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Neutralité, crainte d'un conflit régional, soutien à Israël, ou prises de positions prudentes, depuis le début de la guerre Israël-Iran avec l'attaque israélienne vendredi 13 mai, les réactions ne sont pas uniformes dans les Balkans. Tour d'horizon avec nos correspondant.es en Albanie, Serbie, Bosnie-Herzégovine, Kosovo et Turquie.

- Articles / Bosnie-Herzégovine, Courrier des Balkans, Kosovo, Turquie, Relations internationales, Défense, police et justice, Serbie, Albanie

Neutralité, crainte d'un conflit régional, soutien à Israël, ou prises de positions prudentes, depuis le début de la guerre Israël-Iran avec l'attaque israélienne vendredi 13 mai, les réactions ne sont pas uniformes dans les Balkans. Tour d'horizon avec nos correspondant.es en Albanie, Serbie, Bosnie-Herzégovine, Kosovo et Turquie.

- Articles / Bosnie-Herzégovine, Courrier des Balkans, Kosovo, Turquie, Relations internationales, Défense, police et justice, Serbie, Albanie

Neutralité, crainte d'un conflit régional, soutien à Israël, ou prises de positions prudentes, depuis le début de la guerre Israël-Iran avec l'attaque israélienne vendredi 13 mai, les réactions ne sont pas uniformes dans les Balkans. Tour d'horizon avec nos correspondant.es en Albanie, Serbie, Bosnie-Herzégovine, Kosovo et Turquie.

- Articles / Bosnie-Herzégovine, Courrier des Balkans, Kosovo, Turquie, Relations internationales, Défense, police et justice, Serbie, Albanie, Une - Diaporama - En premier, Une - Diaporama

Les travaux de la 6e édition de la Mission économique de la Francophonie ont débuté ce mardi 17 juin 2025, au Dôme du Sofitel Hôtel à Cotonou. C'est en présence de la Secrétaire générale de la Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo, du ministre d'Etat, Abdoulaye Bio Tchané chargé du Développement et de la Coordination de l'action gouvernemental ; des entreprises et investisseurs internationaux francophones.

Secrétaire générale de l'OIF, Louise Mushikiwabo

Cotonou abrite du 17 au 19 juin, la 6e mission économique de la Francophonie en Afrique de l'Ouest. Organisée par l'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), en partenariat avec le gouvernement béninois, cette rencontre constitue une première en Afrique de l'Ouest et marque un tournant stratégique dans l'ambition économique de la Francophonie.

Dans son allocution d'ouverture, la Secrétaire générale de l'OIF, Louise Mushikiwabo, a défendu la place de l'économie au sein de l'Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. À l'en croire, la Francophonie est née comme une organisation culturelle et linguistique, mais elle a évolué. « Dans le domaine de la coopération, s'inscrit bel et bien la francophonie économique. Nous sommes le facilitateur, nous sommes le catalyseur, nous sommes l'accompagnateur des hommes et femmes de l'espace francophone », affirmé Louise Mushikiwabo.

La Secrétaire générale de la Francophonie est venue à Cotonou avec une délégation composée d'entreprises et d'acteurs économiques de plusieurs régions. L'objectif des missions économiques organisées par l'OIF depuis 2022 est selon, Louise Mushikiwabo, de créer des liens entre les hommes et les femmes d'affaires de l'Afrique francophone.

Avec 93 États et gouvernements membres, répartis sur 5 continents, la Francophonie représente : 17,5 % de la population mondiale, 16,5 % du produit national brut mondial, 20 % du commerce mondial de marchandises et 14 % des réserves mondiales de ressources minières et énergétiques. « Nous voulons faire vivre cet espace francophone. Nous voulons en profiter. (…) À travers ses missions, l'OIF se veut être un accélérateur d'opportunités pour surtout les petites et moyennes entreprises déjà présentes à l'international et un levier pour celles qui souhaitent se lancer à l'international », a-t-elle ajouté.

