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Luke Terpstra

Georgia, Russia may continue WTO talks in April : Ukraine News by UNIAN - 0 views

www.unian.net/...news-425198.html

Georgia Russia Breakaway Nations old ways WTO Membership

shared by Luke Terpstra on 11 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • Georgian-Russian talks on Russia`s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) could continue in April, a spokesman for the Georgian government said Friday
  • The talks resumed on Thursday in Switzerland after being suspended for almost three years following Russia`s decision to lift economic sanctions against Georgia`s breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Os
  • setia in April 2008
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  • Russia has been in membership talks with the 153-nation WTO for 17 years and remains the only major economy still outside it.
  • However, Georgia says it will not allow Russia to join the global free trade club unless it cedes control of customs in the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
  • U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Thursday that Washington supported Russia`s WTO bid and had tried to talk Georgia out of blocking Russia`s accession,
  • Georgia severed diplomatic relations with Russia in August 2008 when Moscow recognized the independence of the two former Georgian republics following a five-day war, which started when Georgia attacked South Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control.
  • Luke Terpstra on 11 Apr 11
     
    "Georgia, Russia may continue WTO talks in April." Russia Information Agency 11 Mar. 2011. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. . Summary: Georgia is denying Russia it's membership into the WTO because of it's fight with russia. They wish to get a deal with russia by blackmailing them into giving back what Georgia lost in the 2008-present fight with Russia, and plans to use this as a bargaining chip. Most of the current members of the WTO do not like this and asked Russia a Georgia to settle it quickly so as to make Russia a member. Reflection: I think Georgia should use what ever tool of pursuasion they can against Russia. Russia had no business in Georgia from the start, and do not deserve anything in return but retribution. The people of Georgia have endured Russian opression for decades, and deserve a full withdrawl of russian troops from their land. It almost seems as if Russia is still hostile to it's former satilite nations, and as if none care for them, the world turns a blind eye and trades their freedom for oil, and other goods. The sattilite nations of the former soviet union are not completely washed away from these countries, and a lot of them are communist nations with a bad economy. Questions: 1. Why are the former soviet break-away nations so similar in the form of government and economic status as Russia? 2. Does Russia still play a big role in these countries? If so, how? 3. Does Georgia give a good mirror example for the american revolution? explain?
Won Geun Jung

South Ossetia News - Breaking World South Ossetia News - The New York Times - 1 views

topics.nytimes.com/...index.html

ossetia Georgia russia NYT news

shared by Won Geun Jung on 09 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • South Ossetia is a small enclave in the Caucasus Mountains that falls within the borders of Georgia but has been all but independent
  • Whatever vestige of control Georgia had it lost in a short war in August 2008, in which its forces were routed by Russian troops. Afterward, it was recognized by Russia as a sovereign nation, a designation not supported by most of the rest of the international community.
  • Russia has supported South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia, as quasi-satellites since the wars in the 1990s ended in stalemates.
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  • In 2005 Georgia's president, Mikheil Saakashvili offered significant autonomy and economic development to South Ossetia if it renounced independence. South Ossetia's president rejected the plan "developed by a neighboring country'' sight unseen. Mr. Saakashvili had made national reunification a centerpiece of his administration.
  • In 2008, tensions between Georgia and Russia rose steadily and during the summer artillery fire was exchanged across the South Ossetian border.
  • In the event, a massive Russian invasion soon followed, and the Georgians were not only driven from Tskhinvali, but lost control of the approaches to Abkhazia and, for a time, large swaths of its own northern territory.
  • Russians saw the attack on Tskhinvali, which they call by its Ossetian name, Tskhinval, as a watershed moment akin to the Sept. 11 attacks, and aid pledges flooded in.
  • But reconstruction has proceeded slowly in this patch of rural land that had a prewar population of 70,000. A report released in December by Russia's federal auditing agency found that of about $55 million in priority aid pledged by Russia, only about $15 million had been delivered and only $1.4 million spent. It also found that of 111 structures scheduled for renovation by the end of 2008, 8 had been completed and 38 had not yet been touched.
  • On July 14, 2009, the Russian president, Dmitri A. Medvedev, made a surprise visit to breakaway South Ossetia, inspecting a new Russian military base there and promising citizens that Russia would rebuild neighborhoods destroyed during the brief war between Russia and Georgia.
  • The visit, coming just after President Obama's visit to Moscow, underscored Russian support and the gulf that remained between it and the United States over the breakaway republics. The "reset" of relations has sidestepped the issue of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
  • Won Geun Jung on 09 Mar 11
     
