EurasiaNet.org - Central Asia, Caucasus News

Caspian Basin: No Way to Halt Sturgeon Poaching

Thu, 8 May 2008 15:26:03 -0400

Momentum is building among Caspian Basin governments for a moratorium on sturgeon fishing, in order to protect the lucrative caviar trade. Informal discussions with fishermen, however, suggest that an official ban would be unlikely to halt the dangerous depletion of sturgeon stocks.

Armenia: Administration, Opposition Take Tentative Steps toward Opening Dialogue

Thu, 8 May 2008 15:25:48 -0400

BY MARIANNA GRIGORYAN
They may still hate each other, but political necessity is pressuring two arch foes in Armenian politics, President Serzh Sarkisian and opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian, to start talking to each other. Even so, significant obstacles stand in the way of the start of a substantive political dialogue.

Russia: Is The USSR Back In Vogue?

Thu, 8 May 2008 15:25:28 -0400

BY CLAIRE BIGG
For the first time in 17 years, Russia will celebrate the victory over Nazi Germany with a display of the country’s big military hardware. Dmitry Oreshkin, a Russian political analyst, says beefing up the Victory Day parade is just one of many steps that former president Vladimir Putin has taken toward resurrecting the hallmarks of the Soviet empire and the country's former glory.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL

Tajikistan: Government Shakes Down Population Amid Deepening Economic Dysfunction

Wed, 7 May 2008 16:28:44 -0400

Channeling the spirit of Joseph Stalin, officials in Tajikistan, Central Asia’s poorest state, have asked residents in the capital Dushanbe to give up part of their salaries "voluntarily" to help finance construction of a hydropower plant. The fear of government reprisals is compelling many Tajiks to comply.

Georgias Lighter Tax Burden Comes with Potential Pitfalls for Taxpayers

Wed, 7 May 2008 16:28:29 -0400

President Mikheil Saakashvili says his dream is "to turn Georgia into the Dubai and Singapore" of the Caucasus. And simplified taxes will help pave the way. But some members of Georgia’s business community caution that greater planning and attention to detail are needed to make the plan viable.

Afghanistan: Two Iranian Men Detained On Suspicions Of Spying

Wed, 7 May 2008 16:28:04 -0400

Two Iranian men have been detained in Afghanistan in separate incidents on suspicion of spying near NATO and Afghan military installations.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL

Azerbaijan: State Media Embroiled in Gay Bashing Controversy

Tue, 6 May 2008 16:17:47 -0400

BY MINA MURADOVA
Controversy is enveloping state-controlled media outlets in Azerbaijan after the broadcast of a television program that alleges Ali Karimli, one of the government’s most vocal critics, is a homosexual. Karimli supporters maintain that the broadcast is designed to discredit him as a potential presidential candidate in the autumn election.

Georgia: Opposition Politicians Complain About International Election Monitors

Tue, 6 May 2008 16:17:33 -0400

BY MOLLY CORSO
With two weeks to go before Georgia’s parliamentary elections, there are growing signs that opposition groups have lost confidence in the international community’s ability to encourage a free-and-fair vote.

Azerbaijan: Russian Nuclear Plant Equipment Released to Iran

Mon, 5 May 2008 15:53:52 -0400

BY ROVSHAN ISMAYILOV
Following a delay that lasted over a month, Azerbaijan permitted Russian equipment meant for Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant to pass though its border. The diplomatic incident was defused after Moscow provided additional documentation concerning the cargo.

NATO: Making Progress on Afghanistan Rail Route

Mon, 5 May 2008 15:53:25 -0400

NATO is striving to rapidly conclude a deal with Central Asian states on an inter-continental rail link that would ease the supply of non-lethal equipment and assistance for both military and reconstruction operations in Afghanistan.

Kazakhstan: Astana Set to Make an Energy Export Break with Russia

Fri, 2 May 2008 14:28:14 -0400

BY JOANNA LILLIS
Efforts to construct a trans-Caspian pipeline that would dent Russia’s energy-export dominance in the region continue to make incremental progress.

Armenia: Time for a Change on Karabakh?

Fri, 2 May 2008 14:28:00 -0400

BY GAYANE ABRAHAMYAN
Amid calls from President Serzh Sarkisian for a more "pro-active" policy, Armenia’s parliament has adopted a statement that some observers say toughens the country’s position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Azerbaijan: Ready for Sturgeon Fishing Ban, Though Reluctant to Follow Russia

Fri, 2 May 2008 14:27:46 -0400

BY ROVSHAN ISMAYILOV
Azerbaijan stands ready to back a Russian ban on Caspian Sea sturgeon fishing, but local experts say that, in many ways, Azerbaijan is more of a model for sustainable sturgeon fishing than Russia itself.

Road Construction Proving Tricky for Georgia’s Millennium Challenge

Fri, 2 May 2008 14:27:26 -0400

BY MOLLY CORSO
Two years into the US government-funded Millennium Challenge Georgia program, observers are concerned that major delays and cost adjustments could prevent the development program from achieving one of its most ambitious goals.

Iran: Tehran Comes Under Pressure to Halt Support for Militias Operating in Iraq

Thu, 1 May 2008 15:38:58 -0400

BY KAMAL NAZER YASIN
A high-level Iraqi delegation was in Iran on May 1 for talks aimed at curtailing Tehran’s support for Sh’ia militias operating in Iraq. The Iraqi officials were said to possess hard evidence that elements of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards are supplying tactical and logistical support to militant groups in Iraq.

