4 New Messages
Digest #4534
Messages
Tue Oct 30, 2012 8:55 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://english.
Fars News Agency
October 30, 2012
Analyst: Georgia Serving NATO as Caucasus Base
TEHRAN: The US and other NATO members have increased their ties and cooperation with Georgia during the past two decades and the Caucasus state is now playing a major role in NATO's strategic plans, analysts say.
"Right now the US and other leading NATO members are expanding their relations with Tbilisi in the political, military and technical fields and the US congress has recently approved strengthening military cooperation with Georgia and arms shipments to the Caucasus country," Stanislav Ivanov, an analyst of Caucasus affairs, wrote in an article about NATO-Georgia relations.
He said a pro-Georgian lobby has also been established in the US congress and that the necessary financial backup has been allocated in the Pentagon's 2012 budget for arms assistance to Georgia.
The US is not at all trying to hide its plan for turning Georgia into a NATO base in the region and is encouraging other NATO members to join efforts to strengthen the Georgian armed forces.
Georgia and North Atlantic Treaty Organization relations officially began in 1994 when Georgia joined the NATO-run Partnership for Peace. Georgia has moved quickly following the so-called Rose Revolution in 2003 to seek closer ties with and eventual membership in NATO.
Georgia opened official relations with NATO in 1998 by opening a diplomatic mission and assigning an ambassador. Following more discussions, the first joint military exercises occurred in Poti in 2001, with more in 2002.
The so-called Rose Revolution in 2003 replaced Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze with Mikheil Saakashvili, who has promoted closer ties with Western institutions including NATO. In 2004, Georgian forces worked with NATO forces in the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan as part of the election security force.
Meantime the US hopes for continued cooperation with Georgia on the Iranian and Turkish-Syrian issues. The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Eric Rubin stated this while answering journalists' questions at a briefing at the US embassy in Tbilisi in October 2012.
He emphasized that the USA and Georgia have established good relations on this issue.
"Our cooperation on the Turkish-Syrian issue is considerable,
============
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============
Fars News Agency
October 30, 2012
Analyst: Georgia Serving NATO as Caucasus Base
TEHRAN: The US and other NATO members have increased their ties and cooperation with Georgia during the past two decades and the Caucasus state is now playing a major role in NATO's strategic plans, analysts say.
"Right now the US and other leading NATO members are expanding their relations with Tbilisi in the political, military and technical fields and the US congress has recently approved strengthening military cooperation with Georgia and arms shipments to the Caucasus country," Stanislav Ivanov, an analyst of Caucasus affairs, wrote in an article about NATO-Georgia relations.
He said a pro-Georgian lobby has also been established in the US congress and that the necessary financial backup has been allocated in the Pentagon's 2012 budget for arms assistance to Georgia.
The US is not at all trying to hide its plan for turning Georgia into a NATO base in the region and is encouraging other NATO members to join efforts to strengthen the Georgian armed forces.
Georgia and North Atlantic Treaty Organization relations officially began in 1994 when Georgia joined the NATO-run Partnership for Peace. Georgia has moved quickly following the so-called Rose Revolution in 2003 to seek closer ties with and eventual membership in NATO.
Georgia opened official relations with NATO in 1998 by opening a diplomatic mission and assigning an ambassador. Following more discussions, the first joint military exercises occurred in Poti in 2001, with more in 2002.
The so-called Rose Revolution in 2003 replaced Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze with Mikheil Saakashvili, who has promoted closer ties with Western institutions including NATO. In 2004, Georgian forces worked with NATO forces in the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan as part of the election security force.
Meantime the US hopes for continued cooperation with Georgia on the Iranian and Turkish-Syrian issues. The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Eric Rubin stated this while answering journalists' questions at a briefing at the US embassy in Tbilisi in October 2012.
He emphasized that the USA and Georgia have established good relations on this issue.
"Our cooperation on the Turkish-Syrian issue is considerable,
============
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http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
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============
Tue Oct 30, 2012 8:55 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://en.trend.