    South Ossetia News - Breaking World South Ossetia News - The New York Times http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/georgia/south_ossetia/index.html?scp=10&sq=south&st=cse Summary: South Ossetia is a small enclave in the Caucasus Mountains that falls within the borders of Georgia but has been all but independent.  Since 1990, South Ossetia and the rest of the regions declared independence from Georgia, and Russia were supported them.  In 2005, Georgia's president Mikhail Saakashvili would support them if it renounced independence but South Ossetia's president rejected.  Then in 2008, Georgia and Russia had a short war and their regions was invaded.  Then Russia pledged that they will support South Ossetia but the reconstruction has proceeded slowly.  In 2009, Russia president visited to South Ossetia after President Obama visited to Russia.  South Ossetia will be sidestepped by Russia and U.S. Reflection:  I think that South Ossetia and the other regions were really dangerous places between Russia and Georgia.  Also, this relationship between Russia and US would be affected because of Russia's president's visit.  If Russia really want to help South Ossetia, then they have to help the reconstruction of South Ossetia and the other parts which was invaded. Question:1) Why Georgia's president helped their economic problems and why South Ossetia's president rejected.                 2) Why Russia president surprise visit to South Ossetia?                 3) Why Russia did not help South Ossetia's reconstruction?
Luke Terpstra

Georgia Has Veto Power Over Step in Closer U.S.-Russia Ties - NYTimes.com - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...08russia.html

Russia Georgia World Trade Organization W.T.O. bargaining membership

shared by Luke Terpstra on 08 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • MOSCOW — When Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. sits down with Russia’s leaders later this week, a central topic will be the payoffs of the “reset” between Russia and the United States, among them Russia’s long-awaited accession to the World Trade Organization, which American officials have vigorously supported. But it is far too early to declare that project a success. Among the remaining sticking points is the fact that Georgia, which joined the trade group in 2000, has the power to block the admission of any new member.
  • For a decade, while grievances mounted between Russia and Georgia, the Georgian government has sought policy changes from Russia in exchange for its approval. Negotiations foundered in 2008, and a few months later, when war broke out over the separatist territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, further talks began to look like a lost cause.
  • On Monday, with the 17-year process of Russia’s entry nearing its endgame, Georgian officials confirmed that they would sit down with their Russian counterparts in Switzerland, which “has been mandated to act as a mediator between both countries,” said a spokeswoman for the Swiss Foreign Ministry
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  • For Georgia, “the W.T.O. issue is a double-edged sword,” said Svante E. Cornell
  • The issue is a difficult and occasionally painful one for all the parties involved: for Russia, which must reach out to a government it has demonized; for the United States, which has made Russia’s membership in the trade group into a central goal; and for Georgia, which has a limited window in which to negotiate before its allies become impatient.
  • Two and a half years after Russian forces routed the Georgian army in South Ossetia, tens of thousands of ethnic Georgians remain displaced from their homes in the enclave, and Russia has moved in heavy weaponry, including tactical ballistic missiles and rocket launchers.
  • Georgia’s veto power was one of only two or three issues — like intellectual property rights and agricultural subsidies — that were keeping Russia from membership in the trade organization. Members acknowledge Georgia’s right to strike a bargain with Russia for its consent, Mr. Aslund said, “but the W.T.O. accession for Russia is really moving on.” “Right now Georgia has great leverage, but it will soon disappear,” he said. “They should use this in an effective fashion.”
  • Luke Terpstra on 08 Mar 11
     
    Barry, Ellen. "Georgia Poses Hurdle for U.S.-Russia Ties." The New York Times 7 Mar. 2011 [Moscow] . Web. 8 Mar. 2011. .  Summary:       The issue facing russia and the World Trade Organization, is the fact that Georgia is already a member. With Russia wanting to join the W.T.O., Georgia has the power to deny Russia's passage into the organization. Georgia is trying to use this as leverage to make deals with russia so it can get peace and get the russian troops out of it's borders. The rest of the World Trade Organization views this as annoying but expects it to be solved and done with.  Reflections:       The fact that Georgia is using this as leverage is great. If I was in control of America I would also block Russia from joining in. I probably would not give up my denial of Russia until I got recognition of Georgia as a NATO member, a country that owns itself, and  get protection from attacks from Russia. I also would think that the rest of the world, just like me, would see this stupid, unneeded, bloody conflict as completely one sided. Questions: 1. What do you think Georgia should negotiate for? 2. Do you think it is fair to Russia to be denied by a country they oppress? 3. Do you think America should support them? Explain? 4. Do you think georgia should be completely supported by  America and its allies.? Why or why not?   
Won Geun Jung

Russia: Expelled British reporter violated rules - CNN.com - 0 views

www.cnn.com/...index.html

russia british expelled Georgia suicide bomber

shared by Won Geun Jung on 08 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • The British journalist expelled from Russia was denied entry when he came back to the country because "he violated a number of rules concerning the work of foreign correspondents,"
  • Luke Harding, the Moscow reporter for the Guardian newspaper, was detained by Russian authorities, locked in a cell for 45 minutes, and then put on a plane back to London, according to an article in the Guardian Tuesday.
  • The British Foreign Office said the incident occurred on Saturday. Alan Rusbridger, the Guardian's editor, said in a statement that Russia's move was "a very troubling development with serious implications for press freedom."
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  • "If L. Harding complies with these rules, which are the same for all foreign correspondents, there will be no problems with his entry to the Russian Federation," the statement said.
  • "Indeed, last November the Guardian approached us for support to secure Mr. Harding's reaccreditation as a journalist when his accreditation had been withdrawn. We made representations at a senior level and in the event, Mr. Harding was granted an extension of his accreditation as a journalist."
  • Lidington said Harding "knows Russia well and has, over the last four years, given readers of the Guardian genuine insight into that country."
  • Harding covered many events, including the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia and the twin suicide attacks on the Moscow metro system in 2010.
  • He also wrote a number of controversial articles
  • "It is worrying that the Russian government should now kick out reporters of whom they disapprove. Russia's treatment of journalists -- both domestic and foreign -- is a cause of great concern," Rusbridger said.
  • Last year, Harding was reprimanded by Russian authorities for unauthorized travel to areas closed to journalists
  • Won Geun Jung on 08 Mar 11
     
