“A deluge of events is falling on Cuba”: Generation Y explains.

Belarus Digest writes that, unlike in Ukraine, “groups potentially advocating a unification with Russia have never been too active in Belarus.”

French collaborative video-blog (Fr) Blogtrotters travels to conflict zones, dictatorships and other hot spots around the world, from Sub-Saharan Africa to Central and Eastern Asia to the Pacific Ocean, and its climate refugees. (English version here).  Coming soon, a report on Burma. The blog was co-founded by Tristan Mendès-France, the grandson of former prime minister Pierre Mendès-France (1907-1982), a highly respected political figure. In his Egoblog [Fr], Tristan Mendès-France describes himself as “hyper-subjective and hyper-media”.

Here is how Steve Bandera of Kyiv Scoop explains a mock deal that he has offered to the newly-elected Ukrainian president: “The point is to show the absurdity of the [Stepan Bandera] debate: almost everybody from Moscow to Warsaw to Edmonton has an opinion on Bandera (who was killed more than 50 years ago) yet no one seems to care about the real issues that plague Ukraine today.”

Thoughts on March 8 and feminism in Russia and Ukraine - at Poemless, Global Comment, and Sean's Russia Blog.

Updates on the arrest of Ejup Ganić in London on March 1: Amila Bosnae - here and here; Gray Falcon - here, here, and here; Greater Surbiton - here and here; Samaha - here; CAFÉ TURCO - here;

Richard Byrne of Balkans via Bohemia pays tribute to Serbian writer Mihajlo Mijhajlov, “a prominent former dissident to both Titoism and nationalism,” who died recently at the age of 76. Sladjana Lazic of A Slice Of Serbian Politics muses on whether “the political engagement of artists can degrade their work,” in a post prompted by the recent death of Momčilo Momo Kapor, a Serbian writer, painter and journalist, as well as “a member of the Committee for Protection of Radovan Karadžić” and an illustrator of one of Karadžić’s children’s books.

Steve Bandera of Kyiv Scoop writes about the insights he gained while working with the recently declassified Soviet secret police archives - and about Ukraine's new State Security Service chief, who appears likely to limit public access to the archives again: “‘The special service’s main concern is the protection of its secrets,' Khoroshkovsky was quoted by UNIAN on March 11. In this statement Khoroshkovsky betrays his bias: as far as he’s concerned, it might as well be the KGB he’s heading.”

Similar to Yugo-nostalgia, the nostalgia for the common Byzantine past can sometimes transcend some of the barriers erected through modern nationalism and racism in the Balkans.

Mizar, a cult rock band that uses Macedonian traditional music and Orthodox Christian chant in much of their work, recently released a new single, “Konstantinopol,” featuring Harmosini Choir. YouTube user vizantijamk [= Byzantium Macedonia] created an unofficial video clip using a number of depictions of the siege and fall of Constantinople in 1453, including a modern romanticist, kitschy image of the last Greek-speaking emperor riding a horse on the battlements (minute 0:16).

The above-mentioned image from an unattributed source is interesting in two aspects:

• It features the flags with the Byzantine double-headed eagle, a symbol used by several Balkan states (Albania, Serbia, Montenegro…) and the Greek Orthodox Church (on a yellow flag). Even though they are supposedly anti-Greek, the student-beating Macedonian nationalist mob in 2008 also used such a flag.
• Insisting to put the revered leader on horseback at an awkward spot can be related to the insistence of the Macedonian government to erect as many new equestrian statues as possible, even to Fin de siècle revolutionaries and intellectuals such as Goce Delchev, Dame Gruev and Nikola Karev, who had no relation to cavalry.

Some Facebook users promoted the clip through the pages based on the Macedonian Orthodox Christian identity, such as Speak Macedonian [MKD] and Macedonia Above All [MKD], adding comments of praise for Mizar, who were the first band in former Yugoslavia to produce a rock album entirely in Macedonian language.