Turkey: An Islamic Radical Group Resurfaces, Striving to Embrace Peaceful Change

Thu, 1 May 2008 15:38:45 -0400

BY NICHOLAS BIRCH
Huseyin Yildirim carries a heavy weight on his shoulders. While he says he never killed a man, he was jailed for membership in Kurdish Hizbullah, a radical Sunni Islamist group that was reputedly connected to about 500 murders in the 1990s. Now, he heads a countrywide NGO that he insists is dedicated to peace.

Georgia: Russian Peacekeeper Buildup in Abkhazia "Illegitimate" -- Official

Thu, 1 May 2008 15:38:31 -0400

BY MOLLY CORSO
Georgian officials are denouncing Russia’s unilateral action to reinforce its peacekeeping contingent in the separatist territory of Abkhazia, describing Moscow’s move is the start of the region’s "military annexation." While Russia claims that the additional forces are allowed under an earlier agreement with Georgia, Tbilisi maintains the buildup is "illegal."

The Kremlin: Enter a New False Dmitry?

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:52:46 -0400

BY IGOR TORBAKOV
The last Dmitry to rule in the Kremlin, way back in 1605, savored absolute authority for less than a year before running afoul of Moscow’s power brokers. Suspected of trying to convert Russia to Roman Catholicism, he was denounced as the "False Dmitry," assassinated, his body burned and his ashes shot out of a cannon pointed toward Poland. Russia’s new Dmitry, Mr. Medvedev, is set to assume Russia’s powerful presidency in a matter of days. His fate will doubtless be less severe than his predecessor’s. Yet, the president-to-be is nevertheless coming to power engulfed by a fog of speculation that raises questions about whether his tenure will be a tranquil one for Russia, and, by extension, for Russia’s near-abroad.
A EurasiaNet Commentary

Afghanistan: New UN Troubleshooter Aims to Improve Reconstruction Coordination

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:52:25 -0400

BY RICHARD WEITZ
The recent Taliban attack on a military parade in Kabul is prompting foreign experts to rethink the degree of stabilization progress achieved by the Afghan government.

Azerbaijan: Did Washington Have a Hand in Stopping Nuclear Shipment Headed for Iran?

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:00:28 -0400

BY ROVSHAN ISMAYILOV
Azerbaijan’s refusal to release Russian nuclear power plant equipment headed to Iran has put the country at the center of a diplomatic firestorm. Analysts are divided over the source of the trouble. A former Azerbaijani presidential aide believes that the United States asked Baku to halt the shipment, while another expert contends that Russia, ambivalent about Iran’s nuclear program, is deliberately delaying handing over the necessary documentation to release the shipment.

Freedom House Media Report Paints Bleak Picture for Central Asia, Caucasus

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:00:13 -0400

BY DEIRDRE TYNAN
The news is bleak for media outlets in the Caucasus and Central Asia, according to an annual report released by Freedom House on April 29. And the forecast calls for periods of repression, heavy at times.

Georgia: A Sign of Change? Georgia Floats Its First International Bonds

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:59:57 -0400

BY NINO PATSURIA
In what officials portray as a testament to the success of economic reforms, the Georgian government has floated its first bond issue on international credit markets. Such fiscal action was unimaginable just a few years ago. Yet, despite a robust response by investors, the government lacks a specific plan on how to spend the money raised.

Central Asia: Water Woes Stoke Economic Worries

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:40:34 -0400

BY JOANNA LILLIS
After enduring extreme cold this past winter, Central Asia is bracing for what some officials say will be a dry summer. Those predictions, in turn, are stirring fears of prolonged power shortages that seriously impair economic functions.

Amid War Worries, Abkhazia Hails the End of Embargo

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:40:18 -0400

BY PAUL RIMPLE
Almost inured to conflict, residents of Sukhumi, capital of Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia, are focusing less on the Georgian plane shoot-down incident and fears of fresh fighting, and more on the likely benefits to be had from Moscow’s recent lifting of an economic embargo against the region.

In Georgia, Political Views Are Often Best Said in Song

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:19:25 -0400

A EURASIANET PHOTO ESSAY: TEXT BY GIORGI LOMSADZE; PHOTOS BY MOLLY CORSO
Georgian politics has never been short on drama. But with less than a month to go before the country’s parliamentary elections, politicians are hoping that that the glitterati of Georgia’s music world can help them attract votes.

Turkish-Americans Taking Steps to Build Their Influence in Washington

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:19:10 -0400

BY JOSHUA KUCERA
Turkish-American groups are making a bid to expand their political influence in the United States, expressly aiming to counter the considerable sway of their Armenian American rivals on Capitol Hill.

World: Seeking Food Security In An Uncertain World

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:18:55 -0400

BY BREFFNI O'ROURKE
Starting in the 1960s, environmentalists warned that the world was about to run out of food as populations grew and agricultural land was exhausted. The future arrived more quickly than anyone expected.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL

Georgia: Gaining the Upper Hand in the PR Battle With Russia

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:18:09 -0400

BY RICHARD WEITZ
Georgian officials are scoring points in the court of public opinion, as the spat between Georgia and Russia over the downing of a drone reconnaissance plane escalates into a broader, more philosophical discussion over the sovereignty of nations.

Armenia: Gas Price Hike Poses Challenge for Government

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:17:52 -0400

BY MARIANNA GRIGORYAN
While striving to repair the rift created by the March 1 political violence in Yerevan, Armenia’s new government is confronting a new challenge over rising natural gas prices.

Pakistan: Peace Deal Between Islamabad, Pro-Taliban Militants Rankles U.S.

