Could Putin-Pope ....bring the end of centuries-old rift?

Putin traveled to Rome followed by a delegation of 11 ministers and countless delegates who sped towards the Vatican in 50 cars that sent Rome into a massive gridlock — and he was still 50 minutes late to the meeting. The Vatican did not offer any comment after the meeting that lasted 35 minutes. But it was expected to be dominated by at least one major foreign policy issue on which the two have found common ground: Syria. The two leaders agree that a non-military response to the Syrian conflict is best course of action. Still, could a historic papal visit to Russia also come out of the meeting? Not unless the ultimate blessing comes from Kirill, the Patriarch of Moscow and Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. Although, Tornielli, the Vatican expert, pointed out that Kirill “doesn't really need Putin to mediate. He is capable of doing that himself.” “So I think what will happen next is that he and the pope will meet, but in neutral territory, neither in Rome or Moscow... And they'll go from there.”

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/25/21611511-could-putin-pope-francis-visit-mark-beginning-of-end-of-centuries-old-rift

Iran and US ease decades of hostility with landmark nuclear deal

Decades of bitter confrontation between Iran and America began to ease on Sunday when the leaders of both countries praised a landmark agreement designed to rein in Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. The two rivals, who have lacked formal diplomatic ties for 34 years, reached a deal at 3am in Geneva on the fifth day of tumultuous negotiations. John Kerry, the US secretary of state, hailed the outcome as a “dramatic” first step that will halt the progress of Iran’s nuclear programme for six months, while a permanent agreement is sought. President Barack Obama hailed the deal as an “important first step”, saying it “opened up a new path toward a world that is more secure - a future in which we can verify that Iran’s nuclear programme is peaceful and that it cannot build a nuclear weapon”. For his part, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, wrote a letter of congratulation to President Hassan Rouhani, praising the agreement as the “basis for further intelligent actions”, adding: “Without a doubt the grace of God and the prayers of the Iranian nation were a factor in this success.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/10471499/Iran-and-US-ease-decades-of-hostility-with-landmark-nuclear-deal.html


The European Union will probably lift some sanctions on Iran in December, as part of a hard-won deal that curbs Tehran's nuclear programme, France's foreign minister has said. Speaking on Europe 1 radio, Laurent Fabius said that EU foreign ministers would gather together in "a few weeks" to put forward a proposal partially to lift some sanctions. "This lifting of sanctions is limited, targeted and reversible," he said, adding that it would take place "in December". Mr Fabius also said Israel - which called Sunday's agreement a "historic mistake" - was not likely to launch any preventative strikes on arch-foe Iran, "because no one would understand" such a move "at this stage." Decades of bitter confrontation between Iran and America began to ease on Sunday when the leaders of both countries praised a landmark agreement designed to rein in Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/10472218/Iran-nuclear-deal-EU-will-lift-sanctions-in-coming-weeks.html

Iran nuclear deal: Saudi Arabia warns it will strike out on its own

A senior advisor to the Saudi royal family has accused its Western allies of deceiving the oil rich kingdom in striking the nuclear accord withIran and said Riyadh would follow an independent foreign policy. Nawaf Obaid told a think tank meeting in London that Saudi Arabia was determined to pursue its own foreign and policy goals. Having in the past been reactive to events, the leading Sunni Muslim nation was determined to be pro-active in future. Mr Obaid said that while Saudi Arabia knew that the US was talking directly to Iran through a channel in the Gulf state of Oman, Washington had not directly briefed its ally. "We were lied to, things were hidden from us," he said. "The problem is not with the deal struck in Geneva but how it was done."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/10472538/Iran-nuclear-deal-Saudi-Arabia-warns-it-will-strike-out-on-its-own.html

China Tails US and Japan Flights

The patrols followed announcements by Japan and South Korea that their military planes had flown through the zone unhindered by China. The tit-for-tat flights between China on one side and South Korea and Japan on the other heightened the tensions over the East China Sea where China and Japan are at loggerheads over islands they both claim. The airspace in the new zone announced by China last week overlaps a similar zone declared by Japan more than 40 years ago. Both zones are over the islands known as Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan. China has said that noncommercial aircraft entering the zone without prior notification would face “defensive emergency measures.” China would take “relevant measures according to different air threats” to defend the country’s airspace, Xinhua reported. Responding to the situation, the State Department said, “We have urged the Chinese to exercise caution and restraint, and we are consulting with Japan and other affected parties throughout the region.”

 Analysts have said that China’s declaration of the new zone is meant to whittle away at Japan’s hold on the islands. But the unexpected move is also seen as another attempt by an increasingly assertive China to establish itself as the dominant regional power, displacing the United States. China had seemed to be stepping back this week from its original harsh tone, when it said aircraft entering the airspace needed to file flight plans in advance or face the possibility of military action. On Wednesday, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said China would decide on a case-by-case basis how strongly to respond to those who break its rules.

 In a further clarification of its original stance, the People’s Liberation Army said Thursday that the new air zone was “not a territorial airspace” and did not mean that China would take immediate military action against aircraft that entered the zone. At a monthly briefing for Chinese reporters, a spokesman, Yang Yujun, said it was “incorrect” to suggest China would shoot down planes in the zone. On Thursday, Japan’s top government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, said that the Chinese had not been notified of the Japanese flights, and reported that China had not scrambled its fighter jets to intercept them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/29/world/asia/japan-south-korea-fly-military-planes-in-zone-set-by-china.html?_r=0

U.S. Signals Flexibility as Iran Nuclear Talks Resume

GENEVA — Negotiators from Iran and six world powers convened Thursday as American officials signaled that Washington is prepared to offer Iran limited relief from economic sanctions if it agrees to halt its nuclear program and reverse part of it.

Catherine Ashton, the foreign policy chief of the European Union, met Thursday morning with Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, to discuss the arrangements for the first day of talks. Mr. Zarif touted the possibility of a breakthrough in remarks to reporters, perhaps calculating that it might encourage Western concessions. “If everyone tries their best, we may have one,” he said. “We expect serious negotiations. It’s possible.” A senior Obama administration official was somewhat more cautious in comments on Wednesday night, but also suggested that an initial understanding might be within reach. “I do see the potential for the outlines of a first step,” the official said. “I do think it can be written on a piece of paper, probably more than one.” The world powers involved in the talks with Iran are known as the P5-plus-1 countries, so called because they include the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China — plus Germany. The American delegation is being led by Wendy R. Sherman, the under secretary of state for political affairs. Mr. Zarif is leading the Iranian delegation.

FULL STORY:http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/08/world/middleeast/iran-nuclear-talks.html?_r=0

Iran's 500-Execution Spree

Iran's 500-Execution Spree Shatters the Myth Of Hassan Rouhani's Reform

So far this year Iran has carried out more than 500 executions, leading the world in executions per capita. At least 250 of these executions have come after the election of the so-called moderate candidate Hassan Rouhani. Iran has even begun a campaign of execution against prisoners as a form of "retaliation" for acts committed by armed opposition groups. Despite the facade of reform and moderation espoused by Rouhani, the human rights situation in the country remains as bad as ever.

To be sure, Iran does lose face in the international community when it commits such heinous crimes against its own population, yet the continuation of these policies is indicative of the regime's understanding that its greatest threat is not abroad but at home. The theocracy in Iran remains in power purely through the use of terror and repression, and more than anything it fears a repeat of 2009 uprising by a increasingly disillusioned populace. For those striving for real and meaningful change in Iran, the hype surrounding the Rouhani presidency has been both disheartening and frustrating, particularly when so little has changed on the ground in Iran. Rouhani appears to be following the path of former president Khatami in using the rhetoric of change to prolong the life of a dying regime. The people of Iran deserve better than this, and the world needs to know what is happening there. The true character of this regime can be witnessed in its treatment of dissidents and political prisoners, not in the promises made by Rouhani. http://www.policymic.com/articles/70733/iran-s-500-execution-spree-shatters-the-myth-of-hassan-rouhani-s-reform