by Vladimir Socor, The Jamestown Foundation

With Russian troops on their way out from two bases in Georgia, the international politics of CFE Treaty ratification focuses increasingly on Moldova. The OSCE’s Permanent Council-Forum for Security Cooperation special joint meeting on May 23, with Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov’s participation, reflected this development. As Russian officials from President Vladimir Putin on down threaten to scuttle the treaty unless Western countries ratify it, Moldova may come under growing pressures from now on.

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Mart Laar

The west seems to lack up-to-date knowledge about Moldova. Can Europe's poorest country ever achieve real independence from Russia?

Communism's fall gave the nations of the former Soviet bloc a chance to turn towards democracy, a market economy, and the rule of law. Some countries cut ties decisively with the communist past; others were less successful, a few failed catastrophically.

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Andras Racz, Hungarian Institute of International Affairs: The second congress of the United Democratic Forces (UDF) held on 26-27th May in Minsk replaced Alexander Milinkevich, the former jointly supported presidential candidate. Leadership of the UDF will be exercised by a Political Council directed by a Praesidium of four co-presidents. The new strategy of the UDF is in favor of starting negotiations with the Lukashenko-regime. Milinkevich quit the group and keeps on pursuing his own opposition policies, based on a bottom-up approach, mass support and street demonstrations. Read full article...