Tuesday, March 18, 2008

This is diplomacy

Amidst sporadic firefights on the border, an interesting UN resolution on Karabagh has Azerbaijan up in arms:
The UN General Assembly on March 14 adopted a nonbinding resolution demanding the "immediate, complete, and unconditional" withdrawal of all Armenian forces from Azerbaijan's territory.

Thirty nine countries voted in favor. But more than 100 countries abstained. Seven countries, however, including Russia, the United States, and France, voted against.

The three countries are co-chairs of the Minsk Group, which is trying to facilitate a negotiated settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They argued that, as mediators, they had to remain neutral.

The "no" vote by the Minsk Group members has raised the hackles of most people here, from the government to the press to the fractious opposition.

Of course, no one is happy with the outcome of the vote.

Meanwhile, food prices continue to rise in the face of Dutch Disease.

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