Estonia
Journalists are scornful of Vladimir Putin's appeal to the Russian aircraft industry to be more active in the world market. "The big air show in Russia excelled in aerobatics but Russian aircraft are not popular in the West... Putin's address [at the 2007-MAKS air show] was nothing new. He spoke again about the need to develop high technology, take up leading positions in aviation and the like. The Russian president has been chanting this for years, knowing full well that the only source of money for Russia are natural resources and that any drop in oil and gas prices is tantamount to bankruptcy." (SL Ohtuleht, August 22).
Experts are highly skeptical about Moscow's chances in the military competition with Washington. But they are concerned about the Russian army's restored combat readiness. "A new Cold War is out of the question militarily... The Russian army is now in better shape than it was after the break-up of the U.S.S.R., but it is still only a shadow of the Soviet military might, and Russia will not overtake the United States or NATO in the next two decades. But Russia is still dangerous. It is very dangerous and is becoming even more so." (Postimees, August 27).
Latvia
The press has lashed out at the Kremlin for its reluctance to admit the Soviet occupation of the Baltic. Journalists believe that this betrays the undemocratic nature of the Russian government, a direct successor of the Soviet totalitarian regime. "The Kremlin-created 'vertical of power' has convinced most Russians that blaming anyone for the political crimes of the past makes no sense." (Latvijas Avize, August 24).
Lithuania
Commenting on Prosecutor General Yury Chaika's statement about progress in investigating Anna Politkovskaya's murder, the press calls it a "staged performance." The media are convinced that the Kremlin is using the investigation into the crime against the independent journalist to discredit its rivals before the approaching elections. "The new political season in Russia has started with an impressive political extravaganza. The Kremlin suddenly announced that three murders, probably the most scandalous in recent time, had been uncovered. The reason behind this sensation was also revealed before long - Russia blamed the crimes on hostile forces abroad." (Lietuvos rytas, August 28).
Analysts are worried about Gazprom's intention to match European gas prices for the Baltic nations. "There is no time to waste; we have to start talking... The head of government has said more than once that the Seimas's decision to regulate gas prices for consumers will make gas for Lithuania more expensive." (Verslo zinios, August 27).
Belarus
Experts are unanimous in criticizing the statement by Ambassador Alexander Surikov about possible deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus as an encroachment on the republic's independence and neutrality. "Such statements are not appropriate for a diplomat and could qualify as an infringement on national sovereignty... Russia is demonstrating once again that it is reducing energy and military security for an independent country... Russia is increasingly following in the steps of the former U.S.S.R. and wants to be an empire threatening the world with its nukes." (Khartiya-97, August 27).
Some media are attributing a series of scandals related to the violation of Georgia's air space as a provocation authorized by President Saakashvili. "Mikhail Saakashvili's idea has its own logic - if what is happening on the Russian-Georgian border is viewed as a Russia-West conflict, there is hope for more vigorous U.S. and EU support. NATO has also started talking about upgrading cooperation with Tbilisi in connection with the recent incidents. Several more such 'missiles' can turn the long-awaited NATO entry into reality. Without Russian peacekeepers (none are allowed on NATO territory), talking to Abkhazia and South Ossetia will be much easier." (Belarus segodnya, August 24).
Ukraine
Commenting on the range of issues discussed during the recent trip of Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich to Moscow, political scientists have noted that the Kremlin is less concerned about pursuing its political interests in Ukraine. "They [Putin and Yanukovich] did not talk about NATO, the Crimea or bilingualism. All ideological questions which were tearing Ukraine apart and allowed the Kremlin to play its game are no longer relevant. They talked about gas and aircraft. This shows that we have made a step towards independence... The Kremlin is only after economic benefits... In a year or a year and a half, we will have to pay world prices on gas and the remnants of the former preferences will disappear... Many of our policymakers still labor under the illusion that the Kremlin will exchange part of its resources for the display of political sympathy." (UNIAN, August 22).
Armenia
Analysts have noted a change in the Western attitude to the Karabakh conflict. The U.S. intention to develop energy projects in the region is giving Armenia and Karabakh a hope for a peaceful life. Commentators believe that Azerbaijan will no longer be able to pursue its goals without looking back at the West, which is interested in regional peace more than ever. "The United States is trying to turn Azerbaijan into a kind of corridor for energy exports... Preservation of peace in the unique corridor of enormous Central Asian energy exports is becoming of crucial importance... Azerbaijan's involvement in the struggle for energy exports from the Caspian Sea and Central Asia may guarantee peace on the Karabakh front in the next few years... After the shift of global confrontation to the East, to the Caspian Sea and Central Asia, Armenia and Nagorny Karabakh will acquire a comfortable status of 'third countries' as distinct from Azerbaijan." (Hayots Ashkar, August 22).
