Recent political developments in the three Eastern Slavic states, like the repression of opposition figures in Moscow, Minsk and Kyiv, have been frustrating. They illustrate once more that the EU's and, not the least, Germany's policies towards Eastern Europe during the last two decades were a failure, in a number of ways. In spite of considerable efforts of the Western political elite with regard to Moscow’s leadership, Russia has, as the key Northern Eurasian state, became an advocate of anti-democratic tendencies.

It seems that favorable winds kicked the process of creation of the Russian and Belarusian union. Because of the different interests of the two states, some time ago the creation of a union state reminded a moribund project, but warming relations have again enthroned the idea of union.

At the beginning of March Pakistani minister for ethnic minorities Shahbaz Bhatti was killed in gun attack in Islamabad. The Christian Bhatti campaigned for the reform of the country's controversial blasphemy law calling for the death penalty for those accused of speaking against the Islam. The Governor of Pakistan’s Punjab Salman Taseer who also agitated for changes to the law was killed at the beginning of this year. The majority of news from Pakistan is one or another way related to terrorism.

Processes in the Arab countries have no precedent in the history of these countries. In Europe a similar process was observed in 1989 when the regimes of “socialist” countries collapsed and political analysts discerned in them “domino effect”.

Uzbekistan is quite an isolated country; therefore it is often difficult to understand what is happening there. Since the announcement of independence the country has been under the leadership of an authoritarian Islam Karimov. But he is getting older and the recent talks are mostly related to changes in the authorities: who will take over the power of the country?

Protests of the Baltic States and Georgia regarding France’s decision to sell Mistral-class amphibious assault ships to Russia didn’t bring expected results. On 25 January the agreement on construction and sale of four helicopter-carrier ships was signed between France and Russia in the French Port Saint-Nazaire. It marked the end of a four-year long series of negotiations and added fuel to the fire of all NATO countries, especially of the states which joined Russia’s territorial waters.

The recent media’s buzz about Yemen is related to terrorist groups acting in the country.

On 29 October, parcels with explosive materials were found on board of UPS and FedEx cargo planes sent from Yemen and headed to Jewish places of worship in Chicago.

Recently Belarus occurred in the crossroad between the East and West, although it was not always a crossroad between the states or a bridge connecting different regions. Without analyzing the background of the Byelorussian culture (Baltic or Slavic), we could state that political existence of Belarusian community commenced in 9-10^th century, when its duchies fell under the influence of the Kievan Russia. Later predecessors of Belarus – Polotsk and other duchies – were included into the Great Duchy of Lithuania.

Naive or corrupt media refers to the deal between Nicolas Sarkozy and Vladimir Putin as France’s “triumph”

The issue in question is related to the bidding process on who will build Mistral-class amphibious assault ships for Russian military, intended to crush coastal enemies.  According to Russian admirals, enemies are anticipated in Georgia, the Baltic States and Japan.

On 29 October Russia and Poland signed the agreement on deliveries of natural gas until 2022. Under the agreement, from 2011 Poland committed to purchase 11 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia annually (this year it purchased 9,7 billion). The agreement was also reached concerning the transit of Russian gas to Western Europe via the gas pipeline Yamal-Europe-Poland.

Ukrainian politics has been divided between two camps: the pro-Western democrats (recently represented by the "Orange" parties) and the pro-Russian anti-liberals (recently dominated by the Party of Regions). Now radical nationalists are gaining political strength. Will they manage to get their so-called Freedom party into the national parliament?

In the interview to the Latvian daily ”Diena” former Ukrainian president  V.Yushchenko said that European policy often looks like the natural merit not requiring any evidence, and that integration of Ukraine into EU is perceived as one-sided, i.e. exceptionally the Ukrainian act. Europe assigns to the candidate tasks but cannot avoid dual policy on such issues as security, energy, visa policy and defense.

The conflict between North and South Korea on 23 November was the major conflict since the Korean War which ended in 1953. The North Korean artillery unexpectedly fired on a small Yeonpyeong Island. Two South Korean soldiers and two civilians were killed, tens were injured. Besides, about 60 buildings were destroyed or burnt.

For many people Africa reminds heart: because of the form of the continent, and for that it makes hearts cry while seeing its poverty and starving children.  The others compare Africa with bunch grapes since this continent is very rich in natural resources. This continent attracts most of the official development aid as well as substantial humanitarian aid. However, natural resources and international aid cannot save Africa and the country still reminds a non-healing wound.

On 20 October, Lithuanian President D.Grybauskaitė met with the Belorussian leader A.Lukashenka. Political observers and scientists have different views concerning this visit.

For effective complex defence of Latvia, the establishment of a permanent division of the National Armed Forces has started in Latgale, reported the official website of the Ministry of Defence.

On 13 January a concert "Together to the victory" was held in Lithuania, where the audience decided to support Ukraine's defence and donated 110 thousand Euros.

Alexander Lukashenko on 9 January signed a decree № 8 "On the establishment of visa-free entry and exit of foreign nationals." The document establishes visa-free entry to Belarus for a period not exceeding 5 days at the entrance through the checkpoint "National Airport Minsk" for citizens of 80 countries, - reported the press service of the President of Belarus.