Dr. Filomena

Just a few impressions from Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Republic is a representative democracy with a presidential system much like the one in the US. The President is elected by popular vote in elections held every four years, always on 16 May. The latest elections took place two days ago and the main candidates running for office were the incumbent Leonel Fernandez Reyna (Dominican Liberation Party/ Partido de la Liberación Dominicana; the “violet party”), Miguel Vargas Maldonado (Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) / Partido Revolucionario Dominicano; the “white party”) and Amable Aristy Castro (Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC) / Partido Reformista Social Cristiano; the “red party”). (See more at the end of this post.)

I was lucky enough to have spent some time in this beautiful country of breathtaking nature, great music and cheerful people who let me bug them about their views of politics and the presidential candidates. Here are a few photos that may not be as sexy as the palm-adorned sandy beaches or perfectly cut grass of spectacular golf fields to most, but I needed some contact with real life.

One thing is certain, though… the people of Santo Domingo know how to parteeeeeeee!

Not everyone can afford a home, but none of the homeless freeze to death. Or die of hunger, I was told.

The less-frequently visited hoods of the city.

What gives?

One of the most famous streets of Santo Domingo: Calle Las Damas.

The Prez’s ride and escort in front of the Presidential Palace.

Two days ago, the incumbent Leonel Fernandez won the elections in the first round, securing about 53% of the vote. During both his previous terms, the country has done well and much progress has been made. Watching this lawyer on TV, I was impressed with the way he addressed complex legal and political issues in such a colourful and simple manner, that even I with my poor command of Spanish could follow his line of reasoning. For example, he debated the various types of judicial systems with regard to the role of the Constitutional or Supreme court and went as far as to explain his view of regional autonomy on the case of Kosovo.

For the sake of Jose Miguel and his friends I hope the old new President keeps the country on track to the prosperity that the entire island (yes, the entire island) and its people deserve.

Oooook so here comes one of the more typical Dominican photos just for you, my friends:

Punta Espada, a signature golf course of Jack Nicklaus at Cap Cana, where the first PGA tournament (Champions Tour) in the Dominican Republic took place in April 2008.

Ljubljana: Beautiful weather today as trade unionists from all over Europe came to rally and demonstrate their solidarity. Representatives of 54 trade unions from 54 countries demanded better wages and for EU’s finance ministers to put a stop to wage discrimination. The event culminated in a rock concert and general good-fun attitude.

The organisers claim to have had a crowd of around 30,000, but the figure seems somewhat exaggerated.

Ahh, such a lovely word. Let’s play a game of word association.

If I tell you that “tinctumutation” means “change of colour“, what is the first thing that cames to mind?

(It would be interesting to run same test just before the next general elections.)

Everyone loves a good conspiracy theory. It makes us feel like we’re in the know and that there’s more to the life around us than meets the naked eye. So here’s one just for fun:

A Croatian municipality sells Slovenian land. Janša protests. Sanader says it was done by the municipality, not the state. Turns out it was pre-agreed to set up the dispute that can be resolved without Sanader losing face by blaming it on the municipality, Joras starts working the land again and Janša gets precious pre-election popoularity points.

Disclaimer: the above is fiction.

I received this invitation, but will unfortunately probably be unable to join in. So guys, please go at least eavesdrop if not actively participate. I’ll be in Luxembourg visiting with the EU Commission. Maybe I can get a second opinion? (she snickers)

From the invite:

DATE: February 22, 2008
TIME: 10:00 a.m. EST / 15:00 GMT
LOCATION: http://webchat.state.gov
TOPIC: Kosovo Independence
TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS: Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns

Don’t miss out on the chance to (try and) pick Burns’ brains on the issue of Kosovo.

On February 17, after lengthy negotiations with Serbia led by the EU/Russia/U.S. troika, the elected representatives of the people of Kosovo declared that province’s independence.

Please join Under Secretary of State R. Nicholas Burns for an online discussion about the significance of Kosovo’s independence and the way forward to lasting stability and prosperity in the Balkans.
SIGN UP AT: http://webchat.state.gov/?tid=unsecure.register or you may use our guest userid.

TO PARTICIPATE:
1. Go to http://webchat.state.gov
2. Enter your registered email or chat@state.gov
3. Click “I Agree”
4. Select “Join this Discussion”.

To ask a question, simply select the tab marked “Submit Question” and type your question in the space provided. We welcome your questions anytime before or during the webchat.

You may begin submitting your questions now. If you have more than one question, please submit each one separately.

Members of the press are kindly asked to state their affiliation when submitting questions.
If you have any difficulty accessing the webchat, please write to: askamerica@state.gov for assistance.

1968: Black athletes make silent protest: Two black American athletes have made history at the Mexico Olympics by staging a silent protest against racial discrimination. (source, photo source) 

A few days ago, Slovenia’s Minister of Education and Sport Milan Zver apparently recommended , in an interview for the Associated Press, that Olympic athletes avoid talking about human rights while they are in Beijing. By today, his words have been quoted in over 300 sources online.