La 6e mission économique à Cotonou réunit plus de 120 entreprises et institutions économiques en provenance de toutes les régions francophones : Afrique, Amérique, Asie, Caraïbes, Europe, océan Indien et Moyen-Orient et 200 entreprises béninoises ainsi qu'une cinquantaine d'institutions de l'écosystème économique global international. Elle met l'accent sur trois secteurs : l'agro-industrie, les industries Culturelles et Créatives et la Transformation numérique

« La répartition des entreprises participantes est équilibrée. 40 % pour l'agro-industrie, près de 30 % pour le numérique, et près de 30 % les industries culturelles et créatives. Nous avons 40 % d'entreprises tenues par des femmes », informe Louise Mushikiwabo. Il est prévu plus de 130 rendez-vous d'affaires et la signature de plusieurs accords.

Abdoulaye Bio Tchané, ministre d'État chargé du Développement et de la Coordination de l'Action gouvernementale

Le Bénin, un hôte en pleine transformation
Abdoulaye Bio Tchané, ministre d'État chargé du Développement et de la Coordination de l'Action gouvernementale a salué une reconnaissance des efforts engagés pour transformer l'environnement économique du pays. Le Bénin, a-t-il rappelé, a enregistré une croissance de 7,5 % en 2024 portée par des fondamentaux très solides caractérisés par une situation macroéconomique saine, un déficit budgétaire relativement maitrisé, une dette publique sous contrôle et maitrisé depuis 2016.

« C'est ce cadre qui inspire désormais la confiance de tous de nos partenaires, des investisseurs et surtout des hommes d'affaires », a affirmé le représentant du chef d'Etat. Pour lui, l'Afrique et le Bénin en particulier apparaît comme un espace de stabilité, de croissance et d'opportunité. Ce forum, souhaite-t-il, doit être un tremplin pour replacer les entreprises francophones au cœur des chaines de valeurs mondiales, et pour construire une croissance inclusive et souveraine.

Conférence inaugurale avec Lionel Zinsou du Bénin et Michelle Umurungi du Rwanda

Après la cérémonie d'ouverture, place a été faite à la conférence principale sur le thème : « La Francophonie à l'heure de la diversification économique ». Modéré par le journaliste Ulysse Gosset, la session a réuni des intervenants de haut niveau, dont Lionel Zinsou, ancien Premier ministre du Bénin, cofondateur de SouthBridge et président de la Fondation Terra Nova, ainsi que Mme Michelle Umurungi, directrice des investissements au Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Ils ont échangé sur les enjeux et les leviers de la transformation économique dans l'espace francophone. Cette 6e mission de la Francophonie permet participants d'avoir des rencontres B2B, ateliers sectoriels, visites de terrain et échanges stratégiques.

Akpédjé Ayosso

In today’s edition of The Capitals, read about budget talks being make-or-break for Parliament’s credibility, liberals and conservatives courting Romania’s new president, Ylva Johansson’s new job, and so much more.

This video captures highlights from the Global Food Forum 2025, hosted by Farm Europe. A gathering of policymakers, farmers, agri-business leaders, and association representatives to discuss the future of food and farming in Europe.

Aleksandar Vulin, ancien ministre et homme de confiance du président serbe Aleksandar Vučić, va diriger la représentation en Serbie de la Société historique russe, un instrument d'influence du Kremlin pour imposer ses récits révisionnistes.

- Le fil de l'Info / Poutine et les Balkans, Courrier des Balkans, Vucic, Serbie, Relations internationales

Aleksandar Vulin, ancien ministre et homme de confiance du président serbe Aleksandar Vučić, va diriger la représentation en Serbie de la Société historique russe, un instrument d'influence du Kremlin pour imposer ses récits révisionnistes.

- Le fil de l'Info / Une - Diaporama, Poutine et les Balkans, Courrier des Balkans, Vucic, Serbie, Relations internationales

Les eurodéputés ont voté mardi 17 juin à Strasbourg en faveur de la suppression des délais de prescription dans les affaires de violences sexuelles sur des mineurs.

The post Violences sexuelles sur mineurs : les eurodéputés favorables à la suppression de la prescription appeared first on Euractiv FR.

La Poste a vu mardi 17 juin confirmée en appel sa condamnation pour manquement à son devoir de vigilance, la première sanction liée à une loi qui impose aux grandes entreprises européennes de prévenir risques environnementaux et atteintes aux droits humains liés à leurs activités.

The post La Poste condamnée en appel sur le respect du « devoir de vigilance » appeared first on Euractiv FR.

Romania’s “Mauritius Coalition” nears final deal: Bolojan set to become PM in rotating government, but key power-sharing questions remain.

EU firms based in China, however, echoed the European Commission president’s criticisms of Beijing’s protectionist policies.

Fico’s neutrality remark steals the spotlight from cross-party consensus on Slovakia backing NATO’s planned 5% defence spending target.

Le roi Abdallah II de Jordanie a vivement critiqué, mardi 17 juin à Strasbourg, la passivité des Européens face à l’offensive militaire israélienne qui dure depuis 19 mois dans la bande de Gaza.

The post Le roi de Jordanie réprimande l’UE au sujet de Gaza appeared first on Euractiv FR.

The upcoming parliamentary election in October has brought renewed discussion of a possible Czech exit from the EU.

As Europe's Greens near a compromise on Israel and Gaza, Felix Banaszak defended the German Greens' insistence on a nuanced stance on the matter.

Americas R&M Government Services, Las Cruces, New Mexico, has been awarded a maximum $9.9 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract for KC135 aircraft fastener parts kits. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. The performance completion date is June 15, 2030. Using military services are Army, Navy and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2025 through 2030 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Richmond, Virginia (SPE4A7-25-D-0257). The US Army has contracted American Rheinmetall to supply M1 Abrams main battle tank tracks. The $107.5-million, five-year contract finalizes an order the company received for T-158 military tracks in August 2024, which allowed for the commencement of production. This expedited timing underlines the US Army’s urgent need to maintain readiness amid evolving global challenges. Middle East & Africa US President Donald Trump gathered his top security advisers Tuesday at the White House, as the U.S. military increased firepower in the Middle East amid ongoing strikes between Israel and Iran. “He may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment,” Vice President JD Vance said in a post Tuesday on X. In posts to […]

The world's fifth-largest banana producer wants to "ramp up" trade with the EU, Colombia's foreign minister told Euractiv in an interview.

In New York, participants attend the multi-stakeholders’ hearing for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and mental health and well-being. Credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe

By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Jun 18 2025 (IPS)

Although access to mental health and psychosocial support services is considered a fundamental human right by the United Nations (UN), hundreds of millions of people experience limited or inadequate access to mental health and psychosocial support services.

On June 6, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) published a joint summary report on the wellbeing and development of children and adolescents around the world. In this report, the two organizations underscored the risks of neglecting the importance of mental health and called for systemic change in access to critical care.

According to UNICEF and WHO, the global government expenditure for mental health services accounts for only 2 percent of the overall global health budget, with only a fraction going toward children and adolescents. This is particularly alarming, as UN-Women estimates that nearly 20 percent of global health emergencies are a result of mental and psychological conditions.

“The right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health will only be realised if investment in mental health is increased and improved. It is important to understand what the current financial situation is across the world, and this report shows that it is not good,” said James Sale, the Director of Policy, Advocacy and Finance at United for Global Mental Health (UnitedGMH). “With the growing interest in improving mental health, now is the time to redouble our efforts in encouraging governments and donors to provide the money that is desperately needed by so many.”

WHO states that in some countries, up to 90 percent of individuals facing severe mental health challenges receive no care at all. Additionally, many mental health systems globally rely on “outdated institutional models”, falling short of modern international human rights standards. Furthermore, UnitedGMH states there is currently a USD 200 billion gap in annual funding for mental health and psychosocial services, with the majority of the world’s nations falling far below modest mental health baselines.

