Word: russia
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...Those instincts told Lukashenko to skip the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) meeting on Sunday in protest over Russia's dairy-imports ban. The organization - which has been dubbed Russia's answer to NATO - consists of Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and, supposedly, Belarus and was formed to tackle drug-trafficking from Afghanistan, as well as international terrorism. "Economy serves as the basis for our common security," Lukashenko said in a statement. "But if Belarus' closest CSTO ally is trying ... to destroy this basis ... how can one talk about consolidating collective security in the CSTO space...
...Medvedev told reporters after the summit, "I hope that these milk hysterics do not in the end spoil work on the collective rapid-reaction force [the CSTO]." But the milk wars are threatening to sour further. In March, Russia and Belarus made a verbal agreement allowing Belarus concessions on the contract-listed gas prices that Russia charges. But on Monday, Gazprom spokesperson Sergei Kupriyanov told Russian daily Kommersant that the existing contract was never altered, meaning Belarus would have to pay $210 per 1,000 cu m of gas rather than the $150 that was agreed upon - a crippling amount...
...Belarus could not survive without Russia," says Wilson. "But translating that into political reality has always been really difficult. At the end of the day, Belarus needs trade and resources to survive, both of which come from Russia." So for now, Belarus will have to keep up its balancing act between Russia and Europe - and hope that, soon, Russia goes back to drinking its milk...
...short answer is: because he was invited. Russia is convening two back-to-back summits of significant global importance this week. Moscow is a key player in both the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a Chinese-driven body aimed at improving ties with Russia and Central Asia, and the so-called BRIC group - a gang of four emerging world powers in Brazil, Russia, India and China. With the SCO and BRIC meeting at the same place, much of the non-Western world's geopolitical muscle is now rubbing shoulders in the shadow of the Urals. And the Iranian President, who never...
...place is far less obvious. The SCO, in particular, has been perceived since its founding in 2001 as a growing foil to U.S. interests in West Asia. Originally formed to develop dialogue on trade and security issues among nations with old histories of enmity, the SCO comprises China, Russia and four Central Asian states hovering within both Beijing and Moscow's spheres of influence - Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Tehran under Ahmadinejad had long petitioned to be part of this group but has settled for "observer" status alongside India and Pakistan. (See five reasons to suspect the results...