BRITAIN, EUROPE, RUSSIA and CENTRAL ASIA:

New York Times, 11 Aug 10, by Michael Schwirtz
Russia Moves Missiles Into Breakaway Region
'Russia announced Wednesday that it had deployed an advanced surface-to-air missile system in the breakaway Georgian enclave of Abkhazia, a sign that Russian forces were becoming further entrenched in a disputed region at the focal point of Russia’s brief war with Georgia two years ago.'

Washington Post, 27 Jul 10, by Edward Cody
European Union imposes new economic sanctions against Iran
'Falling into step with the United States, European nations significantly broadened economic sanctions against Iran on Monday in what was described as an effort to force Tehran to resume serious negotiations on its disputed nuclear program.'

New York Times, 14 Jul 10, by Andrew E. Kramer
Russia Plan to Help Iran Challenges Sanctions
'Russia’s energy minister announced a broad program of cooperation with Iran in the oil, natural gas and petrochemical industries on Wednesday that appeared to invite Russian companies to contravene sanctions the Obama administration adopted just two weeks ago.'

BBC News, 25 Jun 10, by Gordon Corera
Details of secret US-UK 'spying pact' released
'A previously top secret intelligence-sharing agreement between Britain and America is being released to the public for the first time.'

Christian Science Monitor, 24 Jun 10, by Fred Weir
Russia considers stronger powers for KGB's successor
'Russian lawmakers are considering two bills that would give the FSB – the former KGB – sweeping powers against extremists. Critics cast it as a Soviet throwback that would enable the Kremlin to crack down on its opponents.'

Washington Post, 21 Jun 10, by Philip P. Pan
Troops, Uzbeks clash in new violence in Kyrgyzstan
'The fresh violence in Nariman ... underscored the continuing volatility of the region and the intensity of animosity between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks there.'

Wall Street Journal, 15 Jun 10, by Alan Cullison and Kadyr Toktogulov
U.S. Ties to Ex-Kyrgyz Regime Are Questioned
'... recent developments shine an uncomfortable spotlight on the close relations that the U.S. cultivated with the Bakiyevs before they were ousted in April.'

Washington Post, 22 Jun 10, by David J. Kramer
Russia's 'new' stance remains anti-West
'Ahead of Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Washington this week, a "leaked" Russian foreign policy document is causing some Russia watchers to wonder whether the Russian president is shifting his country toward a more positive, pro-Western stance. A careful read of the 18,000-word document does not support such wishful thinking.'

Christian Science Monitor, 21 Jun 10, by Fred Weir
Why Russia is cutting off gas supplies to Belarus
'Russia is again using gas as a foreign policy tool to alter behavior of its neighbors. It wants Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko to join a new customs union championed by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.'

Christian Science Monitor, 18 Jun 10, Max Delany
EU trains army to fight in Somalia
'The EU program to train an army to fight for Somalia's beleaguered transitional government involves 150 instructors from 14 EU countries at a cost of $6 million. It's the latest in a series of internationally funded efforts around East Africa.'

Washington Post, 14 Jun 10, by Philip P. Pan
Thousands flee ethnic rioting in Ethnic violence spreads in Kyrgyzstan, raising fears of humanitarian crisis
'A senior Obama administration official ... said it was too early to speculate about military intervention.'

New York Times, 12 Jun 10, by Michael Schwirtz
Kyrgyzstan Seeks Russian Help to Quell Unrest
'With the death toll rising in clashes in Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia, the provisional government asked neighboring Russia to send troops to help.'

Wall Street Journal, 25 May 10, by Gordon Fairclough
U.S. Joins Poland for Exercises
'The U.S. embassy said Monday that U.S. troops would conduct 30 days of training in Poland every three months for the next two years.'

Washington Post, 23 May 10, by Walter Pincus
U.S. to extend Kyrgyz air base fuel contract despite questions about operations
'The Obama administration is planning to temporarily extend a multimillion-dollar jet fuel contract with a company that supplies a U.S. facility key to the war effort in Afghanistan, despite ongoing investigations into its operations, senior officials said Friday.'

Christian Science Monitor, 13 May 10, by Fred Weir
Leaked Russian document: Could Medvedev era tilt more pro-West?
'A leaked Russian document lays out a major reappraisal of the country's foreign policy priorities under President Medvedev. The confidential Foreign Ministry report calls on the Kremlin to abandon the prickly, go-it-alone approaches of the Vladimir Putin era.'

