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Studio Total via EPA
The teddy bears — 879 of them — landing by parachute in a residential area in Minsk, Belarus, on July 4, the country's Independence Day.
Sweden and Belarus are locked in a diplomatic war over hundreds of cute, fuzzy teddy bears — a threat so menacing that two Belarusan generals have been fired and the countries have rejected each other's ambassadors.
The strife over the stuffies began July 4 — which is also Belarus' Independence Day.
A light plane flew over Minsk from Sweden and dropped 879 teddy bears, which carried pro-democracy messages. Sweden has long been open about its desire to see democracy take root in Belarus, a former Soviet republic led by a Soviet-style strongman, Alexander Lukashenko.
Belarus didn't publicly acknowledge the airdrop until last week, when Lukashenko criticized military authorities for allowing the plane to enter Belarusan air space and carry out its "provocation."
After that, action was swift: Lukashenko fired the generals in charge of air defense and the border patrol Tuesday, and authorities arrested two civilians — a journalism student who put pictures of the teddy bears on his website and a property manager who offered an apartment to the plane's Swedish pilots, two pro-democracy advertising agents.
The two men were accused of assisting border violators and face up to seven years in prison if convicted, said Amnesty International, which declared them prisoners of conscience.
Lukashenko ordered his new border guard chief to "stop any and all air intrusions "by all force and means, including weapons, regardless of anything," Reuters reported.
"The border guards must prove their loyalty to the fatherland," he said.
Friday, the Swedish Foreign Ministry claimed that Belarus had expelled its ambassador, Stefan Eriksson, in retaliation for the airdrop, calling it "a serious breach of the norms for relations between states."
Belarus denied that it had expelled the diplomat — it said it had merely decided "not to renew his accreditation" because "his activities were aimed not at the strengthening of relations between Belarus and Sweden, but on their erosion."
In a statement, Sweden responded with its own tat for Belarus' tit:
"The Embassy of Belarus in Stockholm will be informed during the day that the proposed new Belarus Ambassador is not welcome here and that the residence permits in Sweden of two of its representatives will be withdrawn."
The latest move by Belarus — which said it would be "forced to react adequately" — was still awaited Friday afternoon.
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Leave a Comment:
The Teddy Bear Massacre.
Slaughter of the Teddy Bears.
War of the Teddy Bears.
You know the 100 years war, the 6 day war, the War of the roses. A lot of those wars were started over stupid @!$%#.
Teddy bears? Granted that Belarus can use any means necessary in order to protect their airspace, but going to war over Teddy Bears.
I seen worse.
The big bad leader afraid of teddy bears LMAO.. talk about the need to grow the hell up.
Teddy bear phobias are common in Belarus. Children are taught from an early age that bears can harbor STD's, but that sheep do not. This is why LambChop is a popular toy there. Among adult males.
Just because the people of Belarus chose their economy to be run by the government doesn't make them or their leaders inherently evil or deserving of ridicule. Capitalism isn't something that was invented in recent history - it's been around since we lived in caves. And many people and generations throughout history have suffered and been enslaved (virtually if not physically) due to what ultimately boils down to capitalism. So it is no wonder that there are societies out there in which the people prefer to have a weak economy that is governed by their representatives (or at least someone who promises to represent them), rather than a strong economy governed by whoever made it big. Of course, history has shown that that much power bestowed on a government just leads to corruption and despotism. But the point is that we've always treated socialists with distain and ridicule - or as if they're out to get us or something - while socialism is the route take by nations that are just afraid of the uncertainty of capitalism. It's a choice made out of weakness, not strength. Why can't we just accept that? If I like crab, I don't go around sticking crab in people’s faces, telling them to try it out because it's good for them.
Just because the people of Belarus chose their economy to be run by the government doesn't make them or their leaders evil or deserving of ridicule. Capitalism isn't something that was invented in recent history - it's been around since we lived in caves. And many people and generations throughout history have suffered and been enslaved (virtually if not physically) due to what can be only described as rampant capitalism. So it is no wonder that there are societies out there in which the people prefer to have a weak economy that is governed by their representatives (or at least someone who promises to represent them), rather than a strong economy governed by whoever made it big. Of course, history has shown that that much power bestowed on a government just leads to corruption and despotism. But the point is that we've always treated socialists with distain and ridicule - or as if they're out to get us or something - while socialism is the route take by nations that are just afraid of the uncertainty of capitalism. It's a choice made out of weakness, not strength. Why can't we just accept that and be respectfull? If I like crab, I don't go around sticking crab in people’s faces telling them to give it a try.