Janis used the Orthodox Christian formula “may God rest their souls” to express sympathy for the defenders through a comment [MKD] on the blog Kichevo, which reprinted a 2007 post [MKD] about the fall of Byzantium. Even though the author praised modern Turkish Istanbul as a cosmopolitan tourist hot-spot, this extensive article described the event mainly from the viewpoint of the besieged Christians. The story downplayed the damage inflicted by the Crusaders, even though the siege of 1204 seems far more destructive, as shown by Balkanalysis.com:

…With a barbarity that would have made even the wickedest sultan blush, the Crusaders looted, burned, raped and murdered their way through Constantinople, stealing both saleable riches and priceless works of art, destroying age-old monasteries, and generally going against everything that their “Christian” ideals stood for. In its severity, the Latin conquest of Constantinople was ten times worse than the Ottoman conquest of 1453.

Of those Ancient Greek texts which are no longer extant, several were in circulation right up until 1204. Yet none of today’s “lost texts” were to survive that year. Although the terrible loss of human life is today barely an echo in our historical consciousness, we are still suffering from the cultural destruction caused by the Western sack of Constantinople. It is all but forgotten, however. While everyone recalls the rapacity of the Turks (presumable, because they were Muslim), no one remembers the violence unleashed by one Christian state on another, in a period when religion constituted the grounds for diplomatic relations.

Amidon, recalled another old post - from 2006 - which advocated the view that Byzantium, its culture and institutions were not destroyed, but absorbed into the then-multicultural Ottoman Empire, which defined Islam as the primary state religion almost a century and a half later.

In the post Our Misery and Constantinople [MKD], Surface Surtuk writes that he feels “appalled by this mystification of the submissive (not of the subdued!), this glorification of a battle lost 557 years ago.”

Noting that at the time, the Ottoman value system of meritocratic feudalism was far more appealing to the Christian peoples of the Balkans than the Byzantine system of personal connections and nepotism, he explained:

…Our [ancestors] played an important role in the conquest of the city, in several ways. The Janissaries, who first stormed the walls, were our boys. Serbian prince Lazar (or his son) took part with a squadron of brave, armored Christian knights, alongside other vassals, like the nobles from Wallachia (southern Romania). The expert Saxon miners from my native area of Osogovo undermined the city walls with explosives and dug a tunnel underneath them. Fortunately, the Byzantines also hired a Saxon from Germany who started digging from the other side, and met them half way - killing them like rats underground. A key weapon for the siege was an enormous cannon, built by a Hungarian Christian who sold it to Mehmed the Conquerer after the Byzantines declined to provide a sufficient honorarium. The city was betrayed by the Christian Venice - which refused to aid it with its fleet, because Mehmed guaranteed larger privileges - and the Genoan colony of Pera, which remained neutral and refused to oppose the Ottoman fleet. The French king preferred to expand his territories and confiscate property of slain heretics rather than to launch a new crusade to aid his fellow co-religionists.

Our [Macedonian] contribution would have been greater, but fortunately the old Turkish vassals King Marko and Constantine Dragash had already given their lives for the Ottoman cause. Only two territories in the area resisted the Ottomans at the time: Neuberg or Novo Brdo [New Hill] fell two years after Constantinople, and in retribution the Turks killed all the leading citizens. The lands held by George Kastriot fell after his natural death in 1468, and their population was forcibly converted to Islam in retribution.

Those who submitted and bowed to the Ottomans were not cut by the saber, nor were they assimilated into Muslim Turks, nor were they driven from their homes. They remained as they were, professing their faith and speaking their own language.

The Saxons cleared their conscience by rising against the Ottomans during the Karposh Uprising [of 1689], resulting in their destruction as an ethnic group in Macedonia.

This disjointed discussion continues, even though the participants do not link to each other, and maybe are not aware of the overall context.

Libellus Antonii posted a song lamenting the end of the “Roman” empire in the Pontic Greek language, providing translation in Macedonian:

On Feb. 25, the European Parliament adopted a resolution, in which, among other things, it called on “the new Ukrainian leadership” to “reconsider” the posthumous award granted to Stepan Bandera a month earlier. In a post titled “Bandera Bashing Déjà vu,” Stepan Bandera's grandson - Steve Bandera of Kyiv Scoop - recalls how he accompanied his mother to the Supreme Court of Canada 25 years ago “to defend the honour and integrity of the Bandera name.”

Today marks two months since the January 12 earthquake devastated Haiti - and even in the midst of other natural disasters, bloggers still seem to be struggling to come to grips with what this tragedy actually means for the people of a nation that is often referred to as “the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.”

