The UAE's decision to withdraw its membership from the Arab Economic Unity Council (AEUC) raised many questions. One of the initial concerns is why it came a day before the 70th
meeting of the council in Cairo. Arab sources wondered why the UAE would make such a decision at this time, while progress toward Arab unity work is at a crossroads and facing serious problems.
The conflict in Chechnya may seem as political situation that escalated into a bloody militaristic endeavor. However, with the escalation of the war, the real reasons have become
apparent. The main reason is the economic struggle in the Caucasus. Two months after the beginning of the military operations, the IMF announced its decision on Dec. 10 to withhold $640 million, which is part of a $4.5 billion loan package. The United States and Europe demanded this action as a result of the merciless Russian campaign against civilian Chechens and the violations of human rights in the region.
