19.03.2008
Eurasia: News In Review
Central Asia and Eastern Europe
and their Relations with Russia
March, 2008The 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. This news review is part of SRAS's monthly "obzor" publications. For more reviews, see the newsletter for this corresponding month. To receive the free monthly newsletter and obzori by email, simply sign up. Feature: Breakaway Regions
Regions Hoping for Independence are Emboldened Kosovo Serbia proposes dividing Kosovo along ethnic lines
Kosovo, where 90 percent of the 2 million residents are ethnic Albanian, declared independence from Serbia last month. Serb swimmer banned for Kosovo T-shirt
A champion Serbian swimmer has been suspended for the rest of the European championships for wearing a T-shirt proclaiming "Kosovo is Serbia" at a medal ceremony. Russia links Tibet violence to Kosovo "precedent"
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that the recent violence in Tibet is inextricably linked to the recognition of Kosovo's independence. Transdniestria Moldova wants big power to guarantee its neutrality
Ex-Soviet Moldova wants a declaration guaranteeing its neutrality, a step that could ease the way for a peace deal over its breakway Transdniestria region. Moldova: Under the West’s Radar
With the West’s attention increasingly focused on bigger fish, few acknowledge the seeds of authoritarianism in Moldova. Abkhazia, S. Ossetia Duma Treads Warily Over Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transdniester Status
Although the Duma leadership stopped short of recommending full-fledged recognition, the move has clearly raised the stakes in the ongoing struggle over the status of the three pro-Moscow separatist enclaves. It is unclear what form the new "missions" would take. Georgia Could Lose Rebel Regions: Russia NATO Envoy
The Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions already run their own affairs but pro-western Georgia's bid to join NATO could cement the split and make it more likely foreign states will recognize the separatists. Russia De Facto Establishing Relations With Abkhazia
Russia's decision to lift economic sanctions from the self-proclaimed Republic of Abkhazia, which used to be part of Soviet Georgia before the beginning of the 1990's, has more aspects than a mere "retaliation to the West for Kosovo." Russia lifts trade, economic, financial sanctions on Abkhazia
Russia has lifted trade, economic, financial and transport sanctions on Georgia's breakaway republic of Abkhazia, and urged other CIS countries to follow suit, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. South Ossetia Cites Kosovo 'Precedent' In Call For International Recognition
The South Ossetian declaration argues that the region has "all the necessary requirements and attributes" of a democratic and law-based sovereign state. Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia threatens to recognise disputed Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh's ethnic Armenian population split from Azerbaijan in a war in the 1990s and now runs its own affairs, with support from Armenia. Regional Issues
Rights reports released as pipelines, NATO push forward US Department of State Human Rights Reports
Includes reports on Kygyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. Happiness is Multiple Pipelines
The unsettling reality for the Western companies dreaming of Caspian riches is that Russia is increasingly dominant in the Caspian and has essentially slowly squeezed them out of the sea's last potential frontier, Turkmenistan.
Avoiding the Inevitable
New Prices Set for Central Asian Gas Are Problematic for Russia and Disastrous for Ukraine. NATO countries sceptical on Ukraine, Georgia bids
Efforts by ex-Soviet Ukraine and Georgia to start early talks on NATO membership took a knock on Thursday as allies disagreed on whether to embark on moves that would risk antagonising Russia. Media Situation Remains Appalling in Most CIS Countries, Experts Say
The ongoing effort by Armenia’s government to dam the free flow of information during the country’s state of emergency fits nicely into a distressing pattern concerning press freedom in CIS states. Armenia
Protests Charge Electoral Fraud State of Emergency Ends in Armenia
In Yerevan, the troops are gone, and the newspapers and protestors are back. Armenia’s state of emergency came to a peaceful end on March 21, but, for most Armenians, one unanswered question lingers on: What next? Eyewitness Recounts Crackdown In Yerevan
Robert Chakhoyan, a 23-year-old university student, endured hours of beating in Armenian police custody but he does not seem to bear a grudge against his tormentors. Armenia crackdown: an ex-Soviet pattern?
Armenia is the latest in a string of ex-Soviet countries to crack down hard on peaceful protesters alleging electoral fraud. Russia and Armenia to stay close: new presidents
"This is your first foreign visit after the polls and we see it as a symbol of the high priority that Russian-Armenian relations have." Turkmenistan
A Once-Isolated Nation is Reaching Out Turkmen president visits to crown deepening ties
Today's visit is widely considered a positive result of intensified Turkish efforts in recent years to improve relations with Central Asian countries. Turkmenistan president to attend NATO summit
Turkmen President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov will attend a NATO summit in April, the first leader of his long-isolated homeland to seek closer ties with the Western security alliance, state media reported. Turkmenistan celebrates national spring holiday – Novruz
Various festive concerts, theatrical performances, art exhibitions and soirees are held in Turkmenistan on these days. Turkmenistan to Tackle Population Decline
The award is reminiscent of similar titles conferred on mothers with many children in the Soviet era, and comes with similar fringe benefits – free utilities and public transport, for example. Turkmenistan approves basic directions of foreign policy strategy until 2012
The document aims at defending the country's national interests in the international arena, further strengthening Turkmenistan's positions and raising its role in international relations, the Turkmenistan.ru correspondent reports from Ashgabat quoting the press service of the head of state. Turkmenistan Encourages Investors
The law, published in the official government newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan, envisages quick issuing of multi-entry visas to foreign investors. It also waves a number of taxes and other fees for foreign investment projects. Turkmenistan set to boost annual gas output to 130bln cu m
Turkmenistan currently produces about 80 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, with 20 billion cubic meters for export, 50 billion cubic meters purchased by Russia and 10 billion cubic meters bought by Iran. Georgia
Saakashvili Meets Bush After Crackdowns Saakashvili hopes for good relations with Medvedev
Saakashvili expressed "big hopes" for cooperation with Medvedev. "I think he will be a good partner," the Georgian president went on to say. Georgian president warns West not to appease Russia by blocking Georgia from NATO
"After Kosovo, the Russians told us very clearly, this is no longer about you and us, it's about us and the West," Saakashvili said. President Bush Meets with President Saakashvili of Georgia
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. I'm incredibly thrilled to be back in the Oval Office. And, you know, we've been essential part of your freedom agenda. Georgian Leader Looking for NATO Boost
President Mikhail Saakashvili of the Republic of Georgia is looking for a boost to his country's aspirations for NATO membership when he meets with President Bush. Ukraine
The Usual: Gas Disputes with Russia NATO, Foreign Relations Ukraine optimistic on NATO bid ahead of Bush visit
U.S. President George W. Bush will visit Ukraine at the end of this month, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said on Thursday announcing a trip timed just days before a NATO decision on ties with the ex-Soviet state. Ukrainians remain opposed to NATO membership
Only 11.1% of Ukrainians polled in a survey published on Monday said they supported the country's drive to join NATO, while almost 36% said they would vote against the plans if a referendum were held. Ukrainians Hope for Better Relations with Russia
31.3 per cent of respondents think relations will be better over the next eight years, while 25.4 per cent think they will stay the same. Unexpectedly, more than half of Ukrainians trust Putin
More than half of Ukrainians trust the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. Gas Dispute, Other Issues Russia's Gazprom settles Ukraine gas row, but profits could dip
After withholding 50 percent of Ukraine's gas supplies in a brief dispute last week, Gazprom on Thursday struck a deal that cuts out middlemen and gives it more access to the ex-Soviet country's industrial gas customers. Ukraine's president criticizes PM over gas row with Russia
"It is unpleasant to have to say it, but I am fed up with this policy of intrigue and scheming," Viktor Yushchenko said during his visit to the ex-Soviet Central Asian republic of Tajikistan. Russia, Ukraine Must End Gas Dispute "Transparently," U.S. Says
The issue must be dealt with "in accordance with commercial realities, rather than any other principals." Russia Cuts Gas Exports to Ukraine as Debt Talks Fail
OAO Gazprom, Russia's state-run natural-gas export monopoly, cut natural-gas shipments to Ukraine after failing to resolve a debt dispute, raising concern European supplies may be disrupted. Gazprom says Ukraine starts taking transit gas
Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told journalists the volumes Ukraine planned to take from transit pipelines on Wednesday amounted to 60 million cubic metres a day. Russia urges against politicizing Ukraine's Stalin-era famine
The famine, known as Holodomor, took the lives of 7 to 10 million Ukrainians as a result of forced collectivization, accompanied by devastating purges of the Ukrainian intelligentsia, religious leaders and politicians under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. Ukrainian lawmakers concerned about growing xenophobia
"Xenophobia at an every-day level is rather high in Ukraine and it has been growing, according to the Academy of Sciences' Institute of Sociology. This is typical of relations between residents of eastern and western Ukraine, and between interregional groups." Kyryzstan
US Airbase Continued; Second Parliment Established Opposition Runs Separate Parliament
A nation of five million, Kyrgyzstan has ended up with two parliaments: the official one, and the second that many consider the more legitimate one. The Bittersweet Fruits Of The Revolution
This is the first year Kyrgyzstan is officially marking People's Revolution Day to commemorate March 24, 2005, when widespread demonstrations chased President Askar Akaev from office. Body of Russian-language paper reporter found in Kyrgyzstan
The Interior Ministry of Kyrgyzstan believes the murder was committed by the man, who rented their apartment in Bishkek. Turkey to tutor Kyrgyzstan in tourism
Tourism is highly developed in Turkey and vice speaker of the Kyrgyz parliament Kubanychbek Isabekov says that it reaped $20 billion in tourism revenue last year US does not intend to keep airbase in Kyrgyzstan forever-official
According to Spratlen, the US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice during her visit to Bishkek in 2005 had reached a strategic agreement on the presence of the US airbase at Bishkek's airport Manas till the end of the Enduring Freedom operation in Afghanistan. Kazakhstan
Floods, Housing Crisis Flood in Kazakhstan leaves thousands without water
Thousands of people were left without fresh water in Kazakhstan on Monday after a major flood disrupted water supplies in the southwest of the Central Asian state, the Emergencies Ministry said. Steppe-ing out in hard times
Once a year people put aside their hardships to celebrate Navruz, an ancient holiday marking the onset of spring. Kazakhstan opens its first kosher restaurant
Kazakhstan's first kosher restaurant has opened for business in what Jewish community leaders said was a symbol of their culture's revival in the mainly Muslim Central Asian state. Kazakhstan to spend $830 million on construction
The Kazakh government will spend 100 billion tenge ($830 million) to boost residential construction and economic growth in Kazakhstan's two largest cities after banks curtailed lending.
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