Trend News Agency
October 30, 2012
Defense ministry: Azerbaijani Armed Forces brought to conformity with NATO standards
E. Mehdiyev
Baku: The entire staff structure of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces has been brought into conformity with NATO standards, head of the Defense Ministry press service Eldar Sabiroglu told media today.
"Azerbaijani officers in NATO headquarters serve as NATO officers and the number of these officers is growing," he said.
Sabiroglu said that Azerbaijan has its military attaches and representatives in 21 countries and cooperates with 53 countries in the military sphere.
"The High Military School in Azerbaijan is so developed that students from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan study here," he said. "Several other countries have also appealed regarding sending their students."
------------
http://nisa.
NATO International School of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan-NATO Relations
Information on Azerbaijan-NATO cooperation
Azerbaijan was among the first countries from the former Soviet Union, who joined the Partnership for Peace (PFP) programme of NATO. The President of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr. Heydar Aliyev signed the PFP Framework Document on the accession to PFP during his official visit to NATO HQ on 4 May 1994.
In order to determine the areas of future cooperation with NATO, Azerbaijan prepared the PFP Presentation document and submitted it to the Alliance in April 1996. Bilateral partnership incorporated such spheres as military cooperation, defence modernization, democratic control of the armed forces, political consultations on security issues, peace support operations, security sector reform, civil emergency planning, security related scientific, economic and environmental cooperation.
Since 1996, on the basis of its Presentation Document and Partnership Work Programme prepared by the NATO, Azerbaijan has been annually adopting Individual Partnership Programme (IPP), which includes all joint activities and events to be attended by national military and civilian representatives. Annually expanding the scope of its Individual Partnership Programme, Azerbaijan participated in more than 250 NATO/PFP activities and events in 2007. This number is one of the highest in the ranking among the Partner Nations and the highest one in the South Caucasus.
In 2006, Government of Azerbaijan increased financing of the PFP Programme from 300 000 USD to 850 000 USD. In 2007 this figure was increased to 1.8 million USD. In 2008 it was approximately 2 million USD.
In 1997 Azerbaijan joined the Planning and Review Process (PARP). PARP related activities were aimed at engaging Azerbaijan more closely to NATO's defence planning for operations. Since then Azerbaijani Armed Forces are undertaking increasing number of so-called Partnership Goals (PG) based on two-year cycles . PG are focused on achieving military interoperability with NATO troops through introduction of NATO's political-military, military, training and technical standards.
In 2002 Azerbaijan proposed to extend PfP cooperation to broader security sector issues such as the defence against terrorism, the modernization of the State Border Service and transformation of Internal Troops. At the moment, Azerbaijan has undertaken more than 50 Partnership Goals, mainly related to national defence and security sectors.
In 2002 NATO/EAPC Prague Summit adopted Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) instrument in order to improve cooperation with the Partner nations. In May 2003 Azerbaijan formally applied for joining the IPAP. In May 2004 President of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev officially submitted the IPAP Presentation Document to the Alliance, which included comprehensive information on the current status of political, economic and security developments in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan and NATO elaborated and approved the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) in May 2005, on the basis of this Presentation Document. The IPAP covers all major political, defence, security and security related economic, scientific and environmental spheres. IPAP implementation and update is based on two-year cycles and annual assessment reports, which are considered at the level of North Atlantic Council +Azerbaijan.
In August 2007 Azerbaijan has completed first IPAP cycle. The new IPAP document was approved in March 2008. Since the adoption of the first IPAP of Azerbaijan in May 2005 real steps have been made towards its successful implementation, including in the sphere of security sector reform. Taking together all the fields of cooperation, progress of Azerbaijan on implementation of IPAP has been considerable.
- Special Presidential decree was issued to task the State Commission, which is composed of the heads of various Ministries, with IPAP's implementation and defining resources. Since then budget allocations for IPAP and PFP activities have considerably increased.
- The progress has been made in the implementation of the most IPAP goals, including those events, which were added and amended during the modification of the IPAP document in Autumn 2006. The work has also begun on the elimination of the shortcomings in the field of controlling, directing and planning of the IPAP process.
