BRITAIN, EUROPE, RUSSIA and CENTRAL ASIA:

New York Times, 01 Jul 09, by Alan Cowell and Stephen Castle
Europe Weighs Pulling Envoys From Tehran
'Iran risked diplomatic isolation from the European Union, as European officials discussed whether to withdraw the ambassadors of all 27 member nations in a dispute over the detention of the British Embassy’s Iranian personnel.'

New York Times, 27 Jun 09, by John Markoff and Andrew E. Kramer
U.S. and Russia Differ on a Treaty for Cyberspace
'Russia favors an international treaty along the lines of those negotiated for chemical weapons and has pushed for that approach at a series of meetings this year and in public statements by a high-ranking official. The United States argues that a treaty is unnecessary.'

New York Times, 27 Jun 09, by Clifford J. Levy
Russia and NATO Work to Repair Frayed Ties
'NATO and Russia on Saturday took another step toward rebuilding ties that were damaged by the war in Georgia last year, holding a high-level meeting of foreign ministers and pledging to resume full military cooperation.'

Christian Science Monitor, 22 Jun 09, by Dan Murphy
Attack on Russian regional leader marks rising tensions
'Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, the Kremlin-backed president of Ingushetia, is the fourth government official in the North Caucasus targeted this month.'

Christian Science Monitor, 23 Jun 09, by Robert Marquand
View from Europe: Obama tough enough on Iran
'If US president is too supportive of protests, he turns them into a 'Western plot,' say analysts.'

Wall Street Journal, 19 Jun 09, by Jay Solomon, John W. Miller and Stephen Fidler
U.S., Europe Try Good-Cop, Bad-Cop Approach
'European states are taking a considerably more aggressive line toward Tehran's clerical leaders than the Obama administration as Iran's postelection crisis deepens, fueling the ire of U.S. Republicans and some democracy activists.'

Christian Science Monitor, 17 Jun 09, by Anna Momigliano
Why Italy is taking Gitmo prisoners
'Although President Obama has had difficulty convincing allies to take Gitmo detainees, Italy is eager to receive these inmates so that it can further its own investigation.'

New York Times, 11 Jun 09, by Ellen Barry
Russia Rejects the Notion of a Joint Missile System in Europe
'Responding to remarks by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, a top Russian diplomat said Thursday that Russia would not collaborate with the United States on missile defense unless Washington scrapped plans to deploy elements of the shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.'

Washington Post, 15 Jun 09, by Colum Lynch
Russia Vetoes Resolution on U.N. Peacekeepers in Georgia
'The Russian action set the stage for a rift in diplomatic relations with the United States and its European allies, which have vigorously supported Georgia's sovereignty over Abkhazia. It raised concerns about a new flare-up of violence in Georgia.'

Asia Times, 17 Jun 09, by Farangis Najibullah
Taliban threat spooks Central Asia
'As Pakistan and Afghanistan continue efforts to push the Taliban out of their borders, Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are stepping up security efforts in the fear the escaping militants will head for these territories.'

Christian Science Monitor, 16 Jun 09, by Fred Weir
Iran and Russia nip at US global dominance
'... most Russian experts deny there's anything anti-American about the SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organization], and insist that it will never develop into a military alliance, despite frequent and sometimes large-scale joint war games among its members.'

New York Times, 10 Jun 09, by Judy Dempsey
Finding a Way to Take Guantánamo Detainees
'Well away from the limelight, European Union ambassadors met Wednesday in Brussels for sensitive discussions over how to help President Barack Obama close the Guantánamo Bay detention center by agreeing to accept inmates whom the U.S. authorities have cleared for release.'

Reuters, 11 Jun 09
U.S. Wants More Cooperation With Kyrgyzstan
'President Barack Obama, trying to prevent the closure of a U.S. air base in Kyrgyzstan, has sent a personal appeal to the Central Asian nation urging it to expand cooperation, Kyrgyzstan said on Thursday.'

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