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Afghanistan - There Can Be No Graceful Exit
William Pfaff

General Petraeus denies that President Barack Obama has given him the assignment to 'seek a graceful exit' from America's war against the Taliban. He is determined to win

Afghanistan Timetable Remains a Factor of Uncertainty
Jules Witcover

In repeated responses in television and newspaper talks, Petraeus suggested that Obama had left some wiggle room in the pullout timetable, allowing for consideration of conditions on the ground at the time

Afghanistan & The Karzai Problem
Joel Brinkley

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai isn't just a corrupt, irresponsible buffoon. The Afghan president's latest pronouncements show him to be a determined enemy of the very people who are trying to save him.

Afghanistan Leaks Answer Few Questions
Alex Kingsbury

The once-secret Afghanistan war military reports made public recently constitute something of a Rorschach test. Posted online by an anti-government-secrecy website called WikiLeaks, the documents drew a variety of alternative descriptions. They provide evidence of American military capability and American military shortcomings

Afghanistan - Winds of Changing Policy
William Pfaff

The first decision made by Gen. David Petraeus, the successor to Gen. Stanley McChrystal as commandant of international forces in Afghanistan, has been to abandon the policy he himself drafted in order to win the war and rebuild Afghan stability and government.

Afghanistan: The Pentagon's Lost War
William Pfaff

While it is unquestionable that Barack Obama made the war in Afghanistan 'his' war, it also is true that it was served to him on a platter. It was in fact the Pentagon's chosen war. Had he refused to fight it, Pentagon insider stories, the opposition press and the Republican Party would have attacked him and his new administration for demonstrating incompetence in dealing with world affairs

Afghanistan: The Cost of Nation Building
Jules Witcover

The mounting U.S. casualties in Afghanistan, together with the avalanche of leaked military documents reporting failures on the ground there, are raising further doubts about accomplishing the mission to build a stable Afghan government.

Afghanistan: Pentagon Papers Redux?
Jules Witcover

The leaking of 91,000 classified documents on the Afghanistan War is being compared, imprecisely, with the Pentagon Papers leak of 39 years ago that unmasked official U.S. deceptions about the Vietnam War. The latest document dump merely provides more raw material with which to make similar accusations.

U.S. - U.K.: Difficult Duet in Afghanistan
Charles A. Kupchan

U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron met to discuss the war in Afghanistan, among other issues. Both leaders 'find themselves in quite similar predicaments' in Afghanistan, a war increasingly unpopular in both countries, especially since both face growing national debt. Expert Charles Kupchan discusses Afghanistan and the special relationship between the US and UK

The Real Reason Why Afghanistan Is a Lost Cause
Joel Brinkley

As General David Petraeus assumed his new command in Afghanistan this week, he took up a strategy that has already failed -- though not for the reasons most people assume

The War Drones On
Robert C. Koehler

The use of pilotless aircraft in Pakistan and Afghanistan to assassinate Taliban or al-Qaida leaders and other Islamic, America-hating insurgents -- with missiles, no less -- seems to have hit a snag of legal controversy lately

When the 'Right War' Goes Wrong
William Pfaff

The increasingly dangerous Afghanistan situation is worth analysis at two levels, that of the war itself, the ultimately doomed attempt by the United States to conquer the Taliban insurrection and impose a pro-American government, and the domestic political effect of Barack Obama's misguided decision to replace 'Bush's war' in Iraq with 'Obama's war' in Afghanistan

The Afghanistan Paradox
Arianna Huffington

Well, President Obama has succeeded in bringing at least one soldier home from Afghanistan -- welcome back, Gen. Stanley McChrystal. Now if he can just hold true to his plan to begin bringing the other 100,000 or so home next year.

Pakistan's Gambit in Afghanistan
Daniel Markey

The recent replacement of General Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, has led to increased criticism of the war in Afghanistan and concerns about whether the White House is looking for an exit strategy. There's also a sense that Afghans are losing confidence in the allied operations, and Pakistan is looking to exploit that advantage

New Guard, Old Policy on Afghanistan
Greg Bruno

President Obama's decision to replace General McChrystal with General Petraeus as the Afghan war's top commander is seen as a shrewd tactical move that will ensure continuity of the Afghan mission. The shakeup following a caustic Rolling Stone profile was about personnel, not strategy. Perhaps, the war's strategic direction should have been thrown out with the loose-lipped general as well

Fear and Uncertainty in Afghanistan
Stephen Biddle

The Afghanistan situation is 'uncertain' and hard to evaluate, says Stephen Biddle. Kandaharis are worried about Taliban intimidation and the prospect of urban warfare that would result from battles between the Taliban and U.S. forces. Adding to the uncertainty are questions about whether or not the United States will start withdrawing forces from Afghanistan in July 2011

Afghanistan Poses Difficult Challenges
Henry A. Kissinger

I supported President Obama's decision to double American forces in Afghanistan and continue to support his objectives. The issue is whether the execution of the policy is based on premises that do not reflect Afghan realities, at least within the deadline that has been set

Defining Success in Afghanistan
Stephen Biddle, Fotini Christia & J Alexander Their

The original plan for a post-Taliban Afghanistan called for rapid, transformational nation building. But such a vision no longer appears feasible, if it ever was. Many Americans are now skeptical that even a stable and acceptable outcome in Afghanistan is possible. They believe that Afghanistan has never been administered effectively and is simply ungovernable.

Afghanistan: Bribing the Enemy
Jules Witcover/strong>

A congressional investigation report alleges that the U.S. government has been funding 'a vast protection racket run by a shadowy network of warlords, strongmen, commanders, corrupt Afghan officials and perhaps others' under the guise of providing U.S. troop security there

The Afghan Challenge Is Far Tougher
Arjun Chowdhury and Ronald R. Krebs

Sheri Berman identifies important parallels between the circumstances confronting state builders in Afghanistan today and those their counterparts faced in seventeenth-century France. But the differences between the two cases are as instructive as the similarities -- and point to rather different conclusions.

Sad Stan, Famous Petraeus
Clarence Page

Looking back, it is ironic that Pentagon brass thought Gen. Stanley McChrystal needed to make himself more available to the media. That was before an embedded Rolling Stone magazine reporter reported sarcastic comments by McChrystal and his aides about President Obama and other White House officials, ending the general's command of allied forces in Afghanistan

Sticking to the Iraq Withdrawal Timetable
Jules Witcover

While President Obama grapples with his proper role in dealing with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, his administration is pressing on with the fight against terrorism, seeking to pivot from seven years in Iraq to the growing challenge in Afghanistan and new threats at home.

Afghanistan - Marinestan
Victor Davis Hanson

The Marines are now starting to redeploy to Afghanistan from Iraq and are building a huge base in Delaram. They plan to win over southern Afghanistan's remote, wild Nimruz province that heretofore has been mostly a no-go Taliban stronghold.

Afghanistan: Papering Over Afghan Woes
Jules Witcover

That was quite an official lovefest that President Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai put on recently in an effort assure American and Afghanistan audiences that harmony reigns in spite of their recent contentious relationship.

Bringing Change From Below in Afghanistan

Securing Afghanistan - Pakistan Connection

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai Ungrateful Puppet

From The Sun King to Karzai

Offensive Against Taliban Test of Afghan Strategy

Diplomacy in Afghanistan? Not Until U.S. Identifies Why It's There

Afghanistan: Report Calls Military Intelligence Ignorant and Oblivious

Afghanistan: Fallacy of Good vs. Evil in Afghanistan

Shared Goals for Pakistan's Militants
General David H. Petraeus
There is clearly a symbiotic relationship between all of these different organizations; al-Qaeda, the Pakistani Taliban, the Afghan Taliban, TNSM (Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi) states General Petraeus. Petraeus added that it's not surprising that militants would look to wage attacks on American soil
U.S. Contemplates More of the Scarcely Believable in Afghanistan & Pakistan
William Pfaff
The idea is for the United States to bomb Quetta, one of Pakistan's principal cities, capital of its largest province, Balochistan, which already experiences separatist forces. Quetta is a major Pakistan military base, home of the century-old Command and Staff College inherited from the British army

