German Defense Minister thanks his Russian colleague for his frankness Yesterday, German Defense Minister Peter Struck made his say in the debate about the possibility of Russia's integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. In an interview with the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, when asked about Moscow’s chances of joining NATO, the head of the defense department in Berlin answered, although evasively, but still in the affirmative.

Sunnis against Americans, Shiites against British In southern Iraq, protests broke out against the occupation authorities in the British zone of occupation. Riots in the city of Amara with the use of improvised explosive devices began after representatives of the local public tried to find out where the 8 thousand jobs they were promised were. 6 people were killed, 11 were injured. According to British representatives, they have no losses.

Albania mourns drowned illegal immigrants Today is a day of national mourning in Albania. It was announced the day before by the country's President Alfred Moisiu in connection with the tragic death on Saturday night of compatriots who illegally set off in a storm on a high-speed inflatable boat to the shores of Italy in the hope of a better life. The coast guard, which received an SOS signal sent by mobile phone from the ship, rescued only 11 people, 18 men and three women died.

Georgia asks the West to freeze the bank accounts of corrupt officials In the coming days, the Georgian Central Election Commission will announce the final results of the presidential elections held on January 4. There was no intrigue and there won’t be any more - the leader of the United National Movement, Mikheil Saakashvili, receives 97% of the votes. The ex-governor of the industrial region of Imereti, Temur Shashiashvili, who came in second place, did not even collect 2%.

The US again accuses Russia of supplying weapons to Iraq US officials said yesterday they had found new evidence of Russian defense firms supplying weapons to Iraq before the military operation against Saddam began. Thus, Russia allegedly violated UN decisions. We are talking primarily about the supply of night vision devices and emitting devices to suppress signals coming from satellites of the global GPS navigation system. The Americans first announced this kind of supplies in March last year.

The acquisition of prisoner of war status by ex-Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has confused the cards for supporters of an immediate trial of the overthrown dictator. The Iraqi Minister of Human Rights, Mr. Abdel-Basit Turki SAID, who is participating in the human rights conference currently taking place in the capital of Yemen, Sana'a, shared his vision of the situation with the columnist of the Vremya Novostei newspaper Elena SUPONINA.

Americans were shown North Korean plutonium Exactly one year after withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, North Korean authorities allowed foreigners into their nuclear facilities. An unofficial delegation from the United States was selected to learn about weapons secrets and was invited to visit the nuclear complex in Yongbyon, 90 km from Pyongyang. Five Americans were included in the diverse group of chosen ones.

Former Georgian President Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, in an interview with the Vremya Novostey newspaper, explained why he voted for Mikheil Saakashvili in the elections and how Georgia and Russia could improve their relations under the new government. - You surprised everyone when you not only came to vote in the presidential elections on January 4, but also admitted that you preferred Mikheil Saakashvili, who achieved your early resignation. - Saakashvili is talented and proactive.