tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.comments2014-12-17T10:22:19.125+04:00Inge SnipAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491792869680638275noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-40487726071352683342010-01-18T18:11:47.444+04:002010-01-18T18:11:47.444+04:00Appropriate, but bit outdated, theme song for this...Appropriate, but bit outdated, theme song for this blogpost: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHD5nd3QLTg&feature=relatedAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15049580138206282474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-20666763311311854612010-01-16T20:56:57.241+04:002010-01-16T20:56:57.241+04:00Honey, Ukraine culture is as addicitve as a parkin...Honey, Ukraine culture is as addicitve as a parking lot in Sweden. But there is so much more soul and love in the Swedish parking lot than there will ever be here in this damn country called Ukraine!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00035472295989122527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-76263259085781928182009-09-29T12:33:57.430+04:002009-09-29T12:33:57.430+04:00Aaaa... poor you.. I mean... I myself was SO freak...Aaaa... poor you.. I mean... I myself was SO freaked out when I was operated on just a FINGER. <br />These things are stressful. I'm very glad it turned out fine for you.Garikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06551248715903000279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-52692038409977407152009-09-21T08:13:42.559+04:002009-09-21T08:13:42.559+04:00Inge, that is so sad and funny !!! btw Airzena can...Inge, that is so sad and funny !!! btw Airzena can be booked online http://www.airzena.com/<br /><br />I think you should stay in Georgia and 2nd you should publish that operators address to warn other peoples... Best regards, HansHanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06081946944668235348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-9635756516912732102009-06-12T15:39:33.935+04:002009-06-12T15:39:33.935+04:00theb een treinticket voor heel europa incluis turk...theb een treinticket voor heel europa incluis turkije. kan tot kars met de trein: of het comfortable is of niet: ik hou van reizen! Ik wil graag bij een oud kloostercomploex tussen ankara en kars stoppen, dus ga sowieso met de trein! ;)<br />Vannaf Kars ga ik met een marsjrutka :)<br />Tot hardloopse in het hypodrome: hoe was t vandaag?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15491792869680638275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-24080975690077904112009-06-12T15:37:03.700+04:002009-06-12T15:37:03.700+04:00Klinkt als een vette trip. Alleen zul je het laats...Klinkt als een vette trip. Alleen zul je het laatste stuk per bus moeten doen, Turkije is niet echt big on the railways. <br /><br />Tijdens de oorlog heb ik de 22-uur durende busrit van Hopa naar Istanbul gemaakt, en ik raad je dan ook met klem af dit te ondergaan. Echt niet leuk gewoon! <br /><br />Je kunt vanaf Ataturk Airport naar Batumi vliegen, of als je over land de grens over wilt kun je naar Trabzon vliegen (meteen doorgaan, Trabzon is echt een shithole) en per taxi, bus of dolmus naar de Georgische grens gaan. Binnenlandse vluchten in Turkije zijn goedkoop trouwens.<br /><br />Treinen in Bulgarije is een goed idee, je mag alleen niet roken in de trein maar het platteland val Bulgarije is echt heel mooi. Van Sofia was ik wat minder onder de indruk trouwens, beetje shabby zelfs in vergelijking met Tbilisi =)<br /><br />En als je dan na al dat reizen hier bent kun je mee hardlopen op het hippodrome!<br /><br />--ThomasThomasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-69521863784767676072009-06-09T03:52:31.375+04:002009-06-09T03:52:31.375+04:00Somehow, however, some modicum of real multiparty ...Somehow, however, some modicum of real multiparty democracy has taken root in Georgia. It has ways to go, and the opposition could really use a class in political science 101, but it's political culture is clearly thriving and diverse. There is much to be desired from many political programs and platforms, but as the political structures mature, so will the politicians (one hopes). <br /><br />Sabastiaan - I think you are conflating policies towards the Russian power sphere with policies towards ethnic minorities. As you probably know, Georgia is an inherently multiethnic country - the media's simplistic breakdown into 3 groups (Abkhaz, Ossetian, Georgian) is ridiculous when one considers just what goes into that 'Georgian' stew. Having worked and lived in Samtskhe-Javakheti, one quickly realizes that beyond the standard sub-cultures (Svan, Laz, Mingrelians, Adjaran), you also have a wide assortment of Ossetians (more Ossetians in Georgia than S Ossetia), Azeris, Armenians and Turkic peoples. While many of them live in ethnic enclaves, many people in the regions have blood from one of these groups. <br /><br />The prevailing Georgian policy towards South Ossetia and Abkhazia was based not on blood, as might have been the case in the early 90s, but on the role of the Russian Federation as patron of autocratic, illegitimate regimes. Whatever one's problems with Misha, his government makes Georgia look like Canada when compared to that of Bagpsh and Kokoity (and for that matter, Putin). <br /><br />The current political arrangement of South Ossetian and Abkhazian "independence" actually more closely resembles the relationship between Chechnya's