commentary

'Berlin Wall's Lessons For Today'

In an op-ed for "USA Today," Jeffrey Gedmin discusses RFE and the role of free media in societies living under repressive regimes. More

From Words To Deeds

The international community must act swiftly to impose itself as an equal stakeholder and partner in tackling corruption in Afghanistan. It must come up with intelligent strategies, accompanied by clear benchmarks and mechanisms to monitor those benchmarks every step of the way. More

Moldova Keeps Fighting For Attention

Regardless of how the current political standoff plays out, the Alliance for European Integration has a window of opportunity to push ahead with real reforms and set Moldova on the path of democratic and economic development. But it needs the active support of the international community to do so. More

RFE And ‘The Curtain Of Silence’

Before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, Radio Free Europe provided listeners with comprehensive information and coverage about the changes sweeping Eastern Europe. It was partly thanks to RFE that the communist regimes were unable to keep the various protests isolated from one another or to restrict the circulation of ideas. More

Nenad Pejic: A Land Where War Criminals Are Heroes

A government plane was waiting to carry the released convict from prison to a hero’s welcome in Belgrade. Journalists clustered around her, eager for any statement. Not bad for a convicted war criminal returning home. More

Abbas Djavadi: 'Turkey's Kissinger' Leads Foreign-Policy Balancing Act

Even before being named foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu was regarded as the eminence grise behind Turkish foreign policy. He's considered the architect of the new active foreign policy that the AK party has been pursuing since coming to power in 2002: "zero problems" with the neighbors while continuing to maintain traditionally good relations with the West. More

Vladimir Nadein: Putin's 'Polish Syndrome'

Ten years of absolute power and 10 years of unlimited sycophancy have not failed to leave their mark on Russia's Vladimir Putin. He has completely lost the ability to listen to others or to hear himself. More

Igor Pomerantsev: Revolutionary Shouting And Dead Silence

I understand that to the outside world, my personal actions are of little or no account. To them, I am a representative of the Russian state and a “typical” Russian, even though I have carried a British passport for more than 20 years. But how could they know that? More

More Commentary

The Briefing

Russia-Ukraine Gas Dispute

RFE/RL energy correspondent Bruce Pannier discusses the ongoing gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine, which has also affected energy supplies to many countries in Western and Southeastern Europe.

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RFE/RL

Sunday, November 22, 2009