BRITAIN, EUROPE & RUSSIA:

Christian Science Monitor, 09 Jul 08, by Jonathan Adams
U.S., Russia revert to cold-war rhetoric over missile-defense plan
'Russia says that the proposed US defense shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, an initial agreement for which was inked this week, is targeting Russia, not rogue states.'

RIA Novosti, 09 Jul 08
Russia must punish states hosting U.S. missile shield - analyst
'Russia must use economic and political means, and military ties with Asia, to punish European states that agree to host U.S. missile defense elements, a Russian political analyst said on Wednesday.'

AFP, 10 Jul 08
Rice calls for halt to violence in Georgian separatist zones
'Rice's visit to Georgia came amid increasingly open diplomatic confrontation between the United States and Russia over the status of Abkhazia and the other separatist province, South Ossetia, and over Georgia's desire to join NATO.'

Associated Press, 08 Jul 08
Abkhazia rejects US-proposed international force
'The breakaway Georgian republic of Abkhazia has rejected a U.S. proposal to deploy an international police force there, its leader said Tuesday. The regional government, which is not internationally recognized, instead pledged to keep Russian peacekeepers on the ground, despite Georgia's accusations that they are fomenting tensions.'

The Guardian, 08 Jul 08, by Ian Traynor
France unveils pact on EU-wide immigration
'France yesterday jolted Europe into establishing common policies on immigration, refugees and asylum, unveiling a European immigration pact as its first big EU presidency move and pushing for 27 countries to back it at an EU summit in October.'

International Herald Tribune, 02 Jul 08, by John Vinocur
A Sarkozy spin as France rejoins NATO command
'... Sarkozy, 42 years after Charles de Gaulle's decision to pull out of NATO's integrated military structure, thinks there's no more profit in France being seen as a reflex antagonist of the United States on issues like Iran, the Middle East, Russia and China.'

International Herald Tribune, 02 Jul 08, by Judy Dempsey
Poland's snub of EU is all about local politics
'When President Lech Kaczynski of Poland said Tuesday that it was "pointless" for him to sign off on a new European Union treaty now that the Irish had rejected it, he opened a new chapter in his struggle with the center-right government over Poland's future role in Europe and its relations with the United States.'

International Herald Tribune, 02 Jul 08, by James Kanter
EU tries to ease fears on data-sharing talks with U.S.
'The European Union is under pressure from the United States to make it possible for the American authorities to obtain information about EU citizens - particularly about those who travel to the United States - as part of a fight against terrorism and international crime.'

International Herald Tribune, 02 Jul 08, by Elaine Sciolino
French counterterrorism system under attack
'France prides itself on having the most efficient counterterrorism strategy in Europe. French counterterrorism officials insist that the flexibility of the country's laws and judicial system has been crucial in their ability to respond to the threat of international terrorism and has helped prevent attacks on French soil.'

AFP, 23 Jun 08
Security of US nuclear arms in Europe is not our problem: NATO
'The security of US nuclear arms deployed in Europe is a matter for Washington and the host nation, not for NATO, an alliance official said Monday responding to a report outlining shortfalls. ... Hundreds of US nuclear weapons are held at air bases in six NATO countries, including Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, along with a total of 200-350 air-launched B-61 bombs, according to non-official US estimates.'

International Herald Tribune, 23 Jun 08, by Judy Dempsey
German parties press U.S. to withdraw nuclear arms
'Germany's Social Democrats, who share power in the governing authority, and opposition parties are calling on the United States to remove all nuclear weapons stored in military bases here after a report found that safety standards at most sites for nuclear weapons in Europe fall well short of Pentagon requirements.'

The Guardian, 23 Jun 08, by Rory McCarthy
Sarkozy urges Israel to share sovereignty over Jerusalem
'The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy told Israel today to share sovereignty over Jerusalem with the Palestinians and to stop building settlements in the occupied territories.'

International Herald Tribune, 16 Jun 08, by Steven Erlanger and Katrin Bennhold
French shifting strategic policy
'In its first new national strategic policy in 14 years, France has decided that its security is best guaranteed within Europe and the NATO alliance, marking a significant shift away from French exceptionalism.'

International Herald Tribune, 11 Jun 08, by Steven Lee Myers and Nicholas Kulish
Merkel backs Bush on Iran sanctions
'... But their news conference here, a day after Bush won general European support for consideration of additional sanctions against Iran, also illustrated the distance between them. While Bush stressed again that "all options are on the table," which would include military force, Merkel chose to emphasize diplomacy and the need to enforce the current sanctions.'

The Telegraph, 10 Jun 08, by Henry Samuel
French navy cut missions due to high fuel costs
'France's cash-strapped navy has decided to cancel three international sea missions due to rocketing petrol prices.'

International Herald Tribune, 11 Jun 08, by Judy Dempsey
Deadlock in Kosovo risks Balkan instability
'Whenever the European Union has sent the police or troops to trouble spots around the world, Russia has never objected. It always wanted a stronger Europe that could serve as a counterweight to the United States and weaken the trans-Atlantic alliance. But on Kosovo, one of the leftover conflicts of the Balkan wars of the 1990s, Russia has turned the tables on the EU.'

International Herald Tribune, 04 Jun 08, by Judy Dempsey
German government backs enhanced surveillance
'Despite strong criticism from the opposition and even its own coalition partners, Chancellor Angela Merkel's government agreed Wednesday to give Germany's police forces greater powers to monitor homes, telephones and private computers, maintaining that an enhanced reach would protect citizens from terrorist attacks.'

BBC News, 05 Jun 08
Brown makes armed forces pledge
'Prime Minister Gordon Brown has promised the government will do "everything in our power" to help members of the armed forces. ... 'His comments come after Army head General Sir Richard Dannatt said more money should be invested to ensure a well-trained and well-motivated force.

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