Back to the USSR.

There are those who predict that Russia will try to cobble together the old Soviet Union. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, some of its former members set up the Commonwealth of Independent States. It was supposed to be a framework within which members could solve common problems by common consent. Eventually, 10 of the 15 former republics signed on. But, the CIS is as totally dominated by Russia as the Soviet Union was. In 1992, Moscow forced members to sign a mutual defence treaty. This entrusts the defence of the territory of members to the only effective military force in the region, the Russian army. Since the treaty was signed Moscow has used it to meddle in the internal affairs of member states, in this way, Russia is once again extending its influence over its neighbours. In 1997, there were 24,000 Russian soldiers in Tajikistan; 15,000 in Turkmenistan, 5,000 in Uzbekistan, and so on. In the meantime, Russia and Belarus have reinstated many of the ties they had under the Soviet Union. And, Russia and Kazakhstan have created a joint army and have agreed on a customs union, free trade, a monetary union, and dual citizenship. But, the Baltic states -- Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia -- do not want to return to the Russian "family." There is a long-standing hostility between these three countries and Russia. The Baltic states want to join NATO, and some Russian hard-liners have said that if they are accepted, Russia should invade them.