Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
DEVELOPMENT AID CAN BE GEARED TOWARD CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN ABKHAZIA
Georgia is preparing to exercise its sovereign right to demand the termination of Russian “peacekeeping” operations on its territory and their replacement with genuine international peacekeeping missions. Concurrently, Tbilisi is redoubling efforts to unfreeze not the conflicts as such (these are not and never were... MORE
WILL WESTERN PRAGMATISM TOWARD MOSCOW OUTLAST THE G-8 SUMMIT?
For several months the so-called Russian backslide on democracy has dominated public discussions during the run up to the G-8 summit in St. Petersburg. Would Western leaders address the "backslide" during the July 15-17 summit? Civic and political activists opposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s... MORE
ST. PETERSBURG G-8 SUMMIT: MOMENT OF TRUTH IN RUSSIA-WEST RELATIONS
Most analysts have already predicted that the summit of the Group of Eight (G-8) most industrialized nations that will convene in St. Petersburg on July 15-17 will likely be long on pomp and short on content. But this does not mean that the high-profile meeting... MORE
FSB CLAIMS GEORGIA PLANNING “PROVOCATION” DURING G-8 MEETING
On July 9 Oleg Alborov, secretary of South Ossetia’s security council, was killed by a remote-controlled bomb as he opened his garage door. Officials in the breakaway Georgian republic immediately accused the Georgian special services of carrying out this assassination. As the simmering conflict between... MORE
YUSHCHENKO’S ENERGY TEAM CONSIDERS CEDING TRANSIT PIPELINES TO GAZPROM
President Viktor Yushchenko’s associates in charge of Ukraine’s energy system are negotiating to cede control over the country’s gas transit pipelines to Gazprom. Although national control over the transit pipelines is generally deemed a major safeguard to Ukraine’s security and independence, and most political forces... MORE
KYRGYZ GOVERNMENT RISKS RELATIONS WITH U.S. BEFORE G-8 SUMMIT
On Monday, July 10, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs threatened to expel two U.S. diplomats for allegedly interfering in Kyrgyzstan’s internal affairs and having inappropriate contacts with local non-governmental organizations. According to the Ministry, the allegations are based on facts acquired by the Kyrgyz... MORE
BISHKEK COURTS ASTANA FOR BIG INVESTMENT
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev paid an official visit to Astana, Kazakhstan, July 4-5 at the invitation of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Bakiyev was given an exceptionally warm, brotherly welcome, and he was obviously satisfied with the outcome of his visit, despite some difficult talks on... MORE
FRADKOV PROPOSES MULTIPLE JOINT VENTURES WITH MONGOLIA
During a visit to Mongolia this week, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov reiterated earlier pledges to strengthen economic ties with Ulan-Bator, once Moscow's closest ally in Asia. Russia and Mongolia can achieve a breakthrough in trade and economic ties, Fradkov said. Both sides have drafted... MORE
BASAEV’S DEATH DOES NOT SOLVE KREMLIN WORRIES IN NORTH CAUCASUS
Chechen warlord Shamil Basaev died in Ingushetia on Monday, July 10. He perished either accidentally while preparing a sabotage operation or, according to the official version, he was eliminated by Russian special forces. Following the news, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, visited Grozny, the Chechen... MORE
GEORGIAN COURTS, MEDIA, CRITICIZED FOR UNPOPULAR DECISIONS
As top Georgian leaders conducted diplomatic trips abroad, the domestic political situation at home heated up. President Mikheil Saakashvili returned from his July 3-6 visit to the United States with declarations of support from the Bush administration. Parliamentary Chair Nino Burjanadze was not as fortunate,... MORE