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Georgia's Armed Forces: Army of the All or Army of the Few?
While Georgia's politicians believe that reforming the country's armed forces is essential, they remain divided over what roles civilians should play in national defense. Eugene Kogan outlines the issues surrounding Tbilisi's military reforms and what Russia thinks about them
How to Be a Millionaire? Win Gold for Georgia
Olympics fans should expect Georgian athletes to fight madly for gold in London. Of all countries, it is the cash-strapped Caucasus nation of Georgia offering the most lavish prize for gold medals
Azeri Gas Pipeline Deal Highlights Turkey's European Energy Role
A gas pipeline deal brings the dream of carrying natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe via Turkey one step closer to reality
The US/NATO ABM Defense Shield in the Black Sea Region
The anti-ballistic missile (ABM) system under construction by the US and NATO in the Black Sea Region poses no threat to US-Russian nuclear strategic parity. On the contrary, it holds cooperative potential for the two leading nuclear powers. It could also stabilize the broader Eurasian security situation in the light of Iran's policy of nuclear blackmail
Press Freedom Day in the Not So Press-Free Caucasus
On World Press Freedom Day, there is not much to celebrate in the Caucasus. Georgia, not exactly a paragon of free speech, is as good as it gets in the region
Georgia Lays Out Expectations For NATO Summit
The Georgian government had laid out its expectations for the upcoming NATO summit, that it would receive 'visible signs' of support from the alliance
Examining the Causes and Effects of the Soviet Collapse
One sign of the how highly Lawrence Sheets is esteemed as an analyst of Central Asia and the Caucasus was the large turnout of his fellow journalists for his presentation of his new book, 8 Pieces of Empire: A 20-Year Journey Through the Soviet Collapse
Abkhazia, South Ossetia Alarmed By Russia - Georgia WTO Compromise
The de facto authorities in the breakaway Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia have expressed concern and outrage over the implications of the Swiss-mediated compromise between Georgia and Russia that paves the way for Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Whether they could thwart the signing and implementation of that agreement was doubtful, however
The Black Sea: A Forgotten Geo-strategic Realm
The expectations of the last ten years that the states surrounding the Black Sea would follow the example of the Balkan region and shape themselves into a security community have not been realized. Perceptions of stagnation have replaced the hopes of a working and stable geo-strategic framework, based on a balance of cooperation and conflicts
Putin's Comeback: Fast Forward to the Past
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev's decision to swap jobs may put an end to the diarchy in Russia but is unlikely to lead to any tectonic policy shifts. Instead, it will further cement the system of ‘managed democracy', which in time will become so inflexible that it may fail to cope with a protracted crisis
Azerbaijan Wrestles with Iranian Predicament
Tension between Iran and Azerbaijan is on the rise, and policymakers in Baku need to be nimble as they manage the diplomatic challenge posed by Tehran
Russia Strives to Clarify Vision for Central Asian Alliance
Russian officials think the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a bloc of friendly ex-Soviet republics, can develop into a security grouping on par with NATO. But recent CSTO military exercises show that Moscow lacks a clear vision for how to utilize the alliance
Azerbaijan Faces Difficult Choice Between Turkey and Israel
Policymakers in Azerbaijan are facing a dilemma: can an enemy of a friend be a friend? Specifically, can Baku maintain cordial relations with both Turkey and Israel at the same time?
Russia: Prisoners of the Caucasus
Russia has attempted to secure order in the North Caucasus by adding intelligence agents and beefing up the presence of federal border guards, along with redeploying police from elsewhere in Russia -- but to little avail. In October 2009, President Dmitry Medvedev told Russia's Security Council that the North Caucasus remains the Russia's foremost internal political problem
