Tag: Syria

Ukraine has strongly rebutted allegations that one of its little-known ports had been used for massive arms shipments to Syria. Analysts source the claims to Russia, which may be aiming to repeat the ‘Kolchuga affair’ that successfully isolated Ukraine from the West in 2002.

The European Union blamed the Syrian government on Saturday (7 September) for a chemical weapons attack in August but urged leaders to wait for a report from UN weapons inspectors before backing any US-led military response, leaving France as America’s only ally in Europe.

US President Barack Obama faced growing pressure from Russia's Vladimir Putin and other world leaders yesterday (5 September) to decide against launching military strikes in Syria, which many of them fear would hurt the global economy and push up oil prices.

A potential showdown over Syria between US President Barack Obama and Russia's Vladimir Putin could overshadow a two-day meeting of world leaders beginning today (5 September) in St Petersburg initially dedicated to reviving the global economy.

As Washington weighs a military strike against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, the human fallout of two and a half years of conflict that has sent millions into flight is no longer contained to the Middle East. Hundreds of refugees are trying to get into Europe from the Western Balkans.

If Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel decides in favour of supporting the intervention in Syria, the German electorate is likely to punish her on September 22. But if she decides against joining the coalition of Western forces, Germany may soil its reputation with its Western allies, writes Judy Dempsy.

Leaders of the group of the G20 major economies are set to debate sanctions against Syria in a 5-6 September meeting in St Petersburg, with Western nations led by the United States preparing for air strikes in retaliation to a recent chemical attack on civilians.

The United States is now actively building the case for military intervention in Syria after having equivocated for days over the al Assad regime's chemical weapons attack, writes Strafor.

EXCLUSIVE / EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva has urged the United Nations Security Council to adopt a declaration on the humanitarian situation in Syria, telling EurActiv in an interview that such a decision could greatly improve the fate of millions of citizens, half of them children, who are trapped by the ongoing civil war.

The EU's 28 foreign ministers unanimously agreed today (22 July) to put the armed wing of Hezbollah on its list of terrorist organisations, but made it clear that it would maintain contact with all political parties in Lebanon, including the Hezbollah party, which is part of the country’s government.

The number of Syrian asylum-seekers to the EU soared 206% to 24,110 last year, overtaking Afghanistan refugees as the largest group of applicants asking for international protection.

Russian President Vladimir Putin faced further isolation on the second day of a G8 summit today (18 June) as world leaders lined up to pressure him into toning down his support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Britain and France are free to supply weapons to Syrian rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad starting in August, after attempts to renew an EU arms embargo on Syria failed yesterday (27 May).

European Union governments agreed yesterday (22 April) to ease sanctions on Syria to allow purchases of oil from the opposition, in the hope of throwing a financial lifeline to rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad.

The banking crisis in Cyprus, where almost half of the €70 billion deposits are believed to be Russian money, will feature high in a meeting between the European Commission and the Russian government on 21 and 22 March in Moscow, diplomats told EurActiv.

France urged the European Union to look again at lifting an arms embargo on Syria to help rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad, putting it at odds with Germany which said such a step could spread conflict in the region.

EU foreign ministers are to thrash out positions on increasingly thorny problems in the Middle East when they meet today (19 November), but diplomats said the bloc would likely not follow France in giving full recognition to the Syrian opposition.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton strongly criticised Russia for its authoritarian tendencies since Vladimir Putin returned to the presidency in May, telling the European Parliament yesterday (12 September) she also welcomed the “awakening of the civil society” in the Union’s biggest neighbour.

Angela Merkel and François Hollande presented a united front towards Greece yesterday (23 August), telling Athens it should not expect leeway on its bailout agreement unless it sticks to tough reform targets.