MOLDOVA
Celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe mollified the attitudes towards Russia in the mass media. President Vladimir Voronin's statement that Moscow and Chisinau did not have serious disagreements caused a powerful response.
At the same time, some pro-Romanian publications ahead of the Victory Day accused Russia as the Soviet Union's successor of occupying Moldova 60 years ago and continuing to do so till present. Once again they called for withdrawing Russian peacekeepers from the breakaway region of Trans-Dniestria. (Timpul, May 6.)
Returning to restrictions on meat imports from Moldova, announced by the Russian Agriculture Ministry in the middle of April, the mass media maintain that Moscow makes such decisions exclusively to exercise political pressure on Chisinau and its allies. "The real reasons of what is going on lie in the Russian parliament's intention to introduce economic sanctions against Moldova. Since the Russian government does not consider them useful, it has now taken formal measures. Also, this should be a warning for Ukraine, which intends to reduce customs duties on livestock products from 100-160% to 10%." (Timpul, May 6.)
UKRAINE
The mass media are increasingly negative towards Russia. Events devoted to the 60th VE-Day anniversary receive mainly unfavorable coverage. The press accuses Moscow of attempting to use the anniversary to strengthen its position on the international stage and to disguise the Kremlin's authoritarian policy. (Glavred, May 10.)
The media perceive President Viktor Yushchenko's decision to attend the Moscow Victory parade, despite his earlier announced plans to spend the holiday in Kiev, as an unjustified concession to the Kremlin and betrayal of the policy towards integration with the EU and NATO. "Perhaps, Ukraine, situated in the middle of Europe and neighboring on Russia, has still failed to make "the only right choice", despite all the declarations about its aspirations to join the European Union and NATO." (Versii, May 6.)
The results of the May 8 unofficial CIS summit in Moscow convinced the media of the organization's complete inefficiency in its current form.
Russia's decision to significantly raise the oil export customs duty from June 1 is seen as a serious blow to the Ukrainian petrochemicals market, threatening the country with an unprecedented petrol crisis. "Ukraine has no other choice, but to look for alternative oil." (Kievsky Telegraf, May 7.)
ESTONIA
Ahead of the VE-Day celebrations, the Estonian mass media mounted information pressure on Russia to the most, trying to play down the importance of the anniversary and to contest Russia's right to be the inheritor of the Victory. "The venue and organizers of the event are incompatible with the fundamental principles, for the sake of which the historic victory in World War II was won... The least democratic and the most repressive regime receives leaders of independent states on the occasion of Europe's liberation." (Delfi, May 9.)
At the same time, the press shows an increasing uncertainty about the West's willingness to be Tallinn's advocate in its row with Moscow. "Being weak and hoping on others, Estonia may exist only as long as there is a geopolitical consensus between the large states of East Europe. And it will sooner or later end." (Sirp, May 7.)
The Russian mass media's attention to Nazi vagaries in Estonia (for example, on the night of May 9 they spilled paint over the Unknown Soldier monument in Tallinn) received a response from the Estonian press, which believes that neo-Nazism is a phenomenon more typical of Russia than of the Baltic states. (Delfi, May 4.)
LATVIA
The support voiced by George W. Bush boosted Latvia's self-confidence, and it reacted calmly to Russia's refusal to acknowledge the fact of its occupation of the Baltic countries. "The US President interfered with the bitter historic row between Russia and its former imperial vassals, the Baltic states, dealing a powerful blow against the Kremlin's vanity a few days before his trip to Moscow." (Biznes&Baltiya, May 5.) "Russia's refusal to acknowledge occupation is sensible and in the interests of all Russian speakers living in the Baltic states. The only reason for Latvia to insist on this acknowledgement is the desire to declare all these people and their ancestors, who came here after 1940, illegal migrants." (Telegraf, May 6.)
President Vaira Vike-Freiberga's visit to Moscow was also covered quietly. "Despite the preceding harsh exchange of opinions between Russia and Latvia, Ms. Vike-Freiberga was received very politely both by Russian President Vladimir Putin and war veterans attending the reception in the Kremlin." (Neatkariga Rita Avize, May 10.)
The mass media urge the Latvian ruling elite "to distinguish between politics and economy" in relations with Russia, saying that Lithuania and Estonia have a better economic cooperation with Russia than Latvia.
