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His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, stressed that the State of Qatar has a long history of dialogue and diplomacy in various areas of conflict, including Sudan and Lebanon, and between Djibouti and Eritrea, stressing that dialogue is the only way forward and the only way to end any crisis or potential conflict.
Speaking at the opening session of the Doha Forum 2022 that began on Saturday, His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs highlighted Qatar's commitment to international principles and international law, which represent the basis of all its positions with all political crises, stating that the State of Qatar is against attacking the sovereignty of any country, interfering in its internal affairs or using force against it, "Qatar is against any use of force against civilians," he stressed.
HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani noted the importance of treating all international issues on an equal footing, especially with regard to humanitarian crises. “In Ukraine, we know that there are concerns between the two sides, and these concerns must be addressed diplomatically. This also applies to the Palestinian question and the Israeli occupation, and we want to see the same results. Our standards have always been unified. and largely consistent despite all pressures, and we must abide by these principles. We also urge all countries in the international community to work to protect and apply these principles on an equal footing,” His Excellency added.
He reiterated that dialogue is the right way out of any crisis. “We have never seen a war that ends on the battlefield. The solution to any crisis is always at the dialogue table through diplomatic talks and agreement between the two parties, and that is the only way. Therefore, we believe that in light of the current crisis in Ukraine, we must provide short-, medium- and long-term solutions to preserve the world order."
His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs added that the suffering seen in Ukraine was similar to the suffering in many countries in the region for years, yet nothing happened and there was no global response to this suffering. “We were praying for a precedent in the region in response to brutality against the Palestinian, Syrian, Iraqi, Libyan or Afghan people.
He indicated that the absence of a global response to these actions and the lack of accountability of those responsible for the violence will lead to more violence, expressing his hope that the war in Ukraine will serve as a wake-up call for the international community to look to "our region" and to deal with the issues that arise in it with the same level of commitment that has been seen in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and that this crisis is dealt with in a diplomatic way that leads to an end to the conflict and the human suffering.
HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed the importance of maintaining world order and international legality and preserving the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, "because we are already a small country protected by these multilateral measures, as well like all other countries.
“Some say that we are a small country that aspires to more than it can achieve, that is not the problem. Rather, it is the issue of stability in the region and ensuring peace in it if we are able to play a role for further stability and peace in the region and for the maintenance of international peace and security, which is in our direct national interest, so it is important that we are a platform for diplomacy and dialogue, and that we contribute to improving security and stability in the region. We cannot be isolated from what is happening in the rest of the world, but must play an active role in making a positive contribution to achieving international stability," said HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.
Regarding the current situation with Iran and whether there is an imminent peace agreement with it, HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, stressed the importance of maintaining stability in the region and that there is an agreement on the nuclear issue in Iran, underlining the need for this step to be followed by other regional steps to deal with the security repercussions.
His Excellency believed that the only way to ensure international security is the same way the State of Qatar views all disputes, which is to deal with them diplomatically, because it is the best way to deal with elements of concern to each party separately.
He added that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is an important agreement at least to ensure that there is no nuclear arms race in the region, and pointed out the need to complement this agreement with interaction and participation in the Gulf region with Iran. for a holistic approach.
Meanwhile, HE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani stressed that the world is based on interconnectedness and interdependence, thus no country can be isolated or unaffected by crises. international. Climate change is a global problem that will affect everyone, whether they are large or small countries.
"What the international community is doing today to anticipate the consequences of this crisis is a 'late response,' but we must work collectively to confront this phenomenon," he said.
His Excellency gave another example, which is the coronavirus pandemic that harmed the whole world and had and has consequences and repercussions for everyone, pointing out that the inequality in vaccinating and treating patients makes the pandemic last a long time.
His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani added that geopolitical crises in the world have an impact on neighboring countries and the entire world. Any conflict will increase refugee crises, and any human disaster will have cascading effects on the supply chain, as is currently happening in the crisis in Ukraine and Russia, which represent the world's food basket in wheat, corn and other foods, not to mention its clear impact on the energy market.
IMO and States in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region have begun to develop a regional biofouling management strategy and action plan to prevent the transfer of aquatic invasive species. On March 22 and 23, a meeting was held in Hurghada, Egypt, bringing together government representatives from PERSGA* member states to coordinate efforts in the region.
The event was organized by PERSGA within the framework of the GloFouling Partnerships project and follows previous efforts in the region, such as the regional seminar held in 2021 to raise awareness of the issue of biofouling from ships as one of the main vectors for the transfer of invasive aquatic species.
