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As the Oct. 31 Brexit deadline approaches, Ireland’s ambassador to the United States is expressing a degree of optimism that a creative solution may be found, but he insists there has to be a legally binding agreement “that there can never be a hard border on the island of Ireland.”   
 
The so-called “backstop” negotiated between former British Prime Minister Theresa May and the European Union “is a guarantee that there can never be a hard border on the island of Ireland,” Ambassador Daniel Mulhall said in an interview with VOA. 
 
“It is not enough for us to be told that ‘we promise you, there will not be a problem,'” he said. “There has to be a legally binding agreement, and that’s where I think we have to work hard over the next six weeks between the United Kingdom and the European Union to find a solution to this problem, because nobody wants to see Britain crash out of the European Union.” NAFTA example
 
Mulhall cited the process of the renegotiation of a trade agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico as an example of how things could work out. 
 
“When the U.S. wanted to replace NAFTA, they had negotiated a successor agreement. Until that agreement, the USMCA, comes into force, NAFTA remains in force, so as to provide for a framework for trade between the U.S., Mexico and Canada — and the same should be done between the UK and the EU,” Mulhall said. 
 
What Ireland wants, Mulhall added, “is to maintain the open border on the island of Ireland and to preserve the precious peace process that has saved so many lives over the last 21 years.” He noted that peace process was achieved “with huge support” from both the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government over a long period of time. 
 
Mulhall described the withdrawal agreement negotiated by May and the EU as meeting that objective. “If there is to be an alternative set of arrangements, those arrangements would have to achieve the same outcome; if they [Britain] have ideas that can achieve the same outcome, it would be good for us to hear them,” he said. Mulhall said, “There are those who think that maybe a solution could be to have a backstop for Northern Ireland only, but that’s something that doesn’t seem to be popular with the British government.” Such a plan was rejected early in the Brexit negotiations by May’s Northern Irish coalition partners, who feared it would threaten their role as part of Britain. ‘Unique place’
 
Mulhall pointed out that Northern Ireland “is a unique place, because it’s got a land border with the rest of Ireland, therefore a land border with the European Union.” 
 
The question of how to prevent that land border from becoming a hard border with customs and other controls that would threaten the peace on the island constitutes “the whole crux of this negotiation,” he said.  
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When Spain’s national anthem blared from a hotel balcony during Catalonia’s National Day ceremonies last week, regional police cut electricity to the building and searched it for Spanish unionists suspected of placing the loudspeakers.But when a few thousand radical separatists tried to rush the regional parliament building the same day, overturning police barriers, hurling sharp objects and attacking a Spanish television news crew, no arrests were made.“Catalonia is caught in a dichotomy,” says Erik Encinas, publisher of the Barcelona digital magazine Mediterraneo. “Although public enthusiasm for independence shows signs of waning, the bureaucracy and police are increasingly controlled by hardliners.”Catalan regional president Quim Torra has called for “general civil disobedience” next month to protest the expected convictions of regional officials tried by Spain for organizing an independence referendum and subsequent declaration of secession two years ago.But there are doubts that he will get the mass turnout he wants. Organizers had hoped for a huge show of force at this year’s Catalan National Day parade, but the turnout of more than half a million people was only about half as large as in past years.FILE – Catalan regional president Quim Torra, center, is seen during a pro-independence rally on Catalonia’s National Day, in Barcelona, Spain, Sept. 11, 2019.Many would-be participants may have been put off by calls for a “war” against the Spanish state that circulated on social media beforehand. Recent opinion surveys meanwhile indicate a general decline in support for independence.A poll taken in July by Catalonia’s government-run Center for Opinion Studies showed that support for independence had dropped to 42%, while support for remaining as part of Spain had risen slightly to 48%. Both sides had been tied at about 45% in previous surveys.Barcelona city councilor Raymond Blass says infighting among the nationalists has undermined support for independence and that “fatigue” could be setting in among the “less committed.”But even some of the militant groups