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Energy bridge between Asia and Europe
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov put forward the initiative on construction of a new gas pipeline and reconstruction of the existing CAC-III pipeline at the Turkmen-Russian-Kazakh summit in the town of Turkmenbashi last May. It was there that the leaders of the...
Baku Riga forge economic and commercial ties
The Azerbaijan- Latvia Interstate
Commission on Economic Scientific-
Technical and Cultural Cooperation
held their second meeting in Riga on
July 15 said Azerbaijans Ministry of Economic
Development. The Minister of Economic
Development Heydar Babayev left
for Latvia on July 14 to co-chair the meeting
accompanied by an Azeri...
Insurance market ranks 4th in CIS States
Azerbaijans insurance market ranks
fourth in the CIS following Russia
Ukraine and Kazakhstan. This was
announced Azerbaijans Economic Development
Minister Heydar Babayev at the
first Azerbaijan international insurance
organised by the Azerbaijan Insurers
Association AIA Trend news agency
reported.
The forum was dedicated to the insurance
markets development the...
Uzmobile completes CDMA450 network upgrade
Uzbektelecom Mobile a subsidiary of UzbekTelecom JSC rendering
mobile communication services under Uzmobile brand
recently completed the modernisation of its CDMA-450 network
at a cost of 6.6 million Euro Uzmobiles technical director
Galina Gafurbekova told Uzbekreport. He said that the infrastructure
consisting of 70...
Uzbekistan Kazakhstan to draft new trade law
Kazakh Vice Prime Minister Umirzak Shukeyev recently met with Uzbek First Deputy Prime Minster Rustam Azimov in Tashkent. During the talks it was agreed that new trade legislation is expected to be drawn up within five months Uzbekreport. com reported....
Success for microcredit practice is Bishkek
Around 40 percent of Kyrgyzstans people which comprise five million people are under or near the poverty line. Despite political troubles Kyrgyzstan has emerged as a leader in extending microcredits to budding entrepreneurs Eurasianet reported. The country is now a...
Roundtable hosted by OSCE on tourism
The OSCE Centres field office in Osh recently organised an international roundtable discussion in Batken to discuss stimulating cross-border dialogue on tourism development reads a press release. The event was held in the framework of a larger OSCE initiative aimed...
Electic power exports to Kazakhstan commence
Kyrgyz electric power began exporting supplies to Kazakhstan as
of July 15 this year the press secretary of the Elektricheskiye
stantsii Electric power stations joint stock company Natalya
Orlova told Kazinform. It will cost USD 4.5 cents for 1 Kilowatt
per hour without VAT...
EU envoy invites president to attend EU-CA forum in Paris
The European Union Special Representative for Central Asia Pierre Morel on paid a two day working visit to Tajikistan on July 14. According to the Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs Morel held negotiations with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Foreign...
Chinas company eyes uranium deposits in Tajikistan
Chinas Guangdong Corporation expressed an interest in development projects of uranium deposits in Tajikistan but Tajikistans legislation allows only domestic companies to explore and develop the uranium deposits. Rahmonbeg Bakhtdavlatov the first deputy head of the Main Geology Directorate said...
Kazakh-China pipeline begins
A ceremony to mark the beginning of the construction of the Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline which will become part of an international trunk pipeline system running between China and Turkmenistan was held near Almaty. The ceremony was attended by Kazakh Energy...
Rice calls for high-level talks on Georgian conflicts
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently paid a visit to Tbilisi amid a sharp escalation in tensions between the United States and Russia over the strategic ex-Soviet state and European security. Washington and Moscow have traded accusations of fanning...
TBC Investment Bank TBC Brokers new financial services
TBC Investment Bank and TBC Broker recently introduced a wealth management project and other projects to help companies find capital at a recent investment forum at the Tbilisi Marriott civil Georgia reported. Both have cooperated since 1999 to identify the...
Armenia to finance road project stalled by US
The United States had promised an additional economic assistance of 235.6 million to Armenia in 2006 under its Millennium Challenge Account MCA programme most of which was to be spent on rebuilding and expanding the countrys irrigation networks. In addition...
Military project with the Netherland discussed
Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan met with Ambassador of the Netherlands to Armenia Onno Elderenbosch the Ministers spokesman Seyran Shahsuvaryan said. Friendship between our countries formed a firm basis for cooperation in various fields. At that one of incentives for...
Aliyev Medvedev talk energy
Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev recently paid
an official visit to Baku
to meet Azerbaijani President
Ilkham Aliyev. The visit of the
Russian President to Azerbaijan
especially focused on the
cooperation between the two
countries on the international
arena Sergey Prikhodko
assistant to the Russian President
said. Following negotiations
agreements on...
Micro Finance Bank opens branch in Mingachevir
The Micro Finance Bank of Azerbaijan
opened another regional branch in the city of
Mingachevir. The opening of the branch was
made possible by the support of the BP Oil
Company and its co-ventures and the International
Financial Corporation IFC reads
a press release. The bank...
German Nukem and states Navoiyskiy increase mining
The Uzbek Government plans to reconstruct and expand producing
and refining capacities as well as subsidiary facilities for
uranium production. Kuvandik Sanakulov general director of
the state company Navoiyskiy Mining and Smelting Complex
GC NMSC said that according to the Uzbek Presidents decree
a...
Defence plans are inked with Pakistan
Pakistan and Uzbekistan stressed the need for further increasing
cooperation in areas of mutual interest particularly defence collaboration.
The head of the Pakistani Armed Forces Unified
Committee of chief-staff General Tariq Majid who recently paid
a four-day visit Uzbekistan and met with Uzbek Premier...
Ways to increase trade with Vietnam sought
A conference entitled Prospects of Economic and Trade
Relations between Vietnam and Uzbekistan was presided
over by the Vietnam Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade
Le Danh Vinh and Uzbekistan First Deputy Minister of Foreign
Economic Relations Investments and Trade Nasriddin
Najimov in Hanoi officials...
Kyrgyz-British Aurum Venture get suspended
A special Kyrgyz parliamentary committee recently disclosed
that environmental reports submitted by the Kyrgyz-British
Andash Mining Company were not properly prepared which
led to suspend gold and copper production in the Andash Zone
1 mine through September officials said. The parliamentary
committee was formed one...
EU supports opening of waterenergy academy and exchange
On a visit to the EU countries the foreign minister of Kyrgyzstan
Ednan Karabayev met with official representatives including
the EUs chief negotiator Javier Solana. During the talks
Solana said that EU strongly supports the quick launch of
Water-energy academy and exchange in...