- Work on the National Security Concept has been completed and it was subsequently endorsed by the Government and Parliament on 19 May 2007. The work on the Military doctrine is close to finalisation. These two fundamental documents will guide the Strategic Defence Review of the security sector.
- Despite the on-going conflict, the process of gradual transformation of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan has been started. Structural changes on the basis of NATO standarts are under way within MOD, General Staff and army units. It is planned to complete this process in 2009 integrating needs and requirements identified within the Strategic Defence Review (SDR).
- Appropriate measures are being taken for gradual transformation of the State Border Service (SBS) from military strucuture into a law-enforcement type of organization. Considerable work has been done for the reinforcement of technical capabilities and improvement of human resources management within the State Border Service.
- Azerbaijan has already integrated NATO standards into the national military education and training system.
- Amendments to the national legislation are being prepared on the establishment of practical policy related to the career development of civilian personal within the defence system. This will contribute to further strengthening of civilian control on the armed forces.
- Cooperation in the field of Public Diplomacy and Science, as well as the Trust Fund Project on the cleaning of the unexploded munitions have been continuning with success. The foundation of the Euro-Atlantic Centre within the Azerbaijan State Library in Baku, official registration of NISA (NATO International School of Azerbaijan) as an NGO, the beginning of the implemention of the project of Melange conversion and the conclusion of the second cycle of NATO PFP Saloglu Project (the cleaning of 600 hectars of land of Agstafa region of Azerbaijan from unexploded artillery shells and other ammunition) are the main issues in this direction.
Republic of Azerbaijan is following closely the future development of Partnership with NATO and continuesly contributes to its expansion to wider areas.
With regard to the future of the Partnership and the policy of NATO in the region, Azerbaijan considers that the security in Euro-Atlantic area depends on improvement of the capacity of crises management, creation of secure transport corridors, and development of energy security. All of these are essential for the development of Partnership as an institution. The development of Partnership has to give opportunity for the development of security cooperation with NATO on the basis of 3 pillars: political unanimity, legal harmony, practical interoperability.
Against the background of the increasing global role of NATO and on the basis of the principles provided for in the Partnership for Peace Framework Document, such development has to ensure security guarantees to Partners, which actively share European values and respect international law.
Providing security guarantees would prevent the violation of international law and promote stability in international relations.
Please see the official MFA of Republic of Azerbaijan and NATO websites for more information:
http://www.nato.
http://www.otan.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@
============
Trend News Agency
October 30, 2012
Defense ministry: Azerbaijani Armed Forces brought to conformity with NATO standards
E. Mehdiyev
Baku: The entire staff structure of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces has been brought into conformity with NATO standards, head of the Defense Ministry press service Eldar Sabiroglu told media today.
"Azerbaijani officers in NATO headquarters serve as NATO officers and the number of these officers is growing," he said.
Sabiroglu said that Azerbaijan has its military attaches and representatives in 21 countries and cooperates with 53 countries in the military sphere.
"The High Military School in Azerbaijan is so developed that students from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan study here," he said. "Several other countries have also appealed regarding sending their students."
------------
http://nisa.
NATO International School of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan-NATO Relations
Information on Azerbaijan-NATO cooperation
Azerbaijan was among the first countries from the former Soviet Union, who joined the Partnership for Peace (PFP) programme of NATO. The President of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr. Heydar Aliyev signed the PFP Framework Document on the accession to PFP during his official visit to NATO HQ on 4 May 1994.
In order to determine the areas of future cooperation with NATO, Azerbaijan prepared the PFP Presentation document and submitted it to the Alliance in April 1996. Bilateral partnership incorporated such spheres as military cooperation, defence modernization, democratic control of the armed forces, political consultations on security issues, peace support operations, security sector reform, civil emergency planning, security related scientific, economic and environmental cooperation.
Since 1996, on the basis of its Presentation Document and Partnership Work Programme prepared by the NATO, Azerbaijan has been annually adopting Individual Partnership Programme (IPP), which includes all joint activities and events to be attended by national military and civilian representatives. Annually expanding the scope of its Individual Partnership Programme, Azerbaijan participated in more than 250 NATO/PFP activities and events in 2007. This number is one of the highest in the ranking among the Partner Nations and the highest one in the South Caucasus.
