Azerbaijan's October 11 presidential election is expected to return the 75-year-old President Haidar Aliev to power for another five-year term, assuming that his health will allow him to complete it. Seen in a long-term perspective, the balloting and the campaign that preceded it mark a... MORE

Now it looks almost certain that Kuchma will sacrifice one or several ministers from the so-called "economic block" of the government, which includes the economic, finance, industrial policy, agricultural and energy ministries. Pustovoytenko said in Washington that he is ready to examine candidacies for ministerial... MORE

The Ukrainian government delegation headed by Prime Minister Valeriy Pustovoytenko--which has stayed in Washington this week to secure support from international financial organizations and the United States--has turned to the IMF for additional loans to stabilize the national currency. Ukrainian Finance Minister Ihor Mityukov said... MORE

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat kicked off a two-day visit to Russia yesterday with a proposal that Moscow play a greater role in the recently revived Middle East peace process. Arafat's proposal, which included a call for Russia to participate in Palestinian-Israeli talks scheduled for next... MORE

Foreign ministers from the six-nation Contact Group, meeting in London last night, appeared to move the West closer to military strikes on Yugoslavia. But, amid continuing resistance to the military option in several key capitals, the group also authorized yet another diplomatic mission to Belgrade... MORE

Along with revealing his presidential ambitions, Seleznev supported the idea of holding a referendum on whether Yeltsin should step down prior to the end of his term. Seleznev's comments followed Wednesday's national protest, which called on Yeltsin to resign. Kremlin spokesman said that while Yeltsin... MORE

The newspaper Nezavisimaya gazeta, controlled by financier and "oligarch" Boris Berezovsky, examined the economic stabilization program which Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov earlier suggested the government consider (Nezavisimaya gazeta, October 9). Luzhkov called for, among other things, re-nationalizing enterprises illegally transferred to private ownership during the... MORE

In the wake of Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov's hints that he is preparing a presidential bid, State Duma speaker Gennady Seleznev all but threw his hat into the ring Thursday. Echoing Luzhkov's comments from last week, Seleznev said he was prepared to assume the leadership... MORE

Azerbaijan is holding its presidential election on schedule on October 11, despite a boycott by the best-known opposition leaders and their recent demands to postpone the balloting. Five candidates are running against the incumbent President Haidar Aliev and against the odds. Prior to the campaign... MORE

Moldova has taken a momentary step back from the brink of servitude to Gazprom and fiscal recklessness. Chisinau announced yesterday that it has reversed its recent consent to issue US$90 million in state obligations to Gazprom, carrying a 7.5 percent annual coupon to the Russian... MORE