United Nations

Critical Questions on Iran

By Stuart Eizenstat and Mark Brzezinski

A confluence of events in the next few weeks again will put Iran at the top of the Obama administration’s foreign policy agenda and could shape its course in the months ahead. The annual United Nations General Assembly this week is likely to include another anti-American, anti-Western, anti-Israel rant from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, while […]

At the U.N., Turkey Asserts Itself in Prominent Ways

By Mark Landler, the New York Times

U.S. Lauds Russia on Barring Arms Delivery to Iran

By David Sanger and Andrew Kramer, the New York Times

From David Sanger and Andrew Kramer, the New York Times:  The White House praised Russia’s president, Dmitri A. Medvedev, on Wednesday for publicly barring the shipment of an advanced antimissile system to Iran, even as American diplomats here discussed a plan to reopen negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program.

NATO’s communication strategy and public support

By Stefanie Babst, atlantic-community.org

From Stefanie Babst, atlantic-community.org:  Most citizens find the policy- makings of large international organisations like the EU or UN too complex and far away from their day-to-day concerns. Where does the Transatlantic Alliance fit in this, in particular now that NATO approaches another Summit that will take place in Lisbon at the end of the […]

Russia bans sales of S-300 missiles to Iran

By the Office of the President of Russia

From the Office of the President of Russia:  Dmitry Medvedev signed the Executive Order on Measures to Implement UN Security Council Resolution 1929 on Iran, adopted on June 9, 2010. The executive order prohibits, in particular, transit via Russian territory (including air transport), export from Russian territory to Iran, and also transfer to Iran beyond […]

Tracking Iran’s nuclear money trail to Turkey

By Louis Charbonneau, Reuters

Russia, Canada in rivalry over Arctic resources

By Nataliya Vasilyeva, the AP

From Nataliya Vasilyeva, the AP:  The foreign ministers of Russia and Canada both said Thursday they expect the United Nations to rule in favor of their nations’ respective rival claims to Arctic resources. Russia, the U.S., Canada, Denmark and Norway have all been trying to assert jurisdiction over parts of the Arctic, which is believed […]

NATO invites Russia to join talks in Lisbon in November

By David Brunnstrom, Reuters

From David Brunnstrom, Reuters:  NATO invited Russia on Wednesday to attend talks with leaders of alliance countries during a summit in Lisbon in November, hoping to boost cooperation on security issues, including Afghanistan and Iran. NATO diplomats said they were waiting for a response from Moscow to the invitation, which would involve talks on the […]

Serbia bows to EU, softens stance on Kosovo

By Reuters

From Reuters:  Serbia made a major concession to the European Union on Wednesday by agreeing to soften a draft U.N. resolution on the future of Kosovo and seek dialogue with the breakaway country. "We have found a formula to open a dialogue on future solutions," President Boris Tadic said in a statement. … Belgrade said […]

Lavrov declares Afghan drug trade most important question in NATO-Russian relations

By Sergey Lavrov,  Russian Foreign Ministry

From Sergey Lavrov,  Russian Foreign Ministry:  We expect greater intelligibility from our partners in NATO. The dual existence of the alliance – between the past and the future – has become protracted too long.