Russia continues to deny it has sent troops and heavy artillery into rebel-held territory in Ukraine despite sightings by NATO and the OSCE. NATO has accused Russia of sending tanks, troops and military hardware to east Ukraine, raising fears of renewed all-out fighting and calling into question the Minsk peace …
Read More »UN warns of escalation of conflict in East Ukraine
A United Nations political officials tells the Security Council that the fragile cease-fire between rebels and the government is under serious strain. The fragile cease-fire agreement between rebel pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces are “under continuous and serious strain,” a senior UN political official told the Security Council Wednesday. “With the Minsk agreements in question, and uncertainty …
Read More »UNSC calls on Lebanon to choose president
The UN Security Council on Wednesday urged Lebanon’s parliament to quickly choose a new president to bolster stability as war rages across the border in Syria. Lebanon has been without a president, who is also the commander-in-chief, since May because of disagreements between lawmakers. The 15-member council “expressed concern at …
Read More »UN Special Envoy for Libya meets Turkish officials
U.N. Special Envoy to Libya Bernardino Leon held talks with Turkish officials in Ankara on Nov. 12, as Turkey’s involvement in global efforts to prevent a full-blown civil war in Libya become more visible. Leon met with Deputy Prime Minister Emrullah İşler and Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioğlu, exchanging views on
Read More »EU urges Turkey to show restraint over dispute with Cyprus
The European Parliament held a debate on the topic, “Turkish actions creating tensions in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus,” stressing support for the EU member state Cyprus. Johannes Hahn, EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, said the EU stands firmly by the sovereign rights of its …
Read More »Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit to be held between 19-21 Nov.
The final preparations are being made for the second Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit, which will run from Nov. 19-21 in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea. Around 200 business leaders and a delegation led by Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu will attend the summit. Leaders from many countries …
Read More »Obama looks for review of Syria strategy
US President Barack Obama wants his advisers to review the administration’s Syria policy after determining it may not be possible to defeat militants of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) without removing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Obama’s national security team held four meetings in the past week …
Read More »Egyptian embassy attacked in Libya
Egypt “strongly condemns the terrorist bombing that targeted the Egyptian embassy in Tripoli,” the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday after a car bomb exploded outside the embassy. A bomb was also discovered in front of the United Arab Emirates’ embassy, a Libyan official said.
Read More »Turkey could scrap plan to buy defense systems from China
Turkey could scrap a controversial plan to buy missile defense systems from China, which alarmed the U.S. and its Western allies, Turkish and European sources said Wednesday. Key NATO member Turkey said in September 2013 that it was entering negotiations with the China Precision Machinery Export-Import Corporation (CPMIEC) to acquire …
Read More »Biden, Poroshenko discuss Ukraine situation
US Vice President Joe Biden spoke Monday with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko about the situation in eastern Ukraine, the formation of a new government, and Ukraineآ’s commitment to reforms. “Poroshenko informed the Vice President about Russiaآ’s blatant escalation of the situation in eastern Ukraine, including increased shelling of Ukrainian government …
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