The day to day reality of post-quake life in Port-au-Prince and environs is markedly different from the glory days of Haiti's proud past, which HaitiAnalysis.com ably chronicles in this post by Mara Chinelli of CampusTimes.org:

In the aftermath of Haiti’s earthquake the words of slave general Toussaint L’Ouverture come to mind: “In overthrowing me, you have cut down in San Domingo only the trunk of the tree of black liberty. It will spring up again by the roots for they are numerous and deep.” Perhaps a politically charged maxim does not seem appropriate in the face of a natural disaster. Yet this revolutionary saying has echoed throughout Haiti’s struggles for stability and democracy. When we look at the current events in Haiti, we must consider the historical actors that built its vulnerable infrastructure.

The post goes on to examine the chain of events that took place from the time that Haiti “proclaimed itself the first black republic in 1804″ until “the 20th century, [when] U.S. intervention determined Haiti’s fate” and suggests that:

Now more than ever the United States must acknowledge history and rethink its approach to Haiti…

The Obama administration should also take greater steps beyond a temporary protected status for Haitian immigrants. Displacement and homelessness will surely increase Haitian migration. The international community must ensure that aid for reconstruction resists foreign interests and reaches the Haitian people. This will not cure political ailments, but it will begin a reorganization of power.

This call for Temporary Protected Status is not new. Twitter user texascane81 even posted that “We have been advocating for TPS for Haiti since September 2008.” When the decision by the United States finally came, as part of its response to support the earthquake recovery effort, it was accompanied by a carefully worded caveat from Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. According to CAF Blog:

While she declined to specify the consequences for those caught trying to enter the U.S. illegally, she said, ‘At this moment of tragedy in Haiti, it is tempting for people suffering in the aftermath of the earthquake to seek refuge elsewhere, but attempting to leave Haiti now will only bring more hardship to the Haitian people and nation.'

While the United States was sending a message of cautious humanitarianism, the Bahamian government was apparently opening its arms. Bahamian bloggers had a lot to say about their government's “decision to grant temporary status to Haitian detainees.” Womanish Words comments:

I support my government's decision…and wonder at the inhumanity of those who are on the radio and in the papers criticizing this gesture.

I call on the government to stop apprehension exercises as well, in the name of the 50,000 people who died in the quake. I call on the government to also establish an amnesty period for all undocumented Haitians in the Bahamas to come forward so that they too can receive temporary status. And now that I think of it, why is it ‘temporary' status? Let them stay, let us have mercy, let love and mercy prevail.

Haitian-Bahamian Solidarity notes that:

The history of our country and of Haiti are intertwined and deeply connected. Although we don’t recognize the connections often enough, or think of them with much positivity all too often (Haitians are often labelled as ‘illegals' even when they are perfectly legal immigrants and residents), this tragedy has made far more Bahamians than ever before deeply aware of the long, long relationship of exchange, mutuality and kinship between our two countries. But we have a long way to go.

Jamaican blogger Long Bench also saw it fit to post a response to “Danville Walker’s letter to the editor published on Feb. 1 in the Gleaner”:

Frankly, I am rather disappointed that Danville Walker has chosen to jump on the bandwagon and frame the arrival of Haitian refugees as, first and foremost, a public health threat…

More generally, what is it about the way we insist on thinking about Haitians that allows us to intentionally cast them as dirty, diseased and backward, a status, according to Mr. Walker, that is only enhanced by their ‘lack of familiarity with the English Language.' Such arguments are truly self-serving, and say much more about us, than it does about the people who are being demonized and mischaracterised in these pejorative ways.

At the end of the day, this is primarily an immigration issue. Haitian refugees are not criminals, and should not be treated by citizens or represented in the media as such. They should be subjected to the same procedures that others currently undergo when they come to Jamaica to live or to stay for long periods of time. Nothing less than fairness and respect for their dignity should be accorded to any persons who come to our country, for whatever reason.

The HaitiAnalysis post, however, understands that “currently Haiti’s main priority is immediate aid distribution”, adding:

Despite the fact that ships with aid arrived promptly after the earthquake, U.S. security regulations prevented its immediate distribution.

Major aid organizations abide by the U.S. State Department’s security restrictions on designated ‘Red Zones.' As a result, the United Nations and the United States have increased militarization of aid distribution.

