Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
Territorial Dispute Takes Second Place to Russian-Japanese Economic Cooperation
On February 18 Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso visited Sakhalin Island, becoming the first Japanese leader to do so since the end of the Second World War. He was there at the invitation of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to participate in a ceremony marking the... MORE
Will the Closure of Manas Airbase Strengthen U.S.-Turkish Relations?
The Kyrgyz parliament's vote to close down Manas Airbase puts at risk supply routes for international forces operating in Afghanistan shortly after the U.S. decision to bolster the American military presence in Afghanistan (EDM, February 20). The attempts to find alternative routes in the wake... MORE
Critics Question Kazakhstan’s Membership in Collective Rapid Response Force
The Kazakh Interior Ministry recently released a detailed press account of an armed clash between Arlan anti-terrorist detachment and a group of "extremist forces" in the Zelenov District of West Kazakhstan Province. Four soldiers from the Arlan group were reportedly wounded during the fight, but... MORE
Russian Economy Slows Down, but Protest Activity Remains Feeble
The new economic data released by the Russian Federal Service of State Statistics (Rosstat) last week surprised even the doomsayer-economists, who have become the mainstream in this discredited profession. The key statistic was the drop in industrial output in January by 16 percent compared with... MORE
A New Episode in the AKP’s Confrontation with the Dogan Group
Dogan media group (DMG), a conglomerate of various media companies owned by Dogan Holding, was fined on February 18 for tax evasion and accounting irregularities for the period from 2003 through 2006. DMG has been ordered to pay a total of TL 826.2 million ($484.3... MORE
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