18 000 tonnes of cotton will go to Russia
President Kurmanbek Bakiyev of Kyrgyzstan met with head of
the Federal State Reserves Agency of Russia Alexander Grigoryev
on July 7. Grigoryev arrived in Bishkek to participate in
a regular meeting of the consultative State Reserves Council of
the CIS member-countries. During the talks...
Tajik Russian heads meet to discuss cooperation
During a visit to Kazakhstan attending the 10th anniversary of
the Kazakh capital of Astana the presidents of Tajikistan and
Russia Emomali Rahmon and Dmitriy Medvedev discussed a
number of issues of cooperation between the two countries in
a friendly atmosphere media reports said....
Central bank cuts refinancing rate 0.75%
The National Bank of Tajikistan NBT recently stated that
Tajik central bank has changed refinancing rate from 14.75 percent
on April 2 2008 to 14 percent Asia-Plus reported. The
bank has changed the refinancing rate for the second time this
year. The first time...
Dutch company starts receiving fruit
The tomato harvest campaign
has started in Turkmenistan.
The first caravans
of the trucks loaded with
ripe tomatoes deliver vegetables
to the receiving points of
the Ruhubelent JSC the central
factory of the Food Industry
Association of Turkmenistan.
The local workers
are planning to harvest 40 000
tonnes of tomatoes this...
China Pipeline works ready to go
The transnational gas pipeline that is to supply Turkmen natural
gas to China starting from 2009 is in active preparation. In accordance
with the Resolution of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov
the winners of the international tender Russian Stroytransgaz
and Belgian ENEX are to construct the...
Hungarian PM visits Ashgabat
Hungarian Prime Minister Gyurcsany Ferenc visited Turkmenistan
recently. The visit of the head of the government
stands as an important a step towards development of the Turkmen-
Hungarian intergovernmental dialogue intensified and
made more constructive and fruitful in recent years through the
partners political will...
A decade of promise for Capital
Last week Kazakhstan celebrated the new
capitals 10th anniversary. The Day of
Astana July 6 had turned into a national
holiday. The history of Astana is inseparable
from the history of our independence President
of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev
said at the ceremonial gathering in the
Palace of...
Gold and currency reserves up 3% in June
Kazakhstans gold and currency reserves including the National
Bank of Kazakhstans gross reserves and funds accumulated in
the National Fund grew three percent to USD 46.9 billion in June
2008. According to preliminary statistics the National Fund contained
USD 25.67 billion on June 31...
ArcelorMittal to invest 7 bln in Kazakhstan
ArcelorMittal Luxembourg-based steelmaker recently
announced plans to invest seven billion Euro to expand output of
the metal at its Kazakh unit to 10 million metric tonnes a year by
2013. Overall two billion Euro will be invested to modernise its
mines in Kazakhstan a...
Ethnic minorities to be taught NATO membership
Compared to other Georgian citizens the ethnic minorities in
Georgia are not much aware about the countrys NATO membership
bid Public Movement Multinational Georgia- a local
organisation which works with minorities recently told The Messenger.
To educate the ethnic minorities about the Western military
alliance...
World Bank urges reforms for Georgia to compete globally
According to a report released by the World Banks office in
Tbilisi post-Soviet countries should accelerate reforms that
boost their economies productivity The Messenger reported.
A rise in productivity in the region has brought higher sales and
more profits to businesses so they can...
Human Rights Watch urges release of Armenian editor
Arman Babajanian 32-year-old editor and founder of the
Zhamanak Yerevan newspaper was arrested two years
ago for evading military service and subsequently sentenced
to three-and-a-half years in prison. While pleading guilty to
the accusations Babajanian says that he would not have
been prosecuted had his...
Armenia Greece should strengthen military cooperation
Armenias Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan recently held
negotiations with military attache at the Greek Embassy in
Armenia Brigadier General Athanasius Khadzivieris who
was completing his mission in the republic the ministers
spokesman Colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan said. During the
talks Minister Ohanyan thanked the general for...
From laptops to nuclear energy
In the latest sign of strong demand for such commodities the Japanese corporation Toshiba and the Kazakh national company Kazatomprom recently signed a memorandum on cooperation. The agreement envisages expanding interaction including production of complete equipment for nuclear power plants...
Economic cooperation plan with Hungary
The Minister of Economy and Budget Planning of Kazakhstan Bakhyt Sultanov visited Hungary on June 20-21 and during his trips an agreement was signed between governments of Kazakhstan and Hungary on economic cooperation according to the press office of the...
Thumbs up from the World Bank president
A World Bank delegation led by President Robert Zoellick met with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev Prime Minister Karim Massimov and other government officials to discuss the opportunities for cooperation on promoting economic growth and social reforms reads a press release....
US House Committee looks at Russian pressure
US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried told the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing The Caucasus: Frozen Conflicts and Closed Borders that Russia has increased political and military pressure on Georgia which triggered concern for the United States....
OECD Fight against corruption debated in Tbilisi
Senior government officials non-governmental
and business groups from almost 30
countries will meet between June 25-27 in
Tbilisi Georgia at the 7th General Meeting
of the OECD Anti-Corruption Network for
Eastern Europe and Central Asia ACN
to step up their fight against corruption.
Numerous anti-corruption efforts...
PACE schedules key debate on Armenia
Thousands of supporters of ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosian
gathered near the Matenadaran museum institute in the centre
of Yerevan for the first opposition rally after the March 1
bloody break-up that left 10 people dead Eurasianet reported.
The supporters were chanting slogans Fight fight till...
EU leaders urge Russian caution in tensions
EU leaders had a chance to meet with new Russian President Dmitri Medvedev on the Occasion of the EU-Russia summit on June 26-27 with reports surfacing that Georgian- Russian tensions were to be on everyones agenda. Russias stance vis-a-vis neighbour...
Czech Foreign Minister to visit Armenia in July
Czech Republics newly appointed Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Jestrab residence in Tbilisi recently handed the copy of his credentials to Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. The sides also discussed the Armenian-Czech cooperation within international structures and the ways to strengthen...
Co-operation with Russia is now on the table
The forum Prospective Fields of Turkmen- Russian Co-Operation opened in Ashgabat on June 23. A Russian delegation representing the companies including Stroytrans Lukoil the Ermak mining and smelting plant the Metals of Eastern Siberia Gazprombank arrived in the Turkmen capital...
Azerbaijan State Oil Company comes to Ashgabat
The President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received the CEO of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan Rovnag Abdullaev early last week at the Presidential Palace. On his first visit to Ashgabat the guest expressed admiration for the...
Heads of the UN representation offices meet in Ashgabats
The meeting that inaugurated the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy UNRCCA largest regional UN organisation was held in Ashgabat on June 24. The heads of the UN representation offices including the resident coordinator of the UN Regional Centre in...
Coal mining industry will go private soon
Unplaced state assets of Uzbekugol Uzbek coal OJSC will be sold to foreign investors this year Trend Capital reported quoting the Chief of the Analysis and Marketing Department of the company Gayrat Ibrahimov. The companys 51 percent share holding now...
Armenian Genocide Turkish proposal wont fly here
Turkeys Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had proposed a commission of Turkish and Armenian historians that would jointly study the mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in 2005. Erdogan said members of the proposed commission should jointly determine...
Democracy is the key says US
United States and other western powers are pressing Armenia to end its post-election crackdown on the opposition that involved mass arrests and the use of lethal force against opposition demonstrators demanding a re-run of the February 19 vote. US officials...
Military cooperation with US not restricted to NATO
US Charge dAffairs in Armenia Joseph Pennington recently noted that the most visible and well-known example of military cooperation is through the partnership programme that Armenia has with NATO media reports said.. He added that Armenia made great progress on...
New Europe News: The European News Source
New Europe News: The European News Source.
CrisisWatch N°59, 1 July 2008
Five actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated in June 2008. In Zimbabwe, state violence escalated ahead of the 27 June presidential run-off vote, as the Mugabe regime continued its brutal crackdown to secure victory. Uganda's peace process further broke down amid reports of fresh LRA attacks. Insecurity surged in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, as progress on the much-delayed peace summit faltered. The situation also deteriorated in Djibouti/Eritrea and Chad. June saw improvements in North Korea, where the government submitted a long-awaited declaration of its nuclear programs, and in Serbia and the Taiwan Strait.
Read full report
Georgia and Russia: Clashing over Abkhazia
Moscow and Tbilisi need to cease military preparations in and around Abkhazia and cool their rhetoric lest their increasingly dangerous confrontation bring war to the Caucasus. Russia should withdraw the troops and equipment it has deployed over the past two months. At the same time, Georgia should adopt a new approach to the Abkhaz, encouraging their links to the outside world to lessen dependence on Russia and emphasising genuine confidence building. Neither Georgia nor Russia probably wants war, but it could all too easily come by miscalculation, and if it does, it could set the Caucasus – North and South – ablaze.
Read full report
Russia’s Dagestan: Conflict Causes
To halt escalating killings fuelled by indigenous jihadi movements in Dagestan, Moscow and local leaders must implement an efficient anti-corruption policy and reintegrate youth into the economic and political system. Street warfare has increased since 2003 and has far surpassed inter-ethnic conflict over land, resources and employment as the main source of violence. Large-scale war is unlikely to develop in Dagestan. Nevertheless, the federal authorities need to undertake serious efforts to break the cycle of attacks and reprisals between security forces and militants, which has grown distinctly worse in the past year.
Read full report
CrisisWatch N°58, 1 June 2008
Eight actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated in May 2008, and four improved, according to the new issue of CrisisWatch, released today. Violence flared ahead of and during 1 June parliamentary elections in Macedonia with two killed in clashes between rival Albanian parties. Brutal xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa erupted in Alexandra township on 11 May and spread across the country. The situation also deteriorated in Guinea, India (non-Kashmir), Mali, Myanmar/Burma, Sudan and Zimbabwe. The situation improved in Lebanon, Nepal, Syria and the Taiwan Strait. For June CrisisWatch identifies Zimbabwe as a Conflict Risk Alert.
Read full report
Crisis Group - Caucasus
The International Crisis Group (Crisis Group) is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation committed to preventing and resolving deadly conflict.
Kazakhstan: Astana Diplomat, On the Hot Seat, Gives US Congressmen an Earful
BY JOSHUA KUCERA
Facing mounting criticism over its drift away from democratization, Kazakhstan aggressively defended its record at a recent US Congressional hearing. A senior Kazakhstani official said his country would conduct reforms at its own pace and without pressure from anyone, brushing aside criticism made by several US lawmakers.
The Empty Frame: Reclaiming Georgian Cinema's Legacy
BY PAMELA RENNER
It’s not just Abkhazia and South Ossetia that divide Tbilisi and Moscow. The issue of who holds the rights to Soviet-era Georgian films is also a touchstone of contention.
Iran: Tehran Plays for Time as Nuclear Talks Enter Crucial Phase
BY KAMAL NAZER YASIN
Discussions over the fate of Iran’s nuclear program have entered a critical stage. Faced with the stiffening resolve of the international community, Iranian leaders are frantically maneuvering to find a way to avoid the expansion of sanctions against their country. With no clear solution to its dilemma at hand, however, Tehran appears to be playing for time.
Turkey: "Muslim Calvinists" in Anatolia Show How Piety Can Blend with Modernity
BY NICHOLAS BIRCH
"Tell me where Allah is and I will give you an orange. Tell me where Allah is not and I will give you an orange grove." This particular Koranic phrase graces a whiteboard at the entrance to the third biggest company in Gaziantep, a city of 1 million close to Turkey’s border with Syria.
Uzbekistan: How the Uzbek Government Maintains a Choke-Hold over the Internet
BY DEIRDRE TYNAN
In Uzbekistan, responsibility for controlling the web begins at the cabinet level and ends with plainclothes police officers who physically intimidate internet cafe owners and customers.
Down on the Farm: Georgia Struggles to Open EU Market for Agricultural Exports
BY GIORGI LOMSADZE
Gone are the days when a female tea worker in a straw planter hat symbolized Georgia to regional neighbors, or when bottles of Georgian wine and mineral water were commonplace on the dining tables of citizens in formerly Soviet states. Barred from the Russia market, Georgia is now trying to reorient agricultural exports toward Europe. But stringent European Union quality and safety rules are proving a formidable export obstacle.
Uzbekistan: Capital Amnesty Initiative Stalls in the Face of Public Skepticism
Authorities in Uzbekistan are trying to curb the underground economy and bolster confidence in the country’s financial sector by offering an amnesty on individual assets. But the people aren’t buying into the government’s offer.
Medvedev Unveils Little New In Russia's Foreign-Policy Course
When Dmitry Medvedev became Russian president in May, many wondered whether the soft-spoken young lawyer would find ways to set himself apart from his domineering predecessor, Vladimir Putin.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL
British Defense Secretary Reaffirms Transatlantic Solidarity in Afghanistan
BY RICHARD WEITZ
British Secretary of State for Defense Des Browne expressed guarded optimism about Afghanistan’s democratization process during a recent speech in Washington, DC. At the same time, Browne cautioned that the conflict-ravaged nation will take at least a generation to rebuild.
