US admits Russia's concerns about root causes of Ukrainian conflict are justified — MFA

The administration of US President Donald Trump acknowledges the legitimacy of Russia’s questions regarding the root causes of the conflict in Ukraine, including the "reckless" expansion of NATO and its infrastructure toward Russian borders, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said in an interview with International Affairs magazine.

Afghan Delegation Heading to Qatar for Ceasefire Talks With Pakistan

An Afghan delegation led by Defense Minister Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob flew to Qatar on Saturday for talks with the Pakistani side, Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

Death toll in Thailand-Cambodia border clashes hits 32, over 130 injured

Cambodian officials have reported another 12 people killed as a result of the ongoing border dispute with Thailand, with the death toll on both sides now standing at 32, as fears grow that the Southeast Asian neighbours may become engulfed in an extended conflict.

Dmitry Medvedev warns of the possibility of a nuclear apocalypse but there is a second way to resolve this total confrontation

Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev in the article called one of the ways to resolve the confrontation in the world a third world war in which there will be no winners, noting that a nuclear apocalypse is not only possible, but also probable.

Turnbull: Australia will support US in conflict with North Korea

The Australian Prime Minister said Friday that Australia would support the United States if North Korea decided to attack the US, following a heated exchange of threats between Washington and Pyongyang.

UN chief Guterres warns that Libya risks a return to widespread conflict

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is warning that Libya risks a return to widespread conflict, citing the volatile security situation in Tripoli and fighting in the eastern oil crescent and elsewhere.

Russia says its jet neared US aircraft. Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned of the risk of a U.S.- Russian conflict

A Russian fighter jet came into close proximity with a U.S. air force jet over Syria on Oct. 10 to identify it, “not to scare it,” Russia’s state ITAR-TASS news agency quoted the defense ministry as saying on Oct. 14.

Coalition with Russia, Iran needed to settle Syria conflict (Martin Schulz)

A collation involving Russia and Iran is needed to resolve the conflict in Syria, European Parliament President Martin Schulz said on Thursday.

Obama Welcomes Putin’s ‘Constructive’ Support on Syria

President Barack Obama would welcome constructive Russian support for its efforts to create an anti-Islamic State collation in Syria, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters on Wednesday.

Russia does not interfere with conflict in Yemen (Russian FM)

Russia does not allow whatever interference with the conflict in Yemen, spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich said on Sunday, and representatives of that country’s authorities should be not involved in fantasies but should work on eliminating sufferings of the civilians.

Poroshenko says Ukraine ceasefire plan to be signed Friday

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said a ceasefire plan aimed at ending a near five-month conflict in the east of the country would be signed on Friday.
     
"Tomorrow in Minsk a document will be signed providing for the gradual introduction of the Ukrainian peace plan," he said on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Wales on Thursday.
     
"It is very important that the first element provides for a ceasefire," he said.
     
Representatives of Kiev, Moscow, the separatist rebels and the pan-European security group the OSCE are due to meet in the Belarussian capital on Friday.

NATO gives assurances to Turkey over Iraq concerns

Turkey raised fears on June 25 over potential spillover from turmoil in neighbouring Iraq, as NATO promised not to hesitate to defend its ally from the widening conflict.   

"I can assure you that NATO allies stand together in solidarity and unity and we are focused on providing effective defence and protection of all our allies including Turkey," NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in talks with foreign ministers of the 28-nation alliance.

Moscow sends note to Kiev urging to send humanitarian aid to east Ukraine regions

"It was emphasized that the Russian side is ready to provide the population in these regions with the required assistance"....

The Russian Foreign Ministry has sent its Ukrainian counterparts a note "which points out to the Ukrainian side that Russia has been receiving urgent requests from individuals and organizations based in the conflict zone in the eastern Ukrainian regions, where hostilities led to human casualties and multiple injuries, asking to provide immediate humanitarian aid, primarily medications and medicinal drugs," the ministry said on its website.

ASEAN FMs Urge Restraint in South China Sea Disputes

Foreign ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have expressed concern over escalating tensions in the South China Sea, where China has been involved in maritime disputes with Vietnam and the Philippines.
Burmese Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin says ASEAN foreign ministers issued a joint statement calling for restraint during a meeting on Saturday.
"We ask all the parties to resolve their issues in a very peaceful manner," he said.

Defense Chief Hagel Warns Against US Isolationism. -"A mistake to view our global responsibilities as a burden or charity."

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says it would be a mistake for the United States to turn to isolationism to avoid involvement in the world's conflicts.

After 13 years of U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Hagel told a foreign affairs forum Tuesday in Chicago that Americans are increasingly skeptical of foreign military engagements.

But he said it would be "a mistake to view our global responsibilities as a burden or charity." He said failure to engage in world affairs would prove costly.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier: Refusing to talk with Russia ‘incredible mistake’. - We are only a few steps away from an open military confrontation

Refusing dialogue with Russia on events in Ukraine would be "an incredible mistake", Germany’s Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, told Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland's largest daily newspaper, on Tuesday.
“The situation in eastern Ukraine, deteriorating in the last few days, and bloody clashes in Odessa show that we are only a few steps away from an open military confrontation,” Steinmeier said.

Syria absolutely behind Reyhanlı attack, says Turkish ministry. - "There is no doubt"

There is no doubt that a deadly bombing that killed over 50 in Reyhanlı on the Turkish-Syrian border in May 2013 was committed by Damascus, Turkish officials have claimed, despite persistent speculation that the attack was staged by al-Qaeda.

“There is no doubt that the Reyhanlı attack was carried out with support from the Syrian regime. Consequently, reports, expressions and attempts aimed at creating a perception as if there are contradicting statements among state officials are completely invalid,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement released late April 6.

Ban opens Syrian peace talks, urges all sides to seize ‘historic’ opportunity to end bloodshed.- video UN

-

22 January 2014 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today opened a concerted new effort to end the brutal civil war in Syria, urging the Government, the opposition, and representatives of some 40 other countries and regional organization to seize the historic opportunity to end the bloodshed.
“After nearly three painful years of conflict and suffering in Syria, today is a day of fragile but real hope,” he told the opening session of the high-level segment of the United Nations peace conference on Syria in Montreux, Switzerland.

U.S. to keep 1,500 troops in Jordan. -A flood of refugees from Syria into Jordan has tested the Jordanian government...

The United States has about 1,500 U.S. troops in Jordan and they will remain there until the security situation improves, the White House told Congress on Friday.

The U.S. contingent in Jordan, which includes Patriot missile systems and fighter aircraft, is there to help the Jordanian government as it grapples with strains from the civil war in neighboring Syria.

A flood of refugees from Syria into Jordan has tested the Jordanian government of King Hussein, a close U.S. ally.

El Consejo de Administración de Repsol aprobó el preacuerdo con el gobierno argentino por YPF

Se trata del preacuerdo alcanzado entre España, Argentina y México, acerca de la compensación por la estatización en 2012 del 51 por ciento de YPF.

El Consejo de Administración de Repsol respaldó el preacuerdo alcanzado entre España, Argentina y México sobre la compensación por la expropiación dispuesta en 2012 del 51 por ciento de las acciones que la empresa ibérica tenía en YPF, y ordenó abrir un proceso de negociación para buscar una solución definitiva.