Latest Articles about Middle East
RUSSIA SHEDS NO TEARS OVER PEACE TREATY WITH JAPAN
As Russia has failed to secure any significant economic commitments from Tokyo, notably on the Japan-bound Pacific oil pipeline route, the Kremlin is losing interest in resolving a long-standing territorial dispute any time soon.Russia appears to have ruled out any compromise over the Kuril Islands,... MORE
WAS IT MOSTLY IRAN THAT RICE DISCUSSED WITH LAVROV AND PUTIN IN MOSCOW?
The content and the outcome of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s “emergency” visit to Moscow last Friday and Saturday remain clouded by diplomatic smoke and mirrors. That overnight stay had certainly not been planned. After visiting three Central Asian states (Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan)... MORE
RUSSIA, ARMENIA IN JOINT BID TO STAVE OFF ANOTHER EX-SOVIET REVOLUTION
The leaderships of Russia and Armenia have underscored their persisting concerns about the spread of anti-government uprisings across the former Soviet Union by holding a joint exercise of their special police forces. The extraordinary move comes less than two months before a tense constitutional referendum... MORE
MOSCOW SEES SU-27 CRASH AS OPPORTUNITY FOR NATO COOPERATION
Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has seized on the SU-27 crash in Lithuania to reaffirm Moscow's proposal for joint airspace monitoring and civilian and military air traffic control by NATO and Russia over the Baltic states, through the aegis of the NATO-Russia Council (NAC). Russia's... MORE
NOBEL COMMITTEE SENDS WARNING TO THE RUSSIAN MILITARY
The Kremlin approved wholeheartedly the "exceptionally right decision" to award the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize to the International Atomic Energy Agency and Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei, noting particularly that "he does not react on various shouts and is a very reliable partner" (Newsru.com, October 7). Apparently,... MORE
MOSCOW SKILLFULLY USES ENERGY LEVERAGE TO DIVIDE EUROPE
The October 4 Russia-EU summit in London, as well as the talks Russian President Vladimir Putin held with Belgian leaders in Brussels on October 3 and with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on October 5, once again laid bare an important aspect of modern geopolitical... MORE
RUSSIAN LIBERALS JOIN FORCES FOR MOSCOW ELECTIONS
On September 25, the Union of Right Forces and Yabloko, Russia's two main democratic parties, announced the formation of coalition for the December 4 Moscow City Duma election. The two parties will field a single list of candidates. Evoking the old adage: "Our strength is... MORE
RUSSIA STILL GETS IT WRONG ON UKRAINE
Russian leaders were delighted, even gleeful, when Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was fired in early September. Their unabashed gloating confirms that Moscow still does not realize why its interference in the 2004 Ukrainian presidential elections failed so miserably (see EDM, September 23). Instead, Russian... MORE
RUSSIA’S NAVY PINS HOPES ON BULAVA NUCLEAR MISSILE
During his September 27 call-in television program, Russian President Vladimir Putin once again invoked one of his favorite themes. Specifically, he stressed that under his leadership Russia is developing new hypersonic, high-precision missiles that can change their course and altitude unlike any other missiles belonging... MORE
RUSSIA’S PACIFIC OIL PIPELINE GAME REMAINS INCONCLUSIVE
In a statement on September 29, Russia's Natural Resources Ministry rejected a feasibility study for a Siberia-to-Pacific crude oil pipeline. The pipeline would pass within just 800 meters of Lake Baikal, a violation of Russia's environmental legislation. According to the Ministry, "As the pipeline crosses... MORE