The member states of PERSGA established a Regional Working Group and elected its chair (Jordan) for a 2-year term. Jordan is a Lead Country Partner of GloFouling Partnerships and has already made considerable progress at the national level, with the development of a national status assessment report and a draft national strategy. Participants also discussed and agreed on the contents of a draft regional strategy and action plan on biofouling management that will help harmonize efforts, identify priority activities, and establish a communication channel to share knowledge.
Regional efforts are key to pooling resources, sharing experiences and increasing the number of countries developing national assessments and a national policy on biofouling management, in line with the IMO Biofouling Guidelines to prevent aquatic invasive species and protect their impacts negative on marine biodiversity. The next steps in the region will be the approval of the draft strategy and its action plan, and the implementation of the first activities identified, followed by another meeting of the regional working group in 2023.
Learn more about biofouling, which is the accumulation of aquatic organisms such as microorganisms, plants, and animals on surfaces and structures that are submerged or exposed to the aquatic environment.
* Secretariat of the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden (PERSGA) Member States: Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen
Yesterday, the Federal Government of Somalia, the World Health Organization (WHO) and members of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) recommitted to halting the ongoing outbreak of circulating poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). in Somalia at a three-day meeting convened in Nairobi. , Kenya. High-level delegates at the meeting included HE Fawziya Abikar Nur, Federal Minister of Health and Human Services, Dr. Mamunur Rahman Malik, WHO Representative in Somalia and Head of Mission, along with high-level representatives from the Bill Foundation. and Melinda Gates (BMGF), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rotary International, Save the Children, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and other UN agencies and partners. Together, the Government, GPEI partners, including WHO, UNICEF, BMGF, CDC, Rotary International, GAVI, Vaccine Alliance and other key partners, endorsed the Somalia Polio Eradication Action Plan 2022 to reaffirm their commitment. The Somalia Polio Eradication Action Plan 2022 outlines a four-point call to action to stop the spread of the current outbreak, which is one of the longest-running cVDPV2 outbreaks reported to date. The robust plan aims to direct partners' efforts and resources to increase population immunity, making concerted efforts to reach high-risk populations, including nomadic and inaccessible communities and internally displaced persons, to strengthen their immunity, improve the search for poliovirus circulation, and strengthen coordination among all stakeholders. Some of the strategies to be implemented include intensifying efforts to offer 5 polio vaccination opportunities in 2022, providing routine childhood immunization in high-risk locations where children have not received the vaccines, and strengthening community engagement. Given the ease with which the cVDPV2 virus crosses international borders, the emergency plan also calls for greater cross-border coordination between polio eradication programs in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti. “In the midst of the ongoing drought, and as they recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, our stakeholders must not forget how important it is to contain the ongoing poliovirus outbreak so that it does not spread further and does not affect to nobody. more children's lives,” said HE Fawziya Abikar Nur, Federal Minister of Health and Human Services. "On this occasion, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of our partners and donors for the immense efforts they have made to protect millions of Somali children from polio over the years." “Since its inception 25 years ago, Somalia's polio eradication program has made progress, including stopping outbreaks of wild poliovirus and, most recently, one of circulating poliovirus type 3 in 2021. The program has established a vast network of human resources and assets against polio and we can do more not only to stop the current outbreak, but also to achieve broader health system goals through the integration and effective use of our human and operational resources. Since 2018, Somalia has carried out several complementary immunization campaigns. Despite these efforts, pockets of children remain unvaccinated due to insecurity and limited access to health services,” said Dr. Mamunur Rahman Malik, WHO Representative in Somalia. The Somalia Polio Eradication Action Plan, to be implemented by 2022, complements one of the goals outlined in GPEI's 'Polio Eradication Strategy 2022-2026: Delivering on a Promise', to stop the transmission of cVDPV and prevent outbreaks in non-endemic countries. It is also in line with Somalia's national goals and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The exchange of information is essential for maritime security. Best practices for information exchange was the subject of a regional workshop at the Djibouti Regional Training Center, which brought together participants from 14 countries in the region.
The five-day IMO-led workshop (13-17 March) examined ways to strengthen the Regional Information Sharing Network to detect, deter and disrupt illegal activities at sea. The event, supported by subject matter experts from the UK and European Union, also explored ways to adapt maritime domain awareness to meet security challenges and modalities to engage with regional and international MDA networks for regional benefit.
Participants developed planning tools for advancing a robust information sharing network (ISN), including tools to help Member States establish National Clearing Houses.
