Eastern Europe

EU Needs to Rethink its Eastern Partnership Policy

By Taras Kuzio

The EU’s Eastern Partnership (EaP), unveiled four years ago to build better neighbourly relations with six former Soviet republics, is in crisis. The EaP was launched by EU members such as Sweden and Poland (with the backing of Britain) keen to promote enlargement into the former USSR. Although with this not possible due to widespread […]

Damon Wilson to Outline a US Strategy for Europe’s East

Atlantic Council Executive Vice President Damon Wilson will testify before the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Subcommittee on European Affairs hearing today on A Pivotal Moment for the Eastern Partnership: Outlook for Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Belarus, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

A US Strategy for Europe’s East

By Damon Wilson

Atlantic Council Executive Vice President Damon Wilson testified before a hearing of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Subcommittee on European Affairs, on November 14, 2013. The hearing was convened to examine the outlook for European Union Eastern Partners – Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Belarus, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

Defense Minister Says NATO and Terrorism are the Top Security Threats to Russia

By RIA Novosti and Moscow Times

From RIA Novosti:  Terrorism and NATO expansion near Russian borders pose key threats to Russia’s national security, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Saturday.

Eastern Partnerships Pose Deep Challenges for European Union

By Sarah Bedenbaugh

On November 5, Miroslav Lajčák, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, was the featured speaker at the Atlantic Council’s event, EU’s Eastern Partnership: The Vilnius Summit and Beyond.  Minister Lajčák’s visit to Washington comes only three short weeks before the European Union (EU) and the six former […]

Georgian Presidential Election Sets Precedent for Progress

By Laura Linderman

Georgia’s October 27 presidential polls were historic and an important step toward strengthening democracy. Outgoing president Saakashvili was replaced through the ballot box by the ruling Georgian Dream coalition’s candidate, Giorgi Margvelashvili. In a remarkably calm and drama-free election, with the lowest voter turnout in a decade at 46.6 percent, Margvelashvili won with 62.11 percent […]

Russian Base In Armenia Signals Role In Possible Karabakh War

By Radio Azatutyun

Russian troops stationed in Armenia could openly side with it in case of a renewed Armenian-Azerbaijani war for Nagorno-Karabakh, according to their top commander, Colonel Andrey Ruzinsky.

NATO Congratulates Georgian People for Transparent Elections

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

I congratulate the Georgian people on holding transparent and peaceful presidential elections in which fundamental freedoms of expression, movement, and assembly were respected.

A First for Georgia

By Laura Linderman and Melinda Haring

Replacing the President by the Ballot Box Georgia’s elections and its sometimes tumultuous results are not for the faint of heart. The country will hold a presidential election on October 27 and this election is historic: for the first time in its history, an incumbent president will be replaced through the ballot box and not […]

Rasmussen Confirms Georgia is Joining NATO Response Force in 2015

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

Georgia, has offered to join the Response Force in the future, and been accepted.