Georgia: Rumored Merger Heightens Concern About Press Freedom
BY MOLLY CORSO
Rumors of a plan to merge Georgia's three main television broadcasters are stoking concerns about the state of media freedom in Georgia.
Uzbekistan Continues To Drift Away From Russia, But Not Necessarily Toward the West
For those striving to divine the intentions of the Uzbek government, all signs suggest that Russia’s star, from Tashkent’s perspective, is in retrograde. But local experts stress that Uzbekistan’s recent efforts to downgrade relations with Russia are not necessarily a harbinger of a renewed alliance with the United States and European Union.
Turkey: Free-Speech Issue Remains a Sensitive Subject
BY NICHOLAS BIRCH
Under ordinary circumstances, Mehmet Tursun’s emotional outburst probably would have been overlooked, given that he suspects police of trying to cover up the fact they had shot his son for failing to stop his car for an identity check. But in Turkey, where the free-speech issue remains a touchstone of controversy, devotees of the existing order are not taking lightly anything that seems to threaten the system. As a result, Tursun is facing charges of insulting the judiciary and security police. He could receive a two-year prison sentence if convicted during his trial, due to start July 15.
Central Asia: Officials Struggle to Contain Outbreaks of Anthrax, Typhoid
A winter of hardship has given way to the summer of pestilence in Central Asia. Contagious diseases, such as anthrax and typhoid, are stoking public health crises in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.
Russia and Kazakhstan Strive to Put OSCE Democratization Arm in a Sling
BY JEAN-CHRISTOPHE PEUCH
Janez Lenarcic, a Slovenian diplomat, took up his duties at the outset of July as the new head of the Warsaw-based Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the democratization arm of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He is inheriting an institution that is under assault by a group of post-Soviet nations, led by Russia. Another prominent critic is Kazakhstan, which will take the helm of the OSCE in 2010.
Armenia: Getting Serious About Corruption?
BY MARIANNA GRIGORYAN
Armenian leaders have pledged that they will wage an all-out fight against corruption, but some observers doubt how far that fight can actually go, and to what extent politics drives the campaign.
Kyrgyzstan: Death of Fabled Writer Creates Cultural Void
BY JEFFREY LILLEY
Chinghiz Aitmatov, a writer who rose from humble roots in Soviet Central Asia to become a standard-bearer for freedom and independence, was laid to rest in his native country of Kyrgyzstan in June. Some Kyrgyz have likened the impact of his passing on their Central Asian nation to Russia’s loss of Lev Tolstoy in the early 20th century.
Georgia: President Describes Russia as the "Elephant in the Room" in Peace Process
BY MOLLY CORSO
The Georgian government is betting that a July 9-10 visit by United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Tbilisi will help reduce tension with Moscow over the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Yet, while both Rice and Georgian officials have emphasized Washington’s efforts to resolve the two conflicts, some analysts question the US capacity to foster peace in the two separatist territories.
Uzbekistan: Officials Eye Fire at Military Base as Possible Terrorist Act
It would seem that Uzbek officials suspect that a mysterious fire and explosion July 10 at a military base outside of Bukhara was no accident. Some indicators suggest Uzbek authorities are proceeding from the assumption that terrorists are prime suspects in the mishap, which killed at least three and left 21 injured.
Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev Hints that Democratization Will Take Back Seat on OSCE Agenda
BY JOANNA LILLIS
President Nursultan Nazarbayev has given a preview of how Kazakhstan will approach its chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010, and the future does not look pretty for the organization’s democratization component.
Kyrgyzstan: Microcredit Lending Encounters Success in Central Asia
BY ERICA MARAT
Though much maligned of late for backsliding on democratization, Kyrgyzstan has developed into an economic innovator in Central Asia. The country is presently a leader in extending microcredits to would-be entrepreneurs.
Tajikistan: President Renews Push to Create Central Asian Water Consortium
BY KONSTANTIN PARSHIN
The drought that some portions of Central Asia are experiencing these days infused a sense of added urgency into a recent international conference on water management issues held in Dushanbe.
Kazakhstan: Astana's Anniversary Celebration Serves as Showcase for New National Identity
A EURASIANET PHOTO ESSAY BY JOANNA LILLIS
Ten years ago, Astana was a dusty and dilapidated provincial city. Since then, the city has been transformed into the glitzy capital of Kazakhstan. During the recent 10th anniversary celebration of Astana’s designation as the seat of political power, President Nursultan Nazarbayev emphasized that the city’s metamorphosis was a reflection of a new national identity.
Turkmenistan: Berdymukhamedov Plays Waiting Game, Continues to Vex the Kremlin
BY SERGEI BLAGOV
The recent visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to Turkmenistan showed that Ashgabat continues to confound the Kremlin on energy matters. Prior to the Medvedev’s trip, Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov seemingly sent several signals of his readiness to tighten already strong bilateral energy relations. But Medvedev, along with the large trade delegation accompanying him, departed from Turkmenistan without signing any substantive energy deals.
Azerbaijan: Medvedev Makes Splash in Baku, But is it More Style than Substance?
BY SHAHIN ABBASOV
Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev concluded July 3 talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev by pronouncing Baku to be Moscow’s "strategic partner." Meanwhile, the head of the Kremlin-controlled conglomerate Gazprom, Alexei Miller, announced that talks would soon begin on the Russian firm’s purchase of Azerbaijani gas. But experts remain unconvinced that the upbeat rhetoric surrounding Medvedev’s visit will lead to any change in the existing bilateral relationship.
Two US Congressmen Think Kazakhstan’s President Deserves a Nobel Peace Prize
BY JOSHUA KUCERA
Two members of the US Congress are spearheading an effort to nominate the president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, for a Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of Kazakhstan’s decision in the early 1990s to give up nuclear weapons it inherited upon gaining independence from the Soviet Union.
Turkey: Arrests, Court Case Reveal that Turkey is Dangerously Polarized
BY NICHOLAS BIRCH
Simmering tension between Turkey’s secular establishment and popular religious-minded government is reaching the boiling point. Some experts are expressing concern that Turkish society has become so polarized that events could take a dangerous turn.
Russian President Strives for a Breakthrough Moment in Caspian Basin Energy Game
BY STEPHEN BLANK
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is set to embark on a potentially pivotal diplomatic tour during which he will strive to settle the contest to develop and export Caspian Basin energy in Moscow’s favor.
