Peace Negotiations
Monday, November 18, 2013 - 12:03
In the last week of October, the Democratic Republic of the Congo became a world turned on its head. The Congolese army, better known for its human rights abuses than for its battlefield efficiency, finally steamrolled through the positions of the so-called March 23 Movement, or the M23, breaking the deadlock with the rebels they had been fighting since April 2012. The UN peacekeeping mission there, long criticized for inaction, put attack helicopters up in the air and ordered its soldiers to use deadly force to back the Congolese army’s offensive. And the Rwandan government, which had intermittently supported armed groups in eastern Congo for the past 17 years, suddenly cut off its aid.
Monday, November 18, 2013 - 10:01
U.S. State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki provides updates on U.S. assistance to the Philippines, the release of political prisoners in Burma, ongoing relations with Iran (in light of Israeli opposition), efforts to destroy Syria's chemical weapons reserves, and a variety of minor issues in Asia and MENA.
Monday, November 18, 2013 - 08:27
The presidents of arch-foes Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet in Vienna Nov. 19 for the first time in two years in a bid to restart stalled negotiations over the disputed region of Nagorny Karabakh, mediators said.
Monday, November 18, 2013 - 08:18
French President Francois Hollande called on Israel on Monday to halt settlement building on occupied territory, saying it hampers chances for a peace agreement with the Palestinians.
Monday, November 18, 2013 - 07:57
"Israel started releasing prisoners, but gestures are needed on the settlements issue as well," Hollande said during a meeting with President Shimon Peres, stressing that it was necessary the conditions for peace were created.
Monday, November 18, 2013 - 07:44
Tens of thousands of refugees and displaced people are starting to return to their homes in the two territories of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) previously occupied by the M23 rebels.
Monday, November 18, 2013 - 07:32
The president of Iraqi Kurdistan has called on Turkey's Kurds to back a flagging peace process with Ankara, in a show of support for Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s bid to overcome a three-decade conflict.
Monday, November 18, 2013 - 07:04
The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan will meet on Nov.19 in Vienna, the U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick wrote on his official page on Twitter.
Friday, November 15, 2013 - 12:06
Statement by Ambassador Samantha Power, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on the Announcement by the M23 Rebels in the DRC, November 5, 2013
Friday, November 15, 2013 - 11:11
Below is a roundup of some of the top articles and news highlights from around Africa over the last week: