Eastern Europe

US-Azerbaijan Relations and Outlook for the South Caucasus

By Jason Harmala

On December 22, the Atlantic Council held a Eurasia Leadership Series discussion with Ambassador Araz Azimov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Patriciu Eurasia Center director Ross Wilson moderated the discussion.

Belarus Is Heading to Default

By Anders Aslund

Belarus is heading to default. This country of 10 million people is running out of international currency reserves. Officially, they were down to $2.2 billion on October 1, which is a month’s worth of imports. But when reserves are so small the question always arises whether they are really usable. Meanwhile inflation surged and it […]

Georgia’s Path to the West

By James Joyner

At a time when “Russia has been going backwards, not forwards in democratic reforms,” it is vital that the United States and Europe work together to bolster emerging democracies like Georgia.

Georgia in the West: A Policy Road Map to Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic Future

On October 13, the Atlantic Council Task Force on Georgia, co-chaired by Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Lindsey Graham, released a major new report on Georgia at an event held on Capitol Hill, arguing for intensified domestic reform and a new sense of common purpose and clarity from the United States and Europe to work toward […]

Getting Caspian and Other Regional Gas to Europe: the View from Greece

By Jason Harmala

On October 13, the Atlantic Council held an off-the-record discussion with Harry Sachinis, Chairman and CEO of DEPA S.A., Greece’s Public Gas Corporation, on the Southern Corridor being developed to bring Caspian gas to markets in Europe and potentially elsewhere. Senior experts from the energy industry and various governments attended the session. DEPA imports both […]

Georgia in the West Report Launch

By James Joyner

On October 13, the Atlantic Council and Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Lindsey Graham launched a new Council report, Georgia in the West: A Policy Road Map to Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic Future.

From Podgorica to Brussels: Montenegro on the Road to Europe

By Adrienne Chuck

On October 11, 2011, the Transatlantic Relations Program hosted a discussion with Montenegro’s Prime Minister, Igor Lukšić. Prime Minister Lukšić is steering Montenegro’s steady course toward Euro-Atlantic integration, making NATO and European Union (EU) membership a top priority for his administration. Montenegro became an EU candidate in 2010, and it is currently the only country […]

Hungary’s Human Rights Agenda: Advancing Minority and Human Rights In Central Europe

By Adrienne Chuck

On September 27, Rita Izsák, head of the newly established Budapest-based Tom Lantos Institute and István Gyarmati, CEO of the International Center for Democratic Transition spoke at the Atlantic Council to a room full of human rights experts about the Lantos Institute’s vision and future projects, including its work on Roma issues.

Strategy Session on Southeast Europe with Eric Rubin

By Jason Harmala

On September 14, the Atlantic Council held an off-the-record strategy session for Eric Rubin, the new US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs responsible for American relations with Turkey, Greece, Cyprus and the three Caucasus countries.

Belarus: Power Failure Again

By Boyko Nitzov

For many years now, the West has dealt with Belarus in a way that implies that using carrots will eventually eliminate the need for sticks. It is time to abandon this false hope and deal with the reality of a failed dictatorial regime. By virtue of a treaty which Belarus and Russia signed and ratified […]