Andrew Jameson
Chair, Russian Committee, ALL
Languages and Professional Development
1 Brook Street, Lancaster LA1 1SL UK
Tel: 01524 32371 (+44 1524 32371)
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From: Transitions Online <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: New at TOL
Date: 11 September 2000 23:19
Transitions Online (TOL) (http://www.tol.cz) is the leading Internet
magazine covering Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and the former
Soviet Union. If you aren't already a member, fill out our registration
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*******************************************************
NEW AT TOL:
WEEK IN REVIEW
(Free Access)
http://www.tol.cz/week.html
Does Milosevic See the Writing On the Wall?
Little Confidence in Bosnian Serb Government
United States Shares Intelligence With Russia Over Kursk
Trade Union Leader Murdered in Romania
Russian Oligarch Gives ORT Shares to Journalists
War-Criminals List Leaked in Republika Srpska
Slovakia Will Vote On Early Elections
Austrian Outcry Over Czech Power Plant Mounts
Controversy Lingers Over Conviction of Krygyz Leader
Belarus Authorities Cancel Gay Festival and Free Press Day
Our Take: Romancing the Stone
A TOL editorial on the charming Mr. Putin
http://www.tol.cz/oursep11.html
The full text of this article also appears below.
FEATURES: Bulldozing Bucharest
by Lucian Branea
http://www.tol.cz/frartic/specr09002.html
(Free Access)
Built during the communist era, the largest district in Bucharest, Drumul
Taberei, is jam-packed with blocks of flats, squeezing people into 15 to 50
square-meter concrete boxes. Over the years, small shops and kiosks have
mushroomed where grass and trees used to be. But on 16 August the
neighborhood was shaken up. After squatting kiosk owners refused to clear
out, a hard-hitting new mayor moved in with bulldozers and cranes. But some
argue that his campaign isn't just about fighting corruption.
OPINIONS: The Real Tragedy of the Sunken Kursk
by Elena Chinyaeva
http://www.tol.cz/frartic/failedgl.html
(Free Access)
In the West, mass media continue to press on people a view that somehow in
Russia--or in any other non-Western country--a technological disaster is
not what it is, but something ideologically and politically different. The
West is condemning Russia for its so-called "Cold War" military secrecy
surrounding the submarine tragedy--but if a NATO sub sank, no one would
ever know.
OPINIONS: Hypersignificant Handshakes
by Julia Gray
http://www.tol.cz/opina/hypersig.html
While Israeli-Palestinian talks flag and Western nations sign decrees
promising to combat such far-reaching irritants as poverty, war, AIDS,
pollution, and breaches of human rights, the likes of Lukashenka and Castro
are rallying their like-minded politicos against a world they perceive as
being increasingly united against their interests. It's a perverse boon
that they could do so on the UN junket, which paradoxically gave a forum
for those leaders to fraternize in addition to including them in the
much-maligned Western order. What more could Lukashenka and Castro ask for?
BOOKS: Losing The Heartland
by Oleg Varfolomeyev
http://www.tol.cz/frartic/bksep002.html
(Free Access)
In "Ukraine: Movement without change, change without movement," Marta
Dyczok tries to break Western stereotypes of Ukraine as a
backward territory in Russia's shadow, run by a bunch of corrupt officials
who are hostile to economic reforms. The book addresses the dearth of
knowledge about Ukraine, and offers answers to some of the basic questions
about Europe's second-largest country. How did Ukraine manage to so easily
secede from the Soviet Union? Furthermore, why was the separation from
Russia so peaceful and, at the same time, so painful? And why have economic
reforms in Ukraine been so slow?
BOOKS: Mission Not So Impossible
by Amyn B. Sajoo
http://www.tol.cz/books/bksep001.html
Ethnic and cultural clashes, a perceived religious militancy, and the
fallout from civil war have raised the stakes in Central Asian development.
Despite the odds, a new global and indigenous understanding is taking hold
among the new republics of Central Asia. A new book, "Civil Society in
Central Asia" is a welcome primer on many of the key reasons why civil
society in the region isn't as remote a prospect as most would have us
believe.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: The "Slovak Haidar" or Just a Smooth Talker?
http://www.tol.cz/itowa/sep00svk.html
Some call him a smooth populist, a Slovak Haidar in waiting. Robert Fico
says he just knows how to listen to people and defend their interests.
Whatever he's doing, it's working: Since the 36-year-old lawyer founded
Smer in December 1999, the party has shot toward the top of the ratings.
Playing the role of a pragmatic, nonideological problem-solver, Fico has
become the most popular politician in Slovakia in a matter of months--while
making comments that some have judged anti-Romani and racist. In an
interview with the Czech weekly "Tyden," Fico again tried to work the crowd.
