Final Word from Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Foreign Min. Jan Lipavský called on U.N. members last week to vote for a resolution demanding that Russia withdraw its military forces from Ukraine: "I would like to appeal to all those who might be tempted today to take a 'neutral' stance and to those who believe that it is not 'their' war: If we don't act now, we are accepting a new international order based on use of brutal force, based on colonialism." Less than a week later he left on a three-day visit to one of the 32 countries that took a neutral stance that day. He said yesterday in New Delhi that India is a priority for him now because relations with Russia are at the freezing point and new opportunities with China are very complicated. India is no doubt an attractive trade partner, but if Brussels and Washington are serious about cracking down on countries that are helping Russia circumvent sanctions, India will be near the top of the list. Fareed Zakaria said on CNN that the big opportunity now for Indian businessmen is taking over businesses in Russia that Western firms leave behind. Lipavský is accepting the same "new international order" that he warned about. [ Czech Republic busting world GSM United States Nations third-country ]