5 International Nieghbor News Moscow Warns of Retaliation ‘Iran Biggest Investment Attraction in Decades’ TEHRAN - Global finan- der 30. These, the report for NATO Eastward Expansion cial services firm Morgan added, are among other MOSCOW - Kremlin NATO-Russia Council Stanley in a report has key advantages of Iran. spokesman Dmitry Peks- was created during the described Iran as the next Morgan Stanley further ov said Wednesday that 2002 NATO Summit biggest investment attrac- said Iran is an uncharted the continuous eastward in Rome as an official tion for international cor- territory for investors, expansion of the North diplomatic tool for han- porations after the fall of stressing that there is no Atlantic Treaty Organiza- dling security issues and the Berlin Wall. Morgan other hydrocarbon fron- tion (NATO) will lead to joint projects between Stanley in its report has tier economy that has retaliatory measures from NATO and Russia, yet emphasized that Iran’s been subjected to compa- Russia. “NATO’s mili- was suspended in 2014 vast fossil fuel resources rable economic and po- tary infrastructure to the as tensions rose between have specifically added to litical sanctions. “In the east, cannot but lead to the two sides when Rus- its numerous advantages next few years, there are retaliatory measures from sian troops moved into as a lucrative market for some pretty rapid growth Russia in terms of ensur- Crimea. Russia is ready international investors. forecasts for Iran — the ing security interests and to meet with NATO in Iran is considered as the World Bank expects GDP supporting the parity of the NATO-Russia Coun- most literate nation in the growth to rise to 6.7% in interests,” Peksov com- cil format if the military region with a large and 2017, largely on the back mented on NATO’s deci- bloc puts forward such modern economy. It also of increased production sion to invite Montenegro a proposal, Russian For- has a largely urbanized of oil and natural gas,” to join the military alli- eign Minister Sergei Lav- country where 60 percent the US-based bank said in ance. Earlier in the day, decision was not about In response to Stolten- NATO-Russia Council’s cific statement and was rov was quoted as say- of the population is un- its report.(PressTV) NATO Secretary General Russia, nor directed at berg’s remarks on the work, Peskov said he unaware of any move- ing by the Interfax news Jens Stoltenberg said the any third-party country. possible resumption of had not heard of the spe- ments toward this. The ...(More on P4)...(17) Pakistan Hangs 4 Militants

over School Attack Russia Says It has Proof Reaffirms Support for Ukraine, Calls ISLAMABAD - Pa- rified the country and kistan hanged four led the government to Turkey Involved in for Stable Relations with Russia convicted militants lift a 2008 moratorium BRUSSELS - NATO modernizing command on Wednesday who on the death penalty. Islamic State Oil Trade Secretary General Jens control, cyber defense were sentenced to However, most of MOSCOW - Russia’s de- state in half a century. Stoltenberg on Wednes- and logistics capabilities. death over a Taliban the nearly 300 people fense ministry said on Erdogan responded day underlined NATO “NATO is committed to attack on an army-run hanged since then have Wednesday it had proof by saying no one had would continue its politi- supporting a peaceful school last year that been convicted crimi- that Turkish President the right to “slander” cal and practical support and diplomatic end to killed more than 150 nals, not militants. Tayyip Erdogan and his Turkey by accusing it to Ukraine, and stressed the conflict,” Stoltenberg people, mostly chil- Parents of children family were benefiting of buying oil from Is- the need to restore pre- added. He further wel- dren, officials said. The killed in the assault from the illegal smug- lamic State, and that he dictability in relations comed Ukraine’s com- two officials said the welcomed the execu- gling of oil from Islamic would stand down if with Russia. Calling the mitment to implementing men were executed at tions and demanded State-held territory in such allegations were Minsk agreements “the reforms, and urged the a high-security prison that all those connected Syria and Iraq. Moscow proven to be true. But only path to a political so- country to continue along in the northwestern to the attack be given and Ankara have been speaking during a visit lution,” Stoltenberg said this path. city of Kohat. The of- the same punishment. locked in a war of words to , he also said he after the NATO-Ukraine “Challenges posed by ficials spoke on con- “Today’s executions since last week when a did not want relations Commission meeting Russia’s actions in the last week’s incident of the and transparency con- dition of anonymity cannot return my son Turkish air force jet shot with Moscow to worsen that while there has been Euro-Atlantic area will be Russian jet downing by cerning military activi- because they were not to us, but I am happy to down a Russian war- further. At a briefing in some progress in the im- with us for a long time,” Turkey highlights the im- ties is necessary “through authorized to speak know that at least four plane near the Syrian- Moscow, defense min- plementation, “there is a Stoltenberg said, adding: portance “to step up work intensive efforts to reach to media. The four are terrorists have been Turkish border, the most istry officials displayed real risk of a resumption “We agreed that our pri- on transparency and risk agreement next year on the first convicted mili- hanged for their role in serious incident between satellite images which of violence. “ NATO will ority now is to work to reduction” between the a substantive update of tants to be executed in the killing of our chil- Russia and a NATO ...