Coming up Short on Pakistan
Jayshree Bajoria
President Barack Obama's strategy approving a U.S. troop surge in Afghanistan called success there 'inextricably linked to our partnership with Pakistan.' But the U.S.-Pakistan relationship is riddled with problems. Five independent Pakistani experts assess Obama's strategy, explore the largely negative response in Pakistan, and discuss the military and political pitfalls of the plan.
Afghanistan: Questioning Obama's July 2011 Deadline in Afghanistan
Anna Mulrine
On Capitol Hill, there is little question that the funding for 30,000-plus new troops in Afghanistan will come through. But lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been careful to register their complaints about some of the more controversial components of the strategy
Afghanistan: GOP Questions Obama's Afghanistan Troop Withdrawal Deadline
Anna Mulrine
It was clear in a widely attended Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that one of the most controversial components of President Obama's new strategy for Afghanistan will be the July 2011 date he set for beginning the withdrawal of U.S. forces.
Obama's Surge in Afghanistan Hardly a Surprise
William Pfaff
There was much disappointment about Barack Obama's decision to widen the war in Afghanistan, but there can have been no real surprise. This was not a detached decision on foreign or military policy. It was a matter of domestic politics.
Afghanistan: Obama Dance With the Partner You Came With
Ross Mackenzie
In response to President Obama's West Point lecture on Afghanistan, a lecture back....
Afghanistan: Obama Caring and Killing
Robert C. Koehler
We have a national defense constructed of equal parts good intentions and precision bombing -- caring and killing. I write to you on the precipice of a despair I don't fully comprehend, but it begins with questions that leaped to mind the moment you started speaking ...
Afghanistan: Mishmash of a Strategy
Paul Greenberg
The president and commander-in-chief went up to West Point to lay out his new/old/same/different strategy for the war in Afghanistan. The result ...
Afghanistan: Mixed Administration War Signals
Jules Witcover
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates en route to Afghanistan declared 'we are in this thing to win.' The man who also ran the Pentagon in the latter years of the Bush administration thus fed again the notion that its stay-the-course policy remains essentially in place.
Afghanistan: Going for the Quick Fix
Jules Witcover
When you consider that once Uncle Sam got into World War II it took less than four years to defeat the Nazis and Imperial Japan, it may seem reasonable to believe in President Obama's quick-fix plan for Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Obama's War Gamble
Jules Witcover
President Obama's decision to attach a ticking clock to his new troop surge in Afghanistan is clearly a gesture to Democratic liberals who have long pushed for an end to the war. The alarm, we're told, is to be set to ring in July of 2011, when U.S. forces will start to pull out.
Afghanistan: A Missed Turning Point
Jules Witcover
President Obama offered only a change in approach in his long-awaited plan to press on with the war in Afghanistan. His decision to approve of most of the troop surge requested by General McChrystal, with more finely tuned schemes for troop deployment in Afghanistan, is a thinly veiled agreement to continue Bush's stay-the-course commitment.
Possible New U.S. Option in Afghanistan: Getting Out With Grace
William Pfaff
There are two tried and disproved methods for dealing with insurrection in a non-Western country. The third and reliable method is not to go there in the first place. The fourth is get out with such grace as is possible, as rapidly as possible.
Afghanistan: Another Voice of Caution
Jules Witcover
Just as it began to appear that President Obama was moving toward adhering to his Afghanistan commander's call for 40,000 or more additional American troops, he has been unexpectedly confronted with an influential note of caution from his ambassador in Kabul. It only complicates the White House tug-of-war that has put critical policy-making on hold for months now
Disillusionment in Afghanistan
Jayshree Bajoria
The international community is increasingly concerned about whether Afghan President Hamid Karzai can be an effective partner. Karzai recently won another term after an election fraught with accusations of fraud; his previous term was beset with allegations of corruption.
The Taliban Vs. Global Civil Society
Paul Kennedy
Almost two generations ago, out of the ashes that were the Second World War, our forefathers bequeathed to us the idea and the very institutions of global civil society. Those visionaries pointed us to many rights, and thus to many futures, but key to it all was the rule of law, the right to free speech, and the right to vote
Victory in Afghanistan Requires Fully Supported Counterinsurgency
James Danly
In order to declare victory, we need to aid the Afghans in establishing a legitimate government whose population does not effectively support terrorist networks. The only viable course is to commit the resources necessary to conduct a full-spectrum counterinsurgency of the kind employed to such great effect during the surge in Iraq
Counterinsurgency Cookie Cutter Doesn't Fit Afghanistan
Gian P. Gentile
'Counterinsurgency' has become the new American way of war. A once obscure theory of internal conflict, it has become ubiquitous in military circles and dominates thinking on both current and future wars. More important, its precepts are being followed without serious inquiry or examination, and the U.S. military has become so enamored with the theory that it seemingly will not consider any serious alternative methods to achieve the president's objectives in Afghanistan.
With al-Qaida Diminished, There's No Sense in Expanding Afghan War
William Pfaff
Al-Qaida's relations with the Taliban today are troubled. Effective counter-terrorism strategy in Afghanistan is on the brink of completely eliminating al-Qaida. There will be no organization to return. This is the result of effective international and domestic intelligence cooperation as well as good police work. So why, one asks, is the U.S. expanding its war in Afghanistan?
Afghan Mythologies
Victor Davis Hanson
As President Obama decides whether to send more troops to Afghanistan, we should remember that most of the conventional pessimism about Afghanistan is only half-truth. Remember the mantra that the region is the 'graveyard of empires,' where Alexander the Great, the British in the 19th century, and the Soviets only three decades ago inevitably met their doom?
Afghanistan and the Prospects of World Order
Henry A. Kissinger
The request for additional forces by the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, faces President Obama with cruel dilemmas. If he refuses the recommendation and General McChrystal's argument that his forces are inadequate for the mission, Obama will be blamed for the dramatic consequences. If he accepts the recommendation, his opponents may come to describe it, at least in part, as Obama's war. If he compromises ...
Afghanistan - Mission of Ignorance
Robert C. Koehler
Right up there with 'our mission,' in the pantheon of sacred foreign policy mumbo-jumbo, is 'training Afghan security forces,' that endless, multibillion-dollar prerequisite for our departure from the country. We've been training a local army and police force for eight years now to take on the good and noble task of defending U.S. interests. Yet ...
Afghanistan - Situation in Afghanistan is Serious
Robert C. Koehler
The situation in Afghanistan is serious. We're getting 'out-governed' by an enemy so ruthless it's bringing services to a desperate people ignored by the legitimate government we installed. But our eight-year quagmire . . . excuse me, war . . . can still be won, says Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in that country, who recently completed a review of the situation
Afghanistan - Going Where in Afghanistan?
Jules Witcover
Two new public-opinion polls say most Americans surveyed believe the United States is not winning the war in Afghanistan, and in one of them a clear majority say no more American troops should be sent there.
Afghanistan - At Afghan Crossroads
Jules Witcover
he leak of Gen. Stanley McChrystal's sober assessment of the war in Afghanistan puts greatly increased pressure on President Obama in weighing whether to press on with the ambitious counterinsurgency recommended or chart a new direction. McChrystal, only recently sent to Kabul as U.S. and NATO commander to tackle the revitalized Taliban insurgency, doesn't mince words
Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan and Memories of Indochina
William Pfaff
The United States is in Afghanistan for its own reasons. The Afghan president said what he did to encourage the U.S. to keep him their man in Kabul. If the Afghan people should decide that he's nothing more than an American puppet, they will get rid of him. But Washington will get rid of him, too, since he would have lost his plausibility, and hence his value
Obama Foreign Policy: Afghanistan - Uncertain Trumpet
Paul Greenberg
Faced by declining support for that war, President Obama is sending mixed signals. Yes, he's already dispatched fresh troops to Afghanistan, but he has yet to endorse any new strategy there, let alone the one being recommended by the new American commander. And while this president dithers, support for the war ebbs
Afghanistan Isn't Worth One More American Life
Joe Galloway
The debate over our creeping military mission in distant Afghanistan grows ever hotter, and before we march even deeper into trouble, perhaps it's time to dig out the old Powell Doctrine and answer the eight questions it poses. Gen. Colin Powell, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said these questions all must be answered with a loud YES before the United States takes military action.
Hard Decisions Ahead on Afghanistan
Joe Galloway
There are a lot of theories and proposals flying around as President Barack Obama and his national security advisers debate what our military and civilian arms of the government can do with the 8-year-old war in Afghanistan
For U.S. in Afghanistan, Why Can't There Be an Alternative to Victory
William Pfaff
Unanimous gloom regarding Afghanistan seems clear confirmation that Barack Obama and his chosen advisers have wasted no time in placing themselves and the country -- in a mere five months -- into the same desperate situation that it took the combined Johnson and Nixon administrations 15 years to arrive at in the case of Vietnam. This view would seem widely shared today -- without influencing policy.
Political Solution in Afghanistan Possible But Not by Going Down Current Path
William Pfaff
It would be a great service to the American nation if Barack Obama would tell us what he himself thinks the wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan are about. Gen. Stanley McChyrstal says the Taliban are winning.
One Year to Prove Strategy Is Working in Afghanistan
Robert Gates Interview
The clock in Washington on Afghanistan is going to depend on what happens on the ground. I think we need to show we are making some headway by next spring or early summer. We are not going to win it by next summer. We aren't going to be on the verge of winning it next summer; this is a long-term prospect.
General McChrystal: The New Strategy In Afghanistan
General McChrystal Interview
General Stanley A. McChrystal is commander of international forces in Afghanistan. In his interview with Julian Barnes, General McChrystal discusses the strategy and progress in Afghanistan.
How to End the Insurgency and Win the War in Afghanistan
by Anna Mulrine
A longtime Afghanistan expert with the Rand Corp. and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, Jones talks about how the United States should handle Afghanistan.

From Iraq to Afghanistan, U.S. Foreign Wars Not Going According to Plan
by William Pfaff
In Iraq, tension was reported to be increasing between the Americans and the Iraqi military and security forces, who were supposed to take over the Americans' responsibilities. Move to another front: Pakistan-Afghanistan. Here there was also supposed to be a straightforward job to do: drive the Taliban out of Afghanistan, into the Tribal Areas of the Pakistan border. There, the Pakistan army, with American urging and help, would defeat and disarm them.
Afghan Presidential Candidate Takes a Page From Obama's Playbook
by Anna Mulrine
Presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani, the leading challenger to incumbent Hamid Karzai, has embarked on an Internet fundraising campaign modeled on that run by President Obama.
Flipping the Taliban: How to Win in Afghanistan
by Fotini Christia and Michael Semple
Although sending more troops is necessary to tip the balance of power against the insurgents, the move will have a lasting impact only if it is accompanied by a political surge, a committed effort to persuade large groups of Taliban fighters to put down their arms and give up the fight.
Events in Middle East & Central Asia Challenge U.S's Conventional Assumptions
William Pfaff
Three recent developments in the Muslim Middle East and Central Asia challenge Washington's conventional assumptions about Pakistan, the Taliban, Lebanon and Iran.
Kyrgyzstan Pleas for Russian Intervention to Quell Unrest
Will beleaguered Bishkek agree to shut down America’s last Central Asian military base, in exchange for Moscow’s help?
How Russia Outmaneuvered America
The fascinating power politics behind an overlooked coup in Central Asia
Did the Kremlin Overthrow a U.S. Ally?
Moscow reasserts its influence in another former Soviet state.
Iran, Turkmenistan Launch New Gas Pipeline

The Great Caspian Chess Match
Two future superpowers battle over who will control one of the world’s most strategically important territories.
Russia, China Hold Joint Exercises
In its largest-ever joint military operation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is setting itself up as an alternative to NATO.
U.S Diplomatic Rescue Mission Secures Military Base, for Now
Desperation in recent negotiations reveals America’s vulnerability in Central Asia.
Europe Seeks Control of Central Asian Energy
Efforts to build an energy corridor through the Caucasus to Central Asia demonstrate Europe’s ongoing desire to diversify its energy dependence from Russia.
EU Grasps at Central Asia for Energy

