Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources: Ethiopia retracted from previously reached agreements within the framework of the negotiating process on the Renaissance Dam.
Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation: The tripartite ministerial meeting regarding the Renaissance Dam did not achieve progress.
Gaza Ministry of Health: 6 Palestinians wounded by IOF fire east of Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: A batch of incendiary balloons were launched towards settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip.
Turkey's Defense Ministry: 5 Kurdistan Workers Party members killed in an airstrike in northern Iraq.
The Iranian Intelligence Ministry says its forces raided several terrorist hideouts in Tehran and Western Azerbaijan and arrested 28 elements.
Iran's Intelligence Ministry says the terror attacks were aimed at undermining Iran's state security and showing Iran as a destabilized nation.
Iran's Intelligence Ministry says it foiled a terrorist plot being planned for Tehran, with all the culprits getting arrested.
Iranian Defense Ministry says has missiles designed with the intention of striking the Israeli occupation, namely the Hajj Qassem Soleimani missile.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The Israeli occupation forces raided Birzeit University and arrested three young men in its vicinity.

Belgian official resigns over invites to Russian, Iranian officials

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 20 Jun 2023 18:53
  • 1 Shares

Delegates from Russia and Iran were invited by a Belgian government official to attend an urban growth summit, prompting backlash against him.

  • Belgian official resigns over Belgian invitations to Russian and Iran
    Brussels Regional Affairs Minister Pascal Smet. (AFP)

Pascal Smet, a member of the Flemish socialist party Vooruit, and a minister in the Brussels regional government, has resigned after causing political a uproar for inviting Alireza Zakani and 14 Iranian officials, as well as delegates from Russia. to the Brussels Urban Summit that took place from June 12-15.

Smet, the regional foreign affairs minister for Brussels stated his decision to resign in a Sunday news conference, and also expressed it was a "mistake" for Brussels to fund the paid trips.

“With Belgian money, we’re paying for hotel nights for the Iranian mayor and a Russian representative – this is unacceptable,” Smet stated.

Related News

Ukraine suffers heavy losses during past 24 hours in Donbass: Report

Ukraine's military medical commissions plagued by corruption scandals

The minister blamed the incident on an "employee [who] made the wrong call," and claimed he had requested the event's organisers to "bear these costs."

Smet told the Brussels parliament last week that he had no interaction with Iranians at the meeting and that he would have revoked the invitation if Belgian MPs had objected. However, he was chastised by members of his own party as well as opposition legislators, apparently for failing to demand an answer from Tehran officials for alleged 'abuses' by Iran.

Hadja Lahbib, the Belgian foreign Affairs Minister is also under fire for issuing visas to Iranian and Russian guests. The story broke shortly after Belgian NGO worker Olivier Vandecasteele was freed from an Iranian jail following a prisoner exchange arrangement which also saw Iranian national Asadollah Assadi return to Iran.

Assadi was arrested in 2018 and was accused by German and Belgian authorities of being involved in a bombing attempt on the MEK in France, which he completely denied. The diplomat was later sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Read more: Iranian diplomat denied basic rights in EU prisons

  • Russia
  • Iranophobia
  • Alireza Zakani
  • Assadollah Assadi
  • Russophobia
  • Iran
  • Belgium

Most Read

Ukrainian soldiers ride an APC on the front line near Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region, on June 5, 2023 (AP)

US sees Ukrainian army demoralized, no chance to win: Seymour Hersh

  • Europe
  • 21 Sep 2023
Russia destroyed leopard tank in Ukraine with fully-German crew

Russia destroyed leopard tank in Ukraine with fully-German crew

  • Europe
  • 23 Sep 2023
British mercenary in Ukraine killed by another Brit

British mercenary in Ukraine killed by another Brit

  • Europe
  • 18 Sep 2023
Blinken’s ‘Variable Geometry’ for a New Cold War

Blinken’s ‘Variable Geometry’ for a New Cold War

  • Analysis
  • Today

Coverage

All
Morocco & Libya Disasters

Read Next

All
Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Furhan Al-Saud addresses the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at United Nations headquarters. (AP)
Palestine

Saudi FM tells UN regional stability hinges on 'Palestinian state'

Nearly two weeks later, Libya toll tops 3,800
MENA

Nearly two weeks later, Libya toll tops 3,800

A man walks past a mural featuring oil pumps and wells in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, May 21, 2022. (AP)
Latin America

Venezuela boosts oil production amid unilateral restrictive measures

Russia destroyed leopard tank in Ukraine with fully-German crew
Europe

Russia destroyed leopard tank in Ukraine with fully-German crew

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS