{"id":61572,"date":"2018-03-28T06:08:27","date_gmt":"2018-03-28T06:08:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=61572"},"modified":"2018-03-28T06:11:44","modified_gmt":"2018-03-28T06:11:44","slug":"latest-new-zealand-faulted-not-expelling-russians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/world-news\/latest-new-zealand-faulted-not-expelling-russians.html","title":{"rendered":"The Latest: New Zealand faulted for not expelling Russians"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Latest: New Zealand faulted for not expelling Russians<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Latest on diplomatic developments following the nerve agent attack on a Russian spy in Britain (all times local):<\/span><\/p>\n

1:50 a.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

New Zealand is facing criticism for not expelling any Russian diplomats or spies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many of its allies are doing so in solidarity with Britain after its government blamed Russia for attacking a former spy with nerve agent in England.<\/span><\/p>\n

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Foreign Minister Winston Peters say that while other countries are expelling \u201cundeclared Russian intelligence agents\u201d \u2014 or spies \u2014 they haven\u2019t found anybody in New Zealand fitting that profile.<\/span><\/p>\n

But security analyst Paul Buchanan told Radio New Zealand the politicians are trying to wriggle out of their responsibilities and their stance has made New Zealand a laughing stock.<\/span><\/p>\n

He says some of the Russians kicked out of other countries are regular diplomats and the expulsions are often only symbolic.<\/span><\/p>\n

00:45 a.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s ambassador to Australia says the dozens of countries that have expelled Russian diplomats in response to the recent nerve agent attack on a former Russian military intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain are \u201cnot a significant number.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ambassador Grigory Logvinov held a press conference in the Australian capital Canberra a day after the government announced that two undeclared Russian intelligence officers had been given seven days to leave the country. Logvinov denies Russia is responsible for the nerve agent attack.<\/span><\/p>\n

Logvinov says he doesn\u2019t know how Russia will retaliate against Australia for the expulsions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said before the press conference that she expects Australian diplomats will be expelled in retaliation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bishop says she will meet with the ambassador later Wednesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

6:15 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

Belgium has decided to expel one diplomatic staff member from the Russian mission in the wake of the nerve agent attack in Britain.<\/span><\/p>\n

The prime minister\u2019s office said the official will have two weeks to leave Belgium.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the measure, Belgium said it remained committed to an \u201copen and frank dialogue\u201d with Moscow.<\/span><\/p>\n

The United States, NATO, 16 European Union nations and some other countries have announced they would expel more than 130 Russian diplomats in response to the March 4 nerve agent attack on a former Russian intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain.<\/span><\/p>\n

5:55 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

U.S. President Donald Trump is speaking with leaders from France and Germany to praise the coordinated expulsion of Russian intelligence officers from their countries in response to Russia poisoning a former spy on British soil.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s according to the White House, which says Trump spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in separate calls Tuesday. The leaders \u201cexpressed support\u201d for the move and \u201cpraised\u201d the announcement by other Western allies who have followed suit.<\/span><\/p>\n

The United States, NATO, 16 European Union nations and some other countries have announced they would expel more than 130 Russian diplomats in response to the nerve agent attack on a former Russian intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain.<\/span><\/p>\n

The White House says the leaders are also discussed trade policy, Syria and North Korea.<\/span><\/p>\n

5:30 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bulgaria, which has so far not made a decision to expel Russian diplomats, says it has recalled its ambassador to Moscow for \u201cconsultations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Ambassador Boyko Kotsev discussed by phone the nerve agent attack on an ex-Russian spy in England, as well as the reactions in Russia, the European Union and the international community, the government\u2019s press office said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking to reporters in Brussels last week, Borissov said that the EU\u2019s support for Britain, which blames Russia for the March 4 attack, was a \u201cjoint decision which we support.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But he said that since Britain had claimed there was \u201chigh level of possibility\u201d that Russia was behind the nerve attack on the Skripals, he had asked for more evidence before his government makes a decision.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two dozen Western countries have ordered the expulsion of Russian diplomats in response to the spy poisoning case.<\/span><\/p>\n

4:50 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

Slovakia\u2019s president has asked the foreign ministry to explain why his country has not joined two dozen other countries in expelling Russian diplomats over the nerve agent attack on an ex-intelligence officer in Britain.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a statement Tuesday, President Andrej Kiska says he has met Deputy Foreign Minister Lukas Parizek and considered his explanation unsatisfactory.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kiska says he has called Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini over the issue and told him he expects Slovakia to respond to \u201ca request to express solidarity with our important ally.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Slovak leaders are scheduled to meet to discuss it on Wednesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador on Monday to condemn the use of a nerve agent in the attack in Salisbury, calling it \u201cunacceptable,\u201d but no Russian diplomats have been expelled from Slovakia so far.<\/span><\/p>\n

4 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moldova\u2019s foreign ministry has ordered three Russian diplomats to leave the former Soviet republic within seven days.<\/span><\/p>\n

The foreign ministry summoned Russia\u2019s Ambassador Farit Muhametshin on Tuesday to inform him of the decision, which followed similar expulsions of Russians from many other Western countries Monday. The moves were a gesture of solidarity with Britain over the nerve agent attack on a former spy in Britain.<\/span><\/p>\n

A statement said the attack was \u201ca threat on the collective security and international law.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Moldova\u2019s pro-Western government is seeking closer relations with the U.S. and the European Union.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last year Moldova expelled five Russian diplomats, accusing them of espionage.<\/span><\/p>\n

3:40 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

NATO\u2019s secretary-general says that the spate of expulsions of Russian diplomats by alliance members shows Moscow that it its behavior since the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine \u201chas costs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jens Stoltenberg announced the expulsion of seven Russian staff at the alliance mission and the rejection of three more accreditations, reducing Russia\u2019s diplomatic manpower from 30 to 20 at the alliance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stoltenberg said that \u201cI actually think that Russia has underestimated the unity of NATO allies.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Since the Crimea annexation in 2014, Stoltenberg said the NATO alliance has built up its military presence, increased defense spending and imposed economic sanctions on Russia, now compounded by diplomatic action since the March 4 nerve agent attack on a Russian ex-spy in Britain, which blames Moscow for it. Russian denies any involvement.<\/span><\/p>\n

He said it \u201cis a very strong response and which also imposes costs on Russia because of their behavior since the illegal annexation of Crimea.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

3:20 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

The speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives has praised a coordinated reaction by Western allies to the nerve gas attack on a former Russian spy in England.<\/span><\/p>\n

Addressing the lower house of Czech Parliament and later talking to reporters, House Speaker Paul Ryan says: \u201csolidarity on this frontier of freedom is more important than ever.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Western nations have expelled more than 130 Russian diplomats in a show of solidarity with Britain over the nerve agent attack.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ryan says: \u201cCivil nations don\u2019t act like that … it\u2019s important that we act in solidarity with our ally, particularly in this case the British, to condemn this kind of activity by Russia.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ryan also accused Russia of spreading disinformation and engaging in cyberattacks. He says Russia \u201cmeddles in democratic elections through Europe as it did in the United States … we cannot and we will not tolerate this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

3:10 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s foreign minister says the expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain have followed U.S. \u201cblackmail.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday on a trip to Uzbekistan that the U.S. has applied \u201ccolossal pressure, colossal blackmail, which have become Washington\u2019s main instrument on the international arena.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The United States, NATO, 16 European Union nations and some other countries have announced they would expel more than 130 Russian diplomats in response to the nerve agent attack on a former Russian intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Britain has blamed the March 4 poisoning on Russia, which has fiercely denied the accusations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lavrov says, according to Russian news agencies, that Moscow will retaliate for the expulsions, saying \u201csuch boorishness can\u2019t be tolerated.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

2:55 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says the military alliance will expel seven staffers from the Russian mission due to the nerve-agent poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.<\/span><\/p>\n