Kyrgyzstan Threatens to Evict U.S.
The U.S.’s presence in strategic Central Asia becomes more tenuous.
The Russia-Ukraine Energy Quandary
An energy dispute highlights Russia’s desire to draw the line on the EU’s eastern encroachment.
Russia, China and a Central Asian Alliance
The common desire to compete with U.S. hegemony is fusing a central Asian alliance.
America Losing Foothold in Central Asia
Rising anti-Americanism could soon lead to the eviction of the U.S. military from strategically important Central Asia—a move that would handicap America’s military goals.
Eurasian Democracy Concerns Russia
The wave of democratic revolutions occurring in Central Eurasia is a pleasing sight to America and Europe. Not everyone, however, is overjoyed with these changes.
Meltdown Ahead?

theTrumpet.com: Central Asia
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Insecurity in Badakhshan
Badakhshan province has often been portrayed in the media as a relatively safe place, in large part because the nascent trekking/tourism industry there makes for a great story. After the second of two recent lethal attacks by insurgents on aid workers in Badakhshan, I’ve heard some friends musing on whether this spells a major sea [...]
Expats Drinking in Kabul: Will the Atrocities Never Cease?
A guest post by Kabul Expat. Will drop-in journalists ever tire of writing self-righteous, grossly distorted stories about “wild, partying expats” in Kabul? Probably not. Seema Jilani just published one in the Guardian. Let’s get this over with. “Kabul is the new Beirut.” This frivolous drivel fell from the mouth of a journalist in Afghanistan. She was effervescent [...]
Our other perennial theme
My column this week at PBS focuses on roads: Why does the international ommunity focus so intently on road construction? It’s difficult to say. There is a belief, justified in many ways, that well-paved roads are a necessary step toward fostering economic development. Roads do little for commerce, however, if they’re controlled by criminals and [...]
Jew-Baiting Kyrgyzstan
RFE/RL “Writer-at-large” James Kirchick has a novel theory to explain this summer’s upheaval in Kyrgyzstan. But looking back on the turbulent events that this country – which I have visited twice in the past five months – has experienced, I realize that a foretaste of the June disturbances was already evident in early April, just days [...]
Reader Help?
Can anyone lend insight into why the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is publishing Gulnara Karimova as if she’s a scholar? Professor Gulnara Islamovna Karimova is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Uzbekistan to Spain, Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva. She is also the Director [...]
Turkmenbashy Stops Turning, Sun Soldiers On
After 13 years of rotating as though he were carrying the Sun across the sky, Turkmenbashy’s statue atop the Arch of Neutrality stopped rotating a few weeks ago.Its almost as if the authorities wanted to be sure the Sun would continue rising and setting without the help of the 12 meter golden effigy of the [...]
The Helmand Food Zone Fiasco
Compared to other recent counternarcotics efforts in Afghanistan, the British “Food Zone” program in Helmand has received a pretty good press. It’s been credited with facilitating the 2008-09 drop in poppy in Helmand and cited as a possible model for the rest of the country. Sadly, when examined closely, there’s no compelling reason to think [...]
Detained at Gunpoint
The following is an account my friend sent me, at my request. This friend has requested anonymity, because of the nature of the incident, and I am respecting that. What I find remarkable here is that Panjshir is meant to be one of the safest and most welcoming provinces for travelers, right up there with [...]
On Expertise
Andrew Exum is annoyed with Anatol Lieven: I was disappointed, though, to listen to Lieven’s broadside against Ricks here (at the 17:00 mark, to be specific). A more careful graduate student would never criticize a professor at the department from where he hopes to be granted a degree in the near future, but Lieven looks foolish [...]
Two Items of Note
I wrote a summary of the issues Uighurs face in China, and how that affects the regional security setting, for PBS this week. This latest bombing in Aksu is, in many ways, another symptom of China’s dysfunctional relationship with Xinjiang and the Uighurs who live there. According to Chinese sources, the attack targeted a man leading [...]

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Iran, Pakistan Loom Large in Caspian Basin Pipeline Developments

EurasiaNet Commentary

Pakistani leaders have been moving aggressively to forge new pipeline deals. The Pakistani push threatens to undermine US efforts to isolate Iran.

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Uzbekistan Celebrates Independence Day

Editors' Picks:

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Uzbekistan celebrated its independence on September 1. But for many Uzbeks, independence is not to be confused with freedom.

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Turkmenistan Weekly News Roundup
Determined to go forward on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov spoke with Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari this week, following his conversation with Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai last week and the signing of an agreement between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to construct TAPI.

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OSCE Police Mission for Kyrgyzstan Stalls
An OSCE police advisory mission had been expected to be deployed in strife-torn southern Kyrgyzstan by the end of August. But given the Central Asian nation’s muddled political situation, it now looks like the deployment won’t happen until late October, if at all.

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Azerbaijan Flood Victims Complaining about Slow Reconstruction Pace
It’s been almost four months since flooding in Azerbaijan’s Sabirabad Region displaced tens of thousands of residents. Now, amid slow-paced reconstruction efforts, a popular tide of anger and resentment appears to be rising.

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Unraveling the Caucasus: Two New Books Examine a Region’s Complicated History

A Eurasianet Book Review

Let Our Fame be Great: Journeys Among the Defiant People of the Caucasus
By Oliver Bullough
Basic Books
528pp

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Osh: Will Back to School Bring On More Trouble?
The start of the school year on September 1 is heaping an extra layer of apprehension on an already distressed situation in southern Kyrgyzstan.

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New Nuke Plant in Armenia Draws Criticism from Environmentalists
Armenian leaders are ecstatic that Russia is getting involved in the construction of a new nuclear power plant at Metsamor. Environmentalists and technical experts are far less enthused, saying that a new Metsamor unit poses considerable risks.

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LGBT Activists in Turkey Launch Ground-Breaking Publication
Speaking in his apartment in a suburb of Diyarbakir, in southeastern Turkey, Solin and his colleague Koya are so scared of being identified that they will not allow even an obscured photograph of themselves to be published. Nor do they want their real names to be known.

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In One Azerbaijan Village, 'Carrying Water Is Women's Work'
CELEBILER, Azerbaijan -- In this small, dusty village in central Azerbaijan, daily life for the local women begins at dawn and ends at sunset.

What happens in between, say several Celebiler women, is nonstop labor.

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EurasiaNet.org

Russia- Kyrgyzstan: Vladimir Putin promised $10 million to Almazbek Atambaev
Russian Prime-Minister Vladimir Putin met the leader of Social-democratic party of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambaev on September 2, Dmitry Peskov, the press-secretary of Prime-Minister, informed journalists, ITAR-TASS reports.

According to Mr. Peskov "Vladimir Putin informed Almazbek Atambaev about the decision to allocate $10 million of grant aid for Kyrgyzstan that was made during the governmental session".

Besides, Dmitry Peskov said that the parties discussed the issues of "providing other assistance to the Kyrgyz Republic". During the meeting it was highlighted that recent tragic events in Kyrgyzstan negatively impacted Kyrgyzstan’s GDP, said the press-secretary of Russian Prime-Minister.

It has to be mentioned that Almazbek Atambaev currently does not hold any official positions in the interim government of Kyrgyzstan.

Immediately after "April revolution" Almazbek Atambaev as one of the "revolution leaders" was arriving in Moscow with the request on financial aid. On April 12, 2010 he said that Kyrgyzstan accounts to get over $150 million of grant aid from Russia.

At the end of May, 2010 being the deputy head of interim government of Kyrgyzstan, Almazbek Atambaev informed he was going to run in neither parliamentary elections in 2010 nor presidential rally in 2011. He affirmed journalists and electorate that "in such challenging period" his major goal was to help President Roza Otunbaeva to boost economic development.

However, at the beginning of July Mr. Atambaev resigned, motivating his decision that he "did not need" to face charges on using lobbying power during the elections.

At the moment, Kyrgyzstan badly needs the assistance from international donors. In the opinion of Ferghana.Ru expert, the negotiations "on funds" between Russian Prime-Minister Vladimir Putin and Kyrgyz party leader Almazbek Atambaev produce ambiguous opinion, but evidence the attempt of independent play, search for future personal partner in Kyrgyzstan that was initiated by Kremlin even prior to the parliamentary elections.

It has to be mentioned that the elections to Jogorku Kenesh (the parliament of Kyrgyzstan) will take place on October 10, 2010, involving over 20 local parties. Social-democratic party of Kyrgyzstan, headed by Almazbek Atambaev, is viewed as one of the leaders of election rally.

Tajikistan: One of the recently escaped criminals is caught
Ibrokhom (Ibragim) Nasreddinov.Gallery of Ferghana.Ru
The security agencies in Tajikistan caught one of the organizers of recent mass escape from pre-trial detention center, the source in Tajik Interior Ministry informed Ferghana.Ru.

According to him, the law enforcement officers caught Ibrokhim (Ibragim) Nasreddinov 20 kilometers away from Dushanbe. Allegedly, Mr. Nasreddinov was one of the main organizers of mass escape from pre-trial detention center under national security committee in the night of August 23. According to Justice Ministry, few years ago he was placed to Guantanamo base, accused of supporting links with Al Qaeda, Taliban and being trained in terrorist camps of Pakistan. In 2007 he was extradited back to Tajikistan and sentenced to 23 years of jail.

It has to be mentioned that the detention of Ibrokhim coincided with the appointment of Saimumin Yatimov as new head of State Committee for National Security in Tajikistan. In the opinion of expert, the resignation of Khairiddin Abdurakhimov, the former head of SCNS, is reasoned by the impudent escape of group of prisoners from pre-trial detention center.

Meanwhile, ITAR-TASS said that the search of escaped prisoners producers rumors, indicating that the escape was well-organized and involved foreign special service. On the other hand, local mass media sharply criticized the local special service for poor job.

According to Avesta, the Tajik website, referring to Tajik service of RFE/RL and Tochikiston newspaper, the Justice Ministry rests the responsibility on national security representatives. Parvin Alizoda, the press-secretary of Justice Ministry, said that the escape became possible because of poor security conditions at the pre-trial detention center. Specifically, it does not have window gratings and in-house toilets. She compared the pre-trial detention center with the kindergarten.

Major General Saimumin Yatimov was born in 1955 in the Khatlon Oblast of Tajikistan. In 1976 he graduated from State teachers college, majoring in Tajik language and literature. In 2003 Mr. Yatimov finished Tajik state national university majoring in Law. He is PhD in political science, fluent in English, Russian and Farsi. He worked many years in local authorities, foreign ministry and security agencies of Tajikistan. In the last 3 years he was the Ambassador in Belgium and the representative of Tajikistan in European countries. Since May, 2010 he has been the deputy head of SCNS.

Kyrgyzstan: About 4 thousands kids in Osh started elementary school on September 1 (photo)
On September 1, 2010 about 4 thousands 1st graders started elementary school in Osh that was severely damaged during the tragedy in June; overall, 51 thousand students came back to secondary schools in Osh. Overall, there are 529 secondary schools with 228 thousand students in the Osh oblast, the local department of education informed.

56 out of 57 secondary schools in Osh started new academic year. The students of secondary school, named after Khamza, were transferred to other schools.

700 students (60 of which are 1st graders) of Karasu district secondary school, named after Lev Tolstoy, started lessons in the tent school, organized by UNICEF and ACTED. 9 tents were equipped as classrooms, one – dining room and one – teachers’ room.

Tent school in Osh. Photo © «Фергана.Ру»

It has to be mentioned that according to Raisa Toybolotova, the supervisor for secondary education in the Kyrgyz Ministry of Education, 3 schools in the cities of Osh, Jalal-Abad and Karasu district were devastated during June riots.

Since the beginning of academic year the lessons on Peace For Everyone has been conducted in all the schools. 40 buses and special group of guards were hired for this event. Over 320 university students attended the security training for ensuring safety in the schools.

September 1. The students in the streets of Osh. Photo © Ferghana.Ru

Kyrgyzstan: While the memorandum with OSCE is not signed the international aid cannot be received
Kyrgyz government has not reached agreement with OSCE secretariat on all articles of memorandum about the functions of OSCE police consulting group in the republic, Farid Niyazov, the head of Kyrgyz government information and coordination center, informed RIA Novosti.

Not allowing the international observers in the republic, Kyrgyzstan will not get international aid

"$1 billion of donors’ funds will not reach Kyrgyzstan", said Anara Dautalieva, the head of Taza tabigat NGO. "The reason is that Melisbek Myrzakmatov remains the mayor of Osh although the new government promised the donors’ community to fire him", she continued. The head of NGO also notes that she is against the international aid and wants to see domestic investment. "However, today, everyone is concerned about politics rather than economic issues. The politicians are willing to secure seats in the parliament while common people live their regular life", said Anara Dautalieva.

Source – 24.kg
It has to be mentioned that the decision on attracting OSCE policemen with the purpose to stabilize situation in the southern region of the republic, which was devastated by criminal and interethnic clashes in June, was ambiguously accepted by Kyrgyzstanis; it resulted in the protest meetings. Initially, it was expected that until the end of August the issue of deployment of OSCE police group would be set, but the negotiations are still in progress.

"President Otunbaeva several times announced her interest in attracting OSCE police group that would consult Kyrgyz colleagues. We are not against this, but the memorandum must be signed when its text matches our national interests", Niyazov informed.

The head of the center noted that the agreement needs to be reached on the draft memorandum that was proposed by OSCE secretariat in the part, covering the duration of stay and location of OSCE police mission.

"Kyrgyz side insists on the point that it must be authorized to cease mission mandate unilaterally. We also focused on training mission and material and technical provision of police", he explained.

Niyazov was not able to answer the question on possible terms of signing the memorandum, saying that the consulting process, involving stakeholder ministries and agencies, is in progress.

"Kyrgyzstan is interested to be recognized by the world as the open country, hiding nothing about the events in the southern Kyrgyzstan", Mr. Niyazov highlighted.

The sources in President’s team affirm that the presence of police consulting group in Kyrgyzstan is one of the conditions for providing multi-million international aid for rebuilding the devastated region.

Uzbekistan: President Islam Karimov promised 500 USD salary for population
This year the average salary in Uzbekistan will reach 500 US dollars. This was announced by the President Islam Karimov on September 1 during the celebration of Independence Day.

In his annual speeches Islam Karimov presents more and more fabulous picture of present and future situation in Uzbekistan. However, the real life often times contests blind confidence of Uzbek President. One of the facts, evidencing the deteriorating level of life for majority of population in Uzbekistan is the stable growth of the number of migrant workers. According to official data, today, every third foreign worker in Russia is the citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Unofficially, there are about 2 million Uzbek guest workers in Russian Federation.
"Comparing to 1990 the gross domestic product of our republic has grown by almost 3.5 times, which is 2.5 times per capita. By the end of this year the size of average salary will reach about 500 US dollars and increase by 14 times" the President informed. The full text of presentation is available at UzA.

Converting US dollars into Uzbek sums – non-convertible national currency of Uzbekistan – and according to President Karimov, the average citizen will get about 807 000 sum (at official rate) or 1 109 500 sum (at black market rate as of September 1).

However, according to the Ministry of Economy and State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan, in June of 2010 the average salary reached only 476.4 thousand sum (little over 200 US dollars at black market rate). This means that, according to Mr. Karimov, the salary size must double within half of the year. The President did not mention what must happen in order to make Uzbekistanis feel themselves as "sum" millionaires.

Completely different situation is observed if we look at certain category – the size of minimum salary. Despite the officially announced impressive economic growth in Uzbekistan in the last successful year – August 2009 through August 2010 – the minimum salary increased only by two dollars (considering the appreciation of American currency): from 33.645 sum per month ($18.4 at real exchange rate) to 45.215 sum ($20.4).

It has to be mentioned that such "insignificant" concepts for Uzbek economists as the appreciation of foreign currency and inflation are not reflected in the reports on socio-economic development in Uzbekistan; at least, those reports, published in mass media.

It is also worth saying that according to official statistics, by the summer of 2010 the average salary in Russia exceeded 650 US dollars while in Kazakhstan it reached 500 US dollars.

Tajikistan: Many cafés and restaurants are closed during Ramadan
Ferghana.Ru correspondent reports that more and more people in Tajikistan demand to close cafes and restaurants for the period of sacred month of Ramadan. According to Tajik service of BBC, group of believers and theologians from Kulyab, southern Tajikistan, were indignant with the fact that most cafes still operate. In the opinion of believers, canteens, cafes, tea-houses and restaurants need to be urgently closed since every believer must abstain from eating food from sunrise to sundown during Ramadan.

Domullo Kholmurod, the influential theologian from Kulyab, said that operations of restaurants during Ramadan are the sign of disrespect to believers. "Those, serving food for people during Ramadan, cannot be named as Muslims", he noted.

It has to be mentioned that many catering places in Kulyab were closed, independently making decision to temporarily stop operations. For instance, Khodzhien canteen, located in the downtown, stopped serving food and sent employees on vacation. On the other hand, Azam Sharipov, the owner of the canteen at Sakhovat market, does not think he is obliged to stop business. "Many people come to Kulyab from other places. If we stop operations, who will serve food to them?"

Meanwhile, Ferghana.Ru experts believe that southern regions of Tajikistan, especially Kulyab group of districts, were not considered as the area, highly influenced by Islam. During the civil war of 1992-1997 the Kulyab Oblast of Tajikistan was the basis of National front, fighting United Tajik opposition, also referred as "Islamic opposition".

Many closed restaurants, cafés and canteens are also observed in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. Since the beginning of August many places here are either closed or working in the nights. On the other hand, different situation is observed in downtown area of Dushanbe. Aziz Namozov, chief accountant of Rokhat tea-house, located in the center of Dushanbe, notes that there is demand for food services. "We are located in the downtown area. Many foreigners come to eat here. Respecting the feelings of Muslim people, we separated the facilities where we serve alcohol", Mr. Namozov highlighted.

The owners of Bokhtarien restaurant affirm that this is not profitable season although many other owners of cafes think otherwise. "Me and my employees are fasting. We decided to go on vacation" said the owner of another café.

Most of restaurants and café in northern Tajikistan work normally, although they report less clients. Visiting Khujand recently, Ferghana.Ru correspondent observed people eating kebab at the cafés along the road. It is hard to observe such situation in Dushanbe. Even Russian-speaking community tries to avoid eating food at public places.

One friend from Europe visited me before Ramadan. Walking around the town, we decided to have some beer. I was surprised when we were not able to buy beer in the grocery stores. In response, these people said they preferred not to sell alcohol because it contradicted Islamic rules.

Popular American-Spanish Brazzaville rock band is on the road in Central Asia
On August 31 popular American-Spanish Brazzaville rock band starts its tour in Kazakhstan. The concerts are organized under Central Asian tour during which the musicians will visit Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as well as Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Probably most popular romantic rock band already gave concerts in Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. Further go Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Armenia. The band is planning to arrive in Tashkent on September 5 in order to present rich mix of alternative rock and Brazilian bossa-nova to the local public.

Banner from official website of the rock band

David Brown, the founder of the band, told Ferghana.Ru correspondent about his Turkmen tour and the reasons that brought him to the region.

- You will not believe but the idea of Central Asian tour was born thanks to Kamola, the girl from Tashkent. It all started with an email, where she asked if we were going to ever visit Tashkent. I said we would be happy to do it. Her efforts resulted in the fact the tour became realistic and we found sponsors.

Earlier we already gave concerts in Almaty and Baku. This is time it is more serious. I am very thankful to Kamola. When we arrive in Uzbekistan I am going to present her the most beautiful flowers in Tashkent.

David had very pleasant memories from the concert in Turkmenistan:

- I loved Turkmen audience that thanked us for coming. After big concert in Ashgabat one woman came to us and said we were the first foreign band (except for jazz bands and dance groups), giving the concerts in Turkmenistan since the end of Soviet Union.

In Turkmenistan we performed in the center for deaf and blind people. This was so fantastic that I can state that was one of the best events in the tour. I loved the hospitality of Turkmen people and I will be happy to come back to this beautiful country some day.

Uzbekistan: The residents of Kashkadaria Oblast threaten to commit self-immolation on the Independence Day
Due to unauthorized actions of traffic police officer, resulted in the death of people, and indifference of authorities, Yulduz Isomova and Jamilya Zhovlieva, the residents of Chirachki district center in the Kashkadaria Oblast of Uzbekistan, said that they "will burn themselves at 10am on the Independence Day on September 1, 2010", says Kashkadaria office of Human rights center of Uzbekistan (HRCU).

The tragedy with the death toll took place on December 9, 2008 during Muslim holiday of Kurban Bayram. On that day traffic police officer Nodir Kholboev stopped Niva with the driver Amir Abdinazarov (the husband of Jamilya Zhovlieva), Uktam Abdinazarov (husband of Yulduz Isomova) and two other passengers.

The traffic police officer found out that the car inspection expired on the day before. Amir Abdinazarov tried to explain that because of the official holiday he could not do it, but would get the inspection sticker on the following day. However, Mr. Kholbaev "arrested" the vehicle, also committing the first violation – not filling out the written protocol of arrest. Besides, he refused to let the passengers go.

Mr. Kholbaev was driving Niva to tow pound but got hit by Daewoo Nexia, whose driver crossed into oncoming lane, avoiding the clash with the child. As a result, Amir Abdinazarov and Tokhir Ruziev were killed while Makhmadali Alikulov and Uktam Abdunazirov were severely injured and became disabled.

On May 18, 2009 the Shakhrisyab city court sentenced Obijon Kholov, the driver of Nexia, to 8 years of prison and fine of 8.5 million sum. The traffic police inspector Nodir Kholboev, in his turn, came off clear.

Uktam Abdinazarov and Makhmadali Alikulov (the accident sufferers) appealed against the court decision. But allegedly, Nodir Kholboev found the influential relative in the Oblast internal affairs department and brought up false witnesses that ensure alibi for him. On July 7, 2009 the appeal court of the Kashkadaria Oblast acquitted Nodir Kholboev.

The relatives of killed and injured victims several times addressed various judicial instances with the request to reconsider the case and punish inspector Kholboev. Nevertheless, their efforts were useless.

Meanwhile, desperate wives of suffered men decided to make the last move – to burn themselves on the Independence Day of Uzbekistan. They sent written notification to the Oblast Khokim (head of administration) Nuriddin Zainiev.

It has to be mentioned that self-immolation cases are not rare event in Uzbekistan. According to official statistics, most of the suicides are committed by desperate women because of domestic altercation and financial troubles.

The fist case of self-immolation in Uzbekistan, motivated by political reasons, was registered in 2003. On April 14, 2006 Saida Kuchkarova committed self-immolation at the presence of 60 local residents that were going to isolate her because, in their opinion, she was "scandalous, discontent woman of pleasure". Prior to dying Saida stayed three days in the hospital.

This case was announced by Saida’s brother Sokhib Kuchkarov at the press-conference, organized by Ozod Ovoz organization for freedom of speech. According to him, the authorities "were not happy" that her sister demanded salary increase and allocation of share in the cotton crop: she was desperate because none of the officials talked to her. Besides, the day before the self-immolation of Kuchkarova the local women threw stones at her. When Saida burned herself nobody tried to stop her.

Kazakhstan: The convicted human rights advocate Y. Zhovtis is awarded the prize of Norwegian Helsinki Committee
The human rights activist Yevgeny Zhovtis, convicted in Kazakhstan and serving the sentence in penal colony settlement in Ust-Kamenogorsk, is awarded the international human rights prize of Norwegian Helsinki Committee. This was reported by Almaty-based Vremya newspaper with the reference to Lene Wetteland, the Committee program coordinator for Central Asia.

According to Ms. Wetteland, she arrived to Kazakhstan in order to personally deliver the prize to Yevgeny Zhovtis. Lene Wetteland informed that on August 26 she will visit Yevgeny Zhovtis in Ust-Kamenogorsk together with Roza Akylbekova, the acting Director of Kazakhstani bureau for human rights and rule of law.

It has to be mentioned that the Director of Kazakhstani human rights bureau Yevgeny Zhovtis was convicted for initiating the car accident with lethal result. On September 3, 2009 the Balkhash district court of the Almaty Oblast in Kazakhstan sentenced Yevgeny Zhovtis to 4 years of imprisonment in the penal colony settlement. Friends and colleagues of Yevgeny, influential Kazakhstani and international human rights defenders, journalists, representatives of international organizations believe that the government used the tragic event in order to punish stubborn human rights advocate.

"The Norwegian Helsinki Committee decided to award the prize to Zhovtis for his extensive work in the area of human rights protection not only in Kazakhstan, but in the whole region".

Uzbekistan: Ezgulik human rights group reports increasing governmental pressure
On August 23 Tashkent office of Ezgulik, the central board of human rights group in Uzbekistan, held the press-conference, dedicated to the human rights situation in the republic, persecution of civil activists and pressure, put by the government of Uzbekistan. In the opinion of the organization members, the actions of the government target at shutting down the only officially registered human rights organization.

Ezgulik office. August 23, 2010. Photo © «Фергана.Ру»

Addressing the press-conference attendants, representatives of independent media, diplomats from USA, France and Germany, Vasilya Inoyatova, the head of Ezgulik, noted that receiving violence reports in the last years her colleagues once again came to conclusion that "the human rights situation in Uzbekistan remains critical".

Specifically, the human rights advocates have many evidences, saying that "the use of tortures for getting testimonies in the office of public prosecutor and interior ministry became common practice".

Habeas Corpus — the institute of Anglo-American procedural law, currently widely spread across the world as most reliable constitutional guarantee of freedom of right and personal security. It has been recently introduced in Uzbekistan. It assumes that courts get the rights to participate in the preliminary investigation phase, issue sanctions for detention and arrest. The lawyers and civil society activists are not provided the access to religious and political trials. In many cases it turns out that neither courts nor office of public prosecutor have idea about habeas corpus; this leads to procedural violations.
The journalists, human rights activists and opposition leaders are put in jails and colonies. They are not the subject of amnesty and their lawyers cannot see them. One of such convicts is journalist Dilmurod Sayid. Despite his critical health condition and the attempt of Ezgulik to help take him out, he was not released on amnesty. Many prisoners are put in cells with intolerable conditions; sometimes, that results in suicide attempts. Abdurasul Khudainazarov, the Ezgulik member, has attempted the suicide three times since 2006.

People complain that the law enforcement officers put pressure on ordinary citizens. In most cases this is related to the expropriation of property and the number of such complaints, received by Ezgulik, has increased.

The operations of the human rights group in investigation of illegal actions, committed by police officers, produce the response reaction from law enforcement structures.

"They put pressure on us with the help of our own colleagues, naming themselves as human rights advocates – says Vasilya Inoyatova. – I received 6th request for summons. People affirm that I slander policemen, undermine the state image. I am asked to shut down my human rights activity in Uzbekistan".

The number of former Ezgulik members several times was in litigation with Inoyatova, demanding 30 million sum in total "for the moral damage, produced by publications".

Vasilya Inoyatova shared that over two years ago the murder of Dulnura Kadyrzhanova, the distinguished artist of Uzbekistan, involved police colonel Djamshid Matlyubov (former inmate of Dilnura and brother of Interior Minister). Inoyatova was defending the interests of injured party when Matlyubov hired few former "human rights advocates" in order to make Inoyatova "beg pardon from Matlyubov’s family". It has to be mentioned that prominent Tashkent-based human rights activist Surat Ikramov also faces the same pressure.

According to Inoyatova, there are various provocations against Ezgulik. The hard disk and running memory of the Ezgulik office computer, containing archived files, was eliminated few months ago. The archived files had the reports, financial documents, statements and other information, related to strategic operations of the group. The investigation produced no results yet. Besides, the prime suspect became the office manager.

"Besides the head office we have 13 branches in the regions. – Inoyatova continues. – The authorities deny their registration and address us as the only registered organization". "Due to the fact that we are facing the real threat of shutting down the office, I ask all present journalists and diplomats to express the opinion, make statement that, perhaps, will help save the only officially operating human rights group", Inoyatova concluded.

Continuing the conversation, Sukhrob Ismailov, the Expert working group (EWG) Coordinator, said: "We have been cooperating with Ezgulik since long ago and as the board member of this organization I can say that today’s press-conference may be interpreted as warning about increasing pressure and attacks against civil society in Uzbekistan. The evidences are the faked charges against the management of Ezgulik".

"We must bear in mind this is the only human rights group in Uzbekistan, registered in 2003 under international pressure. Hosting EBRD session in May of 2003, Uzbekistan wanted to demonstrate "the performance of liabilities" before partners".

Uzbekistan: EWG published the report on violence against women and children
The Expert working group (EWG) is non-profit and non-governmental think tank of independent experts in Uzbekistan, focused on monitoring the interaction between public interests and rights. The major EWG goals are monitoring and research of trends public interests and rights, raising public awareness of legal reforms and implementation mechanisms, support of local export community and independent analytical structures, free debates on legal reforms.
The Expert working group (Uzbekistan) published the results of the research, prepared by the group of experts – medical workers and legislators – on violence against women and children in Uzbekistan.

"The violence against two most vulnerable social groups in Uzbekistan, including violence in the family, becomes the serious and widespread problem that produces many other social and individual problems. We believe that it is necessary not only to punish guilty but also to rehabilitate the victims and work the person, which committed violence, in order to avoid similar cases", say authors.

The authors of the report analyzed the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, related to the surveyed topics, considered most typical cases of violence against women and kids, including tortures, domestic violence, forced marriages and incitement to suicide, forced child labor, sexual abuse and discrimination on various criteria.

EWG experts prepared their recommendations for the government, including legal, education, propaganda and other mechanisms. The full Russian text of the research in HTML format is available here, while you can also view comments and footnotes in Document Word format here.

Kyrgyzstan: UNHCR to build 1350 transitional houses in Osh and Jalal-Abad
Uzbek population of southern Kyrgyzstan that suffered during tragic events on June 11-15, 2010 continues to leave the southern regions while the local authorities openly support the racist policy (see photo).

Many people still reside in the tents, provided by international humanitarian organizations in the early days of the conflict while many others live in houses of their relatives, friends or neighbors.

Many people still live in the tents. Photo © Ferghana.Ru, August 20, 2010

According to 24.kg, the authorities of Osh, laying the foundation of new apartment buildings, say they will build the houses until winter; however, it is clear they will not make it on time.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Southern Kyrgyzstan announced its plan to build so-called "transitional" shelter for people, suffered in June events.

According to UNHCR press-release, partner organizations and the State Directorate for Reconstruction and Development of Osh and Jalal-Abad jointly approved the project of the two-room houses made of brick with the total area of about 40 square meters (and the living area of 28 square meters). It takes 4-5 weeks to build such a house. Construction of additional rooms for larger families will be considered in each individual case.

Within the project of UNHCR, shelter and materials will be provided to the affected population for free and without any compensation and loans.

Within the framework of the given project, before the winter season UNHCR plans to have built 450 houses in Jalal-Abad city and Jalal-Abad province and 900 houses in Osh city and Osh province. Houses are built on the sites of the worst affected houses right on the territories of the affected compounds.

The pitiful sight of streets in Osh. Photo © Ferghana.Ru, August 20, 2010

In addition, the UNHCR shelter cluster implementing partners provide assistance in restoration of another 200 houses, which require only minimal refurbishment. At the moment, the authorities have given permission for restoration of 75 percent of the affected houses. The remaining houses, for which no approval has been received yet, are located within the city of Osh.

At present, the project is now progressing into an active phase. Cleaning of ruins and removal of large amounts of construction debris from compounds and streets are being actively proceeded. In hundreds of compounds in the cities and the provinces of Jalal-Abad and Osh, sites have been prepared for the start of construction activities. Since 19 August, mass delivery of building materials has been launched in Jalal-Abad (the city and the province), materials will be delivered in lots to Osh city and Osh province since 25 August.

The cleaning of ruins of devastated houses in Osh. Photo © Ferghana.Ru, August 20, 2010

Kyrgyzstan: Marat Imankulov is appointed as new Security Council Secretary
Marat Imankulov
By the decree of President of Kyrgyzstan Roza Otunbaeva Marat Mukanovich Imankulov is appointed as the new Secretary of the Security Council.

It has to be mentioned that three days earlier Alik Orozov, the former Secretary of the Security Council in Kyrgyzstan, resigned at his own accord. He also explained his decision was not politically motivated.

FERGHANA.RU NOTE: Marat Imankulov is colonel, the deputy head of Anti-terrorist center of the Commonwealth of independent states (ATC CIS). He was born on March 10, 1960 in the village of Onbir jylga, the Chui district of Chui Oblast, Kyrgyz SSR. In 1982 he graduated from Moscow polygraphic institute. In 1987 he finished advanced courses of USSR KGB in Kiev while in 1991 he also finished AC of USSR KGB Tashkent. Mr. Imankulov has worked in the national security agencies of Kyrgyz Republic since 1986, holding various operating and managing positions. Marat Imankulov has the following job record: 1998-2001 – head of Department in National Security Service (NSS) for the Naryn Oblast of Kyrgyzstan. 2001-2002 – head of NSS Department for the Osh Oblast. 2002-2005 – head of NSS Department for the Jalal-Abad Oblast. 2005-2007 – head of Department for counteracting terrorism under State Committee for national security of Kyrgyzstan. Since November of 2007 – deputy head of Anti-terrorist center of the Commonwealth of Independent states (Moscow).

Marat Imankulov was one of the first Kyrgyz officials, working abroad and openly supporting anti-Bakiev demonstrations and change of power in Kyrgyzstan in April, 2010.

Tajikistan: Killing 3 guards, 30 vicious criminals absconded from remand prison
In the night of August 23, 30 vicious criminals, including 6 citizens of Russia and 4 citizens of Afghanistan, managed to escape from remand prison under State Committee for National Security in Dushanbe (Tajikistan).

Ferghana.Ru sources reported that the incident took place at about 2am. One of the criminals attacked the guard and seized the guns and ward keys. He freed about 30 prisoners, including the sons of Mirzo Ziyooev, the former Emergency response Minister, brothers of warlord Negmat Azizov and few citizens of Russia and Afghanistan.

It has to be mentioned that last Friday all these people were sentenced to various terms for attempting the coup and participation in the illegal criminal groups. Overall, about 50 people were brought to trial; they were detained last summer in the Tavildar district, the eastern Tajikistan, during the special operation of governmental troops. The list of absconders includes Abdurasul Mirzoyev, the brother of convicted Gaffor Mirzoev, the former head Tajikistan’s national guard.

During the escape the prisoners killed 6 guards, including the officers. Tajik Interior Ministry believes that, most likely, the absconders left for Rasht valley, where it is most convenient for them to hide in the mountains. Nonetheless, the chasing operations are announced throughout Tajikistan.

The escape of criminals is rare event in Tajikistan. In the last years the Interior Ministry reported only very few cases of escape of prisoners that were caught soon.

Meanwhile, the sources in Tajikistan also report other alarming facts. On August 22 there were shootings between the group of unknown people and law enforcement officers in the Gimprozemgorodok district (the micro-district in Dushanbe), where 201st Russian military base is located. Some armed people managed to escape while the detained criminals had big volume of explosives.

In the search and detention of criminals the law enforcement and security structures of the republic got fully operational and take urgent measures of detection. By the instruction of President Emomali Rakhmon the emergency operations center was established under the Interior Ministry of RT and general-colonel Abdurakhim Kakhorov.

Kyrgyzstan: The international conference on Central Asia in post-Soviet integration to be held in September
The international conference on "Central Asia in post-Soviet integration" will take place in Kyrgyzstan, the Issyk-Kul lake area on September 9-10, 2010. It is organized by Inforos news agency (Moscow), the Institute of political solutions (Almaty) and Alexander Knyazev’s public foundation (Bishkek).

The official partners of the conference are Ferghana.Ru news agency, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Ural PRESSA advertising agency, the Institute of Russian foreign community, Russia and Fellow Countrymen portal, InfoSHOS portal, Today.kz news portal and Rossiyskiy Mirotvorec independent news agency.

The conference aims to analyze economic factors of integration in Central Asia, the role of integration as an instrument of supporting the political stability, role and place of Russia in the regional integration projects, the development potential of CIS, SCO, EurAsEC, CSTO, Customs Union, integration problems in the field of security (facing the challenges of drugs and terrorism, political regulation in Afghanistan), including new threats, produced by the events in Kyrgyzstan in 2010.

The forecasted development of any country in today’s world needs the identification of long term geopolitical perspectives. For Central Asian republics – considering significant attention of global geopolitical players, interested in Central Asia today – one of the main modern development tasks is the integration process. At the same time, the world experience proves that economic unions are emerging only on the basis of political unions. How to define best balance between political and economic vectors for each country, considering its national interests? Does multi-vector policy, declared in post-Soviet period, meet the national interests of the country? What are the reasons of low efficiency of nearly all integrated structures – EurAsEC, CSTO and SCO? What is the future of new Customs Union between Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia? What will be its impact for other countries of the region? How to analyze the initiatives of annexing Kyrgyzstan to Russia? Do the regional integration structures adequately respond to the events in Kyrgyzstan? These and other issues are going to be discussed at the conference.

The major goal of the conference is to evaluate the condition of integration processes in Central Asia and develop appropriate recommendations. The conference is going to be attended by prominent political scientists and Orientalists, economists, experts of military and law enforcement areas as well as experts from Russia, Central Asia and other countries, involved in studying post-Soviet Central Asia.

The steering committee is accepting the applications for participation from expert community, state structures, public and international organizations, interested in discussion of regional integration processes. The head of the steering committee is Alexander Knyazev, the coordinator of regional programs of Oriental Studies Institute (under Russian Academy of Sciences) and the consultant of the Institute of Political Solutions. Contact email is knyazev@elcat.kg