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:17:37 -0400

BY RON SYNOVITZ
Pakistan’s new government is close to signing a peace accord with pro-Taliban militants as part of a softer counterterrorism policy from Islamabad that deemphasizes military strikes and calls for U.S. forces to show more restraint in the area.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL

Georgia: France Grants Political Asylum to Ex-Saakashvili Ally

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:17:23 -0400

BY NINA AKHMETELI
France’s decision to grant political asylum to ex-Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili, once one of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s closest confidantes, has sharpened an ongoing debate inside Georgia about the government’s commitment to democratization. Preoccupied with a diplomatic crisis involving Russia, the Georgian government has not commented on the French decision.

Russia Hits Back at Georgia in Drone Shoot-Down Flap

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:57:22 -0400

BY SERGEI BLAGOV
In trying to parry Georgian accusations of thuggish behavior connected with the shoot-down of an unmanned reconnaissance plane over Abkhazia, Russia is adhering to the maxim ‘the best defense is a good offense.’

Kazakhstan: Media Forum Focuses Attention on Stifling Journalistic Environment

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:57:08 -0400

BY JOANNA LILLIS
The opening of the annual Eurasian Media Forum in Kazakhstan stands to highlight a discrepancy in the government’s sweeping reform pledges and its lack of action, political analysts say.

Despite Potholes, a Relatively Smooth Road for US-Azerbaijan Military Cooperation

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:56:56 -0400

BY ROVSHAN ISMAYILOV
Military cooperation between the United States and Azerbaijan appears to be developing at a strong pace. A recent US delegation, though, expressed concerns about the country’s sluggish realization of agreements with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as well as on Baku’s relatively high level of military spending.

Turkmenistan: Iran Admits Defeat in Gas Pricing Dispute

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:21:03 -0400

Iran and Turkmenistan engaged in one of the nastiest natural gas pricing disputes in recent memory over this past winter. It seems that the spring has brought resolution, with Tehran appearing to grudgingly bow to Ashgabat’s efforts to jack up export prices.

Georgia Claims "Clear Proof" of Russian Violation of Air Space

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:20:49 -0400

BY NINA AKHMETELI
Officials in Georgia are aiming to use the alleged downing of a Georgian reconnaissance drone by a Russian military jet to foster international support for a reduction in the Kremlin’s peacekeeping role in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Georgia Ponders Impact of Nino Burjanadze's Election Withdrawal

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:20:34 -0400

BY MOLLY CORSO
Georgian politicians and pundits remain divided over the impact of Parliamentary Speaker Nino Burjanadze’s April 21 withdrawal from Georgia’s upcoming parliamentary elections. While some analysts question whether her decision will influence the governing United National Movement’s standing in the polls, some opposition groups are trying to seize a political opportunity.

Price Maneuvering Begins for Uzbek and Turkmen Natural Gas Exports to Russia

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:18:00 -0400

It turns out the "European price" that Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan will receive from Gazprom for natural gas exports in 2009 may only be a fraction of what Brussels pays for imports.

Georgia: Parliamentary Speaker Withdraws from May Election

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:17:38 -0400

BY MOLLY CORSO
Parliamentary Speaker Nino Burjanadze, a leader of the 2003 Rose Revolution, shocked Georgia’s political world with an April 21 announcement that she will not run for reelection in the upcoming May legislative elections. Burjanadze’s apparent exit from the political stage comes amid heightened public distrust in the election process.

Turkey: More Woes for Government, as Economy Loses Steam

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:48:18 -0400

BY YIGAL SCHLEIFER
If the secularist-dominated Supreme Court in Turkey doesn’t sink the governing Justice and Development Party, the country’s slowing economy just might.

Armenia: US Officials Say Yerevan Risks Losing Development Funds

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:48:08 -0400

BY JOSHUA KUCERA
Armenia could lose US economic support if it does not quickly take action to promote a "national dialogue," US legislators and administration officials are cautioning.

Turkey: Discovery of 12,000-year-old Temple Complex Could Alter Theory of Human Development

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:54:33 -0400

BY NICHOLAS BIRCH
As a child, Klaus Schmidt used to grub around in caves in his native Germany in the hope of finding prehistoric paintings. Thirty years later, representing the German Archaeological Institute, he found something infinitely more important -- a temple complex almost twice as old as anything comparable on the planet.

Afghanistan: New Approaches Needed to Defeat Insurgency ú Experts

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:54:17 -0400

BY RICHARD WEITZ
Recent gains made by American troops in Afghanistan could easily be squandered, unless the international community redoubles its commitment to the strife-torn country’s political and economic reconstruction process. To promote success, two prominent security experts argue, counter-insurgency efforts in both Afghanistan and Pakistan should be closely coordinated.

Georgia Holds Steady as Moscow Inches Closer to Abkhazia, South Ossetia

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:54:03 -0400

BY MOLLY CORSO
Georgian officials are weighing a response to an April 16 edict from the Kremlin, under which Russia can establish official cooperation with the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. While Tbilisi has termed the move an attempt at "annexation," some local analysts question the actual impact of Moscow’s actions.

Armenia's Government: What Chance for Change?

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:53:45 -0400

BY MARIANNA GRIGORYAN
As Armenia’s new government takes shape, domestic attention is focusing on how the administration headed by newly inaugurated President Serzh Sarkisian will put to rest lingering tension from the March 1 clash between police and opposition supporters. For now, no clear policy trends have emerged.

Kazakhstan: Grain Export Ban Stokes Inflation Fears Elsewhere in Central Asia

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:50:30 -0400

BY JOANNA LILLIS
Kazakhstan has slapped a ban on wheat exports in a bid to stem domestic inflation and stave off a repeat of last year’s bread shortages, which caused widespread dissatisfaction. While possibly fostering greater tranquility in Kazakhstan, Astana’s decision could have a destabilizing impact on the rest of Central Asia by generating a new burst of inflationary pressure.

Azerbaijan: It’s Back to the Drawing Board for Karabakh Talks

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:50:16 -0400

BY ROVSHAN ISMAYILOV
Tensions have subsided between Azerbaijan and the mediation group charged with overseeing talks with Armenia over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Even so, any progress that had been made toward a lasting peace settlement appears to have been lost.

OSCE: Efforts to Thaw Frozen Conflicts Growing More Complicated

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:50:01 -0400

BY JEAN-CHRISTOPHE PEUCH
In his first public appearance as chairman-in-office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Finland’s new foreign minister, Alexander Stubb, called for enhanced efforts toward resolving the Soviet-era conflicts of Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia, and the Transdniester region.

Iran: Beijing, In Diplomatic Gamble, Hosts Nuclear Talks

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:49:49 -0400

For the first time, China has hosted talks on Iran’s controversial nuclear program. The gathering in Shanghai of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany, discussed whether to offer more incentives to Iran to curb its uranium-enrichment program.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL

Kyrgyzstan: Government Presses Ahead with Controversial Plan to Privatize Electricity Grid

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:37:53 -0400

BY ALISHER KHAMIDOV
The Kyrgyz government is moving forward with plans to privatize the Central Asian nation’s electricity industry, despite strong public disapproval.

Georgia Banks on Cheap Credit and Land for Economic, Political Dividends

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:37:32 -0400

BY GIORGI LOMSADZE
With Georgia’s parliamentary election just over a month away, attention is again focusing on what the government’s economic reform policies have meant for new jobs. Re-elected in January on a promise to defeat poverty, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is focusing on discounted loan and land sale programs to help pick up much of the slack.

Turkmenistan: Ashgabat Promises Direct Exports to the European Union

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:36:15 -0400

BY AISHA BERDYEVA
Turkmenistan has confirmed that it will directly supply the European Union with 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, EU officials have announced. It’s a relatively minor commitment, but it could lead to a major revision of the Caspian Basin energy equation, breaking Russia’s dominance of export routes.

Afghanistan: Warlordism "Is Winning" Versus Democracy

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:35:59 -0400

Ordinary Afghans are becoming increasingly concerned about their future as the power of warlords appears to be growing in Afghanistan.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL

Central Asia: Regional Art Trends Are On Display in New York

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:47:43 -0400

BY DEIRDRE TYNAN
Works from Central Asia are making an impression in the New York art world. "I Dream of the Stans: New Central Asian Video" is an illuminating exhibition of seven media projects full of humor, historical analysis and eroticism.

Georgia: Governing Party to Rely on Star Power as It Aims to Dominate Next Parliament

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:47:26 -0400

BY MOLLY CORSO
With less than two months to go before Georgia’s parliamentary elections, attention is focusing on whether or not President Mikheil Saakashvili’s governing party will opt to change its "face" to keep its majority in parliament. With four prominent business executives tapped to represent the party at the polls, some observers believe that a makeover is already in the works.

Azerbaijan: Baku Hesitates on Nabucco Pipeline Project

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:42:10 -0400

BY KHADIJA ISMAYILOVA
A recent decision by the Russian energy giant Gazprom to increase prices for Central Asian natural gas will damage construction prospects for the Nabucco pipeline, some Azerbaijani analysts believe. Even prior to the Gazprom move, support in Azerbaijan for the Nabucco route seemed lackluster.

Kyrgyzstan: Is a Dual-Power Scenario Developing?

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:38:31 -0400

BY ANDREAS HEDFORS
After enduring the harshest winter that most Kyrgyz can remember, opposition leaders in Bishkek are promising to make it a "hot" spring with a renewed push against President Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s administration. Public enthusiasn for renewed political infighting, however, appears to be tepid at best.

Central Asia: US Diplomat Claims Democratization Success for American Policy

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:41:34 -0400

BY JOSHUA KUCERA
Washington’s deliberate approach on encouraging democratization in Central Asian states is bearing some fruit, a senior US diplomat contended during an April 8 congressional hearing.

New President Sarkisian Promises an "Armenia of Dreams"

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:38:48 -0400

A EURASIANET PHOTO ESSAY: TEXT BY MARIANNA GRIGORYAN
The April 9 inauguration of Serzh Sarkisian as Armenia’s third president was meant to seem like a party, complete with balloons, a laser show, and a huge cake. But, amid the tight security and heavy police presence, the attempt to create a festive atmosphere couldn’t conceal Armenia’s ongoing political crisis.

Turkey: Governing Party Takes Action to Evade Court Ban

Tue, 8 Apr 2008 17:20:47 -0400

BY YIGAL SCHLEIFER
Faced with the looming possibility of being closed down by Turkey’s Constitutional Court, the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) seems to be making a political turn back toward the center. Perhaps hoping Brussels might come to the rescue, party leaders in recent days have refocused attention on European Union-oriented reforms as a way of staving off the threat to their political future.

Central Asia and Caucasus: Experiencing Rapid Growth - Report

Tue, 8 Apr 2008 17:20:30 -0400

BY JOSHUA KUCERA
The economies of the post-Soviet Eurasian states are growing faster than Asia as a whole, and are suffering from higher-than-average inflation, according to a new report issued by the Asian Development Bank.

