PUTIN — GORBACHEV — CHAVEZ — DISPUTED LANDS — FORMER YUGOSLAVIA — UKRAINE — MTV — SPORTS
PUTIN — GORBACHEV — CHAVEZ — DISPUTED LANDS — FORMER YUGOSLAVIA — UKRAINE — MTV — SPORTS
A good primer by Dilip Hiro.
****
Opening byline:
«It’s clear now, Russia can’t be talked into pluralism under Putin. Where does that leave the West?»
It leaves the West in the West where it should be. The above editorial typifies the kind of American mass media editorializing on Russia.
Not too long ago, former American Vice President Al Gore (on a Sunday morning TV news panel show) noted that the development of democracy in Russia is an ongoing matter. Many «Putinists» will no doubt agree that the post Yeltsin political changes in Russia aren’t a sign of a future Russian dictatorship (
Putin Reexamined).
****
Wednesday’s, June 6, early evening (New York time) aired to America BBC telecast featured some comments from BBC correspondent Steve Rosenberg. He made a somewhat misrepresentative claim on what Putin said about the Soviet breakup. Rosenberg correctly noted that Putin called the Soviet breakup a tragedy. When stating that point, Rosenberg omitted:
-When Putin calls that breakup a «tragedy,» he’s referring to the misery created in the way the USSR was broken up (sudden and lacking structure, in a way that caused suffering, which could’ve arguably been prevented, or lessened with different policies).
- Putin stating that he in no way favors a return of the USSR.
This particular English language mass media presentation has happened before.
-----------------------------------
Excerpt:
«Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who will meet with Bush Friday in Jurata, Poland, had his own observation on Cold War rhetoric. ’This kind of language was not used by (former Russian president Boris) Yeltsin, nor by Gorbachev, nor I can say even by (former Soviet leader Leonid) Brezhnev — I can’t remember this,’ Kaczynski told Polish radio.»
’Khrushchev used this kind of language,’ he concluded.«
The Cold War was in another era of more profound differences. In such an environment, many feel guarded in how they express themselves. The present day post Cold War atmosphere is looser.
-----------------------------------
Chavez Welcomes Putin’s ABM Stand in Europe — June 7, Itar Tass dispatch
****
-----------------------------------
»Russia said on Wednesday it has ’firm solidarity’ with Serbia on Kosovo. At a meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremicis Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters, Russia was unwilling to change its stance on the Balkan province ahead of the Group of Eight summit. However he said the Serbian government had proposed to continue talks, and Russia pledged its support. Kosovo’s ethnic majority is impatient for independence and is backed by the United States and the European Union. But Russia, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has hinted it could veto a resolution supporting a plan for Kosovo’s independence.«
****
-----------------------------------
****
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
****
****
****
