ESTONIA
The media continued discussing the crash of a Russian fighter plane in Lithuania. "The investigation has revealed enough evidence to qualify it as a crime". (Eesti Paevaleht, September 21)
Another topical issue in Russia-Estonia relations is the United Russia party-backed celebrations of the anniversary of Tallinn's liberation from the Nazis. "Together with the local Russians, Russia is simply fuelling tensions by bringing the eternal flames from St. Petersburg to Tallinn to celebrate the anniversary of Tallinn's occupation... The crusaders came with fire and sward. The Russians had bombed and burnt Tallinn and Narva, and in this context these eternal flames are anything but a goodwill gesture. We hope that the border guards and customs officers will not let the flames to be delivered via the eastern border." (Sl Yhtulet, September 21)
LATVIA
Analysts are trying to find out why the disgraced oligarch Boris Berezovky got such a treatment during his recent trip to Riga. "We should be grateful to Berezovsky for Latvia joining the EU." (Neatkariga rita avize, September 23) "Latvian political authorities have valid reasons not to conflict with Berezovsky. Who can guarantee that base ingratitude will not produce the publication of some payment order concerning Latvia (like it was with Ukraine)?" (Neatkariga rita avize, September 23)
The press has came to a unanimous conclusion that as a result of Berezovsky's visit Latvia may be involved in the US political game against Russia, or his personal struggle against Vladimir Putin.
"The appearance of the US President's brother hand in hand with the disgraced oligarch in Riga is by no means a coincidence. In a situation where Russia demands Berezovsky's extradition America is making it very clear on whose side it is. (Bissness&Baltia, September 23)
"Berezovsky's visit is not in Latvia's interests, considering his self-proclaimed all-out struggle against Putin. Latvia has nothing to gain by turning into a Berezovsky-Putin battlefield. (Latvijas avize, September 24)
On the eve of a TV bridge between Russian-speaking residents of Latvia and Putin, the press started writing that it was inadmissible to boost the ratings of the Russian leader by exploiting Latvian domestic problems. "Latvian Russians are too alienated from the state in which they live: they are watching Russian TV channels, rooting for Russian football teams, looking at Putin as their President, and dreaming secretly of the U.S.S.R. restoration. The planned TV bridge is an excellent opportunity for perpetuating these attitudes." (Latvijas Avize, September 24)
LITHUANIA
The media have concentrated on the reasons behind a Russian fighter plane crash in Lithuania. "Lithuania has made its big neighbor angry. The Kremlin's propaganda machine has been puffing mightily. During this week the Russian media have been lying and smashing Lithuania in the face...Russia has been behaving like an elephant in the china shop." (Lietuvos rytas, September 21)
Some publications qualify the official appeal to refrain from statements that may damage international relations as a political decision made in the context of the upcoming negotiations on Mazeikiu Nafta shares. "The Prime Minister has urged (the press) not to speculate on versions. He has just assumed responsibility at the Mazeikiu Nafta negotiations, and a squabble with the Kremlin is the last thing he needs." (Vakaru ekspresas, September 24)
Some commentators are worried about adverse consequences of the Lithuanian government's plan to buy these shares from Yukos if "unwanted buyers" try to get them. "This situation gives Yukos freedom of maneuver and an opportunity for upping the ante. All it has to do for boosting the prices is to find a potential buyer who would create enough noise in Vilnius. So far the Kremlin is the most passive onlooker. But what if it is simply waiting for the moment to come into play when Lithuania finds itself in the worst possible position?" (Vakaru ekspresas, September 24)
UKRAINE
Now that the Russian prosecutors have ceased international search and dropped sanctions to arrest Ukrainian ex-Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko, the press has started writing about Moscow's indirect participation in the upcoming elections to the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament). "It is highly unlikely that Timoshenko's visit to the Russian prosecutor's office was not sanctioned by the Kremlin. In other words, the Kremlin is getting ready for the parliamentary elections in Ukraine, and by no means wants to see the consolidation of our national political forces. Moscow will try to take revenge for its defeat at the presidential elections by winning the race to Parliament. It wants to see the Ukrainian parliament unstable, unpredictable, and weak. All the more so since after a constitutional reform, it will be the Verkhovna Rada, not the presidential administration, that will make historic decisions on Ukraine's future." (Lvivska Gazeta, September 27)
The media are pegging some hopes on the new government's success in the new round of the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations on fuel and energy. "Experts believe that the new Ukrainian Prime Minister has received a pretext to resolve gas problems with Russia." (Korrespondent.net, September 23) The media do not conceal that Kyiv may "give in" at the gas negotiations with Russia in order to cheat. "To all intents and purposes, Ukraine will have to accept the restoration of the gas-and-transport consortium. In effect, by doing so it will deceive Russia into lower gas prices for next year." (Korrespondent.net, September 23)
MOLDOVA
The upcoming parliamentary elections in Tiraspol are one of the main topics of this week. "Elections to Transdnestrian parliament are supposed to become a key element in the Kremlin's new strategy. If quite recently Moscow was trying to justify the presence of its troops and marking time, now it is saying that there are no terms for the evacuation, and that's it! It is saying that Transdnestria is Russian territory, and a supplier of 'cadres' for the Kremlin, that it may recognize the independence of the self-proclaimed republic. In this way Russia is trying to win what seemed a hopelessly lost match." (Flux, September 23)
A Kommersant article entitled "Scapegoats" has caused a stir in the local media. The Russian newspaper wrote that the Federal Customs Service had stopped issuing excise stamps to the importers of alcoholic beverages from Moldova. "This decision is a serious threat for the national economy. If it is not cancelled, the main branch of the Moldavian economy will go bankrupt." (BASA-press, September 26).
