Broad range of security and humanitarian concerns raised at 30th round of Geneva International Discussions
GENEVA, Switzerland, 10 December 2014 – The thirtieth session of the Geneva International Discussions has just concluded its work. In Working Group I, the participants have assessed the general security situation on the ground as relatively calm with no major security incidents occurring since the previous round in October. The participants...
Weekly update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 10:00 (Moscow time), 10 December 2014
This report is for media and the general public. SUMMARY Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Russian Federation – The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). Overall cross-border traffic flows decreased at both BCPs. The OM continued to observe a significant number of persons in military-style clothing crossing the...
Experts meet at OSCE in Vienna to prevent trafficking for domestic servitude in diplomatic households
VIENNA, 9 December 2014 – High-level diplomats from across the OSCE region met at the Secretariat today to discuss ways to stamp out trafficking for domestic servitude in diplomatic households, focusing on the outcomes from a series of workshops held by the Organization’s anti-trafficking Office during the past three years. “Participating...
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 18:00 (Kyiv time), 7 December 2014
This report is for media and the general public. The SMM continued to monitor the implementation of the provisions of the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum and the work of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC). Some 600 protestors temporarily occupied the regional administration building in Vinnytsya (300 km north-east of Chernivtsi)....
Why EU’s problems should matter to Americans
Important American interests are at stake in what may seem, from a distance, arcane disputes within and among members of the European Union. Nonetheless, European debates over issues such as the common currency, immigration and economic regulations all reflect fundamental disputes over the EU’s ultimate purpose.Whether and how EU members...
The Razumkov Centre Newsletter №9
The new issue of the Razumkov Centre Newsletter contains articles and interviews of the Razumkov Centre’s experts, dealing with most topical issues in Ukraine’s current affairs. In particular – perspectives of the newly elected Parliament of Ukraine, the situation in the Ukrainian economy and energy sector. Read The Razumkov Centre...
A Lesson in Propaganda?
Lithuania’s Russian-language schools are under a microscope after students attend a boot camp for kids from ex-Soviet republics. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
Ukraine’s China Problem
China is popularly viewed as the winner in Russia’s clash with the West over Ukraine: For starters, the dispute has diverted the United States’ political energy and resources away from its Asia-Pacific pivot and handed China leverage over Russia on energy and economic issues. But this conflict does not leave Beijing unscathed,...
Can Ash Carter save the Pentagon?
President Obama has nominated Ash Carter to be his new secretary of defense. Carter would be a good pick in any administration. His bio gives an indication of his experience and talents (I’m probably just brainwashed to believe that anyone who double-majors summa cum laude in medieval history and physics, then follows it up with a doctorate...
The new government will have two months to show its willingness to implement reforms
In a comment to the newspaper Vysokyi Zamok, Economic Research Consultant of the Razumkov Centre Volodymyr Sidenko assessed the activities of the previous Arseniy Yatseniuk s government and spoke about the prospects for the implementation of reforms after the parliamentary election and formation of the new government. As to the government’s...