Ramzan Kadyrov to Moscow than that of, say, the US to Georgia, or even Turkey to Azerbaijan. That being the case, and that having been the goal, it's not hard to realize that this is a Russian project aimed to keep Georgia weak. To assume that it was Misha's fault that relations are so poor with Russia is a stunning act of faith in Moscow's version of events. <br /><br />You can stand on your Western pedestal and lecture the Georgian people all you would like (yet curiously give Russia a pass) about Georgians being 'ready' for democracy, but it's a slur against the Georgian people and woefully ignorant of the West's own development. You are terribly inflating our differences while minimizing the role of time and circumstance in the development of Western institutions - many of which still function poorly. Belgium may be a modern democracy, but it does have strong and active independence movements. No war, but Belgium is in the EU and, perhaps more importantly, the Netherlands isn't arming or radicalizing and destabilizing Flanders to provoke secession. <br />... cont'd<br /><br />Bashing the government, while maybe emotionally satisfying, is just another route of escapism. It's easier to blame the government for Georgia's universe of ills than to face facts that may not correspond to one's worldview. Sometimes, as any psychologist knows, it's easier to blame the victim than to face difficult realities.WilkersonMclaserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06951886057542292949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-15831667636742122732009-06-09T03:52:17.106+04:002009-06-09T03:52:17.106+04:00Oh my, where to begin?
I understand Nino's pa...Oh my, where to begin?<br /><br />I understand Nino's passion and even her frustration as I have known people who have been run over roughshod by the government. There are many things to dislike about Misha's government, but this implication that somehow Saakashvili has single handedly destroyed the cultural beauty and economy of Georgia is a bit absurd. I don't think I need to remind anyone about the stratospheric growth rates Georgia enjoyed pre-War, or the fact that the economic crisis has hit Georgia a lot less severely than it has many other countries in the world. While Saakashvili does not deserve sole credit for this, he certainly has accomplished something here that is historically unprecedented in the modern history of an independent Georgia. I don't even know how to respond to Nino's awkward charge that Misha has managed to destroy the arts, the sciences, sports and the economy. As for the South Ossetia question - while blaming the war on Misha might be politically convenient, it's also pulled from the same propaganda sheet that's being run on the pages of Pravda. Details are emerging that Russia planned this war as much as 2.5 yrs before it happened.<br /><br />And look, I know that Misha has problems, but its a singularly amazing thing to try and tag every single problem to him. He's done some unfortunate things, and his government's manipulation in the elections is certainly terrible, although never have there been reported Shevardnadze-levels of manipulation nor such problems that might alter an electoral result. Does this mean that all is fine? Of course not, but this imaginary fantasyland inhabited by Burjanadze, Gachechiladze, etc where the majority of the population secretly agrees with them is crazy. This is a common democratic phenomenon - the intelligentsia (most of whom support the opposition) surround themselves with only other like-minded and eventually can't believe that anyone could ever possibly consider voting for Misha. The exact same thing happened with George W Bush in 2004. Misha is not perfect, but his popularity among ordinary people, especially in the regions, is very real. <br /><br />And make no mistake, Georgia is not Russia. Georgia's problems are many, and it's government has some severe flaws, but the array of civil rights in Georgia compared to that in Russia is striking. It does no one any good assuming corruption has been expunged, but it pains me to think of any modern democracy without some serious instances of corruption. Before we start doing the tired old "Europe" vs "East" screed - I think that argument has lost a lot of credibility in light of the political situation in the UK. And let's not forget just how famous some 'European' democracies are for their levels of corruption and cronyism. While Georgia may be worse than, say, Italy, I would hardly hold up Italy or Spain or Portugal as models of electoral democracy and civil rights. <br /><br />Georgia's experiment in democracy is extremely young, and we cannot assume that Georgia will turn into Switzerland overnight. These other countries have had hundreds of years of political evolution (and revolutions) to tee them up for electoral democracy, and still they haven't all gotten it right. To be appalled that Georgia's government after 18 years (or 6, depending on your measure) isn't perfect is a bit strange and unfair.WilkersonMclaserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06951886057542292949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-23988972151952640322009-06-08T08:28:59.154+04:002009-06-08T08:28:59.154+04:00A little reply from me SebZar from twitter. As Nin...A little reply from me SebZar from twitter. As Nino implies here. Georgia is a beautiful and great country though things are not always as the western world thinks they are. Especially