ARMENIA
If Yerevan wants to be independent of Russia, it should integrate with Europe. This opinion was expressed by Armenian experts in the local press. "We must develop bilateral relations with Russia with a prospect of becoming a member of the united European family rather than a Russia-Belarus-Armenia threesome." (Aravot, September 21)
Experts believe that blunders of Russian politicians in the South Caucasus in the context of U.S. vigorous policy will soon oust Russia from the region altogether. "If we compare the unprecedented increase in the U.S. current spending with Russia's astronomical revenues from skyrocketing oil prices, we will have to dismiss at once any talk about Russia's inability to compete. Moreover, the South Caucasus is directly adjacent to Russia, and it should invest there much more than any other country, if it really wants to increase its role in this region. In the meantime, all Russia is doing there is buying energy installations in a bid for monopoly." (Hayots Ashkar, September 23)
Another theme of discussion is the adverse aftermath for Armenia of Russia's potential entry into the WTO. "After joining the WTO Russia will have to respect the rules of that organization and pursue its common price policy. As a result, the price of Russian commodities will approach the price level of exports both in the CIS, and inside Russia itself. The resulting spiral in prices on energy carriers in Armenia will sharply increase the costs of all Armenian goods, making them absolutely uncompetitive." (Aikanan Zhamanak, September 21)
GEORGIA
Celebrations of the 15th independence anniversary in South Ossetia were a source of numerous scandals last week. "Ceremonies were more in the nature of a challenge - Russian hardware (including armaments), Russian language... In fact, it was a message to Tbilisi that Tskhinval recognizes Russia, and does not want any relations with Georgia... After the evacuation of Russian military bases... the withdrawal of the peacekeeping force has moved to the fore." (Alia, September 27)
The media unanimously qualified the participation of Russian politicians in the festivities as an outright demonstration of hostility to Georgia. "Separatists, be they Ossetians or Abkhazians, remain Georgia's unbending enemies. Regrettably, the same applies to numerous Russian officials." (Khvalindeli Dge, September 21)
Experts believe that it is necessary to change the mandate of peacekeeping forces in unrecognized republics. "On a par with neutralizing the Russian factor, we should get support of the world community. We don't yet feel such support from the West, and for this reason the government should take resolute steps to this end." (Khvalindeli Dge. September 23)
AZERBAIJAN
Politicians in Azerbaijan are concerned that Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov and his Liberal Democratic counterpart Vladimir Zhirinovsky may support their local soul mates at the parliamentary elections. "We should not allow foreign politicians to interfere in the domestic affairs of Azerbaijan." (Echo, Azerbaijan, September 21)
The press qualifies Sergey Lavrov's speech at Stanford University as an open admission of Russia's geopolitical defeat in yet another trial of strength. "In effect, the Russian Foreign Minister has admitted that despite all its efforts Russia has failed to ultimately oust the United States from post-Soviet territory ... It is easy to see that CIS is on the threshold of yet another geopolitical change that is not likely to end in Russia's favor. The only outstanding question is whether Russia is ready to accept this." (Echo, September 24)
The media have resumed the allegations about the Kremlin's dangerous neo-imperial ambitions in Azerbaijan. "In the last few years Moscow has stepped up the use of oil as a lever of political influence, if not outright political pressure. In any event, many analysts believe that the 'tolerant attitude' of EU politicians to Russia's neo-imperial ambitions has the same 'oil' origin... Russia's oil policy has been even more pronounced in the Western part of the CIS. But Azerbaijan has entered the world's oil market with its own pipelines bypassing Russia -- a very unpleasant surprise for Moscow." (Echo, September 22)
KAZAKHSTAN
The press is still negative about Russian spin-doctors. "Last year we had elections to parliament. But elections were just a name for appointments. The authorities did not let opposition deputies to parliament. Our entire parliament consists if the Otan Party. It is rumored that spin-doctors came from Russia. A scenario of Kazakh parliamentary elections had been written for Russia, and tested in Kazakhstan." (Zhas Alash, September 22)
