Minsk
Uncategorized

Is Belarus benefiting from change in West’s perspective?

It is tempting to slip into a spiral of sensationalism when describing the concurrent trends in Belarus’s foreign relations and national aspirations, even though—if history is any guide—these trends may be reversed as abruptly as they started. So far, however, tensions have been on the rise along Belarus’s eastern flank; whereas, there has been steady improvement in Belarus’s relations with the West. According to the assessment of the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies, this has been the case since the very beginning of 2014. […]

No Picture
Uncategorized

In Belarus, Russia’s problems reverberate

Western sanctions and falling oil prices continue to strain the Russian economy. The impacts of this crisis are being felt across the former Soviet periphery, with neighbouring Belarus experiencing particularly acute spillover effects. […]

No Picture
Uncategorized

Stratfor: Poland and Baltic states will continue to promote Ukraine’s Western ties

As the standoff between Russia and the West over Ukraine continues into 2015, the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will come to play an increasingly important role. Even before the crisis, the three Baltic states — as well as neighboring Poland — were among the most active EU member states attempting to bring Ukraine closer to the West and to challenge Russia’s role in the former Soviet periphery. Their efforts along these lines will intensify this year. Ultimately, however, more powerful players in the standoff will limit the impacts of their efforts, particularly Germany and the United States. […]

Linas Linkevičius
Foreign affairs

Lithuanian foreign minister summarized his key efforts of 2014

In an annual press conference held on 18 December, Linas Linkevičius, Lithuanian minister of foreign affairs, summarized his priority activities of 2014. These included deepening of relations with EU Eastern partners, consistent support to Ukraine, active membership of the UN Security Council and economic diplomacy efforts. […]

Laurynas Kasčiūnas, Vytautas Keršanskas, Linas Kojala, Benediktas Juodka, Kristina Vaičiūnaitė, Audronius Ažubalis

Lithuanian experts outline three scenarios for Eastern Partnership

Experts from the Eastern Europe Studies Centre (EESC) presented the study “Eastern Partnership (EaP) in a Changing Security Environment: ‘Muddling Through’ or New Incentives for Reform?”. The event took place at the Lithuanian Parliament on 12 November. […]

Nerija Putinaitė
Society

Philosopher Nerija Putinaitė on three Lithuanian Europes

As Lithuania has been a member of a great supranational union for a decade now, Lithuanians are forced to confront the question of their collective identity, says philosopher Nerija Putinaitė. In her new book, “Three Lithuanian Europes: Nation, Europe, the EU in modern identity”, she argues that the question of what it means to be Lithuanian closely relates to visions of Europe. […]