Stories about International Relations from April, 2008
Russia: Kasyanov and Kremlin's Populism
Scraps of Moscow writes about Mikhail Kasyanov and the Kremlin's “populist rhetoric.”
Russia, U.S.: Hillary; McCain
Mark MacKinnon writes on “why the Kremlin is pulling for Hillary.” Robert Amsterdam explains “McCain's brain on Russia.”
Russia: TV, Chechnya and the West
Valery Dzutsev writes about a documentary recently aired on a Russian state-owned channel, “in which western security services were accused of an attempt to promote Chechnya’s secession from Russia.”
Indonesia: Olympic torch relay
Reacting to the detention of a Dutch citizen after joining a pro-Tibet Olympics rally in Jakarta, Unspun wonders “about the rightness of foreigners taking up causes in other people’s countries.”
Barbados, Jamaica: Up In Arms
“Twenty-eight years after Bob performed ‘Zimbabwe’, Robert Mugabe is still holding on desperately to power and it seems that he will use any tactic necessary to continue his dictatorship. Now the Chinese are involved”: Both Bajan Global Report and Jamaican Geoffrey Philp blog about an alleged Chinese arms shipment to...
St. Lucia: Oil and Food Prices
As oil prices hit US $120 per barrel, Looshan Ramblings says: “The…continued rise in oil prices will negate any efforts by Caricom governments to reduce food prices as we are so heavily dependent on imported food.”
Georgia: Drone Downed
Registan comments on the latest scandal to hit Russian-Georgian relations after the alleged shooting down of an apparently unarmed Georgian drone by what appears to be a Russian MiG-29. For a variety of reasons outlines in the post, the blog concludes that the true circumstances of the incident may never...
Armenia: Alternative Genocide Action
Hrag Vartanian remembers an unconventional action staged thirty-nine years ago by American-Armenian artist Kardash Onnig outside an Armenian Church in New York. The protest which called on ethnic Armenians to “Un-hate a Turk” was held on 24 April, the day Armenians worldwide remember the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
Turkmenistan: Problems of the Opposition
Maciula writes about the condition and problems of the Turkmen oposition and claims that the West has little chance to exert pressure on the Turkmen authorities to make the political system more democractic.
Kyrgyzstan: Controversy over Military Base
Elena tells about the situation around incident in Kant, location of the Russian airbase in Kyrgyzstan, where a 24-year Russian citizen was seriously wounded by Kyrgyz police.
Ukraine, Russia: “Hitler Toy” Story
Ukrainiana writes about the “Hitler toy” story that first appeared on the Russian TV and was later picked up by BBC: “To the extent that the Western media often cite Russian sources as an authority on Ukraine, they also partake in this smorgasbord of Soviet-style propaganda.”
Hungary: History
A lively discussion of Hungarian history – at Hungarian Spectrum.
Greece, Macedonia: BBC's Mark Mardell's Post and Comments
A post on the Greek-Macedonian relationship – and nearly 800 comments to it – at Mark Mardell's Euroblog (BBC).
Turkmenistan: Iran Bows to Ashgabat
Joshua Foust reports that Iranian officials were forced to admit defeat in the gas pricing dispute with Turkmenistan.
China: Netizens defend Zimbabwe arms sales
As China's latest shipment of weapons and ammunition sits stranded off the coast of southeastern Africa and president Mugabe of landlocked Zimbabwe digs in against accusations of a fixed election, the majority of Chinese netizens are defending their government's arms sales to the country, at the same time accusing the US and its allies of double standards.
Russia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan: Lenin's Birthday
On April 22, Vladimir Lenin would have turned 138 - and quite a few Russophone bloggers still remember the date.
Russia: Two Articles
Sean's Russia Blog reviews “two must read articles on Russia.”
Slovakia: Unnerved by McCain's Logo Star
Bratislava-based Deleted by Tomorrow finds “that five-pointed star at the top [of John McCain's campaign logo] a bit unnerving.”
Greece, Macedonia: Boycotts and Bans
Douglas Muir of A Fistful of Euros posts a brief update on the Greek-Macedonian relationship.
Slovakia: Euro Membership Bid
Edward Hugh of A Fistful of Euros writes in detail on Slovakia’s euro membership bid. (An update is here.)
Albania: “Albanosphere”
Douglas Muir of A Fistful of Euros posts a new installment on the “Greater Albania” – an extensive overview of the myths and facts about the “Albanosphere.”
