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Is the Sky is Clear Above All Georgia?

By Aleksey Kornilov

In December Abkhazia will hold another Presidential elections. Official election campaign hasn’t started yet, but its general lines are pretty evident. In a sense we can talk about return to the situation of 2004 – but in a mirror reflection. READ MORE

European Leaders Agree To Czech Demands Over Lisbon Treaty

EU leaders have agreed to allow the Czech Republic to opt out of a part of the EU's reform treaty, removing one of the last barriers to ratification. The Swedish EU presidency says talks must now shift to the climate. READ MORE

Custom Union Impedes WTO Joining

By Aleksey Portanskij

Geneva welcomed first joint conferences of delegations from Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus with WTO member-states on joining this organization. As a result Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus intend to resume negotiations on joining the World Trade Organization as individual states, but in cooperation with each other. And the three states still strive to join WTO as soon as possible as a Custom Union. READ MORE

Russian Foreign Minister Speaks On Missile Defense, START, World Situation

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov gave an interview to editors-in-chief of RIA Novosti, the Voice of Russia radio station, and the Russia Today TV channel in which he discussed topical issues of Russian foreign policy and current global developments. READ MORE

Azerbaijan-Russia Gas Agreement: Implications For Nabucco Project

By Vladimir Socor

On October 14 in Baku, Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company president Rovnag Abdullayev and Gazprom CEO Aleksei Miller signed an agreement on Azerbaijani gas exports to Russia. The move is a logical follow-up to the June 29 agreement, signed by the same company chiefs –in the presence of Presidents Ilham Alyiev and Dmitry Medvedev in Baku on that occasion– on the main principles of the gas trade between the two countries. READ MORE

RFE/RL Interview: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden

In an exclusive interview, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden spoke with RFE/RL correspondents Brian Whitmore and Abubakar Siddique about the U.S. administration's policy on Russia, the Caucasus, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran. Biden assured Central and Eastern Europeans of the United States' commitment to the region, and said that the United States will not ignore concerns about democracy in dealing with Iran on its nuclear program. READ MORE

Czech Leader Positive On Lisbon

Czech President Vaclav Klaus is satisfied an EU proposal meets demands he made for an opt-out on the bloc's Lisbon Treaty, his office says. READ MORE

The President Calls For Joint Action To Ensure Baltic Security

"The three Baltic States must act together in requesting their Alliance partners to work out, as soon as possible and taking into account the new threats, NATO defense plans for the Baltics," President Grybauskaitė said. READ MORE

Strategic Deal Has "Historic Importance": Nazarbayev

Kazakhstan's President Nazarbayev said a strategic cooperation agreement signed with Turkey was of historic importance. READ MORE

Power Struggle Defines Debate Over Europe's New Foreign Service

By Michael Knigge

Everyone agrees that the EU needs a powerful diplomatic corps to pull its global weight. But when it comes to creating the new service old turf battles could undermine a debate over the role of the new body. READ MORE