Ukraine Accepts Constitutional Amendment to Russia’s Advantage at US Insistence
The international context of negotiations to implement the Minsk armistice is changing in Russia’s favor. As the leading Western power, the Barack Obama administration effectively pressures Ukraine to legitimize the Donetsk-Luhansk authorities in the constitution and through elections. This would satisfy Russia’s main demands at this...
Obama Administration Undercutting Ukraine’s Position in the Minsk Armistice Negotiations
Urged by US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland in Kyiv last week, Ukraine took a first step toward legalizing the secessionist authorities in the country’s constitution (see EDM, July 20). Concurrently, US Vice President Joseph Biden asked Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to accept local elections being held and possibly...
Moscow Uses Kadyrov in Kremlin Push for Rapprochement with Saudi Arabia
Chechnya, formally a Russian province, has found a place for itself in relations between Moscow and Riyadh. Indeed, in general, subnational units of the Russian Federation, in particular the Muslim regions, have become much more active in the Middle East. Chechnya’s governor, Ramzan Kadyrov, has been especially dynamic in this regard: over...
Czech Pol Jailed in Corruption Case, Lugansk Rebels Claim to Find U.S. Weapons Cache
Plus, Moldova’s whistleblowing education chief is tipped for prime minister, and Kosovo arrests a high-ranking judge. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug to hold a press briefing in Donetsk
Alexander Hug will speak about the events that have been occurring in Donetsk since last weekend and onwards. Journalists are invited today, 24 July, at 18:30 (Kyiv time), at Park Inn by Radisson, 4 Pushkina Boulevard, Donetsk. Please follow our Facebook and Twitter updates for possible changes. For further details please contact Michael...
OSCE/ODIHR workshop instructs police trainers on countering hate crime
174291 Thomas Rymer, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights …read more Source:...
The protest of the Right Sector will not gain broad public support
In the comment to the website Glavnoe, Deputy Director, Director of Political and Legal Programmes of the Razumkov Centre Yuriy Yakymenko explained why the protest of the Right Sector, which took place in Kyiv on 21 July 2015, will not gain wide public support. The Right Sector announced a veche, as it was last year during the revolution at the...
On the Iran Nuclear Deal
A wide-ranging discussion on the Iran nuclear deal, the future of the Middle East, and Russia’s role after the Ukraine crisis with Charlie Rose. …read more Source: Carnegie Endowment for International...
‘Outdated’ Iran policy makes Canada a global outlier
As the world reached a historic nuclear accord with Iran last week, Ottawa’s reaction was predictably subdued in keeping with its tough stance against Tehran. By stating Canada’s appreciation for the agreement, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rob Nicholson calculatedly refrained from either endorsing or criticizing it, and articulated...
The Kagans: Seeking War to the End of the World
If the neoconservatives have their way again, US ground troops will reoccupy Iraq, the US military will take out Syria’s secular government (likely helping Al Qaeda and the Islamic State take over), and the US Congress will not only kill the Iran nuclear deal but follow that with a massive increase in military spending. Like spraying...
