NEWS / EURASIA: NEWS IN REVIEW       Site map

09.11.2009 Eurasia: News In Review Central Asia and Eastern Europe and their Relations with Russia October, 2009 The following resource is meant to give readers a quick overview of recent events within the FSU but outside of Russia. Much of the news here concerns how Russia and/or the US are affected by these generally small but politically, economically, and militarily important nations. For more reviews, see the newsletter for this corresponding month. To receive the free monthly newsletter and obzori by email, simply sign up.   Baltic and East Europe Latvian Waffen-SS: No ifs, no buts There are some events in history about which there can be no ifs or buts. The Latvian volunteer militias in 1941 were so zealous in murdering Jews that by 1943 they had not only killed nearly all of Latvia's 70,000 Jewish community. Grenade wounds 40 in Moldova, police say terrorism A grenade exploded at a crowded concert in the main square of the Moldovan capital of Chisinau late Wednesday, hurting at least 40 people. Medvedev visits Serbia bearing $1.5 billion loan Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sought to expand Moscow's political and economic influence in the Balkans on Tuesday by bringing a euro1 billion ($1.5 billion) loan to recession-hit Serbia and offering Belgrade a "strategic partnership" in the distribution of Russian gas to Europe. New bases in Bulgaria, Romania cost U.S. over $100M The Pentagon is spending more than $100 million to build new military bases in Bulgaria and Romania, even as the Obama administration recently scrapped plans for a missile-defense shield in other parts of Eastern Europe. Russia to strengthen presence in the Balkans President Dmitry Medvedev is in Belgrade on October 20 on the first-ever visit of a Russian head of state to Serbia. His trip coincides with celebrations in Belgrade marking the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the city from Nazi forces. The struggle over Russia's 'energy weapon' beneath the Baltic The Nord Stream gas pipeline venture is one of the most controversial business deals involving German and Russian companies, and has become a focal point for suspicion of commercial and political relations between the two states. Jitters in eastern Europe over Russia's military manoeuvres Big military exercises in western Russia and Belarus, which finished earlier this month, were based on the following improbable scenario: ethnic Poles in western Belarus rise up and Kaliningrad. Biden Urges Central Europe To Help Guide Fledgling Democracies Biden said the collapse of communism had inspired the world, and 20 years on, he urged the countries of Central and Eastern Europe to help countries further east still struggling to firmly establish flourishing democracies.   Central Asia France, Kazakhs ink military transit, energy deals France is among the Western nations courting Kazakhstan, a giant ex-Soviet republic with rich oil and gas resources and a strategic location bordering China and Russia _ long the dominant regional force _ north of Afghanistan. Kazakhstan Looks To Foreign Business To Shore Up Its Banks Kazakhstan's banking sector still has serious problems, despite significant emergency investments by the government. Many banks, burdened by enormous foreign debts, are also mired in corruption scandals, and the damage to their reputations has further dampened economic activity throughout the country. Foreign investors, so the theory goes, are the ideal candidates to step in and help to bolster the banks' balance sheets. Kazakhstan Weighs Up the Customs Union The Union is an obvious win for Kazakh industries that supply the Russian market, such as metallurgy, coal and chemicals. It will stimulate development of Kazakhstan's Russian exports in these sectors by eliminating the customs duties they currently pay, making them more competitive. Armenia leader to pursue thaw in Turkey visit Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan said he would visit Turkey this week despite question marks hanging over a deal to establish diplomatic relations, open borders and end a century of hostility. Armenia must pull out of Nagorno-Karabakh One day after Turkey signed a deal the U.S. helped salvage to end a century of enmity with Armenia, Turkey's leader set a tough condition for normalizing ties on Sunday: Armenia must withdraw from the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. Diplomatic coup at football match Armenian President Serge Sarkisian has visited Turkey in a fresh step towards reconciliation between the two nations after nearly a century of hostility. Russia flexes muscles with Central Asian war games Russia and four former Soviet republics staged war games on Friday to showcase a new NATO-style rapid reaction force designed to cement Moscow's hold over allies in Central Asia and the Caucasus. EU scraps last Uzbek sanctions The European Union on Tuesday dropped the last remaining sanctions against Uzbekistan imposed after a 2005 crackdown on an uprising.  