    Russia: Expelled British reporter violated rules - CNN.com http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/02/08/russia.reporter.expelled/index.html?iref=allsearch Summary:The British journalist expelled from Russia was denied entry because he violated a number of rules.  Luke Harding who is who is the moscow reporter for guardian newspaper locked in a cell for 45 minutes and get a place back to London.  He wrote many controversial articles about secret informations of Russia like secret wealth of Vladimir Putin, the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia and the twin suicide attacks on the Moscow metro system in 2010. But Rusbridger said it would be big trouble both domestic and foreign if Russia's treatment of journalists. Reflection: In my opinion, the journalist should follow the Russia's rules even if their treatment was bad because he was in Russia and he needed to follow the Rome's law when he was in Rome.  Also, Russia needed to know that the truth would be appeared and they should not hide any information that it gave them disadvantage.  I am worried that Russia's policy would be big troubles between Russia and British. Question:1) Why Russia expelled the journalist?                 2) Why he tried to find some informations and write a controversial articles?                 3) Why Russia tried to hide their information like the war of Georgia and Russia and make bad treatments for Journalist?
Won Geun Jung

BBC News - Regions and territories: Abkhazia - 0 views

news.bbc.co.uk/...3261059.stm

Russia Georgia BBC War Abkhazia

shared by Won Geun Jung on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • Abkhazia declared independence from Georgia in 1999, but Tbilisi continues to regard it as a breakaway region
  • Abkhazia's battle for independence from Georgia since the collapse of the USSR reduced the economy to ruins. More recent times have seen major Russian investment in the territory, as Moscow seeks to consolidate its influence.
  • In 2010 Russia said it had deployed S-300 anti-aircraft missiles in Abkhazia in order to defend it and South Ossetia, shortly after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited Sukhumi. Georgia expressed "concern" at the move.
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  • Meanwhile, Abkhaz forces drove Georgian troops out of the only area of Abkhazia still under Tbilisi's control - the Kodori gorge.
  • After the 2008 conflict, Moscow declared that it would formally recognise the independence of both South Ossetia and Abkhazia. As of the end of 2009, only Nicaragua and Venezuela had followed suit.
  • In October 2008, Russia pulled its troops back to the Abkhaz-Georgian border, but stationed a large force in the breakaway republic, with the agreement of the Sukhumi government.
  • Abkhazia formally declared independence in 1999, resulting in an international economic embargo that is still in force. It has left Abkhazia's economy highly dependent on Russia, which maintains a border crossing and railway line to Sukhumi.
  • However, in August 2008, during the war between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia, Russian army troops moved through Abkhazia and pushed into Georgia proper, effectively using the region to open another front with Tbilisi.
  • Abkhazia's long history was always closely intertwined with that of Georgia, although its language is unrelated, and is closer to several spoken in the North Caucasus.
  • At the time of the collapse of the USSR in 1991, less than a fifth of the people of Abkhazia were ethnic Abkhaz, while the rest of the population was made up largely of Georgians.
  • Won Geun Jung on 17 Feb 11
     
    Regions and territories: Abkhazia  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3261059.stm Summary: Abkhazia already had a independent country in 756 AD and it was invaded by Russia and Georgia.  After Georgia declared independence in 1991, Georgia invaded Abkhazia in 1992.  So, Abkhazia had declared independence in 1999 and Georgia did not agreed the independence of Abkhazia.  In 2004, Georgia president Saakashvili tried to restore Georgia's land like Abkhazia, and South Ossetia.  In 2008, Georgia attacked Abkhazia and Russia attacked Georgia for protecting Abkhazia. Reflection: Even if Georgia did not accept their independence, Georgia needed to have conversation each other.  Also, Russia should not attack Georgia because it was huge damaged to Georgia.  If Russia was really willing to help them, Russia should be a neutral for both countries. Question:1) Why Russia interrupt between Georgia and Russia?2) Why Georgia did not accept Abkhazia as a country?3) How every country will be peaceful?4) Are both Georgia and Abkhazia safe?
Luke Terpstra

