Home

Archive - Apr 2009

Date
Type

April 29th

Dual Energy Conferences Focus On Pressing European Import Issues

By Bruce Pannier

Two energy conferences are taking place this week -- one in Bulgaria, the other in Turkmenistan -- that could result in major decisions being made on pressing issues surrounding European imports.

State officials and business representatives in both Sofia and Ashgabat will be discussing how to reliably transit energy resources -- mainly natural gas -- from locations in Asia to markets in Europe. READ MORE

What the G2 must discuss now the G20 is over

Did the meeting of the Group of 20 in London put the world economy on the path of sustainable recovery? The answer is no. Such meetings cannot resolve fundamental disagreements over what has gone wrong and how to put it right. As a result, the world is on a path towards an unsustainable recovery. An unsustainable recovery might be better than none, but it is not good enough. READ MORE

April 27th

Medvedev Tells the West to Keep Out of Georgia

By Pavel Felgenhauer

Russia has reacted angrily to the forthcoming NATO-led Partnership for Peace (PfP) exercises in Georgia. President Dmitry Medvedev called the decision to hold the exercises "shortsighted and not worthy of true partnership." He warned that tensions in the region will rise, saying: "these actions are a clear military demonstration, a buildup of military muscle," and that Russia "shall be following everything that will be happening there in the most attentive way, and, if need be, take this or that decision". READ MORE

Declaration Of The Sofia Energy Summit

This is the full text of the Final Declaration of the Sofia Energy Summit, "Natural Gas for Europe. Security and Partnership", which was signed by 28 states and organizations from Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, the European Commission, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Egypt, France, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Montenegro, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Serbia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the Ukraine, USA. READ MORE

Russian Roulette In The EU Neighborhood

By Ahto Lobjakas

Russia has six bullets with which to wound or kill the European Union's Eastern Partnership, and put the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy out of its misery in the process.

It is generally accepted that the project is at the mercy of Moscow, the old colonial master of the six privileged European neighbors: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. READ MORE

Surgut's Move Against MOL: A New Stage in Russian Acquisition Strategy in Europe

By Vladimir Socor

Russian expansion into European energy industries stands poised to cross a new threshold with the stealthy acquisition of a large stake in Hungary's privately owned MOL by Russia's Kremlin-controlled Surgut Neftegaz. This move entails a number of bold novelties. READ MORE

April 24th

Turkey and Armenia agree on roadmap to normalize relations

Ankara says the two sides will work towards peace, security and stability. Tensions between the countries are rooted in Ottoman-era massacres of Armenians by Turks which Yerevan says were genocide. READ MORE

Uzbekistan And Kazakhstan Preparing To Block Energy Projects, Kyrgyz Press Warns

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are preparing to jointly block Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan’s proposed hydroelectric projects, according to media outlets in Kyrgyzstan. READ MORE

April 22nd

Russia in Poor Position To Be an IMF Donor

By Alexei Bayer

At the Group of 20 summit, U.S. President Barack Obama not only charmed other world leaders but also secured a commitment of new money for the International Monetary Fund. READ MORE

State of the Nation Address by H. E. Mr. Valdas Adamkus, President of the Republic of Lithuania

This is my last state of the nation address to the people of Lithuania and members of parliament. Next year it will be delivered, as prescribed by the Constitution, by a new head of state in accord with own personal values, principles and viewpoint to Lithuania's present and future life. On many occasions, I have shared with the people of Lithuania my thoughts about the challenges that we face and ways of overcoming them. READ MORE