diplomacy

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Neutral Swiss Becoming US Lapdogs, Critics Charge

'Active neutrality' policy questioned after Polanski, UBS decisions

(Newser) - Some Swiss politicians are griping that the country's prized neutrality appears to be sliding as the government adopts a more accommodating stance toward US authorities. The government agreed in August to turn over the names of thousands of suspected American tax dodgers banking with UBS, and Roman Polanski was busted...

UN Official Denies Cover Up in Afghan Vote

Recount will rectify fraud, says head of mission in troubled nation

(Newser) - The head of the UN mission in Afghanistan is denying that he helped cover up vote-rigging in the disputed Afghan election, refuting charges made by a top US diplomat. In a rare press conference, Kai Eide also said a partial recount being conducted by a UN-backed election panel would root...

Obama Tells Lama to Stay Away
 Obama Tells Lama to Stay Away 
Oct 5, 2009 7:46 AM CDT

Obama Tells Lama to Stay Away

Move seen as an effort to avoid annoying the Chinese

(Newser) - In a move seemingly designed to appease China, US officials have asked the Dalai Lama not to meet with President Obama when he visits Washington this week. Typically, the Lama “drops in” on the White House whenever he’s in the capital, but Obama doesn’t want to meet...

Kenya Feels Betrayed by 'Brother Barack'

US practices diplomatic tough love

(Newser) - Kenyans adore Barack Obama, affectionately calling him “Brother Barack,” but they’re starting to get the feeling he doesn’t love them back. The Obama administration has been far harder on Kenya diplomatically than its predecessor, Time reports. Last week Washington threatened to keep 15 senior officials from...

US, Iranian Diplomats Talk One-on-One

Lunch meeting could signal Washington's willingness to reach out

(Newser) - The US says senior American and Iranian delegates have met one-on-one on the sidelines of a high-stakes gathering on Tehran's nuclear program. US Under Secretary of State William Burns met with Saeed Jalili, Tehran's chief negotiator during a lunch break today in seven-nation talks in Geneva today. 

Iranian Nuclear Talks Begin

 Iranian Nuclear Talks Begin 
Oct 1, 2009 7:36 AM CDT

Iranian Nuclear Talks Begin

Officials gather in Geneva villa for critical negotiations

(Newser) - Representatives from Iran arrived in a secluded villa in the countryside near Geneva to begin a critical round of nuclear negotiations with the Western powers today. In attendance were reps from the five UN Security Council states, Germany, and the EU. The US is looking for “practical steps and...

US to Engage Burmese Junta
 US to Engage Burmese Junta 
Sep 24, 2009 6:09 AM CDT

US to Engage Burmese Junta

Clinton announces change in policy, says sanctions will remain

(Newser) - The US will directly engage with Burma's military leadership in addition to its current sanctions, Hillary Clinton said yesterday. The secretary of State acknowledged that sanctions alone had failed to change "the lack of democracy in Burma and the authorities’ abysmal record on human rights," and it was...

Obama to UN: US Can't Solve World's Problems

President to take blunt approach in first General Assembly address

(Newser) - Barack Obama told the UN today that the global community has too long been "defined by our differences and outpaced by our problems." He said he was aware of the high expectations for his presidency, and he acknowledged US failings, but said solving the world's problems is not...

Clinton Torn Between Leading and Blending In

Blunt talk and campaign-style events ruffle some diplomatic feathers

(Newser) - Hillary Clinton has impressed many in her 8 months as secretary of state but her own leadership aspirations are sometimes all too obvious, Glenn Kessler writes at the Washington Post. Clinton has forged close working relationships with other Cabinet members and made her desire to cooperate clear, Kessler writes, but...

Obama's Missile Move Leaves Allies in the Lurch

(Newser) - President Obama’s decision to scrap plans for a missile defense shield is a political bombshell, writes Robin Oakley for CNN. America’s allies in Poland and the Czech Republic are left holding the bag after expending significant political capital on the unpopular system. Abandoning it might make their lives...

