ISRIA Monitor Pack - Special Edition

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Talks between Russia and Uzbekistan, January 2009

more Dmitry Medvedev and President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov discussed cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan on ensuring security in the Central Asian region and overcoming the world economic crisis. The talks concluded with the signing of a Joint Statement on the results of the Russian President’s state visit to Uzbekistan, an intergovernmental...

Chinese PM Wen Jiabao makes a tour in Europe amid tensions

more According to official Chinese sources: Premier Wen Jiabao's upcoming European visit would show China's confidence to work with European nations and organizations to push forward the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and deepen the bilateral cooperation, said a Foreign Ministry official here on Thursday. Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Hongbo...

Greek Foreign Minister Bakoyannis visits Moscow, Russia

more In an interview with ITAR-TASS correspondent Mr. Yuri Malinov: First of all I would like to express my delight at this opportunity to once again visit your country, with which Greece, as you know, is linked by long-standing ties of friendship. I am carrying out this visit within the framework of my responsibilities as Chairperson of the Organization for Security...

Serbia and Kosovo disagree on creation of Kosovo Security Forces

more NATO announced today the start of the KSF recruitment campaign in which KFOR representatives will present the concept of the recruitment campaign for the new Kosovo Security Force to the public at the University of Pristina. During the presentation all the important information concerning KSF like career occupations, requirements for employment...

Hillary Clinton officially becomes the new United States Secretary of State

more The Senate voted overwhelmingly this afternoon to confirm Sen. Hillary Clinton as secretary of state and as a member of President Barack Obama’s national security team. The Senate confirmed Clinton’s nomination by a 94-to-2 vote. Clinton has represented New York since her election in 2000 and has served on the Senate Armed Services Committee...

US President Obama has called for closing Guantanamo in one year

more Closing the facility in Cuba "would further the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States and the interests of justice," read the draft prepared for the new president's signature. Obama requests to suspend proceedings pending a 120-day review. Responding to a presidential directive, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates yesterday...

Official White Paper on China National Defense in 2008

more The year 2008 was an extraordinary one in the history of the People's Republic of China (PRC). In that year China overcame a devastating earthquake, with the epicenter in Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province; successfully hosted the 29th Olympic Games and Paralympics in Beijing; and greeted the 30th anniversary of the adoption of reform and opening-up...

Negotiations between PMs Putin and Tymoshenko made Russia and Ukraine reach a deal on gas

more Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Yulia Tymoshenko went to the Kremlin to take part in the Moscow international conference on ensuring Russian gas supplies to European consumers. After a brief meeting at the Russian Government House, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Yulia Tymoshenko...

Gulf and Arab Extraordinary Summit on Gaza and Palestine

more The Emergency Summit on Gaza Strip, which concluded today, condemned Israel with strong terms over its aggression on Gaza Strip. It called for immediate cessation of the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people in Gaza. In its final communiqué the summit held Israel accountable for the crimes and genocide committed in Gaza. It called for suing Israel for those...

United States and Israel sign Memorandum of Understanding

more The U.S. Department of State announces that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni today signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning the prevention of the supply of arms and related materials to terrorist groups. It contains political commitments on steps the United States and Israel will take to stem the flow of weapons...

Dr. Mongrenier discusses relations of France with Russia and NATO, and the gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine

more If we are to believe public rumor fuelled by complacent anecdotes, the French president would have ended the Russo-Georgian war after having a man-to-man talk. Remember first that Dmitri Medvedev unilaterally announced a ceasefire before Nicolas Sarkozy landed at the Moscow airport on August 12. Since then, the Russian president said his French...

Lessons and developments from the Mumbai Terrorist Attacks

more "The Mumbai attacks focused on soft targets like hotels, restaurants, a railway station, and a Jewish cultural center. And the Mumbai attackers used conventional – but still dreadfully lethal – weapons like automatic rifles and hand grenades to carry out their bloody mission. While terrorists will certainly still seek to acquire and use a weapon of mass destruction...

US Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff on the year 2008

more I was in Paris yesterday signing an agreement with the French Ministry of Defense, and in the ceremonial conference room where the signing took place is a quotation I believe from Charles de Gaulle, which translated from the French is as follows: "Security is the reason for... See also: Planning for the 56th Presidential Inauguration - Cyber Strategic Inquiry 2008

Russian Foreign Policy and a New Quality of the Geopolitical Situation

more The Russian state has accumulated serious foreign policy capital – it works for the country and the protection of national interests. Russian diplomacy has acquired a firm footing in successes of our internal... See also: Borodavkin on SCO Issues - Ryabkov on Russo-American relations - Review of Russia and International Counterterrorism Cooperation in 2008

Israeli carried Air Strikes on Gaza, Hamas vows revenge

more Israel submited second protest regarding ongoing fire from Gaza. More than 60 rockets and mortars hit civilian oppulation centers, including the cities and towns of Ashkelon, Netivot and Sderot, as well as the kibbutzim of Nirim, Nahal Oz, and Kerem Shalom. These rockets and mortars have targeted civilians in private...