These 'security measures' have prevented efficient aid distribution and much needed rapport with local communities.

This has been a common complaint from bloggers on the ground in Haiti - this tweet confirmed the existence of “MINUSTAH's red, yellow, and green zone security map of Port-Au-Prince, as of today…”

“Red, yellow, and green zone security map of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti”, image by mediahacker, used under a Creative Commons license. Visit mediahacker's flickr photostream.

As part of the map's caption on his flickr page, Mediahacker states:

MINUSTAH spokesperson gave me this map, which they provide to NGOs. Green (covering Petionville only) indicates residential areas with no history of insecurity, he said. And yet, rumors abound that two aid workers were just kidnapped in the green zone.

The spokesperson said MINUSTAH recommends aid groups are accompanied by a security detail wherever they go and that the majority of them do request assistance from UN or Haitian forces. He said MINUSTAH is meeting 100% of the requests made for security accompaniment.

Bloggers confirm talk of a kidnapping, but their accounts of effective allocation of resources are markedly different. RAMHaiti was quite vocal about it on Twitter. His first update asked:

Does anyone know where ACTED is or how to contact them? They're supposed to be in charge of Carrefour Feuilles..

Later, he tweeted again:

ACTED: resp. for Leogane and Carrefour feuilles relief..Missing In Action:can't reach them on phone

…and was re-tweeted here:

RT @Tass101: @RAMhaiti Trust me, ACTED is missing in ACTION in Leogane because the people there don't see anything concrete being done.

melindayiti also weighs in:

Still reeling over the false reports by major agencies about the situation in #Haiti… 80% food saturation? No f-ing way.

And in the midst of it all looms Haiti's uncertain political situation, about which RAMHaiti sardonically says:

PR machine says Preval wants 2 remain #HAITI President till all RECON$TRUCTION CONTRACT$ r handed out. Both CLINTON$ OK with that. @DinoJag

Transparency and good governance continue to be among bloggers' ongoing concerns:

RT @domzz: RT @nadprecious: #Haiti umm what happened to the $324mill that was donated in April 09 to help rebuild? @RAMhaiti @carelpedre

HaitiAnalysis, though, has faith in the tenacity of the Haitian people to overcome:

Haitians are capable of extricating their nation from the most common phrase used to describe it: ‘the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.' Able-bodied Haitian men have organized to look for people under the rubble, and protect tent communities erected in Port-au-Prince. Homeless mothers care for their children and look after others orphaned by the earthquake.

In the face of incredible loss of life and infrastructure, Haitians are cooperating with each other. With this in mind, the international community needs to rethink its relationship with Haiti

The thumbnail image used in this post, “Haiti EQ:Collapsed Ministry of Justice”, is by AIDG, used under a Creative Commons license. Visit AIDG's flickr photostream.

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Nicholas Farrelly, writing for New Mandala, writes a short note about the role of women military officers in Myanmar.

KnowTnT.com feels “compelled to write about the elephant - or in T&T, the Manicou - in the middle of the room. Inertia.”

Not only the Polish social media are discussing this one! A discussion of the newest book about the life and work of journalist Ryszard Kapuściński, written by Artur Domosławski, has reached the UK, the United States and other regions of the world. ‘Non-Fiction' was published in early March and raised a lot of controversy due to its portrayal of a well-established, legendary Polish reporter, Kapuściński, as a person we have not known so well. A major issue around this reporter's life is the fact that he sometimes added bits of his own stories to his reports.

The Guardian is posting the words of the new biography's author, Artur Domosławski:

Sometimes the literary idea conquered him. In one passage, for example, he writes that the fish in Lake Victoria in Uganda had grown big from feasting on people killed by Idi Amin. It's a colourful and terrifying metaphor. In fact, the fish got larger after eating smaller fish from the Nile. […] Kapuściński was experimenting in journalism. He wasn't aware he had crossed the line between journalism and literature. I still think his books are wonderful and precious. But ultimately, they belong to fiction.

Kapuściński's wife has turned to court with an appeal to stop the publication of the book. However, this was overruled as she took part in the process of its writing, allowing Domosławski to access documents of her husband. She was referring to the facts of the new book damaging her husband's reputation, like his affair, for instance. The idea of a foreign correspondent who was inconsistent with his reports of events is distant from the so far rather flattering image of Kapuściński that the Polish readers had.