In 2006, Government of Azerbaijan increased financing of the PFP Programme from 300 000 USD to 850 000 USD. In 2007 this figure was increased to 1.8 million USD. In 2008 it was approximately 2 million USD.
In 1997 Azerbaijan joined the Planning and Review Process (PARP). PARP related activities were aimed at engaging Azerbaijan more closely to NATO's defence planning for operations. Since then Azerbaijani Armed Forces are undertaking increasing number of so-called Partnership Goals (PG) based on two-year cycles . PG are focused on achieving military interoperability with NATO troops through introduction of NATO's political-military, military, training and technical standards.
In 2002 Azerbaijan proposed to extend PfP cooperation to broader security sector issues such as the defence against terrorism, the modernization of the State Border Service and transformation of Internal Troops. At the moment, Azerbaijan has undertaken more than 50 Partnership Goals, mainly related to national defence and security sectors.
In 2002 NATO/EAPC Prague Summit adopted Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) instrument in order to improve cooperation with the Partner nations. In May 2003 Azerbaijan formally applied for joining the IPAP. In May 2004 President of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev officially submitted the IPAP Presentation Document to the Alliance, which included comprehensive information on the current status of political, economic and security developments in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan and NATO elaborated and approved the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) in May 2005, on the basis of this Presentation Document. The IPAP covers all major political, defence, security and security related economic, scientific and environmental spheres. IPAP implementation and update is based on two-year cycles and annual assessment reports, which are considered at the level of North Atlantic Council +Azerbaijan.
In August 2007 Azerbaijan has completed first IPAP cycle. The new IPAP document was approved in March 2008. Since the adoption of the first IPAP of Azerbaijan in May 2005 real steps have been made towards its successful implementation, including in the sphere of security sector reform. Taking together all the fields of cooperation, progress of Azerbaijan on implementation of IPAP has been considerable.
- Special Presidential decree was issued to task the State Commission, which is composed of the heads of various Ministries, with IPAP's implementation and defining resources. Since then budget allocations for IPAP and PFP activities have considerably increased.
- The progress has been made in the implementation of the most IPAP goals, including those events, which were added and amended during the modification of the IPAP document in Autumn 2006. The work has also begun on the elimination of the shortcomings in the field of controlling, directing and planning of the IPAP process.
- Work on the National Security Concept has been completed and it was subsequently endorsed by the Government and Parliament on 19 May 2007. The work on the Military doctrine is close to finalisation. These two fundamental documents will guide the Strategic Defence Review of the security sector.
- Despite the on-going conflict, the process of gradual transformation of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan has been started. Structural changes on the basis of NATO standarts are under way within MOD, General Staff and army units. It is planned to complete this process in 2009 integrating needs and requirements identified within the Strategic Defence Review (SDR).
- Appropriate measures are being taken for gradual transformation of the State Border Service (SBS) from military strucuture into a law-enforcement type of organization. Considerable work has been done for the reinforcement of technical capabilities and improvement of human resources management within the State Border Service.
- Azerbaijan has already integrated NATO standards into the national military education and training system.
- Amendments to the national legislation are being prepared on the establishment of practical policy related to the career development of civilian personal within the defence system. This will contribute to further strengthening of civilian control on the armed forces.
- Cooperation in the field of Public Diplomacy and Science, as well as the Trust Fund Project on the cleaning of the unexploded munitions have been continuning with success. The foundation of the Euro-Atlantic Centre within the Azerbaijan State Library in Baku, official registration of NISA (NATO International School of Azerbaijan) as an NGO, the beginning of the implemention of the project of Melange conversion and the conclusion of the second cycle of NATO PFP Saloglu Project (the cleaning of 600 hectars of land of Agstafa region of Azerbaijan from unexploded artillery shells and other ammunition) are the main issues in this direction.
Republic of Azerbaijan is following closely the future development of Partnership with NATO and continuesly contributes to its expansion to wider areas.
