cio negotiations which have been going on for two decades are now we nearing resolution officials in moscow have repeatedly stated that twenty eleven is the your obsession will finally be achieved how whether despite the formal declarations business leaders and officials still believe it's not a foregone conclusion. ok that wraps up the business border you're up to date now you can get more stories from our website our two dot com slash business.

the. commander of the top stories here on our team protesters in the middle east and north africa refused to back down with libya still in the throes of violence and bloodshed and your absurd. under threat of drowning in a wave of immigration with italy warning up to three hundred thousand refugees could reach its shores. wiki leaks founder is set to hear whether he'll be extradited to sweden to stand trial over sexual assault charges denies the allegations saying they're part of a conspiracy to hand him over to the u.s. . and by the end of the year the u.s. will ground its troubles handling the responsibility for sending humans into space to private companies but for years to come russia's rockets will be the only way

out of perth many americans taking it as a blow to their pride. despite a violent crackdown on protesters in libya the uprisings show little sign of dying down across the region america caught off guard by the anti-government surge is still trying to stablish its role in the widespread up people former u.s. national security adviser brant scowcroft says that it's too early to predict how u.s. policy in the middle east will be affected. mr scowcroft thank you very much for joining altie you're in moscow as co-chair of president obama's blue ribbon commission on america's nuclear future in your view would all the consequences for the u.s. middle east policy off to the toppling of mubarak in egypt and ben ali in tunisia you know one is always caught off guard by revolutions. because there are a surprise if there were

a surprise to president ben ali and to president mubarak it's hardly. surprising that. the. instabilities in the region are of course obvious and have been for a long time the question is can they be handled can they be dealt with in any plot for a sensible way or does it have to involve. unrest and violence and i think. we have to wait and see so far the egyptian crisis has been managed i think quite route to actually armies you hate to think very well neither repressing the demonstrations nor encouraging. its changes coming to the region and but that was that was inevitable as the old leaders passed from the scene so i think we need to be careful but i'm

optimistic fundamentally fundamentally our policy should change in our policy is the development of open societies cooperativeness and progressive development for all the countries of the region and that's always been the ball so i would like to discuss several foreign policy issues with you iraq president obama has started withdrawing troops from iraq once all the forces including security personnel leave the country in your view is there a danger of iraq slipping back into the civil war i think iraq is in or is in a progress precarious state they're still in fact forming a government months after an election to do so there are sharp divisions inside the country. and it's hard to say exactly how they will develop

i would be more comfortable. with a somewhat longer american presence so that they would be more inclined to solve their problems by discourse rather than strength but we'll have to wait and see but you don't think that. the danger is there oh i think the danger is there i think there are still still many forces tending to pull the country aside indeed one of the reasons for the strength of the dictatorship was to hold the country together but i am hopeful that the people will see the benefits of compromising their differences rather than insist upon them and destroying the state do you think that the nato mission in afghanistan is doomed just like the british failed in the nineteenth century in the soviet union just thirty years ago no i don't think so because i think

we are the united states is. for a different reason which is not to control afghanistan but to make sure that there are other terrorist bad don't use afghanistan as a base from which to attack us you anybody else so yeah our our goal is much more limited and i think they're for. one can have more optimism than one did of the previous occupants of afghanistan you yourself i think have been saying that the term war on terror. was. compromised it has indeed been compromised how does that marry with the you know with the terrorism threat that is not going anywhere well terrorism threat is one thing

a war is another and terrorism is a technique of combat it is not you can't make war on a technique so. i think the war on terror is was designed to motivate people for a maximum effort terrorist something that we all have to deal with and are going to have to for a long period of time it's in part a product of the modern age like television like radio people are now politicized by issues that they didn't care about well because they didn't know about and so i think it's a long term struggle against extremists who want to destroy a civilization that they can't cope with it seems that there is no progress in stopping the iranian nuclear program in your view what are the chances that the united states may resort to the military option i think there is still

the possibility to avoid a confrontation. i think iran is a case that relative related to the reason that i'm here and that is cooperation between the united states and russia on the whole nuclear fuel cycle. iran has every right. to have nuclear power that does not have the right to build nuclear weapons and i think. the extent to which we can cooperate to induce iran to take the opportunities that are available and that is nuclear fuel from russia returned the nuclear fuel not insist on enriching it's only radium or doing things like that and i wouldn't rule out that. that we would be successful how much is you know is

this the opinion shared in the united states i don't think i'm alone i am i'm not sure but i don't think there's any eagerness. to deal with iran by force and i think the extent the increasing degree of cooperation between the united states and russia on this issue will have a big impact. on iran and what it decides to do but there is also quite strong mood within the government of israel and sort of you know they support an attack on iran well as euro has what it considers an existential problem with iran but i think if we can deal with the nuclear problem. then israel will be reassured by that what is your assessment has the recent with

russia and asked by the obama administration two years ago brought any serious results it's not what could be the reasons i was a little disappointed for a year or so i am now encouraged i think now that we're beginning on a much more positive course. both sides have ratified the new start treaty and that is it's. a major step forward in terms of renewing a cooperate of sense the. nuclear cooperation agreement the one twenty three agreement as we call it is now in force and i think the the warmth between the two and the progress we've made together with respect to iran for example and i think even on afghanistan there is a sense that we both there we have a common problem a common of the export of the export of harold so all those things.

