Category: Blogs

Avoiding the Next War in the South Caucasus

By Borut Grgic

While most European governments are cutting defense spending to balance their budgets and curtail debt, there are at least two countries on the Continent that are doing the exact opposite: Azerbaijan and Armenia are both ramping up their defense spending, and have been doing so for the last several years. The two countries are locked […]

NATO allies want Canada to keep some troops in Afghanistan as trainers

By Karen DeYoung, the Washington Post

Russia claims Georgia arrested alleged spies to hurt Moscow’s relations with NATO

By  Andrew Osborn, the Telegraph

From Andrew Osborn, the Telegraph: Russia accused Georgia of trying to sabotage its rapprochement with the Nato military alliance on Friday after Georgia claimed it had uncovered a sprawling Russian spy network.

Thaci: Erdoğan encouraged Kosovo not to delay independence

By Zaman

From Zaman:  The Turkish prime minister encouraged Kosovo’s independence from Serbia, telling Kosovar authorities in 2008 that they should not delay declaring independence

Restructuring Sovereign Debt: Time for Action

By Susan Schadler

The gap between market expectations of sovereign debt restructurings and official non-discussion of institutional arrangements for restructuring is wide.  While markets are pricing a substantial default risk for Greek, Irish, Portuguese and even Spanish bonds, the financial policy debate is squarely focused on the causes of the last crisis. Arrangements for dealing with the likely […]

Another Package Is Defused as Greece Halts Overseas Mail

By  Niki Kitsantonis and Rachel Donadio, the New York Times

From Niki Kitsantonis and Rachel Donadio, the New York Times:  The authorities in Athens found another explosive device on Thursday, this one addressed to the French Embassy

China Urges Europeans to Snub Nobel Ceremony

By Michael Wines, the New York Times

From Michael Wines, the New York Times:  China is pressing European governments to boycott the ceremony awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo

Georgia Says It Broke Up Russian Spy Ring

By Ellen Barry, the New York Times

From Ellen Barry, the New York Times:  Georgia’s Interior Ministry announced on Friday that it used a former Soviet officer to infiltrate Russia’s military intelligence service

NATO holds talks on coping with limited finances

By the AP

From the AP:  An official says experts from NATO and its member countries are meeting in Prague to discuss how the alliance can remain a relevant force despite dwindling financial resources.