Iran

There have been lots of new beginnings for tiny Albania. In 1992, the Democratic Party of Sali Berisha swept to power in a wave of anticommunism. Optimism for fast change and willing sacrifice came with Berisha’s victory. Despite some achievements, Berisha’s government collapsed in 1997 amid the failure of catastrophic …

BUCHAREST, Romania — One Romanian soldier in Afghanistan died and four were injured after their armoured vehicle drove over a landmine near the Kandahar base on Tuesday (20 June). The injured soldiers were taken to the Canadian hospital in the base run by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in …

BUCHAREST, Romania — The Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) is seeking a government shuffle, according to a statement from UDMR leader Marko Bela on Tuesday (20 June). He said that his party would back the initiative if it was initiated

BRUSSELS, Belgium — EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn on Tuesday (20 June) again urged Turkey to observe its commitments in the EU accession process. He said domestic authorities must take immediate measures to overcome the delays

BRUSSELS, Belgium — The European Court of Auditors released a report on Tuesday (20 June) criticising the European Commission (EC) for not monitoring the way Bulgaria and Romania are handling aid under the PHARE programme. The audit covers projects initiated in 2000-2004, involving

TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran on Saturday denied any contradictions in its reactions to an international nuclear proposal, saying the offer of incentives in return for a suspension of sensitive atomic work was still being examined. “Our stance regarding the 5+1 package is quite clear,” Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said of …

RAMALLAH — Having brought in $20 million in cash Wednesday, Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahhar yesterday announced he had received pledges for a further $50 million from Iran on his weekslong recent tour of the Muslim world and China.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which maintained it had no plans for expansion, is now changing course. Mongolia, Iran, India and Pakistan, which previously

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised the growing international stature of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization — but it may also soon become more controversial, as its members consider whether to welcome Iran into the fold.

Tang Jiaxuan, a member of China’s State Council, said Russia and China have similar positions on regional and global issues. Tang said Moscow is Beijing’s key ally in its effort to maintain a strategic partnership.