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Do Americans Really Want a Wall?

Foreign Policy - Fri, 04/03/2016 - 20:33
Trump has tapped a powerful vein of nationalist isolationism. A President Hillary Clinton would have a hard time persuading Americans that global leadership still matters.

Draft report - The EU relations with Tunisia in the current regional context - PE 576.965v01-00 - Committee on Foreign Affairs

DRAFT REPORT on The EU relations with Tunisia in the current regional context
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Fabio Massimo Castaldo

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP
Categories: European Union

Defending the Honor of the U.S. Military From Donald Trump

Foreign Policy - Fri, 04/03/2016 - 20:12
To protect the Constitution under a Trump presidency, the U.S. military must refuse any orders to torture.

Publication Announcement – CSG Paper: Non-State Security Providers and Political Formation in Afghanistan

SSR Resource Center - Fri, 04/03/2016 - 19:56
The Centre for Security Governance has just published its latest CSG Paper, “Non-State Security Providers and Political Formation in Afghanistan” written by Deedee Derksen.This is the first of four papers produced as part of the CSG’s project on Non-State Security Providers and Political Formation in Conflict-Affected States. The project was made possible by generous financial support
Categories: Defence`s Feeds

Now You, Too, Can ‘Breathe’ With Your Very Own Ted Cruz Yoga Mat

Foreign Policy - Fri, 04/03/2016 - 19:56
Ted Cruz is cashing in on Marco Rubio's yoga joke by selling yoga mats.

Why Europeans Believe Russia, US Are Main Forces Fighting Against Daesh

RIA Novosty / Russia - Fri, 04/03/2016 - 19:15
The results of a poll conducted by research company Populus have shown that Europe is not perceived by Europeans as a major force in the fight against terrorism and, in particular, against Daesh in Syria.








Categories: Russia & CIS

Bosnia Court Puts Radoncic Back in Detention

Balkaninsight.com - Fri, 04/03/2016 - 18:48
Bosnia's State Court on Friday returned the politician and tycoon Fahrudin Radoncic to detention for violating the terms of his house arrest.
Categories: Balkan News

'Europe Will Look for Reasons to Have Closer Ties With Russia'

RIA Novosty / Russia - Fri, 04/03/2016 - 18:48
Moscow has rebutted NATO's accusation that Russia was "weaponizing" tmigrant crisis in Europe. Russian Ministry of Defense spokesman Igor Konashenkov dismissed the allegations, stressing that the crisis began long before Russia started its operation in Syria.








Categories: Russia & CIS

Three Kosovo Organ Traffickers’ Jail Sentences Upheld: Lutfi Dervishi and his german Professors

Balkanblog.org - Fri, 04/03/2016 - 18:34
secret UNMIK Bericht aus 2003 29 Seiten, mit vielen Details und Zeugen, wobei Shaip Muja, über das Militärkrankenhaus in Tirana eine zentrale Rolle spielte Three Kosovo Organ Traffickers’ Jail Sentences Upheld Pristina’s appeals court confirmed the jailing of three men convicted of organised crime in connection with organ-trafficking at Kosovo’s Medicus clinic in 2008, but two others were acquitted. Petrit Collaku BIRN Pristina Lutfi Dervishi outside the court. Photo: BIRN. The appeals court on Thursday upheld the convictions of Medicus clinic owner Lutfi Dervishi, his son Arban Dervishi and head anaesthetist Sokol Hajdini, ruling that they were guilty of organised crime in connection with people trafficking. Lutfi Dervishi and his […]
Categories: Balkan News

Le Danemark va engager 400 militaires et des avions de combat au sein de la coalition anti-Daesh

Zone militaire - Fri, 04/03/2016 - 18:13

À l’automne 2014, le Danemark avait déployé 7 avions F-16 au Koweït au titre de sa participation à la coalition anti-État islamique (EI ou Daesh) dirigée par les États-Unis. Puis, après 476 missions et 425 bombes larguées sur les positions jihadistes en Irak, Copenhague annonça, en août 2015, le retrait de ses appareils pour des […]

Cet article Le Danemark va engager 400 militaires et des avions de combat au sein de la coalition anti-Daesh est apparu en premier sur Zone Militaire.

Categories: Défense

Durement sanctionnée par une résolution de l’ONU, la Corée du Nord brandit la menace nucléaire

Zone militaire - Fri, 04/03/2016 - 18:11

Suite à son 4e essai nucléaire et au lancement d’une fusée, la Corée du Nord a fait l’objet d’une nouvelle série de sanctions d’une ampleur inédite, adoptée le 2 mars à l’unanimité par le Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies. Ainsi, il sera imposé à Pyongyang un embargo total sur les armes conventionnelles, un renforcement […]

Cet article Durement sanctionnée par une résolution de l’ONU, la Corée du Nord brandit la menace nucléaire est apparu en premier sur Zone Militaire.

Categories: Défense

Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 3 March 2016

OSCE - Fri, 04/03/2016 - 18:03

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM observed an increase in ceasefire violations in Donetsk from the previous day and continued to observe a stable situation in Luhansk. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons; some of them were observed in violation of the withdrawal lines. The Mission facilitated and monitored demining and repair work on both sides of the contact line and monitored the simultaneous release of detainees. The SMM encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions.*

The SMM observed numerous ceasefire violations on the evening of 2 March in Donetsk regioN [1]. Whilst in Donetsk city the SMM heard 106 undetermined explosions and two salvos of multiple-launch rocket systems at a location 10-15km west-south-west of its position and 19 undetermined explosions north-north-west.

The SMM also heard numerous ceasefire violations in the Horlivka area during the evening hours of 2 March. Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard over 40 mortar impacts (82mm) 6km to the west. During the same time period – positioned in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) – it heard 61 automatic grenade launcher blasts, five mortar impacts (82mm) and more than 80 heavy-machine-gun bursts 3-6km to the south-east. Intermittent exchange of fire continued to be heard until 02:30 on 3 March, 10-13km north-east of the SMM’s position in Horlivka.

Beginning from approximately 08:00hrs [2] on 3 March through the early afternoon, the SMM heard a number of ceasefire violations in locations stretching from the south-west to the north-east along the western outskirts of Donetsk city, from government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk) to “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk). In total, the SMM heard at least 85 undetermined explosions, 25 impacts from automatic grenade launchers, and numerous bursts from heavy machine-guns and small arms at points ranging from less than 1km to 10km in all directions from positions along this line. The next day, while positioned in Svitlodarsk, the SMM heard 18-20 mortar impacts and heavy-machine-gun and small-arms exchange of fire 2-4km to the south-east.

The SMM noted numerous ceasefire violations throughout the morning of 3 March at locations east and north-east of Mariupol. From near government-controlled Lebedynske, (16km north-east of Mariupol) stretching north along the line of contact to government-controlled Vasylivka (54km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard ceasefire violations ranging from the north-east to the south of their positions. Near Kominternove (23km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM observed an intense exchange of mortar, heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire between 10:00 and 11:22hrs. During the same time period, whilst near government-controlled Pyshchevyk (25km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard 35 mortar detonations and heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 7-8km south-south-east of its position.

In Luhansk region, the SMM heard a total of 15-16 undetermined explosions: two of which occurred 10km east-north-east of Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk) and approximately 8-10km to the west-south-west of Zolote. Other ceasefire violations were assessed as live-fire exercises near government-controlled Trokhizbenka (33km north-west of Luhansk) and “LPR”-controlled Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk).

In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of Measures, the SMM revisited Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage sites and noted that eight tanks (seven T-72 and one T-64), and nine mortars (six 2B9 Vasilek, 82mm and three 2B11 Sani, 120mm) were missing (as previously noted).

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines, on 29 February, aerial surveillance imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of what is assessed to be two tanks near Marinka. On 3 March, near government-controlled Kremenivka (80km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed 15 towed howitzers (D20, 152 mm).   

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside storage sites, the SMM observed 20 tanks (T-64) stationary at a training area near “LPR”-controlled Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons as foreseen in the Minsk Package of Measures. The SMM has yet to receive the full information requested in the 16 October 2015 notification. The SMM revisited locations known to the SMM as heavy weapons holding areas, even though they do not comply with the specific criteria set out for permanent storage sites in the 16 October 2015 notification.

In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such locations and observed 18 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm); five self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) were missing and 12 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) that had been previously recorded as missing were found present at a different heavy weapons holding area. The SMM also observed that two such areas were still abandoned with a total of six Addendum-regulated mortars (2S12, 120mm) missing.

