Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
NATO MEMBERSHIP ACTION PLAN STILL WITHIN UKRAINE’S REACH IN 2006
Notwithstanding the compromised military exercises and internal political paralysis, Ukraine can still qualify for obtaining a NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) at the alliance's summit in Riga in November. Technically, MAP status would only imply a relatively small advance from Ukraine's present status under the... MORE
RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES LOSE CONTROL OVER INGUSHETIA
On the morning of June 9, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Nalgiev, commander of the special-task police squad (OMON) in the republic of Ingushetia, left his home in Karabulak to go to a planning meeting at the Ministry of Interior Affairs. Unlike other days, this time his... MORE
IRAN’S NUCLEAR DEMANDS: TOWARD A NEW ERA OF CONTAINMENT?
On May 31, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a statement that the United States would "join the EU-3 talks" with Tehran "should Iran verifiably suspend all of its enrichment-related activities." The announcement came as a surprise, since the U.S. administration had previously refused... MORE
PROTESTS IN CRIMEA, INCITEMENT FROM MOSCOW, PARALYSIS IN KYIV THWART MILITARY EXERCISES
Kyiv authorities mishandled legal, political, and security aspects of the Sea Breeze and Tight Knot planned exercises, giving the local pro-Russia forces and Moscow an unexpected opportunity to derail this track of Ukraine-U.S. and Ukraine-NATO relations. By starting preparations for the exercises under deadline pressure... MORE
END OF ORANGE COALITION LOOMING?
Talks to establish a government coalition between President Viktor Yushchenko's Our Ukraine, the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, and the Socialists have apparently fallen through. Our Ukraine has acquiesced to Tymoshenko's demand to give her back the post of prime minister, which she lost in September 2005.... MORE
OPPOSITION FEARS SAAKASHVILI WILL MANIPULATE — OR CANCEL — LOCAL ELECTIONS
The upcoming local elections in Georgia, and the controversial electoral code guiding the vote, have already triggered confrontations between the government and the opposition and even within the opposition camp. Currently the parliament is scrutinizing amendments to the election code proposed by the ruling National... MORE
BUSH VISIT, MILITARY EXERCISES CANCELED IN UKRAINE
The U.S. White House announced on June 8 that President George W. Bush would not go ahead with his tentatively planned visit to Ukraine. The announcement termed the decision a postponement, rather than cancellation, of the visit, and tactfully refrained from citing the reasons behind... MORE
KYRGYZ DEFENSE MINISTER CALLS FOR MORE FOREIGN AID
Kyrgyz Defense Minister Ismail Isakov has called for an increase in the levels of foreign assistance to help the beleaguered Kyrgyz armed forces. These appeals are rooted in his conviction that the Kyrgyz economy cannot afford the type of armed forces and security structures necessary... MORE
ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER GEARS UP FOR PRESIDENCY
Armenia's second most powerful official, Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian, is eliminating the last remaining doubts about his intention to succeed President Robert Kocharian after the latter completes a second five-year term in office in 2008. The past few weeks have made it even clearer that... MORE
RUSSIA TAKES ANOTHER STEP AWAY FROM DEMOCRACY
Last Friday, June 9, the Russian State Duma approved legislation that would eliminate the voting option "against all" in the ballots provided for elections at all levels, from local to presidential. According to Boris Gryzlov, the chairman of the Duma, this step is aimed at... MORE