show signs of frustration. Members of the Committees for the Defense of the Republic (CDRs), which organize at the grassroots level, recently complained that they could not mobilize enough people to block the main highway into Barcelona.If public support for independence is softening, the dream of an independent Catalonia appears to be holding firm in key governing agencies. These include the regional police force, the Mossos d’Esquadra.The Guardia Civil, a national law enforcement agency, says it has intercepted communications between Mossos members discussing a revival of Land and Liberty — a terrorist movement modeled on the Basque ETA, which conducted bombings 30 years ago. The Guardia Civil also accuses Mossos members of passing sensitive information on to extremist organizations.FILE – A demonstrator burns a Spanish flag at a protest in front of Catalonia’s parliament on Catalonia’s National Day, in Barcelona, Spain, Sept. 11, 2019.But Barcelona city councilor Raymond Blas rejects the charge that local authorities have politicized the Mossos. “If politicizing means asserting the powers of the Catalan government, then the Spanish government politicized its National Police when they sent them here to interfere without independence movement,” he says.Catalan Security Minister Miquel Buch has said that he wants to keep the police “outside the political and partisan debate.” But Buch recently promoted a detective sergeant who had helped ex-Catalan president Carles Puigdemont to escape from Spain to avoid arrest after declaring independence in 2017.   The sergeant had been expelled from the police by Spanish officials who took over management of the force during a period of direct rule imposed in 2018. He is now serving as an “adviser” to the regional government at three times his previous pay.    Catalan policewoman Inma Alcolea tells VOA that she recently had her badge pulled and was transferred to a remote administrative posting for complaining about separatist political influence on key units like the Department of Internal Affairs. “It’s like a Mafia,” she says.“Political priorities are draining resources away from regular police work,” says Eugenio Zambrano, a former Barcelona municipal policeman who now heads a union of government workers that led a protest in Barcelona last weekend demanding more protection against a growing crime wave.Spain’s interior ministry says there has been a 30% rise in street crime in Barcelona over the past year. “There are rapes, robberies and murders on a scale never seen before,” said shopkeeper Miquel Martinez, who joined the protesters.Blas says a lack of patrolmen on the streets is caused by a diversion of resources to counterterrorism since a 2017 Islamic attack in Barcelona. Seven hundred more policemen are being hired, the city councilor said. 
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President Emmanuel Macron has said he believes the yellow vest protests that rocked France since last year have been good for him as they made him listen and communicate better, in an interview published on Thursday.The yellow vest (gilets jaunes) protests, which often descended into violent clashes with the police, erupted last November, with demonstrators accusing Macron of being aloof and unaware of the needs of ordinary French people.Now over two years into his five-year term, Macron is hoping in the next phase of his term to focus on his ambitious vision for reforming not just France but also the EU.”In a certain way, the gilets jaunes were very good for me,” Macron told Time magazine in an interview for a front-page cover story. “Because it reminded me who I should be.”He acknowledged that the protests had made him aware that he needed to be less disconnected.”My challenge is to listen to people much better than I did at the very beginning,” he said, for the story entitled “Macron’s Moment”.”I probably provided the feeling that I wanted to reform even against people.”And sometimes my impatience was felt as an impatience (with) the French people. That is not the case,” he said, adding that his impatience was with France’s system itself.”Now, I think I need to take more time to explain where we are and what we want to do exactly.”Analysts say that for now, Macron appears to have seen off the worst of the yellow vest protests, which are still taking place every weekend but on nothing like the scale of six months ago.But he has to keep an eye on his own popularity and France’s powerful unions as he seeks to implement reforms at home. The Paris metro last Friday saw its worst strike in years over a planned pension overhaul.He has also taken an active role on the international stage, though his drives to defuse the Iran nuclear dispute and also bring peace to Ukraine could yet be derailed.Time quoted Macron as saying he was currently in a “Death Valley” period between setting out his reforms and seeing them bearing fruit.”The end of Death Valley is the day you have results,” he said. “Building this new France is my obsession. 
