Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
ESTONIA’S PRESIDENT UNDERSCORES SHARED GOALS IN VISIT TO GEORGIA
At the height of Russian bullying of Estonia, the country’s President Toomas Ilves flew to Georgia to tell that country -- which also borders on a hostile Russia -- that “Georgia is not alone.” Ilves’ decision to proceed with the previously scheduled, three-day official visit... MORE
TASHKENT EXPLORES OPTIONS TO EXPLOIT ENERGY RESOURCES
China’s relentless pursuit of energy options has now extended to Central Asia. On May 7 the leader of China’s top state planning body Ma Kai signed an energy-export agreement with Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov in Tashkent. The pact is significant in that, if... MORE
UKRAINE’S COMMUNISTS AND SOCIALISTS LEFT BEHIND BY PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION DEAL
Ukraine’s constitutional crisis seemed resolved on May 4, when Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych agreed to early parliamentary elections. But the date of the vote cannot be finalized until a compromise package of legislative and constitutional changes is adopted (see EDM, May 4, 9). President Viktor... MORE
CASPIAN GAS PLENTIFUL NOW FOR NABUCCO PIPELINE PROJECT
Hungary’s government remains the weak link in the planned Nabucco pipeline for Caspian gas to Europe via Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and Austria -- a project led by Austria’s OMV company. The European Union has assigned high-priority status to this project, but the Hungarian government... MORE
NO COMMITMENT TO NABUCCO MEANS PREFERENCE FOR GAZPROM
Austria’s OMV company, leader of the Nabucco pipeline project, initially conceived it almost a decade ago to bring Iranian gas via Turkey and the Balkans to central Europe. With subsequent political developments shelving this and other gas projects in Iran, OMV has considered options in... MORE
AUTHORITIES AND OPPOSITION FIGHT TO CONTROL LUCRATIVE POST IN KARACHAEVO-CHERKESSIA
On March 11 residents of Karachaevsk, the second-largest city in the North Caucasus region of Karachaevo-Cherkessia, voted for mayor. Yet two months later, the final result of the election is still unknown. Meanwhile, two local political forces are fighting each other to gain control of... MORE
RAHMON PROMISES ECONOMIC PROSPERITY IN TAJIKISTAN
In his annual address to parliament on April 30, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon outlined prospects for Tajikistan’s economic growth through 2015 within the National Development Strategy. Rahmon enjoys majority support in Tajikistan despite widespread corruption and elements of authoritarianism in his governance, and most Tajiks... MORE
PUTIN MAKES SWEETHEART ARMS DEALS TO BENEFIT HIS CRONIES
For several years, Russian arms traders have been negotiating to resume trade with Libya. Now reports suggest that a $2.2 billion deal is being readied and may be finalized later this year when Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Tripoli. Specifically, Libya may buy four complexes... MORE
WHEN WILL SNAP ELECTION BE HELD IN UKRAINE?
Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych has bent to pressure from President Viktor Yushchenko and agreed to an early parliamentary election. This decision has been essentially a compromise between the two main players, as Yanukovych’s junior coalition partners -- the Socialists and the Communists –-- have... MORE
RUSSIAN STRATEGY, EU DRIFT IN ESTONIA
Russia’s ongoing political offensive against Estonia -- and implicit challenge to the European Union -- constitutes the first serious attempt to reverse the post-1991 status quo in Europe. Moscow seems to be targeting Estonia as a first test case of such a process. Further Russian... MORE