Georgia names Russia enemy number one: Voice of Russia - 0 views

english.ruvr.ru/...44645681.html

russia conflict georgia

shared by Luke Terpstra on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • Georgia has unveiled its new national security strategy, declaring Russia its major enemy. 
  • Actually, there seems to be nothing new about the document. The Saakashvili regime has just stopped beating around the bush
  • After the 2008 conflict when Georgia invaded its breakaway republic of South Ossetia and Russia sent its troops there to protect the local population, as well as that of neighboring Abkhazia, official Tbilisi has made its choice.
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  • It was already clear in 2006
  • And it has become absolutely evident by now that Tbilisi is ready to officially put Russia on its blacklist."
  • The document was submitted to parliament, inviting parties to deliver their take on the problem of national security
  • It is clear, however, that the president will get the document he wants.
  • In case he decides to launch another military campaign, he will use this document as justification.
  • Vladimir Zharikhin explained to the VOR what stands behind the newly unveiled national security strategy:"By designating Russia its major enemy, Georgia has actually unveiled its plans for revenge. And all promises it has made to the EU, primarily about the non-application of force to restore its territorial integrity, no longer sound truthful."
  • At the latest UN Human Rights Council session, Georgia was criticized for a lack of independence of its judiciary system, suppression of the opposition and journalists, as well as Georgian nationalism and anti-Russian propaganda.
  • Luke Terpstra on 17 Feb 11
     
    Vatutin, Alexander. "Georgia names Russia enemy number one." Voice of Russia (2011): n. pag. Web. 17 Feb 2011.   Summary:       Georgia is officially declaring Russia an enemy of state. They have an official document in the works and it seems there is nothing stoping it's passage through Georgia's parliment. Russia is saying that Georgia has always been this way and claims that it has always known this.       My big thing is why would Russia need to go out and state that they already knew it. If you would think about it from both sides, I'm sure you could come up with a lot of different stuff. But one thing is for sure it is the agressivness of both sides that got them in this fist fight. If after the civil war they did lots of peace talks and negotiations they might be friends by now.  Questions:  1. What caused the hurt between the two countries?  2. Why is Russia not giving Georgia its space?  3. What does this mean for peace talks?
Luke Terpstra

EUobserver / Cablegate: France bullied Poland over Georgia war - 0 views

euobserver.com/31941

France Poland Russia Georgia Sweden E.U. Bullied

shared by Luke Terpstra on 08 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • France threatened to harm a flagship EU policy for post-Soviet countries shortly after the Russia-Georgia war unless the Union forgave Russia for its invasion
  • a Swedish diplomat, told US charge d'affairs Robert Silverman that France pressured Poland and Sweden into lifting the Union's only post-war sanction on Russia.
  • France threatened to stall the Eastern Partnership initiative if the Swedes and others opposed to 'business as usual' with Moscow refused to resume EU-Russia talks
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  • "Once the decision on talks on the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement [with Russia] was made, Sweden and Poland, co-drafters of the [Eastern Partnership] initiative, were given a green light to 'move ahead'."
  • The French support for Russia came at a time when Russian troops were still parked in Georgia proper in violation of a French-brokered peace agreement.
  • Previously leaked cables on the 2008 war show that France, Germany and Italy tried to soften the EU's reaction at every step of the conflict.
  • France later cemented relations with Russia by buying a stake in its Nord Stream gas pipeline and selling it two state-of-the-art warships.
  • Luke Terpstra on 08 Mar 11
     
    Rettman, Andrew. "Cablegate: France bullied Poland over Georgia war." EU Observer 8 Mar. 2011 [Brussels] . Web. 8 Mar. 2011. .  Summary:       The new found source of info the E.U. Observer has obtained contains proof that France bullied Sweden and Poland, so to speak, about keeping out of if not supporting the war between Russia & Georgia. They did this so they could 'keep relations' good with Russia. It is also found that Italy and Germany didn't want big reactions to this either. Reflections:       I think that it shows that it does not think much of Georgia and its interests. If I was a pobig political figure in america or any of those E.U. so called 'american allies' I would give them a peace of my mind , if not Russia a chunk of my fist, and say "Hey do you actually respect NATO, America, peace, and the friends we have now? If you keep on acting like Georgia is just Russia's play thing, I'll make sure you don't stay in office!" or something of that nature. This is just getting to out of hand.  Questions:  1. Why would France or any other E.U. country want to dull reactions to the conflict?  2. Why would countries like Sweden or Poland give into this kind of persuasion?  3. What would you do if you were a political leader in the E.U.? Explain?
Won Geun Jung

Georgia - Shootout in Abkhazia - NYTimes.com - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...09briefs-Georgia.html

shootout georgia russia NYT

shared by Won Geun Jung on 12 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • A Russian border guard and two Georgians were killed in a shootout in Abkhazia,
  • Russian border guards were inspecting an abandoned house when they were attacked
  • A spokesman for Georgia’s Interior Ministry denied that, saying one of the Georgians had been wanted by the police and the other was an area resident
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  • Russian guards began patrolling the boundaries of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, a second enclave, after the 2008 war between Georgia and Russia over the territories.
  • The security service said the two Georgians had been identified as officers from the Georgian Interior Ministry.
  • Won Geun Jung on 12 Apr 11
     
    Georgia - Shootout in Abkhazia - NYTimes.com http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/09/world/europe/09briefs-Georgia.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=Georgia%20and%20Russia&st=cse Summary: A Russian border and two Georgians were killed according to the Russia's Federal Security service.  Russian border guards were finding an abandoned house when they were attacked.  The security said two Georgians were officer of the Georgian Interior ministry.  However, Georgian's ministry said one is the wanted by police and the other was an area resident.  Russia guards began patrolling the boundaries. Reflection: Even if this article is small amount, this news might be  important because this happening makes big troubles and broke their relationship between Russia and Georgia.  I think that Georgian people will be feared because Russia and Georgia will have war because of this problem. Question:1) Who killed them? 2) Why Russia and Georgia's opinion are different? 3) How to solve this happening and their peace?
Luke Terpstra