Iran Quietly Supported a Partitioning of Iraq
BY KAMAL NAZER YASIN
In public and in even in its diplomatic dealings, Iran has adamantly opposed the partition of Iraq, variously deriding the idea as a "diabolical plot," a "colonial scheme," and "divide-and-rule politics." Yet, behind the fa?ade of opposition, Iranian leaders seem to have quietly concluded that a tri-partite partition of Iraq along ethnic-confessional lines may be in Iran’s best interests.
A EurasiaNet Commentary
Central Asia: Western Democracies Enable "Petro-Authoritarianism" - Report
BY DEIRDRE TYNAN
Driven by "petro-authoritarianism," the countries of Central Asia are thoroughly throttling democratization, according to an annual survey conducted by the watchdog group Freedom House.
Uzbekistan: Human Rights Concerns Raised Amid Sanctions Freeze
BY JOANNA LILLIS
Nearly two months after the European Union ruled that sanctions against Uzbekistan would remain suspended for six months, there are signs that Western governments continue to seek rapprochement with Tashkent. The trend is happening even while human rights bodies caution that lifting sanctions altogether will leave the West with no leverage to seek improvements in the country’s dismal human rights record.
Energy: Nabucco Chief Eyes Iranian, Russian Gas Despite U.S. Objections
BY BRUCE PANNIER
When finished, the Nabucco gas pipeline will run from eastern Turkey to the heart of Europe, completely bypassing Russia. But while its route is established, its suppliers have yet to be fully determined. And therein lies the controversy.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL
Armenian Opposition Rallies; PACE Says Reforms "Inadequate"
BY MARIANNA GRIGORYAN
With cries of "Fight, fight till the end!" supporters of ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosian on June 20 held their first large-scale public demonstration in Yerevan since the violence of March 1 that left ten people dead.
Turkmenistan: Wireless Internet Offer Hints At End To State Monopoly
BY FARANGIS NAJIBULLAH
Russia’s Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) has become the first company, foreign or domestic, to offer wireless Internet connection in Turkmenistan -- a country dubbed "one of the world’s Internet enemies" by a top media rights group.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL
US Diplomat Grapples with Issues of Closed Borders and Frozen Conflicts in Caucasus
BY JOSHUA KUCERA
A US congressional hearing on the closed border between Turkey and Armenia has highlighted what is likely to be the newest legislative battle for Armenian Americans and their allies in Congress.
Georgia Says Farewell to Public Healthcare
BY GIORGI LOMSADZE
After almost a decade spent mulling over ways to overhaul Georgia’s faltering healthcare system, the government has moved to outsource the job to the private sector. While the decision is in keeping with the country’s overall aggressive reliance on market mechanisms to stimulate change, some observers worry about what the results will be for access to affordable healthcare.
Uzbekistan: U.S. Treasury Freezes Bank Accounts Of Terror Suspects
The U.S. Treasury Department has announced that it has frozen bank accounts belonging to members of an alleged terrorist group from Uzbekistan that it says is trying to overthrow the Uzbek government as well as attack U.S. targets.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL
Central Asia: Bush Administration Seeks to Shortchange Region on Democratization Aid
BY DEIRDRE TYNAN
A leading democracy watchdog group is calling on the US Congress to block budget cuts proposed by the Bush administration that would hamper civil society development in Central Asia.
Kazakhstan: Early Parliamentary Poll on the Cards
BY JOANNA LILLIS
Mounting speculation that Kazakhstan will call an early parliamentary election was fuelled last week when an official from President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s administration dropped heavy hints that a fresh vote is expected as the country gears up to assume the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010.
Iran: Washington's Dilemma -- To Negotiate With Tehran Or Not?
One of the most hotly debated issues in the current U.S. presidential campaign has been how to deal with one of the United States’ most-discussed foreign-policy challenges. Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, agrees with President George W. Bush that no high-level contact should be made with Iran, for instance, until it suspends its nuclear program. Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, says conditions for talks with Iran should be less demanding and prefers engagement to narrow the gulf between the two countries. RFE/RL correspondent Andrew F. Tully put the question to two leading foreign-policy analysts.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL
European Union: Democratization Key to Conflict Resolution in South Caucasus
BY JEAN-CHRISTOPHE PEUCH
The European Union views the establishment of democracy and rule of law in Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan as being critical elements in the resolution of post-Soviet conflicts of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Pipeline Politics: Bulgarian Officials Tout Both Nabucco and South Stream Pipelines
BY SVETLA MARINOVA
The Caspian Basin energy export contest is often portrayed as one in which there can be only one winner – either Russia on the one hand, or the United States and European Union on the other. Officials in Bulgaria, a country that is envisioned as a key transit hub in competing energy-export plans, say that burgeoning European demand for gas means that all sides can profit.
Armenian Opposition Gets Ready to Rally
BY MARIANNA GRIGORYAN
Plans for a large-scale opposition rally on June 20 are sparking concerns about the likelihood of fresh violence on the eve of a critical vote in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe about Armenia’s efforts to reverse the effects of its March 1 crackdown on opposition protestors.
In Tbilisi, a Battle Over Buildings Fires Investment Debate
BY GIORGI LOMSADZE
A frenzy of construction in Tbilisi’s historic district has set off a fierce debate over Georgia’s efforts to attract investors. City officials maintain that the new buildings will only enhance the Georgian capital’s image, but preservationists counter that the campaign is destroying the very aspects of Tbilisi it was meant to defend.
Council of Europe Has New Weapon in Struggle to Curtail Human Trafficking
The Council of Europe now has a powerful weapon at its disposal as it leads an effort to eradicate human trafficking, which the Strasbourg-based organization terms "a new form of slavery."
Pakistan: Lawyers' Leader Demands Independent Judiciary
Tens of thousands of protesting Pakistani lawyers and their supporters are marching toward the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, in what’s been dubbed a "Long March" to demand the reinstatement of the country’s chief justice and 60 other judges who were sacked last year by President Pervez Musharraf, who they want to resign.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL
Paris Conference: Aid Effectiveness Key to Addressing Afghanistan's Rebuilding Challenges
A EURASIANET COMMENTARY BY M. ASHRAF HAIDARI
The Paris donors’ conference that opened June 12 provides a pivotal opportunity to correct past mistakes in Afghanistan’s reconstruction effort. Already, Afghanistan’s supporters have pledged additional billions in development assistance. But to ensure that the aid is deployed successfully, a greater level of strategic coordination is needed.