(More on P4)...(18) continue to help Ukraine restore predictability in two sides. According to the OSCE’s Vienna Docu connection with the dren,” said a woman in several areas, including our relations.” He said him, increasing openness ...(More on P4)...(19) school massacre. The who identified herself Dec. 16 attack, which only as the wife of Ar- Abadi Says no need was claimed by the shad Zafar, in keeping for Foreign Troops to Iraq Briefed on U.S. Special Pakistani Taliban, hor- with local custom.(AP) Combat IS in Iraq Forces Plan: Kerry Fears of Islamic BAGHDAD - Iraqi must be approved by BRUSSELS - The Iraqi gov- boring Syria. The group Militancy Reportedly Run Prime Minister Haider and coordinated with ernment is fully briefed is also known as ISIL and al-Abadi has said his the Iraqi government, on U.S. plans to deploy ISIS. Iraqi Prime Minister high in Tajikistan country does not need said Abadi, who is also American special forces to Haider al-Abadi’s office foreign troops to fight Is- the commander-in-chief Iraq and the two govern- said it welcomed foreign lamic State militants, but of the Iraqi armed forc- ments will consult closely assistance but Iraq’s gov- welcomes outside sup- es. “Any military opera- on where they will go and ernment would need to port through weapons tion or deployment of what they will do, U.S. Sec- approve any deployment and training, local media any foreign force, spe- retary of State John Kerry of special operations forces reported on Wednesday. cial or not, at any place said on Wednesday. anywhere in Iraq. He also “There is no need for in Iraq cannot happen U.S. Defense Secretary Ash said foreign ground com- foreign combat ground without approval (of) Carter said on Tuesday bat troops were not need- in advance of Secretary ployed, where they would troops on Iraqi soil,” and coordination (with Washington would de- ed in Iraq, although it was Carter’s announcement,” be deployed, what kinds of NINA news agency Iraqi government) and ploy a new force of special unclear whether Baghdad Kerry told reporters at missions people would un- DUSHANBE - An article shaved at police stations. quoted a statement by full respect of Iraqi sov- operations troops to Iraq viewed these U.S. special NATO. “We will continue dertake, how they would “As Tajikistan Limits Is- And when President Abadi’s office as saying. ereignty,” the statement to combat Islamic State operations forces in that to work very, very closely support Iraqi efforts to de- lam, Does It Risk Desta- Emomali Rahmon used The presence of foreign said. Abadi’s comments militants who have seized role. “The government of with our Iraqi partners on grade and destroy ISIL.” bilization?” that was a Women’s Day speech troops in Iraq, if any, ...(More on P4)...(20) swathes of Iraq and neigh- Iraq was of course briefed exactly who would be de- ...(More on P4)...(21) posted on Radio Liber- in March to publicly ty’s website on noted that chastise those who wear

seeing the rise of Islamic “foreign” dress, saying PNA Warns Against Bypassing Al-Qaeda Fighters Yemen ‘Extremely State and other extremist that outsiders were us- in ‘Show of Force’ in Fragile’ for Aid groups in recent years, ing clothing to develop Palestine Issue in Arab-Israeli Ties Tajik authorities have an “extremist” trend in RAMALLAH - The for- South Yemen Workers: Red Cross done their best to elimi- Tajikistan, it was taken eign ministry of the Pal- ADEN - Al-Qaeda fighters drove GENEVA - A Red Cross employee’s kid- nate outward displays as a warning. The look estinian National Author- pro-government forces out of a town napping in Yemen underscored the “ex- of what they see as dan- of Dushanbe’s streets ity (PNA) on Wednesday in southern Yemen Wednesday in a tremely fragile” situation in the country for gerous, imported aspects has changed as a result. warned against Israeli new show of strength by the jihad- humanitarian workers, with the coming of Islam in recent years. Whereas solid-colored initiatives to form bilat- ists, who have exploited the coun- days crucial for securing the hostage’s re- This has put women black or brown hijabs eral relations with Arab try’s turmoil to expand their terri- lease, ICRC Director-General Yves Daccord who dress in Islamic at- had become a common countries that bypass tory. said Wednesday. The International Com- tire traditionally worn in sight, today anything but the Palestine issue. In a Yemen, home to what the United mittee for the Red Cross said two people Tajikistan, as well as men officially acceptable and statement, the ministry States considers Al-Qaeda’s most were taken by unidentified assailants on who wear long, bushy traditional Tajik head noted that Israel claims dangerous affiliate, has been con- Tuesday in Yemen’s capital Sanaa, but that beards, in the spotlight. scarves -- colorful and to “search for regional vulsed by unrest since Iran-backed one was released unharmed. A Tunisian fe- Men have been detained tied behind the head -- powers that share simi- Shiite Huthi rebels seized the capital male staffer was being held hostage. “The on the street and forcibly are a rarity.