Context
News EU Seeks Caspian Gas Accord to Cut Russian Dependence

The European Union is seeking an agreement on a natural-gas pipeline between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan as the 27-nation bloc aims to import Caspian fuel and reduce its dependence on Russia.

  • August 5, 2010
News Surge in Nuclear Power Projects Imperils Belarusian Program

According to Belarusian First Vice-Prime Minister, Uladzimir Syamashka, the end of July was scheduled to mark the finalization of an agreement between Belarus and Russia to build the nuclear power station at Astravets in the Hrodna region with construction of the station to start next July

  • August 5, 2010
News Poland and Lithuania discuss gas pipeline

The European Union could fund a portion of a natural gas pipeline discussed by Polish and Lithuanian officials, a gas company said.

  • August 5, 2010
News Putin Sang Songs While Russia Burned

Since the first wildfires started a month ago, 125,000 hectares of Russia’s forest have been destroyed in 17 regions, and 40 people have died.

  • August 4, 2010
News Russia Pushes Back Chemical Weapons Deadline

Russia's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday the country will push back its deadline for destroying chemical weapons stockpiles by as much as three years due to budget and technical problems.

  • August 4, 2010
News EU Seeks Turkmen, Azeri Gas Accord to Reduce Russian Dependence

The European Union is seeking an agreement on a natural-gas pipeline between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan as the 27-nation bloc aims to import Caspian fuel and reduce its dependence on Russia.

  • August 4, 2010
Publications The Russian–Iranian Relations after the UNSC  PDF  (144 Kb)

Key Positions 

  • Russia is deceiving the West in its support for the latest round of UNSC sanctions against Iran.

  • Russia continues to expand cooperation with Iran on its nuclear programme and agreements over sophisticated arms deliveries despite its moves to support sanctions.

  • Russia may have an interest in expanding its political and economic cooperation with the West, but the likelihood of strategic cooperation with Iran remains stronger in the medium term.

  • Russian President Medvedev’s announcement in mid-July that “Iran is close to developing nuclear weapons” occurring in parallel to Russia continuing to provide for Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities is a reflection of the pragmatic realism with which the current “diplomatic charades” involving Russia, Iran and the West should be understood.

  • August 4, 2010
Publications Russian Geopolitical Power in the Black and Caspian Seas Region: Implications for Turkey and the World  PDF  (164 Kb)

Exerting influence in the wider Black and Caspian Seas region is becoming a crucial element in Russia’s current geopolitical strategy. Energy and security are two of Moscow’s primary concerns relating to the region. Turkey, the EU, and the United States, as well as international energy companies will have to be aware of the operational instruments which Moscow has been deploying as part of its geopolitical strategy in the region, which include:
1) inserting itself into the domestic political affairs of its post-Soviet neighbors;
2) simultaneously acting as a crisis mediator/peacekeeper and fostering regional tension to provoke further crisis;
3) behaving as the regional “strong man” in the name of protecting Russian minorities;
4) strengthening energy ties with other former-Soviet Republics in the region; and
5) striking bilateral commercial deals with select Western corporate partners and governments. The deployment of such instruments will ensure that Moscow’s approach to regional geopolitics will remain purposefully unpredictable and full of intrigue, and will invariably continue to take other regional actors by surprise. READ MORE

  • August 4, 2010
1 ... 423 424 425 ... 469
Russia, Ukraine, Belarus Remove region filter