By Haroutiun Khachatrian (11/14/2007 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad’s visit to Armenia on October 22-23 marked a new stage in the relationship between the two countries. The former Soviet republic, which has adopted a Western-type market economy principle, and Iran, one of the most closed economies of the world, will make increasing efforts to make their economic ties closer. Moreover, the two countries are likely to initiate some cooperation in the military sphere as well.

By Erica Marat (11/14/2007 issue of the CACI Analyst)

As the states of Central Asia and the South Caucasus celebrate the sixteenth anniversary of independence this year, they are gradually moving toward appreciating their international images ahead of promoting national ideologies domestically. To date, Armenia, Georgia, and Kazakhstan have made the first conscious steps in promoting their national peculiarities in the international arena by designing recognizable images and slogans. But more extensive strategies are soon to be developed if these states choose to compete on the international market for tourists and investments.

By Marcin Kaczmarski (11/14/2007 issue of the CACI Analyst)

On November 5-6, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao paid an official visit to Moscow, in the framework of regular consultations on the level of heads of governments. Despite numerous agreements signed, the talks, focused on economic issues, failed to produce an agreement in most important area – Russian oil exports to China. Nevertheless, for the very first time, the Chinese side appeared to be ready to make some economic concessions to Russia and open its machinery and high-tech market for Russian enterprises.