Stories about International Relations from March, 2007
Kazakhstan: Russian Chill
neweurasia discusses chilliness in relations between Kazakhstan and Russia, but says that the relationship is far from on the rocks.
Mexico: Harvard University and Oaxaca
George Salzman on the good and bad of the involvement of Manuel Stefanakis, Director of the Master of Public Administration Programs in the John F. Kennedy School of Government, in Oaxaca's long-standing conflict with the local and federal government.
Nicaragua: Eric Volz
Bloggings by Boz links to a Miami Herald article about Eric Volz, a 27-year-old California native imprisoned in Nicaragua for rape and homicide. Writes Boz, “it doesn't sound like the Nicaraguan authorities have any evidence other than one convicted drug trafficker's statement to back up their arrest.” Citizen 192 has...
Morocco: Death of a Frenchman
Writing in a View From Fez, Moroccan blogger Samir reports that a “Frenchman participating in the 22nd edition of the Sand Marathon died of heart attack in his tent Thursday at a campsite west of Jebl Kfiroune, about 40 kilometres from Rissani, in south-eastern Morocco.” “This is the second death...
Palestine: US Spying on Arab Blogs
Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah believes that the US is spying on Arab blogs. “We are now officially tracked, monitored and harassed by a special team from the U.S. State Department calling themselves the ‘Digital Outreach Team’,” he writes.
Bahrain: West Respects Muslims More
“I find it really amusing that the laws and teachings of the Islam are respected and abided by as basic human rights more in the West than they are within the Islamic world itself,” writes Bahraini blogger emoodz.
Lebanon: Arab Summit
Lebanese blogger As'ad Abu Khalil shares with us his mother's opinion on the Arab Summit, held recently in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “My mother was telling me about her opinions of the Arab summit. She said that she was happy about the Syrian-Saudi rapprochement but only because it will upset the...
Uzbekistan: New Attitude
Registan.net says that Uzbekistan has not shown the change of heart regarding its human rights practices that some European Union officials claim it has.
Americans in Moldova; Moldovans in Italy…
Alexandru Culiuc's weblog is one of the best in the Moldovan blogosphere – probably the one I enjoy reading the most, and happily it has an owner and readership that don't seem to mind my mostly English-language comments. Last year, Alex had an interesting post about foreigners’ impressions of Moldova...
Israel: US Aid
Israeli blogger The Elder of Ziyon claims that US aid to the Palestinians will be used against Israel. “Of course, this would not be the first time that US weapons are used by Fatah against Israel,” he notes.
Israel: On the Saudi Initiative
Israeli blogger Yaeli suggests that her country responds to the Saudi initiative using the analysis being made by a Lebanese. “If Israel’s position is reasonable – and I think it is (the green line needs to be renegotiated, among other things), then these opinions should be put to the Arab...
Russia: Nashi Site Blocked
Strangely, no one from outside Russia can access the site of the pro-Kremlin youth group Nashi, reports Sean's Russia Blog.
Ukraine: New Foreign Minister
Ukrainiana writes about Ukraine's new 32-year-old minister of foreign affairs.
Ukraine: Mad Max
Foreign Notes writes about the killing of mobster Maxim Kurochkin and the investigation into it.
Iran: Connecting the Medical World and Norouz Inspires Reflection
Iranian bloggers provide information, share their opinions, and discuss various issues with their photography, illustrations, and text. But that's not all. Occasionally, they launch plans to make the world a better place. Paris Marashi, an Iranian-American video-blogger has revealed a project that aims to bring Iranian medical professionals in contact...
Madagascar: Growing with China
Madagascar Croissance reflects [Fr] on Madagascar's trade with China and East Asia, the main exporters of rice, textiles and technology to the country: “Trade between China and Madagascar … leaves the big island in deficit. But … Malagasy products were just exempted of taxes and rights in China which presents...
Egypt: Citizen Journalism Talk
Egyptian blogger Hossam Al Hamalawy will give two talks – one on citizen journalism – at the 5th Cairo Anti War Conference and 3rd Cairo Social Forum being held later this month. “The conference should be a golden opportunity for us to exchange experiences with international and local activists. I...
Egypt: Arab Summit Predictable
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia gives us her two cents on the Arab Summit here. “The Arab Summits now became like the elections in Egypt, an excepted result that is summarized in the famous quote ‘The Arabs agreed not to agree’,” she writes.
Japan: Apology Problem
Did or didn't Abe apologize for Japan’s wartime use of sex slaves? Oftenover from Japundit comments on the news about Prime Minister Abe's recent apology on sex slaves issue.
South Korea: FTA
Jamie from Two Koreas has an update about the FTA negotiation and anti FTA protest in South Korea: The march was also able to march into Gwanghwamun unobstructed, which was even more of a surprise.
Tajikistan: Implications of -ov
Bonnie Boyd says that the Tajik president's decisions to drop Russian endings from surnames potentially has foreign policy implications for Tajikistan. She says that the decision does nothing for Tajikistan but satisfy a presidential whim.