Energy security in Russia-EU partnership

In this article our aim is to refl ect on complex and multidimensional relations between EU and Russia, with special focus on energy relations which seems to be in the heart of this quite peculiar economic interdependence. To do this it is necessary to look at a wider aspect of EU – Russia relations with special attention and exposure of different perceptions on mutual relations. Descending from this wider frame of mutual relations the main analysis is focused on question if EU – Russia and to some extend even EU member states – Russia relations, are based on idea of cooperation or competition. Since the focal point is energy security the article is trying to defi ne energy security from different point of views, because the perception and definition of energy security is not the same for EU, Russia or transit states for Russian energy. Nevertheless the energy security issue is most pressing for EU and its member states, due to presented statistical date on growing dependence of EU on import of energy in general and with special emphasize to its growing dependence on Russian energy resources. Article is trying to present major challenges laying ahead for EU and Russia in their energy cooperation in the frame of different future scenarios of global energy market development

Balkanization of Caucasus: case study of Georgia

BALKANIZACIJA NA KAVKAZU: PRIMER GRUZIJE. Čeprav je izraz balkanizacija v mednarodnih odnosih in diplomatskih krogih dobro znan, so nekatere značilnosti tega pojava kljub temu vredne poglobljene analize in debate. Članek dokazuje, da je fenomen balkanizacije prisoten na različnih koncih sveta. Secesija, notranji in meddržavni konflikti na etnični in verski osnovi,močan pritisk na civilno prebivalstvo, ki se odraža v vojnih zločinih, genocidu in etničnem čiščenju, ekonomski propad dežele in skrajno nizka raven demokracije - vse to je spremljalo razpad Socialistične Federativne Republike Jugoslavije. Tako se je izraz balkanizacija dokončno ustalil. Analiza dogodkov v Sovjetski zvezi in na južnem Kavkazu kaže določene podobnosti z dogajanjem na ozemlju nekdanje Jugoslavije. Članek ponuja drugačen pogled na balkanizacijo, ki bo strokovnjakom omogočil zanesljivejše napovedovanje mednarodnih odnosov na območju južnega Kavkaza.Although the term and phenomena of balkanization is internationally well-known, excepted within international relations and diplomatic circles, some peculiarities are interesting even for further analysis and discussion. This article underlines some of them and proves that many of them can be traced down in different areas all over the world. Specifics like secession, accompanied by inter- and intrastate conflicts based on ethnic and religious grounds, huge pressure on the civil population expressed in war crimes, genocide and ethnic cleansing, enormous economical devastation of the country and very low level of democracy denoted the collapse of Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia. As the consequence the term balkanization got the final outlook . Analysis of different events after collapse of Soviet Union in Southern Caucasus may be compared, to a certain degree, to those on the territory of former Yugoslavia. Based on this and many other facts article offers new perspective in better comprehension and may enable us to predict further development of the international relations regarding the Southern Caucasus region

Synthesis of Optically and Redox Active Polyenaminones from Diamines and α,α’-Bis[(dimethylamino)methylidene]cyclohexanediones

New oligo- and polyenaminones with Mw ~ 7–50 KDa were prepared in high yields by transaminative amino-enaminone polymerization of regioisomeric bis[(dimethylamino)methylidene]cyclohexanediones with alkylene and phenylenediamines. The polymers obtained are practically insoluble in aqueous and organic solvents and exhibit film-forming properties, UV light absorption at wavelengths below 500 nm, and redox activity. These properties indicate a promising application potential of these polymers, which could find use in optical and optoelectronic applications and in energy storage devices