10/13/14 10/17/14

Russian oil companies have been playing down drop in oil

prices of this week, which fell below $100 per barrel. Both
Rosneft and Gazprom Neft have attempted to reassure
investors that the drop is temporary and wont affect long-
term projects. The fall is compounded by decreasing
willingness on the part of international oil companies to
help Russian counterparts develop new fields, and by a
general decrease in Russian stock valuations.
Reuters Bloomberg
On Monday, Turkey launched airstrikes on several positions
of the Kurdish militant group, Kurdistan Workers Party
(PKK) within Syria. Turkish officials said they had
retaliated after Kurdish militants attacked a military outpost
in Hakkari. While Turkey struck the PKK, the United States
continued bombing runs over Kobani in support of the
PKKs Syrian splinter group fighting ISIS.
New York Times Al Jazeera
Ukrainian, Russian, and European leaders met today in
Milan, Italy to discuss possible approaches to resolving the
fighting in southeastern Ukraine. Unfortunately, all sides
agreed that little progress was made since the ceasefire
agreement was signed. Finding a solution to the conflict has
become more pressing as European nations work to prevent
Southeastern Ukraine from becoming a frozen conflict zone,
while they also attempt to unblock Russian gas access in the
face of plummeting winter temperatures.
Bloomberg Reuters
On Wednesday, the Georgian Foreign Ministry released a
statement criticizing a new agreement between Russia and
Abkhazia that would increase economic and social
integration between the separatist region and the Moscow.
The Georgian statement called the agreement a violation of
international law and says that a further treaty could
jeopardize Russian-Georgian relations.
Messenger DFWatch
On Thursday, the Armenian Defense Ministry and Polish
defense company Lubawa announced a joint venture to
produce military equipment for Armenian armed forces.
The project Lubawa-Armenia will produce gear such as
army jackets, flak helmets, and tents for the Armenian
forces. In addition, there is a potential to expand the supply
for members of the Eurasian Economic Union. The project
was first set up in March 2013.
ArmRadio Asbarez
Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca and American Vice
President Joe Biden had a phone call on Wednesday. The
two discussed Moldovas completion of the Sarateni-Soroca
road, which was partially funded by the U.S. and Moldovas
continued dedication to democracy and aspiration for
European Integration. Leanca and Biden also addressed
Moldovas upcoming parliamentary elections on November
30 and its importance for democratic development.
Moldova.org OfficialWire
Airforce-Technology RBTH
Tajik President Rahmon and Azerbaijani President Aliyev
signed a declaration on Thursday in Dushanbe aiding
efforts to counter threats to Azerbaijans and Tajikistans
sovereignty and territorial integrity. In addition, the two
leaders signed agreements on civil defense, emergency
situations, and healthcare, among others, to further deepen
cooperation between Dushanbe and Baku.
RFE/RL Azernews
Russia is planning to open a new airbase in Belarus in 2016,
says Russian Air Force Commander General Viktor
Bondarev. Bondarev commented that Su-27 fighters will be
stationed in Bobruisks airfield, which will be
reconstructed. At the moment, Russia already has a Volga-
type radar station, which forms a part of the anti-missile
radar system, and a naval communication center in Belarus.

