TwitPic of the Day: Rio Ferdinand's naked support for England and Russia president Medvedev's 'Burgergate'

Injured Rio Ferdinand tweets his picture of support for England's World Cup bid.

I call this a 'Burgergate' :) Russia president Medvedev starts tweeting and posts his picture of guilty pleasure with US president Obama: "Haven't had a burger in a while. Lunch with Obama at Ray's Hell Burger".

Armenia: Lack of leadership

Personally, I do have the highest respect towards many Heritage party senior representatives, although do not share their prevalent negative attitude towards rapprochement with Turkey.

The problems and mess this party is in nowadays (its founder Raffi Hovhannisyan’s quitting Armenian parliament, expelling some of its prominent members from the party) are problems connected with the lack of leadership.

Having an image of the most honest politician in current political field in Armenia, Raffi failed to realise himself as a leader. And I am saying this with great sadness, as I did put big deal of hopes in him in past.

I was reading some comments on Facebook from my friends and friends of friends, and this comment caught my particular attention. It’s made by an extremely bright person from Yerevan, who came to my attention recently when intelligently fighting displays of homophobia on Armenian sector of Facebook.

Both him and the leaders of ARF should have rejected their mandates a year ago. They awaited too long observing the reaction of constituencies at the Protocol first, resigning next. Too much opportunism shows that Serge's policy has worked - first he lured them in, relaxed them down and then brought them to a shock. In terms of real politik, Serge is, thus, the one with leader's skills. The rest do not deserve to be called an opposition.

Too harsh? May be. But there is some truth in it.

You know what. You want to see what the REAL leadership looks like, do not bother looking inside Armenia (although Ralph Yirikian, head of Armenian mobile operator Viva Cell could be a rare excellent example), do not even bother looking through British politics. Look a bit further. Listen to and watch Obama’s healthcare reforms speech he delivered last night.

Obama 'recognised' the Armenian Genocide... for Armenians only

As expected, after that 'historic Armenia - Turkey normalisation', Obama backed away from his campaign promise, and referred to the Armenian Genocide as "one of the greatest atrocities of the 20th century" and "Meds Yeghern".

In Armenian, Meds Yeghern means genocide, but only in Armenian. Better than nothing, of course, but still not quite the G word. No surprises, though...

Effectively he recognised the Armenian Genocide for Armenians only (who understand the meaning of "Meds Yeghern") but not to the outside world.

Below is his statement in full:

The following is President Obama's statement on Armenian Remembrance Day:

Ninety four years ago, one of the great atrocities of the 20th century began. Each year, we pause to remember the 1.5 million Armenians who were subsequently massacred or marched to their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. The Meds Yeghern must live on in our memories, just as it lives on in the hearts of the Armenian people.

History, unresolved, can be a heavy weight. Just as the terrible events of 1915 remind us of the dark prospect of man's inhumanity to man, reckoning with the past holds out the powerful promise of reconciliation. I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed. My interest remains the achievement of a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts.

The best way to advance that goal right now is for the Armenian and Turkish people to address the facts of the past as a part of their efforts to move forward. I strongly support efforts by the Turkish and Armenian people to work through this painful history in a way that is honest, open, and constructive. To that end, there has been courageous and important dialogue among Armenians and Turks, and within Turkey itself. I also strongly support the efforts by Turkey and Armenia to normalize their bilateral relations. Under Swiss auspices, the two governments have agreed on a framework and roadmap for normalization. I commend this progress, and urge them to fulfill its promise.

Together, Armenia and Turkey can forge a relationship that is peaceful, productive and prosperous. And together, the Armenian and Turkish people will be stronger as they acknowledge their common history and recognize their common humanity.

Nothing can bring back those who were lost in the Meds Yeghern. But the contributions that Armenians have made over the last ninety-four years stand as a testament to the talent, dynamism and resilience of the Armenian people, and as the ultimate rebuke to those who tried to destroy them. The United States of America is a far richer country because of the many Americans of Armenian descent who have contributed to our society, many of whom immigrated to this country in the aftermath of 1915. Today, I stand with them and with Armenians everywhere with a sense of friendship, solidarity, and deep respect.

Is Turkey bluffing re 'reaching deal' with Armenia?

What kind of 'roadmap' is this if reportedly opening the border is "out of the question"?

Is this Obama directed PR?.. again?.. to prevent using the G-word on 24 April?

Well, let's see what Armenia Foreign Ministry will have to say tomorrow...

Turkey says accord reached with Armenia on roadmap
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - A foreign ministry statement says Turkey and Armenia have made solid progress toward reconciliation and reached agreement on a roadmap to normalize ties. The statement issued late Wednesday says the two countries have reached a framework agreement that satisfies both sides. A senior government official, however, said opening the Turkish-Armenian border, closed in 1993, is "out of the question." He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to speak to media.

Armenian police in math trouble

Armenian parliamentary opposition Heritage party youth group marched today and picketed the US embassy in Yerevan calling Obama to follow his campaign pledge and recognise the Armenian Genocide. The action passed without major incidents except...

Armenian police tried to 'ban' the march on the basis that there were 150 people there, thus the need for official sanctioning of the action (according to the law, for any public action with more than 100 people). In reality, there were only 50-60 people there. It took quite some time for the Armenian police to make proper calculations, with the help of journalists.

Obama, Turkey, and I

I never thought that PR could be so overwhelming.

It was like a huge show, like a Hollywood movie, or some would say a rock concert.

I decided to make this post only after this wave went down a bit.

I felt that I am under attack by all those media reports which forced me to choose between the Genocide recognition and rapprochement with Turkey. I refuse to consider such choice. I do not think they are mutually exclusive.

I am neither encouraged nor discouraged by Obama’s words. It was OK speech. You could not have expected more at that moment, at that time.

I do not buy “it’s not a right time” argument. Due to its geographical location and regional geopolitics, Turkey will always be a country of strategic significance. If we follow “it’s not a right time” argument, there will never be a “right time”. Just because there are strategic interests, a country cannot be free of human rights abuses, current or past, and especially the most extreme level of it – Genocide. Sadly, and not only with regards to Turkey, putting ‘strategic importance’ before human rights is widespread. Call me naïve, but I did (and still do) support Obama hoping that human rights and (at least relatively) ethical politics will be brought back to the global politics. Obama’s first steps in presidency proved that he is the man for the job to make changes. Therefore, the only right thing to do for Obama is to follow his pre-election pledges and recognise the Armenian Genocide.

Let’s put it this way: I will be very disappointed if Obama won’t stick to his promises, and I will be very disappointed if recent positive signs in Armenia-Turkey rapprochement fail. I am not convinced that recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the US will have a long term negative consequences. US are as important to Turkey, as Turkey to the US. Although not on the same scale, but France’s recent example proves that countries move on for more practical purposes. On the other hand, having secured the US formal recognition will perhaps help many in Armenian Diaspora to recover from a ‘Genocide identity’ and start focusing on more pressing needs for Armenia, that is human rights, regional peace, economy etc. (vain hopes?) Well, I do not know how these all will develop, but Turkey could have done much more if serious in normalisation of relationships without bullying tactics, with opening the border in the immediate aftermath of Russia-Georgia war (this could have an important humanitarian explanation).

Human rights abuses and crimes against humanity can never be considered as an internal matter of countries. It’s in a large part due to the external pressures, and the ‘threat’ of US recognition, that Turkey’s official position shows signs of changes. Of course, changes boosted internally too… Hrant Dink, intellectuals… In any case, for me, the most important and positive signs are Turkey’s internal developments, where Armenian question is becoming a less of a taboo, and increasing number of voices question the official line. While external pressures could damage this trend, they could also help in understanding that to avoid external pressures and manipulations they have to clean up this issue internally.

I have to say, I am supportive of Armenian government’s general position in relation to rapprochement with Turkey. (I do not know all specifics to be more precise) Armenian side did whatever possible to do to pave the way for reconciliation despite Turkey’s official refusal to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. Armenian officials were more than clear that they are for rapprochement without any preconditions. This is the only right and acceptable thing to do. Tying the opening of the border and reconciliation with other issues, such as Karabakh, is not only contra-productive, but aims at sabotaging the whole process.

