Home

Europe's East

Eastern Partnership states should not be made to choose EU or Russia, US strategist says

Well-known US foreign policy strategist Bruce Jackson says it's very dangerous to make neighbors choose between Brussels and Moscow ahead of the forthcoming EU Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius. READ MORE

Searching for the One to Blame for Cyprus

video

By Ivan Preobrazhenskij

Who has invented the tax on Cyprus bank accounts, which the Parliament of the island country doesn’t want to approve? The European Central Bank is trying to lay the blame on the President of Cyprus, and he, in his turn, blames the governments of the Eurozone countries. Meanwhile the issue, as well as the accounts in Cyprus banks have hung up for indefinite period, as they have not yet been able to “break” the MPs. Moscow also tries to take part in the resolution of this problem, which was appointed beyond its will as a “title sponsor” of Cyprus stabilization. READ MORE

The Putin Doctrine

By Leon Aron

Much in Russian foreign policy today is based on a consensus that crystallized in the early 1990s. Emerging from the rubble of the Soviet collapse, this consensus ranges across the political spectrum -- from pro-Western liberals to leftists and nationalists. It rests on three geostrategic imperatives: that Russia must remain a nuclear superpower, a great power in all facets of international activity, and the hegemon -- the political, military, and economic leader -- of its region. This consensus marks a line in the sand, beyond which Russia cannot retreat without losing its sense of pride or even national identity. It has proven remarkably resilient, surviving post-revolutionary turbulence and the change of political regimes from Boris Yeltsin to Vladimir Putin. READ MORE

Piebalgs: Development champions should speak up

By Georgi Gotev

Development aid contributes to economic success in both developing countries and in Europe, Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs tells in an exclusive interview. READ MORE

Kazakh Foreign Minister to visit some European countries

Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Yerlan Idrisov will visit a number of European countries in the second half of March, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhanbolat Usenov said at a briefing in Astana on Friday. READ MORE

Vladimir Bespalov: Germany Shall Maintain Neutrality about Presence of Russia in Arab States

video

By Vladimir Bespalov

Expert-germanist Vladimir Bespalov analyzed economic relations of Russia and Germany as the ground of political dialogue for “NewsBalt”.  READ MORE

Ukrainian dilemma

Tentatively in April, President of Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus will discuss the issue of Ukraine's accession to the provisions of the Customs Union. According to an UNIAN correspondent, told the president of Ukraine, returning from Moscow. Vladimir Putin and Viktor Yanukovych discussed the format of Kiev with the Customs Union (CU) and agreed to continue to work not only for governments, but also with the involvement of the executive body of the Customs Union. While Moscow is offering Kiev to join the Customs Union, which will reduce the price of purchased natural gas in Russia. In Kiev, still hoping to sign an association agreement and a free trade area with the European Union and offer sectoral cooperation with TC under a "3 +1", but Russia is not satisfied. READ MORE

Kazakhstan and Poland to set up Association of Interregional Cooperation

Ambassador of Kazakhstan Yerik Utembayev attended the session of the Union of the Voivodeships of the Republic of Poland in Warsaw, Kazinform has learnt from the Kazakh MFA's press service. READ MORE

Orban’s Law

By Vitalij Potnikov

Hungary hasn’t yet become an authoritarian state, but if the Prime Minister wishes so, it will. READ MORE

Francis, the humble new pope

video

The Roman Catholic Church has chosen a new pope and he comes from Argentina. The papacy now enters a new era with Jorge Bergoglio, Latin America's first pope and the first pontiff to come from the developing world. READ MORE