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BEGGING WITH DIGNITY
TOL desperately needs a computer upgrade. Used or new models welcome. If
you can help, please contact Luke Allnutt at [log in to unmask]
*******************************************************
The following articles are part of TOL's series of Annual Surveys for 1999:
exclusive overviews of individual countries in the region written for TOL
by top local and Western analysts and edited by regional specialist
Professor Peter Rutland of Wesleyan University. These valuable resources
follow the fine tradition established by the OMRI/East-West Institute
Annual Surveys. Both sets of reports, old and new, can be found in our
expanded Country Files <http://www.tol.cz/links1.html> along with links and
maps for the 27
countries in the post-communist world.
Ukraine 1999: Again, The Independence Question
by Taras Kuzio
http://www.tol.cz/countries/uaar992.html
Post-Soviet Ukraine's second presidential elections dominated as the year's
major event, but questions over NATO membership and EU accession figured
high on the list of delicate challenges. Ukraine found itself trying to
maintain a balance between catering to Russia's wishes that it steer clear
of NATO, and cooperating with the alliance amid the war in Kosovo. In the
end, it appeased both, and though partially rejected by the EU, it was
reassured that it does have a future as a part of the European family.
Russia 1999: A Year of Dirty Tricks
by Danielle Lussier
http://www.tol.cz/countries/rusar992.html
At the close of 1998 Russia found itself simultaneously recovering from the
August financial crisis and preparing for the long 1999-2000 electoral
cycle. With the federal government deprived of economic resources and
seeking the support of the governors, regional executives were set to
increase their authority in both their home districts and in relation to
Moscow. Governors took advantage of this situation to further advance their
own agendas. Meanwhile, the center sought to reassert control over the
regions. The success of the pro-Kremlin Unity movement in the State Duma
elections and President Boris Yeltsin's subsequent resignation in favor of
his chosen successor, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, closed 1999 with a
stronger federal center ready to bring the regions back under control.
Aliev Unconcerned by Outcry Over Editor's Arrest
by Kenan Kazimoglu for EurasiaNet, a <i>TOL</i> partner site
URL
http://www.tol.cz/frartic/specr09001.html
The detention of a leading opposition newspaper editor in Azerbaijan has
provoked an uproar both at home and abroad. But it appears that President
Heydar Aliev is unconcerned by the scrutiny of his governing methods.
Despite widespread criticism over the arrest, Aliev's administration
remains intent on stifling opposition and ensuring favorable results in
upcoming parliamentary elections.
This article originally appeared on EurasiaNet, a website that provides
news and analysis on political, economic, environmental, and social
developments in the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus, as well as
in Afghanistan, Iran, Mongolia, and Turkey. The website also offers a
variety of other features including: hundreds of links; an extensive
research database; book reviews; newsmaker interviews, and a discussion
forum.
*******************************************************
STILL AVAILABLE: FREE TOL GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR CITIZENS OF POST-COMMUNIST
COUNTRIES
You can send a TOL Gift Subscription by sending us <[log in to unmask]> the
names and e-mails of your friends or colleagues from post-communist
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If you are a student, citizen, or work for an NGO in Central and Eastern
Europe, you can still get a free 12-month subscription simply by completing
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and we will register you and send you your password.
**************************************************
RUSSIAN LIFE MAGAZINE -- Subscribe to the 43-year-old magazine of Russian
culture, history, travel and life. Each bimonthly issue is a colorful,
objective window into the reality of Russia, past, present and future. To
start a subscription, visit:
<http://www.russian-life.com/store/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=4242&aff=5>
To visit the rest of our website, where we sample stories from the
magazine, back issues of our FREE weekly e-mail newsletter, plus some great
resources (like a worldwide events calendar and directory of
Russophile-related businesses), simply go to: http://www.russian-life.com
*******************************************************
Please visit our partner sites:
EurasiaNet (http://www.eurasianet.org) is a website covering the countries
of Central Asia that provides exclusive news and analysis on political,
economic, environmental, and social developments. The website also offers a
variety of other features including: hundreds of links; an extensive
research database; book reviews; newsmaker interviews and a discussion
forum.
The International Press Institute
(http://www.freemedia.at/index1.html) is a global network of journalists,
editors and media executives, dedicated to promoting freedom of the press
and improving the standards and practices of journalism.
Central Europe Review (http://www.ce-review.org) is the weekly Internet
journal of Central and East European politics, society, and culture and the
winner of the NetMedia 2000 Award for Outstanding Contribution to Online
Journalism in Europe.
The Network of Independent Journalists of Central and Eastern Europe (NIJ),
a weekly service run by the Croatian-based STINA press agency. To subscribe
to STINA's NIJ weekly service, giving you timely news of events in the
region, send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask]
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ADVERTISE HERE!