Saakashvili was very good at showing a mask to both EU and NATO. Under that mask, the Georgian government is maybe worse then Putin. Where Russia fails in hiding things for international law (simply because they don't care), Georgia has become a star in it by performing a theatre act in front of the west. <br /><br />What the western-world forgets is that Russia and the former soviets states can't be compared with western-european values. It is a different world there, different morals, different values. You see that when there are elections. Being threatened to vote for someone is part of the elections. It is business as usual for political parties. And such traditional behavior is unfortunately part of the 'democratic' live there. <br /><br />What the International Community should do is to look at how the people are living in Caucasus. Especially how South Ossetian, Georgianand Abkhaz people have been living the past decades.<br />As you know I have both family in Georgia and South Ossetia. It is not a problem for them live together, as there are many families including mine that are an Ossetian Georgian mix.<br /><br />It is the government that is the problem here. And if you know how elections go over there you know that it can be very difficult to change a government. If Georgia had been lucky it would have gotten a government that is less nationalistic, with more focus on the integration of minorities. Unfortunately the focus has been the other way around. There are old wounds that never grown. There is not trust anymore between cultures.<br /><br />In such cases international law-thinking is all pretty nice, but it doesn't help change the situation for the people in Georgia to something more stable and economically better. <br /><br />You twittered to me about Georgia trying to get closer to the Ossetian people. I know about that, and though it looks very nice towards the western-world in practice it meant something completely different. The idea behind that action was to make the Ossetians leave their homes and land they have lived for generations. (There is more to the story then only this).<br /><br />If you don't look at intenational law and more towards the human aspect you see that both Abkhaz, Ossetian and Georgian people are suffering because of the situation the government had created. Saakashvili made it even worse by falling into the trap Russia had set out for him. And helped by his own government that only consist of people that agree with him. He began a third attack on South Ossetia. With the end result making it even worse for Georgia then it was before. Abkhazia and South Ossetia are now further apart from Georgia as they have ever been after Stalin putting both under Georgian rule. And the idea for South Ossetia and Abkhazia to become part of Georgia in a peaceful way is now wiped from the table.<br /><br />The winners in this situation? Russia. And lets hope in the end South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The losers are the International Community for having blindfolds on when governments get elected in Georgia. Georgia could be a fantastic deomocratic country, and example of national pride combined with tolerance for the cultures living within its borders. Unfortunately Georgia was never ready for a true democracy and pride and nationalistic thoughts, came in the way of the governments that got 'elected'. Saakashvili is an example on how to ruin ones own country. Him starting the attack on South Ossetia should have been his final mistake, but as we see now. It is a different world over there. Behind the democratic mask lie old habits and customs.<br /><br />I wonder what would have happened in The Netherlands if the Dutch Government treated Friesland the way the Georgian government has been treating South Ossetia. Would Friesland become friends with Germany and arrange for German passports and an annexation?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07491850594268235780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-5427607067379028782009-04-27T23:47:00.000+04:002009-04-27T23:47:00.000+04:00hello Inge!
My name is Irmæ,
When i was in Abkh...hello Inge! <br />My name is Irmæ, <br />When i was in Abkhazia i ate Georgian food like Hachapuri and Khinkali and they were so delicious! <br />nice to meet you!Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01277282481922613603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-41004640000479569472009-04-21T01:45:00.000+04:002009-04-21T01:45:00.000+04:00ben, if you refer to the pro russia sources, then ...ben, if you refer to the pro russia sources, then you're correct, though i was just pointing out the probable atmosphere in russia, believe me that is the main opinion in pro-russian circles.<br /><br />the other sources are highly credible: james town foundation and especially vladimir socor are highly respected as you probably are aware.<br /><br />And ofcourse no doubt about bbc,civil.ge and ny-times as for their objectivity.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15491792869680638275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-64736973578608648392009-04-21T01:31:00.000+04:002009-04-21T01:31:00.000+04:00inge, most of those sources seem pretty dubious......inge, most of those sources seem pretty dubious...Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06217830423933352217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-74278289599260126202009-04-20T18:47:00.000+04:002009-04-20T18:47:00.000+04:00Inge, I think your concerns are valid enough to wo...Inge, I think your concerns are valid enough to worry. Ever since the close of the August War, separatist and Russian forces have sought to fabricate a number of situations as 'evidence' of continued Georgian 'aggression.' Suffice to say, no objective party has validated any of these events, but there is a worry that Moscow is building a portfolio as cassus belli for renewed aggression. <br /><br />The Nashi incident, Russian military maneuvers in the separatist regions, and large Russian naval exercises in the Black Sea make it all even more concerning. Particularly concerning to me are the naval exercises, which include amphibious ships capable of carrying landing troops that would bypass the geographic chokeholds in South Ossetia and Abxazia. Add that to Sergei Lavrov's suggestion that Turkey 'retake' Adjara and the Kremlin's decision to withdraw 20,000 troops from Chechnya ... and you have a troubling cocktail for possible renewed aggression. It seems that Russia might just be waiting for things to fall apart in Georgia. Unfortunately, they are being helped along by an inchoate and single-minded Opposition, save for Alasania and Targamadze.<br /><br />Still, I am hopeful that this is only saber rattling by a shaken Russia. Russia's economy has been savaged by the recession far more than Georgia's has by the downturn and the war combined. It remains to be seen if Russia would be willing to risk further economic alienation and decline at a time of economic and increasing social instability. Another war could be an opening for greater destabilization in Russia's far east, which is already acting increasingly brazen against Kremlin control. At the same time, a country is often seen as most vulnerable when it's in decline ...WilkersonMclaserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06951886057542292949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-5092940387611892152009-04-20T16:36:00.000+04:002009-04-20T16:36:00.000+04:00Inge, I think you are right to be concerned, espec...Inge, I think you are right to be concerned, especially since the NATO decision to go ahead with the war games. Talk about red rag to a bull.varskehttp://kosmyryk.typepad.com/wu_weinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-30000854248584145532009-04-20T12:07:00.000+04:002009-04-20T12:07:00.000+04:00As to concerns for a new Georgia-Russia conflict: ...As to concerns for a new Georgia-Russia conflict: There is one huge difference between the situation today and that of pre 07/08/08. <br /><br />Tbilisi can no longer count on Russia not to interfer. The option of a blitzkrieg is off the table. <br /><br />Russia will not seize Georgia proper. It could have done so in August, but didn't. Moreover, there is no GE pro Russian opposition to replace Saak with. <br /><br />All Moscow will want to do is hold on to Abkhazia and SO and hope for a new GE president who understands the vital geopolitical and scioeconomic interests of at least a working relationship with Russia. <br /><br />I wouldn't be concerned. This whatever guys like Felgenhauer will continue to ramp up. And despite NATO's bluntness and heated reactions from the likes of Rogozin. <br /><br />Groet, Joera (they guy whose twitter thingy called Russiawatchers, you just signed up for)Joeranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-16063455829849807902009-03-16T02:27:00.000+04:002009-03-16T02:27:00.000+04:00"There were no negative Dutch around me to complai..."There were no negative Dutch around me to complain about everything" Haha, always a good reason to travel! ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-38684884270940438112008-03-01T13:37:00.000+04:002008-03-01T13:37:00.000+04:00Inge,Khari krish hier in Holland, dus mij leek het...Inge,<BR/>Khari krish hier in Holland, dus mij leek het veel leuker om nog even met Georgie bezig te zijn. Leuk om al jullie blogs te lezen. Keep up the good work girls!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-82204555945468715132007-11-29T12:31:00.000+04:002007-11-29T12:31:00.000+04:00Goed bezig, Inge! Wil je er ooit nog wel weg?!?Goed bezig, Inge! Wil je er ooit nog wel weg?!?Lottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13398781790778766793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-64880232876362784312007-10-14T00:27:00.000+04:002007-10-14T00:27:00.000+04:00Nice snip! klinkt alsof je je plekje al helemaal h...Nice snip! klinkt alsof je je plekje al helemaal hebt gevonden en vele vrienden hebt gemaakt! way to go! en plaats af en toe nog ff wat pics!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-50271103601030894742007-10-01T17:02:00.000+04:002007-10-01T17:02:00.000+04:00ben blij dat je je vermaakt! ik hoop dat januari m...ben blij dat je je vermaakt! ik hoop dat januari me lukt, maar daar hebben we het nog wel over.<BR/><BR/>groet,<BR/>AlexanderAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-73853697386482830612007-10-01T12:12:00.000+04:002007-10-01T12:12:00.000+04:00Dat klinkt goed1 Behalve dan de lift...:-)Veel ple...Dat klinkt goed1 Behalve dan de lift...:-)<BR/>Veel plezier!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12611977463891050846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651879452565224571.post-63268489321817813952007-10-01T11:46:00.000+04:002007-10-01T11:46:00.000+04:00Toppie!Toppie!Barthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12168585373004227430noreply@blogger.com