Iran

West can only wait

BERLIN — The West has no choice but to wait as Tehran plays for time and considers an offer of incentives from six major powers aimed at resolving its nuclear standoff, Western diplomats and analysts said.

Read More »

Germany to Iran: Stop enrichment and we can talk

Tehran says any talks must be ‘without preconditions’BERLIN (Reuters) — Germany made clear to Iran on Saturday it must halt uranium enrichment if it wants to negotiate with six world powers on an offer of incentives aimed at resolving the nuclear standoff with the Islamic republic.

Read More »

Another Fresh Start for Albania

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 …

Read More »

One Romanian soldier killed, four injured in mine incident in Afghanistan

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 …

Read More »

Rehn urges Turkey to meet commitments

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

Read More »

EU auditors claim Bulgaria, Romania mishandling PHARE funds

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

Read More »

Iran denies nuclear messages conflicting

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 …

Read More »

Tehran pledged further $50m, Zahhar says

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.

Read More »