THE CIS AND BALTIC PRESS ON RUSSIA

UKRAINE. The Ukrainian press, reporting that Ukraine is proactive in pushing the NATO entry issue, notes that Russia is the main obstacle to Kiev's plans. (Korrespondent.Net, 04.21).

High-ranking Ukrainian officials are quoted as saying that Russian monopoly oil traders are planning a conspiracy to raise fuel prices in Ukraine. This adds some negative coloring to economic news. At the same time a number of publications speculate that the authorities themselves provoked the fuel crisis in order to re-divide oil market property (ProUA, 04. 21).

Reporting that Turkey is refusing to let Ukrainian oil tankers through the Bosporus and Dardanelles, the press claims that Ankara's decision frustrated Kiev's attempts to reduce the country's fuel dependence on oil supplies from Russia. (ProUA, 04. 25).

Media widely quote high-ranking Ukrainian officials as denying there would be an early review of the Ukrainian-Russian agreement on Russia's Black Fleet base, but at the same time arguing against extending it after 2017.

"It looks as if Kiev, coming up against Moscow's intention to use economic leverage against Ukraine, is now looking for future bargaining chips. And, like Tbilisi, it has failed to produce anything better than the base issue." (Lvivska Gazeta, 04. 20).

MOLDOVA

The press, continuing to regard GUUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova) exclusively as a counterweight to Russia's role in the post-Soviet space, is pleased with the results reported by the organization's Chisinau summit. "The meeting should be viewed as an exercise in independence, which will have implications not only for its participants but also for Russia as it claims the role of a local policeman." (Jurnal de Chisinau, 04. 26).

The press gives wide coverage to an action by Moldovan veterans of the Transdnestr conflict, who picketed the Russian Embassy in Chisinau, demanding an immediate pullout of 'occupying' Russian troops from Transdnestr (a self-proclaimed republic in Moldova). (PRESS Obozreniye, 04. 20). In is turn, the Transdnestr news agency, Olvia-Press, is arguing that such protests are initiated by Moldovan authorities and designed to tarnish the image of Russia and its peacekeepers in the region.

ESTONIA

An increase of newsmaking on Russia, following Tallinn's refusal to attend the May 9 VE Day celebrations in Moscow, is driving the press to exploit the time remaining before then to carry as much negative material on the event as possible.

In this context, the public and press reacted sharply to Estonian television plans to broadcast live the May 9 Victory Parade from Red Square. "What were the Estonian state television administrators thinking about when they decided to put on the air a live reporting of a parade by invaders?" (SLOhtuleht, 04.23).

A report about a Russian air force plane violating Estonia's air space is commented on widely. "A Russian aircraft intrudes into Estonia's air space without permission. Where were the NATO falcons that protect us?" (SLOhtuleht, 04.25).

The Russian president's annual address to the Federal Assembly is highlighted in the media. "There are two Putins. One proclaims hard-nosed values that everyone agrees with. The other steers his government and does nothing to follow his calls through." (Eesti Paevaleht, 04.26). "Putin has made democracy a priority for his state and people, at the same time refusing to heed foreign criticisms of its failings in Russia." (Eesti Paevaleht, 04.26).

LATVIA

Media give wide coverage to a Moscow visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "Rice's visit may demonstrate the start of an official American policy of skepticism towards Russia. Essentially, in pursuing it, Washington does not regard Russia as an enemy, but neither is it going to link any positive hopes with it and plans to keep it back all along the line." (Chas, 04.20).

Latvian politicians see the results of a Russia-NATO Council meeting in Vilnius in a positive light. A treaty was signed there on the legal status of the armed forces of the alliance and members of the Partnership for Peace program on each other's territory. "Conceivably, in five to seven years, Russian planes will be even patrolling the skies over the Baltics - after all, Russia is nearer than France or Britain." (Telgraf, 04. 22).

One of the ruling coalition parties - the Greens and Peasants Union - has submitted a declaration to parliament, appealing to the European parliament and countries of the WWII Allied coalition "to free Latvia from the obligation to accept citizens of other countries and their descendants that moved to Latvia during the occupation." "Russian speakers make up 40% of Latvia's population! The Latvian people cannot develop normally in such conditions." (Vesti-Segodnya, 04.22).