Azerbaijan: For One Election Monitoring Group, Seeing Is Believing
A recent court decision to cancel the registration of Azerbaijan’s largest election observation group has sparked concerns about the ability of non-governmental organizations to monitor the country’s upcoming October 15 presidential vote.
Afghanistan: Donors Wasting Their Money Unless Structural Problems Addressed - Expert
Donors are due to meet June 12 in Paris, where they are expected to pledge billions in fresh assistance for Afghanistan’s reconstruction. The money risks being wasted, however, unless the international community addresses underlying structural problems with Afghanistan’s development framework, a leading expert asserts.
Armenia: Government Kicks Off Tax, Customs Reforms
BY HAROUTIUN KHACHATRIAN
Armenia’s new government has taken the first steps towards a shake-up of its notoriously corrupt and inefficient tax and customs agencies.
Iran: Conservatives Trying to Get President Ahmadinejad to Moderate Behavior
BY KAMAL NAZER YASIN
As US President George W. Bush lobbies European Union leaders for tighter economic sanction against Iran, conservative elements in Tehran are taking steps to moderate the behavior of Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Turkey: One-Man Peacekeeping Force Tries to End Blood Feuds
BY YIGAL SCHLEIFER
Elfin in stature and with thinning gray hair, Sait Sanli might not seem too imposing. But in Turkey’s southeast region, the 64-year-old former butcher is a force to be reckoned with.
U.S./Russia: Defense Secretary Calls For Stronger Nuclear Deterrent
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said Washington needs to maintain "a valid nuclear deterrent" to counter a renewed effort by Russia to bolster its own arsenal.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL
Kazakhstan: Influential Nazarbayev Lieutenant Faces Smear Campaign
BY JOANNA LILLIS
As Kazakhstan’s capital gears up for lavish 10th anniversary festivities, all eyes are on Astana’s new mayor, Imangali Tasmagambetov. A charismatic politician often mentioned as a possible successor to President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Tasmagambetov has found himself in the media spotlight, albeit perhaps not in the way he would have wished.
Azerbaijan: Opposition Mulls Presidential Election Boycott
BY MINA MURADOVA
Azerbaijani opposition leaders are condemning recent election code amendments, which they claim will scuttle any hopes for a free-and-fair vote in the upcoming October 15 presidential election. At the same time, they remain divided over the best way to respond.
Georgia: Government Outmaneuvers Opposition with Parliament's Kick-Off Session
BY GIORGI LOMSADZE
In the end, it all came down to timing. Georgia’s newly elected parliament convened on June 7 in an unexpected session that left the country’s main opposition force scrambling to come up with new ways to challenge President Mikheil Saakashvili’s resurgent authority.
Western Diplomatic Offensive in Central Asia Throws Russia on the Defensive
As the CIS summit opened in St. Petersburg on June 6, Russia found itself in an unusual position -- on the defensive in the Caspian Basin energy contest. But Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev appears to have assuaged Central Asian leaders, thereby ensuring that Moscow will continue to act as the funnel through which the bulk of the region?s oil and gas flows -- if only for the time being.
Georgia: Saakashvili and Medvedev Meet, Nothing Happens
BY NINA AKHMETELI
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili met for the first time on June 6 with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev. The two leaders provided no indicators that they had found a way to ease bilateral tension.
East Asian States Strive to Raise Their Economic Profile in Central Asia
BY STEPHEN BLANK
A rivalry among East Asian states is intensifying over access to Central Asian energy. China to this point has been the clear leader among East Asian states in Central Asia. But Japan, South Korea and Malaysia are stepping up efforts to attract the attention of Central Asian energy suppliers.
Post-March 1, Does Armenia Have an Agenda for Change?
BY GAYANE ABRAHAMYAN
Armenia will soon be called on to demonstrate to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that it is ready to make a fresh start after the violence of March 1. The question is whether it will pass the test.
Tajikistan: Government Harbors Hydro-Power Dreams
BY KONSTANTIN PARSHIN
As Tajikistan continues to experience electricity shortages, President Imomali Rahmon’s administration appears increasingly eager to boost hydropower-generating capacity in Central Asia’s poorest country. But experts question whether Rahmon has the financial resources to fund his development plans.
Turkey: Dam Project Fosters Development Strategy Debate
BY YIGAL SCHLEIFER
Set in a strategic spot along the fabled Tigris River, the town of Hasankeyf has ancient ruins dating back to Assyrian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman times. Some 50 miles (80 kilometers) downstream initial work has begun on the $1.8 billion Ilisu dam, a massive project that is projected to become Turkey’s second largest hydroelectric plant. The dam stands to flood a large part of the area around Hasankeyf, causing the displacement of 55,000 people.
Russia: Medvedev's "Liberal" Views Up For Inspection In Berlin
BY CLAIRE BIGG
Dmitry Medvedev’s first visit to the West since his inauguration as president in May will last barely eight hours. The Russian leader is scheduled to hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Horst Koehler, and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin on June 5 before returning to Moscow in the evening.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL
Theologians Take Conservative Turkish Clothing Designer to Court
BY NICHOLAS BIRCH
Two liberal theologians have taken Turkey’s most famous Islamic clothes designer to court, alleging the couturier is exploiting religion for personal profit. The case is highlighting the growing tension between Islam and the country’s market economy.
Azerbaijan: Baku Likely to Reject Russian Offer to Buy Natural Gas
BY ROVSHAN ISMAYILOV
If you cannot beat them, try to co-opt them: that apparently is Gazprom’s operational philosophy. The Russian state-controlled energy giant on June 2 sounded out officials in Azerbaijan about large-scale purchases of Azerbaijani natural gas. But Baku seems unenthused about doing a deal.
Ferghana Valley: Harsh Winter's Legacy Stokes Ethnic Tension
BY ALISHER KHAMIDOV
Rising concern over the scarcity of water is stoking tension in border areas of Central Asia’s Ferghana Valley. Experts say the breakdown of local dispute resolution mechanisms is making it more difficult to find solutions to border-related issues.
Georgia: "Humanitarian" Russian Railway Troops in Abkhazia Cause for Fresh Alarm
BY NINA AKHMETELI
Georgian analysts see few grounds to hope that a meeting later this week between Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev will ease tension related to the breakaway region of Abkhazia.
Iran: Theological Controversy in Islamic Republic Could Have Profound Political Ramifications
BY KAMAL NAZER YASIN
A developing theological controversy in Iran is causing a major rift among the country’s political and theological elites, who together control the chief levers of state in the Islamic Republic. Over the near term, the doctrinal dispute raises questions about the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the country’s neo-conservative president.
