BRITAIN, EUROPE, RUSSIA and CENTRAL ASIA ARCHIVE :

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International Herald Tribune, 22 Dec 08, by Michael Schwirtz and Nazila Fathi
Russia denies selling missile system to Iran
'Russia's agency for monitoring international defense cooperation refuted claims by an Iranian official reported Sunday that the system was already being delivered.'

Washington Post, 20 Dec 08, by Philip P. Pan
Russia Says U.S. Seeks Weaker Treaty
'Russia accused the United States on Friday of trying to weaken a landmark nuclear arms-control pact set to expire next year by removing limits on long-range missiles and bombers and demanding instead that a new agreement cover only warheads.'

International Herald Tribune, 22 Dec 08, by Ellen Barry
European security agency must end mission in Georgia
'The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe must end its 16-year mission in Georgia early next year because it is unable to resolve a deadlock with Russia, one of its member states, over whether to treat the separatist enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as sovereign nations.'

Washington Post, 23 Dec 08, by Peter Finn
European Countries May Take Detainees
'European nations have begun intensive discussions both within and among their governments on whether to resettle detainees from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as a significant overture to the incoming Obama administration, according to senior European officials and U.S. diplomats.'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Dec 08, by Nicole Itano
Will strike and riots bring Greek government down?
'Five days of protests, and a nationwide strike Wednesday, have shaken the conservative ruling party.'

BBC News, 02 Dec 08
Nato to discuss ties with Russia
'Foreign ministers from Nato countries are meeting in Brussels to discuss resuming co-operation with Russia.'

International Herald Tribune, 02 Dec 08, by Nicholas Kulish
As Russia rises, a test for Berlin
'Just as the United States is struggling to redefine its relationship with a resurgent and at times antagonistic government in Moscow, Germany is scrambling to protect the close commercial, cultural and diplomatic ties with Russia it has forged since the end of the cold war — and, in some areas, long before.'

International Herald Tribune, 02 Dec 08, by David Brunnstrom, Reuters
Germany rebuffs U.S. on NATO ties for Ukraine and Georgia
'Germany insisted on Tuesday there were no grounds for NATO to deepen ties with Ukraine and Georgia for now, rejecting a U.S. bid aimed at advancing the two ex-Soviet states' membership prospects.'

International Herald Tribune, 30 Nov 08, by Judy Dempsey
German general breaks silence on Afghanistan
'Breaking with a military tradition of keeping silent about policy, a top German general has branded his country's efforts in Afghanistan a failure, singling out its poor record in training the Afghan police and allocating development aid.'

International Herald Tribune, 30 Nov 08, by Michael Schwirtz
Claims of secret arms sales rattle Ukraine's leaders
'With the Ukrainian government reeling from a financial crisis and internal power struggles, the country's pro-Russian opposition has been leveling potentially damaging accusations of improper arms sales to Georgia during that country's brief war with Russia.'

International Herald Tribune, 02 Dec 08, by Simon Romero
Training legionnaires to fight (and eat rodents)
'The French Foreign Legion operates one of the most grueling courses in jungle warfare and survival, opening it to Special Forces from around the world.'

Washington Post, 20 Nov 08, by Walter Pincus
Poland Won't Lobby Obama on Missile Defense
'Poland's foreign minister said yesterday that his country will wait for the Obama administration to make up its mind on basing missile defense interceptors in his country and will not lobby to have the project proceed.'

Christian Science Monitor, 18 Nov 08, by Lisa Abend
France captures top ETA leader
'The arrest of the Basque separatist military leader is expected to furtherweaken the group. But some Spanish officials fear retaliatory attacks.'

Der Spiegel, 18 Nov 08, by Helene Zuber
Will ETA Now Become Even More Violent?
'On Monday morning, French police arrested the man thought to be head of operations for the Basque separatist group ETA. He has long favored violence as a tool to gain Basque independence. But his successors may be even more savage.'

New York Times, 18 Nov 08, by Ellen Barry
Report Faults All Parties in War in Georgia
'Russian, Georgian and South Ossetian forces failed to protect civilians, and in some cases singled them out for attack, during the war in Georgia, according to a report released Tuesday by Amnesty International.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 13 Nov 08
US rejects scrapping missile defense plans
'U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has rejected a Russian suggestion that both countries scrap plans to place missile systems in Eastern Europe.'

International Herald Tribune/Reuters, 13 Nov 08
U.S. slams Russian missile threats
'The United States views Russian threats to place tactical missiles in the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad as provocative and misguided, U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday.'

