Breffni O'Rourke

Also by Breffni O'Rourke

• July 12, 2005

  Iraq: Does Britain's Secret Memo On Withdrawal Indicate A Weakening Of Resolve?

  Are British troops in for the long haul? British and U.S. officials are denying plans are forged to substantially cut troop numbers in Iraq. The officials were reacting to a British newspaper report on a secret British Defense Ministry memorandum that says the allies are considering the option of withdrawing 100,000 troops from Iraq by next year. The British confirm that the memorandum exists, but say it is just one of many options. But why has the matter arisen immediately after the tragic London terror bombings? Is there a weakening of resolve?

• June 30, 2005

  EU: British EU Presidency Opens Under Stormy Skies

  All was not so pretty behind the scenes at the EU summit in mid-June Britain takes over the rotating presidency of the European Union at a moment when the union is facing one of its most difficult challenges in years. Britain is at odds with the other 24 EU members about how to finance the long-term budget, and Prime Minister Tony Blair is being blamed by some for the collapse of acrimonious negotiations. In addition, Blair is promising to pursue a sharply reformist economic course during the six-month presidency, along lines opposed by some other EU members.

• June 28, 2005

  World: France Chosen To Host Experimental Fusion Reactor Project

  An employee of the Max-Planck-Institute assembles a reactor for experiments with nuclear fusion in Greifswald, Germany. France has been chosen to host a multibillion-dollar experimental nuclear-fusion reactor. The decision was made today in Moscow by representatives of six parties involved in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project -- Russia, Japan, the United States, the European Union, China, and South Korea. The project is expected to cost up to $13 billion to develop. Nuclear fusion is a process that is being seen as mankind's bright new hope for boundless sources of clean energy. Some environmentalists doubt the true benefits of fusion, however.

• June 28, 2005

  World: Dollar And Euro Compete For Global Trust

  The United States and the European Union are the world's biggest trading entities, and its natural that their currencies -- the dollar and the euro -- should be seen as rivals. Some 500 million people are directly affected by the relative values of the two currencies, and many more feel the reverberations through the world trading system. So what are the prospects for the long-established dollar and the newly created euro, as far as can be assessed?

• June 23, 2005

  Middle East: Fatal Crash Proves That U-2 Spy Plane, While Seldom Seen, Is Still Often Flown

  The U-2 can fly at altitudes that can exceed 25 kilometers World attention is once again focused on the seldom-seen U-2 spy plane. One of the high-altitude surveillance aircraft belonging to the United States military crashed in the Middle East yesterday, killing its pilot. The United States says the incident occurred as the plane was returning to base after an observation mission over Afghanistan. The U-2 -- which flies at the edge of space -- was made famous in 1960, when one was shot down by the Soviet Union.

• June 22, 2005

  World: Record Oil Prices Have Little Economic Impact -- So Far

  Soaring oil prices reflect the strong world demand for oil, still the world's major fuel source despite warnings over the years that supplies will dry up in the foreseeable future, and despite the increasing environmental costs. Prices for crude this week in New York hit historic highs of over $59 a barrel. But so far, the world economy seems to be shrugging off these prices, and continuing on its way.

• June 22, 2005

  Russia: Moscow Criticized In Council Of Europe Plenary Debate

  In Strasbourg today, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) heard a report on how Russia is honoring its obligations and commitments as a member. The report has a number of criticisms. It comes at a time when some Russian delegates have themselves presented an informal draft resolution to PACE criticizing Ukraine, Georgia, and Kyrgyzstan for alleged repression of political opposition.

• June 20, 2005

  EU: Crisis Casts Long Shadow Over Further Enlargement

  After the constitution "no" votes, the EU is at a low ebb The European Union's spectacular failures over the last few months look set to complicate the process of further eastwards expansion of the union. The inability of the EU summit in Brussels to agree on a long-term budget, plus the rejection of the new union constitution by French and Dutch voters, has brought the EU to its lowest point in years. It's safe to say nobody quite knows what's going to happen with the expansion plans, and whether Turkey, Croatia, Ukraine, and other applicants will be admitted at all.

• May 30, 2005

  EU: After French Referendum, Europe Seen As Changed Forever

  France has voted "no" in a referendum to approve the European Union's proposed constitution. The shock waves are still reverberating around Europe, but it seems clear that things will never be quite the same again. Among the policies cast into doubt is the continued expansion of the EU eastwards, particularly as regards Turkey.

• May 26, 2005

  Central Asia: Council Of Europe Aims To Expand Democratization Efforts In Region

  The Council of Europe, the oldest pan-European political organisation, is interested in developing closer ties with the countries of Central Asia. The Strasbourg-based Council has wide-ranging programs to foster democratisation and human rights. The secretary-general of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, tells RFE/RL about these plans.

