Erdogan sugiere que Turquía podría organizar un referéndum sobre su adhesión a la UE

Tras su victoria por la mínima en el referéndum constitucional que amplía sus poderes, el presidente turco, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ha sugerido este lunes que Turquía podría organizar un referéndum sobre su adhesión a la Unión Europea (UE), según informa la agencia France Presse.

Venezuela: Colombia-NATO link may pose as risk to LatAm peace

Venezuela on Monday warned that a possible accord between Colombia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) could pose as a risk to peace in Latin America.

NATO never promised not to expand

A statement by the Russian President that NATO had to refuse to accept new members are not true, according to Alexander Vershbow, NATO Deputy Secretary.

No further eurozone expansion seen in next few years (EU Commisioner)

The eurozone is not expected to welcome any new members in the coming years, as the region's long crisis seems to have put some countries off, deputy European Commission chief said in a newspaper interview Monday.

British PM sets out key demands for EU reform

British Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday formally launched his bid to renegotiate Britain's membership in the European Union, setting out his four key demands for EU reform.

Putin's spokesman: One more NATO step toward Russia to change European security structure

NATO’s further enlargement and “one more step towards the Russian border” will cause “the entire European security architecture to be overhauled”, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on the TVC television channel’s “Pravo Znat” (The Right to Know) programme to be aired on Saturday evening, April 19.

He said that NATO’s further enlargement would pose a serious threat to Russia because “NATO cannot stop being a military organisation” and “Russia will have to take measures to ensure its own security”.

Romanian PM, Victor Ponta, says his country is loyal U.S. ally

BUCHAREST -- Victor Ponta has offered guarantees to the U.S. and NATO that Romania was "a loyal ally they can rely on militarily and politically in the Ukraine crisis."...

"This is an important moment, when the situation in Ukraine is not calming down but worsening, its territorial integrity is threatened, it is subject to constant aggression," the Romanian prime minister was quoted as saying after flying on a U.S. warplane in the co-pilot seat.

NATO respects sovereign countries' choice for membership.-- top official

VILNIUS, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A senior NATO official said here Thursday the military alliance respects sovereign countries' choice for its membership.

Alexander Vershbow, the military bloc's deputy secretary general, made the remarks during Vilnius Conference 2014 held in Lithuania's capital following its 10 year anniversary on March 29 of the NATO membership.

"We believe in the principles of choice. In the case of Ukraine, we gave a very positive signal in the Bucharest Summit. They made the decision to establish the policy of 'no block' and we respect that choice," said Vershbow.

‘Legally speaking’ Syria is now a full member of the anti-chemical weapons treaty – UN envoy.

After the UN accepted documents from Damascus concerning Syria joining the Chemical Weapons Convention, Syria has “legally” become a full member of the treaty, Syrian UN Ambassador Bashar Jaafari said.
"Legally speaking Syria has become, starting today, a full member of the convention," Ambassador Bashar Jaafari told reporters in New York.
Earlier on Thursday, UN spokesman Farhan Haq confirmed that they had received the documents necessary for Damascus' accession.
"In the past few hours we have received a document from the government of Syria that is being translated, which is to be an accession document concerning the Chemical Weapons Convention," Haq said.

Tomatoes vs teargas: Kosovo activists clash with police over Serbia talks (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

---
----
Opposition members threw tomatoes, paint and stones at officers in Kosovo on Monday as they protested against last week’s meeting between Kosovan and Serbian leaders. Police fired teargas and pepper spray in response. The clashes injured 18 officers.
The protest was prompted by last Friday’s meeting between Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and Serbian leader Ivica Dacic.

Scottish referendum to clash with European elections

Scotland and the UK signed an agreement yesterday (15 October) opening the way for a referendum on independence in June 2014, coinciding with the European elections. But if Scots vote for independence, they would be out of the EU, at least until they renegotiate membership.

Signed in Edinburgh by Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond and UK Prime Minister David Cameron, the deal will allow Scotland to decide in a 2014 referendum whether it should become an independent country or stay within the United Kingdom.
Nationalists have timed the vote to coincide with the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn (24 June 1314), when Scottish forces led by King Robert the Bruce defeated English invaders. European elections are due to be held between 5 and 8 June 2014, unless the Council unanimously decides to change the dates.

UK and Scottish ministers in independence referendum deal

Ministers from the UK and Scottish governments have reached a deal over the independence referendum.

BBC Scotland understands the final issues outstanding between the governments were resolved on Friday afternoon.
Scottish Secretary Michael Moore spoke to Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon by telephone.
Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister Alex Salmond are to meet on Monday to sign the agreement.
The referendum is to be held in the autumn of 2014.

Does Scotland want independence or national disaster?

Scottish Office Minister David Mundell announced that in the fall of 2014 a referendum will take place to find out whether the Scottish people want autonomy or independence from Britain, or whether they prefer Scotland to still be a part of the United Kingdom. Gaelic freedom will thus be placed on scales along with people's doubts about the ability of the new state to survive in the time of crisis.

The question of Scotland's separation from the UK appeared a long time ago. Scotland has been a part of the UK since 1707. In 1997, Scotland obtained limited autonomy within the UK.

Going solo: Scots gather for independence march and rally (PHOTOS)

Thousands of supporters of Scottish independence have taken part in a pro-independence rally in the center of Edinburgh. People flocked to the capital from across Scotland for the rally.
­Local police estimated that up to 5,000 people gathered for The March and Rally for an Independent Scotland, which is not part of the official Yes Scotland campaign. Police said that two people were arrested for minor offences.
The Meadows, a large public park in Edinburgh, where marchers started assembling at around 11:00 in the morning, with the Princes Street Gardens turned into a “sea” of nationalist paraphernalia.

Οι υποψήφιοι, οι βάσεις και η Σκοτία

Με τον Κυριάκο Κυριάκου Οι συμφωνίες Ζυρίχης - Λονδίνου μάς άφησαν πολλά αποικιακά κατάλοιπα με τα οποία ζούμε μέχρι σήμερα. Ένα από αυτά είναι και οι ‘κυρίαρχες βάσεις’ οι οποίες κατά τους Άγγλους είναι κράτος εν κράτει. Σε άρθρο της η Κυριακάτικη Εφημερίδα του Λονδίνου Sunday Times δείχνει τον δρόμο στους Σκοτσέζους και τους προειδοποιεί ότι τελικά θα αποκτήσουν κυρίαρχες βάσεις σε περίπτωση ανεξαρτητοποίησής τους.
Η Σκοτία είναι και πάλι έτοιμη να θέσει θέμα ανεξαρτησίας και απεξάρτησής της από τη Μεγάλη Βρετανία. Το μεγαλύτερο κόμμα της Σκοτίας (Εθνικό Κόμμα της Σκοτίας - SNP) συζητά πλέον ανοικτά για την ανεξαρτητοποίηση της Σκοτίας.

Scottish independence: referendum details finalised next month

Details of Scotland’s independence referendum are on course to be finalised next month after the Prime Minister appeared to have won his battle for a single question on the ballot paper. Speaking after meeting David Cameron in 10 Downing Street, Alex Salmond said there was “goodwill” towards having the referendum’s rules settled in the “next few weeks”.

It is understood that a deal agreeing the arrangements for the vote is to be agreed by October 22, paving the way for the Prime Minister to transfer the necessary legal powers to the Scottish Parliament.

Independent Scots may lose EU citizenship

Scottish people could lose European Union citizenship if the region wins independence from the United Kingdom, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso has suggested. 

Nationalists believe an independent Scotland would have no problem remaining in the European Union.
Barroso has said any country winning independence from a current EU member state would have to renegotiate its membership.