NEWS: 21 Aug 09 | Caucasus Reporting Service 507 (iwpr.net)

South Ossetians Puzzled by Leaders
Locals say officials were not ready for independence and may not even want it. By Alan Tskhurbaev in Tskhinval (CRS No. 507, 21-Aug-09)
Armenia’s Yezidis Bemoan Lowly Status
Long-marginalised community claims it faces systematic discrimination. By Aghavni Harutyunian in Zovuni and Arpi Makhsudian in Yerevan (CRS No. 507, 21-Aug-09)
Tea and Memories in the Caucasus
Tbilisi tea-house gives glimpse of lost ethnic harmony. By Seymur Kazimov in Tbilisi (CRS No. 507, 21-Aug-09)

NEWS: 24 Apr 09 | Caucasus Reporting Service 490 (iwpr.com)

NATO’s Georgia Exercises Test Russian Resolve
The exercises won’t be cancelled as Kremlin has demanded but Georgia should beware of lending them too much significance. By Mikhail Vignansky in Tbilisi (CRS No. 490, 24-Apr-09)
Armenia Presses On With Courtship of Turkey
While Turkey holds out for concessions over Nagorny- Karabakh, Yerevan remains convinced a restoration of diplomatic ties lies on the horizon. By Tatul Hakobian in Yerevan (CRS No. 490, 24-Apr-09)
Armenia Talks Strain Turkey's Ties With Azerbaijan
Perceived cooling in relationship between Ankara and Baku may have ramifications for the latter’s energy strategy. By Seymur Kazimov in Baku (CRS No. 490, 24-Apr-09)

NEWS: 03 Apr 09 until 10 Apr 09 | Caucasus Reporting Service 487 und 488 (iwpr.com)

Turkey Keeps Armenia Guessing Over Border Blockade
If Ankara is serious about putting relations with Yerevan onto a new footing, it will reopen the border crossings it closed in 1993. By Tatul Hakobian in Yerevan (CRS No. 488, 10-Apr-09)
Azeri Enclave Puts Lid on Dissenting Voices
Locals in isolated Nakichevan say authorities there have ways of ensuring complaints don’t reach Baku. By Idrak Abbasov in Nakhichevan (CRS No. 488, 10-Apr-09)

Georgia Opposition Brush Aside Call for Dialogue
Confident they can mobilise the masses on April 9, president’s foes dismiss calls for talks as too late in the day. By Tamar Kadagidze in Tbilisi (CRS No. 487, 3-Apr-09)
Armenia: Officials Try to Spin Court Setback
They say it shows they don't go after opposition-supporting businessmen - though claim sounds hollow. By Sara Khojoian in Yerevan (CRS No. 487, 8-Apr-09)
Bridge to Russia Costs Azeris a Fortune
On the so-called Golden Bridge, which crosses the river dividing Azerbaijan and Russia, huge sums change hands daily. By Seymur Kazimov in Yarag Kazmalyar CRS No. 487, 6-Apr-09)

NEWS: 6 Mar 09 | Caucasus Reporting Service 483 (iwpr.net)

Armenia Opposition Abandons Talk of Revolution

As Ter-Petrosian distances himself from earlier radical rhetoric - now talk of coalition government in the air.
By Rita Karapetian in Yerevan (CRS No. 483, 5-Mar-09)

Currency Shock Triggers Consumer Panic in Armenia

Overnight drop in value of dram feeds savers’ worries and sends shoppers rushing to stores to stock up.
By Naira Melkumian in Yerevan (CRS No. 483, 5-Mar-09)

Azeri Muslims Feel State Far From Friendly

Believers says problems over mosques, headscarves and the Hajj reflect official climate of indifference or hostility.
By Seymur Kazimov in Baku (CRS No. 483, 5-Mar-09)