Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
EU Extends an Olive Branch to Belarusian Leaders
On October 13 the foreign ministers of the 27 member-states of the European Union met in Luxemburg and agreed to lift sanctions on travel for 36 high-ranking members of the Belarusian government, including President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, for a trial period of six months. The decision... MORE
Medvedev’s Ambitious Military Reform Plans
Russia has announced its most ambitious, systemic military modernization program since the collapse of the USSR, scheduled to deliver a more efficient and combat-ready military by 2020. These plans betray breathtaking confidence. They will include 955 Borey-type submarines, armed with the Bulava sea-launched ballistic missile;... MORE
Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul Visits Israel
Turkey’s Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul visited Israel on October 29 and 30 to expedite the Turkish Armed Forces’ (TAF) purchase of 10 Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) from Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI). He was accompanied by a large delegation that included Undersecretary for Defense Industries... MORE
Romania Firmly Aboard Nabucco Project, Hints at Leverage vis-a-vis South Stream
President Traian Basescu and Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu have ruled out Romania’s participation in Gazprom’s South Stream project. Instead, they reaffirmed the country’s full commitment to the Western-backed Nabucco project. The two leaders acted after Gazprom had hinted at the possible inclusion of Romania in... MORE
The Gas Cartel Troika
On October 21, with oil prices falling below $69 a barrel on fears of a world-wide recession, three countries possessing over 50 percent of the World’s natural gas reserves agreed to the creation of a semi cartel known as the “Gas Troika.”Meeting in Tehran, Russia,... MORE
Qaddafi and Zyazikov: Reality Checks for Russia’s Petro-politics
The vast tent that graced the Kremlin garden over the weekend was not a part of the preparations for President Dmitry Medvedev’s address to the parliament, which is scheduled, after embarrassing delays, for November 5 (Vedomosti, October 30). It was a special arrangement for the... MORE
EU’S French Presidency Rushes Partnership Talks with Moscow
In St. Petersburg on October 28 French Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Kouchner gave the green light for a quick resumption of EU-Russian negotiations on a new partnership agreement. Kouchner spoke on behalf of the European Union’s French presidency and was flanked in St. Petersburg... MORE
FRANCE READY TO LEAP ON THE SOUTH STREAM BANDWAGON
French Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Kouchner said on October 28 that France, the current holder of the EU presidency, was interested in both the Nabucco and South Stream gas projects and was willing to join either. Kouchner suggested, moreover, that Russia be included in... MORE
GROWING AZERI DEFENSE BUDGET BUILDUP—IN EARNEST OR FOR SHOW?
Last August the long-frozen conflict between Georgia and Russia suddenly defrosted, erupting in a bitter, five-day military clash. Now a sudden rise in defense spending by Azerbaijan may be a seismic precursor to a possible thawing of a second unresolved Caucasian conflict, the standoff between... MORE
HOW DOES THE GLOBAL CRISIS AFFECT THE TURKISH ECONOMY?
On October 30 both the Washington Post and the Financial Times mentioned in reports about the global economic crisis that the Turkish economy was one of those that may have some difficulties during the crisis. The Financial Times reported that: "…moves by the Federal Reserve... MORE