BRITAIN, EUROPE, RUSSIA and CENTRAL ASIA ARCHIVE :

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Christian Science Monitor, 30 Dec 09, by Fred Weir
Why Prime Minister Putin may be throwing a wrench in US-Russia arms talks
'Russia Prime Minister Putin said there were problems with arms talks aimed at finalizing a new strategic arms reduction deal. Is it a hardball tactic or a bid to derail the negotiations altogether?'

Christian Science Monitor, 28 Dec 09, by Fred Weir
Pragmatism spurs Russia and Georgia toward smoother relations
'Signs of a thaw between Russia and Georgia include the reopening of one border post on the major Caucasus highway and a possible move to resume direct air links. Relations between Russia and Georgia behave been in a freeze since last year's war over breakaway Georgian territories.'

New York Times, 02 Dec 09, by Peter Baker and Clifford J. Levy
Arms Treaty Likely to Expire Before New Pact Is Set
'American and Russian negotiators are racing to solve the remaining obstacles to a new arms control treaty that would cut the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals by up to a third and replace a cold-war-era pact that expires Saturday.'

Christian Science Monitor, 01 Dec 09, by Ben Quinn and Dan Murphy
Obama's speech on Afghanistan war: Will Europe send more troops?
'President Obama's speech on Afghanistan at West Point Tuesday is expected to appeal to Europe to match his troop surge. Will Europeans provide 10,000 soldiers?'

New York Times, 02 Dec 09, by Stephen Castle
E.U. Foreign Policy Chief Defends Qualifications
'Though her predecessor, Mr. Solana, achieved a high profile on the international diplomatic circuit, Ms. Ashton suggested that she might concentrate more on building alliances behind the scenes and forging cohesive policies.'

Christian Science Monitor, 29 Nov 09, by Robert Marquand
ElBaradei leaves nuclear watchdog with legacy of honesty, Iran leniency
'Mohamed ElBaradei stepped down from his post at the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA at the end of November. He's been seen both as an honest broker and as being too soft on Iran.'

New York Times, 18 Nov 09, by Stephen Castle
Europe Haggles Over Filling Presidential and Foreign Policy Posts
'The European Union has spent eight years trying to modernize its rules and become a bigger global player. But now, facing a vote on Thursday to finally pick a slate of new and more powerful leaders, it is falling back on old-fashioned backroom deal-making that critics say may produce two lackluster choices.'

BBC News, 17 Nov 09, by Paul Reynolds
A war of choice or necessity?
'The British prime minister has a difficult circle to square. It is this: if the war in Afghanistan is so essential to British domestic security, why the rush to leave?'

Christian Science Monitor, 15 Nov 09, by Fred Weir
Would Russia really use nuclear weapons against neighbors?
'A new Russian doctrine – which says it can use nuclear weapons preemptively against small regional adversaries – is seen either as a sign of aggression or bluster to mask insecurity.'

Smithsonian Channel, beginning 22 Nov 09
Apocalypse: The Second World War
'This six-part series containing never-before-seen footage will forever change the way we look at the Second World War.'

New York Times, 11 Nov 09, by Alan Cowell and Steven Erlanger
French and German Leaders Mark Armistice Day
'For the first time since the armistice that ended World War I with Germany’s defeat in 1918, a German leader joined French officials here to mark the moment the guns fell silent on the Western Front after a war that killed millions.'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Nov 09, by Robert Marquand
In Paris, Benjamin Netanyahu finds growing European doubt on Middle East peace
'Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in France on Wednesday, as President Nicolas Sarkozy's government wonders if Israel is interested in peacemaking with the Palestinians.'

Voice of America, 03 Nov 09, by Mark Snowiss
Debate Still Rages Over Who Won the Cold War
'The 20th anniversary of the 1989 East European revolutions has re-opened contentious debate over who won the Cold War and what caused Soviet communism to disintegrate so rapidly in its final years.'

New York Times, 06 Nov 09, by Stephen Castle
Briton Is Front-Runner for E.U. Foreign Policy Job
'With his main rival for the European Union’s new top foreign policy post facing opposition because of his political past, David Miliband, the British foreign secretary, has emerged as the man to beat for the job.'

Christian Science Monitor, 29 Oct 09, by Robin Forestier-Walker
As US seeks closer ties with Turkmenistan, government cracks down on students
'The United States has in recent months sought to improve relations with Turkmenistan, the secretive former Soviet possession that is home to rich oil and gas deposits and straddles a strategically vital central Asian location, sharing borders with both Iran and Afghanistan.'

New York Times, 21 Oct 09, by Peter Baker
Poland Agrees to Accept U.S. Missile Interceptors
'Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. moved to repair a rift with Eastern Europe on Wednesday by announcing an agreement to station interceptors from President Obama’s reformulated missile defense system on the territory of this NATO ally.'

Christian Science Monitor, 20 Oct 09, by Robert Marquand
Iran nuclear talks with US, other powers stall in Vienna
'A round of talks on Iran's nuclear program in Vienna, at which the US and other powers were hoping to nail down a deal, faltered on Tuesday.'

New York Times, 14 Oct 09, by John F. Burns and Peter Baker
British Plan Would Deploy Bigger Afghanistan Force
'Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced a cautious and heavily conditioned plan on Wednesday to send 500 more British troops to Afghanistan, which would raise Britain’s contingent — the second largest in the 41-nation coalition fighting the eight-year war — to 9,500.'

