Stories about International Relations from January, 2008
D.R. of Congo: tough questions abound
Tough questions abound in the Democratic Republic of Congo as bloggers discuss, among other issues, the recent peace agreement in eastern Congo.
Macedonia: Nikola Gruevski
A Fistful of Euros writes about “the Balkans’ most popular head of government” – Nikola Gruevski of Macedonia.
Israel: Relations with the Germans and Poles
Imshin, from Israel, discusses the relationship between Israelis and Germans and Poles in this post.
Poland, Ukraine: Border Crisis
Leopolis writes about the crisis at Poland's eastern border: “Traffic has come to a standstill on the Polish-Ukrainian border. Polish customs officers are on strike for the sixth day, demanding pay increases.”
Ukraine: NATO
Foreign Notes writes about Ukraine's parliamentary mess caused by NATO's Membership Action Plan.
East Timor: On Suharto's death
In late 1975, East Timor was invaded and occupied by Indonesia, which led to a 24 year rule and it is estimated that up to 200,000 people, one-third of the local population, died as a result of it. This invasion was commanded by General Suharto, Indonesia's former dictator. Here is how a few bloggers connected to East Timor reacted to the news of his death at the age of 86 this Sunday January, 27.
East Timor: Suharto is dead
Many East Timor blogs are reacting to Suharto's death. Here is what Pedro Fontela [pt] says: “Suharto, the former Indonesian dictator, died at last. I lack the hypocrisy to suggest that it can feel any pitty. It is one less tyrant genocidal in the world, good for us! May there...
Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago: Lusignan Massacre
“I've never felt so utterly hopeless about Guyana as I do today, and it weighs all the heavier in this prolonged season of hopelessness about my own country, my own society”: As news spreads about the horrific massacre in the town of Lusignan, Nicholas Laughlin‘s heart bleeds for Guyana.
UK: Armenian Genocide Memorial Vandalized
Blogian and Unzipped report on the desecration of a monument erected to honor the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide in the Welsh city of Cardiff. The vandalism occurred on the eve of an event to remember slain Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. Seta's Armenian blog posts a press release stating...
Uzbekistan: Military Chief Goes to Tashkent
Nathan reacts to the fact that a top U.S. military commander made a stop in Tashkent and met with President Karimov and Uzbek defense officials.
Mexico: Conditions for Plan Merida
Enigmatario [es] wonders how much more access the US will request for its Drug Enforcement Agency in Mexico under Plan Merida to fight organized crime especially associated with drug trafficking.
Francophone Morocco Roundup: Algeria's response to the UN, anti-French sentiment and more
This week in the Moroccan blogosphere, Algeria fails in its duties, anti-French sentiment still strong in Morocco, DJ Awards and rose petals galore.
Davos: peeking in and participating through videos
The World Economic Forum´s annual meeting of political and business leaders is taking place between January 23rd and January 27th in Davos, Switzerland. This year, common people can participate in this forum by giving their ideas to make the world a better place and posting it on the YouTube video sharing site.
Iran:USA does business with Iran and Syria
Ali Mostofi in Iranian.com blog gives a link to an article about USA business with Iran and Syria.The blogger adds If the US looked at home, instead of anywhere else, the situation with the Seyyeds[clerics] would have been sorted out a long time ago.
Brazil: How the USA backed the dictatorship
Luiz Carlos Azenha [pt] has started a series of posts in which he intends to translate all the official documents about the American support to the 1964 coup in Brazil, currently kept by George Washington University's National Security Archives. In this second post, he deciphers a “message from the then...
Ukraine: NATO Problems
Foreign Notes writes about the bad timing of the current NATO-related initiatives undertaken by Ukraine's leaders.
Iran:”Dutch University rejects Iranian Applicant”
In Kamangir blog, we read:”my M.Sc. application was rejected, not on the basis of my academic performance, but because of where I am born”, writes Amin, an Iranian reader of this (Kamangir's) blog. Attaching a snapshot of the communication he has received from University of Twente, in the Netherlands.
Serbia, UK: Fascism and the Left
Greater Surbiton writes on leftist interpretations of fascism – and of Serbian politics.
Serbia: Support for Vladimir Vukčević
Alan Jakšić of Balkan Anarchist declares his support for Serbia's war crimes prosecutor Vladimir Vukčević, who has recently “received a death threat from fellow Serbs in the diaspora.”
Poland, Ukraine: The Border
Our Man in Gdansk writes about Poland's eastern border, the non-Schengen, closely guarded one: “A lorry driver died in the 20-mile queue at the Ukrainian-Polish border crossing at Dorohusk. Warsaw sat up and noticed: Poland has an eastern border.”
Russia: Hajj Quotas
Window on Eurasia writes about hajj quotas and how it relates to Russia's Muslims.
