A top NATO commander warned Wednesday that “continual attacks” against Ukraine were hampering Kiev’s efforts to modernise its army enough to one day join the Western military alliance. “We are well aware of the formidable challenges that Ukraine is facing,” NATO’s political affairs and security chief Thrasyvoulos Terry Stamatopoulos told …
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French President to meet CAR leaders
French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday met with Central African Republic (CAR) interim president Catherine Samba-Panza for talks amid ongoing tensions in the troubled African nation, an official statement said. The two leaders discussed, notably, ongoing efforts to arrive at a settlement to the civil conflict that has killed tens …
Read More »Mali crisis: CMA could sign peace agreement
Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Mali, Chief of Minusma, Mongi Hamdi said on Monday he convicted that “reason would prevail” so that the other party of the Coordination of Movements of Azawad (CMA) can sign “without delay” the peace and reconciliation agreement, following the Algiers process.
Read More »Tunisia granted new US ally status
President Barack Obama on Thursday elevated Tunisia to new allied status, promising financial and security assistance to ensure the North African country’s transition to democracy remains a success in a fragile region. Obama announced in an Oval Office meeting with newly elected Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi that he intends …
Read More »Kurdish forces drive IS out of Assyrian Christian villages
Kurdish forces have driven the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group from more than a dozen Assyrian Christian villages that the jihadists had captured in northeastern Syria, a monitor said May 27. “Following a 10-day offensive, Kurdish fighters took control early this week of 14 Assyrian villages …
Read More »Russia scraps Mistral deal with France
Russia has scrapped its controversial deal with France to buy two Mistral-class warships and is now designing its own alternative to the vessels, according to a source from Russia’s state military industrial complex. The €1.2bn deal, agreed between Russia and France in 2011, was initially planned to see two Mistral-class …
Read More »France reaffirms support for Tunisia's democratic transition
Jean-Louis Destans, Deputy of the Eure Department at the French National Assembly and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee at this Assembly, Tuesday, reasserted France’s commitment to carry on supporting the democratic transition process in Tunisia.
Read More »US pledges full support for Iraqi efforts to retake territories from IS
US Vice President Joseph Biden has pledged “full support” for Iraqi efforts to retake territories lost to the Islamic State, as Baghdad bristled at the Pentagon chief’s criticism of Iraqi forces over the battle against the extremist group.
Read More »EU increases assistance for Sahel region
The European Commission Friday announced assistance worth 34 million euro for immediate food aid for the most vulnerable people in the Sahel region including Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Burkina Faso. “Millions of people in the Sahel are exposed to the risk of hunger and it is crucial …
Read More »Algeria reaffirms support for Yemen democracy
President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika reaffirmed in a message sent to Yemeni President Abd Rabbou Hadi, on the occasion of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the national unity of his country, “Algeria’s support to the Yemeni people and his support to the steps aimed at laying the …
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