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Czech FM Expresses Concern Over Iran’s Nuclear Path

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jakub Kulhanek. Asharq Al-Awsat
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jakub Kulhanek. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Czech FM Expresses Concern Over Iran’s Nuclear Path

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jakub Kulhanek. Asharq Al-Awsat
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jakub Kulhanek. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Jakub Kulhanek, has expressed Europe’s growing concern over Iran’s nuclear path, and stressed the need to change this course.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat during his recent visit to Riyadh, Kulhanek said: “Iran’s nuclear trajectory is deeply worrying and must change, and we believe that maintaining the JCPOA is the best way to achieve that.”

He also expressed support for the return of the United States to the agreement and its full implementation by all sides, underlining the need for Iran to rejoin the Vienna talks.

Commenting on the Taliban’s seizure of power in Afghanistan, and its impact on the security and stability of the region and the world, Kulhanek was not surprised by the rapid developments in the country.

“We have to face reality as it is, and be realistic. We will not abandon our achievements in the past two decades.... In our next steps regarding the new Afghan authorities, we must have realistic expectations - of course, without compromising our values and principles.”

The minister noted that the international community would need to engage in some kind of “coordinated dialogue” with the new government in Kabul in order to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.

“The new government in Kabul must be judged by its actions, not its words,” he said, pointing out that the Czechs had no intention of recognizing the new government led by the Taliban.

On the discussions he held in Riyadh, the minister said that besides his participation in a business forum, he held meetings with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, to consolidate the exchange of information on topics of common interest, including security, counter-terrorism and regional developments.

Kulhanek noted that Saudi Arabia and the Czech Republic had a lot to exchange in many areas such as trade, scientific cooperation, energy and mining, in addition to the health sector and the security industry.

“We see great potential in providing Czech knowledge, technologies and products to the giant, ambitious and impressive projects of the Kingdom’s government, such as NEOM, the Red Sea, or the Green Riyadh Initiative,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Regarding Saudi Arabia’s role in regional stability, the minister emphasized that the Kingdom was an important power and one of the main players in the global economy, which was confirmed by its successful presidency of the G20 in 2020.

As for Saudi reforms, Kulhanek said: “It is surprising that you regularly hear and read in the world’s leading media about ambitious reforms and mega projects such as the Vision 2030 program.”

On the Saudi efforts to resolve the crisis in Yemen, the Czech foreign minister stressed that his country always supported the work of the international community to find a solution to the Yemeni crisis.

“We welcomed the new initiative presented by Saudi Arabia in March, which we believed could contribute to finding an acceptable and sustainable solution. Unfortunately, cross-border fighting and strikes continue. We have made public calls to stop these attacks and for all parties to declare an immediate nationwide ceasefire,” he remarked.

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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)

One of the UN’s top humanitarian officials in Lebanon, Imran Riza, has warned that the situation will worsen if the conflict continues, calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

He stressed that the ongoing war is placing immense strain on both the UN and the Lebanese government, as over a million people have been displaced. He said current needs exceed $400 million, but only 12% of that amount has been raised so far.

Worsening Crisis

Riza, who is the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, UN Resident, and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat. He described the past two weeks as “catastrophic” for civilians, with the crisis growing over the last year.

More than 600,000 people have been displaced and over a million affected, with 300,000 crossing the border, according to Riza.

Many of these people have been displaced more than once in search of safety. Riza emphasized that the war has severely impacted civilians, with more than a quarter of Lebanon's population affected.

The UN has been working to address the crisis, but Riza said resources are limited.

He stressed that the UN has been saying all year that it doesn’t have enough funds, even when there were only 110,000 displaced people.

Last week, the UN launched a $426 million appeal for urgent humanitarian aid, with 12% of the funding already secured.

Riza said more support is expected, with donor countries pledging additional help.

He also expressed gratitude for contributions from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which provided medical and relief supplies, and said the UN hopes to see more international assistance soon.

Working with the Government

The UN is working closely with the Lebanese government every day to provide shelter, food, healthcare, and water to those in need.

Cooperation with the government has been excellent, said Riza.

However, he acknowledged that the government’s capacity is weakened after five years of ongoing crises, which have also severely impacted the population.

People are less resilient than they were during the 2006 war, and the government and its institutions are weaker, affirmed Riza.

The UN is helping the government respond effectively, ensuring transparency and accountability, so that aid reaches those who need it, he added.

The UN is also collaborating with local and international NGOs that have gained experience from Lebanon’s recent crises, helping to ensure a more effective response. Shelters are also being monitored to prevent any abuse.

A Different Reality from 2006

The current situation in Lebanon is very different from the 2006 war. Politically, the country now has a caretaker government and no president, with much less international presence.

Back then, other countries were more involved, said Riza.

The 2006 war lasted only 33 days, but this conflict has dragged on for a year, he noted.

During recent visits to southern border areas, Riza said locals were asking when the war would end, as the situation has worsened significantly in the past two weeks.

Riza noted that, in the first week of the crisis, it was extremely difficult to respond, and even now, many displaced people remain without shelter.

The UN is working with the government to provide shelter, food, and healthcare, but it’s not easy, he noted.

Displacement Crisis

With winter approaching, Riza stressed the need to properly house displaced people, saying that people can’t be left without shelter.

There are also concerns over a lack of housing, clean water, and sanitation, as well as the risk of disease outbreaks. Despite these challenges, Riza praised the close cooperation between the UN, international organizations, and partners.

Many agencies are responding, he asserted.

Riza rejected any claims of discrimination between displaced groups, noting that both Lebanese and Syrians are currently staying in UNRWA schools. He added that talks with the government about sheltering displaced Syrians have been positive.

Riza also expressed concern about the school year and children’s education.

Prolonged Conflict

The United Nations sees no immediate solution to the humanitarian and military crisis in Lebanon, with Riza stressing that the solution must be political and diplomatic, but first, a ceasefire is needed.

While there is little optimism for an end to the conflict, Riza said, the UN is encouraged by the support from its partners, which helps the organization assist the displaced.

He mentioned the recent evacuation of 1,000 people from Ain Ebel and aid distribution in Tyre, emphasizing the need to ensure that they reach those in need.

Riza called on all sides to respect international and humanitarian laws, allowing safe access for aid workers.

He condemned violations, including the deaths of firefighters, health workers, civil defense staff, and UN personnel, adding that the toll on civilian and health infrastructure is growing.