Deutsche Welle, 11 Nov 08
European Governments Asked to Help US Close Guantanamo
'... the question of how best to close the prison is not an easy one to answer. Deciding what to do with the 255 detainees still held there could prove a logistical and political nightmare.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 11 Nov 08
Europe marks 90th anniversary of end of World War I
'European leaders on Tuesday marked the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I, which tore the continent apart and cost millions of lives.'

Washington Post, 08 Nov 08, by Craig Whitlock
Split Over Russia Grows in Europe
'Russia sent President-elect Barack Obama a message this week when it threatened to "neutralize" the proposed U.S. missile defense shield in Eastern Europe. But analysts said the tough talk from Moscow had another aim as well: to exploit a festering divide within Europe.'

International Herald Tribune, 05 Nov 08, by Ellen Barry and Sophia Kishkovsky
Russian leader warns of possible missile deployment to counter U.S. shield
'In a wide-ranging attack on the United States as it elected a new president, the Russian leader, Dmitri Medvedev, warned Wednesday that Moscow might deploy short-range missiles in the Baltic region to counter a perceived threat from a proposed U.S. missile defense shield in Eastern Europe.'

International Herald Tribune, 07 Nov 08, by C.J. Chivers and Ellen Barry
Georgia's claims on war with Russia questioned
'Newly available accounts by independent military observers of the beginning of the war between Georgia and Russia this summer call into question the longstanding Georgian assertion that it was acting defensively against separatist and Russian aggression. Instead, the accounts suggest that Georgia's inexperienced military attacked the isolated separatist capital of Tskhinvali ...'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 31 Oct 08
Russia defends security of nuclear arsenal
'Russia on Friday defended the security of its nuclear arsenal, rejecting U.S. allegations that tens of thousands of aging Soviet weapons might not be fully accounted for.'

BBC News, 01 Nov 08
SAS commander quits 'over kit'
'An SAS reservist commander in Afghanistan has resigned over what he calls "chronic underinvestment" in troops' equipment, reports say. The commander - quoted in The Daily Telegraph - says ministers have ignored his warnings about the safety of the [British] Army's Snatch Land Rovers.'

BBC News, 31 Oct 08
Soldier to run restive Ingushetia
'A career soldier has been appointed to run Russia's unstable southern republic of Ingushetia, where attacks on security forces have escalated. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev named Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, a paratrooper, as acting president, to replace Murat Zyazikov, a former KGB officer.'

International Herald Tribune, 22 Oct 08, by Raymond Bonner
From London, a rebuke to U.S. approach on terrorism
'Two senior British counterterrorism officials have in recent days criticized the United States for what they described as its overly militaristic approach to fighting terrorism and warned of a further erosion of civil liberties.'

International Herald Tribune/Reuters, 22 Oct 08
U.S. military chief says NATO would defend Baltics
'NATO would abide by its commitment to defend the three Baltic states in case of attack, the top U.S. military officer said Wednesday in the face of regional concerns over a newly assertive Russia.'

The Guardian/AP, 21 Oct 08, by Matti Huuhtanen
US, Russia hold fence-mending military talks
'The top U.S. military officer held "businesslike" talks on Georgia, Afghanistan and missile defense with his Russian counterpart Tuesday, a signal of thawing relations between the two powers.'

BBC News, 15 Oct 08
Georgia, Russia hold direct talks
'Georgian and Russian officials have begun their first direct talks since the conflict over Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia in August.'

The Telegraph, 15 Oct 08, by Aislinn Simpson
Royal Navy seeks powers to arrest Somali pirates
'The Royal Navy could be given powers to seize Somalian pirates plaguing the Gulf of Aden and hand them over to the wartorn country's authorities.'

International Herald Tribune, 14 Oct 08, by editorial staff
Ukraine needs to sort out its problems on its own
'Supporting Ukraine's endeavor to join the EU while staying out of its internal politics seems like the best support the EU and the U.S. could show for this country.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 13 Oct 08
EU split on resuming talks with Russia
'European Union countries were divided Monday over whether to resume talks on a political and economic pact with Russia that was frozen in protest of its war with Georgia.'

International Herald Tribune/Reuters, 14 Oct 08
Modernizing the Russian military
'The Russian defense minister announced Tuesday that he would slash the number of generals and officers in a drive to streamline the bloated armed forces, local news agencies reported. Russia has increased military spending as part of an effort to re-establish itself as a global power, but the new cash has not delivered radical improvements - a failure analysts put down to corruption and inefficiency.'

