ESTONIA
The media continues writing about Russia's decision to close the border to fish imports from Estonia. Commentators note that this decision came as a surprise to Estonia, and that Russia has not officially explained the reasons for it.
"Russia is sending back all the vans with Baltic herrings and anchovies which were stranded at the border for days. Our eastern neighbor has not explained the reasons for closing the borders, but apparently, the motives for this radical step are accusations of smuggling and forgery of transportation papers by Estonian companies." (SL Ohtuleht, November 29).
Commentators note that this step is well in line with Russia's general policy, which ostensibly intends to shut the borders to food exports from the European Union starting with January 1, 2007. "Although the Russia-EU agreement on partnership and cooperation should be in force at least till the end of the year, Russia believes that the EU cannot guarantee the quality of food. It refers to commodities from Romania and Bulgaria, which will become EU members next year." (Postimees, November 29).
The media is criticizing Russia for trying to damage Estonia's image by charging it with cultivating fascist attitudes and suppressing the Russian minority, and for not noticing Estonia's political and economic successes. "Moscow has been accusing us all these years. We have been doing it all wrong. We are the worst small nation; we are ungrateful, feisty and deceitful... But what do we see in reality? Despite all (of Moscow's) appeals and lavish support, local ethnic Russians do not want to return home. They prefer the 'bad' Estonia. Moreover, the number of naturalized citizens fluent in the national language is growing from year to year. The chosen model of integration is working." (Postimees, December 4).
LATVIA
Experts are writing that NATO's summit in Riga has not fulfilled the expectations of the post-Soviet republics. "At the current summit, NATO did not admit new members mostly because the pro-American countries failed to support U.S. interests in the alliance... We feel a little sorry for Georgia and Ukraine - they were lavishly treated to candies like small kids, but the alliance looked seriously at Russia above their heads. As for the admission to NATO, Ukraine and Georgia have not been told anything definite. It means that for a couple of years they will be NATO's bargaining chip." (Neatkariga rite avize, November 11).
The media consider Russia's unexpected decision to lift the embargo on the Moldavian wine imports, which was announced at the CIS summit in Minsk. Commentators attribute it to the Kremlin's economic interest. "The Moldovan president suddenly managed to reach agreement with the Russian leader on lifting the embargo on the exports of Moldovan wines and agricultural produce into Russia. Journalists and political experts do not doubt that ...in exchange for this decision the Kremlin could get the promise to sell to Russia electric transmission lines on Moldovan territory, via which the Transdnestr-based Kuchurgan thermal power station (illegally privatized by the RAO UES of Russia) supply Europe with electricity. Moldova was probably forced to accept the privatization of the station, which is one of the biggest in the region." (Diena, December 12).
LITHUANIA
Litvinenko's death is still one of the main topics. The most popular versions feature the Russian President and his entourage. "It is impossible to talk about the causes of Litvinenko's death, which he himself tried to blame on Putin, without mentioning the obvious fact - for some time, Russia has been a scene of fierce struggle for power after Putin." (Respublika, November 29).
"The clan of Russian security services is directly subordinate to the current Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov. By giving his sanction to the scandalous crime, he tried to blackmail Putin into making him his successor at the forthcoming presidential elections instead of the current favorite - First Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. This version is supported by the choice of poison - radioactive polonium-210. It can only be produced with sophisticated technologies." (Atgimimas, December 12).
The press writes that for the first time the NATO leaders met on the territory of its former enemy. Journalists emphasize the promise of an American representative to guarantee NATO support for its members and partners not only in the military sphere, but also in energy security. "During the summit, its participants tried to prove to the world and themselves that NATO is a friendly, united, and still powerful alliance. They tried to downplay Russia's growing menace by saying that it was not worth the attention it received." (Panorama, December 5).
Lithuania is taking practical steps to resolve one of its most urgent problems - energy dependence on Russia. The first cable connection between the Baltic nations and the EU, circumventing Russia, will start working this week. "Electric lines of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were only connected with Russia until now. Finland was on the other side of the gulf, and a 'Russian visa' was a must. Now we won't need it anymore." (Verslo zinios, December 5).
UKRAINE
The media unanimously call the CIS summit unproductive, and emphasize that Moscow continues ignoring Kiev's opinion. Journalists are writing again about the CIS's political death. "Participants in the Minsk summit did not review a single important issue. Ukrainian and Georgian initiatives were not even included in the agenda." (Delo, November 11).
"Post-Soviet nations have finalized their divorce... Absence of any meaning is the most distinctive feature of the CIS summits. The Commonwealth has exhausted its potentialities as a supranational platform... Does Ukraine stand to gain anything from its CIS membership? This is sooner a rhetorical question. It could be addressed to other CIS countries as well." (KID - Kommunikativny-Informatsionny Departament, November 29).
Some sources write that Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich has gone too far in trying to please Moscow. "His visit to Moscow before a trip to Washington looks too deliberate... Is he going to bow to tsar Putin, and receive his instructions? This time, he again came up with a surprise as usual, and promised Putin that Ukraine will take part in the single economic space." (Gazeta po-kievski, December 12). "Viktor Yanukovich has started improving relations with Russia in real earnest... It seems he is ready to go far in order to become closer to the big northern neighbor. One gets the impression that the Ukrainian Prime Minister is gradually learning to understand the Kremlin's language." (Den, December 2).
However, some media think this is all tactics and Prime Minister is simply maneuvering between Moscow and Washington. "While speaking at the Center of Strategic and International Studies in Washington, the Premier put Russia on the third place... Just look at his definitions: Europe - 'key foreign policy priority'; U.S. and NATO - 'strategic, special partnership'; Russia - 'development of friendly relations'. Compared with the first two points, the third looks chicken feed...The Kremlin should show its teeth to Yanukovich upon his return". (ProUa, December 5).
MOLDOVA
The media pay special attention to the U.S. President's indirect invitation to Ukraine and Georgia to join NATO. They believe that the U.S. will not make concessions to Russia on this score, and that Moldova is bound to take the same road. "Despite the global interests which compel the U.S. to cooperate with Moscow in order to cut to size the Iranian or North Korean regimes, the U.S. never yields an inch when it comes to democratic values or allied strategic interests... Nobody will let Moldova become a Russian enclave squeezed between two NATO countries. The alliance will assimilate it like a good vacuum cleaner pumping in dust between two carpets." (Jurnal de Chisinau, December 1).
"It is time for Moldovans to understand that Moldova should join NATO not on somebody's whim, but because this is the only way of meeting its national interests; that NATO is less of a military alliance, and more of a political and economic union, that it is easier to join it than the EU, and that its population will reap the fruits of this membership much faster." (Flux, December 5).
Journalists are quoting winemaking experts as saying that it will take a long time to restore economic contacts and follow Russia's new import rules. They emphasize that wine supplies will not be resumed on the same scale because other producers have already occupied the Moldovan niche. "The Moldovan wine producers will have to make enormous efforts in order to win back their clients after the campaign which was launched against Moldovan wine... Only 20% of the former Moldovan wine supplies will go back to Moscow." (PRESS-review, December 1).
ARMENIA
The media write about the growth of ethnic crimes in Russia. "Murders on ethnic and racial grounds, which have become more frequent in Russia in the past year, have revealed a very serious problem. Will the Russian government be able to keep its few partners - not even allies - in the CIS?... Or is Russia so used to others being afraid of it that it is using the same stone-age methods?" (Aiastani Antapetutun, November 29). "Not a single official or document can guarantee the lives of Armenians on Russian territory. The wave of violence is gradually spreading further, and Russian skinheads are using Russia-for-Russians slogan to justify their cruelty." (168 zham, November 11).
GEORGIA
The press writes that Mikhail Saakashvili has not achieved anything at the CIS summit. Experts attribute this to the Russian President's markedly negative attitude to his Georgian colleague. "Putin has promised Moldova and its President all sorts of good things, but what about us? Are we out of the game? (Sakartvelos Respublioca, November 11).
"As long as Saakashvili remains Georgian President, it will not be possible to normalize relations with Russia... Relations with Georgia are irritating the Russian President now at a personal level... This man (Putin) has said plainly that he cannot talk with Saakashvili. He has told the U.S. President about this, and generally wants to assert a bad opinion about the Georgian President in Europe." (Akhali Versia, December 1).
The press gives extensive coverage to the information that during his visit to Baku, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov was openly told that Azerbaijan would stop transporting oil via Novorossiisk in response to Russia's decision to increase gas prices. "Azerbaijan will supply Georgia with gas, and Russia will punish Aliyev by making him pay $230 for 1,000 cubic meters of gas. Aliyev is not scared by the Kremlin's threat. He refuses to deal with Russia, and changes its oil itinerary... Azerbaijan wants to get out of Russia's clutches once and for all."