Georgia
The media are demanding that the world community interfere and call Russia to account for the August 6 'missile incident.' "If the West does not respond accordingly, Russia will continue its aggressive policy not only towards post-Soviet countries but probably also towards Eastern Europe." (Rezonansi, August 23).
Analysts are advising the authorities to come to terms with Russia without hoping for Western help. "Our policy on settling conflicts was based on partnership with the West. Today, Russia is itself harassing the West... If Russia steps up its political and economic activity, the West is not likely to support Georgia. We can only improve relations by meeting Russia halfway. In that case, we will have a chance to settle one of these conflicts." (Rezonansi, August 25).
Azerbaijan
The media are disappointed with Russia's intention to give up all radars abroad, which was voiced by space forces commander Vladimir Popovkin. This destroys Azerbaijan's hope to receive a special status in world politics by taking part in the Russian-American talks on the Gabala radar. "Despite the initial promises about Azerbaijan's involvement in the Gabala radar talks, it has been excluded from the bargaining on the object located on its territory... It appears that the Russian proposal to use the Gabala radar jointly with the United States is nothing but a bluff. Its only purpose is to use the presence of a military base in Azerbaijan to exploit it at the last moment to its best advantage." (Yeni Musavat, August 27). "The funny thing about this whole situation is that at the recent G8 summit President Putin personally extolled to the skies the military and technical features of the Gabala radar, whereas Colonel-General Vladimir Popovkin insists that Russia should give it up. In principle, Popovkin is right - this way Russia will overcome its dependence on Azerbaijan." (Zerkalo, August 28).
Kazakhstan
Analysts have been focusing on Iran's renewed efforts in Central Asia. It is paying particular attention to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan in the hope of gaining access to the world energy markets with their help. But experts are skeptical about Iran's chances of success in a region which attracts the special attention of Russia, the United States and China. "Iran will continue building up its cooperation with Central Asian countries regardless of whether Moscow, Washington and Beijing like it or not. But it's up to Central Asian countries to decide whether they wish to prejudice their relations with America, Russia and China for the sake of contacts with Iran. For the time being, they are deriving much bigger benefits from cooperation with the three major global players than from the budding Persian campaign in Central Asia." (Delovaya nedelya, August 24).
Uzbekistan
Experts believe that Russia will try to exploit the West's delay in the start of oil production at Kashagan, the biggest recently discovered deposit in Kazakhstan's sector of the Caspian shelf. "The Italian ENI has again postponed the start of oil production... The irritated Astana has threatened to deprive ENI of its project operator status... It will soon become clear whether Astana has resorted to threats so as to speed up oil production at a promising deposit, or if it wants to lay its hands on the Western assets and bring in a new operator to Kashagan, for instance, the Russian LUKoil to please Moscow with its oil-and-gas ambitions." (Fergana, August 27).
"The Kazakh government's grievances against Western investors are akin to the case in neighboring Russia, where Sakhalin-2 operator Royal Dutch Shell was charged with environmental damage and had to cede control over the project to the state-owned Gazprom... The Kashagan economic conflict is clearly acquiring a political tinge." (Musulmansky Uzbekistan, August 28).
Turkmenistan
Journalists are discussing the recent visit of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Turkmenistan. Analysts criticize what they see as Moscow's one-sided view of Iran's role in the region and discuss the aspects of Iran's policy that attract Central Asia. "While the U.S. is deeply suspicious of Tehran's new interest in Central Asia, Moscow is skeptical about Ahmadinejad's recent moves. Russia thinks that Iran's influence and economic opportunities in the region are extremely limited. In fact, Tajikistan alone welcomes the presence of Iranians because they share a common Persian origin, and the other republics will not welcome them, Moscow believes. But such an approach, based on ethnic or some other balance, is quite vulnerable. We should not forget that Iran has only just started its game in Central Asia. It does not have old scores to settle and, unlike Russia, it does not want to 'return to the place it has recently left.' Also, it has no intention of setting up military bases in the region." (Gundogar, August 27).
Tajikistan
The press is critical about the idea of unifying the military forces of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. "At this moment, Russia's efforts to establish a military organization are meaningless because China is not looking for military and political benefits. But Central Asia is interested in its own economic development. It wants to get rid of its dependence and needs only economic growth, not political or military rivalry." (Millat, August 23).
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