Stop NATO news: February 23, 2012
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NATO Accession: Georgia Hosts Pentagon, European Command Officials
Georgian Opposition Party Demands Afghan War Troop Withdrawal
Russia, China Warn Against Foreign Intervention In Syria
OIC: Foreign Military Intervention In Syria Can Lead To Large-Scale War
Russia: Attack On Iran Would Be Catastrophic
Russian, Iranian Presidents Discuss Syria, Oppose Foreign Intervention
NATO’s Top Military Commander On Visit To Turkey
Afghan Soldier Slays Two NATO Troops
European Interceptor Missile System Tested In U.S.
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NATO Accession: Georgia Hosts Pentagon, European Command Officials
http://www.mod.gov.ge/index.php?page=77&lang=1&type=&Id=1300
Ministry of Defence of Georgia
February 23, 2012
Celeste Wallander hosted at the Defence Ministry
Minister of Defence of Georgia Bacho Akhalaia hosted Celeste A. Wallander, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Russia/Ukraine/Eurasia, and EUCOM Deputy J-5, RDML Mark Montgomery.
During the meeting the sides discussed prospects of deepening bilateral cooperation between the United States and Georgia. The sides have discussed how they can build on existing successful programs to help the Georgian military continue its reforms and defence modernization efforts that supports Georgia’s self-defence. The US will also support Georgia’s aspirations towards NATO integration.
Prior to the meeting with the minister, the delegation from the United States met with Defence Ministry and Joint Staff representatives.
Dr. Wallander is leaving Georgia tomorrow.
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http://www.mod.gov.ge/index.php?page=77&lang=1&type=&Id=1299
Ministry of Defence of Georgia
February 22, 2012
The United States Delegation visits Georgia
Celeste A. Wallander, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Russia/Ukraine/Eurasia, is paying an official visit to Georgia. The American official met with Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili. The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Bacho Akhalaia. During the meeting the sides discussed issues of mutual relations of the US and Georgia and discussed prospects of deepening cooperation.
On behalf of the United States` government, Celeste Wallander and the US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Georgia John R. Bass extended their condolences over the death of Georgian soldiers serving in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. “The US delegation from the Department of Defence met today with President Saakashvili. We discussed many issues.
“But what of the most important issues we discussed was expressing US condolences for the loss of three Georgian soldiers in Afghanistan this week. We are deeply grateful to the citizens of Georgia for the contribution of your country to our common security mission in Afghanistan. We very deeply regret the loss of life. We will continue to cooperate with the Ministry of Defence and improving the training and security of Georgia’s contribution in ISAF. But meanwhile we remain deeply grateful and very much deeply regret the loss of life in Afghanistan,” said Dr. Wallander after the meeting.
Within a formal stay in Georgia, Dr. Wallander and EUCOM Deputy J-5, RDML Mark Montgomery visited National Defence Academy in Gori. They met with the Academy students and officers. Georgia’s NATO integration, defence reforms and importance of military education were the key topics of discussions.
After the meeting, the American officials came to see the military servicemen wounded while performing the ISAF security mission in Afghanistan. The soldiers are going through a rehabilitation course in the Gori Military Hospital.
Tomorrow, under the visit agenda the delegation from the US Department of Defence will hold meetings at the Ministry of Defence.
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Georgian Opposition Party Demands Afghan War Troop Withdrawal
http://rustavi2.com/news/news_text.php?id_news=44720&pg=1&im=main&ct=0&wth=
Rustavi 2
February 22, 2012
Labour Party demands withdrawal of Georgian units from Afghanistan
Labour Party of Georgia demands withdrawal of Georgian military units from Afghanistan. The opposition party plans to send a corresponding address to NATO headquarters. Party`s political secretary Giorgi Gugava calls on all opposition parties to join their demand.
`We are addressing all political parties to sign a declaration on a national agreement and a demand from the military political alliance NATO to withdraw Georgian armed forces from Afghanistan,` Gugava said.
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Russia, China Warn Against Foreign Intervention In Syria
http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_02_23/66748190/
Voice of Russia
February 23, 2012
Russia, China warn against foreign intervention in Syria
Russia and China believe that foreign intervention in Syria will lead to unpredictable consequences.
Russian and Chinese Foreign Ministers Sergei Lavrov and Yang Jiechi made this statement during a telephone conversation on Thursday.
The two leaders urged the Syrian parties to put an immediate end to violence and ‘launch’ a dialogue without any preconditions.
Sergei Lavrov and Yang Jiechi outlined steps in the direction of this goal, a Russian foreign ministry report says.
Russia and China have blocked two Security Council resolutions that pave the way to foreign interference in Syria’s domestic affairs.
Syria became a scene of bloody clashes nearly one year ago.
According to the UN, more than 5,000 people have been killed in Syria since then.
The Syrian authorities say that the country’s army and security forces have to deal not with political opposition but with terrorists who receive weapons and funds from abroad.
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OIC: Foreign Military Intervention In Syria Can Lead To Large-Scale War
http://en.trend.az/regions/met/arabicr/1995701.html
Trend News Agency
February 23, 2012
OIC: Military intervention in Syria could lead to large-scale war in the region
A.Taghiyeva
Baku: Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has protested against a possible foreign military intervention in Syria, the OIC told Trend on Thursday.