Regional capacity development is high on the agenda of States signatory to the Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct given the declining support of international naval forces in recent years, which has seen the conclusion of Operation NATO's Ocean Shield and the limited extension of authorization for international naval forces to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia.
The Signatory States have also expressed concern about the impact of geopolitical events, such as the insurgency in northern Mozambique and the conflict in Yemen, that threaten maritime security in the region, including attacks on ports, deliberate attacks on ships and collateral damage. .
The workshop was officially opened by His Excellency Otsuka Umio, Ambassador of Japan to Djibouti. The attendees were 23 participants from 14 States signatory to the Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct: Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania and Yemen. .
The Balbala Logistics Transportation Center and Technical High Schools in Tadjourah and Dikhil will receive forklifts, computers, and logistics training programs from USAID's Office of Humanitarian Assistance. At the award ceremony, the US Ambassador to Djibouti, Jonathan Pratt, said, "In partnership with MENFOP and the United Nations, we have established a technical training support program for young Djiboutians to find jobs in the labor market of the future.
The Ambassador delivered equipment and machinery worth $318,000 to the Secretary General of the Ministry of National Education and Professional Training, in the presence of the WFP Representative, at the ceremony held at the Humanitarian Logistics Center of the World Food Program (WFP). This equipment will help the Transportation Center and Technical High Schools have what it takes to effectively train 560 students each year to prepare them to work in the logistics sector.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian News Agency , Mr. Buki Ponle, says that efforts are being made to reopen the agency's Addis Ababa office.
Ponle made this known in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, when he paid a courtesy call to Amb. Victor Adeleke, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the African Union and Ambassador to Ethiopia and the Republic of Djibouti.
He described the reopening of the office, which was closed in 2015 due to funding problems, as important and critical given the economic and political challenges facing the continent.
"As Africans, we must tell our stories ourselves with the greatest sense of patriotism," the director-general said.
He also identified unprofessional reporting, fake news and lack of patriotism as factors that give Africa a negative image.
When reopened, the Office that was initially established in 2010 would cover the positive developments of the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia, the development programs of the African Union Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the Horn of Africa. .
Ponle, who requested the ambassador's support in getting the office off the ground early, said current management was ready to reopen at least three of its foreign offices in Addis Ababa, Ivory Coast, and Johannesburg, South Africa.
He also told the Ambassador that the Agency was working to collaborate with the African Union Commission and the Committee for Intelligence and Security Services for Africa (CISSA) in the area of balanced reporting on Africa.
In response, Adeleke said it was about time the African media took the driver's seat in reporting on African issues.
He described the proposed reopening of the Office in Addis Ababa as a good step in the right direction, adding that African stories need to be told differently.
Adeleke said there have been many positive developments in Africa that have gone unreported or not reported at all.
He thanked the management for the visit and promised to provide the necessary support to the new office.
The managing director had previously paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of CISSA, Amb. Zainab Ali-Kotoko, at the CISSA Secretariat in Addis Ababa.
He also had discussions with the AU Director of Communication and Information, Ms. Leslie Richer, who was represented by the Information Division, Ms. Esther Tankou, about possible collaboration between the AU and training and information dissemination.
reports that the CEO was accompanied by Addis Ababa's Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr. Dele Ojo, and the Director of Administration and Human Resources Management, Mr. Abdulhadi Khaliel.
On February 13, Djibouti launched the final implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) for the period 2020-2024: "Djibouti ICI". This is a particularly ambitious plan, based on three strategic axes: Inclusion - Connectivity - Institutions. A plan that fits within the framework of Vision 2035, the future strategy defined by President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh. And a plan that builds on the strengths of the country, on its will to emerge and modernize, in accordance with the demands of our time.
In a complex region, Djibouti is working to consolidate its status as a pole of stability, security and development. The previous first five-year plan (2015-2019) made it possible to exceed growth targets and launch essential infrastructure with the completion of new port areas, free zones and the Djibouti-Addis Ababa railway line.
The Covid 19 pandemic, as in other places, strongly impacted this positive cycle. The adverse effects of this crisis have been contained thanks to the National Solidarity Pact (PEN) 2020. This NPS, which has been included in the Djibouti ICI, has allowed the country to underline the resilience of its model.
The launch of the Djibouti ICI symbolizes the country's willingness to move forward again, while addressing the structural challenges facing the nation in terms of social inclusion, infrastructure, sustainable development and governance.
Djibouti ICI focuses on three interdependent and priority axes. The first axis (inclusion) aims to adopt an inclusive model and ensure a better distribution of growth. The second (connectivity) aims to ensure better national integration and strengthen Djibouti's position as the center of the continental economy. The third (institutions) aims to consolidate the realization of rights and freedoms, democracy and public transparency, while strengthening social cohesion.
