Kiev protests: A fight over influence of the West “Death on the streets, riot shields being thumped and Molotov cocktails thrown are the manifestation, but all this started because of the desire of many Ukrainians to join the EU, and Russia’s feeling this was where its diminution in power had to stop. Putin wants a Eurasian Union to counter the EU and has his own inducement in oil and aid. Ukraine’s strong man has enthusiastically backed that path. Georgia and others in the region, inclined to side with the West, will be watching closely.”
I hope everybody’s weekends are going well! Here are some great reads for you to look back on this past week. Olympic Game: Washington Hopes Sochi Will Force Putin’s Hand on Syria I don’t know about that… It certainly doesn’t seem that way. Russia is again paralyzing the Security Council on a crucial Syria resolution. CAR is Falling Apart. And Everyone Knows Why Despite the Security Council resolutions, the peacekeeping troops on ground, and the new president elected, things don’t seem to improve in the CAR. Why Bosnians Are Protesting Great piece on Bosnia after the Dayton Peace Accords and…
World Press Freedom Index 2014 Reporters Without Borders published their latest Freedom of the Press report this week. The results are not really surprising compared to the past years. I keep being concerned about living in a country with “noticeable problems”. My media sociologist self could talk about that for hours, but now I will spare you that. I recommend to visit Reporters Without Borders to check out the whole analysis, though.
How Much Does It Cost to Be Ambassador to Hungary? Watching John McCain set-up a fellow senator like a bowling pin is a rare Washington pleasure. Even when he does it in Budapest. I was planning to take on (soon to be Her Excellency) Ms. Bell ever since I learned she was appointed and created quite a buzz in diplomatic circles immediately. To the above piece I only have a few notes to add. – The story is interesting and mostly true, I just sense a bit of bias here. – Personally I don’t see how appointing a non-career diplomat…
Happy Sunday, people! How is everybody doing this weekend? Sorry I haven’t updated at all this last week. I am now trying a regular schedule for blogging, so this wouldn’t happen too often. This past week was not so eventful in world news though, except for the Olimpics of course, which is most definitely a world event. These are the posts I have to share with you for now. CRC Concluding Observation on the Holy See Well it’s quite obvious what the observations of the UN Committee of the Rights of the Child is about when it comes to the…
Happy first Sunday of February! While preparing for the week ahead, here are some great posts for you to check out. How bad is the situation in Ukraine going to get? It could get very bad indeed. The real question is what would it take for the protesters to give up this time? It really seems they won’t unless the president steps down. The Original Sin of the Syria Chemical Deal With the Geneva talks ending with not much result, it seems the Syrian government is finding its way out of their non-ploriferation obligations as well. Edward Snowden nominated for…
First round of Syria peace talks will end tomorrow with little headway After a “tense but rather promising” meeting today between representatives of the Syrian Government and the main opposition group on reaching a political end to the country’s three-year-civil war, the United Nations/Arab League mediator said that the first round of talks will end tomorrow with no serious breakthrough or “any real change in position” of either side.
eretzyisrael: Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. January 27 marks the 69th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly designated this day as International Holocaust Remembrance Day (IHRD), an annual day of commemoration to honor the victims of the Nazi era. From 1940 to 1945, more than 1.1 million men, women and children were killed in the Auschwitz concentration camp. 90% of them were Jews. All were innocent. Today, we remember Never Again.
Wrapping up a very eventful week as always, here’s a few great posts for you to catch up with global news. Who is Invited to the Syria Peace Talks (And Who’s Not) A map of the invitees by BBC World with Mark Leon Goldberg’s smart comments on UNDispatch. Should He Stay or Should He Go? Assad’s Future Clouds Syria Talks Indeed this is the one question on which the parties’ views can’t seem to get even an inch closer. Burning Buses in Kyiv Last weekend the sparkles of protests fired up yet again even stronger than before in the Ukranian…
