Democratic.net: [RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, July 24, 2009

Friday, July 24, 2009

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, July 24, 2009

July 24, 2009

View this newsletter as a web page on CFR's website.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

-Biden returns from Georgia.
-U.S.-Israel missile test aborted.
-Kyrgyz election.
-Zelaya plans return to Honduras.

Top of the Agenda: Biden in Georgia

During his visit to Georgia, U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden said the U.S. plan to “reset” relations with Russia would not be a disadvantage for Georgia (FT), and denounced Russia’s “19th-century notion of spheres of influence.”

Biden emphasized that the United States would fully support (Ria Novosti) a Georgian bid for membership in NATO. He criticized Russia’s continued presences in the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and urged a withdrawal of Russian troops.

Although President Mikheil Saakashvili has publicly said he hopes the United States will provide Georgia with new defensive weaponry (WSJ) so that it can prepare for a possible Russian invasion, Georgian leaders made no such request in official talks with Biden. A senior U.S. official said the United States does not plan to provide Georgia with the weaponry.

A senior Russian diplomat warned countries against arming Georgia and expressed concern about Georgia’s move to “remilitarize.” (Moscow Times)

Analysis

CQ Politics evaluates Biden’s diplomatic skills on this trip.

Steve Pifer, a veteran Eurasia expert, says in an interview with CFR’s Bernard Gwertzman that Biden's trip to Ukraine and Georgia was meant to balance President Barack Obama's Moscow summit earlier in the month, but in both countries, Biden had to convey tough messages.

CFR's Charles Kupchan says Obama has advanced U.S. relations with Russia, but that U.S. support for Ukrainian and Georgian entry into NATO could pose challenges to the strengthening U.S.-Russian relationship.

Background
The Wall Street Journal published excerpts of an interview with Saakashvili, in which he discusses the Obama administration, relations with Russia, and joining NATO, among other topics.

EUROPE: Bosnia Trial to be Expedited

Judges at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) have asked prosecutors to drop some charges (AFP) against Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic in order to expedite his upcoming war crimes trial.

MIDEAST: Aborted Missile Test

The United States and Israel aborted a test (WSJ) of a missile-defense shield Wednesday designed to prevent an Iranian attack on Israel. An Israeli Defense Ministry spokesman said the test was stopped due to a “glitch,” but did not give further details.

Hamas: The New York Times looks at how Hamas is shifting its focus away from violence and toward “cultural initiatives and public relations.”

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Kyrgyz Election

Kyrgyzstan’s reelection of incumbent President Kurmanbek Bakiyev was rife with voting irregularities (AP), which prompted protesters to clash with police. Opposition candidates called the election rigged (RFE/RL) and some dropped out of the race.

Afghanistan: Afghan President Hamid Karzai refused to participate (FT) in the first televised debate between candidates ahead of the August presidential elections. Karzai’s camp accused the television station airing the debate of being biased against him.
NPR reports Afghan opposition candidates are gaining on Karzai.

AFRICA: New HIV Vaccine

South Africa began testing the first African-produced HIV vaccine (AFP). The vaccine, developed at the University of Cape Town and manufactured with input from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, could make a major impact for South Africa six million people infected with the virus.

In a recent CFR podcast, CFR Fellow for Global Health Peter Navario discusses the state of South Africa’s battle against AIDS.

East Africa: An undersea fiber optic cable (Daily Nation) brought faster and cheaper Internet to five East African countries. The privately funded SEACOM consortium commissioned the cable’s connection for some $760 million.

PACIFIC RIM: Philippine Cease-fire

Moving to restart peace talks (AP), the Philippine government ordered its military to stop its offensive against the Muslim guerrilla group Moro Islamic Liberation Front. But rebels said they will only participate in talks if the government guarantees an autonomy deal first.

China: A landslide in China’s Sichuan province (Straits Times) left more than 50 people missing. Over a hundred people were evacuated from the road construction site after the crew and makeshift offices were overtaken by the landslide, which was triggered by heavy rain. At least four people have been confirmed dead.

AMERICAS: Zelaya to Return Home

Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya said he will return to his country (AP) with his wife and children in the coming days. The interim military government has promised to arrest Zelaya upon his arrival.

In an interview with CFR, Brookings Latin America expert Kevin Casas-Zamora says that by putting its diplomatic weight behind a mediation effort to settle the Honduran crisis, the United States has demonstrated sensitivity to Latin sensibilities.

Lieberman’s Trip: Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, on a ten-day, multi-country tour of Latin America, said he sees an important role for Brazil in the international effort to get Iran to suspend its nuclear program and to “convince the Palestinians to start direct talks.” Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim supports Iran's non-military nuclear development and called for a nuclear-free Mideast.

TRANSNATIONAL: U.S. Image Boosted

A new survey by the Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project finds that global public opinion about the United States has improved markedly (PDF) since President Barack Obama took office. Still, the poll shows Muslims, particularly in Turkey, Pakistan and the Palestinian territories, remain skeptical of Obama and the United States.

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