LITHUANIA
There are reports that the US Congress is considering a draft resolution recommending Russia to acknowledge the occupation of the Baltic states and their forced incorporation as part of the Soviet Union. The mass media recall the joint parade of Soviet and Nazi troops in Brest on September 23, 1939. "The parade in Brest reminds that nations were pushed towards the tragedy of World War II not by one aggressive force, but by expansionist ambitions of Berlin and Moscow." (Lietuvos Ritas, May 5.)
The Russian Foreign Ministry's statement, which questioned the legitimacy of the declaration of independence of the Baltic states in 1991 received an extremely negative response.
The Victory parade in Red Square was covered broadly and positively. "For an hour Red Square in Moscow became the scene of one of the most brilliant parades, which was not belittled by the absence of menacing armament, scaring the world with the gloomy outlines of lethal nuclear missiles and the roar of heavy tanks. This time the main participants were war veterans - old men and women with carnations, whom 130 war-time trucks (made at the ZIL plant specially for the event) carried in front of dignified guests, presidents and prime ministers from over 50 states that welcomed them standing." (News.lt, May 9.)
GEORGIA
President George W. Bush's decision to include Georgia and the Baltic countries in his European tour itinerary is seen by newspapers as Russia's "diplomatic humiliation." They were making conjectures about the issues discussed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Bush at their meeting in Moscow right till the night of May 9, when the American leader arrived in Georgia. Newspapers expected Bush to have exerted pressure on the Kremlin over key differences in Russian-Georgian relations. "Bush should not talk to Putin mildly. He should congratulate Russia if it agrees to withdraw its military bases from Georgia, which is stipulated in the agreement. Russia's next step must be to agree to replace the OSCE mission with international monitors on Georgia's borders <...> Bush should ask Putin to stop meddling in the conflicts in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia [self-proclaimed autonomies], which is the most important thing" (24 Saati, May 5.)
The media were hailing the United States' dominance in the world ahead of Bush's visit. "Washington alone determines global politics today. Moscow has turned into nothing but a cipher compared to it" (Akhali Taoba, 05.06). "Seventy-five percent of Georgians view Russia as the main hindrance to Georgia's efforts to restore its territorial integrity. This must prompt Russian authorities to rethink their policy" (Rezonansi, May 10.)
While in Georgia, President Bush did not meet with the leaders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, something newspapers believe was the result of Russia's conspiracy. "Russia's voice was apparently decisive here, and their [the Abkhazian and South Ossetian leaders'] sphere of independent decision-making is rather limited" (Civil.Ge, May 9.)
AZERBAIJAN
President Ilkham Aliyev's refusal to attend the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in Moscow on May 8 was seen as a result of differences between Armenia and Azerbaijan. "A lot of people will come to Moscow, and the CIS summit will probably be a mere formality. The Russian leaders will hardly be able to pay any serious attention to the summit, let alone relationships between Armenia and Azerbaijan" (Ekho, May 4.)
Newspapers' enthusiasm about NATO's advance in the Caucasus seems to have abated. They write conflicts in the South Caucasus can only be settled through relevant agreements between Russia and the U.S. (Gazeta 525, May 7.)
Uzbekistan's withdrawal from the GUUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Armenia, and Moldova) did not influence the media's positive portrayal of the organization as a counterbalance to the CIS. "The U.S. is interested to have a counterbalance to the CIS in the post- Soviet space, therefore it will be supporting the GUUAM. America does not want Russia's dominance, it needs a different foothold" (Zerkalo, May 7.)
ARMENIA
Newspapers are again accusing Russia of betraying the interests of Armenia, its strategic partner. A new wave of accusations arose after Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on the construction of the Kazvin-Resht-Astara railroad. Thereby the North-South transport corridor will bypass Armenia. "Baku's position is clear. However, Moscow's behavior is absolutely incomprehensible. Instead of using its influence to convince Azerbaijan to include the Julfa-Ararat road in the project, it agreed to take part in implementing an extremely questionable project that can throw out its strategic partner from the regional transport system" (Pan ARMENIAN.Net, May 6.)
The media published several statements Bush made while touring Europe in early May without commenting on them. Those were the only media response to the U.S. president's visit to Moscow and Georgia. Bush said peaceful dialogue between Russia and Georgia was the best way to reach an agreement on the withdrawal of Russia's military bases from Georgia. He said the current stage of relations offered a good chance of settling the problem through talks, which would be achieved eventually. (Erkir, May 7.)