Georgia: Tbilisi Residents Are Cautiously Optimistic Over NATO Chances

Tue, 8 Apr 2008 17:20:16 -0400

BY NINA AKHMETELI
In the wake of the recent NATO summit, Georgians seem to retain optimism over their country’s efforts to gain membership in the alliance, despite the hesitation shown by some alliance members in accepting Tbilisi into the defense organization.

US-Russia: The Window on Putin's Soul Has Frosted Over

Mon, 7 Apr 2008 15:46:20 -0400

At their first meeting, in 2001 in Slovenia, US President George W. Bush was famously able to look Russian leader Vladimir Putin "in the eye" and "get a sense of his soul." Bush then pronounced Putin a man he could do business with. "And that’s the beginning of a very constructive relationship," Bush stated.

Uzbekistan: Karimov Approves Overland Rail Re-Supply Route for Afghan Operations

Mon, 7 Apr 2008 15:45:58 -0400

Perhaps the biggest success at the NATO summit in Bucharest was an under-the-radar development, in which Uzbekistan consented to giving NATO forces an overland re-supply route to Afghanistan. But Tashkent's acceptance comes with a potentially problematic catch for the United States.

NATO: Putin Is Congenial As He Strives to Keep the Atlantic Alliance At Bay

Fri, 4 Apr 2008 16:06:59 -0400

BY DEBORAH B. WILD
Russian leader Vladimir Putin tried his best to sound disarming during his April 4 talks in Bucharest for discussions with NATO summiteers. Putin’s restrained approach, however, couldn’t conceal a determined effort to enhance Russia’s veto power over Atlantic alliance enlargement.

Armenia: Yerevan Rolls Out Its Rhetorical Guns, As Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Process Stumbles

Fri, 4 Apr 2008 16:06:43 -0400

BY HAROUTIUN KHACHATRIAN
The Nagorno-Karabakh peace process is passing through a rough patch. Armenia has vowed to recognize the breakaway region if Azerbaijan tries to make a break with the current negotiating format. Some local analysts, however, see powerful checks on Armenia’s ability to take such unilateral action.

Armenia: Yerevan Braces for Presidential Inauguration, Protests

Fri, 4 Apr 2008 16:06:26 -0400

BY MARIANNA GRIGORYAN
With less than a week to go before Armenia’s presidential inauguration, attention is riveted on whether a new administration will be able to foster a truce in the ongoing political battle between the country’s opposition and government.

NATO: In Afghanistan For The Long Haul

Thu, 3 Apr 2008 16:52:42 -0400

BY DEBORAH B. WILD
After NATO finessed a solution to a membership dilemma, alliance members made progress on April 3 during their Bucharest summit on strengthening their military commitment in Afghanistan.

Uighur Separatists Step Up Protests During Olympic Run-Up

Thu, 3 Apr 2008 16:52:23 -0400

A EURASIANET PHOTO ESSAY
Tibet is proving not to be the only flashpoint of discontent for Chinese leaders as the country prepares to host the summer Olympic Games. Uighurs, a Muslim minority group in western Xinjiang Province, have stepped up protests over Chinese rule in recent weeks.

Port Power: Georgia Hopes Poti Will Fuel Country's Economic Recovery

Thu, 3 Apr 2008 16:46:22 -0400

BY NINO PATSURIA
Georgian officials hope that the decision to transform the Black Sea port city of Poti into a tax haven will give a boost to President Mikheil Saakashvili’s much-touted war on poverty.

NATO: Bush's Support for Georgia, Ukraine is No Pose

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 16:06:10 -0400

BY JOSHUA KUCERA
As NATO’s summit opened April 2 in Bucharest, the United States remained dedicated to moving Georgia and Ukraine to the next level of NATO participation, despite signs of inflexible European opposition.

Russia and NATO: A Meeting of the Minds on Afghanistan?

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 16:05:57 -0400

BY IGOR TORBAKOV
During the run-up to the NATO summit in Bucharest, expert attention has tended to focus on the differences between Russia and members of the Atlantic alliance, specifically on Kosovo’s independence, a Central European anti-missile shield and Georgia’s and Ukraine’s gravitation toward Brussels. But there is one important area where interests are converging -- in Afghanistan.

NATO: Secretary General Takes Action to Defuse MAP Flap

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 16:05:42 -0400

BY DEBORAH B. WILD
NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer sought on April 2 to defuse a brewing crisis within the Atlantic alliance over the admission timetable for Georgia and Ukraine.

Afghanistan: More NATO Troops and Trainers Needed to Defeat the Taliban

Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:08:47 -0400

A EURASIANET COMMENTARY BY M. ASHRAF HAIDARI
Securing Afghanistan against the Taliban’s cross-border insurgency will take center stage at the NATO summit in Bucharest.

NATO: Keeping Kosovo from Becoming Entangled with Caucasus Complexities

Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:08:31 -0400

A EURASIANET COMMENTARY BY STEPHEN BLANK
Kosovo, specifically the impact of its independence on the geopolitical situation in the Black Sea and Caspian basins, stands to be a hot topic at NATO’s April 2-4 summit in Bucharest.

NATO Summit to Grapple with Afghanistan, Mull Membership for Georgia, Ukraine

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:29:13 -0400

BY DEBORAH B. WILD
US President George W. Bush departed Washington on March 31 on what promises to be a challenging diplomatic trip. The focal point of the journey is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Bucharest, where he will seek to convince skeptical allies on the need for a troop buildup in Afghanistan and on the value of offering NATO membership to Georgia and Ukraine. Bush is also due to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin for discussions on Eurasian security.

