Sometimes, the headline is more interesting than the story.
Do we have the makings of a great new rivalry for the Winter Olympics?
(Thanks Igor!)
Do we have the makings of a great new rivalry for the Winter Olympics?
(Thanks Igor!)
Dec 17, 2009
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7 comments:
this is turning out to be quite the power play by nauru.
For all who are interested -- This American Life a couple of years ago did a piece on Nauru which is really fascinating. In the 1990s, the Russians used free-wheeling Nauru as a money laundering haven.
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=253
Aside from coconut harvesting, a big source of revenue is country recognition. According to Wikipedia:
Nauru has used its position as a member of the United Nations to gain financial support from both the Republic of China (ROC) and the People's Republic of China (PRC) by changing its position on the political status of Taiwan. During 2002, Nauru signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations with the PRC on 21 July. Nauru accepted $130m from PRC for this action. In response, the ROC severed diplomatic relations with Nauru two days later. Nauru later re-established links with the ROC on 14 May 2005, and diplomatic ties with the PRC were officially severed on 31 May 2005. However, the PRC continues to maintain a diplomatic presence (a consulate?) on Nauru. Similarly in 2008, Nauru recognised Kosovo as an independent country. Then, in 2009, Nauru became the fourth country, after Russia, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to recognise the breakaway region of Georgia, Abkhazia. Russia was reported to be giving Nauru $50M in humanitarian aid in return.
This American Life is fantastic. But is "country recognition" a sustainable industry?
http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2009/12/17/places-bowl-games-should-be-held-moscow/
Not my blog, of course, but something that seems right up y'alls alley
здесь спамовать нельзя!
(And if that's not the verb to spam, it should be.)
Thanks AJK, great Putin photos.
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