In his big interview Alexey Malashenko, a member of the Moscow Carnegie Center Scientific Council, confirmed the participation of Russian spin-doctors in the election campaign in Kazakhstan. "In this case wealthy Kazakhstan is a wonderful field of operations. Let me assure you that the Russian spin-doctors have long been operating in your country." (Liter.kz. September 22)
Strategic partnership between Russia and Kazakhstan featured prominently in a recent interview with EurasEC Secretary-General Grigory Rapota, where he stressed once again that Kazakhstan was an economic leader in the CIS. "Kazakhstan leads the CIS in banks, housing and utilities, power energy and transport. It is with good reason that it was the first to be rated the best CIS nation for potential investment." (Liter.kz. September 23)
KYRGYZSTAN
The media write that the talks between Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov and Prime Minister Felix Kulov of Kyrgyzstan evidenced the latter's pro-Russian policy. "Felix Kulov has reassured the Russian Defense Minister that the new government fully accepts all of the previous agreements. In his words, Russia is a priority region for Kyrgyzstan." (KyrgyzInfo, September 21)
The press writes about the unanimous position of Moscow and Bishkek on consolidation of the Russian military presence in Kyrgyzstan. "Sergey Ivanov and Kurmambek Bakiyev (Kyrgyz President) have agreed that the Russian base is of great importance for regional stability." (Kyrgyz Press, September 23)
Some media point to Washington's geopolitical setback. "The Russian air base has received the green light in Kyrgyzstan whereas that of the anti-terrorist coalition has always been seen as temporary. Does this mean that Russia has won the struggle for influence in the region? Expert of the German Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik Hannes Adomeit (Science and Politics Foundation) told the press recently that "this is how it looks today. Apparently, the region's countries find it easier to agree with their old-time partner Russia than see new roads." (Kyrgyz Press, September 23)
UZBEKISTAN
Pro-government press writes extensively about the prospects of Russian-Uzbek cooperation. Jubilant comments are made about the Russian-Uzbek war games. "For the first time ever joint anti-terrorist tactical military exercises have been conducted at the Forish testing grounds. They testify that Uzbekistan and Russia have put their relations onto a new level...The exercises have again shown the community of our actions and goals in this direction." (UzA, September 23)
The visit of Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov and his talks with the President Islam Karimov have caused a real burst of optimism in the media. "Relations between Uzbekistan and Russia are fruitfully developing in all spheres." (UzA, September 23)
At the same time some oppositional media are accusing Moscow of a criminal conspiracy with the Karimov regime. "Karimov has challenged everyone, and knows that no Western leader will shake his hand. But Uzbekistan's current position suits Russia. The Russian government also understands everything, but they don't care. Sergey Ivanov flies to Tashkent on the day of court hearings (over those who took part in the massive unrest in Andijan on May 13, 2005), and shakes hands with his Uzbek colleagues, who ordered the shootings on May 13. Later on they go for joint exercises and practice the destruction of terrorists." (Ferghana.ru, September 22)
TAJIKISTAN
The media criticize the operation of Russian Aluminum and RAO Unified Energy Systems of Russia. They want the government to avoid dependence on mono-profile businesses. "We can only welcome Russian-Tajik cooperation in electric power and heavy industries. But we should not forget that the entire republican metallurgy should not rest on aluminum alone, and that our hydropower installations should not just supply aluminum plants... Dependence of Tajik non-ferrous metallurgy on aluminum will lead to its long-term stagnation, and do damage to the country's entire national economy. (Avesta, Tajikistan, September 25)
The press writes that not a single Tajik citizen in Russia has yet received a foreign passport, although Russia has already opened foreign passport offices. "This is due to the fact that the Russian law-enforcement bodies should screen Tajik citizens, and, among other things, establish whether or not they are involved in drug trafficking." (Avesta, September 23)
