ESTONIA
The press has lashed out at Poland for blocking talks on a framework agreement between the European Union (EU) and Russia. It explains that this decision is due primarily to Warsaw's pragmatic stand. "Polish representatives stuck to their position even though all other EU members begged them not to. Even Lithuania parted with Poland yesterday, and agreed to start negotiations with Russia for the sake of compromise." (Eesti Paevaleht, November 14.)
Journalists note that only Russia stands to gain from a lack of unity in the EU because it can thereby exert pressure on individual countries, such as Estonia. "The absence of a strong united front will allow Russia to use its energy resources for its own political purposes, and act with even less restraint towards neighboring countries. Now the arsenal of Russian demagogy will be able to argue that Poland is trying to drive a wedge into relations between Russia and old Europe. Poland's dissent, which is manifest not only in questions of energy and contacts with Russia, is complicating Estonia's quest for strong allies." (Postimees, November 14.)
LATVIA
The press is stunned by Poland's decision to block the Russia-EU talks. "If Warsaw does not change its attitude, there is no point in holding the [EU-Russia] summit because the new agreement is the main item on its agenda. It is difficult to explain why the Polish authorities have taken such a step. This totally uncalled-for act of vengeance is casting a shadow over Latvia as well, because we are also listed among the countries of 'Central and Eastern Europe.'" (Diena, November 13.)
The media observe that Russia has changed its policy regarding Russian speakers in the Baltic countries. Today, Moscow is discussing non-citizen's rights with PACE. Having given up its practice of supporting only one pro-Kremlin Russian-speaking party, it is cooperating with several political forces at the same time. "Its aims have remained the same - to preserve and expand its sphere of influence - but the methods have become more sophisticated and versatile. The so-called 'defense of compatriots' is still its policy, but it is less pronounced... Pro-Russian parties are competing for Moscow's attention... It appears that [the Kremlin] is putting its eggs in different baskets." (Latvijas Avize, November 10.)
"The process of naturalization in the Latvian Republic may last for another half a century. Thousands of non-citizens may simply die before the authorities decide to give them passports. The policy of denying citizenship runs counter to European standards. More and more representatives of Western parliaments in PACE are sharing the concerns of their Russian colleagues." (Vesti segodnya, November 9.)
LITHUANIA
The media are worried about a gradual cooling in Russia's relations with the West, fearing that the United States may lose interest in world events after the Democrats' victory in mid-term elections. "If the Democrats choose to isolate the U.S. from world affairs, neither Lithuania nor Europe in general will benefit, all the more so against the backdrop of Russia's increasingly aggressive policy." (Verslo zinios, November 14).
The media are extensively covering the Warsaw-provoked EU scandal. "This scandal shows once again the differences in the positions of EU members towards Moscow. Poland has taken this stance for fear that the European Commission and Germany, which will assume the EU presidency in early 2007, may come to terms with Russia to the detriment of Warsaw's interests." (Sugardas. It, November 13.)
UKRAINE
Journalists believe that the Ukrainian government, which turned 100 days old last week, is unable to prevent an imminent economic crisis. They do not rule out that in their quest to stay in power, the ministers will begin political bargaining with Moscow and sacrifice Ukraine's interests in strategic economic spheres in exchange for Moscow's support. "The government cannot repeat the economic miracle of 2002-2004. Russia...has stopped its voluntary sponsorship, given up the idea of restoring the U.S.S.R., and started building a normal neocolonial empire... For Russia, Ukraine is no longer a fraternal country...but a milk cow... Russia is prepared to spare those spheres of the Ukrainian economy which are of interest to Russian business. This is the basis for the current political tandem, which benefits both the Party of Regions (led by Prime Minister Yanukovich) and the Kremlin." (Oligarkh.net, November 8).
MOLDOVA
The media are indignant at the decision by Gennady Onishchenko, chief of the Russian federal monitoring service for the protection of consumer rights, to suspend talks on the resumption of Moldovan wine shipments to Russia. Journalists note that Russia is planning to import wine from Abkhazia and Transdnestr. "The results of [Onishchenko's] anti-alcohol 'policy' are obvious: the list of Russians killed by the consumption of fake booze is growing longer every day." (Nezavisimaya Moldova, November 8.)
ARMENIA
The media write that Armenia will remain a dependent country regardless of the outcome of the future presidential elections because either Moscow or Washington will control its domestic policy. "Does it make any difference whether the authorities are a puppet of authoritarian Russia or the democratic U.S.?... The current Armenian government as a whole is acceptable to both democrats and non-democrats; influential outside forces will most probably not find it difficult to come to terms with it." (Aravot, November 10.)
The plan to build the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline continues to occupy the center of economic news. Although there is no official information on the sale of a section of the would-be pipeline to Russia's Gazprom, the press is convinced that the deal will go through anyway. "Strange events...are taking place around the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. The Russians keep saying that Armenia's 40 km-long segment will be sold to them, while Armenian officials are denying this with odd zeal... All this ballyhoo...has only one explanation: Russia is subjecting the Armenian authorities to enormous pressure in a bid to get the pipe for nothing, and the latter are trying to resist this. But they do not have the resources...for open resistance because they have assumed power due not to the will of the people, but owing to Russian support... This is the reason why the fate of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline is sealed." (168 zham, November 10.)