The overall budget for the 2020-2024 NDP is estimated at 2.482 billion FDJ (12 billion euros). The objective is to achieve an average growth rate of 8.5% in 2025, with a significant expansion of the private sector.
These objectives require a great effort in terms of economic governance and the mobilization of internal and external financial resources. This approach is not new. For more than two decades, the country has been committed to this ambitious model. Djibouti has established itself as a key port and logistics hub. Overall wealth has more than doubled since 2000. And today, to increase the competitiveness of the economy, several major projects have been launched. This is the case of the Damerjog industrial estate, the new infrastructure in the field of shipbuilding and oil terminals, and the transformation of the historic port into an international business district. Studies have also begun for the construction of a new international airport.
The 2020-2024 NDP is a new tool at the service of this national ambition, which is to make Djibouti an emerging nation, open to modernity and fully concerned with the well-being of all its citizens.
The contribution of the Government of Japan will allow us to save and change the lives of millions of vulnerable and hungry people who are teetering on the edge.
YOKOHAMA, Japan, February 9, 2022/APO Group/ --The United Nations World Food Program has received a total of US$66 million in funding from the Government of Japan to provide emergency food assistance and livelihood support to vulnerable people in 26 countries in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. .
US$10 million will be allocated for vital food and nutrition assistance in Afghanistan, where food insecurity has deteriorated rapidly, driven by the triple shock of economic crisis, conflict and drought.
In Myanmar, Japan will provide US$4.6 million for emergency food and nutrition assistance to the most vulnerable populations in Rakhine, Kachin, Shan, Chin and peri-urban areas of Yangon, amid growing food insecurity due to the political crisis, conflict and poverty
Japan is supporting WFP to deliver vital food assistance to people affected by the crisis in Iraq, including internally displaced persons and returnees, by contributing US$6.4 million. In Yemen, US$4.6 million will be used to help WFP provide life-saving assistance to severely food-insecure households.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and enhance response measures, Japan is contributing US$5.6 million to WFP to develop temperature-sensitive logistics capabilities and capabilities in sub-Saharan Africa.
“The Government of Japan's contribution will enable us to save and change the lives of millions of vulnerable and hungry people who are teetering on the brink,” said Naoe Yakiya, Director of Japan Relations Office. “We are grateful for the critical support that comes at a time when our emergency food, nutrition and livelihood assistance is needed more than ever due to conflict, climate change and the socio-economic impact of COVID-19.”
Japan has always been one of WFP's main donors. The countries and regions that will benefit from this year's US$66 million supplemental funding are: Afghanistan, Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Iran , Iraq, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Tajikistan, Uganda, Yemen.
An estimated 13 million people in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia face severe hunger as the Horn of Africa experiences its worst drought in decades, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
Three consecutive rainy seasons have failed as the region has recorded its driest conditions since 1981, the UN World Food Program said.
The drought has destroyed crops and caused "abnormally" high livestock deaths, forcing rural families who depend on herding and farming to flee their homes.
Water and grazing land are scarce and below-average rainfall forecasts in the coming months only threaten more misery, said Michael Dunford, WFP's regional director for East Africa.
“Crops are failing, livestock are dying and famine is on the rise as recurring drought hits the Horn of Africa,” it said in a statement.
"The situation requires immediate humanitarian action" to prevent a recurrence of a crisis like the one in Somalia in 2011, when 250,000 people starved to death during a prolonged drought.
Speaking to reporters in Geneva, WFP spokesman Tomson Phiri described the scene he witnessed during a recent trip to northeast Kenya.
“While it is common to see dead cattle on the side of the road… this time, they have not been run over by passing vehicles: they died of thirst and hunger, and died in large numbers,” he said.
"The drought is widespread, severe and likely to get worse."
Food aid is being distributed in an arid swath of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, where malnutrition rates are high and some 13 million people are at risk of severe hunger in the first quarter of this year.
'Catastrophe'
Meanwhile, the UN children's agency estimates that up to 20 million people in those three countries, plus Eritrea, will need food and water over the next six months.
Mohamed Fall, UNICEF regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa, said the situation was especially dire for children and families.
Almost 5.5 million children in the four countries are threatened by acute malnutrition, while 1.4 million are at risk of falling into severe acute malnutrition, which can lead to death.
"UNICEF fears that this number will increase by 50 percent if there is no rain in the next three months," Fall told reporters in Geneva via video link.