New York Times, 13 Oct 09, by Mark Landler and Clifford J. Levy
Russia Resists U.S. Position on Sanctions for Iran
'Denting President Obama’s hopes for a powerful ally in his campaign to press Iran on its nuclear program, Russia’s foreign minister said Tuesday that threatening Tehran now with harsh new sanctions would be “counterproductive.”'

Washington Post, 06 Oct 09, by Philip P. Pan
Ukraine-Russia Tensions Evident in Crimea
'... home to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, which is based in Sevastopol under a deal with Ukraine that expires in 2017. Russia wants to extend the lease, but Ukraine's current government insists it must go.'

Christian Science Monitor, 05 Oct 09, by Stuart Eizenstat and Anthony Luzzatto Gardner
How the Irish 'yes' vote helps Europe – and the US
'This past weekend the European Union took a significant step that will have a positive impact on the United States. Despite having rejected the Treaty of Lisbon one year ago, Irish voters approved it – thereby removing the last major roadblock before its full implementation. ... It will make the EU a stronger foreign-policy partner of the US when facing common threats, including the Iranian nuclear challenge, climate change, international terrorism, and continued conflict in the Middle East.'

Washington Post, 01 Oct 09, by Glenn Kessler
U.S. Opens Door To Bilateral Talks With Iranians
'World Powers Meeting [in Geneva] on Nuclear Issue'

Washington Post, 01 Oct 09, by Philip P. Pan
Georgia Set Off War, Probe Finds
'An independent inquiry ordered by the European Union has concluded that Georgia violated international law and triggered last year's war with Russia by attacking the breakaway region of South Ossetia.'

New York Times, 30 Sep 09, by Ellen Barry
Georgia Challenges Report That Says It Fired First Shot
'Hours after the European Union released a report on the origins of the August 2008 war in South Ossetia, Georgia challenged one of the main findings, saying a Russian invasion was already under way when Georgia attacked South Ossetia, a separatist enclave.'

New York Times, 23 Sep 09, by Ellen Barry
European Patrols Brace for Rise in Tension Over Report on 2008 War in Georgia
'Both Russia and Georgia maintain that they bear no responsibility for the war’s outbreak, and each says it hopes that its version of events will be the one that the commission writes into the historic record.'

New York Times, 23 Sep 09, by John F. Burns
Brown to Offer to Cut British Nuclear Subs
'... British proposal envisions cutting back on a $33 billion, 20-year program to replace the Royal Navy’s Trident missile fleet, which has constituted Britain’s nuclear deterrent force since the mid-1990s.'

Christian Science Monitor, 21 Sep 09, by Robert Marquand
Why Europe welcomes US missile defense shield decision
'German analysts say this gives the US and Europe more leeway in negotiations with Russia, and give Poland a "healthier" foreign policy.'

Christian Science Monitor, 17 Sep 09, by Fred Weir
Russia’s response to US missile defense shield shift
'Moscow has long opposed a missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. But the US shouldn't expect too much in return.'

BBC News, 18 Sep 09
Russia hails US missile overhaul
'Mr Medvedev said there were now "good conditions" for US-Russia talks on tackling missile proliferation.'

BBC News, 18 Sep 09
Nato chief reaches out to Russia
'Nato's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has called for a new strategic partnership with Russia.'

New York Times, 17 Sep 09, by Nicholas Kulish and Judy Dempsey
In Face of U.S. Shift, Europeans Recalibrate
'... staunch Eastern European allies like Poland and the Czech Republic appeared likely to become more realistic and less idealistic about United States foreign policy in the future, not to mention a lot less likely to fall in line behind the United States.'

New York Times, 17 Sep 09, by Richard A. Oppel Jr. and Rachel Donadio
Afghan Blast Raises New Doubts in Europe
'A powerful suicide bomb that killed six Italian soldiers here on Thursday prompted Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy to declare that his nation had begun planning to “bring our young men home as soon as possible.”'

Christian Science Monitor, 15 Sep 09, by Robert Marquand
Europeans set low expectations for Iran talks
'Historic negotiations set for Oct. 1 will showcase an emboldeneded Tehran angling to buy more time to develop its nuclear capabilities, European analysts say.'

Radio Free Europe, 15 Sep 09
Moscow Signs Defense Pacts With Breakaway Georgian Regions
'Russia has signed defense agreements with Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions, allowing Moscow to maintain military bases in the rebel regions for the next half-century. In a separate move also likely to ratchet up tensions in the Black Sea region, Russia announced that it would seize any Georgian ship it finds off Abkhazia's coast.'

Jamestown Foundation, 15 Sep 09, by Tamerlan Vahabov
NATO Supply Routes Through the South Caucasus
'... the addition of a Baku-Turkmenistan air route to the ISAF supply chain would allow the United States and NATO to develop better alternative routes for sending supplies to Afghanistan.'

Washington Post, 10 Sep 09, by Karen DeYoung
European Leaders Call for Conference to Assess Progress in Afghanistan
'In a letter to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the leaders said the conference, which they suggested take place outside Afghanistan under U.N. and Afghan sponsorship, would facilitate agreement on "new benchmarks and timelines" for gradually turning responsibility for the country over to Afghans.'