This leaves children across the world vulnerable to suicide, a reduced quality of life, and stunted social and professional development. To ensure that all young people face equal opportunities for success, it is imperative that governments and other relevant stakeholders, including the private sector, work together to increase funding for mental health and psychosocial support services.

“There are two key stages in childhood for reaching one’s full potential: the early years of life and, later, starting around the age of 10. This age represents a second opportunity to stimulate development and build adolescents’ coping mechanisms. It is essential that they are supported in making their own decisions, participating in community life, and not remaining passive,” said Angela Capcelea, Head of the Health Section at UNICEF.

Funding is particularly scarce in lower-income countries, in which it is estimated that there is fewer than one mental healthcare professional for every one million young people. Additionally, the psychosocial needs of young people in developing countries are compounded by higher rates of violence, armed conflict, natural disasters, heightened social stigma, and an overall lack of basic services.

According to figures from UN Women, almost every person that lives through a protracted humanitarian crisis experiences significant levels of psychological distress. One in five of these people are estimated to develop long-term mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.

UN Women states that due to constant bombardment, displacement, and a lack of basic services in Gaza, the mental health of young women and girls is currently at a “breaking point”. It is estimated that roughly 75 percent of women in Gaza experience depression, 62 percent experience insomnia, and 65 percent experience nightmares and anxiety.

In Afghanistan, roughly 68 percent of women describe their mental health as being “bad” or “very bad”, with eight percent also reporting that they personally know someone who has attempted suicide. Due to the numerous edicts in Afghanistan that restrict women’s autonomy, as well as a strong social stigma around mental health, the majority of women and girls are left with virtually no psychosocial resources.

Additionally, cuts in the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have decimated global funding for mental health and psychosocial support programs, with many reporting that they had to cease or scale back operations. According to the Global Mental Health Action Network, there were 131 global programs, including 9,343 staff, that were providing mental health care to vulnerable communities. Roughly 73 percent of these positions were cut.

Furthermore, over 50,000 people across 32 countries that were training to become mental health practitioners lost access to their education. In 2025, approximately 5,908 people will receive training, marking a stark decline from the 55,911 people in 2024. WHO projects that the global number of mental health workers will fall to roughly 10 million by 2030, with low and middle-income countries facing shortages of approximately 1.18 million mental health workers.

“My program works with unaccompanied minors. Due to budget cuts, over 60% of staff have been furloughed and in process of being laid off,” said Lucy Onen Adoch, the Partnerships Program Coordinator for StrongMinds in Uganda, a nonprofit organization that provides mental healthcare support for depression. “The government halted access to funds that directly impact mental health services to unaccompanied minors and their families, as well as access to case management services and connection to community resources such as education and legal services.”

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

A Security Council meeting on the rapidly escalating crisis in the Middle East. 13 June 2025. Credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe
 
Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for political affairs told ambassadors that the repercussions of the attacks were already reverberating. “I reaffirm the Secretary-General’s condemnation of any military escalation in the Middle East,” she said, urging both Israel and Iran to exercise maximum restraint and “avoid at all costs a descent into deeper and wider regional conflict”

By Alon Ben-Meir
NEW YORK, Jun 18 2025 (IPS)

Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities may be justified if one takes Netanyahu’s explanation at face value. I doubt, however, if he and Trump have fully considered the ominous regional ramifications of the attack and whether negotiations to limit Iran’s nuclear program would have led to much more positive results.

Netanyahu has finally executed what he has been itching to do for many years—attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities and army installations and decapitating many of its military commanders and nuclear scientists.

Even though Trump first appeared to have distanced himself from the Israeli operation, there is simply no doubt that he gave the green light to it, without which Netanyahu would not have dared to make such a move that may well draw the US into the fray and plunge the entire region into a war, potentially with horrific ramifications.

Trump and Netanyahu developed a strategy whereby the United States would deny any involvement in Israel’s decision to attack Iran. They warned Tehran, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated: “We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense.

President Trump and the administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel.”

On Wednesday, Trump expressed misgivings about reaching a negotiated agreement during the sixth round of negotiations between US and Iranian representatives scheduled for next Sunday in Qatar. By that time, he was already aware of Netanyahu’s pending attack.

Although many high-ranking Democrats and Republicans repudiated Netanyahu for daring to take such an ominous action when another round of talks was set, they appear oblivious to what was agreed upon behind the scenes between Trump and Netanyahu.

Netanyahu would attack, and the US would distance itself to prevent Iran from attacking American military targets in the region, knowing that Iran would want to avoid a direct confrontation with the US. The US, however, would come to Israel’s defense by intercepting incoming ballistic missiles.

Trump’s response to the attack on his Truth Social site says it all, threatening further attacks unless Iran accepts a nuclear deal. In a lengthy post, he stated:

“I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to “just do it,” but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done. I told them it would be much worse than anything they know, anticipated… Certain Iranian hardliner’s [sic] spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse! There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end. Iran must make a deal before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”

Furthermore, Trump also described the Israeli attack as “excellent” in an ABC interview and cautioned that “there’s more to come – a lot more,” unless Iran agrees to a deal.

The problem here is that, regardless of how weak Iran is as a result of Israel’s successful campaign to diminish Iran’s axis of resistance, Hezbollah and Hamas, and their shattered air defense systems as a result of Israel’s attack a few months ago, Iran still retains a formidable military power and is not about to surrender. To suggest that the Ayatollah will resume negotiations after being humiliated is foolish.

Iran will not succumb and will retaliate against Israel, and regardless of the extent of damage and destruction it will sustain, Iran will want to preserve their pride, and for that, it will be more than willing to sacrifice a great deal more.

The Iranian people, who largely detest their regime, will now rally behind it as they view the Israeli attack with the support of the US as only humiliating, but it will further worsen the economic condition in the country, from which they have already been suffering.

Another outcome of the Israel-US miscalculation is that the attack has only strengthened the voices of many Iranian hardline officials who oppose negotiations with the US in the first place. They had serious doubts about the US’s real intentions, and now they feel vindicated as it became increasingly clear that Trump has given the blessing to Netanyahu.

Moreover, although the Arab Gulf states may quietly cheer the destruction that Israel inflicted on Iran, they are now in a state not only of apprehension but fear that they may be dragged into a war they do not want.

Any regional war will have major economic ramifications, which set back their economic development, which they prize the most, and especially their concerns over the disruption of their oil exports, which is the beating heart of their economies.

Israel’s attack on Iran with US support will further push Iran into Russia’s and China’s arms. For these two countries, it is a heaven-sent development and they will spare no effort to capitalize on it and squeeze all the geostrategic benefits at the expense of the US in particular.

Finally, even if Israel manages to destroy all of Iran’s nuclear facilities, which is unlikely, it will only be a matter of time for it to rebuild and resume its nuclear program, except this time it will do so even with greater vigor and determination to produce nuclear weapons.

Furthermore, Iran would more than likely withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty and open the door to regional nuclear proliferation, which successive US administrations wanted to avoid.

Trump and Netanyahu seem to have forgotten that Iran is a regional powerhouse with a population of 90 million, has enormous natural and human resources, enjoys a crucial geostrategic location, and a rich history that endows it with a unique regional presence. Even after suffering a devastating war, Iran will emerge again as a major power that Trump and Netanyahu must reckon with. Iran is here to stay, and Israel and the US will have to live with it.

Regardless of how the current hostilities end, the long-term solution to Iran’s nuclear program is at the negotiating table. Trump’s desire to reach a quick solution to show some success, especially after having failed to end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, might have doomed the negotiations with Iran.

And Netanyahu, who is politically beleaguered at home and has been itching to attack Iran and wants to emerge as a hero, decided to exploit Iran’s weakness without carefully considering that the price that Israel might have to pay later will far outweigh what he might have gained today.

IPS UN Bureau

 

Excerpt:

Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a retired professor of international relations, most recently at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU. He taught courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies.