9 Ukrainian President urges CARICOM leaders to support his country NASSAU, BAHAMAS, CMC: UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT Volodymyr Zelenskyy Friday urged Caribbean Community (CARICIOM) leaders to support a motion being presented at the United Nations this week condemning Russia’s invasion and continued war with Ukraine. “I thank you for being on the side of the law. I thank you for your efforts to bring stability to your region and the world. But real stability is possible only when we all together protect the world from state thuggery,”Zelenskyy said, adding“ so I encourage you to further cooperation”. In a virtual address to the regional leaders who wrapped up their 44th summit here, the Ukrainian leader said next week “we will present at the UN General Assembly a resolution on a comprehensive, just, and sustainable peace in Ukraine, and hence the restoration of the full force of the international rules-based order. “Your votes matter,” he added. CARICOM had in February last year, issued a statement “strongly” condemning the military attacks and invasion of Ukraine by Russia and called “for the immediate and complete withdrawal of the military presence and cessation of any further actions that may intensify the current perilous situation in that country. The 15-member regional integration grouping called on all parties involved“to urgently embark on intensified diplomatic dialogue to immediately de-escalate hostilities and work towards a sustainable peace”. UNESCO and EU to promote Caribbean cinema at European filmmarket HAVANA, CUBA, CMC: THE CARIBBEAN film industry, is for the first time in its history being promoted at one of the sector’s most important international markets with a dedicated stand at the European Film Market (EFM). The UNESCO programme Transcultura: Integrating Cuba, the Caribbean and the European Union through Culture and Creativity, funded by the European Union, is funding the region’s participation at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) which ends on February 22 and attracting more than 10,000 representatives of the international film andmedia industries from over 100 countries. “The Caribbean is a place rich in cultures, traditions and mutual influences, which makes it an endless reservoir for creativity and innovation. UNESCO, through the Transcultura programme, is committed to supporting the region’s cultural and creative industries and making their stories accessible to the world,’ said Alessandra Borchi, Transcultura Programme Coordinator. Under the slogan ‘Meet the creative impulse of diversity’, Transcultura’s ‘Cinema from the Caribbean’ stand will offer a promotional display window to institutions and festivals from 10 countries in the region, including the International Havana Film Festival, the production house Collectif 2004 Images fromHaiti and the National Film Commission of Barbados. These, in turn, will particularly focus on promoting the work of young filmmakers from their countries. US imposes visa restrictions on Haitians involved in street gangs, criminal activities WASHINGTON, CMC: THE UNITED States has imposed visa restrictions on Haitians involved in street gangs and other criminal organizations, saying that the additional steps are necessary to support French speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country by continuing to promote accountability for individuals who foment violence, corruption and instability. “The United States remains deeply concerned by the ongoing lawlessness associated with armed gangs,” said US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in a statement. “We condemn in the strongest terms the violent gang activity that led to the death of 14 members of the Haitian National Police in January.” Blinken said the US State Department has designated an additional five individuals and seven family members as subject to visa restrictions under the Immigration and Nationality Act. “This policy impacts Haitian officials and other individuals involved in the operation of street gangs and criminal organizations that have threatened the livelihoods of the Haitian people and are blocking life-saving humanitarian support. This action sends a clear message of our continued commitment to root out corruption and impact the behaviour of bad actors whose influence underpins the lawlessness in Haiti.” This will bring the number of individuals identified as subject to visa restrictions under this policy to 44 since the policy was first announced on October 13, 2022. In addition to these visa restrictions, Blinken said the State Department has also designated three Haitian officials, including Joseph Lambert and Rommel Bell, under another visa restriction authority. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, attend a joint news conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. AP Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, left, speaks as Matthew Olsen, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, right, looks on during a news conference, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, in Miami. U.S. authorities have arrested four more people in the slaying of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, including the owner of a Miami-area security company that hired former soldiers from Colombia for the mission. AP THE MONTHLY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 22, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | REGIONAL
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUzNTI=