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Twenty years after Russia cast off its Soviet economic model, its central bank is still struggling to keep inflation under control. To moderate price increases, the central bank must clarify its approach to monetary policy.
As events continue to drive Russians and Chechens further apart, Moscow must find a way to establish a Russian civic identity in which the peoples of the Caucasus have a stake.
Promoting democracy in the six post-Soviet countries in Eastern Europe that were designated by the European Union as deserving special attention will require the EU to offer incentives for implementing reforms.
Following December’s presidential election in Belarus, which European observers said failed to meet international standards, Alexander Lukashenka claimed an implausible landslide victory and launched a wave of political repression.
The reluctance of Armenia and Azerbaijan to commit to peace negotiations over Nagorny Karabakh blocks the efforts of the international community to establish peace and U.S. bilateral interests in the two nations constrain a more aggressive push to force a deal.
In spite of predicted growth in 2011, the Russian economy faces a number of serious challenges as it recovers from the global financial crisis.
Although the Armenia-Turkey normalization process which began in 2008 seemed promising, it only made the situation throughout the South Caucasus worse when it stalled in April 2010.
Lifting the Russian embargo imposed on the Georgian wine would benefit the economic interests of both countries and would support the strained Russian-Georgian relationship.
Although U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden’s visit to Moldova can do much to highlight the country’s potential and to support progress already under way, the solutions to the country's lingering problems will depend on political will and creative thinking from Chisinau.
The U.S.-Russia "reset" will face significant challenges as it matures. Both sides must show sensitivity and flexibility in recognizing each other’s political and security constraints, and think creatively to find possible common ground.