Kazakhstan: Coup Trial May Have Dented Government's Image

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:28:58 -0400

BY JOANNA LILLIS
Few people in Kazakhstan were sorry to see the demise of Rakhat Aliyev, who was recently convicted of conspiring to topple the administration of his former father-in-law, President Nursultan Nazarbayev. But some analysts suggest that the authorities’ handling of the Aliyev case has damaged the government’s image, both inside and outside the country.

Georgia: Justice System Faces New Doubts over its Independence

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:28:43 -0400

BY NINA AKHMETELI
An 11-year prison term given in absentia to Georgia’s former defense minister Irakli Okruashvili is prompting fresh debate about the impartiality of the country’s criminal justice system.

Turkey: Suit to Ban Governing Party Threatens to Plunge the Country into Crisis

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:09:28 -0400

BY YIGAL SCHLEIFER
Turkey is teetering on the brink of a constitutional crisis, as the nation’s highest court grapples with a motion to shut down the governing party. The Constitutional Court is now expected to consider the case on March 31.

Kosovo and Karabakh: How Azerbaijan Sees the Connection

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:09:13 -0400

BY ROVSHAN ISMAYILOV
Azerbaijan’s decision to withdraw its peacekeepers from Kosovo is playing into a larger debate about the future of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

US Diplomat: Gazprom's Gains From Central Asia Are Put to "Nefarious Uses"

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:45:41 -0400

BY JOSHUA KUCERA
A US official has welcomed recent news that the Kremlin-controlled gas company Gazprom will start paying higher prices for natural gas from Central Asia, saying that it represents a victory of market forces over state-orchestrated monopolistic practices.

News Corporation: A Farewell to Georgia?

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:45:09 -0400

BY GIORGI LOMSADZE
In a new twist in the mysterious ownership saga surrounding Georgia’s Imedi television station, media baron Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. has allegedly lost its management rights to the independent broadcaster. The company has not yet responded to the reports.

Afghanistan: Army Reaches 70,000 Mark, As Taliban Vows New Offensive

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:45:25 -0400

BY RON SYNOVITZ
Officials in Kabul say the Afghan National Army soon will number 70,000 combat-ready soldiers -- the strongest the force has been since the fall of the Taliban regime in late 2001.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL

Georgia: Opposition Calls Off Hunger Strike

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:44:52 -0400

BY MOLLY CORSO
Georgian opposition leaders have ended a 17-day hunger strike without gaining the political concessions they sought from President Mikheil Saakashvili’s administration.

State of Emergency Ends in Armenia

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:09:38 -0400

BY MARIANNA GRIGORYAN
In Yerevan, the troops are gone, and the newspapers and protestors are back. Armenia’s state of emergency came to a peaceful end on March 21, but, for most Armenians, one unanswered question lingers on: What next?

Georgia: Saakashvili Hears Encouraging Words from United States on NATO Membership

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:09:23 -0400

BY RICHARD WEITZ
After an encouraging visit to Washington, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has reason to believe that the Caucasus country’s aspiration to join NATO in the near future remains on track, despite the recent political upheaval in Tbilisi.

Turkmenistan: Will Berdymukhamedov Commit to the Trans-Caspian Pipeline During His Turkey Visit?

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:59:21 -0400

Amid the explosive growth of Central Asian natural gas prices, energy analysts are bracing for a possible blockbuster announcement from Turkmenistan. The upcoming visit of Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov to Turkey offers an ideal opportunity for Central Asia’s leading gas producer to make a firm commitment to a trans-Caspian pipeline that is strongly backed by the United States and European Union.

Azerbaijan: Attack on Journalist Prompts Fresh Concerns About Media Freedom

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:59:06 -0400

BY ROVSHAN ISMAYILOV
The recent knifing of an opposition newspaper reporter has added to ongoing international concerns about the state of press freedom in Azerbaijan.

China and Russia: The Gendarmes of Eurasia

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:58:46 -0400

A EURASIANET COMMENTARY BY STEPHEN BLANK
China’s crackdown on protesters in Tibet is potentially setting a precedent for members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Uzbekistan: Tashkent Strives to Diversify Its Trade Partners

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:51:43 -0400

Hoping to emulate the success of Kazakhstan’s "multi-vector" foreign policy, Uzbekistan is seeking to diversify its foreign markets, especially for natural gas and cotton -- Tashkent’s major cash crop. In recent weeks, Uzbek officials have registered trade gains with several countries in the Middle East and Asia.

Georgia Mum on Details of New Abkhazia Proposal

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:51:29 -0400

BY MOLLY CORSO
Nearly two weeks after the Russian government announced the unilateral lifting of a trade embargo against the separatist region of Abkhazia, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is trying to outmaneuver Moscow by building international support for an overhaul of the Abkhaz peace process.

Islam: Turkish Theologians Revise Hadith, To Mixed Reactions

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:51:09 -0400

BY GULNOZA SAIDAZIMOVA
Turkish religious authorities have been careful in presenting the Hadith Project, launched some two years ago.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL

Russia Mulls Stronger Energy Policies in Central Asia

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:16:33 -0400

BY SERGEI BLAGOV
The upcoming political transition in Russia, in which Dmitry Medvedev will succeed Vladimir Putin as president, may possibly accelerate a trend in Central Asia, in which the Kremlin uses its abundance of energy as a lever to achieve its geopolitical aims.

Georgia: Government, Opposition Remain at Loggerheads

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:16:19 -0400

BY MOLLY CORSO
With parliamentary elections just a few months away, little hope is emerging for a breakthrough in an ongoing political standoff between the Georgian government and opposition. Local analysts believe that a hunger strike launched by the opposition in early March will do little to produce a political settlement. Meanwhile, opposition leaders have appealed to the international community for assistance.