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's tour to Latin America

more On his way back from Havana to Moscow Russian President Dmitry Medvedev talked about his impressions of his visits to Latin American countries: Recently the APEC summit took place. It is a continuation of the dialogue and arrangements we embarked on in Washington at the G20 summit. This time the...

5th Strategic and Economic Dialogue (SED) between US and China

more The United States and China held the fifth Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) at the Beijing Diaoyutai Guest House on December 4 and 5, 2008. As special representatives of President George W. Bush and President Hu Jintao, Treasury Secretary Henry M Paulson, Jr. and Vice Premier Wang Qishan served...

Belarus develops its relations with Syria, Iran, Russia, and Europe

more New developments concerning the relations of Belarus both with two major actors in the Mideast (Iran and Syria) and with Russia and Europe justified this special file by ISRIA. Officials interpreted recent moves by Belarusian authorities as possible efforts to ease tensions with the European Union. One should...

Strenghtening the European Security and Defense Policy

more The European Council states its determination to give, by means of the attached declaration, a fresh impetus to the European Security and Defence Policy. Compliant with the principles of the United Nations Charter and the decisions of the United Nations Security Council, this policy will continue to develop in full...

SOFA makes Contractors lose their legal immunity in Iraq

more US contractors lose their legal immunity. It is possible that Iraq might bring retroactive charges against contractors who killed Iraqis in past incidents. Despite wrangles about the immunity of US troops during the negotiations, it is unlikely they will be prosecuted. Other important concerns include the protection of Iraqi assets abroad...

Tehran would welcome negotiation with new US administration

more Iran would welcome a broad dialogue with US President-elect Barack Obama's administration, Iranian Ambassador to International Atomic Energy Agency said on Monday. Ali Ashgar Soltanieh, said that if Obama makes good on his campaign pledge to drop preconditions on talks with Tehran, it could pave the way for a significant...

Obama announced his National Security Team

more "In this uncertain world, the time has come for a new beginning -- a new dawn of American leadership to overcome the challenges of the 21st century, and to seize the opportunities embedded in those challenges. To succeed we must pursue a new strategy that skillfully uses, balances, and integrates all elements of American power...

New advanced ballistic weaponry for Russia

more "Advanced weaponry is currently being developed for the missiles that will fly outside the effective range of the strike means of the space echelon of the missile defense system," Colonel-General Nikolai Solovtsov, the Commander of the Strategic Missile Troops told Interfax news agency. "Judging by an analysis of US work in new weapons...

Al Qaeda may be plotting an attack in NYC public transportation

more The warning comes at a time when New York subways and other public transportation systems are jammed with holiday travelers. A classified intelligence bulletin describing the potential plot was issued Tuesday by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, and disseminated among state and local law-enforcement agencies...

Iran dismantled and denounced an alleged Israeli spy cell from the Mossad

more "One of the powerful aspects of Iran's armed forces was manifested when they dismantled an Israeli spy cell and arrested members of the network," the Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces Major General Hassan Firouzabadi said Thursday. Tehran Prosecutor General Saeed Mortazavi said on Tuesday that a spy network affiliated...

Iraqi Parliament approves US Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)

more Within minutes of the ratification, the American Embassy in Baghdad issued a joint statement of congratulation from Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General Ray Odierno, the overall commander of American forces in Iraq. "We look forward to the ratification of this vote by Iraq's Presidency Council," the statement said. "Taken together...

G20 - International Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy

more A summit of the main countries and institutions concerned by the financial crisis will take place on 15 November 2008 in Washington. The summit, preceded by the meeting of the G20 finance ministers in São Paulo (8-9 November 2008), will bring together the G20 Heads of State and Government, the United Nations Secretary-General...

Toward renewed partnership? European Union - Russia Summit in Nice

more Alongside topics such as the economic and financial crisis, energy security, and climate change, the Summit will also address the recent conflict in the Caucasus and other international issues such as Iran and proposals for a new European security architecture. In addition, the summit will review the state of play in the four Common Spaces...

United States - Europe Relations: Toolbox for a New Era by Bernard Kouchner

more The French are always very impressed by the influence of American think tanks. Conspiracy theories will be very difficult to dispel now that the Brookings Foreign Policy Studies Program has been able to get Senator Obama elected President of the United States! More seriously, the prominent role of so many Brookings and, of course...