Latest Articles about The Caucasus
RUSSIA STILL SEEKING A UN CAMOUFLAGE IN ABKHAZIA
The United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) and the UN itself are collateral casualties of Russia’s invasion of Georgia and “recognition of Abkhazia’s independence.” The diplomatic negotiating process, which is scheduled to open on October 15 in Geneva, may well see UNOMIG’s demise and,... MORE
EUROPEAN UNION MISSION DEPLOYS TO GEORGIA WHILE QUESTIONS PERSIST ABOUT GENEVA TALKS
The European Union launched the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia on October 1, in a series of tightly sequenced moves to implement the French-mediated armistice in the Russia-Georgia war. The next scheduled move is Russia’s withdrawal from the unilaterally declared “security zones” outside Abkhazia... MORE
RUSSIAN VERSUS INTERNATIONAL AGENDAS AT GENEVA DISCUSSIONS ON GEORGIA
Preparations are advancing for discussions to open in Geneva on October 15, ostensibly based on the French-mediated armistice in the Russia-Georgia conflict. Russia, Georgia, the United States, the European Union, the United Nations, and the OSCE are to participate in these discussions at the level... MORE
RUSSIAN-AZERBAIJAN RELATIONS: TIME FOR A GRAND BARGAIN?
The Georgian-Russian conflict in early August brought negative economic and humanitarian consequences for the South Caucasus. Carefully built East-West transport and energy corridors have come under question. Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Russia presents another diplomatic difficulty for the countries of the region.... MORE
IRAN TO SUPPLY ARMENIA WITH GAS AND ARMENIA TO EXPORT ELECTRICITY TO IRAN
Armenia appears to have completed construction of a pipeline from neighboring Iran that will supply it with natural gas and significantly ease its heavy dependence on Russia for energy resources. The development will also allow the small landlocked country to avoid disastrous consequences if Moscow... MORE
BUSINESS CONFIDENCE RETURNING TO THE SOUTH CAUCASUS TRANSPORT CORRIDOR
Russia’s invasion of Georgia in August caused partial and temporary disruptions to the transport corridor for Caspian oil and other commodities through that country. The two-pronged corridor, running from Azerbaijan to the Georgian Black Sea coast and via Georgia to the Turkish Mediterranean coast, is... MORE
LESSONS AND LOSSES OF GEORGIA’S FIVE-DAY WAR WITH RUSSIA
The Georgian Government, defeated in the five-day war with Russia, has been adopting a two-pronged approach in its information strategy: trying to prove that the war was initiated by Russia on August 7, and frequently praising the might of the Georgian Army, which inflicted 10... MORE
AZERBAIJAN’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF
Azerbaijan’s presidential election campaign opened officially on September 17 and will run until October 14, the day before the balloting. President Ilham Aliyev, in office since 2003, is set to win a second term of five years, on the strength of economic growth at world-record... MORE
AZERBAIJAN LEAPS FORWARD IN MAKING ITS ECONOMY ATTRACTIVE TO BUSINESS
As presidential elections approach in Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev scored a major winning point in domestic politics. It was announced by the World Bank that Azerbaijan has set a world record in reforming its economic and business regulations. In the annual “Doing Business 2009” report,... MORE
AZERBAIJAN EXPANDS COMMITMENT TO NATO TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN
Last month's confrontation between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia and Abkhazia had an immediate impact on Georgia's neighbor Azerbaijan, highlighting the vulnerability of its oil exports to hostile military action. Azeri oil exports through Georgia, already diminished by the August 5 closing of the... MORE