International Herald Tribune, 14 Oct 08, by John Schwartz
In Russia, a second home for U.S. astronauts
'Those who work side by side with their Russian counterparts say that strong relationships and mutual respect have resulted from many years of collaboration.'

Der Spiegel, 14 Oct 08, by David Crossland
Unexploded Bombs in Germany: The Lethal Legacy of World War II
'Germany remains contaminated with unexploded bombs that are becoming increasingly unstable with age, warns one of the country's most experienced bomb defusers. He has just retired after a perilous career spent tackling the deadly legacy of World War II.'

International Herald Tribune, 10 Oct 08, by Michael Schwirtz
Ukraine will hold snap elections
'President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine signed an order on Thursday to dissolve Parliament and hold snap elections, raising new uncertainties about Ukraine's tilt toward the West at a moment when the country has become a focal point of rising tensions with Russia.'

BBC News, 10 Oct 08
Russian withdrawal 'not complete'
'France's foreign minister says Russian forces' withdrawal from Georgia is "not complete or perfect".'

Christian Science Monitor, 10 Oct 08, by Fred Weir
In Georgia, Russia saw its Army's shortcomings
'Decades of neglect, outdated technology, and an ineffective conscript system reduced the capabilities of the Russian Army.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 09 Oct 08, by
EU Parliament urges easing of restrictions on Belarus
'EU governments should consider easing visa bans against Belarussian leaders to promote democratic change in the country, the European Parliament said Thursday, four days before foreign ministers meet to discuss the issue.'

International Herald Tribune, 01 Oct 08, by Ellen Barry
EU deploys monitors in Georgia
'The European Union on Wednesday began deploying 200 civilian monitors across parts of Georgia, witnesses and officials said, despite earlier threats by the Russian military to bar them from buffer zones surrounding the separatist enclaves of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 30 Sep 08
Russian warship demonstrates Moscow's global reach
'Russia's decision to dispatch a warship to pirate-infested waters off Somalia reflects its determination to project power worldwide. But it remains unclear what role the vessel might play in the latest hostage crisis there.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 28 Sep 08
Russia calls for revived anti-terror coalition
'... formed after Sept. 11, 2001, but that started to unravel with what it called the subsequent domination by a single power - a veiled reference to the United States.'

International Herald Tribune, 01 Oct 08, by Judy Dempsey
End of a political era
'Germany is witnessing the twilight moments of the big "Volkspartei" that were created out of the ashes of World War II.'

International Herald Tribune, 29 Sep 08, by John Vinocur
The theory and reality of France's EU leadership
'In a time when world leadership appears in short supply, Nicolas Sarkozy makes the case that he can lead a Europe able to take a greater hand in global decision making.'

International Herald Tribune/Reuters, 28 Sep 08, by
A 'dictator' flirts with the West
'Belarus, once described by Washington as Europe's last dictatorship, voted Sunday in a parliamentary election that President Aleksandr Lukashenko said would lead to better relations with the West.'

International Herald Tribune, 30 Sep 08, by Michael Schwirtz
Moscow museum celebrates Georgia war
'Visitors to the new exhibit, in a corner of the Russian Central Armed Forces Museum in Moscow. A new exhibit in the Russian Central Armed Forces Museum takes pride in the August victory and points an accusatory finger at the West.'

International Herald Tribune, 01 Oct 08, by Dan Bilefsky
Even after war, many Georgians revere Stalin
'... an enduring cult of Stalin persists in this small but proud nation of 4.6 million, where the Georgian-cobbler's-son-turned-20th-century-titan remains a towering if contentious figure.'

International Herald Tribune, 01 Oct 08, by Matthew Brunwasser
Macedonia dispute has an Asian flavor
'Recently, in its 17-year fight to call Alexander the Great its own, the Republic of Macedonia has reached out as far as the Hunza Valley in Pakistan, whose residents claim descent from Alexander's soldiers.'

Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep 08, by Fred Weir
Moscow's Moves in Georgia Track a Script by Right-Wing Prophet
'Is Alexander Dugin really the new sage of the Kremlin?'

BBC News, 23 Sep 08
Ingushetia abuses 'may spark war'
'Russia's southern republic of Ingushetia is verging on civil war, a human rights group says, accusing officials of state-sponsored terror.'