With regard to the future of the Partnership and the policy of NATO in the region, Azerbaijan considers that the security in Euro-Atlantic area depends on improvement of the capacity of crises management, creation of secure transport corridors, and development of energy security. All of these are essential for the development of Partnership as an institution. The development of Partnership has to give opportunity for the development of security cooperation with NATO on the basis of 3 pillars: political unanimity, legal harmony, practical interoperability.
Against the background of the increasing global role of NATO and on the basis of the principles provided for in the Partnership for Peace Framework Document, such development has to ensure security guarantees to Partners, which actively share European values and respect international law.
Providing security guarantees would prevent the violation of international law and promote stability in international relations.
Please see the official MFA of Republic of Azerbaijan and NATO websites for more information:
http://www.nato.
http://www.otan.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@
============
Tue Oct 30, 2012 8:55 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://english.
Voice of Russia
October 30, 2012
Middle East in anticipation of war, reaching its peak after US elections
Vladimir Sazhin
====
While Israel’s right-wing politicians consolidate, the military makes no effort to conceal its active preparations for combat. Military exercise follows military exercise. Some experts even concede that the al-Hartum factory strike, widely attributed in the press to Israel, could have been a rehearsal of sorts.
Iranians are not sleeping through the crisis either; in early October they initiated the launch into Israel's airspace of the Iranian drone aircraft Hesballoy. On October 29 a large-scale military exercise began in the region along the Iraqi border.
====
Some political experts claim there will be a risk that a new “big wave” in the Middle East could reach its peak after the American presidential elections, and that the region might plummet into the abyss. They say that Israel is ready to attack Iran's nuclear facilities.
At the same time the Islamic Republic, whose economy is on the verge of collapse due to sanctions, is also prepared to stand up to Israel.
So far, uncertainty in the US presidential race has served as a containment factor. But what will happen after the elections?
Irina Fedorova, a specialist in Iranian-US relations, delivers a “partly cloudy” forecast for the near future; “Before the Inauguration on January 20 it is hardly possible to anticipate any sudden political moves from the US president, who will be elected on November 6. The main task of the new, or old, president with the US political elite will be the formation of a new government. That is why foreign policy issues will not take precedence in that period.
"The issue that will influence the US president's opinion on the possibility of a military strike against Iran will be the crisis in Syria, including the problem of Bashar al-Assad. Until those problems are resolved, the US president's attention will be focused on Syria.”
The Israeli factor cannot be ignored either: the current situation in Israel provides much food for thought. The Knesset is dissolved and elections are set for January 22, the day after the new president of the USA is inaugurated. There are two politicians who are ready for a war against Iran; Benjamin Netanyahu from Likud and Avigdor Lieberman of Israel is Our Home [Yisrael Beiteinu], and there is a very real possibility that one of them will win.
The likelihood of finding a solution to the Iranian problem between the US and Israeli elections cannot be ruled out completely, but during that period, anti-war pressure on the Cabinet will dwindle to almost zero. That is because, although Knesset deputies continue with their duties, they are essentially already “lame ducks” in the absence of a sitting parliament. The current Knesset cannot be expected to address the issue of a no-confidence vote before the elections and, in the event of a successful strike against Iran, as anticipated by its proponents, it would be seen as a vote winner in the election run-up.
While Israel’s right-wing politicians consolidate, the military makes no effort to conceal its active preparations for combat. Military exercise follows military exercise. Some experts even concede that the al-Hartum factory strike, widely attributed in the press to Israel, could have been a rehearsal of sorts.
Iranians are not sleeping through the crisis either; in early October they initiated the launch into Israel's airspace of the Iranian drone aircraft Hesballoy. On October 29 a large-scale military exercise began in the region along the Iraqi border.
It is not however the growing military activity in Iran that worries Israel, but the Iranian nuclear programme. Recently, there was an announcement that Iran had finished the installation of a centrifuge at the Fordo underground military facility. Western experts believe that Iranian nuclear specialists can now produce uranium enriched not only to 60%, but the 90% purity required for weapons grade material. If true that can only serve to encourage Israel to strike first.
