Ahto Lobjakas

Also by Ahto Lobjakas

• November 30, 2005

  EU: Greater Punch From Immigration Policy Sought

  EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini (file photo) (epa) The European Commission today unveiled a new strategy to tackle immigration. The strategy envisages granting immigration issues higher priority in the EU’s relations with its neighbors. The EU is keen to focus on the Mediterranean Sea, which is a major transit route into Europe. The document also raises the prospect that the EU will soon embrace legal immigration.

• November 29, 2005

  Heat Turned Up On EU Members, U.S. Over Allegations

  Pressure is mounting within the European Union for clear answers to allegations that the CIA may have operated secret prisons where detainees were denied basic rights in European countries.

• November 28, 2005

  NATO Says 'The Door Is Open'

  Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer says the "door is open" for Georgia's eventual membership, but the country has "a long way to go" before its military can meet NATO standards.

• November 23, 2005

  EU Watchdog Urges Steps Against Xenophobia, Racism

  The European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) has called for stronger political leadership in addressing racial discrimination and violence.

• November 21, 2005

  EU: Ministers To Discuss Ties With Iraq, Situation In Iran, Mideast Border Mission

  EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso (file photo) (epa) EU foreign ministers meet in Brussels on Monday to discuss a wide range of  current issues. Their external relations agenda is topped by Iraq, Iran, and the Middle East.  Closer to home, Bosnia-Herzegovina will take another step towards EU membership as it will be cleared to start talks on a key intermediate agreement. The ministers will also briefly discuss the  EUís deadlocked 2007-2013 budget for which time is running short.

• November 16, 2005

  Iraq: EU Expresses Concern Over Reported Abuses In Iraq

  Iraqi Prime Minister al-Ja'fari has vowed an investigation into the alleged torture (RFE/RL) The European Commission and the EU's current British presidency said today that Iraqi authorities must investigate human rights abuses alleged to have been committed by the country's security forces. During a debate on Iraq in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, many deputies (MEPs) also demanded action against the United States over its admission that white phosphorous bombs were used against insurgents in Al-Fallujah. EU representatives promised further large-scale assistance to Iraq after the elections slated for December but ruled out sending an observer mission due to security concerns.

• November 15, 2005

  Chechnya: Pro-Independence Envoy Gets Sympathetic Reception At European Parliament

  Chechen politician Akhayat Idogov at the European Pariament (RFE/RL) Pro-independence Chechens had a rare opportunity today to rally support for their cause in the European Union. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) representing countries surrounding the Baltic Sea received Akhayat Idogov in Strasbourg. Idogov is the head of the foreign relations committee of what the European Union considers to be the last freely elected Chechen parliament. Idogov said he was received sympathetically in Strasbourg. And an MEP instrumental in organizing Idogov's visit said deputies supportive of the Chechen independence movement will attempt to formally raise the issue in the European Parliament.

• November 10, 2005

  EU: Report Says No Anti-Muslim Backlash In Europe

  The report concludes that the government and Muslim community acted quickly after the 7 July London bombings (AFP) A report released in Brussels yesterday by the European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) concludes that prompt and coordinated action by governments and Muslim community leaders has staved off a major backlash against Muslims in the European Union in the wake of the 7 July bombings in London. But members of the European Parliament from minority ethnic groups who attended the launch of the report say that confrontations such as the ongoing riots in France can only be avoided if immigrant communities make an effort to integrate, and if host societies display a greater understanding of the difficulties the immigrants face.

• November 09, 2005

  EU: Warning For Turkey, 'Steady On' For Croatia, And Encouragement For Macedonia

  EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn (file photo) (AFP) The European Commission today released its annual batch of progress reports on EU candidate countries and membership hopefuls. The reports deliver a warning to speed up the implementation of reforms affecting key political rights. Turkey has been told it must show real political change. Croatia remains on course for membership as long as reforms progress and everything is done to apprehend the fugitive war crimes suspect Ante Gotovina. Macedonia gets a thumbs up for EU candidate status. And the other western Balkan countries still have a long road ahead of them.

• November 08, 2005

  EU Threatens Sanctions, Urges Fair Elections

  Brussels is threatening fresh sanctions against Minsk as it steps up pressure for democratic reforms ahead of Belarus's presidential election in 2006.

• November 06, 2005

  Foreign Ministers Focus On Belarus, Iran

  EU foreign ministers convene in Brussels today for their monthly meeting. They are expected to warn Belarus over the coming presidential election and urge Tehran to return to nuclear talks.

• October 27, 2005

  EU Doubts Baku's Commitment To Democracy

  EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that the Azerbaijani government is violating basic political freedoms in the run-up to the 6 November parliamentary elections.

• October 25, 2005

  EU: Romania, Bulgaria Threatened With Accession Delay

  Olli Rehn (file photo) (AFP) EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn today raised the prospect that Bulgaria and Romania could miss out on joining the EU at the start of 2007. Both have already signed accession treaties, but Rehn said neither is ready for membership. European Commission annual progress reports on both countries say they suffer from corruption, mishandle EU aid money, and fail to implement EU food-safety standards. As a result, the EU could decide next spring to postpone the entry of either of the countries -- of both together -- by one year.

• October 21, 2005

  Iraq: EU-UN Showcase Partnership For Positive Change

  In a rare press briefing UN and EU officials today provided insight into their joint rehabilitation and reconstruction effort in Iraq. The United Nations is the main international body involved in rebuilding Iraqi institutions and providing emergency assistance, while the EU is the largest contributor of funds to UN activities in the country. All relief work there takes place under what the deputy UN special representative to Iraq, Staffan de Mistura, described as a "discreet" veil of secrecy due to the proliferation of security threats.

• October 21, 2005

  Kocharian Presses EU For Quicker Regional Outreach

  Armenian President Robert Kocharian is pressing the EU for a quicker rapprochement with the south Caucasus countries.

• October 19, 2005

  EU Reacts To Virus's Spread In Russia

  Alarm over avian influenza ratcheted up when Russia announced a case near Moscow. Meanwhile, the EU is preparing in earnest for a possible pandemic, although reports of an outbreak within the EU's borders have yet to be confirmed.

• October 18, 2005

  EU: Bloc Prepares For Pandemic As Bird Flu Reaches Greece

  EU Health Minister Kyprianou (file photo) The European Union said today it is preparing for the spread of avian flu throughout its members states after an apparent case of avian flu has been reported in Greece. Turkey and Romania have already confirmed the presence of the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus on their territory. Bulgaria and Croatia are awaiting results from their own tests for the virus. The issue was discussed at a meeting today of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. Officials urged member states to step up preparations for a possible flu pandemic among humans.

• October 13, 2005

  EU: 'Most Aggressive' Strain Of Avian Influenza Discovered In Turkey, Possibly Romania

  European Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou announcing on 13 October that the deadly strain of the bird-flu virus had come to Europe The EU is preparing an emergency response to the discovery of cases of avian influenza in Turkey and Romania. The EU health commissioner, Markos Kyprianou, today confirmed that the virus identified in Turkey belongs to the aggressive H5N1 strain already encountered in China, Russia, and Central Asia. Kyprianou said that although the bird-flu virus has yet to mutate into a form that can spread among humans, the chances of a highly lethal pandemic are real.

• October 13, 2005

  Iran: EU Demands Halt To Nuclear Work, Attacks Tehran's Human Rights Record

  Workers at Iran's nuclear facility at Isfahan (file photo) EU officials and lawmakers debating Iran in the European Parliament last night repeated earlier warnings that Tehran must stop nuclear-conversion activities or risk UN sanctions. The European Parliament today will adopt a nonbinding declaration calling on Tehran to resume talks with the EU-3 negotiating team of Great Britain, France, and Germany. Iran’s human rights record also came under attack during the debate yesterday.

• October 11, 2005

  Moldova: Western Diplomats Say Reports Of Smuggling From Transdniester Likely Exaggerated

  Western diplomats in Moldova and Ukraine say reports of massive arms and drug smuggling emanating from Moldova's breakaway Transdniester region appear to be wildly exaggerated. Officials from the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), say they have no evidence that the Tiraspol regime has ever trafficked arms or nuclear material. Much of the alarm is attributed to efforts by the Moldovan government to increase pressure on Transdniester. However, Western officials are quick to note that absence of evidence does not mean dangerous activities are not taking place. They say the climate of lawlessness in Transdniester alone constitutes a threat to stability in the region.

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