Georgia Seeks To Modify South Ossetian Peace Negotiation Format

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:16:00 -0400

BY JEAN-CHRISTOPHE PEUCH
Georgia is seeking the support of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to alter the format for the South Ossetian peace process.

Turkmenistan: Playing the Energy Export Field

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:36:19 -0400

It appears one of the globe’s great energy mysteries will soon be solved: Turkmenistan has selected a British firm to conduct an independent audit of its natural gas reserves. To date, speculation surrounding Ashgabat’s holdings has been a major factor driving the Caspian Basin energy development competition among the United States, European Union, China and Russia.

Iran: Is the United States Trying to Stir Up Discontent Among Minority Groups?

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:36:00 -0400

BY JOSHUA KUCERA
Representatives of Iran's ethnic and religious minorities told US elected officials that their people face various forms of discrimination, in what participants said was the first Congressional hearing focusing on internal minority issues in Iran.

Russia Makes Financial Gamble to Retain Control of Central Asian Energy Exports

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:09:52 -0400

BY JOANNA LILLIS
Kazakhstan, along with its Central Asian neighbors Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, will receive a huge increase in energy-related revenue following a flurry of regional diplomatic activity. Ukraine, meanwhile, stands to lose the most under the new pricing framework for Central Asian natural gas.

OSCE Striving To Defuse Armenia's Post-Election Crisis

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:09:36 -0400

BY JEAN-CHRISTOPHE PEUCH
The OSCE’s diplomatic point man for handling Armenia’s domestic crisis is not confident that political dialogue can restore a sense of stability in Yerevan.

Baku and Ashgabat Solved Long-lasted Problem while US is Pushing for Trans-Caspian Deal

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:56:59 -0400

BY ROVSHAN ISMAYILOV
Russia on March 13 went on the diplomatic offensive in an attempt to undermine Azerbaijan’s credibility as an energy exporter, and cast doubt on the financial viability of a Western-backed pipeline plan. The Russian criticism, experts believe, is a response to earlier moves by Baku and the United States to press ahead with the construction of a trans-Caspian pipeline.

Armenia: Officials, Opposition Take Tentative Steps Toward Conciliation

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:56:00 -0400

Under intense outside pressure to enter into a political dialogue, government officials and their opponents in Armenia have started making cautious moves to repair the damage done by the March 1 violence in Yerevan.

Turkey: Headscarved Graduate Students Lead Libertarian Movement

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:10:47 -0400

BY NICHOLAS BIRCH
Two Turkish headscarf-wearing graduate students, Neslihan Akbulut and Hilal Kaplan, constitute an unlikely pair of revolutionaries. Against the backdrop of the country’s divisive debate over the lifting of a university headscarf ban, the duo is pressing ahead with a petition drive that seeks a radical expansion of civil rights.

Afghanistan: Al-Qaeda Bloggers' Sparring With Taliban Could Signal Key Differences

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:10:19 -0400

BY RON SYNOVITZ
An Internet-fueled squabble between Taliban leaders and influential Al-Qaeda sympathizers over nonviolent tactics and foreign influence in Afghanistan hints at deep disagreements that could alter counter-insurgency efforts in that country.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL

Kazakhstan: The Emerging Middle Class Thinks Money, Not Democracy

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:08:12 -0400

BY RICHARD WEITZ
Conventional political wisdom holds that a growing middle class in any given state is often a harbinger of an expansion of civil society, as those with property seek the means to defend it from arbitrary state action. This principle has yet to manifest itself in Kazakhstan, where the substantial middle class that has emerged since the Soviet collapse in 1991 remains almost exclusively interested in economic affairs, according to an observer of Central Asian affairs.

Armenia: A Political World Turned Upside Down

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:07:52 -0400

In 1995, Ashot Manukian was a candidate in Armenia’s parliamentary elections, and one of his campaign brochures contained a ringing endorsement from Robert Kocharian, the incumbent president and one-time leader of Nagorno-Karabakh. “If Ashot Manukian is elected to the National Assembly, we will be proud to call him one of our finest,” Kocharian proclaimed.

Iran: US Government Planning Azeri-Language Broadcasts to Iran

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:17:42 -0400

BY JOSHUA KUCERA
The US government is planning to beam Azeri-language radio broadcasts into Iran, in a bid to influence opinion among the significant ethnic Azeri population there.

Tajikistan: IMF Catches Dushanbe in Creative Accounting Scandal

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:17:16 -0400

BY KAMBIZ ARMAN
Burdened with an excessive foreign debt and facing a severe humanitarian crisis, the government of Tajikistan now finds itself disgraced in the eyes of the international community. One of the Central Asian nation's leading creditors, the International Monetary Fund, is demanding repayment of over $47 million in loans after determining Dushanbe cooked its books in order to makes itself seem more creditworthy.

Uighur Activist: China is Making "A Frontal Attack on Our Ethnic Identity"

Fri, 7 Mar 2008 16:22:15 -0400

BY JOSHUA KUCERA
A EURASIANET INTERVIEW WITH REBIYA KADEER
Rebiya Kadeer, a human rights activist for the Uighur people of northwestern China, spent six years in jail in China for "leaking state secrets" – in fact sending local newspaper articles to her husband in the US. She was released in 2005 and has since then made her home in the Washington, D.C. area, where she advocates for Uighur rights and for greater US support of Uighur issues. In 2006, Ms. Kadeer was a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize. She sat down for an interview with EurasiaNet at the offices of the Uighur American Association, just a block from the White House.

