Latest Articles about Europe
HOW “UNITED” IS THE UNITED OPPOSITION IN BELARUS?
The united opposition campaign during the 2006 Belarusian presidential election was a creditable effort, particularly in the weeks leading up to the vote as well during the protests afterward in October Square. Though hundreds were arrested, and the crackdown by the authorities is continuing, there... MORE
PARTY OF REGIONS CONTINUES TO PLAY ON YUSHCHENKO’S WEAKNESSES
The Ukrainian opposition, entrenched in the south and east of the country, continues to score points in its tug-of-war with Kyiv. More councils are raising the status of the Russian language in defiance of the constitution; regional governors appointed by Yushchenko after the Orange Revolution... MORE
KYIV’S POLITICAL STALEMATE COMPLICATES RELATIONS WITH NATO
The ongoing anti-NATO protests in the Crimean city of Feodosiya and their political impact in Kyiv could have been avoided or quickly defused had the parliament moved in time to authorize the entry of troops from NATO countries for joint exercises in Ukraine. President Viktor... MORE
WEAK AUTHORITY EMBOLDENS ANTI-NATO PROTESTS IN UKRAINE
The post-election crisis of Ukrainian state institutions may undermine President Viktor Yushchenko's and the Orange forces' goal to bring Ukraine into NATO during their term of office. Amid a growing deficit of effective governance, pro-Russia groups find unprecedented leeway to frustrate Kyiv's policies on this... MORE
POLISH COMPANY ACQUIRES MAJORITY STAKE IN LITHUANIA’S OIL SECTOR
Lithuania’s oil industry holding, Mazeikiai Nafta, seems finally to be safe from takeover by Russian state-connected interests. The holding’s centerpiece, the Mazeikiai refinery, is the only refinery in the three Baltic states and the single most lucrative business entity in the three states. The Russian... MORE
COALITION TALKS: YUSHCHENKO DECIDES TO STEP IN
President Viktor Yushchenko will strive to carry on as the main powerbroker in Ukraine despite the constitutional reform that came into effect on January 1, 2006. This assertion was probably the main message of Yushchenko’s first speech before the new parliament elected in March. The... MORE
PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE TO TRANSFORM RUSSIAN “PEACEKEEPING” IN MOLDOVA
International talks were held on May 24 in Brussels on the possible transformation of Russia's "peacekeeping" operation in Moldova into an international mission. The talks were held in a 3+2 framework -- that is, Russia, Ukraine, and the OSCE as "mediators" and the United States... MORE
BELARUS: THE MYTH OF “PEOPLE POWER”
On May 23 Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenka delivered a "state of the nation address" that was broadcast live on Belarusian TV and lasted a relatively modest 51 minutes. The speech was significant for being his first major post-election broadcast, and it provided some rationale behind... MORE
GUAM IN KYIV: ANOTHER SUMMIT OF GOOD INTENTIONS
Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia, Vladimir Voronin of Moldova, and Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine met on May 23 in Kyiv for another effort to revitalize the GUAM group of countries. Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus attended as well, in line with his... MORE
ENERGY INSECURITY, FROZEN CONFLICTS PREOCCUPY GUAM SUMMIT
The GUAM summit in Kyiv on May 23 called international attention to the challenges and threats posed to the four member countries by energy insecurity and secessionist conflicts. Furthermore, Moldova and Georgia are the targets of politically motivated Russian embargoes on agricultural products and wine,... MORE