100 posts
Madrid view: Arab League Awakenings
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The scandalous complacency with the Syrian regime shown by the Arab League’s observation mission has an upside: it points to the awakening of a culture of human rights protection in anRead more…...
Statewatch Analysis: The EU’s self-interested response to unrest in north Africa: the meaning of treaties and readmission agreements between Italy and north African states
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Statewatch released an Analysis by Yasha Maccanico entitled “The EU’s self-interested response to unrest in north Africa: the meaning of treaties and readmission agreements between Italy and north African states.” The Analysis provides a desc...
Futility of a League: Arab Action against Assad
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With observers on the ground in Syrian cities, the Arab League conceded at the beginning of 2012 that the monitors had, according to the Wall Street Journal, “failed to halt the lethal violence” in Syria. Nabil Al Arabi, the organization’s chai...
The head of the Arab League delegation to Syria
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As the killings continue, many Syrian protesters lack confidence in the delegation, and especially its head, General Mohammed Ahmad Mustafa Dabi. I wonder why? “Meanwhile, more questions were being asked of Gen Dabi, after his initial commen...
The Syria Crisis: Assessing Foreign Intervention
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video By Scott Stewart The ongoing unrest, violence and se...
The Mufti, Nazism, and the naqba
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This looks like an interesting (though very expensive) book – but you might be able to get it from a university library. Edgware Vallentine Mitchell, 2010. 256 pp. $74.95, ISBN 978-0-85303-844-3. Reviewed by Norman Goda (University of Flori...
BHL, the Byron of Romantic France and the Emancipator of the Libyan People
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As Bernard-Henri Lévy comes out with a book on the Libyan civil war, Natalie Nougayrède has an article in Le Monde evaluating the philosopher's role in French diplomacy. (In it, we learn that Nicolas Sarkozy was ready, if necessary, to intervene in...
Syria was suspended from the Arab League amid violence. Any impact on the situation?
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The Syrian reaction was pretty harsh as the Syrian Ambassador to Arab League said: Those who drafted this decision will be punished. Question: Would you say the statement of the Arab League will contribute to solving the situation in Syria or not, an...
Wise Egypt: Egypt denies visa to PVVer !
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This week the Egyptians denied an entrance visa to a PVV Brownshirt that was supposed to be on a "Tweede Kamer visit." Well, it's good to see that the Egyptians are wise with regard to the purposes of such a visit - which were probably for the purpos...
Wise Egypte: Egypte ontkent visum voor PVVer !
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Deze week de Egyptenaren ontkende een entree visum nodig om een PVV bruinhemd die verondersteld was om op een "Tweede Kamer bezoek." Nou, het is goed om te zien dat de Egyptenaren er verstandig met betrekking tot de toepassing van een dergelijk bezoe...
"We must challenge Israeli mindset," says rugby player turned blockade buster
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Trevor Hogan, best-known as an international rugby player, was one of 14 Irish people detained by Israel over the past week after they tried to break the illegal siege of Gaza.In a telephone interview this morning, Hogan recalled how the MV Saoirse (...
Director Laitinen Describes Frontex Response to the 2011 Migratory Flows from North Africa
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In a recent opinion article published on Publicservice.co.uk, Frontex Director Ilkka Laitinen described the challenges faced by Frontex and provided a description of Frontex’s “unprecedented” activities over the past 12 months in the operationa...
EU Parliament chief refuses to protest at illegal arrests by Israel
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The president of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek has declined to protest at how Israel arrested one of his own colleagues in international waters.Last weekend, Paul Murphy was one of 14 Irish people kidnapped by Israeli forces who boarded the MV...
NATO Secretary General makes historic Libya trip
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video Anders Fogh Rasmussen is making an historic visit to Libya, the first ever of a NATO Secretary General. The visit marks the conclusion of the NATO-led Operation Unified Protector for Libya, which comes to an end at midnight on...
Agenda of Turkish foreign policy: Erdoğan at G20, Davutoğlu with Barzani and at Istanbul Conference for Afghanistan, talks on Cyprus
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Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, shakes hands with French President Nicolas Sarkozy during arrivals for a G20 summit in Cannes, France on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011. French President Nicolas Sarkozy will welcome Barack Obama of...
A new Tunisia, new realities
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Exactly one week after the elections, it is about time to draw up the balance sheet. In Tunisia no election night with incoming results from the different polling station, but an entire week in which results are made public every now and then. The pr...
Young Arab democracies need European Union help
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The religious violence in the young Egyptian democracy is a sign that there is work that especially the European Union needs to undertake. The work should be a teaching moment for Egypt, not a chance by those (Uri Rosenthal) to promote Islamophobia,...
Jonge Arabische democratieën nodig hebben de Europese Unie te helpen
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De religieuze geweld in de jonge Egyptische democratie is een teken dat er werk is dat vooral de Europese Unie moet zich ertoe verbinden. Het werk moet een leermoment voor Egypte, geen kans door die (Uri Rosenthal) aan islamofobie, "botsing der besch...
Eastern-Mediterranean at risk
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Tensions in the Eastern–Mediterranean area are escalating: A short time ago, Cyprus begun to conduct drilling for oil and gas in its exclusive economic area, facing the contradiction of Turkey. Turkey claims a share in the “controversial” Block...
