Eurasia

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Ukraine told Russia on Tuesday it would press on with attempts to join NATO despite the former imperial master’s staunch opposition to the plan, but also assured Moscow this would pose no threat to its security.

ROME (Reuters) – Silvio Berlusconi, who has won a third term as prime minister in Italy’s parliamentary election, will hold talks with outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, a Kremlin spokesman said on Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to lead Russia’s biggest political party, a move that will bolster his power after he steps down as Kremlin leader next month.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed confidence on Tuesday that use of armed force in a bid to crush Iran’s nuclear capabilities would make the Middle East conflict impossible to settle

Russia wants its military officers to be present at all times at the planned US missile sites in Poland and the Czech Republic to make sure Russia is not a target, the Russian foreign minister said Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s leading businessmen appealed to president-elect Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday to respect their property rights and protect them from arbitrary state interference.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Heading Russia’s biggest political party would be a logical step for Vladimir Putin when he steps down as president, the head of Russia’s most powerful business lobby said on Tuesday.

SOFIA (Reuters) – Profits from drugs trafficking through Bulgaria have been used to fund organizations like Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad, the parliamentary security commission said on Tuesday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- US President George W. Bush thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday for Moscow’s efforts to help ease alleged international concerns about Iran’s nuclear program.

ZAGREB (Reuters) – President George W. Bush assured Macedonia on Saturday that the United States wants it in NATO as soon as possible, along with other former Yugoslav republics.