The unconditional response to Russian demands .. Russia's condition to stop the invasion
March 7, 2022, 1:18 pm

The unconditional response to Russian demands .. Russia's condition to stop the invasion

الغزو الروسي لأوكرانيا والرسائل الأوروبية المتبادلة

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed in a phone call with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that "The unconditional response to Russian demands .. Russia's condition to stop the invasion is ready for dialogue with Ukraine if it responded unconditionally to Russia's well-known demands."

The Kremlin said in a statement that the two presidents had a telephone conversation on Sunday at the initiative of the French side. "In light of the concern expressed by President Macron about ensuring the security of nuclear power plants in Ukraine. President Putin informed his French counterpart in detail about the provocation carried out by Ukrainian militants in the area of the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia with the participation of a sabotage group," the statement said.

$أوكرانيا وروسيا \ ليفانت نيوز$

"Attempts to hold the Russian military responsible for this incident are part of the brazen propaganda campaign. The Russian forces, in cooperation with the Ukrainian guard unit and cadres, still ensure the normal operation of the nuclear power plant, and the radioactive background remains normal. All these facts have been officially confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the physical and nuclear security of the plant is well protected," the statement said.

"The Russian armed forces also control the Chernobyl nuclear power plant to exclude the possibility of provocations, fraught with catastrophic consequences, made by Ukrainian neo-Nazis or terrorists," it continued.

"About the proposal made by the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency to hold a trilateral (IAEA-Russia-Ukraine) meeting in the Chernobyl zone to work out a mechanism for ensuring the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine, President Putin said that this idea could be useful in general, but it would be worth considering holding such a meeting via teleconference or in a third country," he pointed out.

The statement said that the Russian and French presidents discussed issues of evacuating civilians from areas of military engagements. Putin drew attention to the fact that Kyiv still does not fulfil the agreements reached on this acute humanitarian issue.

"Despite the regime of silence announced by Russia on March 5 for the exit of civilians and foreign citizens from Mariupol and Volnovakha, the Ukrainian nationalists did not allow the withdrawal from these two cities, and again used the pause in hostilities only in order to mobilize forces and means in their positions, and offered to the French President again to work actively with the authorities in Kyiv in order to implement the rules of international humanitarian law," explained the statement.

About the situation between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations, Putin told Macron Russia is ready to have dialogues with Ukraine if it responded unconditionally to Russia's demands. The Kremlin stressed that “the most important point is for the Ukrainian side to deal seriously with reaching agreements whose implementation is important for the cessation of hostilities.” The Russian president and his French counterpart agreed to continue contacts between their two countries at various levels to follow up on the Ukrainian-Russian crisis.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.