He says NATO will also deny the pending accreditation request of three other workers at the Russian mission.<\/span><\/p>\n

Russia is not a member of NATO. Stoltenberg says, despite the expulsions, Russia will still have a diplomatic mission of 20 people at alliance headquarters in Brussels and that will allow Russia to keep essential contacts with NATO members.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stoltenberg says \u201cwe will continue to work for meaningful dialogue\u201d with Russia but the measure announced Tuesday \u201csend a very clear message to Russia that it has costs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

2:15 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

Top EU lawmaker Guy Verhofstadt wants the European Union to sharpen sanctions on the Kremlin if necessary but also insists on a broader strategy to reach out to Russians in general.<\/span><\/p>\n

The leader of the liberal ALDE group backed the expulsions of diplomatic staff by EU nations but said \u201cthat\u2019s not enough.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In an interview with The Associated Press, he said that economic cooperation and visa liberalization were just as important as a clampdown on President Vladimir Putin and his closest allies.<\/span><\/p>\n

He compared it to the Helsinki detente process during the Cold War when channels were being kept open despite the fact that both sides had hundreds of nuclear warheads pointed at one another.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not establish a big economic space from Lisbon to Vladivostok?\u201d Verhofstadt asked. \u201cAnd at the same time asking, requesting for changes in the Russia society for application of the rule of law for a democracy, freedom of speech.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo political reforms in Russia as a counterpart for economic cooperation which we have to offer,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

12:50 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ireland says it is expelling a Russian diplomat, joining more than 20 other nations in punishing Moscow for the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said Tuesday that the nerve-agent attack on Skripal and his daughter Yulia was a \u201cshocking and abhorrent\u201d use of chemical weapons. He said the Russian ambassador in Dublin has been informed that one diplomat from his embassy must leave Ireland.<\/span><\/p>\n

Britain and Russia have expelled 23 of each other\u2019s diplomats since the March 4 attack, which the U.K. blames on Moscow.<\/span><\/p>\n

British Prime Minister Theresa May says 23 other countries have expelled more than 115 Russian diplomats, including 60 kicked out by the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n

Russia denies responsibility and has vowed a \u201ctough response\u201d to the expulsions.<\/span><\/p>\n

12:20 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

A top Russian diplomat says Moscow is preparing a \u201ctough response\u201d to Monday\u2019s announcement by the United States that it is expelling 60 Russian diplomats.<\/span><\/p>\n

The United States, European Union nations and some other countries announced they would expel a total of more than 130 Russian diplomats in response to the nerve agent attack on a former Russian intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia remain in critical condition in the hospital in the English city of Salisbury after being exposed to what British authorities say was a Soviet-made military-grade nerve agent on March 4.<\/span><\/p>\n

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RIA Novosti news agency on Tuesday that Russia was disappointed by the U.S. announcement that it would expel 60 Russian diplomats and shut down a Russian consulate in Seattle.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ryabkov said the U.S. move \u201cwill be met with a tough response\u201d but he did not elaborate.<\/span><\/p>\n

9:10 a.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

Australia has become the latest country to announce that it is expelling Russian diplomats in response to the recent nerve agent attack on a former Russian military intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull slammed \u201creckless and deliberate\u201d conduct by Russia that harms global security and violates rules against the use of chemical weapons. He said in a statement Tuesday that the two diplomats targeted are undeclared intelligence officers and have been given seven days to leave Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Western nations have expelled more than 130 diplomats in recent days.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Russian Embassy in Canberra said the decision was regrettable and jeopardized the bilateral relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is astonishing how easily the allies of Great Britain follow it blindly contrary to the norms of civilized bilateral dialogue and international relations, and against … common sense.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/world\/europe\/the-latest-new-zealand-faulted-for-not-expelling-russians\/2018\/03\/27\/24615964-3223-11e8-b6bd-0084a1666987_story.html?utm_term=.037874f1e504<\/span><\/p>\n

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