Good relations with Russia are vital for Armenia
Secession of Armenia from the USSR is directly linked to Karabakh issue. Nagorno-Karabakh conflict even 20 years after remains the key unhealed rift of Transcaucasus.
In 1991 Armenia, like nearly all newly independent ex-Soviet republics, was faced with the most complicated situation. In addition to independence officially declared on September 21, Armenia also got a pile of troubles. First of all a young republic was struggling to remedy the consequences...
Despite all our quarrels – we are fraternal people and can’t live without each other
Russia and Belarus (former Belorussia) are just doomed to be together. The current economy of Belarus still can’t survive without Russian market – both in view of the access to energy and sales of products. This alone is enough to make a sound pragmatic foundation for the further development of bilateral relations.
“Vendee of perestroika”
The leadership of the then Belorussia didn’t...
Pause in Russian-Georgian relations is only temporary
Over the past twenty years Georgian political elite has failed to implement a national- government project modeled after the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Now Georgia has to think of a new project.
Restoring Independence
Tbilisi will not mark December 8-- the twentieth anniversary of the meeting in Bialowieza Forest at which the representatives of the core republics of the Soviet Union certified its death. Nor will they celebrate...
Where friendship is strong, things go well.
Kazakhstan
was not among the Soviet republics seeking the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, twenty years of independence have turned it into a state which fares well politically and economically continuing to focus on cooperation, above all with Russia.
“Borderland” of the USSR
In the Soviet Union the Kazakh Republic was a typical “borderland” which was governed by a Moscow “ruler”-- the Republic’s Russian...
Switching between Russia and the West
Kirgizia
is one of the key strategic objects for a new ‘Big Game’ in modern Central Asia. Following the declared multi-vector foreign policy this country established close relations with the West, China and Islamic world. Moreover, the political life in Kirgizia is unstable with the continuous changeover of the ruling groups. Nevertheless, after the disintegration of the USSR relations with Russia have always played in important, sometimes key role...
“A Baltic Tiger” shrank to a kitten and remembered about Russia
During last twenty years Russian relations with Latvia were most tense on the background of other Baltic states. But they still keep the dynamism and are able to evolve towards a mutually beneficial dialogue.
20 years of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and Latvian Republics was celebrated on October 4, 2011. The past years were anything but simple for a bilateral dialogue and during 1990-2000 relations between...
There is just a step from enmity to friendship – to build a bridge between the East and the West via Lithuania.
Success of a dialogue between Russia and Lithuania in last twenty year should not be overestimated, but the parties definitely attempted to resolve priority tasks after the USSR disintegration, managed to tackle the spheres of mutual interest, despite persistent disputes and conflicts of historical and political origin.
Twenty years have passed since the establishment of diplomatic relations...
Moldova can integrate into Europe if Russia lets it go.
In August 2011 independent Moldova turned twenty. During 20 years it has been painfully choosing the strategic trend for its development: what companion would be most suitable for the further road – Western or Eastern Europe? But Moldova is still where it was 20 years ago – far from the West and close to the East. Though it would be improper to say that it didn’t manage to maintain the young democracy, it would be an exaggeration...
Russia is still able to draw Moldova back
After the USSR collapsed Moldova plunged into permanent political and economic crisis. 20 years after the political elite is still indecisive – either to pursue the declared strategic goal of integration into Europe or to shift to the Eurasian integration.
The case for Moldova’s secession from the USSR before it disintegrated.
Soviet Moldova rushed to secede from the USSR even before the Union failed. It happened on June 23, 1990 when the Supreme...
Will Russia find an appropriate way out of the post-Soviet labyrinth?
Twenty years after the collapse of the Soviet Union politicians and pundits are still concerned about the interests Russia should pursue in the post-Soviet area and prospects of their realization. The assessments of the Russian policy in the post-Soviet area range from highly pessimistic with doubts about the necessity of continued integration efforts to enthusiastic ones predicting a stronger political influence and economic...
