Russia
 
Russian communists launch movie about Katyn
A documentary about the Katyn massacre has been posted on Russia’s Communist Party website. The film, entitled ‘Russia’s Polish Cross’, argues that the Polish officers executed in 1941 were killed by the Nazis. The film makers, supported by government and science experts, describe the ‘alleged’ guilt of NKWD - the Soviet Secret Service 1937-1946 – as a “Polish-Goebbels version of events”. They suggest that the historical documents in the Kremlin archives, blaming NKWD for the massacre, have been falsified by Polish and British secret service. (In February of this year, the Parliamentary faction – KPRF – called for the formation of a special committee to re-examine the circumstances of the death of Polish officers in Katyn. KPRF also wants a Parliamentary investigation into the death of 80,000-120,000 Red Army soldiers in Polish captivity in 1920. They also appealed to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to refrain from repeating “hasty and most probably false conclusions on the death of Polish officers”).
2010.03.10, PAP, kprf.ru
 
Talks on new EU-Russia framework agreement
On March 10 Brussels hosted a meeting summing up the eighth round of negotiations on the New Russia-EU Framework Agreement. Vladimir Chizhov, Permanent Representative to the EU, headed the Russian delegation, the EU delegation was headed by the European Commission’s Director General for External Relations Joao Vale de Almeida. Textual harmonization of future agreement’s provisions continued during the round. The next round of negotiations will be held in late April-early May.
2010.03.10, Interfax, www.mid.ru, www.rian.ru
 
Russian-Moldovan consultations
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Grigory Karasin, held consultations with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova Andrei Popov on March 9. The talks focused on deepening the bilateral political dialogue at all levels, along with ways to increase the effectiveness of cooperation in the CIS, and preparations of commemorative events for the 65th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. After the talks, Popov said that Moldova asked Moscow for help in establishing an effective dialogue with Trans-Dniester. He also added that Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister for reintegration issues, VictorOsipov, will soon visit Moscow to discuss the Trans-Dniester issue.
2010.03.10, TV Rossija 24, www.mid.ru, www.regnum.ru
 
Eastern Europe
 
Ukraine has new coalition
The Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Volodymyr Lytvyn, announced on 11 March the formation is a new parliamentary coalition: Stability and Reform, with a majority of 235 MPs in the 450-seat Verkhovna Rada. The leaders of three factions: Party of Regions, KPU the communist party, and Lytvyn`s Bloc (with 219 seats), signed the coalition agreement. 16 independent MPs, whose names have not yet been revealed, have also joined the coalition. On 10 March, the President hosted a meeting with ambassadors from EU and G8 member states, and appealed to them to accept the amendments. According to the President’s Press Office, the ambassadors have said that the international community is willing to work with Ukraine's new leadership in order to achieve stability and implementation of reforms. The formation of the new coalition was made possible after amendments to article 61 on Parliamentary rules allowing not only entire factions but also individual MPs to form a coalition. President Viktor Yanukovych signed the Bill on 10 March, which was officially published the following day. Yanukovych announced he would refer the amendments to the Constitutional Court to test the legality of the new coalition, and the government elected according to the new rules.
Former President, Viktor Yushchenko, said the new rules on parliamentary majority were unconstitutional, and announced that he would call on the Ukrainian people to boycott them. Our Ukraine – People’s Self Defence said it would join the opposition but this decision was not supported by all members of the faction. Yulia Tymoshenko’s Block has also joined the opposition, and warned to exclude any members who supported the new coalition (according to the imperative mandate rules, leaving a faction before the end of term will result in the MP losing their seat).
2010.03.11, www.unian.net, www.pravda.com.ua
 
Parliament confirms new government
On 11 March, the Ukraine’s Parliament confirmed the appointment of Mykola Azarov as Ukraine’s new Prime Minister, and the composition of the new cabinet. 242 MPs voted for the former Presidential candidate. The cabinet will have seven Deputy Ministers, including Andriy Kluyev appointed as First Deputy Minister.
Other appointments include: Foreign Minister: Kostyantyn Hryshchenko, Defence Minister: Mykhailo Yezhel, Interior Minister: Anatoliy Mohylyov, head of the Security Service of Ukraine: Valeriy Khoroshkovskiy, Minister for the Economy: Vasyl Tsushko; Finance Minister: Fedir Yaroshenko, Fuel and Energy Minister: Yuriy Boyko. The members of the new cabinet have been sworn in. The same day, the Parliament voted to oust Yulia Tymoshenko and her government.
2010.03.11, ITAR-TASS, www.unian.net, www.pravda.com.ua
 
Members of Belarusian opposition visit Warsaw
The delegation of the Belarusian opposition, including among others Alexander Milinkevich and Stanislav Shushkevich, met in Warsaw on 10 March with Poland’s Foreign Minister, Radoslav Sikorsky, and representatives of the Parliament and the President’s Office. The talks focused on the current situation in Belarus in the context of the recent repressions against the Union of Poles in Belarus and other opposition parties. Relations between Belarus, Poland and the EU have also been discussed.
2010.03.10, PAP, www.charter97.org
 
