Ahto Lobjakas

Also by Ahto Lobjakas

• February 27, 2006

  EU Sets Deadline For War Criminal Arrests

  The EU today told Serbia it must catch war crimes suspects Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic, or risk a "disruption" of ties.

• February 25, 2006

  EU Future At Risk Over War Crimes Fugitives

  EU foreign ministers are to consider whether to suspend ongoing Stabilization and Association Agreement talks with Serbia amid accusations Serbia is not doing enough to arrest fugitives Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic.

• February 24, 2006

  EU-Funded Broadcasts To Begin

  EU-funded independent media broadcasts to Belarus will start on 26 February. The project, openly targeting a nondemocratic neighbor, is the first of its kind for the EU.

• February 22, 2006

  EU: Limited Bird Vaccinations To Start

  Experts estimate there are some 6 billion domestic birds in Europe (epa) Veterinary experts today confirmed the first case of bird flu (avian influenza) in a chicken on farm in the EU, as they approved requests from France and the Netherlands to vaccinate limited populations of domestic birds against the H5N1 strain of the bird-flu virus. EU officials say the vaccinated populations will be closely monitored. However, they say vaccinations will not be a panacea against the virus.

• February 21, 2006

  Georgia Seeks EU Backing Amid Rising Tensions

  Georgia has in recent weeks upped the pressure on the European Union, seeking backing against what it sees as increasing Russian assertiveness in the South Ossetian conflict.

• February 20, 2006

  New Nuclear Lobbying Effort Fails To Sway EU

  Iran has launched a diplomatic offensive in what appears to be a last-ditch attempt to avoid action by the UN Security Council over its nuclear activities.

• February 20, 2006

  Persisting Conflicts Hinder Closer EU Links

  The visit by Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the EU's external relations commissioner, to the three South Caucasus countries last week brought no tangible advances in the bloc's relations with the region. Talks between the EU and Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan on the "action plan" for closer links drag on.

• February 16, 2006

  Panel Warns Pipelines Bring Danger With Promises Of Wealth

  The transportation of Azerbaijani oil and gas reserves to world markets via Georgia and Turkey promises huge returns for all three countries, but also presents certain pressures.

• February 14, 2006

  Afghanistan: NATO, EU Won't Take Direct Role Against Drug Trade

  Afghan opium seized in May 2005 (AFP) Both NATO and the European Union agree that the illegal narcotics trade is one of the biggest threats to the recovery of Afghanistan in the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, both refuse to lead a hands-on role in fighting the problem. Instead, the onus of battling Afghanistan's drug lords is on the Afghan authorities. Senior EU and NATO officials in Afghanistan tell RFE/RL that the country will need a lot of time and assistance before it begins to bring the problem under control.

• February 14, 2006

  EU: Parliament Debates Role Of Rights In Foreign Policy

  Chinese migrant workers at a Beijing construction site (file photo) (AFP) The European Parliament on 14 February debated a report calling on EU member states to give greater weight to human rights in their dealing with non-EU countries. Although the report is not binding, it reflects a growing concern the EU is turning a blind eye to human rights violations and breaches of democracy in countries where its member states have important political or commercial interests.

• February 13, 2006

  ISAF Expands Into South, Prepares For Long-Term Stay

  The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will begin the next stage of its expansion into southern Afghanistan in March.

• February 10, 2006

  ISAF Prepares To Leave Kabul Airport Base

  ISAF, the NATO-led stabilization force in Afghanistan, is taking steps to release much of Kabul's main airport to Afghan officials for civilian use.

• February 09, 2006

  NATO Expects Violence Over Cartoons To Subside In North

  NATO officials at a base in Mazar-e Sharif say they think protests in northern Afghanistan about cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad are likely to subside soon.

• February 06, 2006

  Appeals For Calm

  Protests continue to flare in Muslim countries in the wake of the publication of cartoons in European media satirizing the Prophet Muhammad. Reacting to escalating attacks on EU targets, the European Commission has condemned all violence and called for dialogue.

• February 01, 2006

  EU Ready To Start Talks On 'Enhanced' Partnership

  EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner has said consultations on a new, "enhanced" partnership treaty between the EU and Ukraine may start as early as this year.

• January 31, 2006

  Opposition Leader Tells EU To Monitor 'Revolution Of Hope'

  Alyaksandr Milinkevich, the presidential candidate with the most democratic opposition party support, has urged EU officials to be in Belarus during the March presidential election.

• January 30, 2006

  EU Foreign Ministers Meet With Opposition Leader

  Belarusian opposition leader and presidential contender Alyaksandr Milinkevich has held a series of high-level meetings in Brussels with EU foreign ministers.

• January 30, 2006

  Ministers To Discuss Belarus, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq

  EU foreign ministers meet to discuss the pre-election situation in Belarus, the future of Afghanistan, the nuclear standoff with Iran, and the EU's ties with Iraq.

• January 26, 2006

  EU Bolsters Support For Belarusian Opposition

  The European Commission has announced the award of a new media contract allowing for independent preelection broadcasts into Belarus.

• January 25, 2006

  Georgia: Foreign Minister Pushes For EU Backing In Standoffs With Russia

  (RFE/RL) Georgia has launched a diplomatic offensive trying to enlist extensive EU support in its disputes with Russia. Addressing the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee in Brussels today, Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili sought greater EU involvement on a whole range of its problems -- most urgently in the South Ossetian conflict and in energy disputes with Russia. EU deputies gave Bezhuashvili a sympathetic reception, but securing concrete and tangible EU commitments will not be easy for Georgia.

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