3 posts tagged “nato”

At approximately 12:30pm on 2nd April hundreds of Romanian police violently raided a convergence center in Bucharest, the country's capital. The convergence space was set up to facilitate an anti-NATO gathering and was legally rented. It is reported that during the raid at least two protesters were hospitalized. Various reports state people are badly beaten while in custody and even while taken to hospital. Numerous people are reported to be seriously injured and some have been refused medical assistance while in custody.

It is estimated that 46 people have been arrested. No demonstration or action had happened before the raid and all the arrests were made inside the convergence center. Police officers were masked and reportedly very aggressive towards journalists trying to access the scene. The convergence center is located near the center of Bucharest, which is hosting a NATO summit that just got underway today. It is estimated that up to 27,000 police officers, military, snipers and secret police are 'guarding' the city. The security alert code yellow has been announced, meaning that all demonstrations are forbidden in the whole city amongst other restrictive laws. [sourced @ indymedia.org.uk]

US President George Bush is holding his final meeting with Vladimir Putin today, in an attempt to patch up the US's battered relationship with Russia. Bush, who arrived last night in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, is holding talks with Putin on the contentious US plans to install an anti-missile defence system in central Europe. It will be the last encounter between the two world leaders before Putin leaves office on 7 May.

They are expected to sign a 'strategic plan' setting out the future direction of the US-Russian relationship. Both leaders are likely to adopt a friendly tone - with Bush keen to present today's 'roadmap' document as a rare foreign policy success.

Last night, however, analysts said there was little prospect of any meaningful breakthrough on the issue that divides both sides - the Pentagon's plan to install a missile interceptor and radar system in Poland and the Czech Republic respectively, allegedly to shoot down any rogue missiles fired by Iran.

Nato agreed to support the controversial American proposal during its Bucharest summit last week. But Russia remains vehemently opposed - arguing that the system upsets Europe's strategic balance. It also believes that the threat from Iran is non-existent.

Bush is expected to offer Putin guarantees that the system will be used only in the event of a verifiable Iranian threat. Russian officials, meanwhile, expressed confidence last night that the system would never be built - with either a Democrat-controlled US Congress shooting down the plan, or a possible democratic revolution in Iran.

One leading foreign affairs specialist said today's deal was likely to be strong on rhetoric and weak on substance. 'A roadmap sounds impressive and dynamic. At the same time it's absolutely non-binding and has no legal status,' said Fyodor Lukyanov, editor-in-chief of the journal Russia in Foreign Affairs

As well as holding talks with Putin, Bush will also meet for the first time Dmitry Medvedev, Putin's presidential successor. The talks are also expected to include a discussion on terrorism, Russia's offer to provide a transit corridor to supply Nato troops in Afghanistan, and arms control. Bush has shown scant interest in arms reduction, but is now reportedly keen to negotiate a successor treaty to Start II, which obliges Russia and the US to reduce nuclear warheads and expires in 2012.
[source - www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/06/usa.russia ]

I have submitted a petition to 10 Downing Street, you know, the Town House that the Prime Minister lives in. I have asked that the UK Delegates to NATO put pressure on all the World's National Organizations to Stop All Wars by the end of 2008 and requested they never allow another War to start. Idealism at it's height. I shall post a link soon so anyone can sign the petition who wants an end to this nonsense called War. My dear friend Karen works at the Home Office and she said it will mean lots of extra work for her if I do this, but, she supports me all the same which is just great.