Armenia and Belarus: caught between the EU's and Russia's conditionalities?

This article looks into Armenia's and Belarus’ engagement with the European Union's (EU) and Russia's conditionalities, the two EU Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries that are also members of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). While paying attention to political, economic (including energy and technical) as well as security dimensions of the EU's and Russia's approaches, as proposed in the present special section, the article demonstrates that the conditionalities extended by the EU and Russia to the two countries in question have differed. In their turn, Armenia and Belarus have reacted differently to Russia's and the EU's conditionalities. Against the backdrop of the changing significance ascribed to both the EU's and Russia's policies towards their common neighbourhood since the 1990s, the present contribution identifies and analyses factors that account for the diverging positions of Armenia and Belarus, including the type of regime, the geopolitical considerations, the stakes in the economic and energy spheres and the predisposition to integration. The article shows that in the resulting complex context, Armenia and Belarus have been able to influence the shape and content of the EU's and Russia's conditionalities, although in a different way and to a different extent.Ministry of Education and Science (UID/CPO/ 00758/2013

†Kenyaichthyidae fam. nov and †Kenyaichthys gen. nov - First Record of a Fossil Aplocheiloid Killifish (Teleostei, Cyprinodontiformes)

The extant Cyprinodontiformes (killifishes) with their two suborders Cyprinodontoidei and Aplocheiloidei represent a diverse and well-studied group of fishes. However, their fossil record is comparatively sparse and has so far yielded members of the Cyprinodontoidei only. Here we report on cyprinodontiform fossils from the upper Miocene Lukeino Formation in the Tugen Hills of the Central Rift Valley of Kenya, which represent the first fossil record of an aplocheiloid killifish. A total of 169 specimens - mostly extraordinarily well preserved and a sample of ten extant cyprinodontiform species were studied on the basis of morphometrics, meristics and osteology. A phylogenetic analysis using PAUP was also conducted for the fossils. Both the osteological data and the phylogenetic analysis provide strong evidence for the assignment of the fossils to the Aplocheiloidei, and justify the definition of the new family dagger Kenyaichthyidae, the new genus dagger Kenyaichthys and the new species dagger K. kipkechi sp. nov. The phylogenetic analysis unexpectedly places dagger Kenyaichthys gen. nov. in a sister relationship to the Rivulidae (a purely Neotropical group),a probable explanation might be lack of available synapomorphies for the Rivulidae, Nothobranchiidae and Aplocheilidae. The specimens of dagger K. kipkechi sp. nov. show several polymorphic characters and large overlap in meristic traits, which justifies their interpretation as a species flock in statu nascendi. Patterns of variation in neural and haemal spine dimensions in the caudal vertebrae of dagger Kenyaichthys gen. nov. and the extant species studied indicate that some previously suggested synapomorphies of the Cyprinodontoidei and Aplocheiloidei need to be revised

Neogene amphibians and reptiles (Caudata, Anura, Gekkota, Lacertilia, and Testudines) from the south of Western Siberia, Russia, and Northeastern Kazakhstan

Background The present-day amphibian and reptile fauna of Western Siberia are the least diverse of the Palaearctic Realm, as a consequence of the unfavourable climatic conditions that predominate in this region. The origin and emergence of these herpetofaunal groups are poorly understood. Aside from the better-explored European Neogene localities yielding amphibian and reptile fossil remains, the Neogene herpetofauna of Western Asia is understudied. The few available data need critical reviews and new interpretations, taking into account the more recent records of the European herpetofauna. The comparison of this previous data with that of European fossil records would provide data on palaeobiogeographic affiliations of the region as well as on the origin and emergence of the present-day fauna of Western Siberia. An overview of the earliest occurrences of certain amphibian lineages is still needed. In addition, studies that address such knowledge gaps can be useful for molecular biologists in their calibration of molecular clocks. Methods and Results In this study, we considered critically reviewed available data from amphibian and reptile fauna from over 40 Western Siberian, Russian and Northeastern Kazakhstan localities, ranging from the Middle Miocene to Early Pleistocene. Herein, we provided new interpretations that arose from our assessment of the previously published and new data. More than 50 amphibians and reptile taxa were identified belonging to families Hynobiidae, Cryptobranchidae, Salamandridae, Palaeobatrachidae, Bombinatoridae, Pelobatidae, Hylidae, Bufonidae, Ranidae, Gekkonidae, Lacertidae, and Emydidae. Palaeobiogeographic analyses were performed for these groups and palaeoprecipitation values were estimated for 12 localities, using the bioclimatic analysis of herpetofaunal assemblages. Conclusion The Neogene assemblage of Western Siberia was found to be dominated by groups of European affinities, such as Palaeobatrachidae, Bombina, Hyla, Bufo bufo, and a small part of this assemblage included Eastern Palaearctic taxa (e.g. Salamandrella, Tylototriton, Bufotes viridis). For several taxa (e.g. Mioproteus, Hyla, Bombina, Rana temporaria), the Western Siberian occurrences represented their most eastern Eurasian records. The most diverse collection of fossil remains was found in the Middle Miocene. Less diversity has been registered towards the Early Pleistocene, potentially due to the progressive cooling of the climate in the Northern Hemisphere. The results of our study showed higher-amplitude changes of precipitation development in Western Siberia from the Early Miocene to the Pliocene, than previously assumed

Five-fold expansion of the Caspian Sea in the late Pliocene: New and revised magnetostratigraphic and 40Ar/39Ar age constraints on the Akchagylian Stage

