Monthly Archives: October 2014

EU does not recognize Dontetsk elections

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone that Sunday’s planned elections in eastern Ukraine were illegitimate and would not be recognized by European leaders, a Berlin government spokesman said on Friday.

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Turkey does not accept ‘de facto’ borders in Iraq, Syria

Turkey cannot agree to de facto borders in Syria or Iraq, and the terrorist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant will not be able to realize such an aim, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said. “Turkey cannot say ‘yes’ to any de facto borders in the Middle East. Steps to be …

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Russian flights detected near NATO airspace

NATO Thursday said it detected and monitored four groups of Russian military aircraft conducting significant military manoeuvers in European airspace over the Baltic Sea, North Sea/Atlantic Ocean, and Black Sea on 28 and 29 October. These sizable Russian flights represent an unusual level of air activity over European airspace, said …

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Turkey, France say fight against IS should not be limited to Kobane

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan took aim at Western leaders in Paris on Oct. 31 for focusing “too much” on the battle over the Syrian border town of Kobane, drawing nods from his host, President François Hollande, who highlighted Aleppo. “Why are coalition forces continually bombing this town of Kobane?” Erdoğan asked while speaking …

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France says condition not met for Mistral delivery to Russia

French Finance Minister Michel Sapin on Thursday said the conditions had not yet been met to deliver the first of two controversial Mistral helicopter carriers to Russia, rejecting reports that Moscow would receive the first of them on Nov. 14. Speaking about the conditions that need to be met, Sapin …

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Afghan President invites Taliban to join peace process

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Friday invited the Taliban to join in a peace process backed by the international community. Speaking at a conference on Afghan peace and reconstruction in Beijing, Mr. Ghani made no specific proposals and indicated government forces wouldn’t back away from the fight. However, his mention …

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Egypt, Cyprus, Greek foreign ministers discuss energy and security issues

The Egyptian, Cypriot and Greek foreign ministers met in the Cypriot capital Nicosia Wednesday to discuss shared interests and issues relating to energy, security, and tourism. The meeting took place in preparation for a new round of talks in Cairo on 8 November. A statement released by the Cypriot foreign …

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EU, Ukraine, Russia agree to resume gas deliveries

Russia has agreed to resume gas deliveries to Ukraine through the winter in an EU-brokered deal reached by the three parties in Brussels, an EU source said. The details will be outlined by European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso as well as the Russian and Ukrainian energy ministers during a press …

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Russia says it would recognize rebel vote in east Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would recognize elections organized by pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine on Nov. 2 despite opposition from Kiev. Ukraine held parliamentary elections on Sunday, which handed a clear victory to parties seeking closer ties with the West but voting did not take place in …

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Lebanese PM calls for intl help on Syrian refugees

Lebanon Prime Minister Tammam Salam hoped on Tuesday that the international community is aware of Lebanon’s huge financial needs to confront the burden of refugees. “The refugees are affecting our economy and security … We call for more funding to confront the repercussions of the refugee crisis,” Salam said at the …

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