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MENASource

Feb 4, 2016

EconSource: EBRD Plans EUR 900 Million Package for Turkey, Jordan

By EconSource

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said Wednesday is planning to invest EUR 900 million euros ($986 million) as part of international efforts to tackle the refugee crisis.

MENASource

Feb 4, 2016

MENASource Podcast: Is the Syrian Rebellion Doomed?

By MENASource

In the second installment of the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center Podcast, Senior Fellows Aaron Stein and Faysal Itani discuss the implications of the latest Syrian regime gains on the battle field and the potential impact on US-Turkish relations, the anti-ISIS coalition, and the negotiations in Geneva.

Russia Syria

SyriaSource

Feb 3, 2016

The Military and Political Significance of Aleppo

By Faysal Itani and Hossam Abouzahr

In a serious blow to the rebellion, the Syrian regime has severed the main insurgent supply line from Turkey to long-contested Aleppo, Syria’s second city. This is the culmination of several tactical regime victories against the opposition in recent weeks, largely due to Russian air support. Although some Western policy-makers (and many opposition supporters) continue […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Feb 3, 2016

Colombia’s President Santos Faces Next Big Challenge—Selling His Peace Deal

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Leader describes peace deal with leftist FARC rebels as an ‘irreversible moment’ Colombia’s President, Juan Manuel Santos, wholeheartedly believes that his attempt to end the Western Hemisphere’s longest-running war will bear fruit, the big challenge, however, will be convincing Colombians that “peace is going to be marvelous.” “Most Colombians have never seen one single day […]

Colombia Latin America

New Atlanticist

Feb 3, 2016

Rallying the Transatlantic Community Toward a Greater Purpose

By Damon Wilson

A new era of US leadership can lead an effort to help adapt, revitalize, and defend an international order that advances security, democratic governance, and prosperity, says Atlantic Council’s Damon Wilson Europe is in crisis. The continent today faces a confluence of crises far more profound than most realize. As a result, the United States […]

European Union France

UkraineAlert

Feb 3, 2016

Why Do Ukraine’s Reform Ministers Keep Quitting?

By Anders Åslund

On February 3, Ukraine’s Minister of Economic Development and Trade Aivaras Abromavicius announced his resignation at a press briefing with a big bang that may unleash a political crisis and shake the country’s fragile finances. Abromavicius, a 40-year-old investment banker of Lithuanian origin who has lived in Kyiv for many years as a fund manager, […]

Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Feb 3, 2016

Only Presidential Leadership Can Avert Ukraine’s Perfect Storm

By Adrian Karatnycky

The February 3 resignation of Ukraine’s Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius is a signal that the country’s efforts to dramatically reduce corruption and rent-seeking are meeting with serious resistance. The resignation also exposes how Ukraine’s political system works. Just as in established democracies, technocrats and experts have to make common cause with politicians and ideologues. And […]

Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Feb 3, 2016

Americans and Iranians Grappled Long Before the Nuclear Talks

By Mitch Hulse

‘Sports diplomacy’ laid the groundwork for detente, says US official Decades before the United States and Iran agreed on the historic nuclear deal, international sports federations were working together to break down diplomatic barriers and prejudices between the two countries. Since 1998, wrestling rings and volleyball courts in Tehran and California—not Washington conference rooms—have been […]

Iran

MENASource

Feb 3, 2016

The Regimen of Sisi’s Non-Regime

By H.A. Hellyer

It has been almost five years since the head of the Mubarak regime, Hosni Mubarak himself, was removed from office—a moment many heralded as the end of the Egyptian state regime. Today, a new political reality exists. Is it appropriate  to speak of a new, singular, cohesive, Egyptian regime? Or is the picture actually far […]

North Africa

MENASource

Feb 3, 2016

Top News: New offensive by Assad’s forces overshadows Syria peace talks

By MENASource

Rebels said the new assault on Aleppo, backed by heavy Russian air strikes, was unprecedented and that the divided northern city might soon be encircled. Russia will not stop its air strikes on Syria until armed groups are defeated, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

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