German Chancellor Scholz prepares the condolences to Queen Elizabeth on September 13 (local time)[사진=AP·연합뉴스]
The British government refuses to invite representatives of Russia, Belarus and Myanmar to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
On the 13th (local time), major media outlets such as BBC and CNN reported that the British government did not invite representatives of these countries to Russia and Belarus because of the invasion of Ukraine and Myanmar because of the persecution of the Rohingya.
Relations between Britain and Russia rapidly deteriorated following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Britain is the country that has strongly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, it provided the second largest humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine following the United States.
In particular, Russia has been showing even greater hostility since the inauguration of British Prime Minister Liz Truss. Prime Minister Truss has been leading the UK sanctions once morest Russia. Prime Minister Truss also expressed an active opinion on sanctions once morest Russian chaebols.
Belarus is a country that is considered to be Russia’s ‘blood alliance’. After the Russo-Ukraine War, Russia also requested to send troops to Belarus. Belarus helped Russia with joint military exercises.
Unlike them, Myanmar was excluded from the invitation due to the controversy surrounding the persecution of the Rohingya. The UK has imposed sanctions on Myanmar’s military and businesses on the basis of persecution of the Rohingya. In July, the military government canceled the visa of British deputy ambassador to Myanmar, Pete Bowles, following the British failed to establish an ambassadorial credential for Supreme Commander Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the coup d’état, on the grounds that the UK did not recognize military government. Relations between the two countries came to a standstill when a court for the military regime in Myanmar sentenced former British ambassador to Myanmar, Vicky Bowman, and dissident artist, Myanmar husband Thein Lin, each to one year in prison for violating immigration laws.
According to the Guardian, the British government is planning to lower the price for Iranian government so that only ambassador-level attendees can attend. The British government did not invite Iranian President Ebrahim Raishi, but invited an ambassador. “Currently, Iran does not have an ambassador to the UK, but it can send an ambassador to Iran,” the Guardian said.
On the other hand, there are cases where members of the royal family other than the normal leaders attend. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a regular press conference on the same day, “The Japanese emperor and his wife will visit the UK from the 17th to the 20th.
- reporter information
- Kwon Seong-jin
- mark1312@ajunews.com
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