USA
NSTR
EUROPE
Turkey: Parliament Passes Russian Nuclear Plant Deal July 15, 2010
The Turkish parliament passed a bill approving the May 12 agreement between Russia and Turkey to establish a nuclear power plant in Akkuyu, Hurriyet reported July 15. The agreement was originally signed by Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin. A project company will be formed by Aug. 12, of which Russia will hold a majority share. The plant is expected to be built by Atomstroyexport, RIA Novosti reported July 15.
Kyrgyzstan: U.S. Favors Sending OSCE Police To South July 14, 2010
The United States favors sending Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) police to southern Kyrgyzstan as part of a monitoring mission, according to U.S. President Barack Obama’s special adviser on Eurasian affairs, Michael McFaul, Interfax reported July 14. McFaul said he proposed 50 OSCE police be sent to join law enforcement agencies in Osh and Jalal-Abad provinces, and that the OSCE permanent council will decide on the proposal. He added that the proposal will also be discussed during an informal summit of OSCE foreign ministers in Kazakhstan from July 16-17.
RUSSIA
Russia, Iran: Ministers Detail Possible Joint Projects July 14, 2010
Russia and Iran are exploring the possibility of establishing a joint bank to finance oil, natural gas and petrochemical projects, Itar-Tass reported July 14, citing a statement from Iranian Oil Minister Massoud Mir-Kazemi and Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko. The countries are also looking at possibly selling crude oil at their own petroleum exchanges and setting up a joint company that focuses on cooperation.
Russia: Peacekeeping Efforts May Increase - Envoy July 14, 2010
Russia intends to increase its involvement in U.N. peacekeeping operations, Russian Ambassador to the U.N. Vitaly Churkin said, Interfax reported July 14. Churkin said before the increase, financial issues must be worked out between the Russian Finance Ministry, Defense Ministry and the U.N. Secretariat. As an example of possible aid, Churkin said Russia could contribute more helicopters to peacekeeping operations.
Russia, Germany: Siemens Signs Rail, Windpower Deal July 15, 2010
German company Siemens has signed deals worth several billion euros with Russia to modernize the Russian railway system and install wind turbines across the country, EUbusiness reported July 15, citing a statement from Siemens. The memorandums of understanding were signed by Siemens CEO Peter Loescher during a summit between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev. Under the deals, Siemens will renovate 22 Russian rail switching yards by 2026 and provide Russian Railways with 240 regional trains through 2020. Siemens will also install wind turbines with a capacity of 1.25 gigawatts by 2015. The specific value of the deals was not disclosed.
IRAN
Analyst Kamran Bokhari discusses the reappearance of a missing Iranian nuclear scientist during a critical diplomatic stage for the United States and Iran.
U.S.: Iranian Scientist Paid $5 Million - Officials July 15, 2010
Iranian nuclear scientist Shahram Amiri was paid more than $5 million by the CIA for information on Tehran’s nuclear program, The Washington Post reported July 14, citing U.S. officials. One unnamed official said Amiri no longer has access to the money because of sanctions on his country. “We have his information, and the Iranians have him,” the official said. The money was designed to support Amiri throughout his life in the United States, and was placed in accounts and investments.
Iran, Russia: Sanctions Not To Halt Energy Deals - Ministers July 14, 2010
Iranian Oil Minister Massoud Mir-Kazemi and Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said on July 14 that international sanctions against Iran will not halt cooperation in the energy sector, RIA Novosti reported. Mir-Kazemi said the sanctions cannot affect his country’s economic and industrial development, saying that instead, the sanctions target companies that cooperate with Tehran on oil production.
Iran: Turkey Will Comply With Sanctions - FM July 15, 2010
Ankara will comply with the U.N. Security Council’s sanctions imposed on Iran, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said, Radikal reported July 15. Davutoglu, while in Lisbon, said the U.N. charter obliges member states to comply with sanctions, but Turkey will continue to take part in the diplomatic process.
Iran: IRGC Members Killed In Zahedan Explosions Deputy Minister July 15, 2010
Members of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed in a suicide attack in Zahedan because the explosion happened behind a checkpoint, Deputy Interior Minister Ali Abdollahi said, Reuters reported July 15. Zahedan member of parliament Hossein Ali Shahiari said the bomber did not make it past the checkpoint at the mosque and was dressed as a woman, AFP reported. When people came to the rescue after the first explosion, another blast occurred, Shahiari said.
IRAQ
Iraq: U.S. Hands Over Tariq Aziz, Other Baathists July 14, 2010
The United States has handed over 55 former members of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s regime, including former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, AP reported July 14, citing Iraqi Deputy Justice Minister Busho Ibrahim. The transfers began on July 12, and also include Iraq’s former oil, culture, trade and education ministers, as well as Saddam’s former secretary, Abed Hmoud. Ibrahim said more information would be available July 15. The United States confirmed a transfer of detainees but did not list specific individuals.
