Latest Articles about South Caucasus
MULTIPLE ISSUES MAKE OPPOSITION SEEM ATTRACTIVE TO GEORGIAN VOTERS
In recent weeks Georgia's ruling National Movement party has repelled attacks from opposition groups criticizing the government's policies in various fields. The opposition charges that Georgia under President Mikheil Saakashvili is teetering between illiberal democracy and liberal autocracy. Saakashvili's government is facing criticism over a... MORE
PUTIN IN AZERBAIJAN
Russian President Vladimir Putin paid an official visit to Azerbaijan on February 21-22, presumably to inaugurate the "Year of Russia in Azerbaijan 2006" celebration, following the "Year of Azerbaijan in Russia 2005." While cordial, the atmosphere was far more sober than the love fest of... MORE
PUTIN IN BAKU: CHANGES IN AZERI-RUSSIAN ENERGY RELATIONS ON THE HORIZON
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Baku this week to officially open the "Year of Russia in Azerbaijan" celebration. But it is safe to assume that it was not the issues of cultural exchange between the two former Soviet republics that dominated the agenda during the... MORE
WILL GEORGIA BECOME A U.S. ALLY IN A POSSIBLE STRIKE AGAINST IRAN?
Georgian officials and pundits are vigorously denying allegations that U.S. officials are in secret talks with Tbilisi about using Georgian military bases and airfields in the event of a military conflict with Iran. The Jerusalem Post (February 20) claims a high-ranking, but anonymous, official from... MORE
YEREVAN INSISTS KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS ALIVE DESPITE PARIS FIASCO
Armenia's leadership seems to be still holding out hope for a resolution of the Karabakh conflict this year despite the failure of the latest Armenia-Azerbaijan summit in France. Senior officials in Yerevan say they are looking forward to the upcoming meeting of international mediators that... MORE
PUTIN, ALIYEV PREPARE FOR SUMMIT IN BAKU
The Kremlin has been working hard to strengthen ties with Azerbaijan, and President Vladimir Putin's upcoming trip to Baku is widely seen as a move designed to give bilateral relations yet another boost. Officially, Putin travels to Baku on Tuesday, February 21, for talks with... MORE
TWO-TRACK RESOLUTION — GEORGIA’S BEST OPTION ON PEACEKEEPING IN SOUTH OSSETIA
The Georgian parliament is debating the terms of a resolution that would instruct Georgia's government to demand the termination of Russia's "peacekeeping" operation in Georgia's Tskhinvali Region (South Ossetia). The parliament is acting pursuant to its October 11, 2005, resolution that had assessed this operation... MORE
SAAKASHVILI TRUMPETS SUCCESSES, WHILE OPPOSITION PLOTS “NETTLE REVOLUTION”
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili delivered his annual state-of-the-nation address at the first meeting of the parliament's spring session on February 14. Like his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yushchenko, who in his February 9 address described his country as "the regional leader for integration processes" (EDM, February... MORE
MUSAVAT DECIDES TO JOIN NEW AZERBAIJAN PARLIAMENT
After weeks of mutual accusations and growing distrust, the founding members of Azerbaijan's largest opposition coalition Azadliq (Freedom) -- Musavat, Popular Front and the Democratic Party -- have filed for divorce. On February 9 Musavat officially announced its withdrawal from the bloc, due "to the... MORE
TBILISI CLAIMS TO HAVE THWARTED ATTEMPT ON SAAKASHVILI’S LIFE
A new wave of tension is erupting between Georgia and Russia after Tbilisi announced that on February 2 it had discovered a Russian-made "Igla" portable anti-aircraft missile in Kareli -- the district adjacent to the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone. Georgian authorities suspect that the missile was... MORE