Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
Russia Enters Global LNG Market Thanks to Foreign-Built Plant
Russia's first-ever plant for liquefied natural gas (LNG) was inaugurated near Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on February 18 in the presence of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Britain's Prince Andrew, Netherlands Economic Affairs Minister Maria van der Hoeven, and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso. The plant will process gas... MORE
Oil-for-Loans Deal Will Increase Russian Oil Deliveries to China
On February 17 and 18 Russia made its entrance as a significant supplier of oil and gas to Asian countries. Natural gas earmarked for Japan and South Korea came on stream at Russia's first-ever, foreign-built liquefaction plant; and, in a parallel move, Russia signed a... MORE
Kyrgyz Parliament, President Confirm Eviction of U.S. from Manas Airbase
On February 20 the Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signed a bill into law to close the U.S. military base at the Manas airport. The United States will have to leave Kyrgyzstan within 180 days after the Kyrgyz government officially passes the decision on to the... MORE
Two Calls, Many Scenarios: How Will Washington Readjust to Turkey’s New Regional Role?
President Barack Obama telephoned President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip separately on Monday. In his first official contact with the Turkish leaders since his inauguration, Obama discussed cooperation between the two countries over a wide spectrum of issues of common concern. Earlier this... MORE
Yushchenko Criticizes Tymoshenko for Gas Accords and Plea for Loan from Moscow
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has accused Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko of betraying national interests in the gas agreements concluded in Moscow on January 19 and 20 and by turning to Russia for a loan. Yushchenko used the February 10 meeting of the National Security and... MORE
The Frozen S-300 Missiles Deal: A Signal to Obama or a Deal with Israel?
Iranian Defense Minister General Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar visited Moscow this week to discus the purchase of sensitive weapons systems, the antiaircraft S-300PMU-1 missiles in particular. According to the daily Kommersant, the contract to sell Iran five S-300 missile divisions was signed "some time ago" and the... MORE
Turkish Government Under Fire for Delaying Response to the Global Financial Crisis
An announcement of recent economic indicators on Monday by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) has revealed that the number of unemployed people rose by 645,000 over the previous year, reaching 2.99 million in the period from September through November 2008. This represents an increase in... MORE
Bakiyev Will “Acquiesce” If Constitutional Court Calls for Early Elections
Despite low popularity ratings at home but with assured support from the Kremlin, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has declared his willingness to run for a second term. He added that he would not mind moving elections up to this year, since several political leaders have... MORE
Gongadze Murder Still Casts a Shadow over Yushchenko Presidency
On January 27 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) issued another damning report about the poor state of Ukraine's investigation into the murder of opposition journalist Georgi Gongadze in the fall of 2000 (www.assembly.coe.int). The involvement of senior Ukrainian leaders in the... MORE
Turkey and Russia Developing a New Economic and Strategic Partnership
Turkish president Abdullah Gul paid a four-day visit to the Russian Federation from February 12 to 15, marking the flourishing multidimensional relations between the two countries. Gul met with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and other officials and also traveled to Kazan,... MORE