Extensive column inches are dedicated to comments and analysis dealing with the sharp weakening of Russia's positions in the post-Soviet space and with the "early demise" of the CIS. "Moscow's reaction to the fleeing of former vassals only adds to centrifugal tendencies, which in turn generate the Kremlin's further paranoia about a global conspiracy." (Diena, 04.25).

LITHUANIA

Media continue to feature analysis about a Russian energy threat to Lithuania, but some of the publications take it with a pinch of salt. "For Russia, Lithuania is a gate to the EU, a transit country to the Kaliningrad region. By gaining a firm foothold in Lithuania, Russian capital will get direct access to the EU internal market. It is doubtful that energy dependence on Russia poses a threat to Lithuania's security." (Sugardas, 04.20).

Right-wing parties, however, claim that the sale to LUKoil of Yukos's shares in the Lithuanian oil refinery Mazeikiai Nafta will only strengthen the apron strings that attach Lithuania to the Kremlin. "Businessmen fear that LUKoil as the new owner will grant exclusive rights to eponymous gas stations." (Lietuvos Rytas, 04.25).

GEORGIA

Withdrawal deadlines for the Russian bases remain the most discussed topic. "Our aim is to throw a giant monkey wrench into the combat readiness and normal functioning of the Russian bases in Georgia after May 15, 2005. From that day on, the Russian bases will be functioning only in pullout mode." (Rezonansi, 04.26).

The press quotes Georgian and Russian newsmakers as hoping that a Moscow visit by Mikhail Saakashvili will take place on May 9. "Negotiations can be conducted even on a holiday." (Civil.Ge, 04.22).

The GUUAM summit is described by the press as an event heralding the decline of Russian supremacy on the post-Soviet space. "With increased Western activity, all the conditions are now in place to rejuvenate GUUAM." (Khvalindeli Dge, 04.22).

There are reports that the Georgian authorities have decided against privatizing a long-distance gas pipeline and refused to sign a contract with Russia's Gazprom. Steven Mann, Bush's Eurasia adviser, is said to have played a major role in the decision while he was in Tbilisi preparing a Bush visit. "The U.S. advised Georgia not to consider selling the long-distance pipeline to Russia at all," (Akhali Versia, 04.22).

Cultural events as part of a Days of Russia festival in Georgia enjoy an extremely good press. "We miss Russian films, because our cinemas only show American movies." (Sakartvelos Respublika, 04.20.).

ARMENIA

Opposition media respond to Yerevan's new foreign policy line with a pro-Russia angle, connecting particular hopes with a May visit to Armenia by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who has suddenly been proclaimed all but Moscow's Western "friend-in-chief". "When judging America's true stand on processes under way in Russia and CIS, political experts prefer to heed Rice's rather than Bush's assessments ... In Russia the 'iron lady' said relations between Moscow and Washington were just fine... This means that Russia, as distinct from some other CIS member-countries, is something. The rest will have no mercy from Rice." (Aravot, 04.21).

Media are beginning to cultivate the thesis about the temporary nature of Russia's military presence in Armenia. "Armenia will not be the last country in the South Caucasus to say goodbye to a Russian military base." (Aiastani Anrapetutyun, 04.22).

The press is starting to write more frequently about xenophobic sentiments in Russia. "Continuing attacks by Cossacks in the Krasnodar territory on members of ethnic minorities - Meskhetian Turks and Armenians - are actually encouraged by the local authorities." (Aikakan Zhamanak, 04.21).

AZERBAIJAN

The revival of GUUAM is perceived here as the emergence on the post-Soviet space of an integration association independent of Moscow. Commentators do not see Uzbekistan's refusal to participate in GUUAM as endangering its existence. "On balance, GUUAM groups together states wishing to shake off Russia's persistent attention. On the one hand, these are inveterate opponents of Russia - Ukraine, in whose affairs Moscow is increasingly meddling, and Georgia and Moldova, with their separatist regimes enjoying Kremlin support. A different grouping within GUUAM is made up of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, which favor normal relations with Russia, although Azerbaijan has good reasons to be implacable, considering Moscow's backing for separatists of Nagorno-Karabakh." (Day.Az, 04.25).

