Tag Archives: Russia
25 April 2014
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon accuses all parties in Syria’s civil war of obstructing the delivery of aid to civilians and urges the Security Council to take action to implement Resolution S/RES/2139 concerning Syria.
The UN Security Council resolution, that was unanimously approved in February, states that both Syrian government and opposition forces must allow aid convoys to reach civilians across the country. (more…)
Source: BBC | All parties in Syria blocking aid, say Ban Ki-moon
Source: BBC | Syria crisis: UN Security Council agrees aid resolution
3 April 2014
On 1 April 2014, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ordered military commanders to draft plans in order to reinforce the defenses in Eastern Europe. The US already sent military aircrafts to increase air patrols over the Baltic nations. Further steps that will be taken to reassure Eastern European countries are expected to include sending more military equipment to Eastern European states, improving the capability of the rapid response forces, holding more military exercises and increasing the naval presence in the Baltic Sea. (more…)
Source: The New York Times | NATO to Firm Up Its Presence in Eastern Europe as It Halts Cooperation With Russia
Source: The Guardian | Nato moves to bolster eastern European defences against Russia
Source: Reuters | NATO suspends cooperation with Russia over Ukraine crisis
Source: The Washington Post | NATO allies pledge to beef up eastern defences
25 March 2014
Meeting in the margin of the Nuclear Security Summit, the G7 adopted a declaration which states that Russia’s actions in recent weeks were not consistent with the ‘shared beliefs and shared responsibilities’ that were the reason why the Group came together. The declaration also states that the ‘clear violation of international law is a serious challenge to the rule of law around the world and should be a concern for all nations.’ It recalls that in response to Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to demonstrate the determination to respond to these illegal actions, ‘individually and collectively we have imposed a variety of sanctions against Russia and those individuals and entities responsible.’ The declaration calls on Russia to take diplomatic avenues, and suspend the participation of the 7 states in the G8 until ‘Russia changes course’.
Source: EUROPEAN COMMISSION | STATEMENT/14/82 | THE HAGUE DECLARATION following the G7 meeting on 24 March | 24 March 2014
21 March 2014
The German government has requested federal prosecutors to investigate if German companies violated the law by exporting materials to Syria during the 1980s and early 1990s that may have enabled the country to develop a chemical weapons programme. Based on information given to it by Syria, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has provided a list of companies to Germany, said a spokesman of the German ministry of economy on 19 March 2014. According to a report by the Süddeutsche Zeitung on 19 March 2014, Russia, France and China were also involved in providing Syria with materials that could be used to produce chemical weapons.
Source: Reuters | German prosecutors probe firms for Syria chemical weapons links
19 February 2014
According to Reuters, Russia and NATO are drawing up plans for an exceptional joint naval operation in the Mediterranean to protect the United States (US) ship that will destroy Syria’s deadliest chemical weapons at sea.
A source at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and several NATO sources in Brussels confirmed that a joint operation to guard the ‘Cape Ray’ is under discussion. Under the plan being discussed, NATO and Russian warships would share the task of protecting the Cape Ray, a US cargo ship that will process at sea about 500 tonnes of chemicals that are too dangerous to deal with on land. NATO and Russia are reportedly still trying to iron out some issues such as a unified command structure, the rules of engagement, and response procedures in case the convoy faces danger. (more…)
Source: Reuters | Exclusive: Russia, NATO plan joint operation on Syria's chemical weapons