The cables, owned by the Georgian Railway Telecom company, serve eastern Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

BBC: Internet cables

Azerbaijan's Mehriban Aliyeva, a dazzling fashionista, is arguably the most prominent among the eastern first ladies.

BBC: Ex-Soviet elite struggles with 'first lady' role

Senator Sam Brownback , chairman of the Foreign Relations Mideast subcommittee (Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs), recently traveled to Baku and returned determined to recast U.S.-Azerbaijan relations.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy