ESTONIA
Mass media reacted to Moscow's refusal to sign the Russian-Estonian border treaty calmly. "Russia's refusal will present no problem to Estonia even when joining the Schengen agreement, because the European Union supports Estonia's position." (SL Ohtuleht, August 15.)
The press views the incident when prominent Russian skier Nikolay Zimyatov was denied an Estonian visa as absurd. "The international skiing legend was insulted. Evidently, now Estonia will get a bucket of pig's wash from Russia... Far and by, we have only ourselves to blame for sensible relations with Russia remaining only a dream." (SL Ohtuleht, August 10.)
The coverage of the Altai governor's funeral was ironic. "The funeral of Russian governor Mikhail Yevdokimov... reminded pictures of funerals from the book "About Lenin for Children". For two days the younger generation of Russians had an opportunity to see how parting with Grandpa Lenin had taken place 80 years ago: a many-kilometer queue, dozens of thousands of mourners with portraits and ribbons in their hands, and the sports palace swamped with flowers." (SL Ohtuleht, August 11.)
LATVIA
The first meeting of the Latvian government's commission for calculating "the damage done by the Soviet occupation" caused a significant stir. "It is unclear how much access the commission's members will get to Russian archives where a greater part of information on the damage inflicted on Latvia is stored." (Diena, August 18.)
The Russian-language press gave skeptical assessments of the first meeting.
"So far the only achievement of these politicians is that over half of the population in neighboring Russia consider Latvia a hostile country. Apparently, their final goal is to bring this number to 100%, and "the bill for the occupation" will speed up the process dramatically." (Chas, August 11.)
Mass media forecast that Russia will try to take advantage of the forthcoming visit to Latvia of Russian Patriarch Alexy II. "The head of the Russian Orthodox Church is one of the strongest pillars of President Putin, he is directly or indirectly connected with Russian politics... So Alexy's visit may have political consequences, regardless of the Patriarch's intentions, but in line with Russia's interests." (Latvijas Avize, August 16.)
Some articles devoted to the Russian-Latvian football match in the qualifying round of the 2006 World Cup have political implications. "52.4% of fans want the Russian team to win, and only 38.7% will support Latvia... This vote is most probably a protest. Not so much for Russia, as against Latvia. The school reform, the huge number of non-citizens, the gloomy economic situation and language problems have prejudiced many Russians against the Latvian state over these years." (Chas, August 13.)
LITHUANIA
The attacks on Polish diplomats in Moscow have received a huge response. "When fistfight becomes so purposeful and regular, it involuntarily suggests that such expression of people's patriotic feelings is not done without somebody's cue. The reaction demonstrated by the Russian Themis will be the most correct and objective proof of whether there is "Moscow's hand" behind the hooligans, or not." (Litovskaya Narodnaya Gazeta, August 11.)
With a certain regret the press comments the fact that Russia made no official notification about the launch of a large-scale military exercise of its Baltic Fleet. "What happens in a state's economy or its territorial waters is the affair of this state alone. Still, it is regretful that the principles of good neighborly relations, including informing one's neighbors about holding a large-scale exercise, have not taken root yet." (Sugardas.lt, August 14.)
There is a tint of a scandal in reports about sending to Russia four tons of beryllium confiscated from criminals and stored in Lithuania since 1993.
"The load of beryllium, which is used for the production of nuclear weapons, and which had been a headache for Lithuanian justice for over ten years, was yesterday dispatched to Moscow for a suspicious Russian company, AMI Service. Officials say that it was sent in compliance with law, but the Seim's chairman Arturas Paulauskas does not conceal that he is shocked by such an end of the story." (Respublika, August 12.)
UKRAINE
Some mass media interpret Ukrainian State Secretary Oleksandr Zinchenko's visit to Moscow as Russia's preparations for Ukraine's elections. "Moscow has its own interest in Zinchenko - to find a weak element in the Orange stronghold. Earlier it tried both the Prime Minister and the National Security and Defense Council Secretary for the role, but chose the state secretary, and he seems to live up to the expectations." (Ukrayinska Pravda, August 14.)
The situation with the Russian Black Sea Fleet's deployment in the Crimea has made the thesis about the anti-Ukrainian campaign allegedly launched by the Kremlin more topical. "Having improved political technologies, elaborated during the many years of talks on the Black Sea Fleet, Russia supports regional tensions in the Crimea and Sevastopol to "squeeze" more political and economic concessions out of Ukraine... The problem of the future withdrawal of Russia's Black Sea Fleet from the Crimea and Sevastopol is the core around which an anti-Ukrainian campaign is being built." (Ukrayinska Pravda, August 15.)