Georgia Blames Border Shootout on Russian-Fueled 'Criminality' - Bloomberg - 0 views

www.bloomberg.com/...ssian-fueled-criminality-.html

Border Blames Deaths Russia Georgia

shared by Luke Terpstra on 12 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • Georgia said Russia’s support for “black holes of criminality” in the country’s two disputed provinces led to a clash that killed a Russian border guard last week.
  • The shootout in the breakaway region of Abkhazia on April 8 killed one Russian border guard and two Georgians, one of whom was a wanted criminal
  • Russia routed Georgia’s army in a five-day war in August 2008 over South Ossetia, another breakaway region in the Black Sea nation. Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states after the conflict and agreed to defend their borders.
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  • The local Abkhaz prosecutor’s office opened a criminal case for terrorism, Russia’s state-run news service RIA Novosti reported on April 8, adding that the two killed Georgians were members of the Interior Ministry’s special forces.
  • Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s government continues to claim sovereignty over the regions and says Russia has occupied them.
  • The Georgian Foreign Ministry said shootouts between the Russian forces and criminals over the division of spheres of influence and money have become a fact of life in the two regions.
  • Luke Terpstra on 12 Apr 11
     
    Bedwell, Helen. "Georgia Blames Border Shootout on Russian-Fueled 'Criminality'." Bloomberg News 11 Apr. 2011. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. .  Summary:  Georgia is claiming that Russia's melting pots of crime led to the deaths of a Russian border guard and two Georgians. This happened on April 8th in Abkhazia. The prosecutor's office in the local Abkhaz area opened up a case on terrorism for the incident, but Russia said the two Georgians that were killed were members of the Ministry of the Interior's special forces.   Reflections:  I think they are both still hot-headed countries, and need to reach a peace. What I mean is a peace that will last, and is imprinted in their minds. If they do not do this, things like this will keep on happening.  Questions:  1. Why do you think Georgia & Russia still show quite a bit of hostilities towards each other?  2. Out of the two countries, is one country in particular at fault for the conflict? Why or Why not?  3. When do you think a permanent resolution to this conflict will come? For how long will it last, if not permanent?
Luke Terpstra

Putin meets South Ossetia leader in Moscow - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review - 0 views

www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php

Putin South Ossetia Georgia assistance

shared by Luke Terpstra on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • ussian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that a Russian-funded “plan on rehabilitation” launched after the August war between Russia and Georgia that led to Moscow’s recognition of South Ossetia as an independent republic “is practically over,”
  • Putin, speaking at a meeting in Moscow with Eduard Kokoity, the de facto leader of the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia, said problems might remain
  • After the meeting Kokoity said it was possible to say that “consequences of the Georgian aggression of August 2008 will be fully eradicated in a year or two.”
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  • “Despite the global economic crisis, Russia has completely met its commitments,” said Kokoity, regarding financial assistance to Tskhinvali, adding that a total of 792 of South Ossetia’s facilities were rehabilitated with Russian assistance.
  • Luke Terpstra on 17 Feb 11
     
    "Putin meets South Ossetia leader in Moscow." Hurriyet Daily News 17 Feb. 2011. Web. 17 Feb. 2011.   Summary:    Vladimir Putin, the Russian prime minister, says that he and Eduard Kokoity,  the leader of the region in Georgia called South Ossetia, and stated that hostilities may still exist, but they have assisted South Ossetia in rehabilitating some of their facilities. Putin claims that with Russian aid, nearly 800 facilities were rehabilitated.  Reflection:      I find it hard to believe that Russia would help restore South Ossetia at all. They have constantly met all hostilities from Georgia with more offense, and not with the respectful defense they should have. I also find it strange that they find it strange that Georgia would attack them back.  Questions:  1. What do you think caused Russia to help South Ossetia out. Was it that they were obligated to do it, or did they just want to play the good guy role?  2. How much help do you think South Ossetia got, and what kind?  3. Why do you think Georgia is still hostile to Russia?
Won Geun Jung

BBC News - UN court rejects Georgia case against Russia over war - 0 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...world-europe-12935149

US Georgia bbc russia

shared by Won Geun Jung on 12 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • The United Nations' top court has dismissed a case filed by Georgia that accuses Russia and separatist rebels of ethnic cleansing.
  • The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague said it could not examine Georgia's complaint because negotiations had not taken place.
  • Thousands of ethnic Georgians fled the regions during the conflict and many remain internally displaced in Georgia.
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  • In a 10-6 vote on Friday the ICJ judges upheld Russia's argument that the court did not have jurisdiction to examine the Georgian complaint, because the two sides had not tried to resolve the dispute through negotiations.
  • The Georgian government said that despite Friday's ruling it would continue to pursue the case.
  • "However, the court has left open the possibility that the case can proceed once the formal conditions for the exercise of jurisdiction by the court, as required by the 1965 convention, have been met."
  • Won Geun Jung on 12 Apr 11
     
