Democratic.net: [RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, July 06, 2009

Monday, July 6, 2009

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, July 06, 2009

July 6, 2009

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

-U.S.-Russia summit kicks off in Moscow

-Mass casualties in Chinese ethnic riots

-Myanmar pledges to hold free elections; critics skeptical

-Zelaya prevented from returning to Honduras

Top of the Agenda: U.S.-Russia Summit Underway

U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Moscow Monday to meet with Russian leaders (NYT) to negotiate a new agreement on nuclear arms reduction, and to discuss areas of shared interest, including the war in Afghanistan and Iran's nuclear plans, among others. The summit comes ahead of the impending expiration of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) at the end of this year. A new deal would likely further restrict (Ria Novosti) the number of nuclear warheads as well as delivery vehicles.

The text of the treaty is available here.

Moscow Times reports the two sides may also sign an agreement that would allow the United States to transport military equipment over Russian territory to Afghanistan.

In a new interview to Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, President Obama discussed his plans to reset U.S. relations with Russia. He also addressed Moscow's concerns over U.S. plans to deploy missile defense system in Europe saying Washington will not build a system that is aimed to respond to an attack from Russia."We first and foremost are seeking to build a missile defense system that protects the United States and Europe from an Iranian ballistic missile armed with a nuclear warhead," he said.

Analysis

-CFR's Stephen Sestanovich predicts hard bargaining on both sides at the talks.

-A new CFR Contingency Planning Memorandum examines potential conflict scenarios between Ukraine and Russia, and outlines steps the United States could take to reduce the chances of such crises, and how to respond if they do occur.

-The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists predicts U.S. congressional support for a new U.S.-Russian arms control agreement.

MIDEAST: Iran’s Clerics Weigh in on Election

The Association of Researchers and Teachers of Qom, Iran's largest group of clerics, said in a statement Sunday that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's election was illegitimate (Times of London).

Iraq: Newsweek looks at the newest wave of Iraqi immigrants to the United States, and how they are faring.

Israel: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden implied on Sunday that the United States would not interfere (NYT) if Israel decided to take military action against Iran. In an interview with ABC's This Week, Biden said the United States "cannot dictate to another sovereign nation what they can and cannot do."

PACIFIC RIM: Protests in China

At least 140 were killed and over 800 injured in riots between Muslim Uighurs and Han Chinese in the country's restive western region of Xinjiang Sunday, Xinhua reports. The riots sparked after information calling for demonstrations in the city of Urumqi spread on the Internet. BBC reports Uighurs in Urumqi were reportedly angry over an ethnic clash last month in the city of Shaoguan in southern Guangdong province.

A CFR.org Backgrounder looks at the Uighur population in Xinjiang.

Myanmar: Myanmar's government promised United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that the country will hold a fair and open election (Xinhua) in 2010, Ban said Saturday at a press conference in Bangkok. But it denied Ban's request (AP) to meet with jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Next year's elections are part of the government's "roadmap to democracy," but critics say they will strengthen the military regime's grip on power (BBC).

This CFR Backgrounder looks at Myanmar's regime and U.S. policy toward the country.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Pakistani Fighter Jets Target Taliban

Pakistani fighter jets bombed suspected Taliban havens (AP) in North Waziristan on Sunday, killing six people.

The Indian government unveiled its federal budget today (WSJ) promising increased spending, mostly on education, healthcare, and employment. The finance minister projected the fiscal deficit may swell to 6.8 percent of gross domestic product, the highest since 1994. The country's stock markets plunged (Times of India) over high fiscal deficit concerns.

AFRICA: Zimbabwe to Withdraw Troops from Mines

The Zimbabwean government will withdraw soldiers (BBC) from diamond mines amid allegations of human rights abuses.

Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai discussed human rights and other policy issues with CFR in June.

Trade: Deutsche Welle looks at the impact of the financial crisis on African trade.

AMERICAS: Zelaya Attempts Return to Honduras

Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya attempted to return (NYT) to his country Sunday, but the leaders of the interim military government apparently blocked the runway to prevent his landing. Police fired on a crowd of protesters demanding that Zelaya be allowed to return, killing one and injuring eight.

Honduras-Nicaragua: Honduran Interim President Roberto Micheletti on Saturday accused Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega of having amassed troops (Reuters) on the Nicaraguan-Honduran border, a charge Ortega denies.

Mexico: Mexico's ruling National Action Party, or PAN, lost midterm congressional elections on Sunday to the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI. Reuters reports that the PAN, the party of Mexican President Felipe Calderon, lost votes as a result of its handling of the economic crisis.

EUROPE: Bulgarian Electoral Corruption

Parliamentary elections in Bulgaria have been tainted by reports of vote buying and corruption, Voice of America reports.

Spain: The Christian Science Monitor looks at reaction to Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's handling of the issue of nuclear power.

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