Stories about International Relations from March, 2007
Russia: Putin's Article in the Times
Very Russian Tochka Net thinks Vladimir Putin should stop writing articles for publication in the West: “Confused, placatory stuff whose only effect is to make a bunch of smart-arses think we’re trying to suck up to them. At least this time he didn’t say we’re European.”
France: Line Crossed in the Hunt for Immigrants
(photo via broyez) Here is a sombering follow-up to the post regarding the hunt for illegal immigrants and their following arrests in France. It seems that things have gotten worst in a hurry with the French presidential elections fast-approaching. Series of sudden arrests prompted many French people to take action...
Iraq: What Arab Leaders Should Say
Iraqi blogger Lady Bird claims that the US dictates on Arab leaders what to say in their closing communique released at the end of their Summits.
Cuba: US Top Food Source?
Child of the Revolution links to an Associated Press article that cites the United States as Cuba's top food source, despite the US trade embargo on the island.
East Asia: History Round up
Jonathan Dresner from Frog in a Well has written a history round up on issues such as comfort woman, Nanjing massarce, textbook, etc.
Belarus: A Roundup
TOL's Belarus Blog covers these subjects: silly pretexts used to arrest opposition activists; the Constitution Day; Belarusian “market socialism“; some of the effects of the recent “gas war” with Russia.
The Balkans: War Criminals Abroad
Neretva River writes about five war criminals living abroad; Bosnia Vault writes about the one who had just been spared extradition by a British judge: “How much time needs to pass before a crime is no longer worthy of being dealt with in a court of law? In other words,...
Lebanon: Spring, Art and Dilemmas
In Lebanon spring officially begins on March 21. This is why March 21st is celebrated as Mother’s Day here. Bloggers tend to post more about love, nature and sunshine, reflecting the general upbeat mood. Even the political post tend to be plans, strategies or analysis about how to make things...
The Oldest Blogger in the Balkans
In the evening, Radmilo Ristic, a 74-year-old retired high school professor, likes to attend theater plays, gallery openings, literary nights, round-table discussions and other similar events that take place around Kragujevac, the city in Central Serbia. When Ristic comes back home, instead of the traditional paper and pen, his computer...
Iran:American spiritual leaders in Iran
There is an interesting link in Khorshidkhanoum blog about a program on PBS site. We watch producer Jamila Paksima revisits her birth country of Iran with American spiritual leaders hoping to promote dialogue on such explosive issues as nuclear proliferation, the Iraq war, and the holocaust.You can watch it here.
Africa: China's Africa interest not neo-colonial
China does not seek economic and political control of Africa: “IT’S ironic that some Western countries which are former colonial powers have accused China of pushing a “neo-colonialism” policy in its trade with Africa. The accusations of “China’s neo-colonialism in Africa” simply lack basis in fact,” via Afroshangai blog.
Kazakhstan: Biden's Letter to Nazarbayev
Registan.net publishes the text of a letter from US Senator and presidential candidate Joseph Biden to Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev that the senator's office says should not appear in the press.
Sri Lanka: Dictatorship Rankings!
Biting satire at Broken News. Wonder what would happen if there was a competition for the top tyrant? “World number one Kim Il Jong of North Korea commented on the challenge being made on his position saying, ‘Mugabe doesn’t frighten me – he’s been playing this game for decades and...
Russia, Estonia: German View on the Bronze Soldier
Rossijskaja Federazija looks at the Russian-Estonian dispute over the WWII monument from a German perspective.
The Balkans, U.S.: General Veljko Kadijevic
Neretva River writes – here, here, here, and here – about a Serbian war criminal who has allegedly been advising the United States on Saddam's bunkers and other strategic facilities in Iraq.
Croatia, U.K.: The Spanovic Decision
A UK court's decision “undermines the effort to bring to trial all defendants currently suspected of war crimes committed during the 1991-1995 conflict,” Neretva River reports.
D.R. of Congo: Nigerian ambassador wounded
A first-hand account of what is happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo, “Meanwhile, the Spanish Embassy has been hit by mortal fire and the Nigerian Ambassador has been wounded in his home yesterday and as last heard, had not been evacuated as MONUC could not yet get to his...
Egypt: Pressure on to Release Sulaiman
Pressure is mounting on Egypt to release jailed blogger Abdulkareem Nabeel Sulaiman. The latest pressure tactics are an op-ed article in the New York Post and a call to US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice to raise Kareem's issue in her meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, according to Free...
Ukraine: Lutsenko's Problems
Foreign Notes reports on Yuri Lutsenko's legal problems and the obstacles his People's Self-Defense Movement is facing. Also, read about Ukraine's fuel and energy minister's visit to London.
Poland: Anti-Abortion; Iraq War
The beatroot writes about Poland's anti-abortion politicians (21 comments so far) and the country's involvement in Iraq (70 comments!).
Russia, Central Asia: Interview With Nathan Hamm
Andy of Siberian Light interviews Nathan Hamm of Registan (and also the Central Asia and Caucasus Regional Editor for Global Voices Online).