IIR in the media, Ukraine and much more
IIR reasearchers commented on recent developments in international relations. EU institutions, violence in the streets of Sarajevo and the Czech Republic´s foreign policy plans were some of the topics IIR researchers commented on for the Czech and Slovak media within the last two weeks. Most of their attention, however, was drawn to the continuing crisis in Ukraine.
The political crisis in Ukraine is often interpreted as a clash between Russia and the EU. Petr Drulák argued in his article for Lidové noviny that the situation is not that simple. Neither the EU nor Russia should push the Ukrainians to make any deals or commitments. The decisions about the future of the country must be made independently by the Ukrainian political leaders.
Pokojné řešení mohou nalézt jen sami Ukrajinci
The IIR director Petr Kratochvíl was interviewed by Český rozhlas. In the interview, he pointed at the strong postition of the Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych. It means that even if the election that the regime´s oppositon is asking for took place, it could be influenced by Yanukovych. Kratochvíl also said that the positions of the Czech president and the Czech government should be unified.
Eskalující násilí na Ukrajině
Although it dominated the discussions very strongly, the Ukrainian crisis was not the only issue the IIR staff commented on.
Michal Kořan focused on the foreign policy plans of the newly appointed Czech government in his article for Hospodářské noviny. Kořan identified a few significant and important changes from the strategy of the previous government. To name at least one, the Czech Republic´s foreign policy under the lead of the Minister Lubomír Zorálek is becoming much more EU friendly, especially in terms of deeper economic integration (accepting the euro, the common fiscal policy, etc).
Co je to česká zahraniční politika?
The IIR's Balkan expert Tomáš Dopita commented on the current antigovernment protests in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the website iHNed.cz. The protests are turning violent because of the growing frustration among the people. Dopita explained that the lives of many Bosnians have been getting worse since the end of the war in the 90´s, and they are asking for a solution.
Současné protesty jsou jiné, protože v nich teče krev, říká expert na Bosnu
Vít Beneš was interviewed by Deník about the influence of the European Parliament in the EU's policy making. Among other points, Beneš expressed his doubts about strengthening the position of the EP any time soon.
Evropská unie jsou i čeští úředníci a poslanci
Kateřina Rudincová focused on the ongoing armed conflict in South Sudan in an interview for Radio Slovensko.
Nepokoje v Súdánu
Tomáš Profant pointed at the problematic discussion about vaccinations in the Slovak Republic for the Deník Referendum. He criticised the fact that the public is not informed properly and without bias about this issue.
Argument, ktorý si zaslúži diskurz
Nahoru
Tomáš Profant
Vladislav Strnad