The topical issue of the status of the Russian language and the situation of Russian-speaking population in Ukraine has made some mass media warn Ukrainian society about the real threat of Russia and pro-Russian Ukrainian associations patronized by Moscow speculating on the "Russian factor". "Russians in Ukraine are hopeful about the future and want to take revenge at the 2006 elections... Numerous "Russian" and "Slavic" blocs, movements and parties make active use of pro-Russian mottos to get organizational, "moral" and, most importantly, financial support from Moscow. Accordingly, Russia believes it has the right to use them in its political and geopolitical interests." (Podrobnosti, August 12.)
MOLDOVA
The state of Russian ammunition in the village of Kolbasnya in Transdnestria has become an object of political manipulations in the Moldovan media. The yield of a potential explosion of Russian ammunition would be equal to that of the Hiroshima A-bomb. "Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov admits the problem. Despite this, Russia does not take any practical steps to withdraw arms, a considerable part of which were manufactured before WWII and can no longer be used for their proper purpose" (Moldova Suverane, August 12.)
The Transdnestria media are sharply criticizing Chisinau's "policy of intimidation", which, in their opinion, exaggerates the danger of storing Russian ammunition in Kolbasnya. "In early August, remembering the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Japan, the authorities hastily organized 'an ecological festival' aimed at 'forming public opinion'," (Olvia-press, August 11.)
The media have spread the statement of the leaders of the pro-Chisinau Transdnestria organization Pro Europa. "The Russian policy of supporting the criminal regime is being implemented with the participation of Russian ambassador to Moldova Nikolai Ryabov, whose actions are incompatible with his diplomatic status and may serve as grounds for declaring him a persona non grata in our country". (PRESS-Obozreniye, August12.)
ARMENIA
The media continue to show interest in the subject of the need for Armenia's integration with Europe. "Armenia has no alternative to integration with Europe... In foreign policy, the republic should be guided exclusively by economic interests, that dictate the need to take a course for integration with the European Union" (Aravot, August 16.)
At the same time, the press continues assessing prospects for the development of the Commonwealth of Independent States. "The CIS is an interstate structure which really exists in the geopolitical sense and which should be reckoned with... The Commonwealth has a positive dynamics of the development of all-round ties".(Armenpress, August 12.)
Experts are sure that Russia, which is interested in the preservation of the status quo, fully controls the situation in Armenia. "As a result of a revolution, our country may find itself under Russia's control, the way this happened in Kyrgyzstan... Russia may provide assistance in carrying out a revolution in Armenia. Outstripping other countries in this respect, Russia will try to preserve Armenia's pro-Russian authorities, which are suitable for it" (Aravot, August 11.)
Against the background of a lull in political life in August, several criminal incidents in various regions of Russia in which Armenians suffered are widely covered in the press. The press is publishing detailed reports about the incidents, refraining from making comments yet.
GEORGIA
The aggravation of the situation in South Ossetia and a large-scale military training exercise in Abkhazia gave the press another pretext for accusing Russia of provoking the escalation of conflicts. Experts see the events as the implementation of the Kremlin's scenario under which Georgia would have to resort to power to solve the problems, which would allow Russia to intervene militarily in the situation. "The U.S. administration strongly opposes Georgia using force to restore its territorial integrity. The use of power methods by Georgia will untie Russia's hands and the latter will send its troops to Georgia, which would be a catastrophe for the USA because thereby Russia would occupy the whole Caucasus" (Rezonansi, August 12.)
In the opinion of the media, the escalation of the conflict in Dagestan may also lead to a new war in the Caucasus in which Georgia will also be involved. "According to the information circulated, the units of the Russian federal army are planning a large-scale military operation against the rebels operating in Dagestan. This means a new war". (Rezonansi August 10.)
The establishment of friendly relations with Ukraine is being interpreted by the media as Georgia's acquiring yet another "democratic" ally in the struggle against the imperialist and stagnant Russia. "Georgia has always tried to throw off the yoke of Russia's military-political influence. After the orange revolution, Ukraine, which looked to the West, also stopped obeying Russia. This testifies to the strengthening of independence and democratic forces in the post-Soviet republics" (Kviris palitra, August 15.)
AZERBAIJAN
The media are playing up the subject of the Kremlin's loss of former clout in the post-Soviet republics. "This autumn one of the last nails will be hammered into the coffin of Russia's monopoly influence in the post-Soviet republics. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, built by Western firms, will be put into operation and Caspian oil will flow bypassing Russia to world markets. Although the West is not well versed in the realties of the post-Soviet republics, it has outstripped Russia in Azerbaijan and other republics due to Moscow's political schizophrenia. (Eni Musavat, August 15.)
The Azerbaijani media have again addressed the question of the need to revise the allegedly "unfair" "zero" variant with regard to the Soviet Union's debts. "Right after the breakup of the USSR, Russia assumed all the debt obligations of the Soviet Union, simultaneously, receiving the guarantees that from that moment, all the USSR's debtors would owe their debts to the Russian Federation. Despite the fact that in the first days of independence the former fraternal republics accepted such a proposal, a part of them have changed their minds later. It seems that Azerbaijan also ponders similar questions" (Ekho August 13.)