"Georgia has become an excuse for Aliyev's statements rather than a goal... This tough Azeri statement means that unlike Moldova, Baku has not given up its attempts to restore its territorial integrity... Azerbaijan can acquire a reliable partner by selling energy resources at low prices (to Georgia). Moldova acted against its interests but received the right to return its wine and meat to the Russian market. Without U.S. and EU backing, Aliyev would not have made such a statement." (Rezonansi, December 5).
AZERBAIJAN
The opposition mass media are accusing Russia of using economic pressure against its opponents in the CIS. "When the promotion of the 'pro-Russian trend' failed on the post-Soviet space, Moscow tackled the problem in its own way. Suddenly gas prices started growing and power transmission lines and pipelines were blown up in response to the 'inadequate' results of presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine and Georgia. As a reaction against Azerbaijan's ambition to enter the European gas market on its own, Moscow first tried to use negative PR, leaking reports that the Shakhdeniz project has been put off. Then it announced 'an ethnic cleansing' at Russian marketplaces. Then it openly supported separatists in Georgia and Moldova and found pesticides in Georgian and Moldovan wines that were never used in grape production." (Ekho, November 30).
"Putin's administration, formally supporting independence of the former Soviet republics, in reality is making their governments dependent... Russia does not have to deploy its military bases in Azerbaijan in order to deprive it of its independence and turn it into a vassal... After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has not ceased to dream of resurrecting it, and is making relevant efforts." (Azadliq, November 29).
"Moscow is planning to introduce strict limitations on gas and energy deliveries to Azerbaijan... In addition, Russia's new migration policy and the oppression of our compatriots cannot but cast a shadow on bilateral relations." (Express, November 05). "Moscow's new objective is to establish control of the Azeri economy." (Yeni Musavat, December 4).
KAZAKHSTAN
According to the press, Russia has actually blocked the program of reforms in the CIS, which was proposed at the CIS summit by [Kazakh] President Nursultan Nazarbayev. "Russia's position is reserved: any serious remodelling of the CIS would only create more rifts. We should maintain what we have, because the commonwealth's potential has not been exhausted." (Nomad, November 29).
Experts say the outlook for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) looks vague. "The essence of the SCO can be expressed laconically: 'to attract China, to retain Russia and to constrain the West'." "There are serious concerns that the SCO will be ranked among numerous international red-tape organizations whose chief credit is their existence." (Liter.kz, December 1).
The media are discussing the country's accession to the WTO. The relevance of Kazakhstan's ambition to join the organization is being doubted. "Our major economic partners are the former Soviet republics, not WTO members. Today, cooperation with Ukraine and Russia accounts for 95% of Kazakhstan's import and export operations. Without the mineral sector, Russia accounts for about 75% of Kazakhstan's trade." (Liter.kz, November 29).
KYRGYZSTAN
Some sources were critical of the formal character of the bilateral meeting between the Russian and Kyrgyz presidents in Minsk. "The meeting with Putin was rushed - it lasted for a mere seven minutes and produced an arid formal protocol and routine words about the development of bilateral relations." (Agym, December 1).
The media continue discussing Moscow's decision to streamline immigration by reducing the number of foreigners among market traders. Journalists are confident that this will seriously complicate the life of Kyrgyz citizens working in Russia, and negatively affect the socio-economic situation in Kyrgyzstan. "Every year migrant workers wire to their families amounts that are comparable to the country's budget. This step by the Russian government has become a source of serious concern in Kyrgyzstan... Having lost their jobs, the migrants will not wire any money home." (Kabar, December 12).
Some analysts believe that considering the level of corruption among Russian government and law-enforcement officials, this method of settling the problem of guest workers seems ineffective, and will create more incentives for abuse. "Our migrants will lose their trading lots in the markets - which will be handed over to Russian citizens... We know that a bribe will put foreigners back, but this will merely allow the (Russian) police to pocket more money." (Yenesai, November 29).
UZBEKISTAN
Commentators believe that a treaty on mutual defense is not on the agenda of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and hence, it is not going to oppose NATO. Its priority is economic cooperation. "The SCO is not a military alliance like NATO or the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization)... It is inappropriate to compare the tasks of the SCO with the goals of different military-political blocs during the Cold War years." (Vesti.uz, December 1).
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