First strong criticism of the new biography arrived [PL] from Bronisław Bartoszewski, a politician and a professor who works with the same publisher:

There are publishing houses that publish guides on certified brothels with many stars, but I do not think I would like to publish my history book in a place like that, nor would I like to see them publishing the lives of saints at the same time.

This opinion provoked a series of comments referring to Bartoszewski's lack of degree, unethical behavior, as well as his inconsistent approach towards the publisher.

Krzysztof opposes [PL] him openly:

Dear Mr Bartoszewski,

It's not the first opinion of yours after which I start to lose all the respect that I used to have for you. Biographies are designed to show people's lives, with their entire luggage of experiences. No matter what. If you want to write/read about statues, I suggest something about Warsaw's Little Mermaid [a statue that is a symbol of Warsaw]

Some of the commentators - like skowronek, for instance - support [PL] Bartoszewski:

I hope that prof. Bartoszewski will resign from co-operation with Świat Książki. This publisher is unreliable with very low standards of publications. I am surprised that the professor is considering doing so just now. Publishing the book about Kapuściński is a disgrace and an obvious move to seek publicity, and let's not pretend it is not a way of counting on more sales, even at the expense of a great writer. A writer who is one of the few who became famous worldwide. But this is exactly our Polish morality, if someone is extraordinary, we spit on them, if someone is an average person or even lower, we raise them up to heavens. It's making me sick.

The news [PL] that the book will be published provoked a new wave of various reactions.

Nasan wonders [PL]:

In this country everything is a scandal, everything is a taboo, everything offends someone, everyone feels humiliated. At the same time, no one restrains themselves from using the most vulgar language when criticising people who hold different opinions.

Liloop refers to the fear of truth [PL]:

Why do we fear the truth so much, regardless of what it would be. This hiding of the truth is exactly the prosthesis of the old system. Something happened or not. If it happened, it's truth. If it didn't, it is not. He did it - he is responsible, he did not - he isn't.

Furry embraces the notion of truth with an interesting, historical explanation [PL]:

Sadly, history is not an exact science. One person remembers things one way, another one differently. Moreover, both are equally convinced they are right and are happy to fight for their opinion till the last drop of blood. Basing truth on documents? What documents, those of the Security Services? Hm…

Blogger Kalarepa86 refers to the point made by many that one needs to read the book before making judgments:

Hmmmm in the light of words spoken by the author of this book I think it's worth learning what his opinion is  - I think if someone sympathizes with Kapuściński, this opinion will not diminish theirs. Since I am writing an essay I think I have to (I will not hide I am truly curious as well) grab this book and work out my own opinion about it, have my own opinion and mention it in my essay.

The author of ‘Non-Fiction', Artur Domosławski, posts on his newly set-up blog [PL]:

I particularly thank those who support me and keep their fingers crossed. I also thank those who ask questions and express their doubts without being aggressive. I am happy that this book causes so much interest and discussion.

Bozena2k responds to the post above, saying [PL]:

More and more often we deal with useless people whose only chance to gain publicity is to throw some mud at others, those who grew extraordinarily. The type and form of the mud is not the point. In the end the receivers are similarly useless people, who will be able to breathe with relief: maybe we are low-lives, but those who are not one of us believed in communism, cheated on their wives, avoided truth… Well, these are the times when people like you win.

Both with those dead ones who cannot protect themselves, both with their widows, whose emotions they do not have to consider and with those for whom it is disgusting to dig into private lives of people, who achieved something beautiful and grand.

Kryst.ynak has a different opinion [PL]:

I read the biography of Ryszard Kapuscinski. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND why there is so much fuss about it.  The book is well-written, supported by facts. Supported with quotes of people who surrounded and knew Kapuscinski from the side of his works. I write “from the side of his works” on purpose as I feel that no one really knew him as a man. He came, sat down, smiled, left.

Discussions continue in all of the above-mentioned places, as well as on both the author's [PL] and Kapuściński's [PL] Facebook fan page. A Polish daily, Gazeta Wyborcza, has created a special coverage site for the debate, here [PL]. You can read an interview with the author in English, published by the New York Times, here.

Taiwan in Cycles comments on how a man's choice to identify himself by saying, “I am not an Aborigine!” reveals about the construction of ethnic identities in Taiwan.

KnowTnT.com says of the Calder Hart issue: “It simply astounds me that it took so long and got so far out of control. A Prime Minister defends a man 45 times. And it astounds me that the Opposition was so deeply involved with its collective pants around its ankles that they managed to scare off the prey instead of capture it.”

A historic wooden house in Moscow suburbs known as “Muromtsev Dacha” has been torn down by the authorities amid numerous protests from the residents. The photos of the demolition have been posted by different bloggers and gathered at LJ community photo-polygon.

Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian 2008

Following last week's non-binding resolution narrowly passed by a congressional Foreign Affairs Committee urging the US government to recognize the 1915 massacre and deportation of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as Genocide, reaction in the blogosphere appears to be muted, including from those Armenian sites which have covered the issue for years.

Nevertheless, what does exist is mostly negative or neutral — although not necessarily reflective of comments or posts, and even no reaction at all, on closed networking sites such as Facebook. Typical of most comments made there, Life in the Armenian Diaspora sums up that reaction.

Armenians around the world are celebrating again…. […]

[…]

Again, the White House wasn't able to stop this. Turkey wasn't able to stop it with their threats about relations, borders, protocols etc. I said it two years ago and I'll say it again now. EMPTY THREATS - CALL THEIR BLUFF! Turkey can not afford to lose the U.S. as an ally. They recalled their ambassador then and they recalled him now. BIG DEAL!

Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) activists burn the Turkish flag, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian 2008

However, and in sharp contrast with previous years when similar resolutions were passed, other alternative voices are making their voices heard. Ianyan, for example, is uncertain as to what next this all means for her as an ethnic Armenian living abroad.

Right after the vote, Turkey recalled its Ambassador, Namik Tan, back for consultations, Armenian publications swiftly posted the news, status updates and tweets exploded with joy and disappointment on both sides and the Obama administration, who had urged the committee to vote against the resolution, said it will seek to block the bill from coming into fruition.

[…]

As for me, for a moment, I was shocked and surprised, although I probably shouldn’t have been. A similar resolution passed through the same committee in 2007 and was later successfully blocked from ever amounting to anything.

[…]

While we sit in free countries, in our warm houses and flashy cars in our garages, many in Armenia are still suffering from economic turmoil and poverty . There is corruption and discrimination and much more that we, thousands of miles away, have the good fortune to not see. Most diaspora Armenians have never even met a Turk, nor do they want to. […]

Do I need the U.S. government to recognize the genocide? Maybe, but I don’t feel any less Armenian, I don’t feel like something is missing if they don’t. My feelings could very well be the result of it not being recognized for so long, who knows.

[…]

The answer still is, for me, “I don’t know.”

Armenian-Turkish border, Khor Virap, Ararat Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian 2005

Another Armenian blog, Global Chaos, however, is more critical, especially in light of a more pressing issue facing Armenia - the threat of renewed conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh.

Yes, they made a full circle and we are seeing the whole Armenian Genocide Resolution circus played out all over again. No, I'm not happy with what happened yesterday. I'm very concerned, and I don't think it's going to have ANY positive outcome for Armenia. On the contrary, it might, and I'm afraid, it will only make things worse.

[…]

American-Armenians are all upbeat about it. They learned well how to play this game called “American politics” and they want to stay politically relevant, especially this year, when the mid-term elections might turn out to be unusually interesting. […] But where's Armenia in this equation?

[…]

There is evidently a disconnect between the Diaspora, which, quite understandably, clings to the Genocide problem as a basis for its identity, and the Armenian state, which is striving to survive, attain stability, and establish itself as a significant player on the international arena. […]

[…]

Perhaps it's high time the Armenian government stops relying on the Armenian-American lobby to do both advocacy and public diplomacy in the US on its behalf? […] Yes, it is very commendable. But, it is also detrimental for Armenia, since the foreign policy of one of the most influential countries in the world toward it is being dominated by an issue the significance of which many, on both sides, don't even understand anymore.

