Latest Monitor Articles
GUKASIAN PREPARED TO SETTLE FOR DEAL WITH BAKU.
Karabakh president Arkady Gukasian stated yesterday that his republic "is prepared to renounce part of its de facto independence" and to delegate some prerogatives to Azerbaijan, under a treaty to be signed by Baku and Stepanakert, "and possibly also Armenia." However, the arrangement would have... MORE
KENTAU WORKERS STAGE HUNGER MARCH.
Police and internal troops have stopped a march on Almaty by nearly 2,000 unpaid workers of the Achpolimetall ore-refining plant and their families, who had set out to walk almost 1,000 kilometers from Kentau to the capital. The march has been blocked after only 32... MORE
RUSSIA WARNS TURKEY AGAINST INTERFERENCE.
Russia's ambassador to Cyprus warned on October 10 that Moscow would consider any attack by Turkey on a Russian ship carrying S-300 surface-to-air missiles to Cyprus an act of war. The ambassador also said that Russia intends to honor its agreement to sell the missiles... MORE
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE CALLS FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST MOSCOW.
The House International Relations Committee on October 9 adopted a non-binding resolution urging the Clinton Administration to impose sanctions against Russian government agencies and firms found to be aiding an Iranian missile-building program. The committee head criticized the Clinton Administration for choosing the "diplomatic route"... MORE
BELARUSAN OPPOSITION MOVES INTO WORKING-CLASS AREA.
Some 3,500 opposition members rallied yesterday in a working-class area of Minsk under anti-Lukashenka and anti-poverty slogans. Participants burned effigies of the president and other symbols of power. Legitimate parliament chairman Syamyon Sharetsky addressed the rally, which was organized by unrecognized free trade groups, the... MORE
GEORGIA COMPLETES MILITARY EXERCISE.
Ground, airforce, and paratroop units yesterday completed Georgia's largest-ever military exercise, underway since September 27 under the command of Defense Minister Vardiko Nadibaidze. President Eduard Shevardnadze watched the concluding phase of the exercise yesterday at Kulevi testing grounds in the west of the country. Shevardnadze... MORE
AZERBAIJANI ELECTORAL BLOCS TAKE SHAPE.
Nine pro-government parties and groups announced on October 10 the formation of the political bloc "Democratic Azerbaijan," built around the ruling Yeni [New] Azerbaijan party. On the same day, the seven-party opposition bloc Democratic Congress -- led by the Popular Front and Musavat parties --... MORE
RUSSIA’S 2000 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IS HEATING UP.
The latest opinion poll conducted by the "Public Opinion" polling organization on October 4-5 predicts that Boris Nemtsov is the popular choice to win the presidential election due in 2000. If the election was held now, 7 percent of those questioned said they would vote... MORE
YELTSIN SUBORDINATES PRISONS TO JUSTICE MINISTRY.
Russian president Boris Yeltsin last week signed a decree transferring responsibility for the country's prisons and pre-trial detention centers from the Interior Ministry to the Ministry of Justice. This brings Russia into line with its obligation as a member of the Council of Europe (see... MORE
IN STRASBOURG YELTSIN STEPS INTO A MINEFIELD…
Unpredictable as ever, President Boris Yeltsin told the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on October 10 that Russia would sign the convention banning antipersonnel landmines. His dramatic announcement came just hours after the International Committee to Ban Landmines and its American coordinator had been awarded... MORE