An attempt by Sergei Mironov, speaker of Russia's Federation Council, to reopen regular meetings between parliamentary heads of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia and Russia as the Caucasian Four, is seen as a failure.

KAZAKHSTAN

Media write about the advantages of Kazakhstan's multi-dimensional foreign policy as distinct from Moscow's line supposedly toward distancing itself from the global community. "The theory of an external conspiracy energetically espoused by Russian political functionaries and experts, including Gleb Pavlovsky, Modest Kolerov and Andrei Kokoshin, has in effect given rise to a new Cold War between the West and East." (Liter.Kz, 04.22).

Media pay particular attention to a remark made by Kolerov, who is head of the presidential department for inter-regional and cultural ties with other countries. His comments about the need to preserve the USSR as "a global international yardstick" failed to arouse sympathy among those media that are working to substantiate Kazakhstan's claims to leadership in the post-Soviet space. "By the concept of global international yardstick, Kolerov most likely meant the need to preserve the CIS, but is it not Russia itself that is bringing closer its collapse with its moves in Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan?" (Liter.Kz, 04.22). "Russia has been distancing itself from the rest in the recent period, which is indirect confirmation of the beginning of the end of CIS in its original form." (Gazeta.kz, 04. 20).

KYRGYZSTAN

Prominence is given to material on a "secret war" being waged between Russia and the U.S. in Central Asia. "The future of Central Asia depends on a 'new Yalta'. i.e. on Russian-American understandings in the region." (Kabar, 04.25).

Few electronic media responded to the Russian president's state of the nation address to the Federal Assembly, highlighting only his words about the need to control "the corrupt bureaucracy and crime." (Kyrgyz Press, 04.25).

Media again speak of an increased desire to migrate among Kyrgyzstan's Russian-speaking population.

There are reports that the Russian government has approved an agreement with Kyrgyzstan on the status of the Russian air base in Kant. "The agreement will run for 15 years and will be automatically extended each time for another five years by mutual consent." (Kabar, 04. 21).

A statement made by A.Tursunov, chairman of Kyrgyzstan's state committee on architecture and construction, that the Moscow government plans to start building high-rise apartment blocks in Bishkek, is denied. "There is understanding between the governments of Moscow and Kyrgyzstan on investment in the construction of residential housing in Bishkek. In April 2005, it was decided to begin building a high-rise block of apartments, but the project has been suspended by Moscow." (Obshchestvenny Reiting, 04.21).

Russian plans to invest in the construction of a cotton processing plant in Kyrgyzstan are also noted.

UZBEKISTAN

The few electronic media that reported about Alma Ata's 4th Eurasian media forum link it with Astana's foreign policy ambitions, describing it as a "global talking shop". "Kazakhstan's president ... opened a family affair. He quoted American presidents in the Kazakh language and suggested a new and very disputable formula that freedom of speech is a journalist's responsibility. Nazarbayev could not help strutting before foreign guests. The country, he said, has 80% private-owned and independent media." (Fergana.ru, 04.21).

It is officially reported that from May 24 the rules for crossing the state borders of EurAsEC member-countries (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) will be tightened. "Among the main reasons for the decision to demand a foreign passport when crossing EurAsEC borders is the need to restrict foreign migration to the Russian labor market. " (Fergana.ru, April 21).

It is pointed out that according to some sources S.Tsoi, the ex-head of the Uzbek Biznes-Bank suspected of financial offences, is in Russia.

TAJIKISTAN

Media quote Abdunabi Sattorov, Tajikistan's deputy foreign minister, as praising current relations between Moscow and Dushanbe. "Friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia is one of indispensable conditions for and reliable guarantees of Tajikistan's strategic security." (Avesta, 04.20).

Describing the beginning of work to complete the Sangtudinskaya HPP-1 financed by Unified Energy Systems of Russia, media point to the extreme importance of the project for the country's economy. (Narodnaya Gazeta, 04.20).

The press also reports the signing in Dushanbe of the final acceptance protocol for the Shuroabad sector of the Tajik-Afghan border and for two border posts of the Moscovsky border unit. "As was reported by the border department's press-service, 136 kilometers of state border out of 232 kilometers were put under the Committee for the Protection of the State Border." (Azia-Plus, 04.21).