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are things a-changing for Australian "diplomacy"... may be?....13 July 2023... Journalist: Minister, on the sidelines here, have you had the opportunity at all to rub shoulders with Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, and put Australia’s position to him on Ukraine? Foreign Minister: It's not my desire to rub shoulders with Mr Lavrov, but I would say, Australia is very pleased to have added to our package of support for Ukraine, 30 additional Bushmasters, which have been commended. The Prime Minister obviously spoke with President Zelenskyy about that at NATO. Our objective is to, alongside others, is to empower Ukraine to resolve this conflict on its own terms, and we continue to assert that here, and anywhere Australia speaks, that Russia's attack on Ukraine is an attack on all smaller nations and highlights why we are all protected by the UN Charter and highlights why we must protect that charter, including from its abrogation by Russia. Journalist: Minister, this is one of those rare forums where North Korea is represented. I think in the ASEAN regional forum, you've been in there together. Would you engage at all with the North Korean rep, and what would you say? Foreign Minister: Well, what I will say publicly is what I've just said, that North Korea's flouting of international law, its continued testing of ballistic missiles, its continued threats to the Republic of Korea is destabilising for our friends and partners, for the region and for all of us. https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/penny-wong/transcript/press-conference-jakarta
31 May 2024 Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Thank you very much for coming. First, I want to announce this morning the next step in Australia's unwavering support for Ukraine. All Australians want a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and we continue to stand with Ukraine and their struggle to end this war on their own terms. The Albanese Government will provide a further $31 million of assistance to meet Ukraine's energy and humanitarian needs. I'll just go what that 31 comprises. We'll provide $20 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. This was a fund established by the Europe Commission and Ukraine's Ministry of Energy. It's an efficient and effective way for Australians to provide support for electricity and heat to the people of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Prime Minister recently described how the Support Fund is assisting in the purchase of generators, transformers, spare parts and to carry out intensive repairs on Ukraine's energy network, which as you know has been substantially damaged by the Russian attack. We continue to stand with Ukraine. In addition, we are providing from emergency humanitarian funding to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of $10 million to increase access to essentials such as water, food and shelter. Finally, we will also provide $1 million to improve services for people with disabilities in Ukraine, including those needing rehabilitation from war injuries. Australia's support for Ukraine totals more than a billion dollars, including $880 million in military support. You may recall the Deputy Prime Minister recently announced another $100 million in military assistance. We've remained steadfast in our support for Ukraine's sovereignty. We remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, and we will continue to consistently condemn Russia's invasion as an abrogation, an attack on the UN Charter, a Charter which protects all nations, including Australia. We stand with the people of Ukraine. I also want to make some comment about recent verdicts in Hong Kong. We're deeply concerned about the verdicts handed down for some members of the National Security Law 47, including a guilty verdict for Australian citizen Mr Gordon Ng. Australia has expressed our strong objections to the Hong Kong authorities and the continuing broad application of National Security legislation. It enables the arrest and pressure of pro‑democracy figures, opposition groups, media, trade unions and trade unionists and sovereign society. We also know that these laws, the application of these laws has implications for individuals outside of Hong Kong, including here in Australia. The systematic erosion of Hong Kong's rights, freedoms, autonomy and democratic processes is something Australia consistently raises with Hong Kong and with China. We have called on the Hong Kong authorities to uphold those elements that are so crucial to the basic law, to Hong Kong's success, including the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Basic Law and Sino-British Joint Declaration. I'm happy to take questions. Journalist: Why are we sending money and not coal as Ukraine asked? Foreign Minister: Well, the advice to me is that support for the Energy Fund is a more efficient and effective way of providing assistance to Ukraine. As you know, we have been working through quite a number of requests from Ukraine over this year, and I might just take you through some of the things we've done just this year. On 15 February I announced $50 million to the International Fund for Ukraine. On 24 February I announced additional sanctions on entities, Russian entities, 55 persons, 37 entities. On 27 April the Deputy Prime Minister announced $100 million in military assistance. On 17 May I announced additional sanctions on North Korean entities trading with Ukraine. So we seek to via both assistance and sanctions, both military assistance and humanitarian, to respond to the various requests that Ukraine has made, and I note that the Ambassador has made a statement very supportive of this announcement and we appreciate that. Journalist: But in this instance wouldn't the resource be more valuable than money? Foreign Minister: Well actually if you ship coal from Australia you have shipping and insurance costs. In fact this amount of money, should Ukraine wish to spend it for coal, would yield an equivalent amount of coal to what we saw previously. But this enables Ukraine to make its own decisions about where it best applies this funding, including for example on the energy network, which has been, as I said, substantially damaged by Russia. Journalist: With this 31 million, does this bring the total investment to Ukraine one billion or is that in addition to the one billion already given? Foreign Minister: It's approximately $1 billion plus, obviously there's ongoing assistance, but it does demonstrate the commitment we are making to Ukraine, and we'll continue to assess requests. But we understand there is a war, we look at all the ways in which we can provide support for that. Sanctions are an important part of that because we want to make sure we do what we can to punish Russia and Russian entities for what they're doing.
Journalist: And we understand that your offices have been targeted by pro‑Palestinian protesters, can we just get your comments around that? Foreign Minister: Well the first thing I'd say is in this country workers have a right to be safe and to feel safe. Workers everywhere. And what we have seen are protests which go beyond peaceful protests. We have a right to peaceful protest in this country, but we should rightly condemn protests which are violent, and which are hateful and aggressive. What I would say to Adam Bandt, as leader of the Greens which has been part of these protests, that he should condemn the sort of violence we have seen, including the smashing of windows. That's not acceptable in this country. I understand and I share the depth of concern, the depth of feeling that Australians have about what is occurring in Gaza and what is occurring in Rafah. And I have made on behalf of this country very strong statements, as has the Prime Minister. We have said to Israel, do not go down this path. We have taken diplomatic efforts in the United Nations and bilaterally to pressure Israel to not go down this path and to continue to put pressure on Israel to ensure it does comply with international humanitarian law. Civilians should be protected. But the depth of the feelings that people have does not justify in this country a resort to violent protest. And Mr Bandt should act as a leader and make that clear. Journalist: Beyond the smashing of windows, what else makes this action violent and threatening? Foreign Minister: Well, I think if you speak to many workers who are being confronted with what they have seen over a long period of time, including the occupation of offices and the destruction of property, I think people have felt unsafe. I think all we have, all workers have a right to feel safe. We have a right to peaceful protest and people should exercise that responsibly. ... Journalist: Just a couple of questions on Trump. Foreign Minister: Did you finish? Did you have anything on New Zealand before I move on or was that done? ... Journalist: How would the election of a convicted felon as US President impact Australia's relationship with the United States? Foreign Minister: Well, you wouldn't expect the Foreign Minister of Australia to engage in commentary about the legal processes of another country, including our most important strategic partner and ally, and I won't. ..... https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/penny-wong/transcript/press-conference-adelaide-14
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18 December 2024 Today I travelled to Kyiv to express Australia’s unwavering solidarity with the people of Ukraine and announce further support to assist them in response to Russia’s brutal, illegal war. Australia has unequivocally condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and provided more than $1.5 billion in assistance to Ukraine since the full-scale conflict began in February 2022. In Kyiv, I met with Ukraine’s Prime Minister Shmyhal, Foreign Minister Sybiha, Defence Minister Umerov and Deputy Energy Minister Roman Andarak and announced that the Albanese Government is building on our commitment to Ukraine with the following:
I also visited the site of Australia’s Embassy in Kyiv that was closed by the Morrison Government in 2022, where I was updated on the progress of work to enable the full return of Australia’s diplomatic presence. The Albanese Government has always said we would reopen our Embassy in Kyiv when it is safe to do so. I was pleased to announce we are reopening the Embassy. From next month, Australia’s Ambassador as well as our Deputy Head of Mission will return to Kyiv. During my visit, I met families at ‘Save Ukraine’ – a community organisation that supports vulnerable Ukrainian families and children that have been damaged by this terrible conflict where I told them Australia will contribute $80,000 to help facilitate their work. What happens to Ukraine matters to Australians. Ukraine’s fight against Russia has consequences for our national security and the security of the Indo-Pacific. Today and every day, Australia stands with Ukraine against Russia’s aggression.
