BRITAIN, EUROPE & RUSSIA:

International Herald Tribune/AP, 14 May 08
NATO allies sign agreement on cyber defense center
'Seven NATO allies signed a deal Wednesday to fund a research center to boost the alliance's defenses against cyber attacks, seen as a growing threat to military and civilian computer networks.'

International Herald Tribune, 14 May 08, by Judy Dempsey
Among Czechs and Poles, same missile shield, differing sense of threat
'Whenever the United States sends missile defense negotiators to the Czech Republic and Poland, where the Bush administration intends to deploy parts of its anti-ballistic shield, they encounter surprisingly different attitudes.'

Washington Post, 12 May 08, by Joby Warrick
Spread of Nuclear Capability Is Feared
'Global interest in energy may presage a new arms race.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 May 08, by Andrew Wander
Pro-European tilt in Serbian vote
'The Democratic Party received 39 percent of the vote to Radicals' 29 percent. But coalition-building maneuvers mean the shape of the next government is still unclear.'

International Herald Tribune, 07 May 08, by Judy Dempsey
U.S. could look beyond Poland for a missile-shield base
'In what is becoming a game of brinkmanship between the United States and one of its closest European allies, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday that Washington was prepared to seek a different location for part of its planned antiballistic missile shield if the Polish government could not agree on the terms.'

International Herald Tribune, 07 May 08, by Anthee Carassava
Greek islands, overwhelmed by refugees, seek help
'A rash of refugees from Africa, southern Asia and the Middle East has been crossing the Aegean Sea and besieging a cluster of craggy Greek islands.'

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International Herald Tribune, 01 May 08, by Stephen Castle
NATO accuses Russia of stirring tensions in Georgia
'NATO escalated its protests on Wednesday over Russian policy toward Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region, accusing Moscow of stirring tensions by announcing plans to increase the number of Russian soldiers there.'

Washington Post, 01 May 08, by Peter Finn
Russia's Moves Add To Strains With Georgia
'Long-standing tensions between Russia and Georgia over two separatist regions in Georgia have flared dangerously in recent days with each country accusing the other of provocative actions that risk war. Russia moved troops and armor into Abkhazia this week to respond to what officials here said was a Georgian military buildup along the unofficial border with the breakaway region of the Caucasus republic.'

Washington Post, 01 May 08, by Peter Finn
Reacting to Sanctions, Belarus Expels 10 More U.S. Diplomats
'Belarus expelled 10 U.S. diplomats Wednesday, deepening a dispute over sanctions imposed on the former Soviet republic by Washington because of the authoritarian rule of President Alexander Lukashenko.'

International Herald Tribune, 21 Apr 08, by Judy Dempsey
Poland wants U.S. to be 3rd leg of its security plan
'Neither NATO nor the European Union can provide sufficient security to calm Poland's fears, particularly with Russia now resurgent to its east, and so the government in Warsaw wants the United States to base part of its planned antimissile system here to provide an American guarantee of safety, according to Poland's defense minister.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 09 Apr 08
Moscow wants its people on site at U.S. missile projects
'Russia wants its military officers to be present at all times at the planned U.S. missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic to make sure Russia is not a target, the Russian foreign minister said Tuesday.'

Washington Post, 07 Apr 08, by Peter Baker
No Pact, but Bush, Putin Leave a Map
'... If the discussion did not yield a definitive resolution on missile defense or other disputes, it did help restore the dialogue to what Putin called a "calmer working manner" and softened the antagonism that has strained ties. Bush's aggressive push for an antimissile shield in Eastern Europe and expansion of NATO into former Soviet territory had prompted Putin to suspend an arms control treaty, compare the United States to the Third Reich and threaten to target nuclear missiles at U.S. allies.'

New York Times/Reuters, 03 Apr 08
NATO to Endorse U.S. Missile Shield, Official Says
'NATO leaders meeting in Bucharest were set to endorse a planned U.S. missile shield for Europe on Thursday, a senior U.S. official told reporters. The final summit statement would "recognize the substantive contribution to the protection of the allies" from the missile defense system to be deployed in the Czech Republic and Poland ...'

International Herald Tribune, 02 Apr 08, by Steven Erlanger and Steven Lee Myers
Allies upset as Bush moves off NATO script
'Germany and France believe that since neither Ukraine nor Georgia are stable enough to enter the program now, a membership plan would be an unnecessary blow at Russia, which firmly opposes the move.'

Washington Post, 22 Mar 08, by Molly Moore
Sarkozy Announces Cuts in Nuclear Arsenal
'French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a small reduction in the country's nuclear arsenal Friday during inauguration ceremonies for "Le Terrible," his military's newest nuclear-capable submarine.'

International Herald Tribune, 26 Mar 08, by Katrin Bennhold
Europe begins to criticize Chinese crackdown in Tibet
'Europe on Wednesday sharpened its tone over China's military actions in Tibet as officials said they were considering sending a fact-finding mission to Beijing and a Chinese diplomat sought to defend the crackdown on protesters.'

Christian Science Monitor, 27 Mar 08, by Yigal Schleifer
In Turkey, secularists escalate fight against ruling AKP
'The country's highest court is weighing whether to allow a motion to shut down the party, saying its Islamic initiatives cross a constitutional line.'

International Herald Tribune, 12 Mar 08, by Alison Smale
'Magic is over' for U.S., says French foreign minister
'Asked whether the United States could repair the damage it has suffered to its reputation during the Bush presidency and especially since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Kouchner replied, "It will never be as it was before."'

International Herald Tribune, 12 Mar 08, by Stephen Castle
Sarkozy and Merkel draft agreement detailing role of nations on EU's southern border
'Suggesting a Mediterranean council linking southern EU nations with non-EU countries, Sarkozy said a range of issues from the economy and the environment to migration and efforts to combat acts of terrorism were vital to the region.'

Washington Post, 11 Mar 08, by Peter Baker
Bush Vows He Will Upgrade Poland's Air Defenses
'President Bush promised yesterday to upgrade Poland's antiquated armed forces with a plan to be developed before he leaves office in January as he sought to secure an agreement that would allow the United States to establish an antimissile system in Eastern Europe despite vigorous Russian objections.'

International Herald Tribune, 11 Mar 08, by John F. Burns
For Britain, fewer troops in Iraq, but costs still rise
'A parliamentary committee warned Monday that Britain's military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq were likely to cost almost twice as much for the past 12 months as they did in the previous financial year, despite a drop in British troop numbers in Iraq.'

Christian Science Monitor, 06 Mar 08, by Fred Weir
Armenia crackdown: an ex-Soviet pattern?
'A state of emergency remains in place, after protesters alleging election fraud were dispersed last week.'

Christian Science Monitor, 05 Mar 08, by Beth Kampschror
In newly 'independent' Kosovo, what's the U.N. to do?
'After running the tiny state for eight years, UN workers here are awaiting orders from headquarters.'

International Herald Tribune, 02 Mar 08, by David Lague
Russia and China rethink arms deals
'For almost two decades, it was close to the perfect match of buyer and seller. Denied weapons and defense technology from the West, China was almost totally reliant on Russia for the hardware it needed to jump-start an ambitious military buildup. And while the Russian economy teetered in the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, huge orders from China helped keep a once-mighty defense industry afloat.'

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