Valentinas Mite

Also by Valentinas Mite

• March 25, 2004

  Belarus: Is Minsk Seeking Better Relations With the West?

  Belarus appears to be signaling that it wants better relations with the West. This month, the Belarusian Constitutional Court recommended placing a moratorium on the death penalty. Lawmakers have suggested they may take steps to make the election law more democratic. But some analysts question whether those measures -- even if implemented -- will be enough to bring Minsk closer to the West.

• March 24, 2004

  Pakistan: Clashes Continue As Islamabad Maintains Offensive Against Suspected Militants

  Pakistani forces are continuing to fight suspected Al-Qaeda militants and their supporters in the country's tribal area near the Afghan border, while internal opposition to the offensive appears to be growing.

• March 22, 2004

  NATO: Alliance Planning To Defend Baltic Airspace

  NATO plans to ensure the protection of the skies over the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia after the three countries join the alliance at the end of the month. Lithuanian officials say this is a clear sign NATO seeks to provide equal security guarantees to all its members. Meanwhile, Russia is keeping a wary eye on NATO's plans.

• March 18, 2004

  Iraq: Insurgency Increasingly Targeting Foreign Workers, Civilians

  A massive blast in Baghdad last night destroyed a hotel popular with foreigners, killing at least 17 people and wounding many more. The bombing is the latest in a string of attacks targeting foreign workers in Iraq. Eight Western civilians were recently killed in separate attacks. The attacks appear to mark a shift in the tactics of the Iraqi resistance.

• March 16, 2004

  Iraq: Kurdish Protests In Syria, Iran Raising Concerns

  Recent Kurdish riots in Syria and demonstrations in Iran are raising concerns that Kurdish minorities could follow the lead of Iraqi Kurds in pursuing greater independence and recognition. Turkey, Syria, and Iran have substantial Kurdish minorities, and their governments are keeping a wary eye on developments in Iraq. However, analysts say the three countries present very different cases.

• March 12, 2004

  Czech Republic: Many Looking To Islam In Their Search For Spirituality

  The Muslim community in the Czech Republic, one of the least religious countries in Europe, is small, but trends for growth are seen. Many Muslims come to live and study in this Central European country. There is also a tendency for some young Czechs to convert to Islam in their quest for spirituality.

• March 10, 2004

  Iraq: History Filled More With Ethnic, Political Violence Than Religious Conflict

  Recent attacks on Shi'a targets in Iraq raised fears of sectarian violence. But analysts say religion plays a rather modest role in Iraqi society. The country's history, they note, provides more examples of ethnic violence -- against the Kurds, for example -- or political turmoil, such as coups, than conflicts along religious lines.

• March 09, 2004

  Iraq: Antagonism Has Always Existed Between Shi'a, Sunni Branches Of Islam

  Last week's deadly bombings in Karbala and Baghdad on the Shi'a holy day of Ashura sparked fears of sectarian violence erupting in Iraq. The United States claims to have intercepted a letter written by Jordanian-born Sunni militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in which he allegedly asks Al-Qaeda leaders for their support in directing attacks against Iraq's Shi'a community in an effort to provoke a sectarian conflict. RFE/RL looks at the similarities and differences between the Shi'a and Sunni branches of Islam.

• March 05, 2004

  Iraq: Analysts Say Borders Are Lines In The Sand That Are Easily Crossed

  The United States says it is strengthening security on Iraq's borders. The measures are designed to prevent the infiltration of foreign militants who are accused of being behind the 2 March bombings, which killed and injured hundreds of people. Analysts, however, say the country's porous borders will be difficult to control anytime soon.

• March 03, 2004

  Baltics: Russia Sensitive to Any NATO Troop Deployment

  The Baltic states are scheduled to enter NATO in less than a month (2 April). As the date draws near, Russia has made it increasingly clear that it will not tolerate any NATO troop deployments in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Russian officials say they see no reason for a deployment so close to their border. RFE/RL spoke to Russian experts, who appear divided on the issue.

