Monthly Archives: October 2014

German FM hopes for reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey

“We respect Armenia’s decision to join the Eurasian Economic Union and hope that it will not hinder the development of relations with the EU,” German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier said at a joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. Touching upon the forthcoming Sargyan-Aliyev meeting scheduled for …

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Kurdish peace could be achieved in a few months, Turkish PM says

The Turkish government and the Kurdish political movement have sounded a note of optimism for the future of the stalled peace process, with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu suggesting that the process could reach a settlement within the next few months if all actors involved fulfill their roles. “Now there is a road …

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Iraqi security forces repel IS attacks in Anbar

 Iraqi security forces and allied tribal fighters rebuffed an attack by Islamic State (IS) militants in a town near the Iraqi capital Baghdad, but were forced to withdraw from another embattled town after two days of fierce clashes in the country’s western province of Anbar, security sources said on Thursday. …

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African security personnel to be trained by Egypt’s police

The Egyptian Police Academy will train 155 middle ranking officers from 14 African countries in security and counter terrorism between 19 October and 13 November, said a foreign ministry statement. The trainings are part of the Egypt Agency for Development Partnerships initiatives to “transfer expertise to African countries in the …

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Egyptian FM to visit Algeria to discuss Libyan crisis

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry flew to Algeria to meet with his Algerian counterpart to discuss regional issues, focusing on the Libyan crisis, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday. Ministry spokesperson Badr Abdel Atty said the two ministries will discuss a number of regional …

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UNSC calls on Mali factions to accept peace deal

The UN Security Council on Friday called on Mali’s warring parties “to engage in good faith and in the spirit of compromise” towards a comprehensive and inclusive peace deal as they are set to resume peace talks in Algeria. The peace talks between the Malian government and rebels is set …

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Barroso warns that IS is biggest threat to civilisation

The outgoing President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, has said that the “Islamic State” represents today the biggest threat to “civilisation and our model of society”. Europe needs to be part of the international efforts to defeat and uproot it.” Barroso wrote this in a book about his …

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US targets IS positions in Syria and Iraq

US military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria on Monday and Tuesday using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct four airstrikes, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced. Separately, US and partner nation forces conducted three airstrikes using fighter and attack aircraft against ISIL terrorists in Iraq, the announcement said.

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Libyan army liberates Benina town

Sitting in one of the last buildings still intact after months of fighting near Benghazi’s airport, Libyan army special forces commander Wanis Bukhamada presides over a world of destruction. His forces managed to stop an offensive of Islamist armed groups trying to take the airport in Benina, some 25km south …

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Russia-Ukraine-EU gas talks kick off in Brussels

Russia, Ukraine and the EU began crunch gas talks on Oct. 21 to resolve a bitter price dispute and end fears that Moscow could halt crucial energy supplies to Europe this winter. The high-stakes meeting between Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, his Ukrainian counterpart Yuri Prodan and European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger began as planned, a …

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