Latest Articles about South Caucasus
PUTIN’S LOGIC ON GEORGIA AND THE FROZEN CONFLICTS
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s remarks during the European Union-Russia informal summit in Lahti, Finland, on October 20 underscored some major theses -- often confusing to the West -- behind Russia’s policy toward Georgia and the frozen conflicts. The summit was held against the backdrop of... MORE
TBILISI CLAIMS RUSSIAN NAVY HOLDING EXERCISES OFF GEORGIAN COAST
In an October 18 news conference, Georgia’s First Deputy Defense Minister Mamuka Kudava and Coastal Guard commander Davit Gulua announced that Russian warships are conducting live-fire exercises of an intimidating nature off Georgia’s coast, mainly off Poti. The Russian ships are exercising mainly in the... MORE
LATEST MOVES CHALLENGE SAAKASHVILI’S STANCE AND THE GEORGIAN-WESTERN PARTNERSHIP
The chances of Georgia becoming a full-fledged member of the European Union and NATO have taken a hit from Tbilisi’s ongoing dispute with Moscow. As the West alternates between political and moral support for President Mikheil Saakashvili and cutting deals with Russia that are detrimental... MORE
MOSCOW MORE WORRIED ABOUT SAAKASHVILI THAN KIM JONG-IL
Among all of North Korea’s neighbors, Russia seems to be the least concerned with the recent nuclear test conducted by the reclusive regime of Kim Jong-Il. Of course, the Russian Foreign Ministry made an official protest and demanded that Pyongyang must "immediately return to the... MORE
GEORGIA SHORT-CHANGED IN U.S.-RUSSIA TRADEOFF ON NORTH KOREA AT UN
On October 13, the U.S. State Department joined with Russia to pass a heavily biased resolution against Georgia regarding Abkhazia in the UN Security Council. Resolutions favoring Russia on this matter are almost routine at the UNSC; but this one is the first in which... MORE
ARMENIA, EU TO LAUNCH “ACTION PLAN” ON CLOSER TIES
Next month the European Union and Armenia will sign a five-year action plan related to the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) program that enables EU neighbors to establish preferential relations with the 25-country bloc. The development will be hailed by the authorities in Yerevan as an... MORE
AZERBAIJAN BECOMING POPULAR DRUG TRAFFICKING ROUTE
Last week the Ministry of National Security of Azerbaijan broke up a transnational network funneling illegal drugs from Iran toward Europe via Azerbaijan. Two citizens of Azerbaijan were arrested in relation to this case, and authorities confiscated 19 kilograms of hashish from them. They had... MORE
SAAKASHVILI’S PARTY WINS LOCAL ELECTIONS AMID STANDOFF WITH RUSSIA
As expected, President Mikheil Saakashvili’s National Movement party won Georgia’s October 5 local elections by a landslide. Held amid Tbilisi’s sharpest confrontation with Moscow in a decade, the elections provided an opportunity for the ruling party to tout its tough stance toward Russia in connection... MORE
SOLANA BLINKS, DEEPLY
The European Union’s High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, opined in a European Parliament hearing that international recognition of Kosovo’s independence from Serbia could set “a precedent” adversely affecting Georgia in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. With some trepidation Solana imagined, “We... MORE
RUSSIA’S ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL WARFARE FAILING TO SUBDUE GEORGIA
Russia’s economic and psychological warfare against Georgia is intensifying in the wake of, and notwithstanding, the release of four Russian military intelligence officers who had been caught in flagrante in Georgia. Arrested on September 27 and indicted for espionage and subversion, the four officers (a... MORE