Stories about International Relations from May, 2007
Jordan: Live Blogging from the World Economic Forum
Our very own GV Jordan author Naseem Tarawnah was busy blogging away at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East, held in Jordan. “The WEF I think is one of those events where there is just too much to talk about and too many sessions to attend, too many...
Bangladesh: On Pakistan and the US
Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying on how the US is supporting the Pakistani Military. “In pursuit of its War on Terror, the Bush Administration has been subsidizing General Musharraf and his military as they continue to cling to power in Pakistan. Pakistan is most definitely not a poster...
Bukavu on the Congolese-Rwandan border: A city at the crossroads of conflict
Kakaluigi, a foreign missionary who has lived in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for 35 years describes a feeling of apprehension about the future that overshadows Bukavu. Bukavu is a city of survivors. During the First Congo War (1996-1997),Bukavu was caught in the middle...
South Korea: Bruce Cumings interview
Timothy Savage and Kang Sung-gwan from Ohmynews have an interview with Bruce Cumings, an expert specialized in Korean history, on issues including social and political development of Korea, North Korea crisis and international relation.
King of Abdullah of Saudi Arabia Visits Morocco, Gets the Royal Treatment
Tunisien Doctor muses (Fr) about King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia's treatment duing his visit to Morocco: the hand-kissing, the woolen carpets strenching hundreds of meters to line the path of the king's motorcade.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Bukavu, a city caught in the middle of many wars
Kakaluigi describes an apprehensive mood (Fr) in Bukavu, a city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bukavu was caught in the middle of fighting between Tutsi government forces and the Hutu that fled there after the Rwandan genocide, and later between Congolese government and rebel forces. Kakaluigi wonders whose...
Japan: Who's the real nationalist?
Graham Webster at Transpacific Triangle, picking up on earlier entries by Ampontan and Observing Japan, asks the question: “Who's the Bigger Nationalist: Abe or Koizumi?” The verdict: “People like Abe who favor constitutional revision are ‘practical nationalists,’ whereas people like Koizumi who pay tribute to late 19th century nationalist traditions...
Russia: Dissenters’ March in Samara
On Friday, police at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport prevented Russian opposition leaders Garry Kasparov and Eduard Limonov from boarding a flight to Samara, where they planned to take part in the Dissenters' March, scheduled to coincide with the Russia-EU Summit. The march did take place, but it was something of a failure - according to one blogger who was there, at least.
Belarus: Blog Roundup
TOL's Belarus posts an overview of Belarusian blogs: “The burning news of the BB (belarusian blogosphere) recently has become a new witty initiative of the government to remove all satellite antennas and climate control devices located on outer walls of Minsk buildings.”
Ukraine: Yushchenko's UK Visit Cancelled
Foreing Notes writes about the cancellation of president Yushchenko's meeting with Tony Blair.
Russia: Dissent and Samara Summit
Samara-based blogger Dmitri Minaev and Sean Guillory write about the EU-Russia Summit in Samara and the regime's ways of dealing with dissent.
Serbian “Prayer” Wins Eurovision Song Contest
Just a few days ago, major news outlets reported that the main course of discussion at the Serbian Assembly session was to determine which political party is supported by the 2007 Eurovision winner, Marija Serifovic. Milutin Mrkonjic, who presided at the meeting, invited the singer to visit the parliament. When she came in, Mrkonjic said, “Fellow deputies, please turn around and greet Marija Serifovic. We will be having a short break. Let all of us go to the lobby to have a juice with our Marija.” Serbian bloggers have been discussing various aspects of Serifovic's victory, too, of course, and Ljubisa Bojic translates some of the reactions.
Bangladesh: On Wolfowitz
Wolfowitz's exit from the World Bank prompts imperfect world 2007 says. “his man who is responsible for so much death and destruction personifies the unreal world neocon thinking inhabits. If you remember he was the man who predicted that US soldiers would be feted in the streets of Baghdad after...
Israel: Brits Banning Israeli Universities, Professors and Students
“The Brits are at it again. (Like they’ve ever stopped). So British academics are again putting together a boycott of Israeli universities, Israeli professors, and Israeli students. Four Israeli academics went to meet with the boycott put-togetherers in the U.K. this week,” notes blogger Yael from Israel.
Iraq: Al Jazeera Bending to US Pressure
Iraqi blogger Lady Bird claims that Qatari-based Al Jazeera is being forced to bend to pressure from the US. “Reported today the board members of Aljazeera were removed [including Chief director Wadah Khanfar] and a totally new board was established appointed by the Emir of Qatar directly.The rumors are that...
Cuba: Letter to Spain
On the heels of the Spanish Foreign Minister's recent visit to Cuba, Alberto de la Cruz writes a letter to Spain.
Russia: Nashi's Bad English; NBP
Via La Russophobe, the pro-Kremlin youth group Nashi demonstrates poor knowledge of English (among other things) – a forged International Herald Tribune headline in the Nashi‘s brochure reads: “Russian soldiers, that were named a heroes for the acting in chechen war, were nailed charges in murder of chechen rebels.” A...
Estonia, Israel: Peres’ Visit and the First Synagogue
Eternal Remont posts a note on the opening of Estonia's first synagogue since WWII. A Step At A Time follows Shimon Peres’ visit to Estonia – here and here.
The EU: “The ‘Balkans’ They Love to Hate”
TOL's The nEUrosis critiques a Times’ story on the EU's newest members: “But rather than explaining the situation, the article goes on to provide no explanation or example why Bulgaria and Romania are in such a sordid state. In the same vein, anyone could say the same about any country...
Serbia, Russia, U.S.: Kosovo
Mark MacKinnon quotes William Montgomery, “the U.S. ambassador who headed the efforts to oust Slobodan Milosevic seven years ago,” on the current Kosovo situation: “Montgomery's point […] isn't that Kosovo should never receive the extra autonomy its people are demanding. He's asking why Washington and Moscow are hurtling towards a...
Moldova, Romania: Travel Notes
The Economist's Edward Lucas writes about his recent trip to Moldova, Transdniestria, Romania and Ukraine – here, here, here and here (the last installment is due to be posted Friday).