New York Times, 07 Sep 09, by Nicholas Kulish and Judy Dempsey
Germany Defends Decision on Afghan Airstrike
'Germany defended itself Monday against growing international criticism of a devastating NATO airstrike that German forces in Afghanistan requested on Friday, laying out a detailed version of events leading up to the attack.'

Reuters, 04 Sep 09, by Adrian Croft
Britain cannot walk away from Afghanistan: Brown
'Brown is under fire from opposition Conservatives, the media and retired generals who accuse him of putting British soldiers' lives at risk in Afghanistan by failing to give them enough helicopters or sufficiently armored vehicles to survive roadside bombs.'

Christian Science Monitor, 09 Sep 09, by Ritt Goldstein
Russia denies mystery ship was carrying missiles to Iran
'Speculation that the Arctic Sea cargo ship seized in the Baltic in July was carrying weapons or other illicit cargo continues to swirl.'

New York Times, 05 Sep 09, by Elisabeth Bumiller
Teams Seeking Remains Dig Back to World War II
'As one part of a renewed effort to search for Americans who went missing in World War II, a United States military team searched a cow pasture in Bauler, Germany, where an American bomber was shot down in 1944.'
    [slide show] Searching for World War II Soldiers

Christian Science Monitor, 01 Sep 09, by Elizabeth Pond
Seventy years after World War II's start, old enemies take stock
'Polish enmity toward Germany is gone, but tension with Russia remains.'

Asia Times, 03 Sep 09, by Roger N McDermott
Crisis looms in Russia's armed forces
'Russia's Defense Ministry is fighting an internal battle, with bullying, corruption, violence and suicide all on the rise in the armed forces despite the implementation of an unparalleled reform agenda. The depth of social ills afflicting the military may be deeper than realized, reflecting entrenched demographic problems across the country.'

Christian Science Monitor, 02 Sep 09, by Howard LaFranchi
World powers tell Iran to answer fast on nuclear talks
'Officials from Germany and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council met in Frankfurt Wednesday.'

Christian Science Monitor, 02 Sep 09, by Robert Marquand
Western envoys: Expect run-off in Afghanistan election
'The meeting of German, French, British, UN, and US envoys to Afghanistan was regarded as a show of unity and support in the midst of an Afghan mission seen as unpopular in Europe and dubbed by some US media as “Mr. Obama’s war.”'

Christian Science Monitor, 01 Sep 09, by Robert Marquand
Europeans' views of Qaddafi clash with Western diplomatic moves
'Despite recent deals to lure Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi away from his pariah status, many Europeans still see him as a serial human rights violator and 1970s-style Arab dictator.'

Asia Times, 24 Aug 09, by M K Bhadrakumar
US steps up its Central Asian tango
'With the signing of military agreement between the United States and Uzbekistan at Tashkent last Thursday by the US Central Command chief General David Petraeus and Uzbek Defense Minister Kabul Berdiyev, Uzbekistan's geopolitical positioning has phenomenally shifted.'

New York Times, 17 Aug 09, by Clifford J. Levy
Central Asia Sounds Alarm on Islamic Radicalism
'Senior officials and analysts across Central Asia have said in recent weeks that there is evidence that some Central Asians who were allied with the Taliban are retreating from Afghanistan because of pressure from the NATO mission there.'

New York Times, 19 Aug 09, by Ellen Barry
Israel Says Russia May Reconsider Plans to Sell Missiles to Iran
'The Israeli president, Shimon Peres, said Wednesday that his Russian counterpart, Dmitri A. Medvedev, had promised to reconsider Russia’s plans to provide advanced surface-to-air missiles to Iran, a deal that Washington has also sought to halt.'

Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug 09, by Fred Weir
Truck bomb signals trouble on Russia’s southern flank
'A week of regional violence climaxed Monday in Ingushetia when a suicide bomber blew a hole in a heavily fortified police headquarters, killing at least 20.'

CNN, 12 Aug 09, by Simon Hooper
Geneva Conventions 'still relevant but better compliance needed'
'Shaped in the aftermath of World War II, the 1949 conventions were drafted in an effort to prevent a repeat of the mass destruction of the era of "total war" in which entire nations and civilian populations had become targets for indiscriminate slaughter.'

Washington Post, 13 Aug 09, by Philip P. Pan
Putin Visits Breakaway Georgian Region, Unveils Plan for Military Base
'Prime Minister Vladimir Putin traveled to the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia on Wednesday and pledged to strengthen Russia's military presence there, defying U.S. and European objections amid simmering tensions in the region.'

Reuters, 12 Aug 09
FACTBOX-Five risks to watch east of the EU
'East of the European Union, investors will be closely watching border tensions, Ukrainian elections, fluctuating oil prices, tensions between Turkey's ruling party and the military and a court case seen as a litmus test for investment security in Russia.'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug 09, by Fred Weir
Ten years on, Russia's Putin has gone from 'nobody' to unshakeably powerful
'He has used a vigorous image and ruthless political strategy to recentralize state power. Some analysts expect he will soon formally return to the presidency.'

