Diplomacy

Biden: “We need diplomacy to forge a common strategy among energy consuming countries in Europe, a shared effort that can confront Russian dominance.”

June 12, 2008 -- Washington, DC – Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) held a hearing this afternoon entitled, “Oil, Oligarchs, and Opportunity: Energy from Central Asia to Europe” to examine Russia's use of its enormous oil and gas reserves, and regional pipeline system, to expand its global political influence and economic leverage.

Russian oil pump: Photo by Amanda Graham (CC)    » read more »

20 May 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates faced tough questions from lawmakers Tuesday about the Bush administration's refusal to hold talks with Iran unless Tehran first halts its uranium enrichment program. Gates told a Senate panel that it is an open question whether such talks would succeed while President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad is in power.

At a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on next year's Pentagon budget request, two lawmakers suggested the time has come for the United States to open wide-ranging talks with Iran - without preconditions.    » read more »

Program Features Five Former U.S. Ambassadors to Armenia

August 29, 2007 -- Former US ambassadors to Armenia Harry Gilmore (1993-95), Peter Tomsen (1995-98), Michael Lemmon (1998-2001), John Ordway (2001-04) and John Evans (2005-06) will discuss their roles in establishing U.S.-Armenian relations following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.    » read more »