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| The conflict over South Ossetia will have Europe looking closely at its future security. (Photo by Temo Bardzimashvili) |
Georgia: OSCE Meeting to Focus on European Security
BY JEAN-CHRISTOPHE PEUCH
A record-high number of top diplomats is expected to attend the annual ministerial council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) that opens on December 4 in Helsinki. The recent Russian-Georgian conflict and its impact on European security may explain why about 50 of the OSCE’s 56 foreign ministers have confirmed their participation in the discussions.
Georgia: Moving on Toward NATO, Without a MAP
BY MOLLY CORSO
Georgian aspirations to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization remain in a holding pattern after the military alliance offered Georgia closer cooperation, but stopped short of agreeing to a full-fledged Membership Action Plan. Some Georgian analysts believe that the lack of a cohesive message from the alliance is a bad signal for Tbilisi.
Kazakhstan Gives US, NATO Airport Rights
Kazakhstan will allow US and North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces to use a section of the Almaty airport as "a reserve aerodrome for emergency landings" during military operations in Afghanistan. On December 2, the Kazakhstani Senate ratified two 2002 memoranda between Astana and Washington on support for coalition operations in Afghanistan, reported Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper.
Kyrgyzstan May Deport Uzbek Refugees
Dozens of Uzbek refugees living in Kyrgyzstan are set to lose their status this month and will likely be deported back to Uzbekistan, UzNews.net reports. The decision by the Kyrgyz Migration and Employment Committee to revoke their refugee certificates will go into effect on December 15.
Georgia: NATO Membership, Not MAP, Is the Goal
BY MOLLY CORSO
In a sharp reversal from earlier statements, Georgian officials are now playing down hopes that Georgia will receive a Membership Action Plan at the December 2-3 meeting of North Atlantic Treaty Organization foreign ministers in Brussels.
Tajikistan: Suit Settlement Brings No Resolution
The settlement of a $500 million court case in London involving Tajikistan’s aluminum has provided no resolution of the central questions involved in the affair. If anything, the matter has raised fresh questions about the conduct of the Tajik government.
Georgia: President Saakashvili Denies That Washington Gave OK for South Ossetian Military
BY GIORGI LOMSADZE
Days after a stinging public attack from a former ally, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili testified about his course of action during the August war with Russia. Saakashvili emphatically denied an earlier allegation that he had received a thumbs-up from Washington to use force in South Ossetia.
Cartoon Dispatches from Central Asia
Political cartoonist and columnist Ted Rall has travelled extensively in Central Asia. Here, EurasiaNet features his irreverent take on the region.
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Azerbaijan: Global Crisis Hits Baku Banks and Real Estate Sector
A EURASIANET COMMENTARY BY SHAHIN ABBASOV
Despite the recent sag in oil prices, Azerbaijan’s 2009 state budget is still betting big on potential oil revenues. Some analysts believe the Azerbaijani government is leaving the country exposed to a financial catastrophe by clinging to optimistic revenue projections.
Turkey: Female Worker’s Five-Month Sit-In Sheds Light on Workers’ Rights
BY NICHOLAS BIRCH
Soft-spoken Emine Arslan doesn’t look like the sort of person who likes to kick up a fuss. But her solitary 150-day sit-in outside a prominent Istanbul factory that supplies leather goods to international brands like Prada and Mulberry has attracted unprecedented domestic and international attention to labor rights issues in Turkey.
Afghanistan: Iran Forcing Afghan Refugees to Return
Afghan politicians have sharply criticized the Iranian government for deporting more than 8,850 Afghans during the past week.
Uzbekistan: Top EU Official Visits Tashkent
Pierre Morel, the European Union Special Representative for Central Asia, arrived in Uzbekistan on December 1 for discussions designed to boost political and economic relations.
Rose Revolution Leader Joins Opposition, Establishes New Party
BY MOLLY CORSO
Seven months after her abrupt decision to leave Georgia’s ruling party, former Parliamentary Speaker Nino Burjanadze has officially joined the opposition. Once a strong political ally of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, political analysts now believe she could be his biggest threat.
Iran Shaping Up As Key Foreign Policy Challenge For Obama
BY GOLNAZ ESFANDIARI
For nearly three decades, Iran and the United States have traded accusations and threats. But when Barack Obama is inaugurated as U.S. president on January 20, that long-standing status quo could finally begin to change.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL
Uzbekistan: Social Networking Websites Are A Hit
BY GULNOZA SAIDAZIMOVA
"Social websites are extremely popular here these days," Natalya, an IT specialist and a friend of mine, told me during my recent trip to Tashkent. So it was, and the evidence was everywhere. Virtually everyone I spoke to - from a 14-year-old boy to a 46-year-old woman - used Odnoklassniki.ru. "Classmates" is probably the most popular social site in Uzbekistan, and very likely beyond.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from TOL
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