Stories about International Relations from March, 2009
Russia: Igor Sechin in WSJ
Streetwise Professor and Robert Amsterdam's Blog comment on a WSJ piece based on an interview with Russia's deputy prime minister Igor Sechin.
Russia: The Durnovo Memorandum
A Fistful of Euros writes about a document known as the Durnovo Memorandum: “What’s striking about the memo is how, six months before World War One started, [Pyotr Durnovo] absolutely nails it. Nature, conduct, likely outcomes — he’s eerily, astonishingly correct about all of them.
Haiti, U.S.A.: Immigration Reform
Haiti's jmc strategies is very interested in U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden's statements on immigration reform: “Biden did not specifically say that the Administration was backing away from a legalization program. It remains therefore to be seen what steps they will take in the future.”
International Opinions On India
The Acorn analyzes an opinion poll on international opinions on India and asks “why do Europeans take a dim view of India’s international role?”
Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago: At the Summit
“It seems far-fetched to think that the summit’s news coverage would be dominated by the one country in the region that is absent from the event” – but The Cuban Triangle thinks that “two factors – a no-news summit agenda, and a vocal regional consensus calling on President Obama to...
Palestine: Land Day
body on the line’s Palestine-based author writes about her experience with Land Day. The blogger visited towns in which Palestinians have resisted as well as the towns and villages of her friends.
Israel/Palestine: Photos from Both Sides
American blogger Cory Driver of 32n5w, who as a Peace Corps Volunteer became an honorary member of the Moroccan blogosphere, has posted a series of photos from a recent observation trip to Israel. Of his trip, the blogger stated: “So, i was officially on a tour of Palestinian deprivation and...
Syria: American Language Centre Re-Opens
Syria News Wire reports that the American Language Centre in Damascus, which closed last year after a US attack on Syrian soil, is set to re-open.
Taiwan: Buddhist master creates controversy
Buddhist Master Hsing Yun created controversy at an international Buddhist conference when he claimed, “There are no Taiwanese in Taiwan and Taiwanese are all Chinese.” Taiwan blogs The View from Taiwan and Letters from Taiwan both write about how Buddhism is being used for political purposes.
Hong Kong and the Philippines: Satire or racism?
A Senate leader in the Philippines just filed a resolution condemning a Hong Kong writer Chip Tsao for his article “The War at Home” in HK Magazine (originally published on 27 of March). Now the article has been taken down in the website but the Senate Resolution also asked the...
Uzbekistan: US trying to return to base
Elina Galperin opines that the US may be allowed to return to the Uzbek base of Karshi-Khanabad soon after demonstrative eviction in 2005 after the massacre in Andijon.
Turkmenistan: Ashgabat and Moscow hold talks
Elina Galperin analyzes the ourcomes of a recent official meeting between Turkmen President Gurbankuly Berdymuhammedov and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow.
Afghanistan: New Course
Safrang reviews new revised US policy for Afghanistan and Pakistan that has been made public by President Obama after long consultations and thorough analysis.
Ukraine: Relations With Russia and Romania
Steve Bandera of Kyiv Scoop writes: “While Russian strategists declare Ukraine “a failed state” on the verge of losing its sovereignty, some Romanian officials and media are suggesting that only part of Ukraine, with its capital in Lviv, can ever come under the alliance’s euroatlantic umbrella.”
Estonia: Lennart and Arnold Meri
Itching for Eestimaa writes: “One Meri cousin, Lennart, just had an airport named after him to coincide with the annual foreign policy conference that bears his name. […] The other Meri cousin, Arnold, spent his twilight years on trial for the deportation of the men, women, and children of Hiiumaa...
Armenia: Blogger Interview
The DOTCOM project which brings together Armenian, Azeri and U.S. teenage bloggers has now updated its interview with Arzu Geybullayeva with one conducted with Global Voices Online's Caucasus Regional Editor Onnik Krikorian. In particular, the potential for blogs and online social networking sites to cross geographical and geopolitical divides is...
South Africa: Queen Rania of Jordan Blogging from South Africa
Queen Rania of Jordan is visiting South Africa and blogging about about her experience. After meeting Nelson Mandela, she wrote, “In Madiba's presence, even before he speaks, something magical happens. Goodness and goodwill flow from this great man. Grace, humility, and courage light up the room. He makes you feel...
Israel: A Letter to Bernard Kouchner
Dr Hatim Kanaaneh has written an open letter to Bernard Kouchner, French foreign minister: “The news that you have preemptively spoken against any official objection to the expected appointment of Avigdor Lieberman to the post of Foreign Minister of Israel distresses me. … (As) a Palestinian citizen of Israel…Mr. Lieberman...
Bolivia: US Cooperation on Control of Narcotics
Miguel Buitrago of MABB takes a look at the 2009 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, and which the Bolivian government is complaining about the stance taken by the United States against the country. He writes which country has more to lose with any stop in international cooperation.
Vietnam: Impact of economic crisis
Lawrence summarizes news reports about the impact of the economic crisis on Vietnam.
Ukraine: History of Carpatho-Ukraine
History of the short-lived Carpatho-Ukraine – at Ukrainian Policy Daily.