International Herald Tribune, 06 Aug 08, by Katrin Bennhold
France rejects Rwanda's charge of links to '94 genocide
'France dismissed as "unacceptable" on Wednesday a Rwandan report alleging the involvement of top-level French politicians, including former President François Mitterrand and former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, in the 1994 genocide that killed up to 800,000 people.'

International Herald Tribune, 06 Aug 08, by Judy Dempsey
German Social Democrats in trouble
'It just keeps getting worse for Germany's Social Democrats. As one of Europe's oldest and biggest left-wing parties, it has managed to survive many upheavals, from the times of the Kaiser starting in the 19th century through the Nazi era, the Cold War and, more recently, differences with the United States.'

International Herald Tribune, 04 Aug 08, by Stephen Castle
Two ways of looking at the Lisbon Treaty
'Nice was considered such a failure that, within a year, European leaders called for another effort to streamline the bloc's ramshackle institutions to help the EU play a bigger role on the global stage. The intervening years have seen two attempts to do so, first through a proposed European Constitution, rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. Then came the Lisbon Treaty, which the Irish rejected in a referendum in June.'

International Herald Tribune, 05 Aug 08, by Michael Schwirtz
Russians pay tribute to Solzhenitsyn
'Scientists and clergymen, dissidents and government officials - both Soviet and Russian - joined together Tuesday to bid farewell to Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the Russian literary master who died Sunday evening. With his searing prose, Solzhenitsyn sliced into the propaganda of the Soviet Union, helping to alter the consciousness of a whole generation. For this, many braved driving rains in Moscow on Tuesday for a chance to offer final thanks.'

International Herald Tribune, 06 Aug 08, by Elisabetta Povoledo
Italy begins military effort to quell crime
'Soldiers were deployed throughout Italy on Monday to embassies, subway and railway stations, as part of broader government measures to fight violent crime here for which illegal immigrants are broadly blamed.'

International Herald Tribune, 23 Jul 08, by Nicholas Kulish and Graham Bowley
Hiding in plain sight: The double life of Radovan Karadzic
'Radovan Karadzic's foes and supporters alike are marveling at what appeared to be his complete metamorphosis during more than a dozen years in hiding as he tried to escape arrest on accusations of war crimes. As Serbs grappled with the repercussions of his capture and his place as a symbol of crimes carried out in their name, they were also left to sort out the two lives of a single man.'

International Herald Tribune, 22 Jul 08, by John F. Burns
A leader turned ghost
'With his arrest on Monday after more than 12 years on the run, Radovan Karadzic seems virtually certain to face trial in The Hague – and the prospect of life imprisonment – for his role in masterminding massacres that war crimes prosecutors have described, in indictments drawn up against him, as "scenes from hell, written on the darkest pages of history."'

International Herald Tribune, 22 Jul 08, by David Rohde
Karadzic arrest lends credibility to international tribunals
'The arrest of Radovan Karadzic has given credibility to the international war crimes tribunals that have struggled for years to bring fugitives to justice, according to former prosecutors, legal experts and human rights groups. And the arrest has bolstered arguments from tribunal officials that patience, multilateral diplomacy and creativity can make the institutions more effective.'

Christian Science Monitor, 09 Jul 08, by Jonathan Adams
U.S., Russia revert to cold-war rhetoric over missile-defense plan
'Russia says that the proposed US defense shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, an initial agreement for which was inked this week, is targeting Russia, not rogue states.'

RIA Novosti, 09 Jul 08
Russia must punish states hosting U.S. missile shield - analyst
'Russia must use economic and political means, and military ties with Asia, to punish European states that agree to host U.S. missile defense elements, a Russian political analyst said on Wednesday.'

AFP, 10 Jul 08
Rice calls for halt to violence in Georgian separatist zones
'Rice's visit to Georgia came amid increasingly open diplomatic confrontation between the United States and Russia over the status of Abkhazia and the other separatist province, South Ossetia, and over Georgia's desire to join NATO.'

Associated Press, 08 Jul 08
Abkhazia rejects US-proposed international force
'The breakaway Georgian republic of Abkhazia has rejected a U.S. proposal to deploy an international police force there, its leader said Tuesday. The regional government, which is not internationally recognized, instead pledged to keep Russian peacekeepers on the ground, despite Georgia's accusations that they are fomenting tensions.'

The Guardian, 08 Jul 08, by Ian Traynor
France unveils pact on EU-wide immigration
'France yesterday jolted Europe into establishing common policies on immigration, refugees and asylum, unveiling a European immigration pact as its first big EU presidency move and pushing for 27 countries to back it at an EU summit in October.'

