Monday's global agenda: Obama, Clinton talk NATO

By Julian Pecquet - 12/03/12 08:44 AM ET

Your morning global affairs speed-read

President Obama hosts Prime Minister Boiko Borissov of Bulgaria at the White House today for talks about the country's “leadership at NATO and its valuable contributions to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.” Obama is also expected to receive updates on Bulgaria’s investigation into the July 2012 terrorist attack on Israeli tourists in Burgas, which has been linked to Iran.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is meeting today with officials of the Czech Republic on strengthening Czech energy independence and advancing human rights and supporting democratic transitions around the world. Clinton then heads to Belgium to participate in a meeting of NATO foreign ministers Tuesday and Wednesday.

Later, Obama is set to deliver remarks to the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Symposium at the National Defense University. On the 20th anniversary of the CTR program, the president will note the “extraordinary progress” that’s been made in securing nuclear material and thank former Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) and outgoing Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) for their longstanding leadership.

Disabilities: Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) unite with Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) to press for U.S. accession to the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities. The Senate is expected to vote on the treaty Tuesday.

Let's make a deal: The Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) hosts its 8th Annual U.S.-Afghanistan Business Matchmaking Conference in Washington through Tuesday. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk is set to meet with Afghan Minister of Commerce and Industry Anwar-Ul-Haq Ahady on Monday. Kirk will meet with Morocco's minister of Trade, Industry and New Technologies, Abdelkader Amara, earlier in the day.

In other news:

Al Qaeda is resurgent in Iraq. [The Washington Post]

Egypt's highest court joined a judicial rebellion against President Mohamed Morsi by declaring an open-ended strike. [Associated Press]

The U.S. condemned North Korea's rocket launch plans as 'highly provocative' [Christian Post]

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Obama punts to Congress over repercussions for UN Palestine vote

AFL-CIO urges UN to drop proposed Internet regulations

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