BRITAIN, EUROPE & RUSSIA ARCHIVE :

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Washington Post, 29 May 08, by Kevin Sullivan and Josh White
111 Nations, Minus the U.S., Agree to Cluster-Bomb Ban
'More than 100 countries reached agreement Wednesday to ban cluster bombs, controversial weapons that human rights groups deplore but that the United States, which did not join the ban, calls an integral, legitimate part of its arsenal.'

International Herald Tribune, 28 May 08, by Sabrina Tavernise
West takes softer stance toward Uzbekistan
'Three years after a bloody crackdown in Andijon, Western governments say that further ostracizing the repressive regime probably would backfire.'

Asia Times, 28 May 08, by Heather Maher
Russian think-tank rattles US
'Even before opening its doors, the first Russian think-tank based in the United States has sparked controversy. While the Russian Institute for Democracy and Cooperation says it wants to study US democracy, critics see it as a new propaganda tool for the Kremlin as it sharpens its attacks on the West.'

International Herald Tribune, 21 May 08, by C.J. Chivers
Diplomacy is tried to reduce tensions over Abkhazia
'The long military standoff in Abkhazia, where a separatist dispute has risked escalating this year to a renewed war, has entered a phase of quiet diplomacy aimed at easing tensions and urging negotiations, according to officials on both sides of the conflict.'

International Herald Tribune, 19 May 08, by Steven Erlanger
France acknowledges contacts with Hamas
'France confirmed on Monday that it has been engaged in contacts with the leaders of Hamas, the radical Islamic group that is running Gaza, for several months to try to better understand its positions.'

International Herald Tribune, 20 May 08, by Stephen Castle
Europe aims to build links with Mediterranean neighbors
'European diplomats hope the new organization, known officially as the "Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean," will give southern Mediterranean countries a greater stake because they will be on a level of parity with the EU. Critics point out that a central problem will remain: the diverse southern Mediterranean membership, which includes Syria and Israel.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 14 May 08
NATO allies sign agreement on cyber defense center
'Seven NATO allies signed a deal Wednesday to fund a research center to boost the alliance's defenses against cyber attacks, seen as a growing threat to military and civilian computer networks.'

International Herald Tribune, 14 May 08, by Judy Dempsey
Among Czechs and Poles, same missile shield, differing sense of threat
'Whenever the United States sends missile defense negotiators to the Czech Republic and Poland, where the Bush administration intends to deploy parts of its anti-ballistic shield, they encounter surprisingly different attitudes.'

Washington Post, 12 May 08, by Joby Warrick
Spread of Nuclear Capability Is Feared
'Global interest in energy may presage a new arms race.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 May 08, by Andrew Wander
Pro-European tilt in Serbian vote
'The Democratic Party received 39 percent of the vote to Radicals' 29 percent. But coalition-building maneuvers mean the shape of the next government is still unclear.'

International Herald Tribune, 07 May 08, by Judy Dempsey
U.S. could look beyond Poland for a missile-shield base
'In what is becoming a game of brinkmanship between the United States and one of its closest European allies, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday that Washington was prepared to seek a different location for part of its planned antiballistic missile shield if the Polish government could not agree on the terms.'

International Herald Tribune, 07 May 08, by Anthee Carassava
Greek islands, overwhelmed by refugees, seek help
'A rash of refugees from Africa, southern Asia and the Middle East has been crossing the Aegean Sea and besieging a cluster of craggy Greek islands.'

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International Herald Tribune, 01 May 08, by Stephen Castle
NATO accuses Russia of stirring tensions in Georgia
'NATO escalated its protests on Wednesday over Russian policy toward Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region, accusing Moscow of stirring tensions by announcing plans to increase the number of Russian soldiers there.'

Washington Post, 01 May 08, by Peter Finn
Russia's Moves Add To Strains With Georgia
'Long-standing tensions between Russia and Georgia over two separatist regions in Georgia have flared dangerously in recent days with each country accusing the other of provocative actions that risk war. Russia moved troops and armor into Abkhazia this week to respond to what officials here said was a Georgian military buildup along the unofficial border with the breakaway region of the Caucasus republic.'

Washington Post, 01 May 08, by Peter Finn
Reacting to Sanctions, Belarus Expels 10 More U.S. Diplomats
'Belarus expelled 10 U.S. diplomats Wednesday, deepening a dispute over sanctions imposed on the former Soviet republic by Washington because of the authoritarian rule of President Alexander Lukashenko.'