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Former British Prime Minister John Major accused current leader Boris Johnson of a “conspicuous” failure to explain why he suspended Parliament for five weeks, as a landmark Brexit case at the Supreme Court came to a head on Thursday.Meanwhile, the European Union and Britain announced new talks on an elusive divorce deal, even as they squabbled over whether or not the U.K. had brought any new ideas to the table.The U.K.’s top court is sitting to decide whether Johnson broke the law by sending lawmakers home just weeks before the U.K. is due to leave the European Union on Oct. 31.The government says the suspension is routine and not motivated by Brexit, and argues that judges should not interfere in politics.Opponents of the government claim Johnson shut Parliament until Oct. 14 to prevent lawmakers scrutinizing his plan to take Britain out of the EU at the end of next month, with or without a divorce deal. They also accuse the prime minister of misleading Queen Elizabeth II, whose formal approval was needed to suspend the legislature.They are being backed by Major, who was prime minister between 1990 and 1997 – and, like Johnson, is a Conservative.Major’s lawyer, Edward Garnier, told the court that it was an “inescapable” conclusion that Johnson had shut down the legislature to stop lawmakers blocking his Brexit plans.A written submission on behalf of Major said Johnson had failed to provide a sworn statement explaining the reasons for suspending Parliament, and argued that “his failure or refusal to do so is conspicuous.”Major said the inescapable conclusion was that “the decision was in fact substantially motivated by a desire to obstruct Parliament from interfering with the prime minister’s plans.”The three-day hearing ends Thursday, but 11 Supreme Court justices are unlikely to give their judgment before Friday at the earliest. If the court rules that the suspension was illegal, Johnson could be forced to call lawmakers back to Parliament.It would be a new blow for Johnson, who is battling to fulfil his pledge to lead Britain out of the EU on the scheduled date of Oct. 31 come what may.Johnson insists he is working hard to get an agreement with the EU that will ensure a smooth departure. EU leaders are skeptical of that claim, saying the U.K. has not produced any concrete proposals.Finland’s Prime Minister Antti Rinne warned that “it’s all over” if Britain didn’t come up with solid new Brexit proposals by the end of the month.“If the U.K. wants to discuss alternatives to the existing exit agreement, then these must be presented before the end of the month,” Rinne said after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Wednesday.Finland currently holds the rotating presidency of the 28-nation bloc.Britain says it has not revealed detailed proposals because they would likely leak, to the detriment of negotiations. But the government insisted Thursday it has sent “confidential technical non-papers which reflect the ideas the U.K. has been putting forward.” Non-papers are documents intended for discussion, rather than formal proposals.The British government said in a statement it would not meet an “artificial deadline” but would make formal submissions “when we are ready.”The EU confirmed it has received new documents from Britain relating to ways of maintaining an open border between EU member Ireland and the U.K.’s Northern Ireland – the key sticking point to a deal.European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said the two sides would hold “technical discussions” on Thursday, followed by a meeting between EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and Britain’s chief Brexit minister Steve Barclay on Friday.Barclay insisted that the six weeks until Oct. 31 were “sufficient for a deal” if both sides provided “creative and flexible solutions.”“A rigid approach now at this point is no way to progress a deal and the responsibility sits with both sides to find a solution,” he said during a visit to Madrid. 
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A Belgian F-16 fighter jet crashed Thursday on a road in western France and one of its pilots is hanging from a high-voltage electricity line after his parachute got caught, according to French authorities.No injuries have been reported, but surrounding homes have been evacuated as emergency workers try to extract the suspended pilot safely.The plane was traveling from Belgium to a naval air base in France when it came down between the towns of Pluvigner and Landaul, in Britanny, according to a statement from the regional prefecture, or administration.Two pilots were aboard, and both ejected before the crash. One was safely rescued but the other got stuck on the power line.The plane itself was not armed, the statement said.Local newspaper Le Telegramme showed images of the pilot hanging from the line, black smoke and flames rising from the area and a house it said was damaged in the crash.A national police spokeswoman said no injuries have been reported among residents in the area. She said about 100 police have surrounded the crash site and are investigating what happened. 