The SMM also observed the presence of other hardware. Near government-controlled Karlivka (25km north-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed a military convoy of 13 infantry fighting vehicles (11 BMP-2 and two BMD-2), and two military trucks parked facing in a westerly direction. In the area of government-controlled Umanske (23km north-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed a military convoy of 12 BMP-2, two BMP-1, two military trucks, and two MTLB facing south. Aerial surveillance imagery available to the SMM, on 29 February, revealed the presence of six armoured vehicles near Marinka. In “DPR”-controlled Staromykhailivka (12km west of Donetsk), the SMM observed one armoured personnel carrier (MTLB) and one military-style URAL truck mounted with a heavy-machine-gun (23 or 37mm).

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. While observing repair work to electrical and water pipe lines near government-controlled Maiorsk (45km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard one impact from a rocket propelled grenade 1.5km east of its position and left the area for approximately one hour. At 11:56hrs the SMM heard another explosion which a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer from the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) described as the controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Zaitseve (50km north-east of Donetsk). The SMM also continued to monitor the repair of gas pipelines between Marinka and government-controlled Krasnohorivka (21km west of Donetsk) which continued despite ceasefire violations 2-7km north-east of the SMM’s position in Marinka. In a government-controlled area of Zolote, the SMM observed the presence of a ten-person demining team near an area where repair work to 600m of water pipeline leading to “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (57km west of Luhansk) was being prepared. In “LPR”-controlled Obozne (18km north of Luhansk), the SMM monitored repair work to high-voltage electricity pylons.

The SMM monitored the simultaneous release of detainees near government-controlled Shchastia (20km north-west of Luhansk). The SMM observed as “LPR” members released one woman (approximately 30 years old) and Ukrainian authorities, including Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel, released one woman and one man (both in their twenties). All of whom were allowed to cross Shchastia bridge.

The SMM continued to observe the presence of mines and UXO and noted obstacles for civilians in crossing checkpoints along the contact line. At a government-controlled checkpoint near government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed that the flow of traffic at the bridge seemed to have improved slightly from previous days, with approximately 100 people waiting to travel toward government-controlled areas and approximately an equal number were waiting to pass in the opposite direction. Interlocutors stated that the wait time was approximately one to two hours. The SMM observed two hand-written mine warning signs, for the first time, between 3 and 30m off of a road in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk). At a “DPR”-controlled checkpoint in the vicinity of Yasynuvata, the SMM observed two anti-tank mines (also for the first time) on a road. Armed men physically moved the mines to enable the SMM to pass. In a government-controlled area near Zolote, where pedestrians frequently cross the contact line, the SMM noted that a previously observed mine warning sign had been removed.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Chernivtsi, and Kyiv.

*Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by the parties and security considerations, including mine threats, damaged infrastructure, and the unpredictability of the situation in Donbas.

Denial of access:

  • A Ukrainian Armed Forces commander told the SMM that it could not pass a checkpoint near government-controlled Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol), citing heavy fighting in the area.

Conditional access:

  • In government-controlled Hranitne (47km north-east of Mariupol), Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel insisted on escorting the SMM while it observed a temporary metal bridge.
  • ​At the “LPR”-controlled checkpoint at Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, armed men insisted on photographing identification documents of SMM monitors.

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.

[2] All times in this report refer to Eastern European Time.  

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Categories: Central Europe

Entschließungsantrag zum Bericht von 2015 über die ehemalige jugoslawische Republik Mazedonien - B8-2016-0310

ENTSCHLIESSUNGSANTRAG
eingereicht im Anschluss an Erklärungen des Rates und der Kommission
gemäß Artikel 123 Absatz 2 der Geschäftsordnung
zum Bericht von 2015 über die ehemalige jugoslawische Republik Mazedonien
(2015/2895(RSP))
Ivo Vajgl
im Namen des Ausschusses für auswärtige Angelegenheiten

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2016 - EP
Categories: Europäische Union

Véget érhet a potyautas-korszak

Eurológus - Fri, 04/03/2016 - 17:40
Alakul a terv a menekültválság kezelésére, de hónapokba telik, mire a jogi akadályok elhárulnak a bevándorlást szabályozó intézkedések elől. Mi lehet a megoldás?

All Hands On Deck: Russian Military Sets Up High-Tech Radar System in Syria

RIA Novosty / Russia - Fri, 04/03/2016 - 17:40
Russian military have set up electronic systems, which allows monitoring violations of the ceasefire in Syria.








