November 27th, 2013
Pipelines Of Empire
At this juncture in history, the fate of Europe is wound up not in ideas but in geopolitics. For millennia, eruptions from Asia have determined the fate of Europe, including invasions and migrations by Russians, Turkic tribes and Byzantine Greeks. Central and Eastern Europe, with their geographical proximity to the Asian steppe and the Anatolian land bridge, have borne the brunt of these cataclysms. Today is no different, only it is far subtler. Armies are not marching; rather, hydrocarbons are flowing. For that is the modern face of Russian influence in Europe. To understand the current pressures upon Europe from the east it is necessary to draw a map of energy pipelines. READ MORE
November 25th
Iran agrees to curb nuclear activity at Geneva talks
Iran has agreed to curb some of its nuclear activities in return for about $7bn (£4.3bn) in sanctions relief, after days of intense talks in Geneva. READ MORE
Energy security and its mysteries
Today energy security is one of the key issues of the Lithuanian economic policy. It is usually referred to as a technological or economic energy self-sufficiency problem, yet recently more focus is given to the impact of energy on the development of society. This aspect creates prerequisites for discussion: what are the views of social sciences with respect to the national energy security? READ MORE
Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan Economic Relations Make Progress
On November 1, the fourth session of the Kazakhstani-Kyrgyzstani Intergovernmental Council met in Bishkek. The meeting sought to realize the agenda articulated by Kazakhstani Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov, who noted “the mutual desire of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to address urgent issues on water and the energy sector, gas, transport, agriculture, environmental problems” as well as promote free trade (inform.kz, November 1). READ MORE
Margvelashvili: Our ambitious plan – signing the agreement remains the main strategy of our government
As President Giorgi Margvelashvili told journalists, Georgia is going to the Vilnius summit with extremely good results, READ MORE
November 22nd
Ukraine suspends preparations for EU trade agreement
A government statement said the decision had been taken to protect Ukraine's "national security". READ MORE
Situation with migration policy in Russia to grow worse
A growing number of migrants from Central Asia are coming to Russia to earn money. Their situation became more difficult because of growing anti-immigrant sentiments, but they don’t see a way out yet. READ MORE
China’s New Reforms in Theory and Practice
On November 12, the Third Plenary of the 18th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) announced a major turn to market-oriented policies: interest-rate and currency liberalization, reform of banks and state enterprises, clearer land ownership for rural inhabitants, and a better deal for urban migrants. READ MORE
Europe’s eastern future at stake at the EU Vilnius summit
The aggressive attitude of Russia towards neighbour countries seeking closer EU integration indicates a new reality which the EU’s Eastern partnership must be ready to face, writes Alex Petriashvili. READ MORE
Oligarchs at war in the British courts
It promises to be one of the most expensive cases ever heard in a British courtroom — involving three oligarchs who have fallen out in spectacular fashion. READ MORE
