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Archive - Jun 2009

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June 29th

OSCE summit on the Greek island of Corfu avoids the "blame game"

Foreign ministers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe opened talks on the Greek island of Corfu on Sunday aimed at forging a new security framework for Europe. READ MORE

EU warns Tehran over detained British embassy staff

The European Union agreed on Sunday that intimidation and harassment of European diplomatic staff by Iran in Tehran would be met with a "strong and collective response." READ MORE

Obama, Merkel Speak With 'One Voice' On Iran

By Andrew F. Tully

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Barack Obama have condemned the Iranian government for cracking down on citizens who have questioned the results of the June 12 presidential election, which President Mahmud Ahmadinejad is said to have won. READ MORE

Russian Military Chief Accuses Georgia of Preparing Aggression

By Pavel Felgenhauer

The top Russian military commander, the Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Defense Minister Army-General Nikolai Makarov during the Paris air show this week said: "Georgia is saber-rattling and preparing weapons to resolve its territorial problems by any means." Makarov accused NATO of supporting Georgian aggressive intentions and E.U. observers of ignoring Georgian rearmament and war preparations. Makarov stated that the Russian army and the FSB Border Guards in Abkhazia and South Ossetia are preparing together with local forces and forming new military infrastructure. He confirmed that the defense ministry will permanently station "somewhat less combat troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia" than the previously announced 3,700 soldiers in each region. READ MORE

Kazakhstan Poised to Step into the OSCE's Chairmanship

By Vladimir Socor

Kazakhstan is actively preparing to take over the OSCE's chairmanship next year. The challenges are daunting to any chairing country and the organization as such. According to multiple, though unofficial reports from the organization's Vienna headquarters, Kazakhstan has asked Finland to host an OSCE summit in 2010 in Helsinki, focusing on Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's initiative to create a "new European security architecture." The proposed event will be the OSCE's first summit at the level of heads of state since Istanbul in 1999. READ MORE

Erdogan criticizes Germany, France for blocking Turkey's EU bid

During a visit to Brussels to revive Ankara's deadlocked EU accession talks, Turkish Premier Erdogan slammed Germany and France for opposing full EU membership for his predominantly Muslim country. READ MORE

Palestine to Punjab, Bosnia to Baku: A Tour of Security Challenges Facing Europe and America with Carl Bildt

By Thomas Carothers

Sweden’s top priorities for its European Union presidency include signing a global climate agreement at Copenhagen, managing the political ramifications of the once-in-a-generation economic crisis, and building the infrastructure needed to reflect the EU’s growing global clout. Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt outlined the EU’s plans to tackle urgent foreign policy challenges in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran while simultaneously ushering in an era of deeper European integration with the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. READ MORE

Lithuania Presented The Goals Of Its Presidency Of The Council Of The Baltic Sea States

In Elsinore (Denmark) at the 15th Ministerial Session of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas presented priorities of Lithuania’s Presidency of this organisation. READ MORE

June 26th

Eastern States Jostle To Host EU Energy Agency

Romania launched a campaign to host the future European agency for the cooperation of energy regulators (ACER), entering a competition with existing rival bids by Slovenia and Slovakia. EU agencies are decentralised executive bodies, distinct from its institutions, to which a specific task is assigned. READ MORE

June 24th

Vilnus Welcomes OSCE PA 2009

The Summer Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will be held in Vilnius, in the Seimas Building on 29 June - 3 July 2009.

In 2011, Lithuania will preside over the OSCE and will be the first Baltic State to hold the OSCE Presidency. READ MORE