Again, I am not saying that the Genocide should be neglected or forgotten. What I'm saying is that the focus should switch, since with the resolution of the Karabakh problem might just open a leeway for more constructive and reconciliatory dialogue on the Genocide as well. If the Diaspora lets Armenia be, that is…

The blog also raises concerns that such a resolution will increase the level of nationalism in Turkey, something that seems borne out by one Turkish blog, Talk Turkey.

Do the Armenians really think that some soiling-their-pants Congressmen care about the Armenians' plight? Was this part of a ploy, a plan of pushing Turkey off-track and into radicalism, alienating the ‘model' integration of secularism and Muslim-ness, and thereby prove to the ‘world' that a moderate Islam doesn't exist?

[…] I am now definitely not in a reconciliatory mood any longer. In fact, I say ‘let the games begin!'

Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian 2008

Arefe reviews the new book Beneath the Lion's Gaze, the latest in a series of works examining the bloody aftermath of Ethiopia's 1974 revolution.

The BBC sparked a storm this week with a story claiming millions of dollars sent to help starving people in Ethiopia's 1980s famine were used to buy arms by rebels.

The rebels, who now dominate Ethiopia's government, and some aid groups dismissed the story. Bob Geldof, the Irish rock star who helped raise a lot of the money in the 80s with his Live Aid campaign, said it was “simply not the case”. Britain's Independent newspaper published a blog saying the claim was a slur, cooked up by enemies of Ethiopia's government ahead of looming elections.

Ethiopian blog Ethiopian Recycler, clearly not fan of the country's current regime, begged to differ and defended the BBC story in two posts Aid money, arms, and Sir Bob Geldof and Live Aid money did pay for weapons:

Millions of aid money raised in the 1980s was indeed diverted to buy arms and had provided rebel leaders with a lifestyle that was inhuman and extravagant even by today's standards. That is no news. Thousands of the hungry from Tigray were forced to trek to the Sudan in the course of which many perished. And hundreds that were resettled in southwestern Ethiopia were returned to Tigray through the Sudan [hundreds of which perished en route]. That is no news either. The fact that yesterday's BBC report is followed by the question whether this scam ever took place is simply absurd.

Another aspect of Ethiopia's relationship with the aid industry came under the spotlight in an article highlighted by Addis Ababa-based blogger Owen Barder. Aid blog Hand Relief International cast an ironic eye over the difference between the luxury of the capital's Sheraton hotel, where many aid officials stay, and the visible poverty just outside its walls:

One of the meetings I attended last week was in Addis Ababa where my stay in the dignified Sheraton Hotel was slightly spoiled by the vista behind the reassuring fence, where people in rags seemed in general to be enjoying slightly less comfort … Thankfully, the local drought did not affect the water pressure at the fountain systems around the hotel where we took the edge off with regular dips in the heated pool, usually before high tea. The theme of the meeting was “Drought and Famine - HRI opportunities for 2010″

“Why did it take a quarter of a century for the truth to be told publicly,” wonders Samuel Ketema at ABBAY Media: The Ethiopian Information Bank:

If there is one thing that people should be surprised about, it must be why it took a quarter of a century for the truth to be told publicly. Otherwise, particularly the deception of the TPLF is something that the Ethiopian public know them for. How REST (Relief Society of Tigray), which is a multibillion conglomerate today, was formed is not such a big secret to the Ethiopian public. Then there is also what the CIA knew from the beginning and the American government supported it.

The two former rebel commanders, who exposed this truth, mentioned this before in different interviews they gave in Amharic. Nothing is new about this. How did TPLF win the largest and well equipped army in sub-Saharan Africa then? Meles Zenawi, as many in the west, including Bob Geldof and Bono described him, is a very smart guy, actually much smarter than his admirers in the west can understand.

A reader at Ethiopian Curret Affairs Discussion Forum, Sarah, notes that Ethiopians were not surprised by the news:

Ethiopians who knows the nature of the ruling party in Ethiopia wasn’t surprised by the news at all what surprised them was how comes the western medias start talking? and Bob Geldof acting like the Ethiopian dictators lire cadres.

The “aid for arms” story, argues Mebre, is very well known all over Ethiopia:

The story you mentioned is very well known all over Ethiopia but it gives a factual evidence for the West that a dictator that do not have a moral character for his own people can give peace prosperity and freedom to the nation.We all insist the West that don’t armed dictators….give support for the poor…the poor needs freedom than anything…..