Pakistan appointed a new ambassador to the United States on Friday, at a time of tense relations between the two countries over drone strikes in the country’s tribal belt. Senior diplomat Jalil Abbas Jilani — 58 and most recently foreign secretary — has been named to the role, according to …
Read More »Syrian opposition sets Assad’s departure precondition for Geneva talks
The Syrian National Coalition ( SNC), the main opposition group based in Istanbul, said on Monday that it agreed to join the Geneva II conference preconcondition that President Bashar al-
Read More »Kerry visits UAE to discuss Syria and Iran
Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in the United Arab Emirates Sunday to brief the US ally on talks with Iran on its nuclear programme and efforts to hold Syria peace talks. He flew in from Geneva where three days of marathon talks which stretched into early Sunday failed to produce an
Read More »Lebanon calls for int’l help in hosting Syrian refugees
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Friday renewed his call upon the international community to help his country to cope with the huge influx of the Syrian refugees. “The international community must assume its responsibilities towards Lebanon because it is suffering more than any other neighbors from the flow …
Read More »Indian FM is optimistic about future ties with China
Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid is optimistic about future relations with fellow Asian power China, with Delhi viewing Beijing as “rivals who are also partners”. But in an interview with The Australian newspaper published on Monday, Khurshid said a festering Himalayan border dispute between the two giant neighbours remained a key area …
Read More »Brahimi vists Algeria to discuss regional issues
The United Nations and Arab Leaugue Special Envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, was received Sunday by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in Algiers.
Read More »Fule expects positive results on visa talks with Turkey
Efforts on the launch of visa-free travel for Turkish citizens to European countries may yield positive results before the end of this year, said European Union Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Stefan Füle on Friday.
Read More »Turkish FM visits Iraq
Turkey and Iraq pledged greater co-operation on trade and counter-terrorism while admitting to disagreements over Syria’s war during a landmark visit to Baghdad by the Turkish foreign minister on Sunday. “I saw a strong willingness to improve relations between our countries,” Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said during a joint …
Read More »France says agreement on Iran nuclear program is close
France’s foreign minister said on Monday he was hopeful a deal could be reached with Iran over its nuclear programme, although Tehran still had to make an effort on a few points. “We are not far from an agreement with the Iranians, but we are not there yet,” Laurent Fabius said. Some diplomats accused France of grandstanding during …
Read More »IAEA chief visits Iran to held talks on nuclear programme
UN nuclear watchdog chief Yukiya Amano arrived in Tehran on Monday as world powers pressed efforts to clinch a deal on Iran’s nuclear programme following failed negotiations in Geneva. “I really hope that today we will produce concrete results,” said Amano ahead of a meeting with Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran’s nuclear chief.
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