ISRAEL
Libya: Aid Ship Enters Egyptian Port July 14, 2010
A Libyan ship carrying aid for Gaza entered Egypts El Arish port and is expected to begin unloading cargo, a port official said, Reuters reported July 14. The ships medical supplies and passengers bound for Gaza will enter through the Rafah border and food bound for Gaza will enter through the Al Awja border, the official said
Libya: Talks Under Way Between Foundation, Israel July 14, 2010
Israel and Saif al-Islam Gadhafi’s foundation are in indirect talks about bringing the Libyan Gaza-bound aid ship incident to a peaceful end, Ynet reported July 14, citing al-Sharq al-Awsat. Israel has said it is willing to deliver the goods to the Gaza Strip without taking over the ship, according to Ynet. A Libyan official confirmed the negotiations are taking place.
AFGHANISTAN
NATO, Afghanistan: Some Provinces To Be Handed Over By Spring July 15, 2010
Afghan forces should be able to take over several provinces from Western troops by next spring, Reuters reported July 15, citing a senior British official. He said the first few provinces should be transitioned between the NATO summit in Lisbon in November and next spring, adding that the process and timetable for taking the transition forward is expected to be laid out during the summit. NATO and Afghan officials will agree on the criteria for transferring control to Afghan forces.
Afghanistan: 15,000 Policemen To Be Trained In Turkey July 15, 2010
Some 15,000 Afghan policemen will be trained in Turkey, Today’s Zaman reported July 15, citing a document signed by NATO and the Afghan government.
Iran, Afghanistan: FMs Discuss Coooperation July 15, 2010
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul decided to create a “road map” for developing the two countries’ bilateral relations, Fars News Agency reported July 15. The proposal would enhance cooperation and seek to end the threat of militancy in Afghanistan, Mottaki said. Mottaki also said he hopes the upcoming international conference in Kabul the week of July 18 would address strategies that could help resolve Afghan issues.
Afghanistan: Taliban Attack Police Compound July 14, 2010
Three U.S. soldiers, an Afghan police officer and five civilians died late July 13 following a car bomb and gunfight at the entrance of Kandahar’s compound for the Afghan National Civili Order Police, AP reported July 14. The Taliban have claimed responsibility. In a suicide attack, a car bomb detonated when the vehicle hit the entrance of the compound. Rebels then opened fire with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, according to NATO. International troops and police prevented the insurgents from entering the compound. A Taliban spokesman said 13 international troops and eight Afghan security officers died.
Afghanistan: NATO Building Intelligence-Sharing Network July 15, 2010
NATO said July 15 it is implementing the Afghan Mission Network, a project aimed at improving intelligence sharing among forces in Afghanistan, Reuters reported. The network is based around a high-speed broadband link connecting 63 locations in the country, allowing forces to better share information and databases. NATO said the system was operational July 1 and will be fully implemented in one year. NATO officials said this and a second project will bridge the gap between countries that have effective countermeasures against improvised explosive devices and those that do not.
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
Russia: Oil Company To Drill Off Cuba July 14, 2010
Russian state oil company Zarubezhneft plans to drill a shelf at the L block near Cuba beginning in 2011, company CEO Nikolai Brunich said on July 14, RIA Novosti reported. Zarubezhneft signed four contracts with the Cuban national oil company, Cubapetroleo, in November 2009 regarding geological exploration and hydrocarbon production.
Mexico: Interior Minister Fired July 14, 2010
Mexican President Felipe Calderon fired Interior Minister Fernando Gomez Mont on July 14, Reuters reported. Jose Francisco Blake, who is replacing Mont, will be Calderon’s fourth interior minister since the president took office in December 2006. Economy Minister Gerardo Ruiz is leaving his post and will be replaced by Bruno Ferrari. Ferrari used to head the government agency that promotes Mexico as an investment destination.
Colombia: Defense Minister Claims FARC, ELN Are In Venezuela July 15, 2010
Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva presented videos and satellite photographs taken from 2007 to 2010 to a group of news media representatives as evidence that commanders from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and National Liberation Army are present in Venezuela, Caracol Radio reported July 15. Silva said the evidence could not be released to news media for security reasons.
Colombia: 1,500 FARC Rebels In Venezuela - Report July 15, 2010
A leaked report by Colombian intelligence services and the Administrative Department of Security claims there are approximately 1,500 guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 28 support and first aid camps in the Venezuelan states of Apure and Zulia, El Espectador reported July 15. The report indicated that FARC leaders Ivan Marquez and German Briceno travel freely in those regions and that Marquez met with an unidentified Venezuelan general at least twice in Barinas state between March 6 and 12.
MISC
Pakistan: UAV Strike Kills 10 Militants July 15, 2010
A U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fired at least two missiles on a compound in the village of Sheerani Mada Khel in North Waziristan, killing at least 10 militants, most of whom were not Pakistani, AFP reported July 15, citing a senior security official.
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