Obama's home state becomes 42nd to recognise Armenian Genocide

The home state of US president Barack Obama - Hawaii, becomes 42nd (out of total 50 US states) to recognise the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian National Committee of America reports that "The measure, which was adopted unanimously on the day of the President’s trip to Turkey, declares April 24th as a "Day of Remembrance in Recognition of and Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1915." The "Aloha State" proclamation makes Hawaii the 42nd state to recognize the Armenian Genocide." (Full text of the Hawaii proclamation is available here.)

Serj Tankian and others urge president Obama to stand by his pledge and recognise Armenian Genocide

*I will post my personal reflections on the issue - Obama, Turkey and I - in couple of days. I will explain why I kept 'silence' during the last few days over Obama's visit to Turkey and related developments.

**Serj Tankian, Tom Morello and others talk about Turkey's denial of the Armenian Genocide and urge President Obama to stand by his pledge for recognition.

US formally endorses UN gay rights statement

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is formally endorsing a U.N. declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality, a measure former President George W. Bush had refused to sign.

[Unzipped: endorsed by Armenia too]

The move was the administration's latest step in reversing Bush-era decisions that have been heavily criticized by human rights and other groups. The United States was the only western nation not to sign onto the declaration when it came up at the U.N. General Assembly in December.

The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that the administration would endorse the declaration.

AFP: Washington will join 66 countries, including all the members of European Union, in backing the measure put forth by France in December, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said.

"The United States supports the UN's statements on human rights, sexual orientation, and gender identity, Wood told reporters.

"The United States is an outspoken defender of human rights and critic of human rights abuses around the world," Wood told reporters.

"As such, we join with other supporters of this statement, and we will continue to remind countries of the importance of respecting the human rights of all people in all appropriate international fora," he added.

The President

This is how president's website should look like.

And it does... in the US.

Obama's Civil Rights agenda
(The White House website, President Barack Obama)

*source of photo: The Impossible Cool

Armenian American groups set out their priorities and expectations ahead of Obama’s inauguration

As president-elect Barack Obama is preparing to formally take the office in Washington, Turkey's foreign minister Ali Babacan “warns” US against recognising the Armenian Genocide.

"It would not be very rational for a third country to take a position on this issue... A wrong step by the United States will harm the process," the Anatolia news agency quoted Ali Babacan as saying late Friday.

Turkey has "never been closer" to normalizing ties with Armenia, its eastern neighbor, and a breakthrough could be secured in 2009, the minister said, according to the AFP.

In the meantime, a letter signed by Armenian American organisations “outlines the priorities and expectations of the Armenian American community on a range of issues, including Barack Obama's pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide”.

We are writing, as the collective leadership of Armenian American advocacy, civic, religious, charitable, and educational organizations, to congratulate you on your historic election as President of the United States and to warmly welcome your inauguration to this high office. On behalf of some two million Americans of Armenian heritage, we look forward to working with you and your Administration to end the cycle of genocide, strengthen U.S.-Armenia relations, contribute to Armenia’s economic growth, and work toward a fair and sustainable regional peace.

They specifically mention that the only wording acceptable for the Armenian community and expected from Barack Obama is the term Armenian Genocide.

As you have stated on several occasions, America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. The clarity of your promise is particularly welcome in light of the unfortunate practice of past U.S. Presidents to use, under Turkey's pressure, evasive and euphemistic terminology rather than directly acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. The term, Armenian Genocide, is the only one that can meaningfully be used to characterize the crime committed by Ottoman Turkey. We look forward, in the coming weeks, to your firm and principled leadership in clearly and unambiguously ending the sad chapter of the U.S. Executive Branch’s capitulation to pressure from Turkey.

The letter also touches upon US-Armenia relations and Karabakh conflict settlement.

In terms of ensuring a durable regional peace, we echo your call for a Nagorno Karabagh settlement that respects democracy and self-determination and encourage you to ensure that these principles serve as the pillars of any agreement. As you know, a vital key to peace, in Nagorno Karabagh and around the world, is direct dialogue. For this reason, we encourage elimination of all artificial barriers to U.S.-Nagorno Karabagh contacts, communication, and other means of increasing our level of mutual understanding. With Azerbaijan’s President once again threatening war, as recently as in his New Year’s message, it is more important than ever for the United States to strengthen the current ceasefire, to work through the OSCE process to secure the commitment of all parties to the disavowal of force, and, as a matter of high priority for our government, to take concrete steps to prevent a renewed war in the South Caucasus. Our ability to advance these and our nation’s many other interests in this strategically pivotal region would be substantially enhanced by a concerted effort on the part of our government to expand U.S.-Armenia relations.

You may read the letter in full here.

Scout Tufankjian – Obama’s Armenian photographer

Armenian-American photographer Scout Tufankjian is the only independent photographer to have covered Obama’s entire campaign from before he announced his candidacy through the Election Night celebration in Chicago’s Grant Park. Tufankjian has amassed an archive of some 12 000 images as she crossed the country countless times documenting this historic campaign. She lives in Brooklyn, and has a B.A. in Political Science from Yale. Before covering the Obama campaign, Tufankjian worked photographing the conflict in the Middle East, primarily the Gaza Strip, for four years. Tufankjian’s photographs have been published in major newspapers and magazines, including Newsweek, Time, The New York Times, People, The Guardian, ELLE, Esquire, Essence, Rolling Stone, Fortune, The Times of London, Stern, Der Spiegel, and many others.

Publishers informed Unzipped about the 12 December 2008 release of YES WE CAN: Barack Obama's History-Making Presidential Campaign book by Scout Tufankjian.

Yes We Can is the story of Barack Obama’s historic, world-changing journey from junior senator for Illinois to President of the United States of America as documented by Scout Tufankjian. It’s a comprehensive and intimate portrait of the man, his run, and his supporters. With more than 200 amazing photographs by Tufankjian, the book takes the reader along on Obama’s personal and political journey.

According to the press-release, the first printing of 55 000 copies of Yes We Can has sold out before the book was even released, and has already created a buzz of interest throughout the nation.

Below are selected extracts from a fascinating interview with Tufankjian (by powerHouse Books) detailing her experiences on the campaign trail.

How did you first get involved in photographing Barack Obama?
Scout Tufankjian: The first time I photographed Barack Obama, I didn’t want to go. I knew who he was and was interested in him but I had plans for that weekend and I didn’t want to drive five hours to New Hampshire to photograph what I assumed would be a deadly dull event. But when my editor at Polaris Images found someone to pay me, I canceled my plans and drove up to Portsmouth.

The building the event was in was dark, cavernous, and impossible to find. I showed up late and in a panic. Looking around at the space, I wondered why I had even bothered—but when Obama walked into the room, the crowd went nuts. When he started talking, they became completely transfixed. Hell, some of the other news photographers were transfixed—and this was New Hampshire! New Hampshire photographers are not impressed by politicians. Ever.

Immediately after the event was over, even before filing my pictures, I called my agent and told her that I was going to cover the Obama presidential campaign. I did not offer her a choice. The fact that he wasn’t technically running yet didn’t really seem that important to me.

As a member of the press corps, you were living a whole other life that few of us can even imagine. What were your days and nights like?
ST: I don’t know if you have ever read The Boys on the Bus, but it was pretty much exactly like that only with more female reporters, better technology, and fewer hard drugs. […]

What was it like to tour the United States ? What kind of surprises did you encounter?
[…] It is a huge cliché but the thing that really struck me was how similar Americans all are. Of course everything seems similar when you are seeing the country out of the window of a bus or from the inside of a hotel bar or at an Obama rally. But despite the country’s obvious physical differences (you are never going to confuse Montana and South Carolina), the people are not all that different.

What were your interactions like with the American people as you attended the rallies, which increased in size and fervor, as well as the more intimate gatherings?
ST: The people that came to see him were pretty much the only thing that kept me (relatively) sane throughout this process. I loved seeing their excitement and hearing their stories. I have always considered his supporters to be the real story of the campaign. Obama is obviously an inspirational figure to people but I think they are the real force behind this movement: the young people, the older people who tossed away their cynicism and disbelief, the military families, the auto workers, the teachers…

You watched Obama rise from a junior Senator to the President—what sort of transformations did you witness in his personal, professional, and public personas?
ST: I think the strangest thing about Obama is how little he has changed. Up until election night, when you could really see the weight of his responsibilities bearing down on him, he has seemed to be the exact same guy at the beginning that he was at the end. Certainly he was more tired, his hair was grayer, and his relationship with us soured somewhat after photographers followed him during private moments, but on the whole he changed very little.

Was there any pressure from anyone regarding what you could and couldn’t, or should and shouldn’t photograph?
ST: Not really. The AP and the networks had worked out a deal with the campaign that we weren’t supposed to photograph him in gym clothes (not sure why, but he does wear a super dorky gym outfit) and that we were supposed to leave the kids alone during private moments, but beyond that there were no rules.

Was there a point where you realized you were part of something historic?
ST: There were tons of moments where I stepped back and realized that I was witnessing something truly historic. The most memorable was during our South Carolina swing. I can’t even imagine what the older black folks in South Carolina have had to live through but I do know that they have been crushingly disappointed over and over again. Talking to those men and women about how they were allowing themselves to believe again and how they still could not believe that this could happen in their lifetimes was the most moving part of the campaign for me.

What is the one thing you would have never predicted back in December 2006?
ST: Honestly? I don’t know if I actually thought that he was going to win. I mean, I must have, but he didn’t just win. America voted for a black guy named Barack Hussein Obama, not in a time of safety and economic security but in the midst of some of the darkest times this country has known. Isn’t the cliché that people retreat to the familiar in times of crisis? In this case they didn’t. I don’t know if I could have predicted that.


*Photo credit: from Yes We Can by Scout Tufankjian, published by Melcher Media/powerHouse Books

Reports: Samantha Power is back on board of Obama’s foreign policy team

Few weeks ago I wrote about speculations on potential return of Samantha Power to Obama’s foreign policy team. Samantha Power is a Pulitzer Prize winning author and renowned anti-genocide and human rights activist. She is pretty influential and considered as “pro-Armenian”. In February 2008, Samantha Power has taped a “powerful 5-minute video reviewing presidential hopeful Barack Obama's support for Armenian issues, and encouraging Armenian Americans to vote for him in the upcoming primaries”, as reported by the Armenian National Committee of America.

The main impediment to her return was an incident during Obama’s pre-election campaign, when Samantha Power called Hillary Clinton a “monster”. She then resigned from Obama’s presidential campaign team.

However, according to the reports coming out from the US, Samantha Power is back on board of Obama’s foreign policy team. The Huffington Post reports:

“WASHINGTON — An adviser to Barack Obama's presidential campaign who was forced to resign earlier this year after calling Sen. Hillary Rodham Cllinton a "monster" is now working on the transition team for the agency Clinton is expected to lead.

State Department officials said Friday that Samantha Power is among a group of foreign policy experts that the president-elect's office selected to help the incoming administration prepare for Clinton's anticipated nomination as secretary of state. The Obama transition team's Web site includes Power's name as one of 14 members of the "Agency Review Team" for the State Department.

Clinton's role at State is expected to be announced after the Thanksgiving weekend. Power's apparent rehabilitation is another sign of that impending move.

Clinton's office declined to comment on Power's inclusion in the State Department transition, but an official close to the Obama transition team said Power had "made a gesture to bury the hatchet" with Clinton and that it had been well-received.

Power has been given an official State Department e-mail address and has been seen in the building, said the State officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the transition. A State Department spokesman referred questions to Obama's transition team, which later declined to comment.”

*photo - via Mail Online

Will Samantha Power return as foreign policy advisor to Obama?

Some Jewish sources speculate on Obama’s foreign policy team saying that it will be “centrist” and “pragmatic”, the real meaning of which will be known after the president-elect takes the office in January.

Among potential candidates for Obama’s foreign policy team is Samantha Power (i.e. her return after the resignation during the pre-election campaign when she called Hillary Clinton a “monster”).

Samantha Power is a Pulitzer Prize winning author and renowned anti-genocide and human rights activist. In 2004, Power was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 top scientists and thinkers of that year. She is pretty influential and considered as “pro-Armenian”. Turkey will certainly prefer to see her out of the team. In February 2008, Samantha Power has taped a “powerful 5-minute video reviewing presidential hopeful Barack Obama's support for Armenian issues, and encouraging Armenian Americans to vote for him in the upcoming primaries”, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

According to British sources, the Irish-born professor “was a key member of Obama's foreign policy team and one of his closest aides.” “If Obama makes it to the White House, Miss Power - who was cited by Men's Vogue as one of the most beautiful women in the world - was expected to take a crucial role in redefining the Anglo-American relationship.”

