In a "warm, friendly atmosphere," the defense ministers of Russia and Georgia, Col. General Igor Rodionov and Lt. General Vardiko Nadibaidze, signed over the weekend in Moscow an agreement on military-technical cooperation. The announcement suggested that the talks focused on Russian arms deliveries to Georgia... MORE

In an interview with Russian TV yesterday, recently-named defense minister Igor Rodionov revealed that the actual strength of Russia's armed forces today is about 1.5 million men and that further reductions could be imminent. Rodionov also suggested that Moscow lacks the financial wherewithal to fund... MORE

At a congress held over the weekend in Riga, the Ravnopravye {Equal Rights} movement resolved to become a political party and to apply for legal registration in that new capacity. As a major new element, the political platform now officially opposes Latvia's accession to the... MORE

Ukrainian prime minister Pavlo Lazarenko told a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington that cooperation with the U.S. and with European and Euroatlantic institutions represents "the main direction of Ukraine's foreign policy. This is our conscious choice." Kiev at the same time... MORE

Interviewed on Russian television on July 28, Russian economics minister Yevgeny Yasin admitted what has been reported in Russian and Western news reports: that during Russia's recent presidential elections the International Monetary Fund turned a blind eye toward Russia's violations of IMF conditions. (NTV, July... MORE

Russia celebrated the 300th anniversary of its naval forces in grand style over the weekend, but the festivities could only partially obscure the fading glory of the once formidable Soviet fleet and the uncertain future that confronts its Russian successor. That ambiguity was summed up... MORE

An estimated 7,000 marched through central Minsk on July 27 to mark the sixth anniversary of the declaration of Belarus sovereignty. Placards and chants accused President Aleksandr Lukashenko of attempting to institute personal rule and join Belarus to Russia. An alliance of several political parties... MORE

Russian soldiers fighting in Bamut complained to reporters over the weekend that their commanders have instructed them to prepare to fight through the winter. This added to recent signals from the Russian government and military command that they no longer expect an early end to... MORE

The World Bank has released the first half of a $500 million loan to help Russia modernize its coal-mining industry. The second half is expected to be paid in the third quarter of this year. (Interfax, July 26) The loan -- said to be one... MORE

The Russian Foreign Ministry has attacked Danish defense minister Hans Haekkerup for "undertaking, or being put up to undertake, the unseemly role" of advocating the Baltic states' admission to NATO. Its statement said that stance is incompatible with good neighborly relations between Russia and Denmark,... MORE