Washington Post, 06 Aug 09, by Philip P. Pan
Russian General Calls Submarine Patrols Near U.S. East Coast Routine
'A senior Russian general on Wednesday brushed off American concerns about two Russian submarines spotted off the East Coast of the United States, saying the patrols were routine and suggesting that the U.S. Navy carries out similar missions near Russia.'

Christian Science Monitor, 06 Aug 09, by Fred Weir
Did Russia pay high price for winning Georgia war?
'Many experts argue that Georgian President Saakashvili merely handed Russia the pretext it had long awaited. But while Russia may have won the war, in doing so it exposed potentially fatal weaknesses in its unreformed Soviet-era military machine.'

Washington Post, 02 Aug 09, by Philip P. Pan
Tensions Flare Up In Russia, Georgia
'Russia accused Georgia on Saturday of firing mortars and grenades into South Ossetia and warned that it would defend the separatist territory with "all available forces and means" as tensions mounted ahead of the anniversary of last year's war.'

Washington Post, 31 Jul 09, by Karla Adam
Britain Initiates Iraq War Inquiry
'Britain launched an independent inquiry into its role in the Iraq war, with the panel's chairman confirming that former prime minister Tony Blair will be among the witnesses and that it would not "shy away from making criticism."'

Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jul 09, by Andrés Cala
Mallorca target of Spain's second attack in two days
'Two policemen were killed, prompting Spain to briefly seal off its largest island. ETA separatists are key suspects, though the attackers are still not known.'

Christian Science Monitor, 29 Jul 09, by Andrés Cala
Massive bomb in Spain signals a militant group determined to fight on
'Basque militants seek relevance with violence as car bomb guts building filled with sleeping families.'

New York Times, 28 Jul 09, by Ellen Barry
Russia Warns U.S. Against Sending Monitors to Georgia
'A Russian Foreign Ministry official said Tuesday that any United States participation in the European Union’s monitoring mission in Georgia would be “extremely harmful,” and increase the likelihood that violence would flare up in the breakaway border regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.'

New York Times, 29 Jul 09, by Victoria Burnett and Rachel Donadio
Spain Is Open to Bolstering Forces in Afghanistan
'Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero said Wednesday that Spain was willing to increase its troops on long-term assignment in Afghanistan, in what appeared to be a gesture of support to the Obama administration.'

Washington Post, 28 Jul 09, by Craig Whitlock
Another Rift Between Greece, Macedonia
'The dispute centers on a basic question: Does Macedonia, a country born out of the rubble of the former Yugoslavia, have the right to call itself what it wants? For 18 years, the conflict has defied attempts by the United States, the United Nations and European powers to find a solution.'

Washington Post, 22 Jul 09, by Philip P. Pan
Georgia's Saakashvili Seeking U.S. Weapons to Deter Russia
'Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili urged the United States on Tuesday to supply his country with advanced defensive weapons, warning on the eve of a visit by Vice President Biden that a decision not to provide such arms would encourage a Russian invasion.'

New York Times, 22 Jul 09, by Clifford J. Levy
Strategic Aims, Not Abuses, Are U.S. Focus in Kyrgyzstan
'... the Obama administration has emphasized pragmatic concerns over human rights in dealings with autocratic leaders in Central Asia. Under pressure in Afghanistan, the administration has feared alienating nearby countries whose support is increasingly important.'

Christian Science Monitor, 22 Jul 09, by Fred Weir
Russia-China war games battle extremists, separatists
'In a first, the games will range across Russian as well as Chinese territory near Khabarovsk in the far east.'

BBC News, 23 Jul 09
Afghan war is 'worth the effort'
'[US Vice President Biden] insisted that "in terms of national interest of Great Britain, the US and Europe, [the war in Afghanistan] is worth the effort we are making and the sacrifice that is being felt".'

BBC News, 22 Jul 09
Afghan resources 'are sufficient'
'[British] Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch Brown has rowed back on comments made in a Daily Telegraph interview that the UK did not have enough helicopters.'

New York Times, 15 Jul 09, by John F. Burns
Scarcity of Copters Fuels British Debate Over War
'Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been accused of conducting the Afghan war without adequate financing.'

Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jul 09, by Ben Quinn
Troop deaths in Afghanistan rattle Britain
'Despite a new poll showing firm public support, the deaths of eight troops in 24 hours last week is raising fresh questions about the end goals of the war.'

Washington Post, 15 Jul 09, by Karla Adam
Britain Questions Role in Afghan War
'Nation searches for answers as it suffers a steep rise in military casualties in Afghanistan -- the overall death toll of 184 now exceeds British losses in Iraq.'

Washington Post, 13 Jul 09, by Walter Pincus
Missile Pact Based on Old Plan
'Originally conceived a decade ago as a facility that would monitor launches by the United States and Russia and any missiles aimed at the two countries by others nations, the new facility would attempt to monitor missile launches around the globe.'

New York Times, 15 Jul 09, by Michael Schwirtz
Russian Weapon Is in Need of Rescue
'A prominent Russian human rights campaigner was murdered after being kidnapped on Wednesday in Chechnya, Russian investigators said.'

New York Times, 07 Jul 09, by Peter Baker
Obama Resets Ties to Russia, but Work Remains
'President Obama kicked off a new chapter in Russian-American relations with significant progress on several fronts during a two-day visit to the nation that began Monday. About a year after the relationship ruptured over the war in Georgia, the two sides are now back at the table and doing business.'

