Iraqi army hails ‘magnificent victory’ in Tikrit

Iraq’s defense minister said Wednesday that security forces have achieved a “magnificent victory” over the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants in Tikrit.

Iraqi forces beat ISIS in Tikrit, reach city center

Iraqi military forces and Shitte militias entered central Tikrit, declaring it “liberated” from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on Tuesday, following 10 days of a major offensive on the hometown of former president Saddam Hussein.

NATO chief recommits to defending Eastern European, Baltic nations...

BRUSSELS — A reinvigorated NATO flexed old Cold War muscles Tuesday as the Atlantic alliance’s chief recommitted to defending Eastern European and Baltic nations rattled by Russia’s military moves and its annexation of Crimea.

At the opening of a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the alliance has not seen signs of Russian troop withdrawals along the Ukraine border, as Moscow has claimed. A senior U.S. State Department official had called Russia’s promised pullback a “gesture,” but a welcome one.

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Selection of former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg as the Next NATO Secretary General

The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, March 28, 2014:
"We welcome the selection of former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg as NATO’s next Secretary General, beginning October 1, 2014.  Mr. Stoltenberg is a proven leader with a demonstrated commitment to the transatlantic Alliance.  As Prime Minister, he built Norway’s military capabilities and actively contributed to NATO operations and political dialogue.  We are confident he is the best person to ensure the continued strength and unity of the NATO Alliance.

NATO Secretary General and US President stress commitment to collective defence

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and US President Barack Obama stressed the Alliance’s strong commitment to collective defence during talks in Brussels on Wednesday (26 March 2014). “Our commitment to the defence of our Allies is unbreakable,” said the Secretary General.

Mr. Fogh Rasmussen expressed his strong appreciation for the leadership role the United States plays in the Alliance during his meeting with President Obama. The talks focused on the crisis in Ukraine, relations with Russia and implications of the crisis on the preparations for this September’s NATO Summit in Wales.

Ομόφωνο δεκτό το αίτημα Πούτιν για στρατιωτική επέμβαση στην Κριμαία από τη ρωσική Ανω Βουλή. - FC deputy speaker: Obama’s statement ‘insults Russian people’

Ομόφωνα δεκτό έγινε από το ρωσικό Συμβούλιο της Ομοσπονδίας (Ανω Βουλή) το αίτημα του προέδρου Βλαντίμιρ Πούτιν για αποστολή στρατευμάτων στην Κριμαία. Στην απόφαση, η οποία έχει άμεση ισχύ, γίνεται λόγος για «σταθεροποιητικές στρατιωτικές δυνάμεις στην Ουκρανική επικράτεια».

Ο πρόεδρος Πούτιν απεύθυνε αίτημα νομιμοποίησης της αποστολής στρατευμάτων από τη ρωσική Βουλή νωρίτερα σήμερα, με το σκεπτικό της «απειλής για τη ζωή των Ρώσων πολιτών και στρατιωτικών δυνάμεων που βρίσκονται στις ναυτικές βάσεις στην Κριμαία».

Japan, US defense chiefs pledge cooperation

Japanese and US defense chiefs have agreed to work closely on issues such as the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea and missile launches in the DPRK.Japan’s Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera and US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta spoke on the phone on Tuesday for the first time.

Onodera said he hopes to work closely with the US to strengthen the role of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces. He expressed hopes that both countries would pay careful attention to the proposed relocation of the US Futenma Air Station within Okinawa.