KAZAKHSTAN
Ahead of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of VE-Day in Moscow the independent media took a review of the political situation in Russia. Newspapers reprinted western reports echoing the prevailing opinion in Kazakhstan that Russia is living through a deep political crisis, while the Kremlin has lost control over foreign and domestic political processes. "In Russia they do not believe in the Kremlin's authority either <...> The celebrations will only accentuate the present reality, i.e. Russia's pretension to a superpower's status whereas it has actually lost it" (Kompromat.kz, May 6.)
Papers write that a conflict between Russia's Alfa Telecom and Kazakhstan's Alyans Kapital over the shares of the only Kyrgyzstan's GSM-operator, Bitel, shows that Russian businessmen are trying to oust Kazakh businessmen from Kyrgyzstan. "The list of enterprises where Kazakh investment will be channeled as promised by Kyrgyzstan's acting President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and Kazakh leader Nursultan Nazarbayev may not be compiled at all. Bishkek's new rulers seem to have announced a kind of auction for 'everything that can be described as the Kyrgyz economy.' Russia's giants, Rusal [aluminum producer] and Alfa Group [mobile operator], have so far dominated the auction" (Kompromat.kz, May 6.)
Russia and Kazakhstan are after greater tax revenues from the Caspian pipeline consortium, while shipping companies try to secure minimum transportation tariffs, which, according to Vladimir Shkolnik, Kazakhstan's Energy and Mineral Resources Minister, complicates talks on measures to build up the pipeline system's capacity. (Kazinform, May 4.)
KYRGYZSTAN
The press extensively quotes Russian sites, which linked the March revolution with political intrigues of Uzbekistan and the US. "Bakiyev could not have come to power without Tashkent's assistance. Bakiyev was a more convenient president for Tashkent"; "The interests of the main player and "godfather" of the Kyrgyz revolution - the US - boil down to Kyrgyzstan's division into two parts, northern and southern, without any de jure "divorce" proceedings." (Gazeta.kg, May 5.)
Kyrgyz journalists report that the Russian media did not always remain unbiased in their coverage of the Kyrgyz developments. "Komsomolskaya Pravda [newspaper] sought to represent "the Kyrgyz revolution" as a threat to Russia, at least some mythical drug threat... Firstly, it wanted to create the impression of a US threat to Russia, and secondly, to make it clear that Russia would lose if it did not interfere with the post-revolutionary situation in Kyrgyzstan... Russia needed a provocative article like this evidently in order to "come to rescue" to the Kyrgyz later and help to bring order." (Respublika, May 4.)
Bakiyev's talks with the Russian president were highlighted too. The meeting focused on economic cooperation, and also dual citizenship. "Bakiyev offered to make a list of enterprises to be later transferred to Russia in settlement of the Kyrgyz debt. According to Putin, a similar scheme was used to settle Armenia's debt." (Kabar, May 9.)
UZBEKISTAN
Uzbekistan's withdrawal from GUUAM (a political, economic and strategic alliance of Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova, founded in 1996) is seen, mostly by Russian experts, as a reaction to the spreading "color revolutions" in the former Soviet republics and as a proof of the decreasing US influence in the country. "Current statements about GUUAM not suiting Uzbekistan because of its "re-orientation to politics" do not look very plausible... Uzbekistan's statement quite corresponds to the theory of the spreading "color revolutions". After the change of regime in Kyrgyzstan, there are all signs that Uzbekistan may become the next target of "the revolutionaries". "After the Kyrgyz events, the Uzbek president realized that the US was not going to assume any obligations to these countries... So Uzbekistan refused to become a "primary" for the anti-Russian front." (Musulmansky Uzbekistan, May 9.)
The VE-Day celebrations are described as the most significant event in the five years of Putin's presidency. "Putin is going to restore Russia's former status of a great country, the liberator of Europe." (XXI ASR, May 5.)
TAJIKISTAN
Most materials are devoted to the VE-Day celebrations. The press comments on the position of the Estonian and Lithuanian leaders who refused to attend the celebrations in Moscow. "True, it was most likely an occupation, and today they [the Estonian and Lithuanian presidents] can regard the fight of their compatriots against the Red Army as the fight for independence, and consider the veterans who fought on the side of the Nazis to be liberators. However, they must admit that the Nazi regime killed millions of innocent people, and destroyed dozens of countries. No matter how hard they try to use it [the Nazi regime] in their own liberation interests, it was and remains Nazism for the whole world, and the victory over it is sacred. This is why the leaders of these republics should have attended the international celebrations in Moscow." (Avesta, May 8.)
