Ban Ki-moon in Washington to save US funding to the UN

Source: NPR

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is in Washington on Thursday, making the rounds on Capitol Hill in hopes that the U.N. won’t fall victim too much to U.S. budget cuts. His trip comes at a time when the U.N. has become more assertive, both in Libya and in the Ivory Coast.

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A quiet diplomacy on the Mideast peace path

Source: Washington Post | by Martin Indyk*

The current sturm und drang in U.S.-Israel relations cloaks a surprising development: President Obama and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu are beginning to develop a constructive working relationship sensitive to the legitimate concerns of the other.

A global China policy

Source: European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)

China, emboldened by the impact of the economic crisis on the West, is becoming a huge test for Europe’s foreign policy. If it doesn’t rethink its strategy, the EU will lose its already limited influence over Beijing. If it does, on issues ranging from climate change to the Dalai Lama, Europe can build coalitions with others affected by China’s rise, and take advantage of the few areas where it has real leverage.

Tony Blair sees ‘moment of opportunity’ for Middle East peace

Source: Voice of America | By Cindy Saine

Former British Prime Minister and special Middle East envoy Tony Blair spoke to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington Thursday about the prospects for peace in the region. Mr. Blair spoke just days ahead of a closely-watched visit to the White House Monday by new Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Obama’s video diplomacy with Iran

Source: Reuters | By Matt Spetalnick

President Barack Obama issued an unprecedented videotaped appeal to Iran on Friday offering a “new beginning” of diplomatic engagement to turn the page on decades of U.S. policy toward America’s longtime foe.

Click on the image to watch the video

U.N. chief meets with President Obama

Source: Associated Press | By John Heilprin

Buoyed by President Barack Obama’s pledge to work on bringing peace to Darfur, the U.N. chief is making the rounds of Capitol Hill to strengthen cooperation on climate change and other pressing global crises.

Obama invites UN Secretary-General to the White House

Source: Reuters

President Barack Obama has invited U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the White House next week, the first meeting between the two since Obama took office, Washington’s U.N. envoy said on Friday.

Obama and the EU: an Atlantic agenda for globalization

Source: EU Delegation to the US

The inauguration of incoming President Obama is not just an American event, it is a global event and Europeans are following it with interest and fascination. In a letter sent to the incoming President of the United States, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso outlined his vision for a more outward-looking and engaged transatlantic partnership.