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SHAPE News Morning Update
07
August 2003
NATO
- State
Department: No U.S. decision yet on whether fighters
will remain
LIBERIA
- U.S.
sends handful of troops into Liberia
EU
- Denmark
eyes EU treaty referendum in 2004
OTHER NEWS
- Chinese,
Russian, Central Asian troops begin joint military exercises
- Turkish
president approves reforms curbing military’s
influence
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NATO
- The
United States has not yet reached a decision on withdrawing
four jet fighters from Iceland as part of a global military
realignment of American forces, State Department
spokesman Philip T. Reeker said on Wednesday. “We have
ongoing discussions with our long-standing ally, Iceland,
under NATO on various deployments and what’s the right
way,” he added. (AP 061952 Aug 03)
LIBERIA
- The
United States cautiously sent a handful of U.S. Marines into
Liberia from warships on Wednesday to aid West African peacekeepers
there, and again demanded President Charles Taylor leave his
war-torn nation. The Pentagon said that a small group
of about seven Marines had been flown from ships offshore
in an initial “liaison element” that could grow
into as many as 20. (Reuters 061847 GMT Aug 03)
EU
- Denmark’s
prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, told Danish TV2 television
news that he expected his country to hold a referendum on
ratifying the European Union’s first constitution next
year. The EU’s historic constitution is designed
to shake up institutions and streamline decision-making before
the 15-nation bloc welcomes 10 new member states in May, 2004.
(Reuters 062213 GMT Aug 03)
OTHER NEWS
- Troops
from China, Russia and two Central Asian nations on Wednesday
began military maneuvers in Kazakhstan - the first joint war
games to be conducted by members of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization. The security grouping made up of Russia,
China and four Central Asian nations focuses on combating
terrorism, separatism and extremism. China plays a central
role in the group, which also aims to counter U.S. influence
in the region. The SCO members will continue military exercises
on Aug. 11 in western China, where their troops will practice
operations to free hostages. (AP 061423 Aug 03)
- Turkey’s
president approved reforms on Wednesday aimed at curtailing
the influence of the powerful military in politics, hoping
to boost the chances of this largely Muslim country for joining
the European Union. The reforms, approved by President
Ahmet Necdet Sezer, reduces the military’s hold over
a key forum, the National Security Council, grouping military
and political leaders. (AP 061835 Aug 03)
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