Tag Archives: Belarus

Belarus Shuts OSCE Office / More Flood Relief for Pakistan / One-on-One in Algeriea

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The United States and the European Union “regret” the closing of an OSCE office in Belarus. A key U.S. diplomat discusses relations between the United States and Latin America. More U.S. aid is headed to Pakistan for flood relief. Rotary Clubs take their commitment to service global. And, in Algeria, hoop dreams are coming true.

A Shuttered OSCE Office
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton say they “regret the decision by the government of Belarus” to close the mission in Minsk of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. In a statement, Clinton and Ashton say the mission in Minsk is “not complete, as the OSCE’s critical assessment of the presidential elections indicates.”

U.S.-Latin American Relations
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Assistant Secretary of State Arturo Valenzuela says the U.S.-Latin American relationship is moving in a positive and constructive direction. “Achieving that objective has required an important shift in the conduct of U.S. foreign policy,” Valenzuela says.


$190 Million in New Flood Aid for Pakistan
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The United States is providing an additional $190 million to Pakistan for flood recovery efforts. Frank Ruggiero, acting special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, says the money “demonstrates the commitment of the United States to a comprehensive, long-term partnership with the people and government of Pakistan.”

Rotary Clubs Help in Cambodia
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Rotary clubs in the United States, Cambodia, Australia and Canada are working to help more than 15,000 people in 18 rural villages in central Cambodia.


Going One-on-One in Algeria
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Americans and Algerians are sharing their interest in basketball through a newly launched program in Algiers called One on One Basketball. Left, an Algerian player waits to receive an award next to Arthur Jackson, the program’s president.

Bringing American Music to Belarus / A Leader in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS

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A New York professor takes American music to Belarus. A doctor in Kenya is having some success in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Live from COP-16, climate change webcasts. The stakes are high in the global fight against corruption. Looking for information on Iran? Try the Encyclopaedia Iranica. Since last year, the number of partnerships between American and Russian universities has nearly doubled. And finally, learn what a group of students did to raise awareness and money for flood victims in Pakistan.
 

American Music in Belarus
New York choral conductor, baritone, and music professor Ira Spaulding has traveled to over 55 countries, spreading a passion and appreciation for American jazz and traditional American Negro spiritual songs. Recently returned from a concert and teaching tour to Belarus, Spaulding called his latest visit a “truly wonderful experience.” At right, Spaulding performs with the State Chamber Choir of Belarus in Minsk.
 
 

The Fight Against HIV/AIDS
Dr. Frederick Sawe is deputy director of the Kenya Medical Research Institute/Walter Reed Project HIV Program, a prevention, research and treatment project run jointly by his home country of Kenya and the U.S. military’s international HIV program. Reaed about his success.

Webcasts: Cop-16, Climate Change
Through its webcasts, CO.NX is providing you access to dozens of live, 90-minute programs taking place at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP-16. Programs — hosted at the U.S. Center at COP-16 in Cancun, Mexico — run from November 29 through December 10.

A Global Effort Against Corruption
Officials attending major international gatherings have vowed to turn anti-corruption commitments into action as the stakes in the global fight against bribery, graft and embezzlement have grown greater.

Iranica: An Online Encyclopedia
Encyclopedias have been around for 2,000 years, but websites like the online Encyclopaedia Iranica are reinventing them. With Encyclopaedia Iranica, the reader can click on any of hundreds of featured entries that pop up randomly on the online version’s home page and also jump from one article to another with a click.

U.S.-Russia University Ties
Since the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission was formed by Presidents Obama and Medvedev in July, 2009, the number of partnerships between American and Russian universities has nearly doubled.

Flags for Flood Awareness
To increase awareness of conditions in Pakistan and encourage support for its 160 Pakistani alumni, Plymouth State University student leaders covered the New Hampshire campus lawn with 25,000 neon green flags, each representing 800 persons displaced by flooding. They call the display the “Flood of Flags” and it helped raise more than $3,000 for flood relief. At left, student leaders Bryan Funk (left) and Sam Wisel (right) were among the organizers.

Bush meets with international bloggers

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On the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, President Bush met with eight bloggers and new media users from China, Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, Egypt and Belarus.

The White House said Bush planned to discuss “the challenges they confront in overcoming censorship.”

Six of the individuals met with Bush at the White House; participants from Egypt and Venezuela joined by teleconference.

The White House also highlighted the efforts of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) to aid citizen journalists. BBG oversees international radio broadcasters such as Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Radio Farda, as well as television networks like Alhurra and TV Marti.

BBG news outlets are getting reports out of heavily censored countries by getting citizen journalists to submit information from cell phones, SMS feeds and e-mails, and encouraging participation in its radio, television and blog discussions.

Partnering with nongovernmental organizations, BBG also has developed free anti-censorship software and technical tools that are available in English, Persian, Kazakh, Mandarin and Vietnamese. A BBG spokesperson said users can go to one of those language sites and sign up to get updates, which include information “alerting people to work arounds” for the ongoing battle with the state censors.