are leading and i feel good about the reset button now why were you disappointed then did you feel that those two little happening yes yes i thought that i thought the language of reset was good but but there didn't seem to be much follow through for a time and now it just took time to catch all but now i feel very good about since he will ready mentioned start what is its political impact on the u.s. russia relations i think what it really does is that it's continued the framework that we build up really over fifty years of how to talk and how to deal. with the military nuclear issues that it continues that process and now we can look at ways we still possess over ninety percent of the world's nuclear weapons so we need to work together to ensure that

those weapons are never never need be used. and that is to increase the stability of the nuclear power so whatever the problem between us there's no incentive. to use them and i think now the way is clear for us to sit down and have that coming discussion there's still there's so many nuclear weapons out there but just not just a matter of numbers it's doing the kinds of things that ensure that those weapons are never going to be used and that take that'll take a lot more discussion goshi ation thoughtfulness on both sides but i'm sure we can make progress now that we've laid the groundwork for further steps and final question is about president gorbachev with his upcoming eightieth birthday you of course met him and negotiated with him and his team could you give us your impression of the man and his legacy it was

a fine man and they strongly intelligent man and i think. played a indispensable role in the end of the cold war and for that i think he should be revered as the are there any personal memoirs memories or impressions that you are going to jump into mind oh i have so many he he was. always to me warm and friendly and. very cerebral in the sense of discussing issues dispassionately. where the world ought to go where the relationship ought to go thank you very much for this interview they are very welcome.

it's.

in the middle east and north africa refused to baghdad with libya still in the throes of while in some bloodshed threat of drowning in a wave of immigration with warning up to three hundred thousand refugees could reach its shores. wiki leaks founder is set to hear whether he'll be extradited to sweden to stand trial over sexual assault charges and denies the allegations saying they are part of a conspiracy to hand him over to the u.s. . and by the end of the year the u.s. will ground its responsibility for sending humans into space to private companies before years to come russia's rockets will be the only way out of the earth with many americans taking it as a blow to their pride. a time now for sports of a natasha's here and has been a busy day in sports. and all the details coming up

in just a few moments on our. hello and welcome your watching the sports update live on our team the headlines. the chase is on plenty of girls and some major ups outside the western conference during the opening day of pick a child play offs. boss on how to score twice against spartak and today's europa league clash and they will also help to come town with freezing temperatures here in moscow. safely through to the third stage of the ladies open in qatar while they collided with bags of the dubai championships at the hands of promise. but we begin with champions league football of course where holders into milan lost to by munich in a repeat of last season's final one male the scoring their last sixteen first leg

addison's here on wednesday obviously a big disappointment for the host says mario gone a snap of the only goal in the ninetieth minute sealing their own victory for blind in the meantime manchester united them are saying settle for a goal as droid problems the english premier league leaders unable to score at the start village old manager alex ferguson admitting after the match that he expected more from his man. i think it's going to be from homes where it was important we didn't do that. so there's a point for me those old fine nothing that was true as well i don't think most a present to any great problems and that i can say ensued when the story can go. on a thought go to certain about sort of very good. for the first time for think both teams can so the show that nothing grew up in the minors to boys who are good much to watch. spartak moscow and good position to profile themselves into the last

sixteen of the europa league but a carpenter charges with a wango advantage against basel with us was looking for a banjo in the return leg at luzhniki spartak same down and out last as the one they considered two goals in the opening period but second how goals from. brought them right back into the fold and a yarn on the needs of striking extra time then saw the muscovites completed an impressive comeback it's back to the capital for spartak now but they've won only one of their seven home games in european competitions and while the cold weather would seem an advantage to the hosts karpen doesn't underestimate those coming from a warmer climates you go to the match will take place regardless of the weather so thorough preparation is key we saw how will teams from woman climates complain these conditions during the c.s. compound match and we already found out what it is capable of back in switzerland.

so once again basel will need to score at least twice and most school later today to have any chance of progress saying richard now has the latest from the swiss team who braved subzero temperatures in the russian capital preparing for that match. things could have been so much better for bars old a week ago ballots partite to know for an hour of the first day gone however they imploded over the next thirty minutes as visitors struck three times to give ben the edge going into first he's returned leg imus was science head coach knows his team will be up against eights you have. to go of course we've got a tough task ahead of us after losing the first leg three two that said we have got absolutely nothing to lose and i think my team will take to the pitch on thursday in a completely relaxed frame of mind we're missing a few players through injury but we'll be looking to put out our best possible side against spartak into food. the weather wasn't very welcoming for visitors eva the

