Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
DAMAGE CONTROL FOR RUSSIA AND CHINA AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL
The November 2005 benzene spill came as an unwanted irritant for Moscow's and Beijing's stated policy of "strategic partnership." Subsequently, both sides went ahead with damage control measures, which were summed up at talks in Moscow. To deal with the slick's aftermath, a Chinese mission... MORE
GAS FROM IRAN TO BREAK GAZPROM’S MONOPOLY IN ARMENIA
Moscow's intention to double the price of gas supplies to Armenia (see EDM, January 17) vindicates Yerevan's decision to de-monopolize the market by importing gas from Iran. Armenia thus becomes the first among formerly Soviet-ruled countries (outside Central Asia) to diversify its supply sources away... MORE
KREMLIN ENERGY POLICY IN EUROPE: DIVIDE ET IMPERA
The jury is still out on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin's idea to turn his country into an "energy superpower" is a viable long-term development strategy. Yet in the short run, Moscow appears likely to continue aggressively using its seemingly boundless mineral resources to re-assert... MORE
NAZARBAYEV PLACES PRIORITY ON TIES WITH MOSCOW
The inauguration ceremony in Astana on January 11 for Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev was a widely trumpeted political event conceived to attract international attention and world leaders to Kazakhstan. Yet the propaganda effect of the inauguration ceremony obviously fell far short of the expectations, as... MORE
UKRAINE SEEKS CONTROL OF RUSSIAN NAVAL FACILITIES ON ITS SOIL
Ukrainian state authorities seized the Yalta lighthouse on January 13 from Russia's Black Sea Fleet, and a Ukrainian student organization is picketing the Russian radar station in Henychesk around the clock since January 15 with tacit approval from Kyiv authorities. The Ukrainian government wants Russia... MORE
WAVE OF BOMBINGS IN AFGHANISTAN THREATENS WESTERN TROOP DEPLOYMENTS
As the deadliest bombings this year hit Afghanistan, there are doubts about the deployment of some NATO troops in southern parts of the country, raising concern in the government as well as the people about the security in the country. This week for Kandahar province... MORE
“BANDITS TO PRISON:” OLD GUARD USE GAS TO TAKE REVENGE IN UKRAINE ELECTIONS
Following the Parliament of Ukraine's no confidence vote against the government of Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko, (see EDM, January 11), it is still unclear who will be emerge as frontrunners in coming elections—Yushchenko, or the Orange (Yulia Tymoshenko) and blue (Viktor Yanukovych) opposition. The ratings... MORE
RUSSIA-MOLDOVA GAS ARMISTICE: A PRECEDENT FOR OTHERS?
On January 16 in Moscow, Gazprom and Moldova agreed on the terms of a temporary resumption of gas supplies. The agreement, signed by Gazprom president Aleksei Miller and Moldovan First Deputy Prime Minister Zenaida Greceanai, is only valid for the first quarter of 2006. Gazprom... MORE
AZERBAIJAN WORRIED OVER POTENTIAL SANCTIONS OR MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN
Iran's recent decision to resume nuclear fuel research has sparked a strong reaction from the United States, the European Union, and even Tehran's traditional ally, Russia. It also brought back the question of referring Iran to the UN Security Council, which could eventually lead to... MORE
CHANGES IN GEORGIAN MEDIA INDUSTRY REFLECT POLITICAL INFIGHTING
On January 4, two leading Georgian private television companies announced a merger, suggesting to analysts that these changes in the country's media industry reflect domestic political jockeying. According to the deal, most likely concluded behind tightly closed doors, the owner of Rustavi-2 TV has bought... MORE