US think tanks are interested in the migration processes in Russia and religious situation among migrants
US think tanks, specifically, the Kennan Institute and Center for Strategic and International Studies, explore various aspects of labor migration in Russia. In order to collect preliminary information about migration flows, statistics and opinions of Russian experts the research teams visited the number of big Russian cities, including Yekaterinburg. Ferghana.Ru correspondent met the scholars and learned about the migration aspects, interesting for American researchers
Uzbekistan: The employees of National Television and Radio Company sharply criticized the management
The unprecedented accident took place at the state television of Uzbekistan. The observer of Vremya television program Saodat Omonova and correspondent Malokhat Eshonkulov publicly said that television programs were strictly censored, the corruption and localism were flourishing among the management team, while the state funds, allocated for the development of television, were mainly appropriated. In response the management said there was no censorship at the TV channel. The local civil activists and human rights defenders are affirmed that "rebels" are right and they want to help them publicize these issues.
Tajik Mowgli wants to get the passport
The only document of 27-year old Vladimir Burkhanov from Tajik Khujand is the statement, produced by the Republican mental health clinic and confirming his stay in this medical institution for 13 years – 1990-2003. Tatiana Khatyukhina, the lawyer of the Khujand office of Center for human rights, personally managing Vladimir’s case, is working on proving his identity and hopes for the help of kind people and the Prosecutor General of the republic
Tajikistan: The number of divorces and lone parents is growing in concern with polygamy
According to the results of the preliminary research, ran by the Center of strategic research under the president of Tajikistan, the polygamy is getting popular in the republic. Today, about 10% of men have more than one wife. The head of social issues department Firuz Saidov informed Ferghana.Ru that "the preliminary results indicate that many men in Tajikistan have two and three wives". The polygamy is legally banned in Tajikistan. Therefore, Firuz Saidov says, "during the interview many women preferred not to indicate her status among the number of wives"
Uzbekistan: The government continues persecuting journalists
The government of Uzbekistan continues persecuting not only domestic "uncensored" journalists, but also foreign ones, including the reporters from Russia, the strategic partner country. Today’s "victim" is Vladimir Berezovskiy, the personal correspondent of Moscow-based Parlamentskaya gazeta and editor of Vesti.uz website. The alleged reason is the news of Russian information agencies, such as Interfax, ITAR-TASS, RIA Novosti, Regnum, Rosbalt and Ferghana.Ru, reprinted by Vesti.uz
The glimmer of hope in bloody Kyrgyzstan
In the last months small Central Asian republic was attracting the world attention due to political turmoil and ethnic riots. The international media did not pay much attention to the conflict in Osh and Jalal-Abad that was considered as "centuries-old ethnic conflict" with unclear political motivation. Was it really ethnic and historical conflict though? German analysts are trying to find the answer to this and other questions
How to become the student in Uzbekistan or "the price" of admission
Ferghana.Ru several time reported the corruption cases in the educational system in Central Asian and Uzbekistan in particular. On August 1 Uzbekistan held entrance exams to higher education institutions. The Expert working group produced the report, dedicated to bribery in the universities of Uzbekistan, where it says about illegal but successful tips for admission and how much the status of "student" costs in Uzbekistan
Copper wealth of Nazarbayev. Global Witness claims against Kazakhmys
Global Witness, the international anti-corruption organization, published the report, named "Risky business. Who controls Kazakhmys plc?" Based on independent investigation information, Global Witness affirms that Kazakhmys, the biggest Kazakhstani copper miner, did not share vital and financially important information with the investors when it was listing its shares at London Stock Exchange in 2005. The information included close corruption ties of senior management with President Nazarbayev. The experts demand to audit Kazakhmys again and publicly offer over half of company’s shares for investigation period in order to prevent possible interference of corrupted Kazakhstani regime in the corporate affairs, not reflecting the interests of minority shareholders
Medecins Sans Frontieres reports continuous violence in south Kyrgyzstan
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), an international humanitarian and medical aid organization, says that it observes violence in south Kyrgyzstan on daily basis. It produced a movie, dedicated to its work in Kyrgyzstan and disseminated message in English and French, reporting continuous violence and gap between Kyrgyz and Uzbek communities, fear and distrust that undermine normal life and that ethnic Uzbeks in Osh and Jalal-Abad oblasts, as well as one month ago, cannot access medical aid
Who will succeed Akhmat Bakiev?
Akhmat Bakiev – the brother of overthrown president, the recently powerful governor and unofficial ruler in south is detained in Kyrgyzstan and already giving testimonies. Akhmat Bakiev is accused of incitement of ethnic hatred, establishment of armed groups and organization of mass riots, resulted in the death of hundreds of people. Sanobar Shermatova, the expert on Central Asia and RIA Novosti observers, presents her opinion on Akhmat Bakiev, what stands behind his arrest and what redistribution of criminal power is expected in south Kyrgyzstan
Osh chronicles: The residents of the devastated Teshik-Tash residential area are still waiting for local authorities to pay attention to them
Ferghana.Ru presents the serious of reports on contemporary life in the southern capital of Kyrgyzstan after the catastrophic violence of the second decade of June. Where do the residents of devastated houses live? What do they eat and what do they think about? What does the government do in their support? How the representatives of different ethnic groups, involved or not involved in the open conflict, treat each other? The first story is dedicated to the victims from Teshik-Tash Uzbek residential area
Osh: Big tragedy of small street (photo)
"When unknown armed people showed up there was one young disabled man who was trying to escape", says Gulchekhra. He could make it to her yard, being chased by 2-3 guys, holding guns. The woman could not see how they were burning the house. Together with sons and father she ran to the narrow corridor between the house and fences towards other fences. The disabled man followed them. "We do not even know his name and if he is Tajik or Turk – says Gulchekhra. – Perhaps, all Osh residents could recognize him because he was begging alms at the bazaar. He was killed in our yard, his spike is still there…"
Kyrgyzstan: The human rights advocates are in danger
In the last few days the residents of Kyrgyz city of Osh have endured violence, caused not by criminals and pogrom-makers, but army and police. In their turn, the officials do their best to reduce the scale of the tragedy, hide facts of arsons and crimes. The human rights advocates, reporting their observations and directly communicating with the residents of southern Kyrgyzstan, are also in danger, says Tolekan Ismailova, the head of Citizens against Corruption center
Parliamentary republic, non-parliamentary public
While the Kyrgyz elite were initiating the revolutions one after another the life for common people remained unchanged. The new fratricidal Kyrgyz-Uzbek nightmare, which was sparked again after 20-year break, marked new and strict axes system for many years both for the government and miserable people. Will new Constitution help overcome deepest antagonism between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks that was revived after the bloodshed? Are yesterday’s opposition leaders able to unite common hatred against Bakiev and lead the republic to new life without tyranny, Nazism and corruption on the background of total poverty and permanent street unrest?
Kyrgyzstan: New Evidence Emerges on Brutality of Attacks
Newly uncovered evidence of vicious attacks during the massive violence in Kyrgyzstan on June 10 to 14, 2010, underscores the need for an international inquiry into the mayhem, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch said the international inquiry should supplement the Kyrgyz government’s investigation