“We are against foreign military intervention in the processes on-going in Syria. It could contribute to start of large-scale war in the region,” Mr Ihsanoglu said.
Anti-government protests have been continuing in Syria for nearly a year. Daily reports about deaths of both civilians and law enforcement agencies are received regularly.
The Syrian government will hold a referendum on a new constitution in order to normalise the situation in the country and meet the regime opponents’ demands on Feb. 26.
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Russia: Attack On Iran Would Be Catastrophic
http://en.trend.az/regions/iran/1995549.html
Trend News Agency
February 23, 2012
Any attack on Iran will be catastrophic, Russia warns
Russia warned Israel on Wednesday that attacking Iran would be disastrous and played down the failure of an IAEA’s mission to Tehran, saying there is still a chance for new talks over Iran’s nuclear program, according to Iran Independent News Service.
“Of course any possible military scenario against Iran will be catastrophic for the region and for the whole system of international relations,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told a news conference, MNA reported.
“I hope Israel understands all these consequences … and they should also consider the consequences of such action for themselves,” Gatilov said.
“I hope a realistic approach will prevail, along with a sensible assessment.”
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Russian, Iranian Presidents Discuss Syria, Oppose Foreign Intervention
http://en.trend.az/regions/world/russia/1995530.html
Trend News Agency
February 22, 2012
Presidents of Russia and Iran discusses “dramatic situation” in Syria
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad discussed the “dramatic situation” around Syria and opposed foreign intervention in the affairs of the state during a telephone conversation on Wednesday, the Kremlin press service said on Wednesday.
Medvedev also discussed the situation in Syria with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud on Wednesday, RIA Novosti reported.
During the meeting with Ahmadinejad, “discussion focused on the dramatic situation in Syria.
“The parties were in favor of the speedy overcoming of the crisis by the Syrians, by peaceful means, without outside interference,” a statement said.
Medvedev and Ahmadinejad underlined the need to end the violence and start a constructive political dialogue between the authorities and the opposition, without preconditions, the Kremlin press service said.
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NATO’s Top Military Commander On Visit To Turkey
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/nato-commander-stavridis-visits-turkey.aspx?pageID=238&nID=14426&NewsCatID=338
Hürriyet Daily News
February 22, 2012
NATO commander Stavridis visits Turkey
ANKARA: NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) Adm. James Stavridis visited the Chief of Turkish General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel yesterday on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Turkey’s joining the alliance, the Turkish General Staff said in a written statement.
Stavridis’s visit came ahead of a NATO summit in which issues such as the missile defense system and NATO mission in Afghanistan will be discussed.
…
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Afghan Soldier Slays Two NATO Troops
http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2012/02/23/man-ana-uniform-kills-2-isaf-soldiers
Pajhwok Afghan News
February 23, 2012
Man in ANA uniform kills 2 ISAF soldiers
KABUL: An individual wearing an Afghan National Army (ANA) uniform shot dead two International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldiers on Thursday, the alliance said.
The shooting took place in eastern Afghanistan, a brief statement from the ISAF media office in Kabul said. In line with its policy, the NATO-led force neither revealed the troops’ nationalities nor the exact location of the incident.
But the Nangarhar governor’s spokesman told reporters in Jalalabad the US soldiers were killed when a protest turned against the alleged desecration of the Quran by US troops turned violent in Khogyani district.
Earlier in the year, an ANA soldier gunned down four French servicemembers in the Tagab district of central Kapisa province.
The incident prompted President Nicholas Sarkozy to announce a suspension of the mission to Afghan security forces and an early withdrawal of French soldiers.
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European Interceptor Missile System Tested In U.S.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/third-meads-battle-manager-arrives-in-huntsville-for-integration-testing-2012-02-22
MEADS International
February 22, 2012
Third MEADS Battle Manager Arrives in Huntsville for Integration Testing
ORLANDO, Fla. and MUNICH and ROME: Lockheed Martin has begun integration testing on the third completed Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) battle manager at its facility in Huntsville, Ala.
Integration testing on the third battle manager will continue throughout 2012 in support of a ballistic missile intercept test planned at White Sands Missile Range in 2013. Two other battle managers are already supporting system testing at Pratica di Mare Air Force Base in Italy and Orlando, Fla.
The MEADS battle manager controls an advanced network-centric open architecture that allows any combination of sensors and launchers to be organized into a single air and missile defense battle element…
MEADS International President David Berganini said, “Following the successful first MEADS flight test in November, the team continues to evolve MEADS’ battle management software and the plug-and-fight network, demonstrating coverage and flexibility that other systems cannot provide, including a 360-degree defense that protects our warfighters against next-generation threats.”
Using its 360-degree defensive capability, the advanced MEADS radars and PAC-3 MSE Missile, MEADS defends up to eight times the coverage area with far fewer system assets and significantly reduces demand for deployed personnel and equipment, which reduces demand for airlift.
MEADS International, a multinational joint venture headquartered in Orlando, Fla., is the prime contractor for the MEADS system. Major subcontractors and joint venture partners are MBDA in Italy and Germany, and Lockheed Martin in the United States.
The MEADS program management agency, NAMEADSMA, is located in Huntsville, Ala.
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