February 8th, 2013
Baptism by Fire of Francois Hollande
The year of 2013 has started with an acute escalation of the situation in Mali. After a military coup in March 2012 the North of the country was captured by Toureg-separatists from the National Liberation Movement of Azawad (NLMA). Having used disorganization and weakness of governmental troops, the rebels proclaimed an independent state of Azawad along the territory, comparable in sizes with France. Already in summer 2012 contradictions between moderate separatists and radical Islamists among rebelled Toureg escalated. As a result the power was transferred to the Islamists from the groupings of Ansar al-Din (“Faith defenders”) and Al-Qaeda of Islamic Magrheb. READ MORE
Abdumalik Abdullojonov reportedly detained in Ukraine
Ex-Prime Minister of Tajikistan Abdumalik Abdullojonov has reportedly been detained in Ukraine. READ MORE
Canada stuck with career criminal after Iran refuses to take him back
We report occasionally in this space about upstanding people who've been ordered out of Canada on some technicality or other, wringing our hands at the unfairness of it all. READ MORE
February 6th
Russia denies bullying Ukraine into its customs union
Moscow, which recently slammed Kyiv with a huge gas bill, said Monday (4 February) that an arrangement could be found. A Russian diplomat explained that the deal would not necessarily require Ukraine to join Moscow's proposed Customs Union with Belarus and Kazakhstan. READ MORE
International Year of Water Cooperation to be inaugurated at UNESCO Headquarters on Feb 11
An opening ceremony of the International Year of Water Cooperation will take place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on February 11, reported the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan. READ MORE
British EU membership referendum 'dangerous', French FM warns Cameron
Britain cannot have a Europe à la carte, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius warned on the day that UK Prime Minister David Cameron promised a referendum on European Union (EU) membership if his Conservative Party is reelected to office. READ MORE
February 4th
Electricity policy in the Baltic States: On the Eve of Decisive Decisions
Several major energy projects are currently implemented in the Baltic Region. However, due to their complex nature and long implementation period the internal changes or changes in the international environment might determine long delays or even termination of project implementation. For instance, the referendum on the Visaginas Nuclear Power Plant (VNPP) left the countries in uncertainty and made them consider alternative ways to ensure energy independence. READ MORE
Kazakh Foreign Minister met with NATO Secretary General
Kazakh Foreign Affairs Minister Yerlan Idrissov met with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Brussels. READ MORE
February 1st
Nuclear Weapons and War in 100 Years
What role will nuclear arms play in the long-term? And how will they affect future wars? Most likely, in 100 years’ time they will still be in the arsenals. In order to preserve international security, a two-pronged approach should be taken: extending the rigid limitations on military planning at all strategic levels and boosting the nontraditional arms race, primarily in cyber and space-based offensive and defensive systems. READ MORE
