AriRusila's BalkanBlog

The Nabucco-South Stream race intensifiesarirusilaSource BBCSource Stratfor

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:09:50 +0000

The race between the two EU’s eastern gas pipelines is going on while next winter can again show some supply problems via Ukraine. South Stream got latest boost on 11th November 2009 as Russia’s Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko and Slovenian Economy Minister Matej Lahovnik signed an agreement on the passage of the South [...]

Forgotten Refugees – West Balkansarirusila

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:16:11 +0000

The refugee question is of paramount importance in Balkans – still. Beginning 1991, political upheavals – such as the breakup of Yugoslavia – displaced millions of people. Officially one part of these people are refugees meaning that they have escaped to other country, one part is “internally displaced persons” (IDPs) meaning that they have escaped [...]

Afghanistan – to be or not?arirusila

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:40:47 +0000

“democracies make elections, elections don’t make democracies” After Afghanistan’s fraudulent elections President Obama’s future politics in failing state is still foggy. Conflicting views of Obama’s staff, escalation of War to Pakistan, lack of clear vision and strategy are not making choice easy. The rest of the world is waiting U.S. leadership and considering [...]

West Balkans soon ready for EU – at least part of itarirusila

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:19:40 +0000

As Lisbon Treaty seems to come into force also the enlargement process in the Western Balkans got new boost. On 14 October 2009 the Commission adopted its annual strategy document explaining its policy on EU enlargement.The document includes also a summary of the progress made over the last twelve months by each candidate and potential [...]

Iran’s nuclear program at the crossroadsarirusilaIran missile test

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:48:27 +0000

The way ahead with the dispute between Iran’s nuclear programme and the possible response of western powers is foggy. News from last weeks give some base for optimism (peaceful solution) while others are increasing the use of military option. What’s clear to me is that the stakes are now higher than before. From my [...]

Nobel Peace Prize 2008/2009arirusila

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:33:11 +0000

When Nobel committee last year selected Mr. Ahtisaari – an unofficial spokesperson of US State department and Nato – as Nobel prize Peace laureate this years selection was not surprise. The bright side is that Mr.Obama has not (hopefully yet) junked the original criteria (“to contribute to fraternity in the world, to reduce armies and [...]

HDI 2009 – Balkans and Black Seaarirusila

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 07:31:01 +0000

Each year since 1990 the Human Development Report by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has published the human development index (HDI) which looks beyond GDP to a broader definition of well-being. The index is not in any sense a comprehensive measure of human development, however HDI gives some valuable information about some dimensions of global [...]

New Player in Caspian Sea Power Corridorarirusila

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 06:59:48 +0000

Competition – or development – of EU’s eastern gas supply routes has intensified this year. Both EU/U.S. backed Nabucco and Russia’s South Stream have made deals to guarantee realization of new pipelines until 2015. The EU’s new “southern corridor” – Nabucco as essential part of it – has been dubbed a version [...]

Quality Peace?arirusilaFountain of Time, peace memorial, ChicagoJapanese Peace Bell of UN HQ, NY

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:16:51 +0000

To ravage, to slaughter, to usurp under false titles, they call empire; and where they make a desert, they call it peace. (Tacitus, ca. 56 – ca. 117) On 21 September 1980 Iraq launched a full-scale invasion of Iran, which was the beginning of an 8-year-long bloody war between the two countries. Ironically the International Day [...]

Bottom-Up Approach needed for multi-ethnic societyarirusila

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:06:39 +0000

Promoting a culture of coexistence, a multi-ethnic society or at least ethnic tolerance is not an easy task, not even in Europe, not even with help of billions of aid or with “best” western practice. This can be seen especially in Balkans where regions supervised by foreign “expertise” have worst record while regions without [...]

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