This reference aid is for all those with a business or professional interest in East European and CIS affairs. It records the latest economic, political and cultural developments in Eastern Europe and the CIS. More than 30 specialists have contributed essays and analytical commentary to this comprehensive survey and directory. In the first part, specially-commissioned introductory essays offer an insight into the social, economic and political background of the area. Topics examined which relate the region as a whole include: political perspectives; religion; social policy; business opportunities; Eastern European economies; former Soviet economies; security and international relations in Eastern Europe; international relations of Russia and its neighbours; an overview of the Caucasus - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and North Caucasus; an overview of the southern republics of Central Asia - Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan; the conflicts in former Yugoslavia; the history and demise of the USSR. The second part contains individual country chapters on Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzogovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, the Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Yugoslavia (Federal Republic), including sections on the constituent republics within federal countries. Each country chapter includes a geographical profile, chronology, essays on recent history and the economy, a statistical survey and full directory material with information on the constitution, government, defence and military, political organizations, foreign embassies, judicial systems, religion, the media, finance, social welfare systems, trade and industry, transport and tourism, atomic energy, culture, education, social welfare and environment. The third part contains an expanded and revised "Political profiles of the region" section, which includes brief biographical details on the leading personalities of the countries of the region.
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