"The sea coast of Bohemia"
Almost, but not quite. It is the sea coast of deeply land-locked Afghanistan that is at issue:
Erm.... So nothing to do with asserting Russian interests in the 'near abroad', and nothing to do with being truculent with the US.
"Strongly condemning the violence that continued to destabilize Afghanistan, the Security Council decided this afternoon to extend the authorization of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in that country for another year beyond 13 October 2007.
By resolution 1776 (2007), adopted under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter by a recorded vote of 14 in favour to none against, with 1 abstention (Russian Federation), the Council also called on Member States to contribute personnel, equipment and funding to strengthen the Force and make it more effective.
Speaking before the vote, the representative of the Russian Federation said his country had traditionally supported ISAF and the continuation of its mandate as the Force continued to be important in combating the terrorist threat posed by the Taliban and Al-Qaida. However, the Russian delegation had abstained in the vote because the new issue of maritime interception had yet to be clarified".
Erm.... So nothing to do with asserting Russian interests in the 'near abroad', and nothing to do with being truculent with the US.
Labels: Mother Russia, war on terror