| January 21, 2011 View this newsletter as a web page on CFR's website.  | EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - Iran Nuclear Talks Begin in Istanbul
- North and South Korea Agree to Talks
- Tunisia Holds Period of Mourning
- FBI Arrests Scores in Record Mafia Bust | |  | | Top of the Agenda: Iran Nuclear Talks Begin in Istanbul The United States and five other global powers began a new round of negotiations in Istanbul to discuss Tehran's controversial nuclear program. Heading into the closed-door meetings, diplomats had low expectations of a significant breakthrough (al-Jazeera). The United States and its allies have repeatedly voiced concerns that Iran is enriching uranium beyond its peaceful needs and trying to build a nuclear weapon. Iran has refused to halt its program, maintaining that its enrichment is for civil purposes only (NYT). Western diplomats hope the talks will persuade Iran to engage in a "fuel-swap plan" (BBC) that will exchange the country's low-enriched uranium for fuel for a research reactor. In official statements (Haaretz), Iran stated that it "will not allow any talks linked to freezing or suspending of enrichment activities to be discussed at the meeting." Analysts expect Iran to push a general discussion on global disarmament (Guardian), Israel's nuclear capabilities, and concerns over U.S. military bases in the Middle East. Analysis: In the Financial Times, CFR Senior Fellow Ray Takeyh says President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is beginning an attempt to consolidate his power in Iran. This editorial in the Jerusalem Post warns against a wavering sense of urgency in the diplomatic efforts to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. In the Christian Science Monitor, Matthew Fuhrmann and Todd S. Sechser warn against the hysteria over nuclear weapons and blackmail that underlies the calls for military force against Iran. Background: This CFR interactive presents a timeline exploring the history of U.S.-Iran relations. | | | | MIDDLE EAST: Hariri Vows to Form New Government Lebanon's "caretaker" Prime Minister Saad Hariri said he is ready to lead the country again under a new coalition government (BBC). The statements followed the withdrawal of Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia from efforts to negotiate a resolution to Lebanon's political crisis. | | | | PACIFIC RIM: North and South Korea Agree to Talks Seoul accepted an invitation from North Korea to begin high-level military talks, which some observers describe as a breakthrough in bilateral relations (WSJ). The negotiations would be the first such exchange since South Korean President Lee Myung-bak took office in early 2008. Explore the historical context of the dispute between North and South Korea in this interactive CFR Crisis Guide: The Korean Peninsula. South Korea: The South Korean navy raided a hijacked South Korean freighter in the Arabian Sea on Friday, killing eight Somali pirates and rescuing all twenty-one of its crew. Since March 2009, South Korea has collaborated with a U.S.-led international anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden (Yonhap). | | | | SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Afghan Parliament Defies Karzai The newly elected Afghan parliament decided to convene next week despite an order from President Hamid Karzai to delay the inauguration until fraud investigations are completed. Observers suggest the decision may threaten Afghan stability (WashPost). Pakistan: Some two thousand Pakistanis in the region of North Waziristan demonstrated against U.S. drone strikes (AP). Islamabad has tacitly approved the strikes. | | | | AFRICA: Tunisia Holds Period of Mourning Tunisia began a three-day period of national remembrance (al-Jazeera) to honor those who died in the month-long uprising that led to the overthrow of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. According to the UN, about one hundred people died in the unrest. The Egyptian and Libyan publics are the two most likely to be inspired by the ouster of Tunisia's Ben Ali, and the United States should be pressing Egypt to open up politics and allow for competition, says CFR's Elliott Abrams. Ivory Coast: According to the UN, human rights conditions continue to deteriorate during the political impasse following the nation's disputed election (allAfrica); there have been 260 deaths and over thirty thousand refugees. Officials warned against the "possibility of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and ethnic cleansing." | | | | AMERICAS: Scores Arrested in Record FBI Mafia Bust The FBI arrested 127 people in the largest crackdown on organized crime in U.S. history (CSMonitor). Suspects from six crime families--mostly in New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island--face charges of murder, extortion, and narcotics trafficking. United States: In statements following meetings with U.S. congressional leaders, Chinese President Hu Jintao defended Beijing's currency policy, indicating Chinese growth had help create millions of jobs globally. International economists have criticized China's undervalued currency, suggesting it promotes unhealthy global trade imbalances (FT). The Obama administration scored some successes on human rights and trade during President Hu's just-concluded state visit, but there were no breakthroughs on currency and other issues, says CFR's Elizabeth Economy. | | | | EUROPE: Blair Faces British Iraq Inquiry A British panel investigating the government's reasons for going to war in Iraq (DeutscheWelle) received a second round of testimony from former prime minister Tony Blair. In statements made to the inquiry last January, Blair defended his position that Saddam Hussein was a threat to the international community and had to be removed. Belarus: Following a controversial election last month, Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in for a fourth term as Belarus's president on Friday. European officials are considering imposing sanctions on the new administration for its crackdown on opposition (CNN). | | |