Ferghana.Ru news agency
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'Keep India out of Turkmenistan gas project'
Pakistan must not let 'sworn enemy' India join the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan gas pipeline project to prevent it benefiting and acquiring more means to 'oppress the Kashmiri people as well as plot against Pakistan', an editorial in a Pakistani newspaper said Thursday.
Suicide bomb attack hits police station in Tajikistan
A suicide bomber blew himself up at a police station in northern Tajikistan on Friday, killing at least one person and wounding 20, a police source said. "There were people in the building and it...
In Central Asia, a new headache for U.S. policy
Beset by mounting casualties on the battlefield and deepening disquiet at home over the United States' longest war, President Obama's Afghan policy now faces another big headache: the unraveling of ce...
Imkon credit union's charter capital reaches 1.5 billion soums
03.09.2010 11:30:57 Imkon credit union, one of largest partners of the Association of Credit Unions of Uzbekistan, has been rendering its financial services for over six years. The credit union starte...
"Every citizen of Uzbekistan can be proud of his country"
Uzbekistan is one of major strategic partners of the Federal Republic of Germany. On the eve of the 19th anniversary of Independence UzReport interviewed Holger Freider, Interim Charge'd Affairs of Ge...
IFC, Daiwa announce second bond to support microfinance in emerging markets
03.09.2010 11:09:12 International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Daiwa Securities Group plan to issue a bond later this month that will expand access to finance for poor and low-income entrepreneurs in...
ADB supports its clean energy projects in Asia and the Pacific
03.09.2010 11:03:25 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to issue its inaugural Clean Energy Bond to support its clean energy projects in Asia and the Pacific. The Clean Energy Bond is expected to h...
World cannot afford worsening disasters, warns UN climate change chief
03.09.2010 11:01:18 The world cannot afford escalating disasters of the kind recently witnessed in Pakistan and Russia, the top United Nations climate change official said on 2 September, underscoring...
President pays tribute to memories of victims of repressions
03.09.2010 09:03:58 Uzbekistan marked the Day of Memory of Victims of Repressions on 31 August. President Islam Karimov participated in the memorial event at Shahidlar Khotirasi memorial complex. The ...
Blood transfusion center to service residents in Ferghana valley
03.09.2010 08:55:10 Regional blood transfusion center opened in Ferghana on the eve of the Independence Day. The new center, which has modern equipment, will provide services to residents of Andijan, ...
Agricultural products fairs held in Tashkent
03.09.2010 08:52:43 Traditional fairs of agricultural products are continuing in Tashkent and in other regional centers across Uzbekistan. One of such fairs has been organized at Beshyogosh market in ...
Anglo American Seeks Coking Coal Assets in Russia, Mongolia
Sept. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Anglo American Plc, the third- largest producer of steelmaking coal, is seeking an acquisition that may more than double existing output to meet rising Chinese and Indian demand...
Chinese military unit sets off for anti-terror drills in Kazakhstan
Chen Bingde (L Front), chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, meets with officials and soldiers before their departure for anti-terrorism military drills named "Pea...
Another Social-Networking Site Banned In Turkmenistan
There’s uproar among the youth in Turkmenistan today after the government decided to ban the popular social networking site, agent.mail.ru. Currently, it’s inaccessible via both TM Cell an...
Central Bank introduces pre-paid cards
MUMBAI: As a commemoration of the Commonwealth Games, 2010, Central Bank of India has launched a range of pre-paid cards for the use of the visiting accredited players and delegates as well as for the...
Asia stocks gain as U.S. data soothes fears
TOKYO (Reuters) – Asian stocks hit a two-week high, with Japan's Nikkei briefly rising more than 2 percent, as strong U.S. manufacturing data further soothed worries about the global economy...
Medvedev visits Azerbaijan for cooperation, Karabakh talks
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Azerbaijan on Thursday for a two-day visit to focus on economic ties, cooperation in the Caspian Region, and the Nagorny Karabakh settlement. During the v...
Kazakhstan to tighten banking controls
The Kazakh government is moving to toughen regulation of the banking sector, in particular to limit the influence of shareholders on banks, the financial watchdog said on Thursday. Yelena Bakhmutova,...
Locked in a Tinderbox
Marks on the body of 30-year-old Makhmud (not his real name), an ethnic Uzbek living in the city of Osh in southern Kyrgyzstan Makhmud told Human Rights Watch that police detained him and beat him wit...
"Tea Road": new tourist destination across China, Mongolia, Russia
The following are some Chinese economic news items in brief."TEA ROAD": A NEW TOURIST DESTINATION ACROSS CHINA, MONGOLIA, RUSSIAFourteen Chinese, Mongolian and Russian cities inked a deal in...
Tajikistan fires top security officials after jailbreak
Tajikistan's leader fired almost the entire leadership of his security services as the first of 25 prisoners was recaptured more than a week after an armed jailbreak.
U.S. Mission to OSCE on Events in Kyrgyzstan
United States Mission to the OSCE Statement on Kyrgyzstan As delivered by Chargé d’Affaires Carol Fuller to the Permanent Council, Vienna September 2, 2010 We regret that, after a lengthy summer...
Gazprom discovers large natural gas reserves in Uzbekistan
02.09.2010 17:50:24 Russian Gasprom's Zarubezhneftegaz subsidiary has discovered large natural gas reserves in the course of exploration works on Uzbekistan's Ust-Urt Plateau, RIA Novosti reported. In...
Third festival of amateur German-speaking theaters in Tashkent
02.09.2010 17:46:25 Youth Theater of Tashkent on 3-4 September will host traditional festival of amateur German-speaking theaters in Uzbekistan. This year the festival is organized by Wiedergeburt Nat...
Azerbaijan defies Nagorno-Karabakh's national day
Azerbaijan has pledged to retake Nagorno-Karabakh from ethnic Armenians, at a rally in Baku held on the eve of the breakaway territory’s self-declared independence day. In what Armenians...
First PLA unit for SCO anti-terror drills in Kazakhstan leaves Beijing
A 107-strong Chinese military unit set off from here Thursday morning on a military plane for anti-terrorism drills in south Kazakhstan.The drills will be conducted under the framework of the Shanghai...
Prophecy Secures $10 Million Loan to Advance Ulaan Ovoo Coal Mine, Mongolia
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Sept. 2, 2010) - Prophecy Resource Corp. ("Prophecy" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:PCY)(OTCQX:PRPCF)(FRANKFURT:1P2)
Turkmenistan President receives UAE Ambassador
Sep 2, 2010 - 01:58 - WAM Ishqabad, Sep. 2nd, 2010 (WAM) -- President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow of Turkmenistan received Hassan Abdullah Al Adhb, UAE Ambassador to Turkmenistan.
OMV In Talks With Azerbaijan On Nabucco Gas-Austrian Fin Ministry
(OMV.VI), the Austrian partner of the planned Nabucco natural gas pipeline, is now in talks with Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR about gas supply for the European Union-backed pipeline project,...
OMV In Talks With Azerbaijan On Nabucco Gas-Austrian Fin Ministry
(OMV.VI), the Austrian partner of the planned Nabucco natural gas pipeline, is now in talks with Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR about gas supply for the European Union-backed pipeline project,...
Azerbaijan completes EU food safety project
Azerbaijan successfully completed a European Union food safety project on fisheries this week, Azerbaijani Trend news agency reported Thursday. The project, "Support to the Improvement of Legal ...
Turkish construction firm completes new Turkmenistan project
The leading Turkish construction company Polimeks has completed a major university project in Turkmenistan, including a general hospital, at a total investment of $59 million. Attending the opening c...
ASIA LOCAL BONDS-Philippines yields ease on supply view
MANILA, Sept 2 - Philippine bond yields eased on Thursday on growing speculation the government may borrow less this year, while Malaysian bonds were little changed ahead of the central bank's pol...
Agrobank invests in the production sector
02.09.2010 14:38:22 Recovery of economically insolvent enterprises of real sector of economy is one of primary directions of financial activity of Agrobank open joint-stock commercial bank. Thus, well...
Asaka bank's leasing portfolio exceeds 99 billion soums
02.09.2010 14:23:11 Asaka state join-stock commercial bank is actively rendering leasing services to the population. Thus, as of 1 August 2010, bank's leasing portfolio exceeded 99 billion soums. The ...
Trastbank opens two new deposits in national currency
02.09.2010 14:18:46 Trastbank open joint-stock commercial exchange bank launched two new deposit products in national currency. Thus, "Samarali" deposit accepts money resources for the period of 365 d...
Unistream money remittance services now available at Agrobank
02.09.2010 14:07:09 Unistream international money transfer system and Agrobank open joint-stock commercial bank successfully implemented integration project and launched money transfers through bank s...
Kazakhstan officially approves Uranium One swap deal with ARMZ
Kazakhstan has approved Canada's Uranium One's sale of a controlling stake to Russian state-owned miner Atomredmetzoloto (ARMZ), the deputy head of the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and New Technologies...
Clawing back credibility in Kyrgyzstan
By Yong Kwon American airmen sometimes call the Manas Transit Center in Kyrgyzstan "the frontier of freedom". While this may be an apt name for the last place soldiers see before flying into Af...
Azerbaijan detains alleged Islamic extremists
Azerbaijan has arrested five alleged members of an Islamic extremist group suspected of attacking an army base, its national security ministry said on Wednesday. "Azerbaijan's National Security ...
"Our goal is to be among developed democratic states"
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov delivered a solemn speech at the festivities held at Alisher Navoi national park dedicated to the 19th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Uzbekist...
Turon information and library center moves to new building
02.09.2010 11:43:34 New building of Turon information and library center was commissioned in Tashkent region. Turon library was founded in the beginning of the 20th century by the representatives of t...
British-Uzbek joint venture to produce energy saving lamps in Tashkent
02.09.2010 11:44:47 British-Uzbek joint venture Neo Sun Light producing energy saving compact luminescent lamps opened in Tashkent. The venture purchased $2 million worth equipment in China, and the p...
Today's global challenges require nations coming together as partners
02.09.2010 11:34:04 No one nation, however large or powerful, can solve all problems on its own, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on 1 September, stressing that it is vital for countries to work ...
Top UN official urges to ratify landmark disability convention
02.09.2010 11:03:50 A senior United Nations official on 1 September called on all UN Member States to become party to the world body's landmark convention protecting the rights of the estimated 650 mi...
UN urges the world to increase funding to combat HIV/AIDS
02.09.2010 11:02:12 The head of the joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS has reiterated the need for the international community to provide an additional $10 billion to help countries achieve thei...
UN launches global action plan to combat scourge of human trafficking
02.09.2010 10:59:49 The United Nations on 31 August launched a global action plan to combat human trafficking, with senior UN officials urging that governments worldwide take coordinated and consisten...
International Monetary Fund enhances crisis prevention toolkit
02.09.2010 10:56:52 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 30 August expanded and enhanced its lending tools to help contain the occurrence of financial crises. As part of the efforts to enhance the...
Integrate water management, help countries on hydropower, says World Bank
02.09.2010 10:53:22 With the global population expected to reach nine billion by 2050, economic development spurring demand for more and better food, and increased hydrological variability caused by c...
Trade value still up by about 25% in first half of 2010
02.09.2010 10:37:34 The value of world merchandise trade rose around 25% in the first six months of 2010 up strongly from the same period of 2009. This surge in trade growth marks a continuation of th...
Russia and Azerbaijan sign agreement
Moscow, Sept. 2 (BNA) Russia and Azerbaijan will sign a border delimitation agreement when President Dmitry Medvedev visits Azerbaijan in September, Russia's official news agency RIA Novosti reported.

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Iran, Pakistan Loom Large in Caspian Basin Pipeline Developments

EurasiaNet Commentary

Pakistani leaders have been moving aggressively to forge new pipeline deals. The Pakistani push threatens to undermine US efforts to isolate Iran.

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Uzbekistan Celebrates Independence Day

Editors' Picks:

No

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Uzbekistan celebrated its independence on September 1. But for many Uzbeks, independence is not to be confused with freedom.

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Turkmenistan Weekly News Roundup
Determined to go forward on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov spoke with Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari this week, following his conversation with Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai last week and the signing of an agreement between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to construct TAPI.

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OSCE Police Mission for Kyrgyzstan Stalls
An OSCE police advisory mission had been expected to be deployed in strife-torn southern Kyrgyzstan by the end of August. But given the Central Asian nation’s muddled political situation, it now looks like the deployment won’t happen until late October, if at all.

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Azerbaijan Flood Victims Complaining about Slow Reconstruction Pace
It’s been almost four months since flooding in Azerbaijan’s Sabirabad Region displaced tens of thousands of residents. Now, amid slow-paced reconstruction efforts, a popular tide of anger and resentment appears to be rising.

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Unraveling the Caucasus: Two New Books Examine a Region’s Complicated History

A Eurasianet Book Review

Let Our Fame be Great: Journeys Among the Defiant People of the Caucasus
By Oliver Bullough
Basic Books
528pp

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Osh: Will Back to School Bring On More Trouble?
The start of the school year on September 1 is heaping an extra layer of apprehension on an already distressed situation in southern Kyrgyzstan.

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New Nuke Plant in Armenia Draws Criticism from Environmentalists
Armenian leaders are ecstatic that Russia is getting involved in the construction of a new nuclear power plant at Metsamor. Environmentalists and technical experts are far less enthused, saying that a new Metsamor unit poses considerable risks.

read more

LGBT Activists in Turkey Launch Ground-Breaking Publication
Speaking in his apartment in a suburb of Diyarbakir, in southeastern Turkey, Solin and his colleague Koya are so scared of being identified that they will not allow even an obscured photograph of themselves to be published. Nor do they want their real names to be known.

read more

In One Azerbaijan Village, 'Carrying Water Is Women's Work'
CELEBILER, Azerbaijan -- In this small, dusty village in central Azerbaijan, daily life for the local women begins at dawn and ends at sunset.

What happens in between, say several Celebiler women, is nonstop labor.

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2010 FIFA World Cup

"The Champions" Painting by Paul Junior Kasemwana

Spaniards Adorned with Medals and Trophy

Iniesta Celebrates his World Cup Winning Goal

Stekelenburg Shows his Dejection

Arjen Robben closes down Xavi Hernandez

Sergio Ramos Missed Header Opportunity

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Navas and Van Bronckhorst Battle for the Ball

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Top Marks for South Africa's World Cup

World Cup Firsts Recap

History of the FIFA World Cup

Vuvuzela: Symbol of the 2010 World Cup

At Last Americans Becoming Soccer Fans

FIFA World Cup Trivia

World Cup Soccer Can Have Political Impact

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