IRAN
Iran Says Nuclear Talks an ‘Opportunity’ for West
Nasser Karimi, Associated Press, ABC News – Feb 19, 2013
Iran is prepared to ease Western concerns about Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for pledges from the U.S. and others about the country’s ability to enrich uranium, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said Tuesday. The remarks signaled a possible opening before next week’s talks with world powers, due in the Kazakhstan capital.
The Iranian nuclear talks are a small reason to be cheerful. But the impasse continues
David Blair, The Telegraph – Feb 19, 2013
Analysis and opinions on Iran’s position prior to the upcoming P5+1 talks.
NORTH KOREA
North Korea threatens “final destruction” of South Korea
Tom Miles, Reuters – Feb 19, 2013
North Korea threatened South Korea with “final destruction” during a debate at the U.N Conference on Disarmament on Tuesday, saying it could take “second and third steps” after a nuclear test last week.
EU approves tighter sanctions on North Korea
Ethan Bilby, Reuters – Feb 18, 2013
European Union governments agreed on Monday to tighten sanctions against North Korea, restricting the country’s ability to trade following last week’s nuclear test. The sanctions expand those approved by the U.N. Security Council in January, adding measures preventing trading in North Korean government bonds, gold, precious metals, and diamonds, EU diplomats said.
Russia opposes new N.Korea economic sanctions – diplomat
Gabriela Baczynska and Thomas Grove, Reuters – Feb 19, 2013
Moscow opposes new economic sanctions on North Korea but would be ready to back measures to limit nuclear proliferation, a Russian official said on Tuesday.
RUSSIA
‘No arms cuts without progress on AMBs’ – Lavrov
The Voice of Russia – Feb 18, 2013
Russia will not accept deeper strategic arms cuts unless the US drops plans to deploy weapons in space and extends binding guarantees that no American missile defence installation on European soil will compromise Russia’s deterrence capability.
UNITED KINGDOM
SNP: no nuclear weapons in independent Scotland
Rebecca Day, The Journal – Feb 19, 2013
The foreign policy choices for an independent Scotland were argued at length last Wednesday by key political speakers in Glasgow’s Queen Margaret Union (QMU). The debate was held as part of a series of talks on Scottish independence ahead of a student referendum on the subject later this month.