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New U.S. Special Envoy to the Western Balkans Matthew Palmer said Washington expects talks between Serbia and Kosovo to restart after Kosovo’s Oct. 6 election.In an interview with VOA on Wednesday, Palmer said the U.S. is hopeful that the new Kosovo government is “one that’s prepared to suspend the tariffs that are an obstacle to the resumption of the dialogue process.”He urged Kosovo to “take control of its own destiny” and “recognize that its priority is a deal with Serbia on normalization, and suspending the tariffs is part of that.” Palmer said the U.S. is hopeful that Serbia will then respond with suspending the de-recognition campaign against Kosovo.Talks between the two nations have been put on pause since last year over Kosovo’s decision to impose a 100% tax on imported goods from Serbia.Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj abruptly resigned in July after being summoned as a suspect before a war crimes tribunal in The Hague. Kosovo will hold a snap election Oct. 6 following his resignation.The following are excerpts of the interview:VOA: Good afternoon, Special Envoy Palmer, thank you very much for talking to Voice of America.Palmer: Thanks for having me on your show.VOA: What are the policy priorities in your new role? Given this is a new position created under the current administration, is it an increase of the U.S. interests and commitments to the Western Balkans? Palmer: Certainly, I think the decision by the secretary of state to appoint a special representative for the Western Balkans demonstrates clearly and in a concrete fashion our commitment to the region, our commitment to be a partner for the region, and our ambition to help the region move closer into the Western community of nations.So I look at my role as being really in position to help the countries of the Western Balkans fulfill their aspirations for European and Euro Atlantic Integration.We’re hopeful that that begins with North Macedonia and Albania being given the opportunity to open successful negotiations with the European Union.We (would) then like to see Serbia and Kosovo return to the negotiating table and reach an agreement on normalizing their relationship, and of course we’d like to see Bosnia-Herzegovina continue the reform process and move closer on its European and Euro-Atlantic path as well.It’s a big agenda. There’s a lot of work to do, but I’m committed to staying in close partnership with the region and helping those countries.VOA: As you mentioned, getting Kosovo and Serbia to restart the talk is one of the priorities. How?Palmer: Well I think the first thing that we need to do is wait until Kosovo has its elections on Oct. 6. They’ll then be in a process of government formation.We will make clear our expectation that the next government of Kosovo is a pro-dialogue government, that’s one that’s prepared to suspend the tariffs that are an obstacle to the resumption of the dialogue process, that’s prepared to put together an empowered negotiating team that is prepared to engage with Serbia at the negotiating table, seriousness of purpose to achieve an agreement on normalizing relationship. The United States will be with them, together, to every step of this process.But Kosovo needs to take control of its own destiny.VOA: What is your expectation of the October 6 election? Palmer: Well, it’s really up to the people of Kosovo.But whatever political party emerges in the polls to be in a position to try and put together a coalition.We hope that that party will move quickly toward government formation and toward putting together a coalition committed to re-engage in the dialogue process, in serious fashion. VOA: The sticking points seem to be one, Kosovo’s tariffs against Serbia imports; and two, Serbia’s diplomatic campaign to block Kosovo. What will the U.S. do about it? What are the possible solutions? Palmer: Well, what we’d like to see is we’d like to see the next Kosovo government recognize that its priority is a deal with Serbia on normalization, and suspending the tariffs is part of that. We’re hopeful that Serbia will then respond with some incentives on its part and that would include potentially suspending the de-recognition campaign against Kosovo.And with that as a basis: tariff suspension and termination of the de-recognition campaign, the parties can go back to the negotiating table in a positive atmosphere, with an eye toward getting to an agreement.VOA: Would you renew your push, such as a joint letter from you and the White House National Security Council, urging Kosovo to remove the 100% tariffs, now that [Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs at the State Department Robert] O’Brien will be at the NSC?Palmer: Sure. When I speak on behalf of the U.S. government, I’m not simply speaking on behalf of the State Department. As a special representative, I will be presenting positions of the United States that includes the National Security Council, which includes the office of the secretary of defense. And we speak as the American government with a single voice, with a single policy.So when I go to Kosovo, when I meet with Kosovo officials, I speak on behalf of the United States — that presupposes the entire American government. VOA: If the stagnation continues, would it have a negative impact on the U.S. support to help Kosovo and Serbia integration into the Western community?Palmer: We remain committed. We were prepared to partner with Belgrade, partner with Pristina, partner with the Serbian authorities, partner with the authorities in Kosovo, in pursuit of that