International Herald Tribune, 02 Jul 08, by John Vinocur
A Sarkozy spin as France rejoins NATO command
'... Sarkozy, 42 years after Charles de Gaulle's decision to pull out of NATO's integrated military structure, thinks there's no more profit in France being seen as a reflex antagonist of the United States on issues like Iran, the Middle East, Russia and China.'

International Herald Tribune, 02 Jul 08, by Judy Dempsey
Poland's snub of EU is all about local politics
'When President Lech Kaczynski of Poland said Tuesday that it was "pointless" for him to sign off on a new European Union treaty now that the Irish had rejected it, he opened a new chapter in his struggle with the center-right government over Poland's future role in Europe and its relations with the United States.'

International Herald Tribune, 02 Jul 08, by James Kanter
EU tries to ease fears on data-sharing talks with U.S.
'The European Union is under pressure from the United States to make it possible for the American authorities to obtain information about EU citizens - particularly about those who travel to the United States - as part of a fight against terrorism and international crime.'

International Herald Tribune, 02 Jul 08, by Elaine Sciolino
French counterterrorism system under attack
'France prides itself on having the most efficient counterterrorism strategy in Europe. French counterterrorism officials insist that the flexibility of the country's laws and judicial system has been crucial in their ability to respond to the threat of international terrorism and has helped prevent attacks on French soil.'

AFP, 23 Jun 08
Security of US nuclear arms in Europe is not our problem: NATO
'The security of US nuclear arms deployed in Europe is a matter for Washington and the host nation, not for NATO, an alliance official said Monday responding to a report outlining shortfalls. ... Hundreds of US nuclear weapons are held at air bases in six NATO countries, including Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, along with a total of 200-350 air-launched B-61 bombs, according to non-official US estimates.'

International Herald Tribune, 23 Jun 08, by Judy Dempsey
German parties press U.S. to withdraw nuclear arms
'Germany's Social Democrats, who share power in the governing authority, and opposition parties are calling on the United States to remove all nuclear weapons stored in military bases here after a report found that safety standards at most sites for nuclear weapons in Europe fall well short of Pentagon requirements.'

The Guardian, 23 Jun 08, by Rory McCarthy
Sarkozy urges Israel to share sovereignty over Jerusalem
'The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy told Israel today to share sovereignty over Jerusalem with the Palestinians and to stop building settlements in the occupied territories.'

International Herald Tribune, 16 Jun 08, by Steven Erlanger and Katrin Bennhold
French shifting strategic policy
'In its first new national strategic policy in 14 years, France has decided that its security is best guaranteed within Europe and the NATO alliance, marking a significant shift away from French exceptionalism.'

International Herald Tribune, 11 Jun 08, by Steven Lee Myers and Nicholas Kulish
Merkel backs Bush on Iran sanctions
'... But their news conference here, a day after Bush won general European support for consideration of additional sanctions against Iran, also illustrated the distance between them. While Bush stressed again that "all options are on the table," which would include military force, Merkel chose to emphasize diplomacy and the need to enforce the current sanctions.'

The Telegraph, 10 Jun 08, by Henry Samuel
French navy cut missions due to high fuel costs
'France's cash-strapped navy has decided to cancel three international sea missions due to rocketing petrol prices.'

International Herald Tribune, 11 Jun 08, by Judy Dempsey
Deadlock in Kosovo risks Balkan instability
'Whenever the European Union has sent the police or troops to trouble spots around the world, Russia has never objected. It always wanted a stronger Europe that could serve as a counterweight to the United States and weaken the trans-Atlantic alliance. But on Kosovo, one of the leftover conflicts of the Balkan wars of the 1990s, Russia has turned the tables on the EU.'

International Herald Tribune, 04 Jun 08, by Judy Dempsey
German government backs enhanced surveillance
'Despite strong criticism from the opposition and even its own coalition partners, Chancellor Angela Merkel's government agreed Wednesday to give Germany's police forces greater powers to monitor homes, telephones and private computers, maintaining that an enhanced reach would protect citizens from terrorist attacks.'

BBC News, 05 Jun 08
Brown makes armed forces pledge
'Prime Minister Gordon Brown has promised the government will do "everything in our power" to help members of the armed forces. ... 'His comments come after Army head General Sir Richard Dannatt said more money should be invested to ensure a well-trained and well-motivated force.

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