Wall Street Journal, 12 May 10, by Gregory L. White
In Secret Report, Russia Shifts Westward
'In a confidential report, Russia outlined a shift toward a more pragmatic foreign policy aimed at building closer ties with the U.S. and Europe to help modernize its outdated industries.'

Christian Science Monitor, 07 May 10, by Fred Weir
Ukraine-Russia relations: Why Kiev made a dramatic U-turn back toward Moscow
'President Viktor Yanukovich was elected in February on pledges to restore Ukraine-Russia relations. But he has acted more swiftly than anyone imagined, reversing the pro-West moves of the Orange Revolution.'

Washington Post, 28 Apr 10, by Philip P. Pan
Ukraine's extension of Russian base's lease may challenge U.S. goals in region
'Ukraine's decision to host a Russian naval base for 25 more years in exchange for cheaper gas ... does little to alter the immediate military balance in the Black Sea but presents other challenges for U.S. goals in the region.'

Washington Post, 09 Apr 10, by Mary Beth Sheridan
U.S., Russia reach deal on disposing of plutonium from nuclear weapons
'The U.S. and Russian governments have reached a breakthrough in a long-stalled agreement to dispose of huge amounts of their plutonium from nuclear weapons, officials said Thursday.'

New York Times, 06 Apr 10, by Dan Bilefsky
In Eastern Europe, Pact With Russians Raises Old Specters
'... while the American-Russian deal to reduce the binding cap on deployed warheads by 30 percent has been hailed as a diplomatic triumph in Washington and Moscow, [there are] growing concerns [among] many Czechs about Russia’s motives and America’s resolve in a region where history is never far from the surface.'

Christian Science Monitor, 05 Apr 10, by Fred Weir
Russia Islamist network takes shape as Caucasus hit by another terrorist attack
'An attack in Ingushetia today, the fifth to shake Russia in a week, underscores the threat posed by an Islamist insurgent network that has emerged from the ashes of Chechnya's nationalist rebellion.'

Christian Science Monitor, 07 Apr 10, by Dan Murphy
Kyrgyzstan opposition takes over in Bishkek. What happens to Manas?
'With opposition leaders claiming they've formed their own government in Bishkek and reports that Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has left the country, what will happen to the US use of the Manas air base?'

Washington Post, 31 Mar 10, by Philip P. Pan
Chechen rebel leader asserts role in Moscow subway bombings
'An Islamist rebel leader asserted responsibility Wednesday for the suicide bombings in the Moscow subway stations that killed 39 people two days earlier and threatened more attacks to avenge what he called atrocities ordered by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Russia's volatile southwest.'

Christian Science Monitor, 29 Mar 10, by Fred Weir
Moscow Metro bombings: Insecurity in Chechnya, N. Caucasus, comes to Moscow
'Officials blamed today's twin Moscow Metro bombings, which struck near the FSB security service and a major state-run media outlet, on two female suicide bombers from the N. Caucasus.'

Christian Science Monitor, 29 Mar 10, by Fred Weir
Does Moscow subway bombing mark the return of the black widow?
'Russia alleges two Chechen women carried out Moscow subway bombing that killed at least 38 people. If that allegation proves true, it will mark the return of the black widow suicide bombers.'

Washington Post, 19 Mar 10, by Mary Beth Sheridan
U.S., Russian negotiators 'at the finish line' on new START nuclear pact
'U.S. and Russian negotiators are "at the finish line" in negotiating a major agreement to cut the number of nuclear warheads each side has deployed against the other, with just one or two issues left to resolve, officials said Thursday.'

Christian Science Monitor, 19 Mar 10, by Fred Weir
Quartet host Russia: A new broker for Israel peace?
'Amid a US-Israel flap, some see an opportunity for Middle East Quartet host Russia to become a bigger player in Israel peace talks. Moscow has strong ties with both Israelis and Palestinians.'

Washington Post, 17 Mar 10, by Edward Cody
European nations allege U.S. protectionism in tanker deal
'A wave of indignation has swept the major industrial nations of Europe over the Pentagon's handling of a $40 billion contract to buy new aerial refueling tankers, with political and economic leaders accusing the Obama administration of protectionism.'

New York Times, 13 Mar 10, by Simon Romero and Andrés Cala
Arrests in Europe Expose ETA’s Ties to Venezuela
'A shadowy underworld of Basque exiles in Caracas is under scrutiny after an indictment from a Spanish judge.'

See Britain, Europe, Russia and Central Asia archive for past stories.

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