The project concerns identifying the factors impeding the resolution of tensions and conflicts arising from ethnic and regional identities in the NIS; to enable researchers in the NIS make use of literature concerning techniques generated in western Europe for avoiding, regulating and managing ethnic and regional conflicts; and to examine the role of international institutions in domestic conflict in the NIS. The research dealt with both the description of actual and potential conflicts, tensions and problems on the interethnic and interstate level, and the analysis of the influence of these conflicts and tensions inside the countries concerned and the role of social and political groups, parties, legislation, nation-building and internal stabilization. The role of international and regional organizations in sponsoring negotiations between warring states and parties to the conflicts, ensuring the peacemaking and peacekeeping activity was examined and assessed. The strategies and concrete policies of various regional powers in furthering their interests in the conflicts zones were clarified. The contributions by up-and-coming scientists were sent to political science journals in Belgium, Britain, France, the Netherlands and Germany.