Irina Fedorova observed: “There can be unpredictable decisions in politics and it is possible that the situation could arise when the Israeli military, without Washington's approval, would start an operation against Iran. In that case the USA would, without doubt, support Israel.”
And many experts believe that that is just what is likely to happen, right after the US presidential elections.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@
============
Voice of Russia
October 30, 2012
Middle East in anticipation of war, reaching its peak after US elections
Vladimir Sazhin
====
While Israel’s right-wing politicians consolidate, the military makes no effort to conceal its active preparations for combat. Military exercise follows military exercise. Some experts even concede that the al-Hartum factory strike, widely attributed in the press to Israel, could have been a rehearsal of sorts.
Iranians are not sleeping through the crisis either; in early October they initiated the launch into Israel's airspace of the Iranian drone aircraft Hesballoy. On October 29 a large-scale military exercise began in the region along the Iraqi border.
====
Some political experts claim there will be a risk that a new “big wave” in the Middle East could reach its peak after the American presidential elections, and that the region might plummet into the abyss. They say that Israel is ready to attack Iran's nuclear facilities.
At the same time the Islamic Republic, whose economy is on the verge of collapse due to sanctions, is also prepared to stand up to Israel.
So far, uncertainty in the US presidential race has served as a containment factor. But what will happen after the elections?
Irina Fedorova, a specialist in Iranian-US relations, delivers a “partly cloudy” forecast for the near future; “Before the Inauguration on January 20 it is hardly possible to anticipate any sudden political moves from the US president, who will be elected on November 6. The main task of the new, or old, president with the US political elite will be the formation of a new government. That is why foreign policy issues will not take precedence in that period.
"The issue that will influence the US president's opinion on the possibility of a military strike against Iran will be the crisis in Syria, including the problem of Bashar al-Assad. Until those problems are resolved, the US president's attention will be focused on Syria.”
The Israeli factor cannot be ignored either: the current situation in Israel provides much food for thought. The Knesset is dissolved and elections are set for January 22, the day after the new president of the USA is inaugurated. There are two politicians who are ready for a war against Iran; Benjamin Netanyahu from Likud and Avigdor Lieberman of Israel is Our Home [Yisrael Beiteinu], and there is a very real possibility that one of them will win.
The likelihood of finding a solution to the Iranian problem between the US and Israeli elections cannot be ruled out completely, but during that period, anti-war pressure on the Cabinet will dwindle to almost zero. That is because, although Knesset deputies continue with their duties, they are essentially already “lame ducks” in the absence of a sitting parliament. The current Knesset cannot be expected to address the issue of a no-confidence vote before the elections and, in the event of a successful strike against Iran, as anticipated by its proponents, it would be seen as a vote winner in the election run-up.
While Israel’s right-wing politicians consolidate, the military makes no effort to conceal its active preparations for combat. Military exercise follows military exercise. Some experts even concede that the al-Hartum factory strike, widely attributed in the press to Israel, could have been a rehearsal of sorts.
Iranians are not sleeping through the crisis either; in early October they initiated the launch into Israel's airspace of the Iranian drone aircraft Hesballoy. On October 29 a large-scale military exercise began in the region along the Iraqi border.
It is not however the growing military activity in Iran that worries Israel, but the Iranian nuclear programme. Recently, there was an announcement that Iran had finished the installation of a centrifuge at the Fordo underground military facility. Western experts believe that Iranian nuclear specialists can now produce uranium enriched not only to 60%, but the 90% purity required for weapons grade material. If true that can only serve to encourage Israel to strike first.
Irina Fedorova observed: “There can be unpredictable decisions in politics and it is possible that the situation could arise when the Israeli military, without Washington's approval, would start an operation against Iran. In that case the USA would, without doubt, support Israel.”
And many experts believe that that is just what is likely to happen, right after the US presidential elections.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@
============
Tue Oct 30, 2012 8:55 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
Pentagon’s New Global Military Partner: Sweden
http://rickrozoff.
Afghan War: NATO Trains Finland, Sweden For Conflict With Russia
http://rickrozoff.
End of Scandinavian Neutrality: NATO’s Militarization Of Europe
http://rickrozoff.
http://www.reuters.
