Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
GENERAL BALUYEVSKY RAISES THREAT OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST TERRORISTS
General Yuri Baluyevsky, Chief of the Russian General Staff, has raised the issue of Russia's ultimate use of military force against terrorists. Baluyevsky signaled the possible of use of military force against terrorists, as a last resort, during a meeting with his Italian counterpart, Admiral... MORE
TBILISI WARMS TO IDEA OF RESTORING RAIL LINK TO ABKHAZIA
The prospects of reopening the Georgian-Abkhaz railway line seem to be improving. The issue has been the subject of discussions at various high-profile meetings in recent months. The Georgian government has significantly softened its initial tough stance on the issue. Reopening the railway branch between... MORE
SOCIAL DEMOCRAT-UNITED LEADER MEDVEDCHUK AWAITS HIS FATE
In an interview long promised but only given yesterday (June 16) to Ukrayinska pravda, Social Democratic Party of Ukraine-United (SDPUo) leader Viktor Medvedchuk was asked if he was ready to flee abroad, like many of his pro-Leonid Kuchma allies. He replied, "No, under no circumstances.... MORE
OSH STILL TENSE, BUT SITUATION BECOMING CLEARER
After the June 13 civilian clashes in Osh between hundreds of parliamentarian Bayaman Erkinbayev's opponents and supporters, in which seven people were hospitalized, the city has apparently divided into two conflicting halves. The following day (June 14), 500 people gathered at the central square in... MORE
RUSSIAN NATIONAL IDENTITY: STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS
The marking of "Russia Day" on June 12 triggered another round of debate about Russian identity. In his speech to a celebratory concert on Red Square, President Vladimir Putin said he was certain that Russia faces a "shining future" as "a great and flourishing power."... MORE
ETHNIC RUSSIANS IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS FACE DECISION TO EMIGRATE
"The exodus of the ethnic Russians is creating a problem for the whole North Caucasus," Russian President Vladimir Putin told a group of Cossack atamans (chieftains) during a meeting in Rostov-on-Don, the capital of southern Russia. "The exodus of the Russians means a loss of... MORE
RUSSIA TIGHTENS STRANGLEHOLD ON KAZAKHSTAN’S MINING INDUSTRY
One of the uneasy topics discussed during Nursultan Nazarbayev's May meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Chelyabinsk, but overshadowed by other issues, was the long-standing row between Russia's Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Combine (MMK) and the Sokolov Sarybay State Industrial Corporation. Sokolov Sarybay is the largest... MORE
AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT FINALLY INVITED TO WASHINGTON
On June 7, Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov made a sensational announcement. According to him, President Ilham Aliev plans an official visit to the United States, and Azerbaijan's ambassador to Washington, Hafiz Pashayev, is in talks to determine the date of the visit. The news,... MORE
RUSSIA AND CHINA BAND TOGETHER TO OPPOSE U.S. IN SPACE
Russia and China have combined to pressure the United Nations Disarmament Conference, the UN's main disarmament body, to open immediate talks on how to prevent an arms race in outer space. The move, an apparent strategic partnership, is understood to be anti-Washington, due to known... MORE
WASHINGTON CONCERNED UKRAINE MAY NOT JOIN WTO THIS YEAR
During President Viktor Yushchenko's April visit to Washington, he enumerated three goals to be achieved this year: joining the WTO, lifting the Jackson-Vanik trade restrictions, and obtaining free-market economy status. The prospects for attaining the first two goals are doubtful, at least by the end... MORE