Azerbaijan: Presidential Job Promises Fall Short
BY ELKHAN SALAHOV
Five months before Azerbaijan’s presidential elections, controversy is surrounding recent claims by President Ilham Aliyev that his government oversaw the creation of 650,000 new jobs by the end of 2007.
Turkmenistan: NATO Finds New Partner In Central Asia
BY BRUCE PANNIER
NATO has a new and, some might say, unexpected partner in Central Asia -- Turkmenistan. Several high-ranking NATO, U.S., and EU officials have been making trips to Turkmenistan for more than half a year now, but most reports pointed to talks focusing on potential Turkmen natural-gas exports to Europe. It is apparent now that energy exports were not the only topic of discussions.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL
Azerbaijan Sees Positive Signs for Energy Partnership with Turkmenistan
BY ROVSHAN ISMAYILOV
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has recently stepped up his ongoing campaign to promote Azerbaijan as the key to Europe’s energy security at a recent energy summit in Kyiv. But this is a role in which Baku needs a supporting actor. Azerbaijani experts believe that the Aliyev administration now has agreements with Turkmenistan to play that part.
Turkey: Examining the Nuances of the Mosque-State Debate
BY NICHOLAS BIRCH
In early May, Olli Rehn, the European Union’s enlargement commissioner, characterized the ongoing domestic political struggle in Turkey as pitting "extreme secularists" against "Muslim democrats." There are numerous experts in Turkey who are disputing Rehn’s analysis. They contend that the political struggle -- which is now centering on a Supreme Court case on a possible ban of the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) -- is more nuanced than what appears to be the perception from Brussels.
Central Asia: Beijing Flexes Economic Muscle Across Region
BY BRUCE PANNIER
China, with billions of dollars invested in Central Asian resources, is making deals that regional leaders find hard to turn down. Beijing, indeed, has a clear strategy for Central Asia -- and it’s working.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL
The Kurdish Issue and Nagorno-Karabakh
A EURASIANET COMMENTARY BY STEPHEN BLANK
The Kurdish issue, specifically the matter of establishing a homeland for Kurds, has complicated efforts to stabilize Iraq. Now, there is growing concern among international experts that the Kurdish question could become a source of tension, and possibly conflict in the South Caucasus.
Georgia: Opposition Announces Plans for "Alternative" Parliament
A EURASIANET PHOTO STORY: TEXT BY MOLLY CORSO; PHOTOS BY SOPHIA MIZANTE
Georgia’s largest opposition parties are threatening to create an "alternative" parliament if preliminary results that show the governing United National Movement swept the polls in the May 21 parliamentary elections are not annulled. Although final results have not yet been announced, the Central Election Commission’s preliminary figures show the National Movement winning 120 out of 150 seats.
Russia-Kazakhstan: Medvedev Tries to Pick Up Where Putin Left Off
BY JOANNA LILLIS
New Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, making his first foreign foray as president, visited Kazakhstan to emphasize the importance of energy issues in the Kremlin’s geopolitical mindset. While Medvedev and Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev offered effusive praise for bilateral ties, the host nevertheless stressed that Astana’s energy-export policy would continue to be based on pragmatic considerations, and not Russian wishful thinking.
Armenia: A Political Prisoner to Some, a Criminal to Others
BY GAYANE ABRAHAMYAN
More than a month after the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe demanded that Armenia release "all prisoners who did not commit crimes" during the March 1 political clashes in Yerevan, few of the seeming political reasons have been released.
US-Iranian Relations: Could Fluoridated Water in the White House Be Fostering Strangelovian Visions
A EURASIANET COMMENTARY BY KAMAL NAZER YASIN
Tension is escalating between the United States and Iran, amid reports that the Bush administration is once again mulling air strikes against its long-time nemesis. While Iran is taking defensive precautions, the country’s leaders have not sought to match the Bush administration’s belligerent rhetoric. Meanwhile in Washington, an influential array of officials and experts are opposing presidential efforts to widen the Gulf War.
Border Attack Spurs Fresh Tension Between Georgia, Abkhazia
BY PAUL RIMPLE
For many Georgians, May 21 was as much about a mysterious armed incident near the border with the breakaway region of Abkhazia, as it was about electing a new parliament. While details remain murky, the incident is stoking tension between Georgia and the renegade territory.
A Free and Fair Vote? Georgia's Political Parties See Things Differently
BY MOLLY CORSO
Georgian officials are insisting that the May 21 parliamentary voting in Georgia occurred under "normal conditions." But nothing seems to satisfy the country’s querulous opposition leaders, who, even before the polls had closed, began lodging complaints about vote-rigging.
Azerbaijan: Officials Plan for "Problem-Free" Presidential Election
BY ROVSHAN ISMAYILOV
In looking ahead to a presidential election in Azerbaijan later this year, officials are emphasizing a sense of calm and continuity, and opposition leaders are divided among themselves. As a result, campaign season has been almost eerily quiet so far.
Caspian: Azerbaijani-Turkmen Summit Marks Potentially Lucrative Thaw In Relations
BY BRUCE PANNIER
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared that "all issues have been resolved" with Turkmenistan following his talks in Baku this week with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL
Uzbekistan: Tashkent Is Up To Its Old Geopolitical Tricks
Encouraged by improving ties to the West, Uzbekistan seems to want to wriggle out from Russia’s warm embrace – again. In recent weeks, Tashkent has made a series of gestures that signal a cooling in its relations with Moscow.
Georgia: A Clean Vote on May 21?
BY MOLLY CORSO
It has been billed as a test of Georgia’s democratic credentials. But while Georgian officials have vowed that the May 21 parliamentary elections will be free and fair, an array of problems have surfaced in the days leading up to the polling, according to election observers.
Afghanistan: NATO Allies Experiencing "Battle Fatigue"
A EURASIANET COMMENTARY BY RICHARD WEITZ
In early April, NATO allies reaffirmed their commitment to Afghanistan’s democratization process, issuing a statement that proclaimed the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul to be the alliance’s "top priority." Nevertheless, a growing number of Afghans, Europeans, and Americans involved in counter-insurgency operations privately profess that they are war-weary. This dichotomy is raising the possibility that many foreign actors involved in Afghanistan are willing to scale back reconstruction objectives in order to end the fighting, declare victory, and leave.
Georgia: Optimism Prevails in Tbilisi-Controlled Section of Abkhazia
A EURASIANET PHOTO ESSAY BY ELIZABETH OWEN
"We want to go that way," said an ethnic Georgian woman, brusquely pointing at a dirt road leading from the Georgian-controlled Upper Kodori Gorge into separatist-controlled Abkhazia. "Why can’t we go back?"