Washington Post, 08 Jul 09, by Michael A. Fletcher and Philip P. Pan
U.S.-Russia Summit Brings Series of Advances
'The modern scourges of stateless terrorism and nuclear proliferation threaten both the United States and Russia, Obama said, demanding that the two nations shed past suspicions and confront those problems as partners.'

Christian Science Monitor, 06 Jul 09, by Howard LaFranchi
US, Russia deal would cut nukes to post-cold-war lows
'Obama and Russian President Medvedev on Monday outlined reductions in strategic warheads and launch vehicles.'

Washington Post, 07 Jul 09, by Michael A. Fletcher and Philip P. Pan
U.S. and Russia to Reduce Arsenals
'Obama, Medvedev Discuss Cooperation On Missile Defense'

New York Times, 06 Jul 09, by Clifford J. Levy and Peter Baker
U.S.-Russia Nuclear Agreement Is First Step in Broad Effort
'President Obama signed an agreement on Monday to cut American and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals by at least one-quarter, a first step in a broader effort intended to reduce the threat of such weapons drastically and to prevent their further spread to unstable regions.'

New York Times, 01 Jul 09, by Alan Cowell and Stephen Castle
Europe Weighs Pulling Envoys From Tehran
'Iran risked diplomatic isolation from the European Union, as European officials discussed whether to withdraw the ambassadors of all 27 member nations in a dispute over the detention of the British Embassy’s Iranian personnel.'

New York Times, 27 Jun 09, by John Markoff and Andrew E. Kramer
U.S. and Russia Differ on a Treaty for Cyberspace
'Russia favors an international treaty along the lines of those negotiated for chemical weapons and has pushed for that approach at a series of meetings this year and in public statements by a high-ranking official. The United States argues that a treaty is unnecessary.'

New York Times, 27 Jun 09, by Clifford J. Levy
Russia and NATO Work to Repair Frayed Ties
'NATO and Russia on Saturday took another step toward rebuilding ties that were damaged by the war in Georgia last year, holding a high-level meeting of foreign ministers and pledging to resume full military cooperation.'

Christian Science Monitor, 22 Jun 09, by Dan Murphy
Attack on Russian regional leader marks rising tensions
'Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, the Kremlin-backed president of Ingushetia, is the fourth government official in the North Caucasus targeted this month.'

Christian Science Monitor, 23 Jun 09, by Robert Marquand
View from Europe: Obama tough enough on Iran
'If US president is too supportive of protests, he turns them into a 'Western plot,' say analysts.'

Wall Street Journal, 19 Jun 09, by Jay Solomon, John W. Miller and Stephen Fidler
U.S., Europe Try Good-Cop, Bad-Cop Approach
'European states are taking a considerably more aggressive line toward Tehran's clerical leaders than the Obama administration as Iran's postelection crisis deepens, fueling the ire of U.S. Republicans and some democracy activists.'

Christian Science Monitor, 17 Jun 09, by Anna Momigliano
Why Italy is taking Gitmo prisoners
'Although President Obama has had difficulty convincing allies to take Gitmo detainees, Italy is eager to receive these inmates so that it can further its own investigation.'

New York Times, 11 Jun 09, by Ellen Barry
Russia Rejects the Notion of a Joint Missile System in Europe
'Responding to remarks by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, a top Russian diplomat said Thursday that Russia would not collaborate with the United States on missile defense unless Washington scrapped plans to deploy elements of the shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.'

Washington Post, 15 Jun 09, by Colum Lynch
Russia Vetoes Resolution on U.N. Peacekeepers in Georgia
'The Russian action set the stage for a rift in diplomatic relations with the United States and its European allies, which have vigorously supported Georgia's sovereignty over Abkhazia. It raised concerns about a new flare-up of violence in Georgia.'

Asia Times, 17 Jun 09, by Farangis Najibullah
Taliban threat spooks Central Asia
'As Pakistan and Afghanistan continue efforts to push the Taliban out of their borders, Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are stepping up security efforts in the fear the escaping militants will head for these territories.'

Christian Science Monitor, 16 Jun 09, by Fred Weir
Iran and Russia nip at US global dominance
'... most Russian experts deny there's anything anti-American about the SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organization], and insist that it will never develop into a military alliance, despite frequent and sometimes large-scale joint war games among its members.'

New York Times, 10 Jun 09, by Judy Dempsey
Finding a Way to Take Guantánamo Detainees
'Well away from the limelight, European Union ambassadors met Wednesday in Brussels for sensitive discussions over how to help President Barack Obama close the Guantánamo Bay detention center by agreeing to accept inmates whom the U.S. authorities have cleared for release.'

Reuters, 11 Jun 09
U.S. Wants More Cooperation With Kyrgyzstan
'President Barack Obama, trying to prevent the closure of a U.S. air base in Kyrgyzstan, has sent a personal appeal to the Central Asian nation urging it to expand cooperation, Kyrgyzstan said on Thursday.'

Washington Post, 28 May 09, by Philip P. Pan
After Initial Mild Reaction, Kremlin May Consider Tougher Stance on Tests
'For years, Russia has appeared to take a back seat in international efforts to persuade North Korea to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons. It urged diplomacy and resisted tougher sanctions, but usually let China take the lead in relations with Pyongyang.'