goal and objective.We can’t do this by ourselves.The parties themselves have to be leading the separation. We want a solution that is locally owned, that is durable and salable on both sides. One that the United States and others in the European community can get behind.We’re partners with them in this process. They’re the ones that need to be (inaudible).VOA: If I may, I would like to pivot to China’s role. As China is expanding its Belt and Road Initiative, some analysts are saying the Chinese investments in the Western Balkans are gaining momentum. Is it a negative when you are advocating for the U.S. policy priorities? What is its implication to the U.S. relations with the region? Palmer: We understand that the countries of the Western Balkans are going to make the best deal that they can for themselves and their publics as they look to develop big infrastructure priorities. This is normal and would be appropriate.What we are doing is trying to ensure that there is a level playing field so that American companies, Western companies are able to compete fairly for these opportunities as they arise. And we are encouraging the governments in the Western Balkans to consider broadly whether some of these deals with China are in their best interests.We’ve certainly seen in other cases that are involved in the Belt and Road — the kind of predatory debt approach to these programs where China’s upfront number will be very appealing to the government in question, but the maintenance costs, the lack of job creation by the Chinese brings to the projects; most importantly, the debts that affect the ability of these countries to maintain the capital goods they acquire, really create long-term costs and the consequences that they haven’t thought through as carefully as they might be.So there are security considerations. There are financial considerations and there are issues of the broader relationship with these countries would like to establish with multinational corporations that need to be factored into that decision.VOA: As Secretary of State (Mike) Pompeo frequently tells allies the risks of using Huawei in the build out of 5G, Serbia is intensifying its cooperation with Huawei. How do you explain to countries such as Serbia, which might see the Chinese equipment and financial packages are the most attractive?Palmer: Here again, what we’re asking people to do is consider the totality of what it is that there is certainly something like telecoms infrastructure, is it a matter of national security as much as it is a financial investment on the part of governments in question?And do they really want to be engaged in doing business with a company that has demonstrated that it is not secure and we are encouraging Serbia and other countries in the Western Balkans to make sure that they prioritize the security of their networks in addition to prioritizing the attractiveness of the financial picture that may be the upfront.VOA: Albania. There are many critics against current prime minister of becoming more autocratic. Is the U.S. concerned of the Socialist majority? What is your take of current political situation in Albania?Palmer: Sure. What we would like to see is the current political impasse in Albania resolved.We have a good, close partnership with the current government of Albania as we had a good, close partnership with the previous governments of Albania.The United States doesn’t pick winners and losers in the (local politics), anywhere, particularly in the Western Balkans where I’m trying to do my job.We work with the governments that are elevated through democratic elections. We understand the desires on the part of the opposition to see reforms implemented and we support the goal of course.There are very specific recommendations that the OSCE has made about electoral reform in Albania. We would like to see a dialogue between the government and the opposition on those reforms. And when that agreement is reached, the next elections to be conducted on that basis.In the meantime, it’s important that Albania get a constitutional court in place so that court to adjudicate on some of the (inaudible) that would rise to that level from the political sphere.The people of Albania can rely on friendship and partnership with the United States. Our allies, our partners are Albania and the Albanian people. Politics is politics, but the relationship between the United States and Albania is strong.VOA: North Macedonia. What are the concrete steps the United States can help North Macedonia to integrate into the Western community?Palmer: Sure. We’re very hopeful that North Macedonia will get the opening of the accession negotiations following the European Council meeting on Oct. 16.We believe that the government in North Macedonia has cleared that bar many times over. And in fact the European Commission has recommended the opening of the accession negotiations with Skopje for the last nine or 10 years in a row. So we’ve made that position clear to our European partners. We think that would be tremendously helpful.North Macedonia, of course, could help its own cause by continuing to pursue the reform agenda to implement the new law on the special prosecutor’s office.There are consultations negotiations on that issue in Skopje that are ongoing. We would like to partner with the government in North Macedonia in support of the reform agenda. We’d like to help that country move forward.We’re also hopeful that North Macedonia will move forward quickly on the NATO track and that we can look to bringing North Macedonia in as the 30th member of NATO. Ideally as early as December.
