Brussels - There was a spring wind blowing in Brussels on Thursday as US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met NATO counterparts to discuss their problems with Afghanistan and Russia.
That atmosphere was mirrored inside the alliance's grim, grey headquarters building, as ministers lined up to hail the United States' new chief diplomat.
"There is a fresh wind in NATO," German Foreign Minister Frank- Walter Steinmeier said to describe Clinton's approach to diplomacy.
Washington - North Korea's threats Thursday against South Korean airlines that fly into its airspace are "distinctly unhelpful," the US State Department said.
The North Korean government issued a statement saying it cannot guarantee the safety of South Korean civilian airlines flying near or in its airspace over the Sea of Japan while the United States and South Korea conduct joint military exercises.
"They are distinctly unhelpful," State Department acting deputy spokesman Gordon Duguid said.
Brussels - In a clear break with the unilateralism of the former US administration, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday pushed NATO to resume direct talks with Russia and said Iran could be invited to an international conference on Afghanistan.
"I came to deliver a clear message: the US is firmly committed to NATO, and the (Barack) Obama administration will work vigorously to renew real dialogue," Clinton said after her first meeting with fellow NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.
Washington - The United States plans to keep sanctions in place on Zimbabwe until President Robert Mugabe ends political repression in the troubled African country, the US State Department said Thursday.
Mugabe must release political prisoners, end violence and intimidation against dissidents, and earnestly commit to share power under the agreement with opposition leaders reached earlier this year, the State Department's acting deputy spokesman, Gordon Duguid, said.
London - The British government Thursday criticised Sudan for retaliating against international aid workers following the arrest warrant issued against President Omar al-Bashir.
Aid organizations have warned that millions of lives would be put at risk by al-Bashir's decision to expel 10 humanitarian groups from the Darfur region, including Oxfam, Save the Children, Care International and Doctors Without Frontiers.
Brussels - NATO foreign ministers Thursday decided to re- open formal talks with Russia, six months after the alliance broke them off in protest at Russia's invasion of Georgia, officials confirmed.
"Russia is an important player, a global player. Not talking to them is not an option," said NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer as he announced a decision to resume meetings of the NATO- Russia Council (NRC) after the alliance's summit of April 3-4.
Brussels - There was a spring wind blowing in Brussels on Thursday as US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met NATO counterparts to discuss their problems with Afghanistan and Russia.
Washington - North Korea's threats Thursday against South Korean airlines that fly into its airspace are "distinctly unhelpful," the US State Department said.
Brussels - In a clear break with the unilateralism of the former US administration, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday pushed NATO to resume direct talks with Russia and said Iran could be invited to an international conference on Afghanistan.
Washington - The United States plans to keep sanctions in place on Zimbabwe until President Robert Mugabe ends political repression in the troubled African country, the US State Department said Thursday.
London - The British government Thursday criticised Sudan for retaliating against international aid workers following the arrest warrant issued against President Omar al-Bashir.
Brussels - NATO foreign ministers Thursday decided to re- open formal talks with Russia, six months after the alliance broke them off in protest at Russia's invasion of Georgia, officials confirmed.
