Middle East & Africa

Iran Warns of Preemptive Action; U.S. Poll Voters Think Iran the Biggest Enemy

February 21, 2012 (Vietnamica) — Iran warned today of a preemptive attack against its perceived enemies if the country feels its national interests are in jeopardy (NYT), amid rising tensions with the West over its controversial nuclear program. A day earlier, UN nuclear investigators visiting Tehran were barred from Iranian nuclear facilities.

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The State of the World: A Framework

February 21, 2012 (Vietnamica) — The evolution of geopolitics is cyclical. Powers rise, fall and shift. Changes occur in every generation in an unending ballet. However, the period between 1989 and 1991 was unique in that a long cycle of human history spanning hundreds of years ended, and with it a shorter cycle also came to a close. The world is still reverberating from the events of that period.

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Vietnam to Promote Trade with Africa

February 18, 2012(Vietnamica) — The number of Vietnamese businesses showing interest in Africa, South and West Asia markets has been increasing year-by-year, director of Africa-West-South Asia Markets Department Ly Quoc Hung said (Lanka Business, Feb. 18).

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Putin Reawakens the Russian Bear

February 13, 2012 (Vietnamica) — Coverage of Vladimir Putin’s impending return to the Presidency of Russia on March 4th has so far focused almost exclusively on the menace posed to Russia’s teetering democracy.  Conspicuously, little analysis has been offered regarding the impact Putin’s eminent reprisal of the Kremlin’s top job is having on Russia’s foreign policy – particularly when it comes to how political events are playing out in Syria and the Middle East.

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Investors to Put US$4.5 Bln in Long Son Petrochemical Complex

February 13, 2012 (Vietnamica) – The Ministry of Trade and Commerce unveiled that Siam Cement (Thailand), Thai Plastic and Chemical PCL (TPC), Qatar Petroleum International (QPI) of Qatar Petroleum, PetroVietnam, and VinaChem had signed a memorandum of understanding on investing US$4.5 billion in Long Son Petrochemical Complex. This first Vietnam’s Petrochemical Complex is expected to start operation in 2015 (eFinance, Feb. 13).

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Russian Foreign Minister Visits Syria; US Closes Syrian Embassy

February 7, 2012 (Vietnamica) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Damascus today for talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Assad’s regime continued a violent assault against anti-government protesters and opposition forces in Homs (National). The United States closed its Syrian embassy on Monday.

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