The Czech Republic has taken over the rotating presidency of the European Union from France. Despite its Eurosceptic president, the country will hold the EU leadership for six months. Slovakia becomes the latest country to adopt the euro, as the single currency celebrates its tenth birthday. French President Nicolas Sarkozy assured Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek his "total support" in a telephone call on Wednesday, ahead of France handing over the presidency to the Czech Republic on Thursday.Tensions between the two countries came under strain earlier in 2008 when French government aides suggested Sarkozy could retain some influence after France's six-month term expired."In a period of crisis that the world has not seen for some time, I tried to change Europe," Sarkozy said in his annual New Year's Eve message, claiming that the last six months showed the need for a "strong, independent" Europe.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy assured Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek his "total support" in a telephone call on Wednesday, ahead of France handing over the presidency to the Czech Republic on Thursday.
Tensions between the two countries came under strain earlier in 2008 when French government aides suggested Sarkozy could retain some influence after France's six-month term expired.
"In a period of crisis that the world has not seen for some time, I tried to change Europe," Sarkozy said in his annual New Year's Eve message, claiming that the last six months showed the need for a "strong, independent" Europe.
As France gives up the presidency of the European Union, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced that he will visit the Middle East next Monday and Tuesday. He will meet Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Paris today, the day after Israel rejected calls fora truce in its assault on the Gaza Strip. On Monday Sarkozy will travel to Egypt, where he will meet President Hosni Mubarak, then to the West Bank, to see Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, and finally dine with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. On Tuesday he will visit Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. In a New Year's message, the President said it was France's duty to "seek a path towards peace" in the region. Israel on Wednesday rejected calls for a truce, saying that any ceasefire must guarantee an end to rocket attacks from Gaza. Livni said that Hamas, which controls the area, would use the truce to gain "a better position for the next attack".
On Monday Sarkozy will travel to Egypt, where he will meet President Hosni Mubarak, then to the West Bank, to see Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, and finally dine with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
On Tuesday he will visit Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
In a New Year's message, the President said it was France's duty to "seek a path towards peace" in the region.
Israel on Wednesday rejected calls for a truce, saying that any ceasefire must guarantee an end to rocket attacks from Gaza. Livni said that Hamas, which controls the area, would use the truce to gain "a better position for the next attack".
Independent - Robert fisk - The rotten state of Egypt is too powerless and corrupt to act
To admit that Egypt can't even open its sovereign border without permission from Washington tells you all you need to know about the powerlessness of the satraps that run the Middle East for us. Open the Rafah gate - or break off relations with Israel - and Egypt's economic foundations crumble. Any Arab leader who took that kind of step will find that the West's economic and military support is withdrawn. Without subventions, Egypt is bankrupt.
Open the Rafah gate - or break off relations with Israel - and Egypt's economic foundations crumble. Any Arab leader who took that kind of step will find that the West's economic and military support is withdrawn. Without subventions, Egypt is bankrupt.
He was holidaying in Brazil, jogging along endless beaches with Mrs Sarkozy.
Russia has stopped all gas supplies to Ukraine after the collapse of talks to end a row over unpaid bills and prices. Russia's gas giant Gazprom said it turned off the taps at 0700 GMT, when its contract to supply Ukraine ended. Ukraine insists it has paid off its debts to Gazprom, but Russia contests this. The two countries have also failed to agree on a price for 2009. The EU urged Russia and Ukraine to resume negotiations and not to let the dispute disrupt supplies to Europe.
Russia has stopped all gas supplies to Ukraine after the collapse of talks to end a row over unpaid bills and prices.
Russia's gas giant Gazprom said it turned off the taps at 0700 GMT, when its contract to supply Ukraine ended.
Ukraine insists it has paid off its debts to Gazprom, but Russia contests this. The two countries have also failed to agree on a price for 2009.
The EU urged Russia and Ukraine to resume negotiations and not to let the dispute disrupt supplies to Europe.
Jan. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Russia prepared to resume talks with Ukraine in their dispute over the price of natural gas after cutting supplies to its western neighbor for the second time in three years, threatening fuel shipments to Europe. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said in a statement the two sides are near a compromise, urging state utility NAK Naftogaz Ukrainy and OAO Gazprom, Russia's gas exporter, to meet again in the next one or two days. Gazprom also proposed talks. The repeat of an energy standoff between the former Soviet neighbors risks further souring Russia's ties with the West, months after its war with U.S. ally Georgia. Russia, which supplies a quarter of Europe's gas, mostly through Ukraine, cut Ukrainian deliveries in January 2006 amid a similar dispute. That shutdown reduced gas flows to Europe and led to questions over both countries' reliability as energy suppliers.
Jan. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Russia prepared to resume talks with Ukraine in their dispute over the price of natural gas after cutting supplies to its western neighbor for the second time in three years, threatening fuel shipments to Europe.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said in a statement the two sides are near a compromise, urging state utility NAK Naftogaz Ukrainy and OAO Gazprom, Russia's gas exporter, to meet again in the next one or two days. Gazprom also proposed talks.
The repeat of an energy standoff between the former Soviet neighbors risks further souring Russia's ties with the West, months after its war with U.S. ally Georgia. Russia, which supplies a quarter of Europe's gas, mostly through Ukraine, cut Ukrainian deliveries in January 2006 amid a similar dispute. That shutdown reduced gas flows to Europe and led to questions over both countries' reliability as energy suppliers.
Gazprom protests too much. The gas trade is so opaque that it is difficult to say where the dividing lines lie between politics, commerce and the personal interests of those running the business in central Asia, Russia and Ukraine. But it is clear that in this high-stakes game, Russia holds the top cards. So it is fair to assume that if Russia really wanted to take politics out of the trade it would do so.That said, Ukraine could do much more to stabilise its end of the business. Instead of constantly casting itself as a victim of Russian bullying, it should bolster its bargaining position. First, it should pay its gas debts on time so that arrears do not, as they always do, become a weapon in Gazprom's hands. Next, it must finish the half-complete reform of the domestic market so that gas flows transparently to consumers in one direction and cash flows back, in accountable ways, in the other. Finally, Kiev, in co-operation with Moscow, must fulfil pledges to cut intermediaries out of the wholesale trade and strike a direct deal with Gazprom.
Gazprom protests too much. The gas trade is so opaque that it is difficult to say where the dividing lines lie between politics, commerce and the personal interests of those running the business in central Asia, Russia and Ukraine. But it is clear that in this high-stakes game, Russia holds the top cards. So it is fair to assume that if Russia really wanted to take politics out of the trade it would do so.
That said, Ukraine could do much more to stabilise its end of the business. Instead of constantly casting itself as a victim of Russian bullying, it should bolster its bargaining position. First, it should pay its gas debts on time so that arrears do not, as they always do, become a weapon in Gazprom's hands. Next, it must finish the half-complete reform of the domestic market so that gas flows transparently to consumers in one direction and cash flows back, in accountable ways, in the other. Finally, Kiev, in co-operation with Moscow, must fulfil pledges to cut intermediaries out of the wholesale trade and strike a direct deal with Gazprom.