International Herald Tribune, 21 Apr 08, by Judy Dempsey
Poland wants U.S. to be 3rd leg of its security plan
'Neither NATO nor the European Union can provide sufficient security to calm Poland's fears, particularly with Russia now resurgent to its east, and so the government in Warsaw wants the United States to base part of its planned antimissile system here to provide an American guarantee of safety, according to Poland's defense minister.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 09 Apr 08
Moscow wants its people on site at U.S. missile projects
'Russia wants its military officers to be present at all times at the planned U.S. missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic to make sure Russia is not a target, the Russian foreign minister said Tuesday.'

Washington Post, 07 Apr 08, by Peter Baker
No Pact, but Bush, Putin Leave a Map
'... If the discussion did not yield a definitive resolution on missile defense or other disputes, it did help restore the dialogue to what Putin called a "calmer working manner" and softened the antagonism that has strained ties. Bush's aggressive push for an antimissile shield in Eastern Europe and expansion of NATO into former Soviet territory had prompted Putin to suspend an arms control treaty, compare the United States to the Third Reich and threaten to target nuclear missiles at U.S. allies.'

New York Times/Reuters, 03 Apr 08
NATO to Endorse U.S. Missile Shield, Official Says
'NATO leaders meeting in Bucharest were set to endorse a planned U.S. missile shield for Europe on Thursday, a senior U.S. official told reporters. The final summit statement would "recognize the substantive contribution to the protection of the allies" from the missile defense system to be deployed in the Czech Republic and Poland ...'

International Herald Tribune, 02 Apr 08, by Steven Erlanger and Steven Lee Myers
Allies upset as Bush moves off NATO script
'Germany and France believe that since neither Ukraine nor Georgia are stable enough to enter the program now, a membership plan would be an unnecessary blow at Russia, which firmly opposes the move.'

Washington Post, 22 Mar 08, by Molly Moore
Sarkozy Announces Cuts in Nuclear Arsenal
'French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a small reduction in the country's nuclear arsenal Friday during inauguration ceremonies for "Le Terrible," his military's newest nuclear-capable submarine.'

International Herald Tribune, 26 Mar 08, by Katrin Bennhold
Europe begins to criticize Chinese crackdown in Tibet
'Europe on Wednesday sharpened its tone over China's military actions in Tibet as officials said they were considering sending a fact-finding mission to Beijing and a Chinese diplomat sought to defend the crackdown on protesters.'

Christian Science Monitor, 27 Mar 08, by Yigal Schleifer
In Turkey, secularists escalate fight against ruling AKP
'The country's highest court is weighing whether to allow a motion to shut down the party, saying its Islamic initiatives cross a constitutional line.'

International Herald Tribune, 12 Mar 08, by Alison Smale
'Magic is over' for U.S., says French foreign minister
'Asked whether the United States could repair the damage it has suffered to its reputation during the Bush presidency and especially since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Kouchner replied, "It will never be as it was before."'

International Herald Tribune, 12 Mar 08, by Stephen Castle
Sarkozy and Merkel draft agreement detailing role of nations on EU's southern border
'Suggesting a Mediterranean council linking southern EU nations with non-EU countries, Sarkozy said a range of issues from the economy and the environment to migration and efforts to combat acts of terrorism were vital to the region.'

Washington Post, 11 Mar 08, by Peter Baker
Bush Vows He Will Upgrade Poland's Air Defenses
'President Bush promised yesterday to upgrade Poland's antiquated armed forces with a plan to be developed before he leaves office in January as he sought to secure an agreement that would allow the United States to establish an antimissile system in Eastern Europe despite vigorous Russian objections.'

International Herald Tribune, 11 Mar 08, by John F. Burns
For Britain, fewer troops in Iraq, but costs still rise
'A parliamentary committee warned Monday that Britain's military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq were likely to cost almost twice as much for the past 12 months as they did in the previous financial year, despite a drop in British troop numbers in Iraq.'

Christian Science Monitor, 06 Mar 08, by Fred Weir
Armenia crackdown: an ex-Soviet pattern?
'A state of emergency remains in place, after protesters alleging election fraud were dispersed last week.'