Christian Science Monitor, 27 May 09, by Fred Weir
Can Moscow stop North Korea's nuclear march?
'After North Korea's nuclear bomb test on Monday, US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly noted hopefully that Pyongyang's actions had drawn "very strong statements" of condemnation from its traditional friends China and Russia.'

New York Times, 27 May 09, by Judy Dempsey
Balancing Freedom and the Role of the State in Germany
'... as Germany prepares for national elections in September, Mrs. Merkel has dropped the language of freedom entirely. Instead, she talks about solidarity, justice and security. It is as if freedom had become a pejorative term, especially in the context of the global financial crisis.'

Washington Post, 26 May 09, by Philip P. Pan
Discontent Rises Sharply Among Russian Troops
'Low morale over pay and housing has afflicted the Russian military since the fall of the Soviet Union, but grumbling in the ranks is rising sharply as President Dmitry Medvedev attempts to carry out the most ambitious restructuring of the nation's armed forces since World War II in the face of a severe economic downturn.'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 May 09, by Howard LaFranchi
Russia plays up its international role – especially in Mideast peace
'It chaired a special meeting Monday of the Security Council that endorsed the idea of holding a Middle East peace conference in Moscow this year.'

Christian Science Monitor, 05 May 09, by Fred Weir
Seeing Red: Georgia blames Russia for 'mutiny'
'Russia, furious over NATO war games set to begin Wednesday in Georgia, says recent turmoil is evidence of Saakashvili's instability. Armenia withdraws from war games.'

Christian Science Monitor, 05 May 09, by Huma Yusuf
Georgia accuses Russia of backing attempted coup
'Officials in Tbilisi say a revolt at an Army base was part of an attempt to disrupt the government and had support from Russia.'

Christian Science Monitor, 29 Apr 09, by Ben Quinn
Gurkha veterans wage tough new fight to settle in Britain
'Some 35,000 members of the legendary brigade have been denied the right to retire in the country they served.'

Christian Science Monitor, 22 Apr 09, by Fred Weir
Despite forecasts, cold front lingers over US-Russia relations
'The two nuclear powers continue to bicker over NATO war games, nuclear weapons, and fighter jets in Kyrgyzstan.'

BBC News, 16 Apr 09
Russia 'ends Chechnya operation'
'Russia has ended its decade-long "counter-terrorism operation" against separatist rebels in the southern republic of Chechnya, officials say.'

Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr 09, by Ben Quinn
Battling Somali pirates: Maritime businesses weigh in
'In London, the business capital of the world's maritime industry, firms shape decisions on arming ships and negotiating with pirates.'

Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr 09, by Jeffrey White
German lawyers launch pirate defense team
'With a new high seas run-in with pirates happening almost daily off the eastern coast of Somalia, much of the world's attention is turning to how best to capture and bring these marauders to justice.'

New York Times, 06 Apr 09, by John C. Freed
Western Nations Are Cool to Cold War Adversaries, Poll Finds
'As NATO celebrates its 60th anniversary, people in its largest member nations still hold enmity toward the leaders of their adversaries from the Cold War, a new poll shows.'

Stratfor, 08 Apr 09
A Possible Revolution Simmering in Georgia
'Russia has a vested interest in breaking the Georgian government. Russia and the West have been locked in a struggle over the small Caucasus state. That struggle led to the August 2008 Russo-Georgian war, after which Moscow felt secure in its control over Georgia.'

New York Times, 01 Apr 09, by Helene Cooper
Promises of ‘Fresh Start' for U.S.-Russia Relations
'President Obama and President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia, in their first meeting, vowed a "fresh start" in relations and announced their intention to cooperate on a variety of issues, beginning with negotiations on a new arms control treaty.'

Christian Science Monitor, 31 Mar 09, by Andrés Cala
Europe and the US attempt to mend fences, but deep rifts remain
'Ahead of the G-20 summit, Spain decides to withdraw troops from Kosovo and investigate Bush officials for torture.'

Washington Post, 02 Apr 09, by Michael D. Shear and Debbi Wilgoren
Obama Discusses N. Korean Missile at G-20
'Ahead of economic talks, Obama meets with South Korean president to discuss security on peninsula.'

Washington Post, 01 Apr 09, by Michael D. Shear and Mary Jordan
Broad U.S.-Russia Agreement in Works
'Two Leaders to Unveil Set of Principles'

Stratfor, 02 Apr 09
Red Alert: Redefining the Global System
'From Europe to Turkey, world leaders are coming together this week for a slew of global summits. There is much for these world leaders to discuss: the global financial infrastructure is now up for debate, the jihadist war continues to rage in South Asia, the Russians are locked into intractable negotiations with the Americans over the boundaries of the former Soviet sphere of influence, and the Turks are returning to their great power past.'

Asia Times, 25 Mar 09, by Kaveh L Afrasiabi
Europe out of step with US over Iran
'United States President Barack Obama has offered a "new beginning" in relations with Iran through honest engagement and mutual respect. Such overtures are at odds with the European Union's incoherent Tehran strategy, highlighted by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's recent threat-filled speech.'