*photo - via Mail Online

US presidential election in Armenia

Via E-channel: On November 5, early in the morning the US ambassador to Armenia was watching the results of the US presidential elections with her Armenian colleagues, political and public figures, and journalists. Ambassador Marie Jovanovitch expressed her congratulations to her fellow countrymen in relation with the election of the new president. Almost all the representatives of Armenian parties were pleased with the choice of Americans. According to them, the election of a black president is a good lesson of democracy and tolerance for the other countries. [Hopefully, they meant Armenia too]

*/emphasis mine/

Did Obama’s victory in the US elections make opening borders with Armenia a priority for Turkey?

Following recent statements on expected “extraordinary decisions”, “new climate” and “new developments” between Turkey and Armenia, some Turkish reports suggest that Obama’s victory in the US presidential election made opening borders with Armenia a mater of priority and strategic importance.

Today’s Zaman reports:

Democrat Barack Obama's landslide victory in the US election is a dream come true for most ordinary Turks, but it could mean more pressure on the government to speed up reforms for a better state of human rights in the country.

It is also likely to spell a definite end for the long-held Turkish policy of dealing with Armenian claims of genocide through counter-measures to suppress pro-genocide resolutions in Congress. [...]

Turkey has managed for decades to block Armenian efforts to win US recognition for genocide claims, but with the White House readying for an Obama era, it is high time for Ankara to promote a more comprehensive policy that goes far beyond addressing immediate challenges at the US Congress, experts say. Many fear that Obama’s use of the G-word in his next message for April 24 -- a traditional occasion when US presidents commemorate Armenians who perished in Anatolia in the last century -- could shatter Turkey-US ties and that following up on a recent drive for dialogue with Armenia might be the only way to save relations from a catastrophe.

“There is nothing to be afraid of; Turkey should trust itself. What needs to be done is further improving the relations with Yerevan and marginalizing the Armenian diaspora in the United States,” said Ömer Taşpınar, an expert on Turkey with the Washington-based Brookings Institution and a Today’s Zaman columnist. “By opening borders with Armenia and taking other appropriate steps, Turkey will have the trump card in its hands.”

President Abdullah Gül paid a landmark visit to Armenia in September, and officials of the two countries, which currently have no formal ties, have been having talks since then on normalizing relations.

Marc Grossman, a former US ambassador to Turkey, advised the Turkish government to keep improving ties with Armenia during a teleconference at the US Embassy in Ankara early on Wednesday. Dialogue and open borders with Armenia will give Turkey an advantage in discussing the issue with the Obama administration, he said.

Absolute Radio - Feeling Good Obama

Inspirational: "I am American"

They proved that impossible is possible in America. They proved that ‘American dream’ exists. With all its shortcomings, this was a huge democratic exercise.

Over the last decade, and especially last years, US reputation fell down below the lowest possible denominator. It became a bad tone to say "I am American". No longer. At least for now, for me it sounds more like a compliment. Now they may proudly say: "I am American".

I knew that November is going to be a special month for me. It indeed turned out to be very special for personal/professional reasons. It's now very special for the 4th November too, double, triple special. It feels great, inspirational.

Expectations are so high of him that chances to get disappointed are very high too. Beginning of new era, or so I hope.

Let's prove them right!

As The Armenian Vote Goes, So Goes The Nation?

Crazy as it sounds, losing the Armenian vote just might cost McCain the election.

*source: The Stiletto blog

(This political blog supports John McCain! As they explained, "The point of this post was to let the Repubs know that the actions they took a year ago came at a political cost, even though Armenians seemed small enough a group to screw over without any serious consequences.")

**via Armenians for Obama Facebook group

Only in Georgia...

Matthew Collin posts this amusing photo (by Ana Iaseshvili) from Tbilisi which shows “Georgia's new Minister for Refugees making his preferences clear” in relation to the upcoming US presidential elections. While most people outside the US would prefer Barak Obama’s victory on 4 November, in Georgia - preferences are for John McCain.

No surprises here, as “George Bush remains a popular figure in Georgia" (photo).