all religions and cultures should focus on
positive interaction and bridging the gaps between nations, HRH Prince
Hassan said Tuesday.[24 Nov]

At a meeting with a group of young diplomats participating in a regional
networking programme, organised by the Jordanian and German foreign
ministries in cooperation with the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, the
prince stressed the importance of having an accurate knowledge-base to help
in policy planning.

Speaking to diplomats from Egypt, Yemen, Iraq, Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria,
Palestine, Lebanon, Libya, South Africa, Korea, Sri Lanka and Germany, he
called for defining the common good through social rhetoric that expresses
the interests of all people, and for serious steps to be taken in order to
achieve peace instead of waging war.

“We need a dialogue with the other; a dialogue that serves the public
interest, such a dialogue is the only path to progress and reform,” said the
prince.

He called for "holding on" to the future of the region's Arab-Islamic and
Arab-Christian identity, warning that the ongoing fighting will only lead to
more disunity and chaos.

Pointing to the absence of a correct definition of terrorism, Prince Hassan
noted that terror comes in many forms, including individual terrorism,
collective terrorism, cultural terrorism and ideological terrorism.

"It is evident that without real public participation, and without
institutionalising social ties and adopting development programmes with
popular support, the region's security and stability cannot be guaranteed,"
he said.

The prince stressed the need to link the past, present and future of the
nation to create harmony and balance with "the other", and between thoughts
and reality, and to focus on critical and scientific thinking.

He also called for concerted efforts at the regional and international
levels to cooperate in water and energy issues
====================
Sue Lerner - Associate, IMRA