Reuters
October 30, 2012
Finland, Sweden to help NATO in Iceland air policing
By Terhi Kinnunen
HELSINKI: Finland and Sweden plan to join some NATO air surveillance operations over Iceland, their prime ministers said on Tuesday, in a sign the neutral Nordic states are ready for more cooperation with the Western alliance.
Iceland, a NATO member without its own air force, had asked Finland and Sweden to help the alliance monitor its airspace.
The move has been politically sensitive, particularly in Finland where many fear it would breach the country's neutrality and provoke neighboring Russia.
"Finland will inform Iceland's government that we are willing to participate in Iceland's air space surveillance in 2014, together with Sweden," Katainen said at a meeting of Nordic leaders in Helsinki.
His conservative National Coalition party favors closer cooperation with NATO to strengthen national security.
Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, at the same meeting, said his country was "positive" about Iceland's request. Swedish participation was a condition for Finland's decision to join the operations.
Finland's opposition politicians criticized the plan.
"Participating in the air surveillance of a NATO member country absolutely does not concern non-allied Finland," Kimmo Tiilikainen of the Centre Party said in a statement.
A Finnish opinion survey on Tuesday showed 42 percent of Finns opposed participation and 22 percent supported it, while the rest did not have a stance.
(Additional reporting by Jussi Rosendahl; Writing by Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Alistair Lyon)
------------
http://www.hs.
Helsingin Sanomat
October 26, 2012
Opposition lashes out against participation in monitoring of Iceland’s airspace
All opposition forces in the Finnish Parliament – the Finns Party, the Centre Party, and the Left Group (which broke away from the Left Alliance because it disapproved of the party’s decision to join the current coalition government), have come out against Finnish participation in the monitoring of the airspace of Iceland.
The stand taken by the Centre Party was especially disappointing to Minister of Defence Carl Haglund (Swed. People’s Party).
The opponents say that organising the monitoring of Iceland’s airspace is the responsibility of NATO. "NATO is cutting costs, and Finland pays", said Jussi Niinistö (Finns Party), chairman of the Parliament’s Defence Committee.
Haglund maintains that the flights over Iceland would be paid out of the Defence Forces’ normal flight budget, but Niinistö disputes this. Both Niinistö, and Defence Committee vice chairman Seppo Kääriäinen (Centre) say that the project is very political.
They both see no military benefit for Finland from the practice in Iceland.
The Centre Party made reference to a statement by the Defence Committee from 2009 in which Finnish participation in Iceland’s air surveillance was not considered possible.
Kääriäinen emphasised that the project is not compatible with any of the tasks that have been set in Finnish law for the country’s Defence Forces.
Jussi Niinistö says that the biggest question is, if Finland will take part in exercises alone, or if the activity will also involve identification flights. If the latter is the case, he says that Finnish legislation would have to be amended. "That would be quite a big leap for Finland, which is not allied", Niinistö said.
Defence Committee member Pentti Oinonen (Finns Party) voiced amazement that the Defence Forces are shutting down garrisons in Finland, while at the same time they seem to be able to afford to go to Iceland.
"The government is more concerned about the security of NATO countries than about maintaining defence capability." Defence Committee member Jyrki Yrttiaho (Left Group) asked if it is the task of the Finnish Defence Forces now to take part in NATO surveillance. "How would Finland respond to a possible request from the Baltic Countries to take part in the monitoring of its air space?"
Haglund said that participation in identification flights is something that is hoped for, but that it does not play a very big part in the project.
"This year there have been no aircraft flying near Iceland that would have required identification.
Niinistö opined that it is certain that if Sweden and Finland start monitoring airspace over Iceland, Russia will want to test the quality of the surveillance.
"Every great power does this kind of testing. It is quite natural", Niinistö said.
In the view of Defence Minister Haglund, Finland would have an estimated 80 flight hours over Iceland in 2014 – about one per cent of the flight hours for the whole year.
The Defence minister says that an initial decision on Finnish participation might be forthcoming as early as next week.
http://rickrozoff.
Afghan War: NATO Trains Finland, Sweden For Conflict With Russia
http://rickrozoff.
