BRUSSELS: European Parliament head Antonio Tajani has banned a top Syrian official from a conference on the conflict after the suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held town earlier this week.
Tajani sent a message to leftwing MEP Javier Couso warning that Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Ayman Soussan would not be allowed to attend the conference planned by the lawmaker on Monday, according to a copy of the document seen by AFP.
“Please be advised that, following the recent use of chemical weapons and the subsequent developments, I have decided not to authorize this event on parliamentary premises,” Tajani said, according to the message.
“I have taken this decision as politically it is clearly inopportune to hold this conference,” he said.
“For security reasons, I have also decided not to authorize Mr.Ayman Soussan access to the European Parliament,” he added.
Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime in Damascus was widely blamed for a suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held town on Tuesday, prompting US President Donald Trump to order cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base.
The European Union supports a political transition in Syria whereby Assad steps down to make way for a new government, and the bloc reaffirmed this position on Monday.
Brussels hosted an international donor’s conference on Syria mid-week attended by opposition figures which raised some $6.0 billion for humanitarian aid efforts this year.
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EU Parliament head bans top Syrian official after attack: document
EU Parliament head bans top Syrian official after attack: document
’No. 1 fan’: Rapper Minaj backs Trump
- Rap icon Nicki Minaj declared Wednesday she was Donald Trump’s “number one fan,” adding that “hate” directed at the US president made her support him more
WASHINGTON: Rap icon Nicki Minaj declared Wednesday she was Donald Trump’s “number one fan,” adding that “hate” directed at the US president made her support him more.
Republican Trump called the provocative singer-songwriter up on stage after she announced her support for so-called “Trump Accounts,” which provide trust funds for children.
“I will say that I am probably the president’s number one fan, and that’s not going to change,” said Minaj, who wore a furry white coat as she embraced Trump and took the podium.
“And the hate or what people have to say, it does not affect me at all. It actually motivates me to support him more.”
The Trinidadian star, 43, added that she would not let the billionaire president’s opponents “get away with bullying him and you know, the smear campaigns. It’s not going to work.”
“He has a lot of force behind him, and God is protecting him. Amen.”
Trump, who had earlier joked that he would grow out his nails to emulate the “Starships” and “Super Bass” rapper, then held her hand while another speaker took the podium.
The self-proclaimed “Queen of Rap” is known for her shape-shifting musical and fashion styles — but she has also radically modified her politics in recent years.
Previously a critic of Trump’s hard-line immigation policies, Minaj has moved in recent years to praising his leadership.
In November she made a surprise appearance at the United Nations to call for an end to faith-based persecution in Nigeria, an allegation by the Trump administration which the government there denies.
Republican Trump called the provocative singer-songwriter up on stage after she announced her support for so-called “Trump Accounts,” which provide trust funds for children.
“I will say that I am probably the president’s number one fan, and that’s not going to change,” said Minaj, who wore a furry white coat as she embraced Trump and took the podium.
“And the hate or what people have to say, it does not affect me at all. It actually motivates me to support him more.”
The Trinidadian star, 43, added that she would not let the billionaire president’s opponents “get away with bullying him and you know, the smear campaigns. It’s not going to work.”
“He has a lot of force behind him, and God is protecting him. Amen.”
Trump, who had earlier joked that he would grow out his nails to emulate the “Starships” and “Super Bass” rapper, then held her hand while another speaker took the podium.
The self-proclaimed “Queen of Rap” is known for her shape-shifting musical and fashion styles — but she has also radically modified her politics in recent years.
Previously a critic of Trump’s hard-line immigation policies, Minaj has moved in recent years to praising his leadership.
In November she made a surprise appearance at the United Nations to call for an end to faith-based persecution in Nigeria, an allegation by the Trump administration which the government there denies.
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