Despite the high-profile June 4 attack on a Mauritanian military outpost (see Terrorism Focus, Volume II, Issue 11), evidence exists of increasing exasperation among the Algerian jihadis. The reaction to the al-Qaeda murder of two Algerian diplomats in Iraq on July 27 demonstrated how out... MORE

The huge gathering of world leaders under the UN flag last week was generally disappointing, but for Russian President Vladimir Putin it worked out just fine. Moscow is quite content with the unreformed format of the Security Council, where it has one of the five... MORE

On September 10-13, Russia and Armenia conducted a tactical military exercise at the Marshal Bagramian training grounds, close to the Armenian-Turkish border. President Robert Kocharian and other Armenian officials attended the final, live-fire stage of the joint exercise. Each side committed a motor-rifle regiment, artillery,... MORE

Russia and the OSCE have worked out a package of military measures and agreements that could, if implemented, turn Moldova into a Russian military foothold on NATO's flank. The package has recently been submitted to the OSCE in Vienna, as "restricted" documents, both in the... MORE

While the OSCE's new framework for the demilitarization of Transnistria is flawed in principle, the proposed verification and inspection system opens more loopholes, and again in Transnistria only, where much is hidden from view. By contrast, right-bank Moldova hardly has combat forces or arms factories,... MORE

In the immediate aftermath of Russia's recent joint military exercise with China, the Kremlin lost little time to further boost the bilateral "strategic partnership." Notably, visiting Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan was received at the highest levels, indicating the growing importance of bilateral military ties.... MORE

Ten days ahead of Germany's parliamentary elections, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Russian President Vladimir Putin attended on September 8 in Berlin the signing of a framework agreement to construct a gas pipeline from Russia directly to Germany along the Baltic seabed. The line would bypass... MORE

On September 8 in Berlin, top executives of Russia's Gazprom and Germany's BASF and E.ON companies signed the framework agreement on the North European Gas Pipeline (NEGP) project. President Vladimir Putin and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder witnessed the ceremony, as they had the signing of the... MORE

As the geopolitical competition in the former Soviet lands becomes more acute, the Kremlin is seeking to revamp its strategy towards the Commonwealth of Independent States. First Moscow sends a signal to the West, saying it is ready to reach some sort of accommodation in... MORE