Obama's Forcing Israel to Attack Iran
 Obama's Forcing 
 Israel to Attack Iran 
OPINION
Sep 15, 2009 3:54 AM CDT

Obama's Forcing Israel to Attack Iran

President accused of 'outsourcing' action against Iran's nuclear program

(Newser) - An Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities now looks inevitable and President Obama appears to be doing his best to speed the process along, Bret Stephens writes in the Wall Street Journal. The president has accepted Iran's offer for talks—despite Iran making it clear that its nuclear program won't...

US Agrees to Iran Talks
 US Agrees to Iran Talks  
Sep 12, 2009 5:49 AM CDT

US Agrees to Iran Talks

Iran says nukes not on the table, but White House will try anyway

(Newser) - The US has accepted an offer from Iran to hold direct talks on a range of issues, the New York Times reports, despite Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's insistence that the country's nuclear enrichment program will not be on the negotiating table. State Department officials say they will still press Iran on the...

Travel Back to Normal in Koreas

(Newser) - Travel between North and South Korea returned to normal today, eight months after Pyongyang clamped down on imports from the South. It's the latest sign of warming ties between the two Koreas, following a recent deal on reuniting separating families and the fight high-level diplomatic talks in two years. Negotiations...

North, South Korea OK Family Reunions

Meetings signal easing tensions

(Newser) - North and South Korea have agreed to resume allowing reunions for families separated by the Korean War, in a sign that tensions are once again easing between the nations, the BBC reports. North Korea called off the meetings 2 years ago, after South Korea’s newly-elected President Lee Myung-bak ended...

North Koreans in Santa Fe to Meet Gov. Richardson

UN ambassadors get special permission to leave New York

(Newser) - Two North Korean diplomats at the UN are traveling to Santa Fe to meet with Bill Richardson, the New Mexico governor and former UN ambassador, reports CNN. The meeting is taking place at Pyongyang's request, according to the governor's office, and will focus on clean energy technology. Richardson has visited...

Webb Visits Burma, Will Meet With Junta Chief

(Newser) - Sen. Jim Webb arrived in Burma today and will meet with the leader of the country's junta this weekend, reports the New York Times. The Virginia Democrat will be the highest-ranking American official ever to meet Gen. Than Shwe; the White House said the senator was "not carrying a...

'Three Amigos' Summit May Not Be So Amicable

Canada, Mexico both angry about Obama protectionism

(Newser) - President Obama is headed to Guadalajara today for his first "Three Amigos" summit with the leaders of Canada and Mexico, but the meeting may be less than completely friendly. Trade and drug trafficking will dominate the agenda, and the leaders have some grievances they plan to press, reports Reuters....

Clinton: South Africa Must Push Zimbabwe to Reform

Secretary of State says no end to sanctions against Mugabe

(Newser) - Hillary Clinton is in South Africa, where the secretary of State called on the continent's richest nation to pressure Zimbabwe into reform. "South Africa has 3 million refugees from Zimbabwe, and every one of those refugees represents a failure of the Zimbabwean government to care for its own people,...

Time to Get Tough With N. Korea
 Time to Get Tough 
 With N. Korea 
OPINION
Aug 6, 2009 6:37 AM CDT

Time to Get Tough With N. Korea

(Newser) - Getting Laura Ling and Euna Lee out of North Korea was a cakewalk compared to the real diplomatic struggles between the Obama administration and the rogue nation, writes Nicolas Kristof. The New York Times columnist, who has visited North Korea five times, used to favor engagement with Kim Jong-Il's regime....

Back in the Groove, Bill Comes 'Full Circle'

Takes on role Carter played early in Clinton's presidency

(Newser) - When President Clinton was still wet behind the ears, North Korea decided to ramp up its nuclear program—and Jimmy Carter headed over to sort things out. Now, things have come “full circle,” as Clinton takes on the role of diplomatic ex-president, note John Harris and Mike Allen...

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