Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
RUSSIA SENDS MIXED SIGNALS ON IRAN’S NUCLEAR AMBITIONS
Russian officials have hailed Moscow's announcement of a potentially historic deal with Iran, concerning its continued involvement in developing the nuclear power facility at Bushehr, as a breakthrough. Alexander Maryasov, Russia's ambassador to Iran, believes it removes all concerns about the possibility of Tehran utilizing... MORE
MOSCOW INSISTS ON SEEING NO EVIL IN IRAN
Russia's position on Iran, as presented by President Vladimir Putin to President George W. Bush in Bratislava and by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to the EU "troika" in Luxembourg, is crystal clear and rock solid. Their nuclear cooperation is strictly commercial and has absolutely no... MORE
“DOUBLE VECTOR,” DOUBLE GAME: MOLDOVA’S CENTRIST OPPOSITION AND MOSCOW
The presidents of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, and Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, held meetings with Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin on March 1 in Kyiv and March 2 in Chisinau, treating him as a partner for the long term. Their decision to convene the talks was an emergency... MORE
RUSSIAN POLITICAL CAMPAIGN TO INFLUENCE MOLDOVA’S ELECTIONS
Since February 17, Russian authorities have been conducting a massive political offensive with a view toward toppling Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin and lifting pro-Russian groups to power in the upcoming general elections. A new Moldovan parliament will be elected on March 6, and that parliament... MORE
PROTESTS RISE FOLLOWING DISPUTED KYRGYZ VOTE
Kyrgyzstan held parliamentary elections on Sunday, February 27. Some 388 candidates vied for 75 parliamentary seats. According to preliminary data collected by the Central Electoral Commission, candidates secured a first-round victory in 32 districts, while the other 43 seats will be determined in a runoff... MORE
CLOSING THE BOOKS ON THE GONGADZE CASE
On March 1, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko made the sensational announcement that the murderer of opposition journalist Heorhiy Gongadze had been apprehended (Ukrayinska pravda, March 1). Three senior Interior Ministry (MVS) officers are in custody, but it is not clear if one of these is... MORE
CIS ECONOMIES: GROWTH WITHOUT PROSPERITY?
The economies of the Commonwealth of Independent States have seen five years of steady growth and low inflation, a welcome contrast to the economic slump and financial instability of the early 1990s. They have also managed to shift their trade patterns away from their former... MORE
KYIV-TBILISI-CHISINAU TRIANGLE: COMMON APPROACH TO COMMON PROBLEMS
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko is holding meetings in Kyiv today (March 1) with Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin and Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli. Their agenda includes energy supply, border security, anti-smuggling efforts, and revitalizing the GUAM (Georgia-Ukraine-Azerbaijan-Moldova) group of countries. Tomorrow Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili... MORE
MOSCOW OFFERS MUTED RESPONSE TO POSSIBLE END OF EU ARMS EMBARGO AGAINST CHINA
Despite U.S. opposition, the European Union is proceeding with plans to lift the arms embargo against China by June 2005. The ban had been imposed following the June 1989 crackdown on democracy protestors in Tiananmen Square. Beijing is looking for alternative sources for the arms... MORE
SPECULATION ON PIPELINE SALE TO GAZPROM DETRIMENTAL TO GEORGIA’S INTERESTS
A flurry of statements by Georgian officials in recent days suggests that Tbilisi is once again considering the high-risk proposition of selling the country's gas transportation system to Russia's monopoly Gazprom. The idea is deeply controversial in Georgia's decision-making circles. The individuals pushing for such... MORE