The Fergana Valley, a fertile region at the heart of Central Asia split between Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, has long been the focus of research that stresses the multiple security threats originating from and developing within the region. Among them, border issues and the problems of enclaves are constantly regarded as a highly destabilizing factor. Recent clashes at the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have highlighted the issue once more, but one should carefully consider all factors before reaching simplistic conclusions about the valley’s security threats.

According to Wikipedia, „a revolution“ is complete change in the content of the governmental policy, and its classical example is French Revolution (1789-1799) which resulted in the overthrow the absolute monarch Louis XVI. The above definition could also be used nowadays. Unfortunately, after the Rose Revolution in Georgia, the Orange Revolution in Ukraine and changes of Egypt government, a „new life“ in these countries didn‘t last long.

Considering the new developments in relations between the EU and Ukraine over the past weeks, and given Russia’s destructive role regarding the Association Agreement, Brussels needs to take action

Russia‘se pipeline project South Stream encountered serious legal problems: according to the European Commission, all pipeline agreements signed with the EU Member States contradict the provisions of the Third Energy Package of the EU stipulating that one company cannot simultaneously own production capacity and its transmission networks.

Water management is the main obstacle to regional cooperation in Central Asia. The issue has its roots in the way Stalin split Central Asia, which resulted in concentration of water sources in politically weak upstream countries (Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan), while downstream countries (Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan) try to prevent attempts to decrease the flow of water needed for their agriculture. The issue is complex because Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan desperately need to exploit their huge hydroelectric potential and the best way to do so is to build dams on the very same rivers that provide water to downstream countries.

After intensive negotiations, at the end of November negotiators in Geneva have reached deal on Iran‘s nuclear programme. Ten years effort was evaluated by many as a breakthrough, yet there are no winners or losers in Geneva.  

Writing about the various implications of Ukraine’s divided historical memory for the conduct of her post-Soviet politics is a thankless task. Ukraine’s nationalist intelligentsia’s response to voicing the most elementary facts on, and assessments of, the corroding role of the promotion of World War II themes for Ukrainian state-building is always the same: Kill the messenger! It is less important what is said and for which purpose...

Over the past years, China’s role in Central Asia has considerably strengthened, making Beijing the main trade partner for the five post-Soviet Central Asian republics. China frames its Central Asian strategy in eminently economic terms: Chinese investments provide development to regions otherwise left behind and might seem the best guarantee of stability for the region. Once-empty markets are now filled with Chinese goods and infrastructures are being built in what seems to be a purely positive, win-win game. Yet things may not be as simple as they look.

Why and how the Ukrainian political system should be changed

The violent clashes on Kyiv’s streets and inadequate responses by the authorities are undermining the legitimacy of all Ukrainian governmental institutions – first and foremost of the presidency. One way to lower the current tensions in Ukraine is to finally accomplish an already long-ago recommended major constitutional amendment – the switch from a semi-presidential to a purely parliamentary republic. Such a change at this point in time could ensure to everybody that the future will be different from the difficult present.

Recently one could hear quite many statements that European Union Eastern partnership (EP) Programme is ineffective and has no future. Yet Ukraine‘s approach toward the Association Agreement demonstrated that the EP initiative has proved successful.

Almost all Central Asian countries experience a lack of political alternative, with Soviet leaderships mostly managing to remain in control well after independence. The only exception is Kyrgyzstan, where popular upheavals have removed two presidents in eight years: Askar Akaev in 2005 and Kurmanbek Bakiyev in 2010. The country now struggles to find a new path that will secure stability and more accountability.

Largely unnoticed in Western mass media, there is currently a major economic and political confrontation growing in Eastern Europe that could shatter the post-Cold War European security architecture. The Kremlin has taken a surprisingly adversarial view of Ukraine’s intention to sign a far-reaching Association Agreement with the European Union. The conclusion of this historic treaty could happen as soon as the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius later this month, or may happen some time, in 2014. Through provisional application, large parts of this so far uniquely comprehensive contract would go into force soon after the signature, before the Agreement is ratified by the 28 EU member states.

The Russian March has long since become the main event of Russia’s National Unity Day celebrations. Andreas Umland, renowned political scientist and Valdai club expert, shares his views about the place of the Russian March on the socio-political stage and the specific features of nationalism in Russia.

The Berlin Wall fell on 9 November 1989 but there are still a number of border/barrier systems around the globe, including the newly erected walls. Let‘s analyse the four of them.

Among the three Baltic States, Latvia has suffered most from the recession, but last year the country‘s GDP increased by 5,6 percent (Lithuanian and Estonian by 3,7 and 3,3 percent respectively). Some economists still cannot believe that Latvia managed to cope with the crisis and refer to this recovery as a „miracle“.

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.