• March 01, 2004

  Iraq: Kurdish Question Looms Large In Interim Constitution Negotiations (Part 2)

  Iraq's new interim constitution reportedly leaves the final details of the status of the country's Kurdish areas for a future elected national assembly to decide. For now, the interim constitution grants continued autonomy to the country's Kurdish minority. Iraqi Kurdish politicians say they are happy with the result, but the status of Iraqi Kurdistan still remains the most difficult problem of Iraqi federalism.

• February 27, 2004

  Iraq: Al-Sistani Drops Demand For Elections Before 30 June

  Prague, 27 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- The leading Iraqi Shi'a Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani called yesterday for elections to be held in the country by the end of 2004.

• February 26, 2004

  Iraq: Kurds Demand Vote On Independence

  Kurdish activists have collected 1.7 million signatures on a petition demanding a referendum on the future status of northern Iraq's Kurdish region. Organizers want the opportunity to decide whether the region should declare independence or become a part of federal Iraq.

• February 25, 2004

  Iraq: UN Report On Elections Drawing Generally Favorable Comments Locally

  The United Nations says it is not possible to organize elections in Iraq until the end of this year. The UN report, released 23 February, also supports the creation of an interim Iraqi government by the end of June that will be accepted by all Iraqis. RFE/RL correspondent Valentinas Mite looks at reactions in Iraq to the conclusions in the UN report.

• February 24, 2004

  Iraq: Culture Minister Asks That Art, Music, Theater Not Be Forgotten (Q&A)

  Iraq's interim minister of culture, Mufid Muhammad Jawad al-Jaza'iri, visited RFE/RL's offices in Prague today. Al-Jaza'iri was appointed to serve as minister of culture last September. A member of the political bureau of the Iraqi Communist Party, al-Jaza'iri studied journalism in Prague and worked on the Arabic desk at Czechoslovak Radio during the 1960s and 1970s before traveling to northern Iraq to join the underground opposition to Saddam Hussein. RFE/RL sat down with him to discuss the state of cultural affairs in the country.

• February 16, 2004

  Iraq: Attacks Growing Bolder, Better Organized

  The most audacious assault yet on local security forces in Iraq took place on 14 February. In a highly organized attack conducted in broad daylight, assailants killed more than 20 people and freed prisoners during a raid on a police station in the Sunni Triangle town of Al-Fallujah, west of Baghdad. Al-Qaeda and Hussein loyalists are both being blamed for the raid, but ultimately it remains unclear who is behind the recent wave of deadly attacks on security forces.

• February 13, 2004

  Iraq: Shi'a Losing Patience With Lack Of Security, U.S. Presence

  Earlier this week, a crowd of angry Iraqis protested against the presence of U.S. troops in the southern, mainly Shi'a, town of Iskandariyah. They insisted that the coalition was responsible for the devastating 10 February car bombing, which killed more than 50 people. Shi'a Arabs, who at first welcomed U.S. troops, have since grown weary of the coalition's failure to bring security to the country. RFE/RL correspondent Valentinas Mite reports.

• February 13, 2004

  Iraq: Assyrian Christian Minority Feels Threatened

  As deadly attacks continue in Iraq, the country's Assyrian Christians fear they may become the next target. The Assyrian Democratic Movement said a number of Christian churches have received threatening letters and are preparing for potential attacks. Analysts say the instability in Iraq has grown so severe that no national or religious minorities can consider themselves safe.

• February 12, 2004

  Iraq: Despite Dangers, Many Attracted To Serve In Army, Police By Patriotism, Good Salaries

  Some Iraqis who decide to become police officers or join the country's new army say they are doing so because they want to serve their country. Others say such service is simply a way of earning a good salary. But while the money may be good, these recruits are increasingly becoming the targets of terrorist attacks. Two such attacks killed around 100 Iraqis just this week. Will such incidents affect the number of new recruits?

• February 09, 2004

  Russia: Questions Surround Disappearance Of Presidential Candidate

  Uncertainty surrounds the reported disappearance of a Russian politician set to challenge President Vladimir Putin in the country's 14 March presidential elections. Ivan Rybkin, an outspoken critic of incumbent Putin, has not been seen since the night of 5 February. Investigation into the case took a bizarre twist today, when news agencies reported Rybkin had been found alive. But that, and other aspects of the case, remain far from clear.

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