GEORGIA
The media have qualified Gazprom's proposal to lower gas prices in exchange for national assets (primarily, the gas main) as totally unacceptable. "Gazprom will never be given the gas main... Moreover, there is no sense in signing contracts with Gazprom because it always violates its commitments... Gazprom has decided to change its image and become an executor of political orders instead of a reliable partner." (Sakartvelos Respublica, November 9.)
"Gazprom's proposal runs counter to international standards... It is immoral for one country to demand the assets of another and threaten to stop gas supplies or dictate prices to the latter if it refuses to do so... Georgia is a sovereign state...and it has no reason to renounce its own assets." (Rezonansi, November 11.) "Today, Georgia is in no way interested in selling this gas pipeline... It will be important economically as long as it is in our hands. In Russia's hands it would become important politically." (Akhali Taoba, November 9.)
AZERBAIJAN
The opposition media view President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Moscow and his talks with Vladimir Putin as continued bargaining on problems related to NATO and energy. "A sudden change in Aliyev's schedule, as well as his trip to Brussels and then to Moscow suggest that he has made his strategic choice in energy policy in favor of Europe and the West. If Russia puts pressure on him in this regard, he will receive support from Europe and the U.S. because the West is trying to get rid of the Russian monopoly on the European gas market. At the same time, Aliyev seems to be balancing between favoring Western energy interests on the one hand, and addressing Russia's concerns in the military and political sphere on the other. In other words, he may promise Putin that he will not join NATO." (Yeni Musavat, November 10.)
The media are heavily criticizing Russia for the use of gas as a tool for expanding into the South Caucasus. "The gas issue has become a tangible aspect of Russia's political game in the region. Russia is buying up practically all of Armenia's assets in exchange for energy supplies, and before long all of its strategic businesses will belong to Russian companies... How can Armenia be independent of Russia if the latter owns all of its assets in the electric power and gas industries, and may get its hands on communications and railways? But appetite comes with eating, and now Russia is eager to control Georgia's assets in the same way. Having encountered stiff resistance, the Kremlin has been taken aback: why doesn't Tbilisi want to cede control of its property to Russian companies?" (Zerkalo, November 11.)
Gazprom's intention to sharply raise prices for gas supplies to Azerbaijan has caused a strong but not pessimistic reaction. "Russia is getting ready to double prices for gas supplied to Azerbaijan next year... If Baku does not coordinate its energy policy with Russia, and Moscow's interests are compromised as in the case of Georgia last winter, Gazprom will raise prices for Azerbaijan from $110 to $230 per thousand cubic meters. However, the Kremlin is not likely to secure Baku's obedience with this argument alone because Russia accounts for a mere 1.5 billion of Azerbaijan's total consumption of 10.5 billion cubic meters of gas." (Yeni Musavat, November 8.)
KYRGYZSTAN
The press is sure that the compromise reached between the president and the opposition leaders will not guarantee political stability in the republic. Some publications see a way out in giving serious thought to a recent proposal by Kyrgyz MP M. Dzhurayev to rejoin Russia. "This idea has always been in the air. Russia has always been considered Kyrgyzstan's Big Brother despite sporadic bouts of nationalism and demands for sovereignty and independence ... Dzhurayev set forth his idea in detail at the recent extraordinary session of parliament: 'We do not need a president like Karimov, but regrettably, a man like Putin has not yet been born in this country. Therefore, the best choice for us is to become part of Russia again in order to avoid a political crisis, which will lead us nowhere... Russia...may be Kyrgyzstan's savior. Russia will gladly take us back with all our debts and problems - it needs us as a buffer zone." (Obshchestvenny reiting, November 10.)
UZBEKISTAN
The media are pleased to report that Uzbekistan has modified its foreign policy towards Russia. This change has enabled a Russian Orthodox priest to read public lectures in Uzbekistan, a country where all missionary activities are prohibited. "Russian Orthodox priests were not invited here before, but recently, the emphasis of Uzbekistan's foreign policy has changed, and this has affected religion as well as politics and economics. National laws ban any missionary activities by any religion. However, the visit of Diacon Andrey Kurayev (a professor at the Moscow Theological Academy) has shown that there is no ban on religious education in this country if it is conducted in a proper way." (Fergana.ru, November 12.)
TAJIKISTAN
The press continues to comment on Rakhmonov's predictable victory in the presidential elections, linking domestic stability with a possible increase in Russian investment in Tajikistan.
"Emomali Rakhmonov's victory is a guarantee that Tajikistan will remain Russia's reliable and consistent partner for at least the next seven years, which in turn will help maintain stability in all of Central Asia. Rakhmonov's greatest advantage is that today he is the most predictable politician for Russia in Tajikistan... Russia knows all about Islamic fundamentalists and their methods in the struggle for power, and it also needs stability in Uzbekistan because it is the only republic in the region that hosts a permanent contingent of the Russian army... At the same time, political and economic stability is encouraging Russia to invest more in Uzbekistan... But the main point is that Russian investment and the Russian army are keeping it stable." (Avesta, Nobember 8.)
The media have a mixed attitude toward Gazprom's intention to build three hydropower plants on the Zerafshan River. "Market experts have differing assessments of the gas monopoly's new energy project. Some believe that this is Gazprom's payment for the option to develop oil and gas fields... Other analysts think that construction of these plants will help Gazprom strengthen its position in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The monopoly will be able to buy cheaper gas from former Soviet republics to supply Ukraine while exporting its more expensive gas to other countries." (Asia-Plus, November 14.)
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