Articles and analysis

By a special correspondent

In the centre of Luxembourg City, on Liberty Avenue, is an imposing building which epitomises the country's modern defence stance. Once occupied by General Omar Bradley as his armies drove on towards Germany, it was subsequently the site of meetings which led to the Common Market and thence inexorably to the European Union and the European Security and Defence Policy.

Until 1944, Luxembourg had no army. Since then it has enjoyed unbroken peace. Recently its Parliament agreed to increase authorised manpower to 1400.

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Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko sharply criticized the pro-Western president last for damaging the country's relations with Russia.

The premier's comments on her former ally, Viktor Yushchenko, came a day after the ruling coalition officially split amid political infighting and disagreements over Ukraine's stance on the recent Russia-Georgia conflict.

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By Ian Taylor MP

Is tackling climate change compatible with maintaining energy security? The difficulties that Europe faces over maintaining stable supplies of energy are not as well publicised as the threats from global warming. Yet the events of this summer, when two oil pipelines through Georgia were closed as a result of the Russian-Georgian conflict, were a sharp reminder of how vulnerable EU energy supplies have become to supply from potentially unstable areas. As our North Sea reserves dwindle, this is not an issue that British politicians can evade. We have to face up openly to how to reconcile securing energy supply with the rush to save the climate. Some of the targets for the latter give the appearance of 'state national plans' with as little credibility as their predecessors. Too many 'green' campaigners give the impression that keeping the lights on does not matter.

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