Belarus: trial against businessmen accused of terrorism
The trial of businessman Mikalay Awtukhovich and his associate Uladzimir Asipenka begins at the Supreme Court of Belarus on March 10. The men stand accused of setting fire to the home of a police officer, and making preparations for murdering Uladzimir Sawchanka, chairman of the Hrodna Regional Executive Committee, and Deputy Tax Minister, Vasil Kamyanko. Awtukhovich’s former business associate, Alyaksandr Laryn, and former police officer, Mikhail Kazlou, will also face charges in the attempted murder case. Human rights activists stress that for no apparent reason the case will go straight to the Supreme Court, whose decisions are final. (Awtukhovich and Asipenka are considered by the opposition and international human rights organisations as political prisoners).
2010.03.10, www.charter97.org, www.lenta.ru
 
Moldovan opposition rejects plans for referendum
The Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM) has announced that it will boycott all upcoming sessions of Parliament. The decision has been made to protest the ruling Alliance for European Integration (AIE) taking an "unconstitutional" action by holding a referendum to avoid preterm parliamentary elections. The Communists believe that the decision goes against the recommendations by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, and Moldovan legislation. The party announced preparations for a national referendum to be held with the aim of gauging the public's trust in the current government. The proposed by AIE referendum has also been criticised by Iurie Rosca, the leader of Christian Democratic People'sparty (PPCD – without seats in the current Parliament). Rosca announced street protests against the violation of the constitution and state power encroachment.
Meanwhile President Vlad Filat, said that the constitutional changes, including those on Presidential elections, will not be introduced until acceptance from the Council of Europe has been received.
2010.03.10, Interfax, www.interlic.md, www.info-prim.md, www.omg.md, www.tvc21.md
 
LitPol Link project may include Kaliningrad
On 10 March, Chief Executive Officer of Lietuvos Energija, Aloyzas Koryzna said he did not exclude the possibility of Russian participation in the LitPol Link project. The project aims to create a power link between the Lithuanian and Polish grids. According to Koryzna, there are two options: the construction of one cable through the Kaliningrad area, or two cables, in the even of by-passing the region. The CEO stressed that a power link with the inclusion of Kaliningrad would create the possibility of future exports of surplus energy from the Baltic Nuclear Power Plant.
2010.03.11, ITAR-TASS, www.kaunodiena.lt
 
The Caucasus and Central Asia
 
Polish PM visits Azerbaijan
Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, paid a one-day visit to Azerbaijan on 10 March. Tusk met with President Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister ArturRasizade, and the
Speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament, Oktay Asadov. The talks focused on energy policy, including the possible deliveries of Caspian oil through Georgia to Europe by the Odessa-Brody-Plock-Gdansk pipeline. The EU-led Easters Partnership Project, and the political situation in the South Caucasus were also discussed. Representatives of both sides called for a boost in bilateral cooperation. Prime Minister Rasizade appealed to Polish companies to increase their presence also in sectors other than energy. 
2010.03.10, PAP, www.premier.gov.pl, www.regnum.ru
 
Head of US Central Command visits Kyrgyzstan
The head of U.S. Central Command, General David Petraeus, has met with Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev in Bishkek to discuss bilateral cooperation between the US and Kyrgyzstan, and the current situation in Afghanistan. Bakiev assured General Petraeus of Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to further cooperation with the international community in an effort to stabilise the situation in Afghanistan. The President’s declaration has been analysed by commentators as an expression of support for the extension of American presence at the Manas Military base near Bishkek. The base was renamed in 2009 as Transit Centre for the use in the stabilisation efforts in Afghanistan. The current lease agreement runs out on 22 June 2010.
On 10 March the Council of Kyrgyz Elders demanded the closure of the base (the reason quoted by the elders were reports it was being used to train fighters for the military operation in Iran).
2010.03.10-11, Interfax, www.ferghana.ru, www.kommersant.ru, www.24.kg
 
Kyrgyzstan – antigovernment protest in Naryn
A few thousand people protested on 10 March in the northern city of Naryn. The protestors demanded the cancellation of price increases on energy and heating. They also called for the annulment of the energy sector privatisations, the abandonment of nepotism for government appointments, and an end to repressions against rally organisers and participants. The protesters demanded also the release of the former Defence Minister Ismail Isakov. They supported 17 March as the date for holding the Kurultay (assembly) of Kyrgyz opposition forces, and threatened to support oppositions’ calls for the resignation of President Bakiev and his team. Leaders of the Kyrgyz opposition were present at the rally in Naryn.
2010.03.10, Interfax, PAP, www.ferghana.ru, www.regnum.ru