Christian Science Monitor, 05 Mar 08, by Beth Kampschror
In newly 'independent' Kosovo, what's the U.N. to do?
'After running the tiny state for eight years, UN workers here are awaiting orders from headquarters.'

International Herald Tribune, 02 Mar 08, by David Lague
Russia and China rethink arms deals
'For almost two decades, it was close to the perfect match of buyer and seller. Denied weapons and defense technology from the West, China was almost totally reliant on Russia for the hardware it needed to jump-start an ambitious military buildup. And while the Russian economy teetered in the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, huge orders from China helped keep a once-mighty defense industry afloat.'

BBC News, 28 Feb 08
France to change African links
'France will renegotiate its defence deals with African countries, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said. It has military accords with several of its former colonies and recently helped the Chad government repulse rebels. The changes would mark a "major turning point", he said, with further details to be announced in a speech to the South African parliament.'

International Herald Tribune, 26 Feb 08, by Helene Cooper and Warren Hoge
Europe to offer new incentives to Iran over nuclear program
'European countries are planning to offer new incentives to Iran if it agrees to halt its uranium enrichment program, according to European diplomats. Meanwhile, at the United Nations, Iran's ambassador said Monday that his country would continue to defy Security Council directives to halt the program and that documents cited as possible evidence of Iran's effort to develop nuclear weapons were "forgeries."'

Christian Science Monitor, 20 Feb 08, by Fred Weir
Kosovo independence: Russia warns of separatist storm
'Frustration is deep over Western support for independence that Russia sees as destabilizing and against international law.'

International Herald Tribune, 19 Feb 08, by Dan Bilefsky
Serbs torch border posts in northern Kosovo
'Serbs torched two border posts in the northern part of Kosovo on Tuesday, forcing NATO troops to intervene and fanning fears that the Serbian-dominated north could boil over into violence and lead to the partition of the newborn country.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 18 Feb 08
Britain releases dossier on prewar Iraqi weapons intelligence
'An early version of a British dossier of prewar intelligence on Iraq did not include a key claim about weapons of mass destruction that became vital to Tony Blair's case for war, the newly published document showed Monday.'

International Herald Tribune, 19 Feb 08, by William J. Broad
Russia's Arctic dive had U.S. origins
'Alfred McLaren, a retired U.S. Navy submariner and a major figure of Arctic science and exploration, ... says he developed the polar dive plan and repeatedly shared his labors with the Russians and their partners ...'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 14 Feb 08
Putin threatens to aim rockets at ex-allies if missile shield proceeds
'President Vladimir Putin on Thursday repeated his threat to aim Russian rockets at former Soviet satellite states if U.S. missile defense facilities are deployed there.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 05 Feb 08
Sarkozy says France ready for military intervention in Chad if necessary
'... But the government stressed that France had no immediate plans to step up its military involvement, saying the fighting appeared to be abating.'

International Herald Tribune/Reuters/AP, 23 Jan 08, by
Russian attacks NATO on enlargement
'NATO's military expansion toward the borders of Russia is a throwback to the Cold War that only serves to cause antagonism, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday. He also said that a new draft UN resolution on Iran's disputed nuclear program did not call for any harsh sanctions.'

International Herald Tribune, 16 Jan 08, by Judy Dempsey
Signing near for accord on U.S. missile shield, Czechs say
'Three framework agreements relate to deployment of the Pentagon system on Czech soil.'

International Herald Tribune, 16 Jan 08, by Victoria Burnett
UN chief urges global dialogue on terrorism
'Secretary General Ban Ki Moon of the United Nations has appealed for global dialogue to fight terrorism, although he conceded that there was no quick way to eliminate the Islamist threat.'

International Herald Tribune, 15 Jan 08, by Katrin Bennhold
France gains military toehold in Gulf
'In a major strategic shift, France is setting up its first permanent naval base in the Gulf, just across from Iran, President Nicolas Sarkozy announced during a visit Tuesday to the United Arab Emirates.'

International Herald Tribune, 09 Jan 08, by Judy Dempsey
Poland wants air defenses bolstered in return for missile shield
'Adopting an increasingly assertive tone before meetings in Washington next week, Poland's new center-right government has warned that it would not accept a controversial U.S. antiballistic missile shield until the United States agreed to bolster Polish air defenses.'

2007 Europe archive