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Latest Articles about Middle East
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BIG BUSINESS IS INVITED TO THE KREMLIN FOR FRESH INSTRUCTIONS
Following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s well-established ritual of demonstrating his power to loyal subjects, his annual meeting with business leaders was far heavier on symbolism than on substance. Most of the two dozen CEOs and owners of Russia’s largest companies who were invited to the... MORE
RUSSIA DEVELOPS ELECTRICITY, OIL PARTNERSHIP WITH CHINA
On Friday, February 9, the board of Unified Energy System, Russia’s power grid operator, approved a blueprint for large-scale electricity exports to China. UES is reportedly planning to increase electricity supplies to Northeastern China up to 3.6-4.5 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) from 2008 on. In the... MORE
CONTRADICTORY KREMLIN STATEMENTS THWART ATTEMPTS TO FORMULATE COMPREHENSIVE DEFENSE AND SECURITY POLICY
The Russian constitution requires the country to have a military doctrine. President Vladimir Putin signed the present doctrine in April 2000, after his election, but before his inauguration, making him legally still acting president (Nezavisimoe voennoe obozrenie, April 28, 2000). In January 2000, two weeks... MORE
IRAN SUGGESTS ACTING AS SECURITY GUARANTOR IN CENTRAL ASIA AND CAUCASUS
The headlines on Russo-Iranian relations at the end of January focused on Iran’s support for a “gas OPEC” and Russia’s reiteration of the idea that this is an attractive prospect that it needs to examine (www.president.ru, February 1, 2). However, this proposal is hardly news.... MORE
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RUSSIA MAY DOUBLE OIL EXPORTS THROUGH THE BALTIC SEA
In its latest challenge to Europe’s energy security, Russia has confirmed the intention to increase its oil exports through the Baltic Pipeline System’s (BPS) maritime terminals by up to 100%. The recent, not yet resolved, confrontation with Belarus over the terms of overland transit ostensibly... MORE
PUTIN PLANS TO “STAY THE COURSE” FOR 2008
Russian President Vladimir Putin obviously enjoyed this year’s installment of his annual press conference. Held on February 1, the 2007 session set a new record of three and a half hours and included 69 questions. The crowd of 1,232 journalists was eager to play along,... MORE
PUTIN HOPES HOSTING APEC SUMMIT WILL SPUR DEVELOPMENT AROUND VLADIVOSTOK
The Kremlin has pledged to spend nearly $4 billion in government funding to boost economic growth of Primor region in the Far East, which borders China and the Pacific. The revival plans also affect the local energy sector, including nuclear power facilities. During a surprise... MORE
PUTIN ORDERS FSB TO SAFEGUARD ELECTIONS AND ECONOMIC ASSETS
This week Russian President Vladimir Putin broadened the role of the Federal Security Service (FSB). At the FSB’s annual board meeting on January 31, he instructed the agency to provide security and combat nationalist and extremist ideologies during the upcoming regional and national elections and... MORE
PUTIN AWARDS SHAIMIEV A MEDAL INSTEAD OF A TREATY
On January 20, the Russian State Council, which includes regional leaders and President Vladimir Putin, met in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, an autonomous republic in the Volga region. After the meeting Putin decorated Mintimir Shaimiev, the Tatar leader, with a medal “For Service to... MORE
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GROWING RISKS TO BALTIC SEA SAFETY FROM RUSSIAN ENERGY PROJECTS
The Russian government’s latest ideas about energy transit through the Baltic Sea are adding to the already considerable risks involved in these projects. Moscow is launching its new ideas apparently without consulting the countries affected or the European Union and is ignoring the Council of... MORE