"The needs are massive and urgent, and are rapidly outstripping the funds available to respond," he said.
"We need to act now to prevent a catastrophe."
According to the WFP, some 5.7 million already need food assistance in southern and southeastern Ethiopia, including half a million malnourished children and mothers.
In Somalia, the number of people classified as severely hungry is expected to rise from 3.5 million to 4.6 million in May unless urgent action is taken.
Another 2.8 million people need assistance in southeastern and northern Kenya, where a drought emergency was declared in September.
WFP said $327 million was required to respond to immediate needs over the next six months and support herding communities to become more resilient to recurring climate impacts.
Meanwhile, UNICEF is requesting $123 million to cover vital needs in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Kenya through the end of June.
In 2011, the absence of rain caused the driest year since 1951 in the arid regions of Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Uganda.
Experts say extreme weather events are happening with greater frequency and intensity due to climate change, with Africa, which contributes the least to global warming, bearing the brunt.
Source Credit: TheGuardian
The Near East and North Africa (NENA) is home to 419 million people, 40% of whom live in rural areas and one in five work in agriculture.
ROME, Italy, February 8, 2022/APO Group/ --Agriculture ministers and delegates from the Near East and North Africa region today signaled their commitment to work towards transforming agri-food systems, fostering inclusive rural development and supporting a shift towards sustainable and climate-sensitive agriculture.
The commitments form the core of the ministerial declaration agreed at the close of the 36th session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Near East Regional Conference (NERC36).
Government officials, academics, and representatives from the private sector and civil society participated in the meeting, hosted by Iraq in a hybrid format, which included a series of presentations by senior FAO officials.
The ministers expressed their support for the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031 and formally approved the four Regional Priorities of the FAO work program for the region, which focus on the creation of inclusive value chains and employment opportunities for youth. rural development, promoting food security and healthy diets for all through trade, food security and efforts to reduce food loss and waste, greening agricultural practices to ensure environmental sustainability and building resilience in the face of multiple shocks and stresses.
The Near East and North Africa (NENA) is home to 419 million people, 40 percent of whom live in rural areas and one in five work in agriculture. While enormously varied, the region shares the challenges of severe land and water scarcity. NENA is also home to rising levels of food insecurity and a rising incidence of extreme poverty and alarming problems of overweight and obesity, especially among children and women.
Conflicts, social unrest, heavy reliance on imported food, financial and economic crises and multiple colliding and overlapping shocks reflect the region's vulnerability, the ministers said. The Regional Conference, an increasingly powerful governance mechanism for FAO held every two years, provided opportunities for members to review the Organization's work in the region and, in the words of Muhammad Karim Al-Khafaji, Minister of Agriculture of Iraq and President of NERC36, take full ownership of the results offered by their joint actions.
“Agrifood systems should lead the successful rejuvenation of their region,” FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said in closing remarks to participants. He congratulated delegates for reaching a consensus on the ministerial declaration and stressed that the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Affairs must play a central role in terms of political commitments and action plans to enable other key partners to help them move forward. "We have to help farmers, with favorable policies, investment, innovation and information technology," he added.
high level sessions
The regional conference included a series of ministerial round tables on food security and healthy diets, on building resilient rural communities for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all leaving no one behind, and green recovery and climate action.
FAO also organized a side event on water, energy and food to boost preparations for the COP27 and 28 summits of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will take place in the region.
Participants also assessed the effectiveness of FAO's recent and ongoing work in the region. That includes involving three NENA countries (Sudan, Syria and Yemen) in the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, which aims to match investments and skills with the poorest populations. Another Member, the United Arab Emirates, has taken steps to mobilize support for participating countries outside the region. FAO's 1000 Digital Villages initiative, which seeks to harness e-commerce and other Internet opportunities to benefit small rural farmers, has been implemented in seven NENA countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.
FAO's global initiative, One Country, One Priority Commodity, launched in September 2021, has enormous potential for a region with some of the world's oldest agricultural traditions, as the FAO Director-General underlined in his opening speech. opening Monday at NERC36.
Soon, FAO will also launch a regional edition of The State of Land and Water, a flagship product designed to provide decision-makers with up-to-date information on the status and trends of natural resource management in the region, as well as response options.
FAO is also helping members of the NENA region to combat a large number of transboundary animal and plant pests and diseases, such as desert locust, fall armyworm, Xylella fastidiosa, red palm weevil, plague of small ruminants and Rift Valley fever, among others, which have required resource-intensive actions throughout the region.
NERC Members: Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan , Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Yemen.