• May 25, 2005

  EU: Integration In Balance As France, Netherlands Prepare To Vote On Constitution

  France goes to the polls this on 29 May to vote on the European Union's new constitution. Contrary to original expectations, the referendum could well result in rejection of the document, with unpredictable consequences for European integration and for further EU expansion. Adding to the air of uncertainty is another referendum in the Netherlands on 1 June that may also fail. So far, seven EU countries have accepted the new constitution, but by parliamentary votes rather than riskier referendums.

• May 23, 2005

  Germany: Schroeder Election Defeat Indicates Reluctance Of Europeans To Accept New, Flexible Economy

  German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats (SPD) have suffered a major blow with the loss of power in the big industrial state North Rhine Westphalia. After 39 years of continuous rule, the SPD was solidly beaten there yesterday by the opposition Christian Democrats. This is the latest of a series of electoral losses for Schroeder, and the chancellor has decided to confront the danger head on by calling a national election a year ahead of schedule. But Schroeder's dilemma is more than a purely German issue, it also illustrates the reluctance among European Union citizens to adopt the norms of the new economy, namely flexible labor markets and lower welfare benefits.

• May 16, 2005

  Europe: Council Of Europe Looks For New Relevance In A Changing Continent

  The Council of Europe, the oldest pan-European political organization, is seeking to redefine itself as a relevant body in modern, post-Cold War Europe. The 46-member council opens a two-day summit in the Polish capital Warsaw today, and it will be seeking to stake out a role for itself separate from the ever-expanding European Union. Among other issues up for debate are human trafficking, terrorism, organized crime, and minority rights.

• May 12, 2005

  World: Rights Activists Say Islamists Sent To Egypt Are Facing Torture

  A prominent human-rights organization says Islamic militants are being sent to Egypt by other Middle Eastern countries -- and by the United States and some European countries -- despite knowing they will probably be tortured. In a detailed report, the New York-based Human Rights Watch says it's estimated that, among all categories of prisoners, 120 people have died after torture in Egypt in the last 12 years. The organization calls for an end to the policy of transferring prisoners to countries that are known to use torture as a method of interrogation.

• May 10, 2005

  World: Arab-Latin American Summit -- Two 'Underdog' Regions Seeking Strength

  An unprecedented summit opened in Brazil today between Arab countries and Latin American states. The summit brings together two worlds that have had little contact. One of the main goals of the conference is to increase trade and business links, but the Arabs will also be looking for diplomatic support for the Palestinian cause and other political issues. Could this summit of 34 countries therefore take on an anti-U.S. direction?

• May 05, 2005

  Middle East: Palestinian Vote Represents Test Of Popularity For Militants

  Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas (file photo) Palestinians are going to the polls today to elect local councils in the West Bank and Gaza. Some 2,500 candidates are competing for seats on 84 municipal councils. The vote takes on added importance because it is seen as a test of popularity of the militant Islamist movement Hamas. Hamas made big gains in local elections against the moderate Fatah movement of Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas earlier this year and looks to continue that success in parliamentary polls in July.

• May 04, 2005

  World War II -- 60 Years After: Western Allies Gave Key Support To Soviet War Effort

  Josef Stalin As we mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, RFE/RL is looking again at some of the factors that determined the course of the struggle and shaped the new world that emerged from it. One of these factors was the alliance between the Soviet Union, the United States, and Britain. The Soviet Union bore the brunt of the fighting against Nazi German forces for three years, from summer 1941 until the Western allies opened a second front on D-Day at Normandy in 1944. But during that time Moscow was not alone. The United States and Britain supported the Soviet war effort through a vast program of aid and assistance, which is credited with giving Soviet forces some clear advantages over the Germans. The Western allies also kept up air bombing of German industrial centers, making arms production difficult and drawing German air power away from the war in the east.

• May 04, 2005

  EU: Brussels Says No Point In Near Neighbors Seeking To Join Union Now

  European Union External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner says there is no point in Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia seeking to start the process of joining the union, because they will not be accepted. Ferrero-Waldner called for realism, and said it is clear that a great amount of work is needed to prepare these countries for EU membership. But she foreshadowed closer relations with the near-neighbors, which would bring them some of the advantages of membership.

• May 03, 2005

  Iraq: U.S., Italy Differ On How Italian Agent Died, But Move To Preserve Ties

  U.S. Marines in Iraq Italy has issued its own report on the death in Iraq of intelligence agent Nicola Calipari, who was shot by U.S. troops at a road checkpoint in March. The report differs from an American assessment of the incident, which frees the soldiers of blame. Calipari was escorting a released Italian hostage to a Baghdad airport when the incident occurred. The accidental killing of the agent, who is now a hero in his homeland, has dimmed the usually warm relations between Italy and the United States.

• April 26, 2005

  EU: Constitution Facing Unexpected Difficulties In France, Netherlands

  The European Union's new constitution is facing difficulties from an unexpected quarter. Opinion polls show that a majority of voters in France intend to reject the treaty at a referendum set for 29 May. Rejection by France -- a founding member and central pivot of the EU -- would almost certainly sink the constitution and throw into doubt further European integration. The Netherlands also appears to be leaning toward a "no" vote. What has gone wrong?

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