Russia/Press on Russia

Ria Novosti: The CIS and Baltic Press on Russia


Estonia:

"The press sees the inclusion of the issue of the Russian-Estonian border treaty in the agenda of the EU foreign ministers' meeting as a small diplomatic victory for Estonia. However, ahead of the meeting the media were cautious in their forecasts about the European Union's willingness to support Estonia. 'We fear minor disagreements among EU member states during the discussion, of which Russia may take advantage.' " (Eesti Paevaleht, July 18.)

Latvia

"Negative coverage in the Latvian press focused mainly on the Kremlin's attempts to bar former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov from the struggle for the presidency by launching a criminal investigation.'The Kasyanov case is developing following the scenario of the prosecution of former Yukos chief Mikhail Khodorkovsky.' " (Dienas Bizness, July 13.)

Lithuania

"Ciiting a source in Central Asia, the newspaper has published an article that forecasts the total breakup of the Commonwealth of Independent States at the next summit of CIS heads of state in Kazan on August 26. A Eurasian union involving Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus will be formed in its place. ' According to some information, the leaders of these countries intend to discuss plans to create common borders, political and economic spaces, and to adopt a single currency.' " (Litovskaya Narodnaya Gazeta, July 14.)

Ukraine

"The press believes that there are political implications in the Russian-Ukrainian gas conflict. ' Tking advantage of the gas scandal, Russia is trying to force Ukraine into concessions on some inter-state problems. This is first of all joint management of the country's gas mains.' " (Galitskiye Kontrakty, July 7.)