Although the Georgian economy will likely record acceptable levels of growth this year, the country's future economic position continues to be threatened by a troubled fiscal situation. Following a brief period of fiscal optimism early this year, Georgia is once again on the verge of... MORE

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was silent regarding the start of U.S. airstrikes against Afghanistan on Sunday night, offered strong words of support yesterday. In comments carried by Russian television, Putin described the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States as "monstrous," and said... MORE

The start of airstrikes against Afghanistan's ruling Taliban and Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network has elicited reactions from across Russia's political spectrum. Most politicians and other observers have spoken out against Russia's direct military participation in the U.S.-led antiterrorist campaign. State Duma Deputy Gennady Seleznev... MORE

Chechen rebel field commander Shamil Basaev has responded to U.S. President George W. Bush's call last week that the Chechen rebels break their alleged ties with Saudi-born terrorist Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida network (see the Monitor, August 27). In an interview with the... MORE

On October 5 in Tashkent, U. S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld held talks that opened the way for the first officially reported landing of American combat forces in Uzbekistan. Some 1,000 elite U.S. mountain troops arrived there on October 7. These and other U.S. forces... MORE

On October 8, the government of Tajikistan announced its readiness to open the country's air space, "and if necessary its airports," for American-led military actions in Afghanistan. The announcement followed a telephone conversation between U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Tajik President Imomali Rahmonov... MORE

Russia demonstrated anew its solidarity with the American-led antiterrorism coalition when its government voiced clear support for yesterday's U.S. and British air strikes against targets in Afghanistan. Russia's heightened participation in the Western-based terrorist alliance, moreover, was also highlighted by U.S. President George W. Bush's... MORE

Chechen rebels raided the town of Achkoi-Martan late yesterday (October 7). The attacking force--consisting, according to one report, of several hundred rebel fighters, according to another, several dozen--reportedly entered Achkoi-Martan in cars around midnight and began firing automatic weapons and grenade launchers at the local... MORE

Virtually every skeleton emerged from the closet of Romanian-Moldovan relations last week. Considering the barely hidden reserves of mutual acrimony, unreasonably stoked by both sides, an eruption was waiting to happen. It did so at the worst possible time for either Moldova or Romania, and... MORE

More conservative monetary and fiscal policy in 2001 has slowed economic growth in Belarus. The cause: a reduction of subsidies and credits to agriculture and industry. Through August, growth in GDP totaled only 3.0 percent. The Ministry of Statistics estimates that agriculture grew by 5.8... MORE