Foreign Service Updates

Czech president reportedly bars US ambassador Andrew Schapiro from official visits in rift over Russia  Zeman to attend May 9 parade. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/04/06/czech-president-reportedly-bars-us-ambassador-from-official-visits-in-rift-over/ US ambassador Andrew Schapiro barred from Prague Castle by Czech president  ❤  Milos Zeman!  ❤ re WWII commemoration in #Russia criticism Czech President Milos Zeman is critical re EU sanctions against RUSSIA http://thecabin.net/news/military/2015-04-06/czech-president-us-envoy-rare-public-spat-over-ukraine US military need  Czech army to protect them from the public http://rt.com/news/243221-czech-us-convoy-tomatoes-warnings/  Czech Embassy hosts Roma conference in Washington, DC / meeting with:         *Open Society Foundation          *HRW         *NED         *NDI         *Freedom House         *RFE/RL chief http://new.praguepost.com/czech-news/46670-czech-embassy-hosts-roma-conference-in-washington-d-c Ireland FATHER + daughter suspended sentences political protest / laying down in front of Israel ambassador's car http://www.herald.ie/news/dad-and-daughter-avoid-jail-for-embassy-protest-31119606.html Turkey US Consulate Istanbul - Old Haunt of US Spies Becomes a Playground for Istanbul’s Elite CIA had top floor Turkey consulate building Bought by USA 1907 = first real estate US owned Europe = 2nd worldwide / Tangier, Morocco gift - first owned http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/06/world/europe/american-consulate-in-istanbul-becomes-a-soho-house.html?_r=0 Liberia EU a long term partner assisting. Assistance incl. direct budget support, financing of major projects + more But NO VISAS issued USA is only country which offers accessible visa service to ordinary Liberians Link:  http://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/news/4887-south-africa-leads-visa-services-to-liberians Turkey Sudan Turkish warship docks at Sudanese port /  regional tour 2-day visit / joint military drills http://news.videonews.us/turkish-warship-docks-at-sudanese-port-083356.html Turkey Sudan Since Turkey’s Justice & Development Party to power in 2002 Turkish investments in Sudan rose to nearly $2 billion http://news.videonews.us/turkish-warship-docks-at-sudanese-port-083356.html Tajikistan  USA embassy Tajikistan 2014 funding is approx. $84 million over 50% funding comes from US DOD http://www.eurasianet.org/node/72906 US Embassy Tajikistan "Lacked Credibility" In Khorog Investigation 2012 US-trained special ops killed 20 - REPORT COMPLETED http://www.eurasianet.org/node/72906 Republic of Moldova aka Moldavia landlocked country in Eastern Europe b/w Romania & Ukraine 9:20 am Wed 8 April 2015 Moldova gave out $1-billion in loans ahead of Nov 2014 elections .. & money has now disappeared. http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150408/1020601013.html?utm_source=t.co%2FU5efTIMRh6&utm_medium=short_url&utm_content=ccx&utm_campaign=URL_shortening US Embassy in Ukraine pulling in troops to Verkhovna Rada to protect Yatsenyuk  Svoboda (Freedom) MPs, as well as their non-affiliated colleagues, running amok & Yatsy's scared ... looool http://english.pravda.ru/news/world/07-04-2015/130206-ukraine_rada_kiev_yatsenyuk-0/ Киев. Студенты устроили акцию перед посольством США DIRECT LINK - here USA Embassy in Ukraine  tight security US Embassy is the main institute of power in UKR Ukraine Kiev US Embassy picketed by over 2,000 Ukrainian protesters "We are not cattle!" Mass media headed by the Ministry of Propaganda of Ukraine CENSORED info re US embassy protest http://www.opednews.com/articles/Anti-US-Protests-Broke-out-by-Jerry-Collins-Activists_Brokeness_Government_People-150404-35.html FASCIST CANADA Ukraine pianist barred from performing with Toronto Symphony Orchestra for expressing views on UKR on social media  http://on.rt.com/izuxhn  Just some of the things that caught my attention.  Canada's a disgrace. Moldova disappearing BILLION is a shocker.  Czech President being no push-over is a surprise.  I'm impressed by that.  The list of organisations re Czech Republic meetings is the list to watch. Turkey in Sudan sounds intriguing, as does the Tajikistan-US affair.  Turkey story wasn't that exciting but the US-Morocco look ups were quite interesting. Get a load of the US Tajikistan embassy budget!  That's astounding.  Who knew stationery costs so much? ;) What's interesting about Tajikistan is that the Defence Dept. is the source of more than half the funds. Not sure if this is normal or not.  Find it very interesting. [  In a hurry - excuse any typos  ]