Tajikistan: Who's in Charge?
Mystery continues to engulf Tajikistan’s first family, which appears preoccupied with a destabilizing power struggle. The continuing uncertainty surrounding the president and his close relatives suggests that a bout of instability could be in the offing for Central Asia’s poorest nation.
Georgia: Director's Detective Film Promises New Life for a Sleeping Industry
Georgian cinema celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, and at its vanguard is a director with a penchant for the unexpected.
Medvedev Kicks Off Kazakhstan Courtship
BY SERGEI BLAGOV
With Kazakhstan the choice for Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s first official state visit, Russian and Kazakhstani officials are talking hard about plans to expand their governments’ partnership. However, the two former Soviet states are understood to remain divided over some divergent interests, notably oil transit, despite Russian claims to the contrary.
Businessmen: Russia's Medvedev Inherits Strong, But Vulnerable Economy A EurasiaNet Recap
BY RICHARD WEITZ
On the surface, newly inaugurated Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is inheriting one of the world’s strongest economies. Surging prices for Russian energy exports and a near-decade-long economic boom mean that confidence in the country’s future is running strong. Two prominent Russian businessmen, however, caution that Russia’s energy reliance hurts its economy as much as it helps.
Iran: Ahmadinejad Says Israel Is "Dying"
As Israel marks the 60th anniversary of its creation, Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad says the Jewish state is "dying" and that the celebrations are a failed attempt to prevent its "annihilation."
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL
Kazakhstan Remains Upbeat Despite Negative Credit Rating
BY DEIRDRE TYNAN
Standard & Poor’s credit rating for Kazakhstan has been downgraded from stable to negative, but economic chiefs in Astana remain resolutely upbeat despite rising inflation, stalled construction projects and a shaky global outlook.
New Political Party Promotes Church as Georgia's Strongest Defender
BY MOLLY CORSO
A new political party that advocates a stronger role for the Georgian Orthodox Church is making waves on Georgia’s political landscape on the eve of the country’s May 21 parliamentary vote.
Central Asia: Kazakh, Tajik Presidents Show Oil And Water Do Mix
BY BRUCE PANNIER
In return for closer ties with Kazakhstan, visiting Tajik President Imomali Rahmon has hinted at support for a Kazakh plan to form a Central Asian Union -- an idea also backed by Kyrgyzstan but soundly rejected by Astana’s main regional rival, Uzbekistan, and unlikely to please Russia.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL
Is Bigger Better for Azerbaijan’s Budget?
BY ROVSHAN ISMAYILOV
It’s a question that other countries in the South Caucasus would love to ask: How best to use a 42-percent increase in state revenues? Surging oil prices have kicked off a debate in cash-rich Azerbaijan about spending practices and inflation that analysts say highlights dangerous pitfalls in the country’s budget planning.
Media Part of the Debate in Georgian Election
BY NINA AKHMETELI
With just over a week to go before Georgia’s parliamentary vote, attention is increasingly focusing on how the country’s television reporters are affecting voter sympathies.
Afghanistan: A Critical Battle in the Country's Culture War Looms
BY DEIRDRE TYNAN
On the battlefields of southern and eastern Afghanistan, Islamic insurgents are struggling to persevere in the face of the formidable firepower of NATO and American forces. In the country’s culture war, however, religious radicals are poised to achieve a spectacular victory, according to two self-styled free speech advocates.
Official to US: Azerbaijan "Proceeding on Its Own Path"
BY MINA MURADOVA
Six months ahead of Azerbaijan’s presidential elections, American criticism of President Ilham Aliyev administration’s political practices suggest that the normally strong relations between Washington and Baku have hit a speed bump. Some local analysts contend that the sharp exchanges are not that unusual during a campaign season, and have little significance for long-term relations.
Georgia: US and EU support for Tbilisi Grows amid Escalating Tension with Russia
BY NINA AKHMETELI
With Georgian-Russian tension over the break-away territory of Abkhazia continuing to rise, the United States and European Union are stepping up diplomatic intervention efforts.
Tajikistan: A Ruling Family Feud Appears to Turn Bloody
As if Tajikistan didn’t have enough problems, now it appears that President Imomali Rahmon’s family is beset by intrigue. In a twist worthy of a television soap opera, Rahmon’s son, Rustam, reportedly shot Hassan Sadullayev -- his uncle, and the president’s brother-in-law -- in connection with a struggle for control of one of the country’s leading banks.
Pakistan: U.S. Urges Islamabad To Fight Terrorists As Fragile Peace Collapses
By ABUBAKAR SIDDIQUE
After a two month lull in the violence that has plagued Pakistan’s border regions, Islamist militants appear to have resumed the violence when a recent suicide-bomb attack in the northwestern city of Bannu killed five.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL
Caspian Basin: No Way to Halt Sturgeon Poaching
Momentum is building among Caspian Basin governments for a moratorium on sturgeon fishing, in order to protect the lucrative caviar trade. Informal discussions with fishermen, however, suggest that an official ban would be unlikely to halt the dangerous depletion of sturgeon stocks.
Armenia: Administration, Opposition Take Tentative Steps toward Opening Dialogue
BY MARIANNA GRIGORYAN
They may still hate each other, but political necessity is pressuring two arch foes in Armenian politics, President Serzh Sarkisian and opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian, to start talking to each other. Even so, significant obstacles stand in the way of the start of a substantive political dialogue.
Russia: Is The USSR Back In Vogue?
BY CLAIRE BIGG
For the first time in 17 years, Russia will celebrate the victory over Nazi Germany with a display of the country’s big military hardware. Dmitry Oreshkin, a Russian political analyst, says beefing up the Victory Day parade is just one of many steps that former president Vladimir Putin has taken toward resurrecting the hallmarks of the Soviet empire and the country's former glory.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL
Tajikistan: Government Shakes Down Population Amid Deepening Economic Dysfunction
Channeling the spirit of Joseph Stalin, officials in Tajikistan, Central Asia’s poorest state, have asked residents in the capital Dushanbe to give up part of their salaries "voluntarily" to help finance construction of a hydropower plant. The fear of government reprisals is compelling many Tajiks to comply.
Georgias Lighter Tax Burden Comes with Potential Pitfalls for Taxpayers
President Mikheil Saakashvili says his dream is "to turn Georgia into the Dubai and Singapore" of the Caucasus. And simplified taxes will help pave the way. But some members of Georgia’s business community caution that greater planning and attention to detail are needed to make the plan viable.
Afghanistan: Two Iranian Men Detained On | 