    BBC News - UN court rejects Georgia case against Russia over war http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12935149 Summary: The US court reject a case filed by Georgia because The ICJ in the Hague could not examine Georgia's complaint.  During the war, thousands of ethnic Georgian fled their land.  After voting 10-6 did not agree to examine Georgia's case because they did not tried to resolve the dispute through negotiations.  However Georgia government did not give up and tried to help US court but Us rejected. Reflection: When I saw this article, both Russia and Georgia had their own pain and they wanted to heal their own property and countries.  Especially, Georgia's case was rejected and it made me surprised because they needed to solve those problems.  However, I just understand some stuff that their case was not enough for examine their problems.   Question:1)Why Georgia's case was rejected by IJC? 2)Why US did not accept Georgia's case? 3)Why Georgia was not giving up?
Won Geun Jung

Georgians Build Ties With Russian Caucasus - NYTimes.com - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...13georgia.html

Georgia Russia build ties

shared by Won Geun Jung on 01 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • First Caucasus News was broadcasting in Russian — its target audience includes viewers north of its border, in the mountainous and restive Russian region known as the North Caucasus.
  • As the debut approached, the channel’s general director promised repeatedly that Kanal PIK, as the channel is known, would not be used as a vehicle for anti-Russian propaganda.
  • “The North Caucasus has become a ghetto,” he said. “These people have been given to the local feudal lords, who can kill them, rape them, hang them by their feet, torture them, take everything. Obviously, these people behave one way there, and a different way when they enter a country where there is rule of law.”
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • Georgia went on to drop visa requirements for residents of the North Caucasus — including Russian republics like Dagestan, Ingushetia and Chechnya, among others — allowing them to enter the country freely for 90 days. The offer attracted more than 12,000 visitors in the next three months, many of them Muslim pilgrims taking advantage of an overland route to the hajj, Georgian officials say.
  • Meanwhile, Caucasian solidarity is an increasingly fashionable topic in Tbilisi, which last year hosted two conferences on Russian atrocities against the Circassians, an ethnic group driven out of the region in the late czarist period.
  • In a wide-ranging report to be published later this month by the Center for American Progress, based in Washington, Samuel Charap and Cory Welt say the policy was begun “unilaterally, in the absence of normal diplomatic relations, and to a part of Russia that is the locus of its greatest internal security threat: a violent and growing Islamist insurgency.”
  • It is Georgia’s second attempt to break the Kremlin’s near-monopoly on television news in Russian territory. A previous Russian-language channel, called First Caucasian, went off the air last year when its French satellite operator backed out of a deal, saying it had received a better offer from Russia’s Gazprom Media Group.
  • Won Geun Jung on 01 Mar 11
     
    Georgians Build Ties With Russian Caucasus - NYTimes.com http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/world/europe/13georgia.html?_r=2 Summary: After the war between Russia and Georgia, Russian Caucasus looked like a ghetto because of the tension of the war.  So, the government of Georgia went on to drop visa requirements for residents of the north caucasus.  However it is still in tension of war and even threaten to 2014 Olympic. Reflection:Although it was big trouble of war, I am so pleased that the war would be solved peacefully.  Also, Both countries tried to find solution what is good for then or not.  I wish both countries will be better. Question: Why Russian Caucasus are here in Georgia? Why Russian Caucasus looked like a ghetto? How to be peaceful both countries.
Jodie deVries

Shift on North Korea - 1 views

find.galegroup.com/gtx/retrieve.do?contentSet=IAC-Documents&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28ke%2CNone%2C11%29North+Korea%3AAnd%3AFQE%3D%28ke%2CNone%2C14%29Nuclear+Policy%3AAnd%3ALQE%3D%28AC%2CNone%2C8%29fulltext%

NorthKorea NuclearPolicy academic onefile

shared by Jodie deVries on 15 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • rospects for the resum
  • Prospects for the resumption of talks on Pyongyang's nuclear weapons drive remain clouded.
  • The United States is unlikely to soften its policy toward nuclear-armed North Korea
  • ...11 more annotations...
  • Six-party talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear weapons drive among the United States, Russia, China, the two Koreas and Japan have been frozen since December 2008.
  • Prospects for renewed negotiations have been clouded by South Korean and U.S. accusations that the North torpedoed one of Seoul's warships in March, a charge it denies.
  • "There's very little optimism within the administration that North Korea will now ever give up its nuclear weapons, and therefore there is little push for using the limited political capital the president has on what would be seen as sort of a lost cause,"
  • two preconditions for talks on North Korea's weapons program to resume.
  • The first, he said, would be for North Korea to fulfill commitments it has already made.
  • The second, Klingner said, would be the "satisfaction" of South Korea's concerns over the North's sinking of the South Korean warship the Cheonan earlier this year.
  • North Korea is unlikely to make progress on either of those two preconditions, and because both Washington and Seoul express no intention of lowering the bar on those preconditions, we're unlikely to see a return to the six-party talks,"
  • "The U.S. position, as affirmed in a pre-presidential trip briefing, is that it needs to see actions-not words-by North Korea."
  • "My understanding is that the incoming chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee has expressed an interest in this issue and is likely to take a more active role in finding ways to criticize the DPRK [North Korea] for its failures."
  • outside experts who had euphoric expectations that the change in U.S. leadership from Bush to Obama would lead to a breakthrough with North Korea-with North Korea no longer feeling 'threatened' by Bush-
  • those outside analysts are now shifting over to the more skeptical, pessimistic view."
  • Jodie deVries on 15 Feb 11
     
