RUSSIAN STUDIES

Dr. Glen Segell,
(FRGS, Fellow, Ezri Center for Iran & Persian Gulf Studies, University of Haifa, Israel)

Copyright @ 2016 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 4 January 2016

The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union entailed building up nuclear arsenals with delivery systems and then negotiating treaties of disarmament and non-proliferation. Simply put both sides realised that the weapons once deployed couldn't be used even to deter or win proxy wars and therefore their existence was more dangerous than any benefits that could be gained from their being. Mutually assured destruction (MAD) was the most likely result of any conflict escalation so at best the nuclear arsenals and their delivery systems gave their owners a feeling of security that they couldn't be directly attack. This was providing that the other side was rational to comprehend the consequences of nuclear annihilation...Read more

RIAC asked RIEAS Editorial Team to comment on purposes and the results of Tsipras' visit to Moscow.

On April 8-9, 2015 Greek Prime-Minister visited Russia. Mr. Tsipras' decision to conduct talks with President Putin caused anxiety and concern in the EU and among Greek opposition. International relations, it is often said, resemble a game of chess. A good chess player should strive to be ahead of his opponent by a move or two at all times. By visiting Moscow shortly after he decisively won a general election on January 25, 2015, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has obviously borrowed a leaf out of a good chess player's book... Read more

Kvashnin Yuri (Ph.D in History)
(Head, European Union Studies Department, IMEMO RAN, RIAC Expert)

Copyright: Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 1 January 2015)

Today the Russian-Greek economic relations are affected by a triple crisis: the ongoing crisis in Greece, the crisis in Russian–EU relations and Russia's economic hardships.
As for the first one, at the beginning of this year Greece's economic prospects looked bright. 2013 was the first year when Greece achieved primary surplus of 1.5 billion euro. In the passing year it showed new signs of recovery. In mid-December Greece's central bank slightly raised its forecast for economic growth this year to 0.7 percent and predicted growth of 2.5 percent in 2015.... Read more

Walter Schwimmer
(Former Secretary General of the Council of the Europe)

Interview by George Protopapas
(RIEAS Media Analyst)

Copyright: Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) – Publication date: 9 December 2014.

Mr. Walter Schwimmer is a former Austrian politician and diplomat and former Secretary General of the Council of Europe between 1999- 2004. He is considered an expert on Russian- European affairs as during his tenure he handled the war in Chechnya. H.E Walter Schwimmer analyzes how the crisis in Ukraine affects the European security system, Russia - Europe relations and Russia- USA relations....Read more

Dr Yuri D. Kvashnin, PhD in History, Head of the European Union Studies Department, IMEMO RAN, RIAC expert

Dr Vladimir A. Olenchenko, PhD in Law, Senior Research Fellow, IMEMO RAN, RIAC expert

Dr. John M Nomikos, Director, Research Institute for European and American Studies (Athens)

George Protopapas, Media Analyst, Research Institute for European and American Studies (Athens)

Copyright: http://russiancouncil.ru  (Publication Date on: 24 May 2014)


The partnership between Russia and Greece is a unique case of international relations, in that Russia and Greece have no serious mutual claims that might impede further development or enhancement of their cooperation. Nor are there any permanent irritant factors hindering initiatives on either side. Even so, despite the historical and cultural proximity of the two countries, for the last few years Russian-Greek relations have stagnated and have lost significance, in part due to the abandonment of the Burgas-Alexandroupoli oil pipeline project and the suspension of military and technical cooperation between the two countries. The 2009 Greek debt crisis also relegated Greek-Russian ties to the background, focusing the government’s efforts on economic recovery...  Read more..... Read more