First meeting of EU/Tunisia Task Force to support transition to democracy and economic recovery
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Brussels, 27 September 2011 – The first meeting of the EU/Tunisia Task Force will take place in Tunis tomorrow. The Task Force will ensure better coordination of European and international support for Tunisia’s transition. It will be c...
EU response to the Arab Spring: new package of support for North Africa and Middle East
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Brussels, 27 September 2011 – The European Commission has adopted four new decisions for its Neighbourhood. The programmes will include support for areas like democracy, growth, job creation, microfinance and higher education. “The Europe...
Hasbara in Helsinki
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Here we go again. Catherine Ashton, the EU’s foreign policy chief, is portraying the Israel-Palestine conflict as one between equals.In a speech today, Ashton congratulated herself for increasing Europe’s involvement in something called the Middl...
"The Arab Spring is an Opportunity… For Europe" by Steven Hill
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The Arab Spring is a historic moment of opportunity for the Middle East — as well as Europe — that must not be wasted. Who could have imagined even a year ago that the Arab Spring would...
DIIS Seminar: “The Lesser Evil”? Policy Logics and Practices of Removal and Detention in the Euro-Mediterranean Area (Copenhagen, 6 Oct)
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The Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) will hold a seminar (English) in Copenhagen on 6 October 2011, 14.00-17.00. Advance registration is required. Registration deadline is Wednesday, 5 October 2011 at 12.00 noon. Click here for...
Rick Perry to let Israel appoint US secretary of state.
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Texas governor Rick Perry has upped the ante in the race for the Republican presidential nomination by pledging that if he is elected president of the United States he will sponsor a constitutional amendment to require, by law, that Israel can nomina...
Palestine’s Premature Bid for UN Membership
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WASHINGTON — Despite last-minute maneuvering on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, the tortuous Israel-Palestinian peace process is set to reach another critical juncture on Friday when the Palestinians submit...
Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Arab hero? | Khaled Diab
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Turkey must take a realistic and pragmatic approach if the Arab world's current 'Ottomania' is to lead to a better futureFor Recep Tayyip Erdogan, encountering cheering crowds and mass adulation on what some have described as his rock star tour of Ar...
UN tells George Washington to seek agreement with British.
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George Washington, the leader of the 13 British colonies in North America that unilaterally declared independence from the British Empire was rebuffed today in the UN Security Council. Supporters of the tentative “United States of America”...
Excitement in the run up to the Elections in Tunisia
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It is interesting to follow the developments in Tunisia for different reasons. Those who followed the events of the revolution earlier this year, might have lost sight of the sequel, or have forgotten about it at all. However, the country is stirring...
Europe's Palestine paradox at the United Nations
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As well as being an important week for Palestine at the UN, in New York, the unfolding events will also reveal whether European diplomacy is united - writes Dean Carroll...
Morning Brief – Headlines
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- Obama to meet Netanyahu and Abbas - G8 Foreign Ministers discuss Arab reform - Ashton calls for political solution in Yemen - Commission wants visa facilitation with Azerbaijan, Armenia - De Gucht on EU-China trade - Barroso on climate change - A...
Jewish leader says Europe has responsibility to vote no on Palestinian state at UN
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By DON MELVIN A European Jewish leader said Tuesday that the continent must oppose any U.N. Security Council resolution that would recognize a Palestinian state and admit it as a member _ not only for Israel’s sake but also for Europe’s o...
Now comes the drilling politics… Turkey vs. Cyprus
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Levantine Basin Drilling by M.A.M Mavi Boncuk | The Tamar natural gas discovery will supply the Israeli domestic market for decades. Currently appraised at 8.4 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) Tamar is expected to deliver its first sales in 2013.Lying...
S&D Group fully supports calls to assist the new Libyan authorities
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The S&D Group and the European Parliament call on the new Libyan authorities to build a unified, democratic and pluralist state in which human rights, fundamental freedoms and justice will be guaranteed. In a resolution adopted today ME...
Morning Brief – Headlines
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- Palestinians to apply for UN membership on Friday - US preparing for Syria without Assad - EU urges Turkey to stop threathening Cyprus - EU warns Ukraine over Tymoshenko - EU expects “normalisation” of Serbia-Kosovo relations - More new...
AI: Refugees Forced Out of Libya Urgently Need Resettlement
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Amnesty International released a briefing paper this morning describing the “totally inadequate response by EU states to refugees” who are stranded near Libya’s borders. AI estimates that there are 5000 refugees currently living in limbo alon...
IOM and Italy Sign Agreement to Facilitate Voluntary Returns for Migrants Recently Arrived from North Africa
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Italy and IOM signed an agreement last week pursuant to which IOM will facilitate the voluntary returns of up to 600 migrants from Italy. The agreement will be in place until the end of 2011. The agreement is focused on … Continue reading &...
The EEAS and the Palestinian Dilemma
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This week, the ballet of heads of state and government will open up at the United Nations headquarter in New York. This year, tensions are a little higher than the previous ones for one reason: Palestine. The Palestinian Authority will be seeking for...