You have crabs? There's a powder for that.
Actually, drawn butter is better. :)
GO SWEDEN!! good one.....100% for ya......continue the efforts.
I support the right of all Belarussians to arm bears.
I also support their right to bare arms. Provided they use SPF 60 or more.
Belarus? Is that really a country? Where is it? East of Bungholia and south of The United Federation of Shirtlifters? Should anyone care if it exists? If they do, should they be put in restraints? Sedated? Made to clean out the restrooms at Show World on Sunday mornings? Tough decisions, but someone needs to take charge here. Any volunteers?
Apparently your mom did since your post shows you cannot look up its location, pertinent facts about the country or its history. I guess you must be a TROLL! and in what? 9th grade?
Someone pee in your nachos last night? Looks that way to me. Pretty early in the morning to be so cranky.
At least they aren't shooting at each other.
Well, perhaps they should then. That would certainly put an end to this sissy diplomatic nonsense. It would be much more entertaining and newsworthy if they bombed each other's embassies, instead of pitching hissy fits.
Viewing this "conflict" from afar, one can only shake one's head.
What hope is there for international cooperation on many of the problems facing the world today when two nations get into such a hissy fit over such a trivial incident?
Lots of things can be hidden inside toys from disease to bombs and kids are the victims.
See more of my comments on page 1 & 2. Some of you just don't get how a terrorist thinks and that is their victory. Remember; they crossed the border and droped things from a plane. I'm glad that it was only toys.
Sweeden should have stayed out of another country's airspace. Only excusable if the Sweedish pilots acted on their own, as in with no government knowledge of their actions.
"The border guards must prove their loyalty to the fatherland," he said.
Is that the spouse of "motherland"? Hitler would be so proud...
Teddy bears?! Selling democracy?! OMG worst international incident this week!! LOL
Looks like this is no Teddy Bear Picnic.
This is almost as ridiculous as South Korea's blasting of K-pop across the DMZ to North Korea. I mean, really now, teddy bears? Why not cute fluffy bunnies? Or ponies?
Wow! I swear I double checked the date to see if its not April 1st.
Are you kidding me!? bears? Generals fired??
I would expect to see this in the entertainment section with all the other stuff going around the world now. Syria and Iran for example.
Two pairs of fluffy slippers, two pillows, in the ring for a three round match. Winner takes all!
Time for Lukashenko to go bye-bye.
That's the trouble with tribbles
This is an example of one of the many reasons Sweden is not at the top of the list of countries to call for help during a military crisis, really . . .
Really! :-o
Why is that?
The teddy bears weren't an act of the Swedish government. It wasn't the Swedes that allowed their airspace to be penetrated.
So what's your point?
[SOURCE: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/03/13107289-belarus-sweden-kick-out-ambassadors-as-teddy-bear-war-heats-up ]
Team Sweden - I can't imagine a more innocuous way to nudge your neighbor to lighten up than to send them teddy bears.
That Belarus overreacted in such a way shows just how petty, insecure, and small their leader is.
Why, he's acting just like a republican.
Awesome, just awesome.
Just, IF, Imagine a terrorist group, learning from this, and using it, what then?
See, that is the problem - when there is no reasoning - elimination is best - just like Bin Laden was eliminated.
Sweden is a free Democratic nation. Sweden also has socialized quality health care allowing for private or public doctors, paid one year parent leave (mom or dad or share), free tuition through university, affordable housing alternatives, affordable quality elderly and child care, pension you can live off, affordable high tech public transportation, etc etc. USA has a few things to learn maybe? And don't auto answer that Sweden has high taxes - they do have great wage/salary as well and don't have to panic about college, sick, or elderly bills - and nice housing is affordable. Best of all their banking system works well for all Swedes.
When possible, Teddy bears is a nice peaceful way to spread Democracy...and by example.
Sweden affords this life-style by being a tax haven for unscrupulous people. Some that are even communist among other things. What they also have is a very strict immigration policy. There will be no chance of refuge camps comprised of people from Belarus.
I have been to Sweden many a times, great place great people and lucky them.
Sweden supplied Germany with steel and ball bearing during WWII in such quantities that the famous raids on ball bearing factories immortalized in such movies as "Twelve O'clock High", very costly in men and planes to us, wasted both. As Ireland and Portugal were neutral but really on the allied side, Sweden and Switzerland were neutral but really on the Axis side.
since when Belarus celebrate its independence day on the 4th of July...It is on the 3rd...factual error