EU foreign ministers said they ended the arms embargo against the Uzbek government to encourage it to further improve the human rights situation and the rule of law in the country.   Georgia Russian warships to escort Abkhazia-bound freight vessels Russian coastguard patrol boats and Black Sea Fleet warships will escort freight vessels carrying supplies to Abkhazia, a source in Russia's security services. Homeless Stage Protest In South Ossetia Between 60 and 200 Ossetians whose homes were destroyed or damaged in the August 2008 war between Georgia and Russia gathered on September 30 outside the government building in Tskhinvali to protest the delay in providing them with new accommodation. The World According to Misha The weary dissidents and opposition leaders of Tbilisi call it the Show, the ready display of virility and political kinetics that Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili reserves for the many visitors whose good opinion he seeks. "I'm sure you'll be charmed." New U.S. Ambassador Takes Office New U.S. ambassador, John R. Bass, presented credential to President Saakashvili on October 16.  Ambassador Bass, who has replaced John Tefft, led the Provincial Reconstruction Team-Baghdad, a joint team of civilians and military personnel supporting the government and citizens of Baghdad province. Saakashvili on Georgia's International Reputation President Saakashvili said on October 23, that the last year's August war "changed" the entire post-Soviet space with Georgia gaining a reputation not seen before because its government managed to survive invasion of "a brutal force." Ex-PM Nogaideli in Moscow for 'Public Diplomacy Zurab Nogaideli, ex-PM and now leader of opposition Movement for Fair Georgia party, is in Moscow to, as he said, hold meetings with representatives of Georgian, Abkhaz and Ossetian communities in Russia. Georgian opposition accuses authorities of EU war report cover-up A Georgian opposition leader on Thursday accused the country's authorities of covering up the findings of an EU-commissioned report on the August 2008 war in South Ossetia. Georgia Challenges Report That Says It Fired First Shot Hours after the European Union released a report on the origins of the August 2008 war in South Ossetia, Georgia challenged one of the main findings, saying a Russian invasion was already under way when Georgia attacked South Ossetia, a separatist enclave. Will anyone care about the Georgia war report People expected the report to be high-impact, but it turns out that it comes to conclusions which had already been drawn." Saakashvili on EU-Backed Report on War President Saakashvili said on October 1, that the EU-funded fact-finding mission into the causes of the August war "said even more truth than I could ever imagine. It is a great diplomatic victory of Georgia," he said in live televised remarks. A few comments on the Tagliavini Commission's Report Now, even if one assumes the validity of the basic principle, it seems breathtakingly cynical to recognize the Tbilisi regime's jurisdiction over a population to whom it had denied the basic benefits of Georgian citizenship.   Ukraine US appoints ambassador as Ukraine readies for elections This week's news that former US Ambassador in Tbilisi John Tefft is moving to Kiev caused some worries in Ukraine, but nowhere else. Hidden Russian Ahead of Viktor Yushchenko's visit to the Ukrainian city of Zaporozhye, the local administration has made sure that all signs in Russian were hidden from the President's eyes. Ukraine opens election campaign, Orange dream faded As the country starts its first presidential election campaign since that popular movement in 2004 broke the grip of the post-Soviet establishment, its leader, President Viktor Yushchenko, stares a painful reality in the face. Rivals in Conciliation As the presidential electoral race kicked off in Ukraine last week, both frontrunners pledged to revive severed ties with Moscow. With both Tymoshenko and Yanukovich emerging as rivals keen to rebuild relations with Russia, which horse will the Kremlin back this time? Ukrainian president submits documents to run for 2nd term President Viktor Yushchenko filed on Tuesday the documents to register as a candidate in Ukraine's upcoming presidential election.  The incumbent leader is unlikely to win the January 17 election, the first since the 2004 "orange revolution" that swept him to power, as polls put his support in the low single digits.   Study in Kyrgyzstan The Library: Central Asia More Central Asian Places  Find Out More! Who's Who in Kygyz Politics SRAS Travel Services More Study Abroad Programs Internships in Russia Heath and Safety in Russia The SRAS Newsletter Journal for Students More Free Resources!   Questions or comments? Contact the editor. « back to News archive print this page email this page