Diplomacy

We’ve been hearing a lot recently about multilateral diplomacy in crisis but what does this really mean? Closing the first series of Global Europe Unpacked, Will Murray speaks to Stephanie Liechtenstein, the Web Editor-in-Chief of the Security and Human Rights Monitor, about multilateral diplomacy in the age of COVID-19, challenges for the OSCE, the EU, and more…

The leader of the self-declared Republic of South Ossetia has gone to Moscow amid a simmering political crisis in the territory, which seceded from Georgia. South Ossetia is currently gripped in a political crisis following the death in police detention of a young Ossetian, which sparked public protests and a boycott of parliament by some MPs.

The European Parliament discussed the humanitarian and political updates in Yemen this week. The EU Parliament stressed the need to increase humanitarian support to Yemen. The Parliament outlined its vision in a resolution released on 11 February, which also marks the 10 year anniversary of the popular uprisings that toppled former president, Ali Abdullah Saleh. 

There appears to be some confusion in Moscow about how to handle Russia's future relations with the European Union. The press secretary of Russian president Vladimir Putin has been obliged to intervene to explain comments made earlier by Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov that appeared to threaten the EU with a break in relations. Peskov said they had been presented by the media out of context. 

Russian diplomats have been expelled from Berlin, Stockholm and Warsaw in a swift co-ordinated response following Russia's expulsion of diplomats from the the three countries who were accused of monitoring pro-Navalny protests in Moscow and St Petersburg.

A delegation of European Ambassadors arrived in Aden, Yemen on Saturday (6 February) for meetings with the leadership of Yemen's legitimate government and to support a comprehensive and sustainable peace for the country. The delegation, led by Hans Grundberg, EU Ambassador to Yemen, met Prime Minister Maeen Abdul Malik Saeed and Foreign Minister Ahmed Bin Mubarak. 

Russia has today announced that it will expel three European diplomats for their attendance at demonstrations for the release of the jailed Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny. This decision comes alongside a visit by the EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, to Moscow.

Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, and EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, met in Moscow on Friday (5 February). In a press conference after the first part of their talks the two senior diplomats appeared to be struggling to identify common ground for future co-operation whilst wanting to sound tough on their respective positions, especially on the ongoing controversies surrounding Alexei Navalny and Russian clampdown on his supporters.