Foreign Policy Names Estonia Best Investment Destination in Europe
Estonia has become increasingly influential in European circles for its tight fiscal management and an economy that has shown surprising resilience in the face of the ongoing slow meltdown of Europe.
Lithuania’s Move to Nuclear a Blow to Gazprom
In a little-noticed news item last week, Lithuania announced that it will re-open talks with its fellow Baltic states and Hitachi to open a nuclear plant outside of Visaginas.
Message in the Bottles: Lessons from Georgia’s Wine Industry Rebirth
Georgia’s ancient wine industry has transformed from a low quality, single market provider to a diverse, sophisticated, increasingly international supplier of respected vintages — all because of a 2006 Russian embargo.
Kazakhstan Again Painfully in the News
Kazakhstan, despite early position as a returned-to-the-fold Soviet satellite, relies implicitly on playing a balancing game between Moscow and Washington. For Astana’s sake, let us hope that this investigation turns out to be so much misinformation.
Europe Makes the Wise Choice to Continue Engaging Ukraine
Today, this week, Europe and Ukraine finally appear to be on a path to eventual union, a welcome development for those who have long believed in the country’s European path.
European Battle Against Gazprom Continues
Europe is tired of the Gazprom monopoly and isn’t going to take it any more. At least, that appears to be the message from Lithuania, which will take over the European Union’s rotating presidency in July.
Iran Threatens to Annex Azerbaijan, World Yawns
An invasion of Azerbaijan is unlikely in the near future. Each day that Iranian rhetoric passes without a Western response, the likelihood grows.
Armenia Plays a Dangerous Game, Flirts with Customs Union
Culturally, Armenia is closer to Russia than it is to Europe as a whole, and proximity and the relationships of their respective ruling classes make a closer union between the old Soviet states more likely than not in the long run.
Kyrgyz-Uzbek Border Talks a Positive Step
Tashkent has made an offer to settle the Sokh question once and for all. Satybaldiev’s government needs to reciprocate in good faith. We take the recent talks as a sign that it intends to do so.
Occupation Denies Liberalization
Military occupation of one’s territory is an enormous impediment to liberalization, breeding its own special obstacles and changes in government and civil society that make free markets and free people less likely.