At nearly every stop in her 'introductory' tour she is met with children and their impressions of the USA. I can't think of a better person to 'heal the wounds' of the children diseffected. Sometimes. "It takes a village." Go get 'em, Hillary !
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talks with Palestinian students at the English Access Microscholarship program in the West Bank city of Ramallah on March 4, 2009. The U.S. State Department has been funding the two-year program for disadvantaged Palestinian youth for the past five years. (UPI Photo/David Furst/Pool)
Last updated March 4, 2009 10:01 p.m. PT
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
...NATO foreign ministers meeting Thursday appeared likely to decide the time is right. Such a move could boost President Barack Obama's efforts to build a stronger bond with the Russians after years of tensions during the Bush administration....
Russia was once supportive our USA efforts in Afghanistan. NATO currently has disproportionate numbers in the members participating in Afghanistan. Russia has its own issues in the Caucasus Region and no one knows what Prime Minister Putin would say to be invited in support of NATO. Vladimir Putin has been a long time critic of NATO and its growing number of 'force' in the region. This might be the opportunity he has waited for in bringing Russia's interest to the table.
04 March 2009
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Brussels where she will attend a ministerial meeting of the North Atlantic Council, NATO's political and decision-making body Thursday. Afghanistan and relations with Russia are expected to figure prominently in the discussions....
I am confident Prime Minister Putin would consider 'stability' paramount to any elections.
The Guardian, Monday 23 February 2009
...The Kremlin now claims that the war is over and that there is peace and stability in the region. The reality is that the intensive bombings have been replaced with a regime of fear and oppression which has eroded civil society in Chechnya and suppressed any open and democratic voice. Visits are carefully choreographed for western journalists and dignitaries. They do not see the daily realities of Moscow-imposed Ramzan Kadyrov's rule.
The facade of stability is dangerous. The only way to establish lasting peace in Chechnya is through free and fair elections, which last took place over 10 years ago. On this World Chechnya Day, we urge President Medvedev to find a genuine political settlement that will finally put an end to an entire people's suffering.
However, stability at what cost? The blood shed in the years past was considerable, but, extremism should be frowned on by Russia. Keeping order in Chechnya is at best difficult and life for the people there is better than 'anarchic death,' however, Russia has proven that they saved South Ossetia from genocide, certainly they don't want human rights abuses on their record now. Moscow, at the very least, should demand an investigation into this report.
By LYNN BERRY – 4 days ago
...With money from Moscow, Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov is rebuilding Grozny at a frenetic pace. Some in Russia say Kadyrov's attempt to create an Islamic society violates the Russian constitution, which guarantees equal rights for women and a separation of church and state. But the Kremlin has given him its staunch backing, seeing him as the key to keeping the separatists in check, and that has allowed him to impose his will....
...The 32-year-old former militia leader is carrying out a campaign to impose Islamic values and strengthen the traditional customs of predominantly Muslim Chechnya, in an effort to blunt the appeal of hardline Islamic separatists and shore up his power. In doing so, critics say, he is setting up a dictatorship where Russian laws do not apply.
Some in Russia say Kadyrov's attempt to create an Islamic society violates the Russian constitution, which guarantees equal rights for women and a separation of church and state. But the Kremlin has given him its staunch backing, seeing him as the key to keeping the separatists in check, and that has allowed him to impose his will....
If South Ossetia is welcoming interests for trade to their country, the USA should quickly get in line.
South Ossetia economy open to all - president (click here)
04.03.2009, 06.43
...Answering the newspaper's question how the funds on rebuilding South Ossetia are spent at present, Kokoity said large-scale construction in the republic would begin in the spring.
It will take five to ten years to build a town for 70,000 residents from scratch. Tskhinval's infrastructure has been fully demolished.
"After the strikes by Grad salvo systems we were unable to quickly rebuild in the winter 606 fully destroyed houses in Tskhinval, and more than 1,000 houses in rural areas.
"Another 3,000 residential buildings were partially destroyed.
"We'll take under state control the logging of beeches, oaks, and chestnuts. Agriculture and wine-making have good prospects, while mountain skiing and environmental tourism might prove to in demand in a more distant future.
"Of course, we see Russian businesses as main partners, although our economy will be open to all. South Ossetia has a sufficient basis of state and economic potential to become an independent and successful state," he said....
