Stories about International Relations from September, 2007
Russia: Chapaev; WWII and Bulgaria
De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis writes about the Red Army commander Vasily Chapayev, killed in 1919, and about the relationship between the Soviet Union and Bulgaria during WWII.
Moldova: Judiciary Scandal
Alexei Ghertescu of Law in Moldova writes about a recent scandal in the Moldovan judiciary.
South Korea and China: Mystery over death of Korean diplomat
Chris O'Brien writes a very informative detective story by going through Chinese, Korean and international reports on the death of Korean diplomat in Beijing.
Colombia: Dutch Woman's Secret FARC Guerrilla Diary
During a raid on a FARC guerrilla camp, the Colombian army found part of a diary kept by a Dutch woman who for the past 5 years has been living and working with the FARC. Colombian bloggers react to this discovery by lamenting the misguided ideas of these foreigners and others wonder what is the fascination with adventures like these.
Landing at the Iraqi Blogodrome
It has been a while since I last wrote my roundup but today I will only write about three blogs. There is so much to report and, yet, at the same time I feel there is so little. You hear a lot about Iraq in the news, about military surges and oil laws, benchmarks and statistics, political disagreements and security. There is a whole maze of paths and blind alleys that one can travel down considering the situation in Iraq. But all this boils down to one thing and that is the everyday life and hopes of the people living in Iraq.
Cuba: Castro and Change
Child of the Revolution thinks that Fidel Castro's most recent reflexion “is a clear sign to those waiting in the wings inside and outside Cuba (does that include Raul Castro?), that while Castro I is alive, there will be no change on the island of any type.”
Latvia, Russia: Language Issue
Marginalia writes on the “language issue” in Latvia – and in Russia: “Over at the corner store, after years of learning to shop in Russian, I finally asked whether the cashier ever planned to learn the word for milk in Latvian (it being emblazoned in large letters on every carton...
Ukraine: The Way We Dress
Natalia Antonova writes about one “young, seemingly sane, New York intellectual” who seemed deeply traumatized by the way Ukrainian women dress.
Estonia: Nashi-in-Estonia Interview
Itching for Eestimaa translates an interview with a “Nashi-in-Estonia Kommisar.”
Estonia: Marju Lauristin's Piece
Itching for Eestimaa translates and comments on an opinion piece about Estonia's Russians by a Tartu professor Marju Lauristin.
It's time for non-Western IMF leadership
Convention Pour Une Nouvelle Guadeloupe criticizes the probable selection of a European (Fr) as the next head of the IMF, writing that it's time for someone from Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean or Africa to take the helm; global governance needs to be reformed so that it “takes into account...
D. R. of Congo: Trouble in the Kivus
This month’s round-up from the Democratic Republic of Congo will focus on bloggers in North and South Kivu. Bordering Rwanda and Burundi, these two provinces represent the troubled epicenter of Central Africa’s picturesque Great Lakes region.
Japan and China: Smog
JP from Japundit discusses the problem of smog in Japan in relation to China: Though China is suspected as the source of the smog, there is no accurate measurement of what percent of Japanese air pollution comes from the continent and how much is home-generated.
Russia: Ramzan Kadyrov's Use of Islam
Window on Eurasia writes about Ramzan Kadyrov's “pretensions to serve as a spokesman and defender for Chechens and Muslims throughout the Russian Federation.”
Belarus: Public Indifference to EU's Demands
According to TOL's Belarus, most Belarusians don't care whether their country fulfills the 12 demands of the EU or not. Some of these demands include freeing all political prisoners and investigating the disappearances of politicians and journalists.
Romania: Rompetrol Takeover
Transatlantic Politics posts an interview on “the recent takeover of the Romanian oil company Rompetrol by the Kazakh state company KazMunayGaz.”
Malaysia: Blogger Apologises on Behalf of Malaysia
Haris Ibrahim apologizes to Indonesia on behalf of Malaysia for Malaysian police's manhandling of a visiting Indonesian Karate referee. M
Zimbabwe: China withdraws support for Mugabe
China withdraws support for Mugabe: “At the very least, they can smell change in the air. Zimbabwe's no longer bankable, no longer a country in which to make long-term investments in industries or in people.”