After nuclear negotiations with U.S. Secretary of State John
Kerry and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine
Ashton on Wednesday, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad
Javad Zarif reported that the talks were very difficult but
that progress had been made. Despite earlier comments by
Iranian, Russian, and European diplomats that raised the
possibility of extending the deadline for reaching an
agreement on these issues, both Zarif and a senior U.S.
official emphasized that all sides are committed to reaching
a comprehensive agreement by November 24.
Wall Street Journal Reuters
On Wednesday, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon
announced that in the case of withdrawal of the
International Security Assistance Force from Afghanistan
this year, Tajikistan will have to increase expenditures to
secure its 1,400km-long border with Afghanistan. Rahmon
noted that the withdrawal of coalition forces will increase
security threats in Central Asia and emphasized that border
security is essential for protecting investment and
entrepreneurship in Tajikistan.
AKI Press ITAR-TASS
Recent reports show that Turkmenistan is taking
unprecedented steps to secure its border with Afghanistan,
including conducting military exercises near the border as
well as building fences and digging trenches on the Afghan
side of the border. These efforts are in response to increased
concerns about the growing Taliban presence near the
Turkmenistan-Afghanistan frontiers. In particular, border
tensions increased after several Turkmen border guards
were killed in a clash with Taliban fighters.
The Diplomat RFE/RL
On Wednesday, FIFA banned Mongolian football chief
Ganbold Buyannemekh for five years after revelations that
Buyannamekh had taken bribes to vote for former Qatari
official Mohamed bin Hamma in FIFA leadership
elections. According to FIFA, Buyannemekh solicited and
accepted payments from bin Hamman. Buyannamekh is
currently a member of the executive committee of Asian
Football Confederation.
Yahoo Channel News Asia
Uzbekistan has permitted the formation and regulation of
volunteer civil militia units to assist the National Security
Service with patrolling the border. The volunteer units will
keep watch for illegal cross-border activities such as
narcotics and gasoline smuggling, as well as livestock theft.
There are already allegations that the civil militia has at
times exceeded its authority, demanding money or detaining
travelers under spurious charges.
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has frozen most of
Kyrgyzstans share in its largest and most lucrative
industrial asset, the Kumtor Gold Mine. The Ontario court
ruled that Kyrgyzstan failed to pay the $118 million in
damages awarded in Moscow this summer to Stans Energy.
Kumtor provides over 50% of the countrys industrial
output and 10% of its GDP per year. Kumtor is owned by
Toronto-based Centerra Gold, which is in turn one-third
owned by Kyrgyzstans state gold company Kyrgyzaltyn.
EurasiaNet 24.kg
RFE/RL AzerNews
On Thursday, Afghan security forces announced the arrests of
two key members of the Haqqani terror network: Anas
Haqqani, the son of the networks founder; and Hafiz Rashid,
the regional military commander. While the security forces
declined to provide details about the arrests, except to say that
they occurred on Tuesday. The Haqqani network has become
known for some of the deadliest and most sophisticated
terrorist attacks in recent years.
World Bulletin NBC
This week, a video of a Kazakh girl being dragged
screaming and crying into a forced wedding went viral.
While she is dragged from the car along a special bridal
carpet towards her future husbands house in Kazakhstans
central Akmola region, attendees of the ceremony throw
confetti over her. The practice of bride kidnapping is still
widely spread in Kazakhstan. The government is now
considering outlawing the practice.
Daily Mail New York Post
of-cease-fire-deal?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=world
On Thursday, Polish Deputy Prime Minister Janusz
Piechocinski announced that Poland will veto the European
Commissions proposed 2030 climate and energy policy
framework if it stays unchanged. Poland, which is heavily
reliant on coal for most of its electricity generation, objects to
the proposed 40-percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions,
which Piechocinski argues would destroy half of European
industry. The proposal will be debated at a summit on Oct.
23-24 in Brussels.
Romania Insider

Reuters
On Wednesday, the European Commission announced that it
would fine Deutsche Telekom a total 69.9 million euros for
violating EU antitrust regulations. The EC determined that
Deutsche Telekom had used margin squeeze tactics to prevent
rivals from accessing broadband infrastructure owned by its
subsidiary Slovak Telekom. The EC imposed a 31.07 million
euro fine on the German-based parent company as well as a
joint fine of a joint fine of 38.83 million euros on both
Deutsche Telekom and Slovak Telekom.

Reuters Deutsche Telekom
Outgoing Romanian president Traian Basescu has accused
Prime Minister Victor Ponta of serving as an undercover
intelligence officer between 1997 and 2001. Basescus
accusation comes in the lead-up to Romanias presidential
elections on November 2. Ponta, currently the favorite to win
the election, denies the allegations and has accused Basescu
of playing political games. Basescu is prohibited from
running for another term but has officially announced
support for candidacy of Elena Udrea.
Radio.cz Inquisitr
Baltic Times ERR
Latvian President Berzins announced his support on
Wednesday for current Prime Minister Straujuma to form
the new coalition government. Although Berzins cannot
officially appoint a new prime minister until the current
government resigns, he has already begun outlining the key
issues the coalition should focus on, including fiscal and tax
policy, security, and energy policy. Straujuma has served as
Prime Minister since January, after Vadim Dombrovskis
resigned.
Wall Street Journal Baltic Course
Reuters Wall Street Journal
Baltic Times
Politics.hu Reuters UK
Delfi.Lt
The Czech National Security Council has decided to
introduce Ebola symptom screening procedures in the
airports of Prague, Brno, Pardubice and Karlovy Vary. All
passengers arriving at these airports will be asked to fill in
information cards prior to their arrival, stating the country of
departure. Foreign nationals will also have to report their
destination within the Czech Republic. The Council also
decided to activate an army health care facility to serve as a
reserve hospital for patients with Ebola symptoms.
Lithuania announced that it will design a new rapid reaction
force to meet new unconventional security threats, such as
those seen in the Ukrainian crisis. Major General Jonas
Vytautas defined these threats as, manipulating national
minorities, provocations, attacks by non-state armed groups,
illegal border crossing, and breach of military transit
procedures. There will be 2,500 troops on high alert starting
in November to counter these hybrid warfare tactics. The
force will take less than 24 hours to be fully mobilized.

On Sunday, Estonia refused entry to an ex-Russian minister
and academic, which has increased tensions between the two
countries. Former Russian Minister of Nationalities Affairs
Valery Tishkov received a five-year entry ban by the Estonian
Ministry of the Interior in 2013. Tishkov was on his way to
give a presentation on ethnic relations and conflicts at a media
club that has been previously linked to the Russian foreign
intelligence service by Estonian authorities.


The European Commission on Thursday initiated legal
proceedings against Hungary in connection with cross-
border investors right to buy agricultural land. The
Commission stated that the restrictions violate the EU
principle of free movement of capital. The Hungarian ruling
party Fidesz defended the law, saying that it promotes the
interest of Hungarian farmers against foreign land
speculation.

Bulgarias outgoing Defense Minister Shalamanov warned of
catastrophic consequences for the Bulgarian armed forces
if they do not reduce their reliance on outdated Soviet-era
equipment. He suggested that Bulgaria buy s used American
F-16s or Eurofighters to reduce dependence on Russia for
repairs, especially in light of the tensions between Russia and
NATO over Ukraine. Russian Deputy Prime Minister
Rogozin responded by accusing Shalamanov of betraying
Russia and referred to him as "an American agent".
BBC Sofia Globe
In an operation that Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci described as
"complicated and dangerous", the Kosovo Intelligence
Agency successfully found and rescued an eight-year-old
Kosovo boy who had been taken to Syria in June by his
father, an Islamic State recruit. After the boy was taken
against his mothers will, she made a public appeal for her
sons return. The boys father, Arben Zena, is one of an
estimated 200 Kosovo citizens who fight alongside IS in
Syria and Iraq.

BBC RT
On Thursday, Serbia greeted Russian President Vladimir
Putin in Serbias first military parade in 30 years. The parade
includes 4,500 Serbian soldiers, tanks and flight
demonstrations. Putins visit coincides with the 70th
anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade by the Red Army
from the Nazis. The parade comes as Serbia aims to build
relations between Moscow without jeopardizing EU
membership goals.
Financial Times EU Observer
On Thursday, Croatias central bank governor Boris Vujcic
issued a scathing rebuke to Croatian politicians, blaming
years of recession on their failure to reform the economy.
Vujcic said both the ruling center-left coalition and
conservative opposition were responsible for slow market
reform and preventable mistakes. Vujcic further said that
Croatias GDP forecast for 2015, to be published in
December, will not be great.
Reuters Business Week
The 2015 European Championship Qualifier between Serbia
and Albania was halted due to the disruption of a drone
carrying a controversial Albanian flag. The flag depicted
Greater Albania, which includes parts of Serbia. A
Serbian defender took down the flag from the drone. Within
seconds Serbian fans rushed the field and attacked Albanian
players. This marked the first time Albania and Serbia
played each other since 1967.
On Wednesday, Slovenian lawmakers voted to ban an ex-
premier and opposition leader from parliament while he
serves a two-year jail sentence, after months of political
debate over his position. Janez Jansa was recently elected to
serve a new term in parliament on July 13. In 2013, Jansa
was convicted of bribery in an arms procurement deal from
2006. Jansas center-right government fell out of power in
February of last year.
World Bulletin Wall Street Journal
Newsweek
BusinessInsider
Balkan Insight
World News Report
Guardian Reuters UK
Doctors stated this week that the British man who died in a
hotel in Skopje last Thursday likely died due to alcohol
consumption, not Ebola. Although the 56-year-old man
exhibited symptoms compatible with Ebola infection,
doctors now say that Ebola is an unlikely cause of death.
While doctors await the official test confirmation, the hotel
where the man died has remained under quarantine, and
Macedonian health officials continue to follow all designed
WHO protocol.

Montenegro has signed on to a five-year military agreement
with Turkey to promote integrated military training and
exercises. Montenegrin soldiers will attend Turkish military
schools and training courses. Montenegro and Turkey have
had no significant military cooperation in the past outside
joint NATO programs and military exercises. In contrast to
Montenegros tiny army, Turkey has an active military
strength of around 623,000 personnel, which is nearly the
size of Montenegros total population.




Bosnia and Herzegovina concluded elections over the
weekend, with Milorad Dodik, a Bosnian Serb nationalist
with strong Moscow ties and secessionist views, leading the
race for the president of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia. In
the wider elections, separate ethnic parties followed
divergent views, with Bosnian Serb leaders pushing for
independence, Croat leaders pressing for autonomy, and
Bosniaks advocating more centralized power.
New York Times BBC