Categories: Russia & CIS

Migration and security in focus, as OSCE PA Chairperson Santos, Secretary General Montella address Rome panels

OSCE - Fri, 04/03/2016 - 17:37

ROME, 4 March 2016 – The Chairperson of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), and OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella addressed high-level panels in Rome this week on the crisis of migrants and refugees and the international community’s response.

On 4 March, Chairperson Santos joined senior government officials and representatives of a range of international organizations at the OSCE’s Security Days event on theme “Refocusing Migration and Security: Bridging National and Regional Responses.”

On 3 March, Secretary General Montella joined parliamentarians and senior government officials as a guest speaker at the Italian Senate for a debate on “Migration and Security: a Difficult Balance.”

“The real crisis here is not one of security, for it is both cynical and false to assume that these refugees will bring into Europe the kind of violence that made them flee their homes in the first place. Instead, the crisis here is the lack of solidarity, the lack of political will, and, in some cases, racism – all of which are hampering international efforts to adequately deal with this situation,” Santos said.

“If reasonable security considerations are hijacked by the rhetoric and politics of fear, we only distance ourselves from the collective response needed, based on mutually agreed commitments, redoubled efforts, human rights and human dignity,” the Chairperson added.

Speaking at the OSCE Security Days event, Santos introduced her Committee’s special report on the migration crisis, which was released last week during the Parliamentary Assembly’s Winter Meeting.

The report offers concrete recommendations and suggested priorities for an improved response to the crisis by the OSCE and its participating States.

In her remarks, the Chairperson also emphasized the need for better co-operation between the OSCE, the European Union and the United Nations to deal with the crisis; called for the establishment of more multi-service centers in countries of origin to promote legal channels of migration; and advocated for better equipping hotspots to provide information to migrants about their rights and next steps.

Santos also encouraged the establishment of an OSCE mission or special co-ordinating position on migration to strengthen the Organization’s efforts on migration-related activities ranging from training border police to combating human trafficking to advising countries on policy decisions.

The Vice-Chairperson of the Assembly’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, Ivana Dobesova (MP, Czech Republic), members of Italy’s Delegation to the OSCE PA, and Secretary General Montella were also present for the event.

During the Senate debate on 3 March, Montella spoke alongside Italian Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs Vincenzo Amendola, the Head of Italy’s Delegation to the OSCE PA, Paolo Romani, and OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier. 

In his intervention, the Secretary General described the OSCE PA’s activities related to the crisis of migrants and refugees, including its special report, and emphasized the need to find synergies between international actors to mitigate the situation.

Montella met earlier with the President of the Italian Senate, Pietro Grasso, alongside OSCE Secretary General Zannier. He presented the Assembly’s recent activities and priorities during a wide-ranging discussion. The sides also explored the possibility of Italy's hosting an OSCE PA event in the future.

The Secretary General held additional meetings in Rome with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

Ein Regimewechsel in Ankara wird immer wahrscheinlicher

Balkanblog.org - Fri, 04/03/2016 - 17:29
Immer dabei auch bei der Terroristen Finanzierung, Kopf Abhacker rund Todesschwadronen, SWP-Berlin mit Volker Perthes und Kollegen, sowie die Deutschen Aussenminister. Die Zerstörung von Syrien war lange geplant, identisch wie Libyen. Rote Karte der NATO, für die Ankara Terroristen Mafia mit Recep Erdogan, Yassin Kadi, Ahmet Davutoğlu Ein Regimewechsel in Ankara wird immer wahrscheinlicher Posted: 03 Mar 2016 08:38 PM PST Der US-Autor Mike Whitney vermutet, dass die US-Regierung auch in der Türkei einen Regimewechsel herbeiführen will. Von Mike Whitney counterpunch, 24.02.16 Am Freitag haben die USA einen russischen Entwurf für eine Resolution zurückgewiesen, mit der eine Invasion Syriens durch die türkische Armee verhindert werden sollte. Moskau hatte auf einer […]
Categories: Balkan News

Web-série BARKHANE épisode 5 : protection contre les foules (PF)

[#Web-série GTDO] Cette 5e vidéo met en avant une étape essentielle de la mise en condition avant projection : le stage de contrôle de foules à Bitche. Objectif : être en mesure de participer à la sécurité des nos emprises en territoire hostile.
Categories: Défense

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