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04.10.2009 Eurasia: News In Review Central Asia and Eastern Europe and their Relations with Russia September, 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.   Central Asia 60 Years After First Soviet Nuclear Test, Legacy Of Misery Lives On In Kazakhstan By the time it was finally closed in 1989, the Kazakh base -- which had been selected by Lavrenty Beria, the infamous head of the NKVD secret police -- had been the site of 456 atmospheric and underground nuclear tests. Russia's Drug Czar on Afghanistan's Drug Production Russia's top counter-narcotics official suggested that the United States has a responsibility for solving Afghanistan's drug-production problem and urged the country to return to a policy of eradication of poppy crops.   Baltics and E. Europe Moldova's Leaders Struggle To Find A Common Language Limba Noastra (Our Language Day) in Moldova, marking 20 years since the Supreme Soviet of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic passed a language law establishing Romanian as the country's official tongue and returning the Latin script. Moldova leader pushes for unification with Romania Moldovan Parliament Speaker Mihai Ghimpu said during a televised interview on Saturday he would like to annul the country's sovereignty and unite with Romania. Baltic economies Feeling a bit fragile WORRIES about a financial meltdown across eastern Europe have receded, thanks to generous outside support, some canny policies and the start of a recovery in western Europe. Poland sees merit in new Obama missile plan: aide Poland's security interests may end up being better served under the flexible defence system now proposed by Washington than it was under the previous land-based plan.   Georgia Russia to detain Georgian ships off Abkhazia Russia heightened tensions with Georgia Tuesday by warning that it will detain Georgian ships entering the territorial waters of Abkhazia, a breakaway province allied with Moscow. Russia, Georgia to seek deal on non-use of force Russia and Georgia agreed to work towards an agreement on how to deal with each other without resorting to force after their war a year ago over two breakaway Georgian regions. Russia deploys coastguard to rebel Georgian region Russia's coast-guard authority has begun patrolling waters off Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia, where tensions are running high over a Georgian blockade of the rebel-run territory. EU Probe Creates Burden for Saakashvili Unpublished documents produced by the European Union commission that investigated the conflict between Georgia and Moscow assign much of the blame to Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. But the Kremlin and Ossetian militias are also partly responsible. EU must stand up to Russia in Georgia-intellectuals The EU must define a strategy to help Georgia regain its pro-Russian breakaway regions or face betraying the project of a united Europe that brought down the Berlin Wall. European Patrols Brace for Rise in Tension Over Report on 2008 War in Georgia European Union monitors are stepping up their patrols in Georgia ahead of the release of a much anticipated report on the origins of last year's war in South Ossetia, in case the report's conclusions reignite tensions around the breakaway territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Saakashvili Vows Abkhazia Return To Georgia The Georgian separatist zone of Abkhazia, which seceded from Tbilisi last year, will once again be part of the former Soviet republic. "It will take time, but Abkhazia will once again be what it was -- the most wonderful part of Georgia." Georgia 'started unjustified war' The war in Georgia last year was started by a Georgian attack that was not justified by international law.  However, the attack followed months of provocation, and both sides violated international law. American-Russian Thaw May Be Good News for Georgia The unexpected disclosure of the existence of a new Iranian nuclear enrichment facility last week has considerably quickened the pace of the ongoing American-Russian rapprochement which many observers have been skeptical about.   Ukraine Gas issues dropped as Ukraine's economy plummets Russia and Ukraine have overcome all their disagreements on supplies of gas in light of Ukraine's increasingly crippled economy. Vladimir Putin met with Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko in Poland, where they agreed that Kiev can import much less gas without being fined for breaking existing agreements. Russia blasts Ukraine over shifting gas demands President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday accused Ukraine of seeking changes to a contract for the transit of Russian gas across its territory, the latest row over energy between the two feuding states. Kiev says Moscow unwilling to change gas deal, threatens transit Moscow's refusal to amend gas contracts with Ukraine is putting transits to Europe under threat. "Russia's possible refusal to develop the gas contracts is a serious threat to [national energy firm] Naftogaz's operations and consequently the uninterrupted transits of Russian natural gas via Ukraine." Russia may lend Ukraine $2bln before election-paper Russia could lend Ukraine $2 billion to support the former Soviet republic's economy ahead of next year's election. Election fever heightens Ukraine political chaos But as the former Soviet republic struggles with a devastated economy and fears for the stability of Russian gas supplies this winter, many Ukrainians say it's time the 450-member legislature got serious. Yushchenko Warns Obama of Russia's Post-Georgia Security Threat Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko will seek to warn Barack Obama this week that Russia's attack against Georgia in 2008 poses a threat that European leaders still haven't addressed. Ukraine Honours Memory Of Red Army Grandsons of Red Army men who had launched an attack to break through the Mius-front in the summer of 1943, reconstructed the assault on the hill. Yushchenko optimistic about NATO Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko says he is optimistic that his country will join NATO, declaring the tide of public opinion in the former Soviet republic is swinging in favor of membership in the Western military alliance. Yushchenko Unrepentant as Ukraine Sours on Orange Revolution Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko swept into power five years ago at the head of an Orange Revolution that promised national revival. Now he is running fourth in polls as voters blame him for political paralysis and a collapsing economy.   Study in Kyrgyzstan The Library: Central Asia More Central Asian Places  Find Out More! Who's Who in Kygyz Politics Kyrgyzstan's Latest Revolution 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