End of Scandinavian Neutrality: NATO’s Militarization Of Europe
http://rickrozoff.
http://www.reuters.
Reuters
October 30, 2012
Finland, Sweden to help NATO in Iceland air policing
By Terhi Kinnunen
HELSINKI: Finland and Sweden plan to join some NATO air surveillance operations over Iceland, their prime ministers said on Tuesday, in a sign the neutral Nordic states are ready for more cooperation with the Western alliance.
Iceland, a NATO member without its own air force, had asked Finland and Sweden to help the alliance monitor its airspace.
The move has been politically sensitive, particularly in Finland where many fear it would breach the country's neutrality and provoke neighboring Russia.
"Finland will inform Iceland's government that we are willing to participate in Iceland's air space surveillance in 2014, together with Sweden," Katainen said at a meeting of Nordic leaders in Helsinki.
His conservative National Coalition party favors closer cooperation with NATO to strengthen national security.
Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, at the same meeting, said his country was "positive" about Iceland's request. Swedish participation was a condition for Finland's decision to join the operations.
Finland's opposition politicians criticized the plan.
"Participating in the air surveillance of a NATO member country absolutely does not concern non-allied Finland," Kimmo Tiilikainen of the Centre Party said in a statement.
A Finnish opinion survey on Tuesday showed 42 percent of Finns opposed participation and 22 percent supported it, while the rest did not have a stance.
(Additional reporting by Jussi Rosendahl; Writing by Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Alistair Lyon)
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Helsingin Sanomat
October 26, 2012
Opposition lashes out against participation in monitoring of Iceland’s airspace
All opposition forces in the Finnish Parliament – the Finns Party, the Centre Party, and the Left Group (which broke away from the Left Alliance because it disapproved of the party’s decision to join the current coalition government), have come out against Finnish participation in the monitoring of the airspace of Iceland.
The stand taken by the Centre Party was especially disappointing to Minister of Defence Carl Haglund (Swed. People’s Party).
The opponents say that organising the monitoring of Iceland’s airspace is the responsibility of NATO. "NATO is cutting costs, and Finland pays", said Jussi Niinistö (Finns Party), chairman of the Parliament’s Defence Committee.
Haglund maintains that the flights over Iceland would be paid out of the Defence Forces’ normal flight budget, but Niinistö disputes this. Both Niinistö, and Defence Committee vice chairman Seppo Kääriäinen (Centre) say that the project is very political.
They both see no military benefit for Finland from the practice in Iceland.
The Centre Party made reference to a statement by the Defence Committee from 2009 in which Finnish participation in Iceland’s air surveillance was not considered possible.
Kääriäinen emphasised that the project is not compatible with any of the tasks that have been set in Finnish law for the country’s Defence Forces.
Jussi Niinistö says that the biggest question is, if Finland will take part in exercises alone, or if the activity will also involve identification flights. If the latter is the case, he says that Finnish legislation would have to be amended. "That would be quite a big leap for Finland, which is not allied", Niinistö said.
Defence Committee member Pentti Oinonen (Finns Party) voiced amazement that the Defence Forces are shutting down garrisons in Finland, while at the same time they seem to be able to afford to go to Iceland.
"The government is more concerned about the security of NATO countries than about maintaining defence capability." Defence Committee member Jyrki Yrttiaho (Left Group) asked if it is the task of the Finnish Defence Forces now to take part in NATO surveillance. "How would Finland respond to a possible request from the Baltic Countries to take part in the monitoring of its air space?"
Haglund said that participation in identification flights is something that is hoped for, but that it does not play a very big part in the project.
"This year there have been no aircraft flying near Iceland that would have required identification.
Niinistö opined that it is certain that if Sweden and Finland start monitoring airspace over Iceland, Russia will want to test the quality of the surveillance.
"Every great power does this kind of testing. It is quite natural", Niinistö said.
In the view of Defence Minister Haglund, Finland would have an estimated 80 flight hours over Iceland in 2014 – about one per cent of the flight hours for the whole year.
The Defence minister says that an initial decision on Finnish participation might be forthcoming as early as next week.