temperature pitch side when they trained was well below freezing around a minus fifteen mark or judging by what the players were wearing it seemed they were preparing for a polar expedition rather than for a football match but said it isn't exactly warm up moments in basel and fing doesn't believe it will be hard for his team to adjust this is closer to my we haven't undertaken any particularly preparations to combat the cold ahead of this match we will just dress a warmer than usual and will drink more by this i mean we won't be drinking beer of course but water and of course it's important that the players constantly keep moving when they're on the pitch. basel currently said four points clear at the top of a domestic championship a swiss league resume following this winter break it was not a favor and basel have won all three domestic matches what is the reason to keep secret because all we know were good enough to get a result against spurs well the same time we mustn't forget about this was league we have got some very important games coming up and have

a good chance of being crowned champions so we have definitely got to keep one eye on our domestic championship whose point. buzzers head coach thorsten fink knows more than a thing or two about playing an illusion in the stadium and. and in spots like moscow as a midfielder came up against the red and whites four times while playing for by him unique around the turn of a century and he expects a tough evening when the match gets underway you know as motivation it does. russian football is improving all the time i know at the moment there are four teams from the country involved in european competitions spartak have an artificial pish and a very strong home support which i believe is the best in russia they'll have their fans behind them and we must make sure we concentrate which is certainly what we didn't do in the first leg just went to business. sponsor favorites going into the second leg following their second half a rolex in switzerland last week will be hoping to spring

a surprise and continue their run and this season's europa league. will be absolute kicking themselves out of throwing away a two goal lead also we can switzerland in the first leg a sponsor came back to win by three goals to two what are some things men are going to put that result behind them and they'll need to score at least twice on what promises to be an absolutely freezing nights in the russian capital any chance of progressing to the last sixteen years of on pole three don't see. staying with the europa league says come also have their next opponents in the competition among the guys will take them for three of the last sixteen that despite the portuguese last wednesday's second leg against his b.-o. one nail to want victory from the first leg a week ago wasn't all for an aggregate victory so this crime will go have to have a large town found them on march seventeenth and english football also will move to within a single point of manchester united off the big thing stoking the only premier league game on wednesday in front of the civil sales team that's when the only goal

will be eight minutes the win however was overshadowed by fitness concerns fabregas and walton both came off injured leaving coach arsenal in the air without two of his key players ahead of for important matches within the next couple of weeks. moving to play offs now well a committee of overcame a difficult early hurdle in the opening game of the western conference quarterfinals of the rally five one lead in the second period but opponents to now minsk schooled three in a row after that however with time running out the belorussians couldn't come play the count back seven for the final score in that one three periods wasn't enough to decide when i was in the rest of the games the star studded scott st petersburg held up spot i felt know was while a long edged out civil style and west run as a school was there last week and they made sakes from brega as well but for now now reports. tension raced miles higher with the big game the playoffs

having started on wednesday even more so when it comes to name six deliberate dinamo school and in america star their best of seven series in the russian capital preseason favorites the blue and was were quick to put the lock ins under heavy pressure here is denise gar of dribbling through rigorous defense in style early in the first period moments later the muscovites latest signing ball full three sun phone himself in a great position to score but over those chances we said meaning it was nil nil by the first intermission the passion of support from the crowd was the home side forward although it was dinamo riga who scored the opener mark hartigan netting here to make it one nil although it didn't affect the course of the game at all the blue and white skip and grating olson chances to score with the r.s. just melting in front of the visitors goal in the final period meanwhile rieger were sitting their fortune on counter attacks the more surreal we had

a great opportunity to score in this one on one breakaway but michael garnett step in. in just five minutes from the host's efforts will finally rewarded blackamoor off to the puck away in right field home to little matters one one that's how it came to overtime we still do number regus liberating in the end that is there is first line easily finding the net on pope lee but it's definitely the visitors don't we still quist who should be called the men of the match or their goaltender played amazing we had all the chances we needed we just couldn't score and. they made some really good c.z. even the ones that did your biome he was able to knock them away and. you know tonight i think we played probably about as good as we could play but you know a lot of credit has to go to hell trust regan are now in a one new lead in their best of seven serious against the no moscow with

a name six making it back to the same ice rink late tonight robert for the known marty most. in tennis nikolai dividends it will be saying goodbye to dubai off to tell us burdick out of his run as early as the second round the czech taking it six three seven six to weigh only his second had to have meeting with the russian in eleven matches burdick will now play german philip patch that in the last eight. topsy safely through though with roger federer beating most a goal now years six three six four in just over one hour meanwhile though of djokovic had a tougher match with another spaniard for the sound of a locust drop the second sad but came out a six three two six six four where i am they and joker will take on florian mara next while federer is preparing for a quarter final against ukraine city against the whole scheme. over in doha veterans will not over cruised into the third stage of the guitar ladies open the

russian second seed threshing dominated symbol of a six one six two to set up a meeting with another slovak. elsewhere two thousand and six when then that defeats or believes the tournament after going down to none other than world number one caroline was knocking the day moving through six three six two it was not he won the divide championships just a few days ago and now seems well on her way to yet another w. title. and that's it for now coming up next there's the weather stay with us. hungry for the full story we've got to.