Yearly Archives: 2014

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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UN praises Pakistan efforts in Afhan peace process

Pakistan’s support for a peaceful, stabile, united and prosperous Afghanistan has been acknowledged by the United Nations when on Tuesday. Jan Kubis, UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, acknowledged country’s important contribution towards peace and stability and deeper engagement on issues of trade, reconstruction, rehabilitation, regional and economic cooperation …

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Turkish jets fly over Iraq to gather intelligence against PKK targets

Turkish army has said its surveillance aircraft have conducted reconnaissance flight in northern Iraq to gather intelligence from camps of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The army said in a statement on Tuesday that four RF-4E surveillance planes flew in northern Iraq to survey “separatist terrorist organization targets,” a …

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Egypt to cancel trade agreement with Turkey signed during Morsi period

The Egyptian government has decided not to extend a comprehensive free trade agreement signed with Turkey during the rule of the ousted ex-President Mohamed Morsi. Ties between the two countries have been strained since Morsi’s ouster last year, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan repeatedly condemning the “coup” and describing the military …

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Libyan PM accepts Sudan peace proposal

Sudan said on Tuesday that Libya’s internationally recognised premier has accepted its proposal to bring together different groups in his strife-torn North African nation for talks on ending the conflict. Mounting unrest across Libya has virtually confined the internationally recognised government to the eastern city of Tobruk, and last month …

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