Despite tensions, China’s state visit to US an important step

Despite rising tensions stemming from Beijing‘s assertiveness over the Asia Pacific and alleged involvement in recent cyber-attacks targeting Washington, President Xi Jimping’s upcoming state visit to Washington represents an important step in Sino-American relations.

The expected upcoming visit of President Xi Jimping to Washington offers an interesting opportunity to assess the development of Obama’s policy toward China. Characterised by American wishes to see Beijing play a greater role in the world affairs, the trip will also shaping a diplomatic framework based on a new model of Major Power Relations.

Greece between Russia and the United States: The Syria-bound flights

On September 6, Washington asked Athens to close airspace to Syria-bound Russian aid flights. Earlier the same day, Kremlin requested and received Athens permission to transport humanitarian aid to Syria for the period between September 1-24.  A quagmire for the interim government in Greece?

A truly hard and complex decision was made by the interim government in Athens which essentially has no full authorization to deal with such delicate political and strategic decisions. Nevertheless, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded negatively to US request.  This decision will go without repercussions for the Greek side, but it is meaningful of how both the US and Russia are planning to employ their influence on the surrounding and neighboring countries,  as well to the biggest reception and first transit states for refugees, like Greece.

Russia Is Destroying Its Food

Forecast

• A Kremlin crackdown on food imports that violate Russian sanctions will continue to draw criticism throughout Russia.
• If the Kremlin continues with its crackdown, protests will expand.
• To limit the backlash, Moscow may opt for sporadic crackdowns rather than systematic enforcement of food sanctions.

Εμπιστευτική έκθεση του ΟΑΣΕ για σχέσεις Αλβανών πολιτικών με το οργανωμένο έγκλημα - Τι λέει για Ράμα και Μπερίσα

Για άμεση ή έμμεση σχέση κορυφαίων πολιτικών στελεχών της Αλβανίας με το οργανωμένο έγκλημα και το λαθρεμπόριο κάνει λόγο ο Οργανισμός για την Ασφάλεια και τη Συνεργασία στην Ευρώπη (ΟΑΣΕ) σε πολυσέλιδη εμπιστευτική έκθεσή του, που δημοσιεύει η ιστοσελίδα Lapsi.al.

Η έκθεση, που συντάχθηκε πριν από περίπου έναν χρόνο, δεν αποτελεί επίσημη θέση του ΟΑΣΕ, αλλά είναι αναμφίβολα μία από τις πλατφόρμες, πάνω στις οποίες αρκετούς μήνες τώρα, έχει ξεκινήσει η μάχη για την αποποινικοποίηση της πολιτικής στην Αλβανία.