Blasts Could Derail Medvedev’s Softer Tack in the Caucasus
When two bombs ripped through Moscow subway stations at rush hour on Monday morning, Russia’s leaders reached for the kind of hunt-them-down-and-kill-them statements that propelled the country through two brutal wars in the Caucasus.
U.S. To Back Georgian, Baltic Armies
The Pentagon plans to build military capabilities in Georgia and the three Baltic states to ready them for operations in Afghanistan, a move that could raise alarm in Moscow.
Moscow bombings underline the grim situation in the North Caucasus
Russian security officials have linked Monday's two terrorist bombings in Moscow to the North Caucasus, and analysts in Russia are far from convinced the region has stabilized, as Moscow had claimed.
Merkel visits Turkey in effort to settle growing differences
Germany resistance to full Turkish membership of the EU is one thorny issue to be addressed as Chancellor Angela Merkel visits Ankara. Discussions are planned on a series of issues, including integration of immigrants.
Pentagon programs to bolster Georgian, Baltic forces
The Pentagon said on Friday it would build military capabilities of Georgia and Baltic states bordering Russia to ready them for operations in Afghanistan, a move that could raise alarm in Moscow.
Central Asia & Caucasus: governments spending heavily on arms
Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan have gone on a weapons spending spree over the past decade, collectively increasing their defense spending five-fold, according to a report recently released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Bulgaria Trade Unions Defy Govt's Plan to Up VAT
Bulgaria’s two major trade unions have declared themselves explicitly against the government’s intention to raise the value-added tax from 20% to 22%.
Russian customs union may undermine Georgia embargo
Russia’s customs union with Belarus and Kazakhstan may provide a loophole that will allow Georgian goods to enter Russia for the first time since an embargo was imposed in 2006, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said.
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