The search in the RIA Novosti buro in Baghdad is seen as an indirect reaction of the United States to the interview with Abdullah Al-Jenabi, the leader of a large group of the Iraqi armed resistance movement, published by the agency. "Judging by everything, the interview with Jenabi, which appeared in RIA Novosti online news, was a kind of a reply to the interview with Chechen terrorists' leader Shamil Basayev broadcast by ABC. Admittedly, ABC, as distinct from RIA Novosti, is not a state company, and even not a partly controlled by the state company, whereas the contents of RIA Novosti online news coincides with the Kremlin's political line to a far greater extent. Against this background, the scandal over the interview with Jenabi may have far-reaching consequences". (Ekho, August 11.)
KAZAKHSTAN
Before the upcoming election campaign in Russia the media in Kazakhstan are trying to predict what possible presidential candidates will be like. "The new president of Russia will be a synthesis of Leonid Brezhnev (former Soviet leader) and Soviet patriotism." (Liter.kz, August 13.)
The press views the Russian-Chinese military exercises codenamed Peace Mission-2005 the as an important factor of bringing closer together the positions of the political leaderships of Russia and China. "Considering that Beijing and Moscow have stepped up foreign-policy activities in Central Asia, one may forecast a rapid development of the situation in the region, which is becoming 'overheated' and hardly predictable in political terms." (Gazeta.kz, August 15.)
KYRGYZSTAN
The press expressed concern over rapprochement between Russia and China in connection with the Russian-Chinese military exercises. "The Russian-Chinese military exercises are seen as the first real moves after the cold war taken by Russia and China to oppose the growing U.S. influence in Asia." (Gazeta.KG, August 15.)
Some media note that Moscow pursues yet another goal in the military exercises. "The exercises give Russia a chance to demonstrate its newest armaments to their best clients - Chinese generals. It is rumored that Moscow is finally ready to sell to Beijing bombers capable of carrying cruise missiles - the strategic Tu-95 (Bear by NATO classification) and supersonic Tu-22 (Backfire) - which will increase China's military capability in confrontation with America and its friends in Asia." (Gazeta. KG, August 15.)
It is stressed that Russia's efforts to modernize arms supplies to China betray the Kremlin's shortsightedness and may cause negative consequences in the future. "Russia is getting a good deal of money every year by selling arms to China, but someone in Moscow fails to see that in 5 or 10 years the same arms may be used against Russia." (Gazeta.KG, August 12.)
UZBEKISTAN
The information about Russian-Chinese military exercises again allowed the media to harp on the alleged idea that the "anti-American" alliance of Moscow and Beijing is being strengthened. Some media say about a concealed aspect of a political rapprochement between Russia and China. It is also stressed that Russia wants in this way to diversify its arms exports to China and secure itself against a possible lifting of the EU embargo on arms supplies to that country. "Russia tries to make Chinese interested in acquiring its nuclear submarines and strategic bombers, which may be used against the U.S. Pacific Fleet." (Musulmansky Uzbekistan, August 15.)
Some media recommend Moscow to refrain from patronizing the regime of President Islam Karimov. "It would be reasonable for Russia to ask itself if it wants to live side by side with a delayed-action bomb, which is what Uzbekistan under Karimov is. Uzbek jihadists, whom he has driven to frenzy, pose a threat not only to the West, but to Russia as well. Terrorists have bombs and assault rifles and are not averse to making a trip abroad." (Musulmansky Uzbekistan, August 11.)
Some media express concern over a possible U.S. revenge in the near future for the pullout of its military contingent from Uzbekistan. "The Americans failed to stage an 'orange revolution' in Uzbekistan. Another attempt will be made already this fall. And they will no longer use soft 'orange' methods. They will try to create an Islamic state in Ferghana on the bayonets of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which the population, tired of Karimov, will definitely support. The Uzbek army will be unable to repulse this blow effectively." (Musulmansky Uzbekistan, August 10.)
TAJIKISTAN
The main theme of the week was an outlook for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), especially its military and economic components. "The laying of a pipeline from Russia to China may indeed become a project of the century... The Americans pay so much attention to the project because they themselves would like to look for ways of taking part in promising projects on the SCO territory." (Asia Plus, August 11.)
The press says that the presence of the U.S. military bases in Central Asian countries is unacceptable. "Military bases in Central Asian countries are a potential threat to Southern Siberia and Russia's Far East, and a threat to China." (Asia Plus, August 11.)
In connection with the upcoming CIS summit in Kazan, the Tajik media assess the future of the Commonwealth of Independent States in a positive way. "The growing economic interaction, promotion of integration and a prospect of making the CIS an effective association of global significance - all this meets the national interests of each CIS country," (Khovar, August 10.)
