Diplomacy

Efforts to resume compliance with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal have stalled. Axios reports that Iran has rejected a US proposal that includes steps to release Iranian funds in South Korea in exchange for Iran backing down on some steps to reduce compliance with the nuclear deal, including reducing uranium enrichment.

The Houthis have scaled up their attacks on Saudi locations since 23 March when Saudi Arabia announced a plan to end the war in Yemen. The Yemeni government, which accepted the plan, says that the Houthi escalation threatens to ruin hopes to end the war in Yemen. 

The discussions between Georgia, Russia and other parties in the aftermath of the 2008 Georgia-Russia War resumed in Geneva this week where the 52nd round of the Geneva International Discussions were held. The talks were mediated by the three co-chairs of the process representing the EU, the OSCE and the UN.

Russia and China were high on the agenda as the most senior EU and US diplomats reviewed global challenges and moved to reset the transatlantic relationship.

"Russia’s aggressive actions constitute a threat to Euro-Atlantic security". This was stated unambiguously in a statement issued by NATO Foreign Ministers at the end of their meeting in Brussels on 23-24 March.

In line with the regional and international efforts to bring peace to Yemen, Saudi Arabia’ foreign minister, Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, announced yesterday an initiative to end the war in Yemen. The initiative comes at a tense time for the Saudis as the Houthis upscale their attacks on vital energy and logistics infrastructure in the Kingdom. In Yemen itself, no side is winning in the multiple front lines across Yemen and the ramifications on the populations could not be worse.

Ambassador Natalie Sabanadze has resigned as the head of the Georgian Mission to the European Union – a post she has been occupying for the last eight years. Well liked and respected by the diplomatic community in Brussels, she will be a hard act to follow.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt have started addressing outstanding issues with Qatar as they rebuild relations with the Gulf state. Riyadh and Cairo have taken a more pragmatic approach towards Qatar, and have moved faster than the UAE and Bahrain in resuming diplomatic relations with Doha, according to Reuters.

OSCE Chairperson-in-office, Ann Linde, visited Yerevan on Tuesday for talks with the Armenian leadership. Linde, who is also Swedish foreign minister, met president Armen Sarkissian, prime minister Nikol Pashinyan and other officials.