In Massive Switch, Lieberman Suddenly Open to Peace
In Massive Switch, Israeli Govt Suddenly Open to Peace | Lieberman ‘confident’ Netanyahu will reach definitive peace
German FM to US: Remove Nukes
German FM to US: Remove Nukes | Nuclear-free Europe can’t have US nukes in it
Renditions May Expand Under Obama’s Watch
While President Barack Obama reversed a number of the Bush Administration’s anti-terror excesses, the controversial tactic known as extraordinary rendition, the extralegal kidnapping and transportation of detainees, remains conspicuously legal. Only a cursory effort “to study and evaluate the practices of transferring individuals to other nations” with a task force was offered for what has [...]
Russia: EU Monitors ‘Playing With Fire’ in Georgia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned today that the European Union monitors in the buffer zone between Georgia and the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are “playing with fire” in ignoring a reported upsurge in violence in the region. Lavrov reminded the EU today at a meeting with Latvia’s Foreign Minister that it [...]
EU Struggles to Reach Consensus on Russia Ahead of Summit
While European Union monitors have confirmed that Russia completed their withdrawal from buffer zones outside of South Ossetia and Abkhazia under the terms of last month’s agreement, the EU has not resumed negotiations on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Russia, despite assurances that they would as soon as Russian troops “withdrew from their [...]
EU Comments for IAEA Claim Iran Pursuing Nuclear Weapons
With the IAEA set to discuss Iran during today’s session of the Board of Governors meeting, the European Union has made available to reporters the comments that it intends to deliver to the IAEA’s board members. The comments describe Iran’s defiance of the Security Council as ‘troubling’ and warn that “it brings us closer to [...]
US Eyes Further Measures Against Russia as Medvedev Calls for Reconciliation
The United States is reportedly mulling further steps against Russia beyond the move announced earlier this month suspending a US-Russia civilian nuclear pact. It is unclear what these further measures might include, but State Department official William Burns told the Senate Wednesday that “we continue to review other options”.
In a speech before the German Marshall [...]
Georgia’s Path to NATO Stalled by Questions About Democratic Credentials
In a high profile visit to Tbilisi, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer reiterated the alliance’s backing for Georgia in the aftermath of its brief August war with Russia. The NATO visit is seen as an important step towards Georgia’s eventual membership in the alliance, though reservations about Georgia’s democratic credentials in light of [...]
Russia Defends Actions in Georgia as EU Summit Looms
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev defended last week’s decree recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia ahead of tomorrow’s emergency EU summit on the Georgian conflict. Reports abound that several EU member nations are pressing for harsh sanctions against Russia. President Medvedev warned of retaliation against any hostile actions taken at the summit, and suggested [...]
