Russia, Georgia reopen vital border crossing

DARIAL GORGE, Georgia — The only usable land border crossing between Georgia and Russia reopened Monday after more than three years of closure, restoring a vital route between Russia and the strategic South Caucasus.
The crossing, known as Verkhny Lars in Russia and Darial Gorge in Georgia, reopened at 7:00 am local time (0300 GMT), an [...]

Georgia, Russia agree to reopen border crossing

TBILISI,  – Georgia and Russia have agreed to reopen the sole checkpoint on their border three years after its closure, Georgia’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
The Kazbegi-Upper Lars crossing is likely to reopen next March, Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze said. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov confirmed that the checkpoint could “in theory” reopen as [...]

U.S. to resume training Georgian army

WASHINGTON – The United States will resume a combat training mission in the republic of Georgia to prepare Georgian troops for counterinsurgency operations in Afghanistan, a U.S. Defense Department official said on Thursday.
“Georgia wants to be part of the international effort in Afghanistan. We want to help them get ready,” Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell [...]

USS Stout arrived in Georgia for joint exercises

BATUMI, Georgia — A US warship arrived in Georgia’s Black Sea port of Batumi Tuesday for the first joint exercises between the two countries since the former Soviet republic’s war with giant neighbour Russia.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55) launches a SM-2 Standard Missile, Oct. 6, 2008. (Zachary Martin/U.S. Navy)
Georgian coastguard [...]

A new era for Chechnya, but security operations may go on

MOSCOW, April 17  — The 10-year Russian counter-terrorism operation in Chechnya that ended Thursday marks a new era for Chechnya, but Russia troops may remain in the republic and carry out security maneuvers if necessary, Russian political leaders say.

A police officer watches cars with Chechen flags passing by as local residents celebrate the cancellation of [...]

Many Americans cautious in support for Afghan war

ATLANTA, April 6  – Many Americans say they        support the deepening U.S. commitment to the war in Afghanistan, as long as the focus is fighting terrorism, but they are wary of getting bogged down as in Iraq.

Members of the U.S Army 1-6 Field Artillery division distribute humanitarian relief items to villagers February [...]

Fate of F-22, 2,000 jobs to be revealed on Monday

April 04, 2009, — The fate of the F-22 Raptor fighter jet, assembled in Cobb County by 2,000 workers, should be revealed Monday when Defense Secretary Robert Gates unveils “a fundamental shift” in U.S. military priorities.

An F-22 Raptor aircraft flies during an air display on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow in south [...]

Obama seeks world free of nuclear arms

STRASBOURG, France. Apr 3, 2009 – U.S. President Barack Obama called on Friday for a world without atomic weapons and urged allies to stand firm against Iran’s nuclear ambitions and a planned missile launch by North Korea.

U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel inspect the guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony at [...]

Gorbachev upbeat on U.S.-Russia ties after Obama visit

NEW YORK, March 26, 2009 — Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev said on Thursday he was more optimistic about the prospect of improving U.S.-Russian relations after meeting U.S. President Barack Obama earlier this month.

Former German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and Berlin’s mayor Klaus Wowereit pose for a photo in front [...]

Can NATO and Russia Cooperate on Afghanistan?

March 23, 2009 — Foreign Ministers from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have recently agreed to resume ties with Russia that were suspended last August as a result of Moscow’s five-day war with Georgia. This has led to the possibility of NATO-Russia cooperation on Afghanistan.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NATO has been operating in Afghanistan since 2003. [...]