GUSNOTE: BY PUSHING BEYOND REASONABLE RUSSIAN SECURITY DEMANDS, AMERICA/NATO HAS BEEN THE CULPRIT IN THIS RUSSIAN/YUCKRAINIAN CONFLICT... (NOTE: AMERICA HAS VOWED TO DESTROY RUSSIA SINCE 1917). SO, DEAR PENNY... FOLLOW HISTORY SINCE 1991 AND EVEN EARLIER AS WE HAVE DONE ON THIS SITE, INCLUDING THE INFAMOUS WW2 BANDERA EPISODE AND THE DEVIOUS WEST IN THE MINSK AGREEMENTS... ETC... SO IS AUSTRALIA GOING TO STAND IN NAZI SHIT UNTIL DONALD TRUMP CLOSES THE DOOR ON THIS CONFLICT LIKE BIDEN FINISHED OFF AFGHANISTAN? IS PEACE COMING WITH A PROPER DEAL THAT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIANS OF THE DONBASS?.... THE RUSSIANS ARE PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE BUT NOT TO COMPROMISE...
MAKE A DEAL PRONTO BEFORE THE SHIT HITS THE FAN: NO NATO IN "UKRAINE" (WHAT'S LEFT OF IT) THE DONBASS REPUBLICS ARE NOW BACK IN THE RUSSIAN FOLD — AS THEY USED TO BE PRIOR 1922. THE RUSSIANS WON'T ABANDON THESE AGAIN. THESE WILL ALSO INCLUDE ODESSA, KHERSON AND KHARKIV..... CRIMEA IS RUSSIAN — AS IT USED TO BE PRIOR 1954 TRANSNISTRIA WILL BE PART OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION. A MEMORANDUM OF NON-AGGRESSION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE USA.
EASY. THE WEST KNOWS IT.
YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.
Gus Leonisky POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.
HYPOCRISY ISN’T ONE OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS SINS. HENCE ITS POPULARITY IN THE ABRAHAMIC TRADITIONS…
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ukraine is collapsing...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7lKNtB2oAU
Brian Berletic: Russia SHATTERS Ukraine's Army, NATO Desperation Grows as Frontline CollapsesIn the lead up to Trump's presidency, Russia has taken the initiative on the battlefield and is currently encircling Ukraine on many areas of the front says geopolitical analyst Brian Berletic as NATO prepares a move that threatens to destroy the military alliance. This video exposes NATO's crumbling effort to keep the conflict going and why this could lead to a dangerous new scenario that may surprise you.
MAKE A DEAL PRONTO BEFORE THE SHIT HITS THE FAN:
NO NATO IN "UKRAINE" (WHAT'S LEFT OF IT)
THE DONBASS REPUBLICS ARE NOW BACK IN THE RUSSIAN FOLD — AS THEY USED TO BE PRIOR 1922. THE RUSSIANS WON'T ABANDON THESE AGAIN.
THESE WILL ALSO INCLUDE ODESSA, KHERSON AND KHARKIV.....
CRIMEA IS RUSSIAN — AS IT USED TO BE PRIOR 1954
TRANSNISTRIA WILL BE PART OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.
A MEMORANDUM OF NON-AGGRESSION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE USA.
EASY.
THE WEST KNOWS IT.
READ FROM TOP.
YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.
Gus Leonisky
POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.
HYPOCRISY ISN’T ONE OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS SINS.
HENCE ITS POPULARITY IN THE ABRAHAMIC TRADITIONS…