As part of its efforts to become self-sustainable and serve as a model for
other nonprofit organizations, Transitions Online has begun offering
interested advertisers the possibility to reach thousands of readers
through our weekly electronic mailings and on our site. Check out our newly
redesigned media kit (http://www.tol.cz/mediakit/) and find out how to
instantly reach a diverse, international audience with a demonstrated
interest in the post-communist world--people guaranteed to want to hear
what's new in products and services dealing with the region--and increase
your company or institution's exposure by targeting the English-speaking
elite in all of the 27 countries we cover.
*******************************************************
A Czech nonprofit dedicated to promoting independent journalism, TOL is
based in Prague and uses a network of local correspondents to provide
unique, cross-regional analysis. We encourage you to visit our site and
become part of a dynamic new media project dedicated to building
independent journalism in Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and the
former Soviet Union.
*******************************************************
OUR TAKE: Romancing the Stone
More than ever, I wish I had spent this past Saturday night in a bar-and
that I was not a member of the weaker sex. Instead, with the excited
anticipation of a Russia-watcher and former Moscow reporter, I stayed home
to watch Russian President Vladimir Putin on CNN's "Larry King Live."
Looking to find more fuel for the anti-Putin fire, I sat in front of the
television--an hour early just to make sure I didn't miss anything--with
pen and paper in hand.
For the first 30 minutes, however, the high-profile interview could just as
well have been between a silly old man and nicely polished stone. The only
thing that brought life to the dialogue was Larry King's hot pink, oxford
shirt. King's high-school questions were not exactly hard-hitting. They
talked about the ongoing war in Chechnya, freedom of the press, the sunken
Kursk submarine, the U.S. National Missile Defense system, etc. Putin was
hardly shaken by the talk-show guru's lack of research and knowledge of the
real issues. And, like a high-school student, Larry seemed to have
forgotten to do his homework. Or, was he asked to take it easy on Mr. Putin?
Questions like "Why should you care, Mr. Putin, whether we have a national
missile defense system," and "you don't really want to keep the press from
saying bad things about you, do you?" didn't cause the Russian leader to
falter. Rather, he was given the opportunity to reiterate statements he has
given thousands of time. Not once did he falter, not once did he hesitate.
His answers were sober, intelligent, and, well, predictable. Meanwhile,
King stumbled through pronunciations of such names as Boris Berezovsky and
Vladimir Gusinsky. Putin barely moved, and as he repeated things he's said
over and over, his face was expressionless and stony.
But then something highly disturbing happened and the brightness of Larry's
shirt faded into the background. Putin grinned.
At the same time that my disappointments with Larry King were fomenting, my
hatred of Vladimir Putin started to recede--all because of a grin. Now I'm
in trouble, I thought. After all, many of us have spent long hours hating
Putin, berating him for press censorship, a brutal campaign in
Chechnya--maybe even for orchestrating last year's bombings of Moscow
residential buildings in order to gain popular support for a second war. We
wanted to catch him with his pants down on "Larry King Live."
In light of this, it was to my horror that every time he grinned his
charming, modest, and playful grin, I found myself liking him. As the
interview became more personal, and Putin shed his grim demeanor, my mind
began a very dark and troubling battle with itself. No, I will not let this
happen, I repeated out loud over and over.
When the conversation took a turn toward the sauna, however, it was more
than I could take. King asked Putin about a cross he always wears, a cross
his mother gave him. "There's a funny story about that cross, actually,"
Putin says. A while back, when he was enjoying the sauna at his dacha with
a friend, he had taken the cross off so it wouldn't be damaged. "But a fire
broke out and we had to run out of the sauna house naked," he said. He had
my attention. I remember something about how the cross was the only thing
that survived the fire and was amazed by that--but I was still thinking
about the naked bit. Vladimir, Volodya, was looking right at me, grinning
when he said it.
If I didn't know better I would have sworn he addressed me personally,
saying "You like me, don't you? You spend all your time hating me, but you
just can't help it, can you?"
That wouldn't have been the first time Putin has deeply troubled the mind
of a journalist determined to see him exposed for what he really is--a
Russian Pinochet. In her column for "The Moscow Times," staff writer and
"TOL" contributor Anna Badkhen complained of having erotic Putin dreams,
and she documented the similar dreams of others. She's rather upset that
she has laughed at his subtle jokes and nodded her head in approval of his
intelligent discourse--after all, she knows who he really is, and she
refuses to be fooled.
I once authored a story called "Putin, A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing."
Journalists, especially female ones, would do best to constantly remind
themselves of this, because that is one charming sheep.
--by Jen Tracy
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