Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
PARTY OF REGIONS CHALLENGES PRESIDENT WITH REFERENDUM PLAN
The Party of Regions (PRU), led by Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, has come up with a plan for a referendum touching on the sensitive issues of language, NATO membership, and local governance. The party’s rivals have been skeptical about the referendum: President Viktor Yushchenko... MORE
IS NUCLEAR POWER A REALISTIC OPTION FOR BELARUS?
The issue of building a domestic nuclear power station in Belarus has cropped up several times of late, but there is no definitive program in place. A year ago, the issue appeared to be resolved, with a proposed location in Mahileu region and a timetable... MORE
OIL MONEY TO FUND NGOs AND OPPOSITION PARTIES IN AZERBAIJAN
Different groups in Azerbaijan are clamoring for their share of the massive flow of oil revenue generated by the completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. Lobbying from the ministries for additional financial resources to complete new, massive projects is leading to a new era in Azerbaijani... MORE
MOSCOW PLEASED WITH OSCE’S RESPONSE TO MISSILE DROP ON GEORGIA
The OSCE has completed its own inquiry into the August 6 missile drop on Georgia by Russian aircraft intruding via South Ossetia (see EDM, August 8, 13, 14, 16). Moscow is pleased with the OSCE’s response: “We have no objection to this assessment by the... MORE
TURKEY LINES UP ALONGSIDE SYRIA TO CONDEMN ISRAELI INCURSIONS
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan’s blunt condemnation of an alleged violation of the Turkey’s airspace by Israeli warplanes has dealt another blow to already deteriorating relations between the two countries. In 1996 a military training agreement between Israel and Turkey was hailed by many as... MORE
RUSSIAN ELECTORAL SEASON OPENS LOW ON COMPETITION AND HIGH ON INTRIGUE
The publication of the presidential decree on holding elections to the State Duma on December 2 formally opened the electoral season in Russia, which should culminate in the inauguration of a new president in mid-May next year (Rossiiskaya gazeta, September 5). So far, the public... MORE
RUSSIA AND CHINA HOLD ANTI-TERRORIST EXERCISE
Russia and China held an anti-terrorist drill in Moscow region, September 4-6, designed to promote interoperability between their special services and special forces in another public display of the growing security agenda in the Sino-Russian strategic partnership. China sent its armed police to participate in... MORE
KAZAKHSTAN CONFRONTS OIL CONSORTIUM OVER SETBACKS AT KASHAGAN
Paolo Scaroni, head of Italy’s ENI-Agip, which operates Kazakhstan’s super giant Kashagan oil field, is arriving in Astana to discuss compensation for repeated failures to start production on time and within budget. Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has also announced that he would go to... MORE
EU, BUSINESS GROUPS PRESS AKP GOVERNMENT TO RESTART REFORM PROCESS
The European Commission has issued what is expected to be the first in a series of warnings to Turkey’s moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) to restart the stalled EU reform process. AKP has not implemented any substantive new reforms since formally opening accession... MORE
BRIDGEHEAD IN EUROPE: KAZAKHSTAN ACQUIRES ROMANIA’S ROMPETROL
Kazakhstan’s state oil and gas company, KazMunayGaz, has bought a 75% stake in Romania’s privately owned Rompetrol Group, an expansion-prone holding that includes oil refineries in Romania and product distribution networks in that country and beyond. Under the agreement, disclosed on August 27, KazMunayGaz will... MORE