International Herald Tribune, 24 Mar 09, by Victoria Burnett
Spain's retreat from Kosovo raises eyebrows
'Spain's unexpected announcement last week that it would withdraw its troops from Kosovo has raised questions about Spain's reliability as a NATO ally, diplomats and foreign policy experts say.'

International Herald Tribune, 17 Mar 09, by Clifford J. Levy
Medvedev announces plan to rearm Russia
'President Dmitri A. Medvedev said Tuesday that Russia would begin a "large-scale rearming" in 2011 in response to what he described as threats to the country's security.'

Christian Science Monitor, 18 Mar 09, by Fred Weir
Russia plans massive military investment
'President Medvedev wants more planes, tanks, missiles, and warships. His defense minister argues that Washington wants to drive Russia into a strategic corner.'

International Herald Tribune, 18 Mar 09, by Judy Dempsey
U.S. and NATO allies facing hard questions
'The Obama administration is threatening to sideline NATO in Afghanistan, the alliance's most important theater of operations. ... If the Europeans do not match this new commitment — and there is no sign that they will — the U.S. military will quietly push NATO out of decision-making there.'

International Herald Tribune, 17 Mar 09, by Steven Erlanger
Military ambitions of E.U. bolstered by Chad success
'Although they have done little fighting, the Europeans have been an important deterrent. But the situation remains deeply uncertain, given the anarchy of Chad, the unbroken war in Darfur and the international arrest warrant issued for Mr. Bashir this month.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 18 Mar 09
U.K. to release secret rules on overseas detainees
'Britain will release its secret rules governing the treatment of overseas detainees, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Wednesday in an attempt to bolster public faith after a string of accusations that the British authorities had colluded in torture.'

International Herald Tribune, 16 Mar 09, by Stephen Castle
E.U. continues to reach out to Belarus
'... Belarus, sometimes described as the last dictatorship in Europe, has tested the E.U.'s ability to extend its "soft power" into Moscow's backyard.'

International Herald Tribune, 16 Mar 09, by William Glaberson and Steven Erlanger
Europe hedges on Guantánamo detainees
'European countries that have offered to help the Obama administration close the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, by resettling detainees have begun raising questions about the security risks and requirements if they accept prisoners ... The concerns, and a deep suspicion of whether the American intelligence community will share full information on the prisoners, are likely to complicate the resettlement effort, which is critical to President Barack Obama's fulfilling his pledge to close Guantánamo within a year.'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar 09, by Jason Walsh
Another Northern Ireland shooting: A return to the 'Troubles?'
'Irish politicians from all sides reject any backsliding toward violence.'

Washington Post, 12 Mar 09, by Edward Cody
After 43 Years, France to Rejoin NATO as Full Member
'... President Nicolas Sarkozy announced Wednesday, France has decided to return as a full-fledged member of the 26-nation military pact, the North Atlantic Alliance, which came together under U.S. leadership at the start of the Cold War in 1949 and has served as the basis for U.S.-European security relations since.'

International Herald Tribune/Reuters, 05 Mar 09, by David Brunnstrom and Ingrid Melander
NATO seen backing Russia ties
'NATO was set on Thursday to back a resumption of formal ties with Russia as Washington and its allies seek a broad front in their battle against Afghan militants and other threats.'

International Herald Tribune, 03 Mar 09, by Judy Dempsey
U.S.-Russia missile deal could be a setback for Czechs
'President Barack Obama's offer to Russia to halt the deployment of the U.S missile defense system in Eastern Europe in return for Russian help to prevent Iran from developing long-range weapons could be a serious setback for the Czech Republic's strategic interests, analysts said Tuesday.'

International Herald Tribune, 03 Mar 09, by Ellen Barry and Peter Baker
Medvedev denies any deal on shield for help on Iran
'President Dmitri Medvedev said Tuesday that Russia was "working very closely with our U.S. colleagues on the issue of Iran's nuclear program," but dismissed the notion of a deal in which the United States would shelve its planned missile defense system in exchange for Russian help in Iran.'

Washington Post, 26 Feb 09, by Sarah Schafer
Kyrgyz Parliament Approves Plan to Close U.S. Air Base
'President signs bill; Gates says talks continue on key transit point.'

BBC News, 19 Feb 09, by Paul Reynolds
US Kyrgyz base is pressure point
'The closure of the Manas US airbase in Kyrgyzstan would be a severe blow to the conduct of the war in Afghanistan.'

Christian Science Monitor, 17 Feb 09, by Fred Weir
Moscow again eyes Afghanistan 20 years after retreat
'Fearful that US failure there could unleash the Taliban and other Islamist insurgencies, Russia may help NATO open a supply line through former Soviet territory.'

International Herald Tribune, 18 Feb 09, by Nick Cumming-Bruce
Russia and Georgia agree on security measures for Abhkazia and South Ossetia
'The measures, aimed at preventing or resolving security incidents in the breakaway regions, are due to come into operation in the next few days.'

International Herald Tribune, 18 Feb 09, by Judy Dempsey
Letter from Europe: French defense hopes lie in rejoining NATO
'By deciding that France will finally play a full role in NATO, President Nicolas Sarkozy is trying to end decades of suspicion that have hampered NATO and paralyzed European defense efforts.'

International Herald Tribune, 16 Feb 09, by John F. Burns
British and French nuclear submarines collided in Atlantic
'Two nuclear submarines, one French and the other British, collided in mid-Atlantic earlier this month, reports in the British and French news media said on Monday, quoting sources in the two defense ministries.'

BBC News, 19 Feb 09, by Jonathan Amos
Danton wreck found in deep water
'A French battleship sunk in 1917 by a German submarine has been discovered in remarkable condition on the floor of the Mediterranean Sea.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 11 Feb 09, by
Russia open to better relations with NATO
'Russia is open to the possibility of letting the United States and NATO ship weaponry across its territory to Afghanistan if the broader relationship between Moscow and the West improves, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday.'

International Herald Tribune, 05 Feb 09, by Elisabeth Bumiller and Ellen Barry
Dispute mounts over key U.S. base in Kyrgyzstan
'The U.S. is scrambling to come up with an alternative to a crucial air base in Kyrgyzstan that is used to supply the growing military operation in Afghanistan.'

Christian Science Monitor, 04 Feb 09, by C. Collins
With attacks on Afghan supply lines in Pakistan, US turns to Uzbekistan
'US rebuilds ties with Central Asian nation to secure new military supply routes.'

Christian Science Monitor, 04 Feb 09, by Fred Weir
Kyrgyzstan: Does it really want to close US base?
'A US spokesman suggested Bakiyev’s gambit is aimed at wresting more cash from Washington, since rent for Manas has been poverty-stricken Kyrgyzstan’s biggest single source of revenue.'

International Herald Tribune, 04 Feb 09, by Judy Dempsey
Envoys urge Obama to talk directly with Iran
'Meeting in Germany on Wednesday, diplomats from the world's major powers welcomed an offer by President Barack Obama to hold direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program and said they were committed to a diplomatic solution.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 04 Feb 09
7 ex-Soviet nations to form rapid reaction force
'President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia, Armenia, Belarus and four Central Asian nations — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — had reached the agreement to form a new security force during a summit of the Moscow-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organization on Wednesday. The force would add a military dimension to the Moscow-dominated alliance, which so far has served mostly as a forum for consultations.'

BBC News, 28 Jan 09
Russia 'halts missile deployment'
'Russia's military has announced it will halt its plans to deploy short-range missiles in its Baltic enclave Kaliningrad, Interfax news agency says. A Russian military official said a change in US attitude had prompted the latest decision, Interfax reports.'

International Herald Tribune, 26 Jan 09, by John Vinocur
A return to NATO: Can Obama help Sarkozy?
'For a deal that's supposed to be a cinch, France's return to NATO's integrated military command - and its symbolic goodbye to a tired role as reflex antagonist to the United States - has a particularity: ... Nicolas Sarkozy still has not made a final decision to set it in motion.'

Washington Post, 27 Jan 09, by Craig Whitlock
E.U. Willing to Help U.S. on Guantanamo
'European diplomats said Monday that they are willing to help the Obama administration empty the prison at Guantanamo Bay, but stopped short of making specific promises to give inmates new homes in Europe.'

International Herald Tribune, 26 Jan 09, by Stephen Castle
Guantánamo's closing catches EU off-guard
'In the first test of trans-Atlantic cooperation with the new American administration, a divided European Union said Monday that it wanted to help the United States close the Guantánamo Bay prison camp but made no further promises to take inmates.'

International Herald Tribune, 19 Jan 09, by Judy Dempsey and Stephen Castle
EU hopes to become bigger player in the Middle East
'If the cease-fire holds, the European Union will - as usual - supply humanitarian aid and probably expand its monitoring mission. Individual European nations may help patrol coastlines to ensure that weapons are not smuggled to Gaza by sea. But there is no question of an EU military peacekeeping mission and, because it has no formal contacts with Hamas, Europe will find it hard to help reconstruction work in Gaza unless there are political changes there.'

International Herald Tribune, 14 Jan 09, by Andrew E. Kramer
Russia gas dispute runs deeper than pipes, experts say
'Political experts say that neither side is motivated to settle the dispute, because it has never been about the stated issues. Instead, it has been a proxy for far more fundamental and insoluble matters, particularly Ukraine's 2004 turn to the West in the "Orange Revolution," which deeply shook Russia's nationalists.'

International Herald Tribune, 11 Jan 09, by Ellen Barry
In times of crisis, U.S. and Russia at a crossroad
'There appear to be two potential paths for Russian-American ties. The first scenario is one of cooperation in times of a global financial collapse. ... In this scenario, with economic pressures being felt at home, both sides would pare back their foreign ambitions. Washington would slow its timetable on NATO expansion and missile defense, while Russia would defer the dream of recapturing the "privileged sphere of influence" that the Soviet Union had enjoyed.'

Christian Science Monitor, 08 Jan 09, by Robert Marquand
Israel finds more sympathy in Europe
'Concerns about Islamist threat have influenced traditionally pro-Arab Europe's view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.'

International Herald Tribune, 07 Jan 09, by Judy Dempsey
EU hampered by divisions in its Mideast policy
'The Europeans have long argued that they understand the region far better than the United States because of their history and geography. But Middle East experts are not convinced.'

2008 Britain, Europe, Russia and Central Asia archive
2007 Europe archive