In the original article by the AP, “EU President Advises Against Protests“, we can read: the Economic relations between the 27-nation EU and China are moving closer all the time. Trade was doubled between 2000-05 and bilaterally reached $370 billion in 2006. Europe is China’s largest export market and China is Europe’s prime source of imports. Such clout could never be emulated by athletes, Zver said.

Zver stressed that China had already come a long way since Communist leader Mao Zedong was in power, and insisted it was steadily progressing toward democracy. To spoil its Olympic coming-out party could have an adverse effect, he argued.

“They need more time. Give them the time for that and do not use sports as an instrument.”

The Reporters Without Borders‘ take on the issue is this:

“The Slovenian sports minister is undermining the work of European institutions, human rights organisations and, in general, all those who defend basic freedoms,” … “We call on Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, whose government holds the EU presidency, and the other members of the European Council to disown Zver’s comments and to reaffirm everyone’s right, if they desire, to talk about the situation of basic freedoms in China during the Beijing games.”

We’ve been discussing the Kosovo issue for a while now and as we approach “D-day” I would like to ask for your input. Please polish your crystal balls and take the poll that is included in the sidebar.

Thanks!

Ljubljana, 12 February. As reported by RTV Slovenije and Delo among other media, an investigation into alleged criminal offences in connection with corruption and public tenders was revealed today as the police paid unannounced early morning visits to companies SCT, Vegrad and Primorje and allegedy temporarily detained 12 persons, including the Chairwoman of the Board of Vegrad Hilda Tovšak, Chairman of the Board of SCT Ivan Zidar and Chairman of the Board of Primorje Dušan Črnigoj. The investigation is said to have begun in 2007 and lasted several months before the wheels were set in motion today.

The public tenders won by the companies in question involve immense funds so any developments in connection with this investigation will be of pivotal interest to Slovenian media. Consequences could be both economic and political as light is shed on any part of the alleged network of corruption.

After yesterday’s re-election of Serbia’s pro-Western President Boris Tadić, the European Union is talking of speeding up Serbia’s progress towards membership while at the same time deciding to send 1,800 police and legal officials to Kosovo where they are to take over from the United Nations forces under UN Security Council resolution 1244 which refers to an international security presence. (see BBC)

I read Lisa’s post on the elections and have been thinking a bit. Tadić and Nikolić are not as different in their POV as portrayed, especially when it comes to Kosovo. I will go out on limb to suggest that possibly, Nikolić would have been (will be?) able to negotiate better when the initial after-independence-declaration limited outbursts of violence subside. Then again, I could be wrong.

For a few months now, I’ve been trying to explain my POV on the Kosovo issue to friends, without making much headway. Some of my thoughts on the subject can be found here: Kosovo-Will Serbia go to War. Basically, I disagree with the position that Serbia is not giving up its territory and that it is in no position to have say in whether or rather on what terms the province should have its independence. One of the opposing views is that it is up to Kosovo to win its independence, not up to Serbia to ‘allow’ it.

Today, I came across a blog post by Tony Barber that for the most part puts ever so eloquently the disorganised thoughts running through my head. Here are a few quotes:

…From being top dogs in the multinational Yugoslav communist party, army and bureaucracy, they found themselves either penned into the smaller state of Serbia or converted into ethnic minorities…

…well-known sentiments regarding Kosovo…

…This sense of victimhood persists and blends with more specific grievances about Kosovo. Here it is not so much a question of memories of the Ottoman defeat of the Serbs at the 1389 battle of Kosovo Polje… in the century following Serbia’s recovery of Kosovo in 1912, the ethnic Albanian component of the province’s population has increased to the point that most Serbs can see for themselves that, in demographic terms, the struggle is all but lost…

…and the bit I agree with wholeheartedly…

…The EU is therefore misguided if it thinks it can sugar the pill of Kosovo’s independence with the offer of visas and some subsidised schooling for Serbs at a German or Portuguese university.

…and…

…most Serbs are unlikely to take seriously such well-intentioned foreign attempts to guide them down the path of virtue…

So again, I hope that whether or not Serbia is entitled to a say in the issue of Kosovo’s independence in the eyes of the EU or the US that keeps one of its largest military bases in the world in Kosovo, a region that is positioned strategically

The main purpose for the Bondsteel military base is to provide security for the construction of the Albanian-Macedonian-Bulgarian oil pipeline (AMBO). The AMBO trans-Balkan pipeline will link up with the corridors between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea basin, which holds close to 50 billion barrels of oil. (source)

and holds an enviable reserves of lignite, which are estimated at around 12 billion tonnes (source), other natural resources and fertile land with cheap labour to boot, I do hope that they offer Serbia what its people will consider fair compensation for lost territories and resources. Considering what’s at stake, it shouldn’t be so hard to offer the country something more tangible than the EU freer trade, visa liberalisation and educational exchanges carrot as Tony Barber put it.

To conclude, I do believe Kosovo should gain its independence, but on fair terms and in peace. While this may not be a popular sentiment here, I do not believe Slovenia should be the first to recognize Kosovo independence. If for no other reason, then for the sake of our investments in Serbia. They are massive and putting salt on open wounds is bound to be a turnoff even for the best of friends.