(Asia-Plus) lar views for a so-called Sanaa in September last year. situation in Yemen is extremely fragile for regional peace, that ig- before normalizing re- region based on tactical Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula an organisation like the ICRC and the na- Criticizes nores the international lations with Israel. The interests that don’t tack- (AQAP) has tightened its control tional Red Crescent”, Daccord told AFP in foundations for the peace Palestinian leadership is le the Palestine issue.” over parts of southeast Yemen, in- Geneva. “When something like this hap- French Reporter’s Terrorism process.” It said that at apparently trying to urge These interests only serve cluding Mukalla, the capital of the pens, the kidnap of colleagues, this is al- “Double Standards” the front of these founda- other Arab countries to Israel and harm the Pal- vast province of Hadramawt, im- ways a shock. “We have to regroup imme- tions is the “Arab Peace coordinate with it in deal- estinians, the statement posing a strict form of Islamic Sha- diately, try to understand what happened. - The Chinese had strongly offended Initiative,” launched by ing with the Israelis. The said. “Israel is trying to ria law. On Wednesday the jihadists This is exactly where we are right now,” he Foreign Ministry on the Chinese people. She the Arab League in 2002, ministry accused Israel cover up failing all op- briefly took control of Jaar, a town added. Daccord said that in this type of sit- Wednesday criticized noted that it came days which emphasizes the of attempting to exploit portunities for peace and in the southern province of Abyan uation, “you most likely have two to three the “double standards” after the Paris attacks, need for Israel to com- the conditions of the Arab negotiations with the Pal- to the west, in fighting that killed 15 days” to try to connect with the possible of a French journalist which were covered very pletely withdraw from region to “rebuild a new estinians,” the statement people. perpetrators. ...(More on P4)...(23) after speculation that differently by the French the occupied territories map of alliances in the said,..(More on P4)...(22) A military source described Jaar as China is refusing to re- media. “We fail to un- a key link between Mukalla and the UK Parliament to Vote new her press card after derstand why terrorism main southern city of Aden, the base on Expanded Attacks on controversial reporting. is accepted as such in Stranded Migrants Clash with Police of President Abedrabbo Mansour Ursula Gauthier, work- other countries, but turns Hadi who returned from exile in Islamic State ing for French magazine into ‘ethnic’ or ‘religious’ on Greek-Macedonian Border Saudi Arabia last month. LONDON - The British Parliament is set Le Nouvel Observateur, problems when it occurs IDOMENI, Greece - Macedonian po- Jaar is a stronghold of the pro-gov- to decide Wednesday whether to take gees fleeing Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. published an article on in China,” she said. “We lice fired tear gas at hundreds of mostly Protests have swelled among desperate ernment “Popular Resistance” which more aggressive action against Islamic Nov. 18 blaming govern- cannot understand why Pakistani migrants who tried to storm migrants stranded for days in squalid includes Sunni Islamists, tribesmen, State extremists even as U.S. officials an- ment policy in China’s anti-terrorism into the Balkan country from Greece tent camps on the border in tempera- loyalist soldiers and southern sepa- nounced additional forces would be sent Uygur Autonomous Re- efforts are described as on Wednesday demanding passage to tures barely above freezing. Wednes- ratists who have been fighting the to the region as part of a global push wealthier northern Europe. About 1,500 day’s violence broke out after about 200 Huthi rebels. against the radical group. The British gion for terrorist attacks repression of ethnic mi- Pakistanis, Moroccans and Iranians have people were denied passage and began The Al-Qaeda jihadists blew up the vote would authorize the Royal Air Force in China. norities.” “This ridicu- been stuck in no-man’s land between walking, for several kilometers (miles), main Popular Resistance headquar- to launch airstrikes against suspected IS Foreign Ministry spokes- lous logic is typical of the Greece and Macedonia for weeks after alongside a newly erected border fence, ters in the town and hunted down positions inside Syria, allowing it to take person Hua Chuny- West’s double standards non-EU Balkan states began filtering mi- seeking an alternative opening. Macedo- pro-government fighters, most of a more active role in the U.S.-led coalition ing told a regular press and political bias,” Hua grants and granting passage only to refu- nian police ...(More on P4)...(24) whom fled, witnesses said. (AFP) seeking to ...(More on P4)...(25) briefing that the article added. (Xinhua)