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Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg appeared before a U.S. Congressional committee Wednesday, urging law makers to “listen to the science” and take action on global climate change.The 16-year-old Thunberg has been in Washington since last week when she joined U.S. and indigenous activists for a protest designed to build support for a global climate strike on Friday and put pressure on lawmakers to take action on climate change.She was one of four students to appear Wednesday before a joint hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy, and the Environment and the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.She submitted a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in lieu of her testimony, and told the lawmakers to “follow the science:””Well, well I don’t see a reason to not listen to the science, is such just such a thing that we should be taking for granted that we listen to the current best available united science. It’s just something that everyone should do. This is not political opinions, political views or my opinions, this is, this is the science, so yeah,” she said.Later on Wednesday, Thunberg joined seven young Americans who have sued the U.S. government for failing to take action on climate change on the steps of the Supreme Court. They urged political leaders and lawmakers to support their legal fight and take action to phase out the use of fossil fuels.Thunberg first gained notoriety last year when she began skipping school each Friday to protest outside the Swedish parliament. She was joined by other students and later founded the ‘Fridays for Future’ weekly school walkouts around the world  to demand government climate-change action.Her organization of “climate strikers” reached 3.6 million people across 169 countries. She has been in the United States since last month when she sailed in to New York on a solar-powered boat to attend a U.N. climate summit. 
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President Donald Trump and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto will mark 100 years of diplomatic relations between their countries at the White House next month.The White House says the Oct. 2 meeting will focus on furthering cooperation between the U.S. and Finland, including promoting European and Arctic security.The meeting is taking place during the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.Finland hosted Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin for a summit in Helsinki in July 2018. 
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Russian actors have held individual protests in front of the presidential administration in Moscow against the imprisonment of Pavel Ustinov, who was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison for resisting police during a protest rally last month he insists he did not participate in.About 100 actors took minute-long shifts on Wednesday, with each holding a placard demanding Ustinov’s release. Russian law allows holding so-called single-picket protests without the need to ask for official permission.Police were present at the action and one officer tried to interfere, saying that the protesters were holding the same poster, which might be considered a mass protest.Russian Actor Sentenced to 3.5 Years On Charges of Hurting PolicemanHowever, he left the area after the actors argued that since each protester would fold up the poster and put it on the ground, the pickets constituted a single-person protest even if the next person were to pick it up from the ground.After that additional posters, saying “Who is next?” and “I, you, and the whole country” appeared in the protesters’ hands.A court in Moscow found Ustinov guilty of verbally insulting police and assaulting a National Guard officer during the August 3 rally and sentenced him on September 16. He is himself a former National Guard officer.Ustinov pleaded not guilty, saying he was standing nearby and did not take part in the rally last month at which activists challenged the refusal by officials to register opposition and independent candidates for Moscow city-council elections that took place on September 8.Ustinov’s imprisonment has sparked an outcry among the entertainment community, as well as from teachers and even some members of the Moscow city council.The August 3 rally was part of a wave of demonstrations that brought tens of thousands of Russians onto the streets of Moscow.Police violently dispersed several of the protests and more than 2,000 people were detained, drawing international condemnation.A number of those detained have received jail sentences.
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The United Nations is urgently appealing for $52 million to provide life-saving assistance to thousands of the most vulnerable people in eastern Ukraine to prepare for the harsh winter months ahead.Winter temperatures in Ukraine can dip between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius below zero.  The U.N. reports the situation for thousands of people in the eastern break-away region of Ukraine is critical and will get worse as winter sets in in a couple of months.  The FILE – A member of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic forces walks near a building, destroyed during battles with the Ukrainian armed forces, at Donetsk airport, Jan. 12, 2016.War in eastern Ukraine broke out in April, 2014.  The U.N. reports more than 13,000 people have been killed, including one quarter civilians and more than 30,000 wounded.  Though active fighting has diminished, the simmering conflict continues to disrupt daily life for millions.Laerke said families along the contact line cannot access healthcare.  He said part of funding from the appeal will provide 80,000 people access to health care through a mobile medical team or will pay transport costs for them to access other facilities.He said money will be used to repair houses damaged by the conflict, to winterize shelters so they can withstand the winter cold, to provide cash for people so they can buy coal for heating and pay for food so people can stock up before prices increase as winter approaches.  Laerke said $16 million also is needed to protect people from mines and other explosives along the contact line.  He said about two million people live in these high-risk weapons contaminated areas.  The U.N. reports Ukraine is the third most mine-affected country in the world after Afghanistan and Syria. 
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