[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, March 18, 2010

 

March 18, 2010 View this newsletter as a web page on CFR's website. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - Clinton Visits Russia - Maliki Back in Lead in Vote Count - CIA Drone Strike Kills Bombing Suspect - Turkey Threatens to Expel Armenians Top of the Agenda: Clinton Visits Russia on Arms Control and Iran U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits (WashPost) Russia Thursday to discuss a replacement for the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and new sanctions against Iran. The two countries will also review their cooperation on Afghanistan. Clinton is traveling to Moscow mainly to meet with Russia, the European Union, and the UN on mediating an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. Over the past year, U.S. relations with Russia have improved on issues such as Iran and Afghanistan and arms control, officials from both countries say. Russia, once a skeptic on sanctions against Iran, has dropped its objections to sanctions, but still favors diplomatically engaging Iran before a United Nations Security Council vote. Clinton and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev hope to finalize (WSJ) the new START treaty ahead of two key nonproliferation conferences scheduled for this spring . However, they are unlikely to produce a formal agreement on nuclear weapons at the meeting. Analysis: In this interview, CFR's Stephen Sestanovich says as hopes are high that strategic nuclear arms talks are wrapping up, Russia's position on new UN sanctions on Iran will likely figure prominently in Clinton's trip. In the Japan Times, Dominique Moisi says "ambition to define a common European energy and security policy toward Russia is slowly disappearing." Background: This interactive timeline examines the history of U.S.-Russian relations on nuclear arms control. MIDDLE EAST: Maliki Back in Lead in Vote Count Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's coalition reclaimed (al-Jazeera) a slim lead over rival Ayad Allawi's bloc in a preliminary tally of votes in parliamentary elections. In the Washington Post, CFR's Meghan O'Sullivan discusses why, in Iraq, "the process of forming a government is likely to be prolonged." Israel: EU foreign policy chief Lady Ashton visited (Guardian) the Gaza Strip amid international pressure over the deadlocked Middle East peace process. PACIFIC RIM: U.S. Ambassador Warns China on Currency U.S. Ambassador to China John Huntsman said China's reluctance to allow (NYT) its currency to rise against the dollar is a "real concern" to the United States and other trading partners and could be subject to negotiations in coming weeks. In this Expert Brief, CFR's Steven Dunaway says international pressure on China must continue to allow its currency to appreciate, which would provide an important boost to the global economic recovery. Australia: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd warned China "the world will be watching" when four executives of Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto are brought to trial (WSJ) Monday on charges of stealing commercial secrets and taking bribes. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: CIA Drone Strike Kills Bombing Suspect A CIA drone strike last week killed (WSJ) a top al-Qaeda trainer suspected of involvement in the December suicide bombing that killed seven CIA officers at a base in Afghanistan, U.S. officials say. Pakistan: Pakistani officials filed (WashPost) terrorism charges against five Virginia men accused of plotting to fight U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan and possibly attack the United States. Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa ruled out (BBC) an early pardon for his defeated presidential rival, former general Sarath Fonseka. Fonseka is charged with taking part in politics while in uniform and breaking procedure on military procurement. AFRICA: Sudan Signs Ceasefire with Darfur Rebel Coalition Sudan signed (BBC) a ceasefire with Darfur rebel coalition the Liberation and Justice Movement, the second deal in recent weeks, leaving just one band of rebels holding out. African Economies: Sub-Saharan African economies will grow (Reuters) by about 3.8 percent this year, according to the World Bank, but their recovery will be slower than in other developing nations because of a reliance on commodities. AMERICAS: Brazilians Protest over Oil Revenues Residents of Rio de Janeiro staged protests (CSMonitor) against a law that gives more of Brazil's oil revenues to other states, reducing Rio's share. The governor of Rio says it will undermine the state's ability to host the 2016 Olympics and the 2014 World Cup. Mexico: Wachovia Bank, a unit of Wells Fargo, agreed to pay $160 million to the U.S. Treasury Department to settle (Reuters) accusations that it laundered Mexican drug money. EUROPE: Turkey Threatens to Expel Illegal Armenians Following votes in the United States and Sweden labeling the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in World War I "genocide," Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan threatened to expel (DeutscheWelle) thousands of Armenian illegal immigrants living in Turkey. In this First Take, CFR's Steven Cook says the U.S. House panel's vote recognizing the 1915 deaths of ethnic Armenians as genocide could rupture U.S. ties with Ankara and set back Turkey's own effort to confront its past. Greece: Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou requested EU leaders agree (WSJ) to a package of standby loans at their summit next week. Though the country is keeping its aid options open, he said Greece prefers help from the European Union to an IMF bailout.

EXPLORE CFR'S WEBSITE

Regions

Issues

Experts

Publications

About CFR

		Privacy Policy The Council on Foreign Relations does not share email addresses with third parties. Council on Foreign Relations 58 East 68th Street New York, NY 10065 Tel. +1 212.434.9400 Fax: +1 212.434.9800 Learn about this and other newsletters offered by the Council on Foreign Relations. To pause your subscription, to switch between HTML and text-only versions of the newsletter, to change your email address, or to unsubscribe, click here.

---

Email list management powered by http://MailerMailer.com

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

• New Members 10

Visit Your Group

Red Democratica 10 years "On line" (1998-2008)!
Http://reddemocratica.blogspot.com
Boletin Diario :
Http://reddemocratica01.blogspot.com
Foro Debate :
Http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eleccion

Ahora en FACEBOOK : Red Democratica

Http://www.caretas.com.pe/2000/1631/articulos/protesta.phtml
Http://www.caretas.com.pe/2000/1612/articulos/debate.phtml

Celebrando 10 anos "On Line"..2009

Keep the candle burning

I have a dream
http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/about_king/interactiveFrame.htm

FORUM TPSIPOL: RED DEMOCRATICA (1998-1999).
Informacion : Http://tpsipol.home-page.org

Para enviar un message , enviar a: eleccion@yahoogroups.com
Para suscribirse al Forum , enviar un mensaje a : eleccion-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Para salir del Forum, enviar un mensaje en blanco : eleccion-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

.

__,_._,___