South Caucasus
Russia’s 2008 attack in historical perspective
January 26, 2011Ninety-one years ago this week, the British cabinet rejected a comprehensive plan to rally an anti-Bolshevik coalition, support White Russian forces, control the Baku-Batumi corridor and the Caspian Sea and, from that position of strength, negotiate...
Wikileaks perturb US-Azerbaijan relations (Part One)
December 07, 2010By Vladimir Socor Perhaps more than the WikiLeaks themselves, it is the massive security breach and counterintelligence failure that will, for some time to come, discourage candid conversations between the US government and some of its key partners...
Medvedev heads to Baku amid growing tensions in South Caucasus
September 02, 2010Amid a colorful firework display, Azerbaijan raised a massive version of its national flag on September 1 that it claims is the world's largest, at 70 meters by 35 meters long and a whopping 350 kilograms. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, presiding...
Obama to tackle 'Serious Issues' with Azerbaijan
June 07, 2010U.S. President Barack Obama promised Azerbaijan in a letter released today that Washington will treat its dispute with Armenia as a top priority. Azerbaijan is an important link in Afghan supply lines and energy export routes to the West. In April,...
EU scrapping South Caucasus, Moldova envoys
May 31, 2010The reported decision by the EU's foreign policy chief would seem to signal a downgrading of the bloc's involvement in its eastern neighborhood. In a signal of waning interest in its eastern neighborhood, the European Union's foreign policy chief, Cathering...
Russia will construct Turkey’s first nuclear power plant
May 20, 2010By Saban Kardas During Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev’s, visit to Ankara last week, Turkey and Russia enhanced their multi-dimensional partnership by signing 17 agreements. Major deals concerned energy cooperation, which has been the driving...
The night that panicked Georgia
March 15, 2010A fake report of a Russian invasion of Georgia on a pro-government television station has sparked anger in the South Caucasus country Georgians reacted with fear and in some cases panic to a mock television report that sparked panic by claiming that...
EU's Eastern Partnership stuck in low gear
December 08, 2009By Ahto Lobjakas The EU's Eastern Partnership was launched with great fanfare in Prague in May. But just past the eight-month mark, it is becoming clear that neither the EU nor the six partnership members have high hopes for the grouping. EU documents...
Moldova keeps fighting for attention
November 11, 2009By Vlad Spânu The Republic of Moldova surprised many in April when youths took control of Chisinau’s main square, Piata Marii Adunari Nationale (or "PMAN", which became one of the most "wanted" words on Twitter during...
New Georgian War Could Destroy Russia
August 12, 2009By Paul Goble A new war with Georgia, something Russian officials and commentators are increasingly talking about, could have the same impact on the Russian Federation that the invasion of Afghanistan had on the USSR, according to Yuliya Latynina,...