Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
DMITRY MEDVEDEV’S ECONOMIC POLICY: A STUDY IN CONTRADICTIONS
President Dmitry Medvedev has stepped up the fight against corruption and for judicial reform, at least verbally, underscoring the need to clean up Russia’s justice system and announcing that a national anti-corruption plan will soon be signed into law. Yet recent decisions by Medvedev seemingly... MORE
RUSSIA RESURRECTS THE LEZGIN ISSUE IN AZERBAIJAN AT MOSCOW CONFERENCE
On May 14 and 15 the Russian Academy of State Service under the President of the Russian Federation hosted the conference “Cultural Heritage, Culture of the Lezgin People: History and Modernity,” which was organized by the Ministry of Regional Development with support from the Ministry... MORE
TYMOSHENKO CABINET SURVIVES NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE
The opposition in Ukraine’s parliament has failed to oust the government of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Only 174 deputies in the 450-seat chamber voted in favor of a no-confidence motion against her on July 11, far short of the 226 needed. Summer vacation started for... MORE
TURKEY’S GAP PROJECT: A MIXED BLESSING FOR COUNTRY AND ITS NEIGHBORS
Stressing how political and economic policies are interrelated, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on July 15 that economic goals were as important as political objectives (Anadolu Ajansi, July 15). Nowhere is this more evident and important than Turkey’s multi-billion dollar Guneydogu Anadolu Projesi (Southeastern... MORE
MEDVEDEV PATIENTLY COURTING CENTRAL ASIAN LEADERS
On July 6 Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rakhmon met Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during their visit to Kazakhstan to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the renaming of Astana. Details on the talks are scarce, but with the prospect of another bilateral meeting at the Dushanbe Shanghai... MORE
KAZAKHSTAN HOSTS OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY
The 17th session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly hosted by Kazakhstan in Astana from June 29 to July 3 is generally seen as an outstanding diplomatic victory for Kazakhstan on its uphill way to political recognition by the Western world. On the other hand, it... MORE
RUSSIA CUTS OIL SUPPLIES TO CZECH REPUBLIC WITHOUT EXPLANATION
On July 8 in Prague the United States and the Czech Republic signed an agreement on a U.S. radar system on the Czech Republic’s territory as part of the antiballistic missile shield. On July 10 Russia’s oil pipeline monopoly Transneft announced that oil deliveries to... MORE
TURKEY REVERSES COURSE AND JOINS FRENCH-LED TALKS ON MEDITERRANEAN UNION
French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s goal of reasserting French influence in international affairs took a new turn with the ascendance of France to the EU presidency. Shortly after assuming the rotating presidency of the EU, France launched, through a spectacular gathering of 44 countries, a project... MORE
CONVICTION OF RUSSIAN BLOGGER: HARBINGER OF A WIDER ON-LINE CRACKDOWN?
Last week, a blogger in the Komi Republic was convicted of “inciting hatred or enmity.” Some observers fear that the case sets a dangerous precedent for curtailing freedom of speech on the Internet. Other observers have gone farther, predicting that the authorities are planning to... MORE
GAZPROM ON A SHOPPING SPREE FOR GAS
Gazprom has embarked on a grand shopping tour for gas. Although Russia is the world’s largest gas producer and exporter, the Kremlin seeks to maximize gas imports into Russia from other producer countries. This effort is accelerating under the recently inaugurated President Dmitry Medvedev, who... MORE