The Global climate reorganisation in the late Pliocene linked to enhancement of the Atlantic Ocean Thermohaline Circulation (AOTC), instigated a transition to glacial-interglacial cyclicity in the Quaternary. Enhancement of the AOTC amplified atmospheric precipitation over the Eurasian interior strengthening Northern Hemisphere Glaciation. Increased rainfall on the vast Russian Plain drained into the endorheic Caspian Sea, which makes the Caspian geological record highly potential for tracing atmospheric precipitation changes. Two major palaeohydrological events in the Caspian Sea, the Akchagylian transgression and the Akchagylian marine incursion, led to a five-fold enlargement of the Caspian Sea surface area and transformed the basin palaeoecology, enabling active interregional faunal dispersals. The Akchagylian Stage still lacks an unequivocal age model with two age constraints – the “long Akchagylian” (3.6–1.8 Ma) and the “short Akchagylian” (2.7–2.1 Ma) standing on magnetostratigraphic studies of geological records in Turkmenistan and the Kura Basin, respectively. The age discrepancies also exist within the Kura Basin, where the fossil mammal-bearing Kvabebi locality with Akchagylian marine fauna was magnetostratigraphically dated at 3.2 Ma. In this paper, we try to resolve the age contradictions for the Akchagylian Stage. We revisit the Kvabebi (Georgia) and Kushkuna (Azerbaijan) sections of the western Kura Basin and provide new magnetostratigraphic and 40Ar/39Ar age constraints on these marginal Akchagylian deposits. Moreover, we revise the magnetostratigraphy of 25 geological records from Turkmenistan and the Kura Basin and propose a new unified age model for the Akchagylian Stage: 1. Intrabasinal Akchagylian freshwater-mesohaline transgression at 2.95 ± 0.02 Ma; 2. Akchagylian marine incursion through establishment of a Caspian-Arctic connection (2.75–2.45 Ma); 3. Akchagylian–Apsheronian boundary highlighting a Caspian-Black Sea connection at 2.13 Ma. The sudden expansion of the Caspian Sea at 2.95 ± 0.02 Ma potentially correlates to the interglacial intensification of the AOTC between 2.95 and 2.82 Ma. The new ages constrain a much shorter (2.95–2.1 Ma) Akchagylian than in previously mentioned regional geological time scales (3.6–1.8 Ma) and strongly appeal to reconsider the ages of numerous archaeological and mammalian sites in the Caspian region

Five-fold expansion of the Caspian Sea in the late Pliocene: New and revised magnetostratigraphic and 40Ar/39Ar age constraints on the Akchagylian Stage

The Global climate reorganisation in the late Pliocene linked to enhancement of the Atlantic Ocean Thermohaline Circulation (AOTC), instigated a transition to glacial-interglacial cyclicity in the Quaternary. Enhancement of the AOTC amplified atmospheric precipitation over the Eurasian interior strengthening Northern Hemisphere Glaciation. Increased rainfall on the vast Russian Plain drained into the endorheic Caspian Sea, which makes the Caspian geological record highly potential for tracing atmospheric precipitation changes. Two major palaeohydrological events in the Caspian Sea, the Akchagylian transgression and the Akchagylian marine incursion, led to a five-fold enlargement of the Caspian Sea surface area and transformed the basin palaeoecology, enabling active interregional faunal dispersals. The Akchagylian Stage still lacks an unequivocal age model with two age constraints – the “long Akchagylian” (3.6–1.8 Ma) and the “short Akchagylian” (2.7–2.1 Ma) standing on magnetostratigraphic studies of geological records in Turkmenistan and the Kura Basin, respectively. The age discrepancies also exist within the Kura Basin, where the fossil mammal-bearing Kvabebi locality with Akchagylian marine fauna was magnetostratigraphically dated at 3.2 Ma. In this paper, we try to resolve the age contradictions for the Akchagylian Stage. We revisit the Kvabebi (Georgia) and Kushkuna (Azerbaijan) sections of the western Kura Basin and provide new magnetostratigraphic and 40Ar/39Ar age constraints on these marginal Akchagylian deposits. Moreover, we revise the magnetostratigraphy of 25 geological records from Turkmenistan and the Kura Basin and propose a new unified age model for the Akchagylian Stage: 1. Intrabasinal Akchagylian freshwater-mesohaline transgression at 2.95 ± 0.02 Ma; 2. Akchagylian marine incursion through establishment of a Caspian-Arctic connection (2.75–2.45 Ma); 3. Akchagylian–Apsheronian boundary highlighting a Caspian-Black Sea connection at 2.13 Ma. The sudden expansion of the Caspian Sea at 2.95 ± 0.02 Ma potentially correlates to the interglacial intensification of the AOTC between 2.95 and 2.82 Ma. The new ages constrain a much shorter (2.95–2.1 Ma) Akchagylian than in previously mentioned regional geological time scales (3.6–1.8 Ma) and strongly appeal to reconsider the ages of numerous archaeological and mammalian sites in the Caspian region

Japan’s policy towards the South Caucasus: pragmatic even if enigmatic

The article investigates Japan’s foreign policy towards the South Caucasus by unveiling the full range of its paraphernalia. After dwelling on Japan as a foreign policy actor, it delineates the policy vis-à-vis the South Caucasian states of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia along the categories of political dialogue, development assistance and economic cooperation by relying on untapped primary sources. Subsequently, the article analyzes the official discourse pertaining to Japan’s strategy and tactics with respect to the South Caucasus. Ultimately, it provides an explanation by situating the case study within the existing conceptual frameworks of “civilian” and “normative power”. Based on the findings, the article argues that Japan has not been a “normative” but it has been a “civilian power”—a conceptual framework, which can be placed within the theory of neo-liberalism. In a nutshell, even though Japan is an enigmatic actor, it has been predominantly pragmatic in its policy towards the South Caucasus.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe