Latest Articles about Europe

YUSHCHENKO ELECTION COALITION DIVIDED OVER ROLE FOR LYTVYN

As the Ukrainian parliament adjourns today for its summer recess, Western observers are increasingly noting the divisions inside President Viktor Yushchenko's team. However, such commentaries typically focus on the wrong divisions. In a report entitled, "Political Rivalries Threaten Ukraine's Reforms," the Financial Times (July 4)... MORE

Jamestown Experts Monitoring Terror Attacks in London

While developments surrounding today’s terrorist attacks in London are continuing to unfold, it is clear that the attack bore all the hallmarks of al-Qaeda. The message of responsibility posted by ‘The Secret Organization of al-Qaeda in Europe’ was posted on the al-Qal’a web forum, [https://www.qal3ati.net/vb],... MORE

Londonistan

Any visitor to the United Kingdom’s sprawling metropolis is immediately made aware of the bewildering diversity of its inhabitants. In addition to its rich and diverse communities of immigrants (with at least 300 languages spoken on its streets, it leaves New York trailing far behind... MORE

TYMOSHENKO EMBROILED IN DISPUTE BETWEEN TYCOONS

A shadow has been cast on the integrity of Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, as two "oligarchs" vie for control over a lucrative steel business. For the past several weeks the Ukrainian media has been rife with a rumor saying that the Dnipropetrovsk-based Privat group... MORE

RUSSIA-BELARUS: THE COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP

On July 2, Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenka was interviewed by Oleg Poptsov of the Russian TV Center, a company that covers nine Russian regions, in a program that lasted for three hours. The interview covered a variety of issues, but the key focus was on... MORE

UKRAINE’S REPUTATION AT STAKE IN GAS TRADE WITH RUSSIA

Interviewed on a Ukrainian television channel on July 1, Gazprom Vice-President Alexander Medvedev stated that the Russian side wants to go ahead with the Russian-Ukrainian-German understandings of 2003-2004 regarding ownership and management of Ukraine's gas transit system (TV Channel 5, July 1). Known informally as... MORE

Assessing Spain’s al-Qaeda Network

The Commission investigating the March 11, 2004 terrorist attacks in Madrid recently concluded that since the late 1990s, foreign radical Islamists have been using Spain for jihadist activities in support of al-Qaeda’s terrorist operations, particularly al-Zarqawi’s anti-Coalition attacks in Iraq. [1] On-going counter-terrorism investigations reveal... MORE

MOSCOW PREPARES UNFRIENDLY TAKEOVER OF LITHUANIA’S OIL COMPLEX

The Russian government is moving to seize control of Lithuania's largest economic asset, the Mazeikiai oil complex, from the majority-owner Yukos and the Lithuanian state. Moscow seeks to preempt acquisition by international oil companies that have recently shown interest in Mazeikiai. It also seeks to... MORE

CRIMINAL CHARGES REACH SENIOR LEADERS OF UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION

Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko has publicly announced that he is seeking to strip 16 parliamentary deputies of their immunity from prosecution (Interfax-Ukraine, June 28). All 16 figure in criminal cases that are not connected to the 2004 presidential election. However, Lutsenko added that parties... MORE

UKRAINIAN ECONOMIC ROUNDTABLE FAILS TO CONVINCE INVESTORS

As President Viktor Yushchenko promised, Ukraine held a mini-version of the annual Davos World Economic Forum. As The Economist (June 16) wrote, "The government hoped to give investors more clarity" at the roundtable in Kyiv, "but the impression of incompetence will linger." After three days... MORE