    What is North Korea's Nuclear Policy and what effects does it have on the Korean People?  "NO SHIFT ON NORTH KOREA." States News Service 10 Nov. 2010. Academic OneFile. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=AONE&docId=CJ241804370&source=gale&srcprod=AONE&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summery: President Obama took another trip to North Korea in November of 2010 to try and persuade North Korea to re-enter the six-party talks. He also discussed the future of North Korea. Unfortunately the outlook is still bleak. The six-party talks, which were to discus the nuclear weapons drive between the United States, Russia, both Korea's and Japan, have been halted since December 2008. Prospects for a renewal of these bleak after accusations by South Korea and the US that North Korea torpedoed one of Seoul's warships. In order for the US and others to be willing to resume talks there would be two preconditions: the invitation of of an International Atomic Energy Agency inspector to look over North Korean dismantlement procedures and the resolution of the concerns held by South Korea over the sinking of the South Korean's warship. Unfortunately North Korea is unlikely to follow either of these preconditions so the likely hood of the six-party talks continuing is slim. 
  • Jessica Ruthsatz on 28 Feb 11
     
    Jodie, great job overall but you are missing the questions section for each posting.
Jessica Ruthsatz

BBC News - EU's Lady Ashton given 'cover-up' in Iran press - 0 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...world-europe-12289080

Iran Dress Code Nuclear

shared by Jessica Ruthsatz on 27 Jan 11 - No Cached
  • Asriran.com showed Iranian press pictures of Lady Ashton next to Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, with her black top raised higher than in the original.
  • Cyrus Amini, who worked in Iranian print media in 1998-2003, said the practice was "quite usual and understandable" because of the differences between Western and Iranian culture
  • some Muslim clerics in Iran were even objecting to pictures showing a woman's exposed head and neck.
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • authorities could file away such alleged infringements for future use, and u
  • five UN Security Council permanent members - the UK, China, France, Russia and the US - plus Germany
  • Western powers suspect Iran of trying to build a nuclear weapon. Tehran insists that it is only trying to develop nuclear power for civilian needs.
  • Jessica Ruthsatz on 27 Jan 11
     
    BBC News: EU's lady Ashton Given "Cover Up" IN Iran presshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12289080 Summary:This Article was about a photograph of the EU Foreign Policy Chief named Lady Ashton.    She was recently in "Brushed up" in the Iranian press picture of her meeting with Mr. Jalili in Istanbul, Turkey concerning the UN talks with iran over nuclear policy. Apparently her black undershirt was considered too revealing for Iranian culture.  Some muslim clerics also object to showing a woman's head and neck, so the Iranian news agencies often retouch images they find improper.   Reflection: I know that Muslim societies are very very conservative, but I didn't know that it extended to print media as well.  I think it is a bit insulting to a foreign dignitary to change her outfit to fit your cultures standards.  What would happen if an American paper put a suit on the Ayatollah Khomeini?  I guess If I were an Iranian I would not feel like I could trust the news media because they clearly admit altering things that don't fit the current government's views.  This fits into my research because it speaks to women's rights in Iran.  Obviously, there are rigid restrictions on dress for women. If they are willing to change a picture from another country, what will they do to violators in their own nation.   Questions:1) Are there posted laws for women's clothing?2)  Are there posted laws for Men's clothing?3) How did Lady Ashton react?4) Must journalist comply with retouching?  and what happens if they don't?
Won Geun Jung

Georgians Build Ties With Russian Caucasus - NYTimes.com - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...13georgia.html

georgians Russia US

shared by Won Geun Jung on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • Won Geun Jung on 17 Feb 11
     
    Georgians Build Ties With Russian Caucasus - NYTimes.com http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/world/europe/13georgia.html?_r=1 Summary
Nicki Pifer

