Stories about International Relations from February, 2008
Kosovo & Serbia: Independence Blogging
Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia on Sunday, Feb. 17, has caused both celebrations and protests - as well as plenty of media coverage and an avalanche of blog posts. Below is a selection of some Anglophone bloggers' views.
China: Spielberg, the Olympics, and oil
Chinese bloggers shocked world media and those calling for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics this week with blog posts revealing a wide variety of Chinese opinions both independent from and more nuanced than that of the Chinese government on its relationship with Sudanese counterparts. Further surprise came when those...
Bahrain: Songs Exchanged between Saudis and Egyptians
From Bahrain, Silly Bahraini Girl posts two videos – one showing a rap song by Saudis targeted against Egyptians and the other containing a response for the first video.
China: Darfur, a reason to say No?
Is the Darfur issue a reason to say No to the 2008 Beijing Olympics? Spielberg nodded recently, while Mr. Bush shrugged, and Beijing frowned. But how about the common people in China?
Russia: Degrees of Responsibility
Marat Gelman - LJ user galerist, Russian art dealer and, allegedly, Victor Yanukovych's “spin doctor” in 2004 - describes his recent brush with Russia's multilevel reality and inspires readers to comment on how much Putin's regime has to do with uncivilized behavior of certain individuals.
Soviet History: Ban on Marrying Foreigners
De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis writes about the 1947 ban on “marriages between citizens of the USSR and foreigners.”
Serbia: Kosovo Independence Poll
Dr. Filomena asks her readers to respond to a poll on what happens after Kosovo declares independence.
Ukraine, Russia: NATO Politics 2
Ukrainiana has more on NATO and the Russian-Ukrainian relationship.
Ukraine, Russia: NATO Politics
Foreign Notes writes about Ukraine's NATO-related politics and the muted response to Putin's comment about re-targeting Russian missiles against Ukraine.
Afghanistan: Ambassador Abducted?
Manan Ahmed says that Tariq Azizuddin, the Pakistani ambassador to Afghanistan, has gone missing, presumably kidnapped by the Taliban, although the latters have already issued denials.
Kosovo: Towards Independence?
As the talk of an imminent declaration of independence by Kosovo next Sunday or Monday intensifies, and as leaders in Serbia and Russia make statements rejecting it in advance, bloggers in the Balkans have been busy discussing the issue since December. Here are a few of their views.
Latvia, Russia: Ambassador Veshnyakov
Latvian Abroad is pleasantly surprised with Russia's new ambassador to Latvia – Aleksandr Veshnyakov, former head of the Central Election Committee: “He was interviewed by Echo of Moscow radio station before leaving for Latvia and he declared that he will learn Latvian because he considers that as a measure of...
Iceland: Hostility Towards Poles
The beatroot writes about hostility towards Poles in Iceland.
Serbia: Rimtutituki
Belgrade 2.0 writes about one Serbian band's antiwar efforts of the early 1990s.
Russia, Georgia: Coverage of Patarkatsishvili's Death
Foreign Notes reviews coverage of Badri Patarkatsishvili's death.
Russia: Inadequate Media Coverage
Vilhelm Konnander criticizes “international media's one-eyedness in Russia reporting.”
Nepal: India's interventions
Nepal Monitor on why positive intervention by India is necessary to sort the issue of Madhesh in Nepal.
Central Asia: Which Candidate is Good for the Region?
KZBlog ponders on which candidate for the post of the United States president may be better for the development of Central Asia and says that John McCain co-sponsored Freedom Support Act, Barak Obama is widely believed to be more of an internationalist and perceived to have sympathy for Muslim countries.
Mexico: Calderon Visit to the United States
Mexican president Felipe Calderon recently visited the United States and the blog Enigmatario [es] provides some of the critics and praise received by the head of state.
Japan and U.S: U.S. Military Crime Record
Edward Chmura from Japundit reposts a list of U.S Military sex crime record in Okinawa since 1955.
Japan: Okinawa Outrage
Japan Observer follows up the incident of the raping of 14 years old girl by U.S marine and explains its political implications on U.S presence in Japan.