Obama Opens Trade and Travel Relations With Communist Cuba - 0 views

www.thenewamerican.com/

embargo trade Cuba travel

shared by Nicki Pifer on 01 Mar 11 - Cached
  • Nicki Pifer on 01 Mar 11
     
    On Friday, January 14 President Obama announced that he plans on easing trade and travel relations with Communist Cuba, including making it easier for U.S. citizens to travel directly to the island from American airports. The President added that he had instructed the relevant government departments to allow religious groups and students to travel to the communist-run island. For almost half a century, the debate has been raging over the United States' policy towards Cuba, which has been communist since Fidel Castro's coupe de etat in 1959. Free travel from the U.S. to Cuba was halted in 1963 under President John F. Kennedy. The explanation at the time for why Americans could visit the Soviet Union but not Cuba was that the communist government in Moscow was permanent but that Fidel Castro was temporary. In 1977, with Cuba still unchanged, President Jimmy Carter relaxed the travel ban. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan restored it. n 1998, with the Soviet Union "gone," Clinton loosened it and in 2004, with Cuba still unchanged, President George W. Bush tightened it again. Now President Obama is going back to the Clinton policy, which will make it easier for churches and universities to sponsor trips to the communist state. Obama's announcement calls for changes in policy at the Departments of State, Treasury, and Homeland Security, as both travel and remittances are involved in the changes, and the new regulations will be promulgated as modifications of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations and the Customs and Border Protection Regulations. The new policies call for the following reforms to Cuba-United States relations. According to the BBC, Obama's new proposals: * Allow religious organizations to sponsor religious travel to Cuba under a general license; * Allow accredited institutions of higher education to sponsor travel to Cuba; * Allow any U.S. person to send remittances (up to $500 per quarter) to non-family members in Cuba to support private e
Matt Mulder

Food for thought in North Korea - Opinion - Al Jazeera English - 1 views

english.aljazeera.net/...201134131836876620.html

NorthKorea Aljazeera food

shared by Matt Mulder on 08 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • The past 12 months have seen some of the most outrageous North Korean behaviour in decades.
  • proudly unveiled a modern, high-tech uranium-enrichment facility.
  • When asked why they failed to include this facility in their declaration of nuclear programs
  • ...8 more annotations...
  • officials responded cheerfully – and absurdly – that it had been built from scratch
  • after
  • negotiations in 2008.
  • North Koreans lied
  • ot only to the United States
  • but also to China, Russia, Japan, and South Korea
  • For South Koreans, whether to care for hungry North Koreans, who are both kith and kin, will be a much tougher decision than for others
  • South Korea's government will confront one of the toughest choices that any government can face: whether the short-term cost in human lives is worth the potential long-term benefits - also in terms of human lives - that a famine-induced collapse of North Korea could bring.
  • Matt Mulder on 08 Mar 11
     
    Research Question: What is North Korea's Nuclear policy and how does it affect the people of North Korea? Source: AlJazeera Summary: the south koreans are trying to figure out whether or not they should start not allowing food to go to the north or not. if they do, they would probably bring down the regime much faster, but at the same time, they would be starving the people that they consider to be their kin. Or, they could not use food as a weapon, but then the regime would continue as it is. This is an especially pressing issue b/c the north recently unveiled a high-tech uranium enriching facility, which they 'build from scratch' after the negotiations on 2008. Reflection: I think that it's quite sad that the cold war between the north and south has come to this. no country should have to choose between starving their kin and taking down an evil regime. I also think that it's really stupid the the north tried to lie to the world and say that they somehow built a high-tech facility in three years, and all the while their people are starving. Questions: 1. why are the officials in the government so stupid? 2. why don't/can't the people of the north rise up? 3. should the south withhold food or not?
Laurel Ackerman

Israel Delays Approval Of East Jerusalem Housing : NPR - 0 views

www.npr.org/...story.php

Israel Palestine Peace talks East Jerusalem Housing

shared by Laurel Ackerman on 14 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked a government panel to put off final approval of 2,500 new apartments in east Jerusalem, an official said Monday
  • Amid reports of an unofficial, foreign-mediated cease-fire, Palestinian militants appeared to be stilling their rocket and mortar fire Monday, and Israel was refraining from retaliating for previous attacks.
  • Israel's controversial foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, voiced concerns that any lull would merely allow Hamas to strengthen and regroup. He told Israel Radio that restraint was "a grave mistake" and that Israel's main objective should be "the toppling of the Hamas regime."
  • ...8 more annotations...
  • no confirmation Monday that cease-fire conditions had been nailed down
  • The easing of tensions along the Gaza border came as the Palestinian Authority moved forward with plans to gain international recognition for an independent state. The Palestinians hope to take their case to the United Nations in September and sidestep talks with Israel
  • Negotiations with Netanyahu never got off the ground because he refuses to commit to an internationally mandated settlement freeze, and Palestinians say they won't negotiate without one.
  • The Palestinians plan to tell a conference of donor countries this week that they are ready for statehood.
  • Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has been laying the groundwork with a series of developments and reforms.
  • Ali Jarbawi, the Palestinian minister of planning, said Monday that the Palestinian government has reduced its dependence on foreign aid by 35 percent in the past two years
  • One added that Netanyahu's office had asked the Interior Ministry to delay the discussion of the project, citing pressure from the Quartet of international peacemakers — the U.S., European Union, United Nations and Russia
  • Netanyahu on Monday accused the international community — "people with good intentions," he called them — of putting peace even further out of reach by telling the Palestinians they don't have to negotiate.
  • Laurel Ackerman on 14 Apr 11
     
    How does the conflict in Israel affect the futures of Palestinian children compared to Israeli children?   "Israel Delays Approval Of East Jerusalem Housing ." National Public Radio. NPR, 11 Apr. 2011. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. . Summary: Israel is building in East Jerusalem, a part of Jerusalem under Palestinian control. Along with that, Israel and Palestinians have been fighting; however, they are trying to get a cease-fire. Even with an unofficial cease-fire, Israel is delaying the East Jerusalem housing project because of pressure from the Quartet although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is against the settlement freeze. But, Palestine will not negotiate an official cease-fire without one. 
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