The CIS: A Vanishing Reality?

Fri, 7 Mar 2008 16:22:06 -0400

BY IGOR TORBAKOV
With the "multi-vector" mindset taking hold in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Russia is feeling pressure to rethink how it can retain its dominating influence among formerly Soviet states.

Armenia: Authorities Advance Conspiracy Theory

Fri, 7 Mar 2008 16:21:36 -0400

Armenian leaders are now casting the March 1 bloodshed in Yerevan as the product of an international conspiracy that sought the revolutionary overthrow of the existing political order.

Armenia: Criticism of Kocharian Administration Bubbles to Surface

Thu, 6 Mar 2008 16:37:44 -0400

The shockwaves created by the March 1 events in Yerevan are being felt beyond Armenia's borders, heightening concern about a regional war. Meanwhile, criticism of President Robert Kocharian's handling of the crisis is starting to surface.

Georgia: Tbilisi Starts to Feel the Backlash of Kosovo Independence

Thu, 6 Mar 2008 16:37:33 -0400

BY MOLLY CORSO
President Mikheil Saakashvili’s administration in Georgia is confronting a new crisis involving Russia, which on March 6 announced that it no longer feels bound by a 1996 CIS agreement that imposed trade restrictions on the separatist-minded territory of Abkhazia. At the same time, Saakashvili is contending with a fresh wave of domestic opposition discontent.

Media Situation Remains Appalling In Most CIS Countries, Experts Say

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 16:36:01 -0400

BY JEAN-CHRISTOPHE PEUCH
The ongoing effort by Armenia’s government to dam the free flow of information during the country’s state of emergency fits nicely into a distressing pattern concerning press freedom in CIS states. Far from thriving, independent media outlets in most CIS nations are struggling merely to keep operating.

Stealth Move: American Troops to Return to Uzbekistan amid Thaw

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 16:35:41 -0400

After a concerted campaign by Washington to reopen the channels of communication with Uzbekistan, American troops may be returning to the Central Asian nation almost three years after being unceremoniously booted out amid the fallout over the 2005 Andijan events. Uzbekistan's apparent readiness to make a sudden geopolitical turn could prompt consternation in the Kremlin, and have important implications for the Caspian Basin energy contest.

Armenia: The United States is Muted on the Armenian Political Crisis

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 16:35:27 -0400

BY JOSHUA KUCERA
The continuing political crisis Armenia stemming from the March 1 violence in Yerevan has unfolded with little comment from the United States, either from the US government or from influential Armenian-American lobbying groups.

Armenia: Top Challenge Now is Repairing the Rift

Tue, 4 Mar 2008 16:07:58 -0400

During a memorial service for victims of the March 1 events, Karekin II, the spiritual leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church, touched upon the dilemma that now confronts Armenia: Stability in the country may come at the cost of much-needed unity.

Kazakhstan: Opposition Party Tries to Make a Fresh Start

Tue, 4 Mar 2008 16:06:45 -0400

BY JOANNA LILLIS
One of Kazakhstan's leading opposition parties has re-branded itself, with a new name and a leadership shake-up. Party leaders hope that the makeover will inject new momentum into attempts to open up Kazakhstan's political system. But, in this case at least, any expansion in Kazakhstan's domestic political landscape may not bring welcome news to foreign investors.

Armenia: Is a Government Cover-Up In Progress?

Mon, 3 Mar 2008 16:35:17 -0400

In the center of the Armenian capital Yerevan, the debris left by the March 1 violent clash between opposition protesters and security forces is being carted away. Outside of the country, meanwhile, political analysts and human rights activists are wondering whether Robert Kocharian’s administration is also striving to cleanse the narrative of the March 1 events. With the government controlling all channels of information, it is difficult to determine the extent of the brutality. However, the initial impression of some observers is that state security forces used excessive force.

Washington Provides the Glue that Binds Iran and Russia

Mon, 3 Mar 2008 16:34:58 -0400

BY RICHARD WEITZ
Although Tehran and Moscow both wish to curb US influence in the Caspian Basin, important differences continue to trouble Iranian-Russian relations.

Azerbaijan: Russian Espionage Case Has Minimal Impact on Baku's Ties with Moscow

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:44:18 -0400

BY ROVSHAN ISMAYILOV
An espionage case allegedly involving Russian intelligence has set Baku media outlets a-twitter, but the scandal has not caused any immediate damage to Azerbaijan-Russian relations.

Uzbekistan: German Delegation Visit Fans Debate over Democratization Strategy

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:43:50 -0400

The recent visit to Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan by a large German trade delegation is fanning a long-standing debate over the best strategy to promote civil society in repressive states. While activists for Human Rights Watch and other rights groups have criticized the visit for placing profits above principle, many Western-oriented Uzbeks in Tashkent have applauded the mission, arguing that engagement tends to produce better results than ostracism.

Georgia: Final Farewell to a Robber Baron and a Philanthropist

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:05:42 -0400

BY GIORGI LOMSADZE
More than a fortnight after death in the United Kingdom, legendary Georgian billionaire and onetime presidential candidate Badri Patarkatsishvili was laid to rest at his palatial residence in Tbilisi on February 28. Though now buried, the controversies that surrounded the tycoon and his business dealings promise to linger on.

Bush Administration Reluctance to Recalibrate Pakistan Policy Draws Criticism from Democrats

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:05:26 -0400

BY JOSHUA KUCERA
A top US official has signaled that there will be no major policy shift on Pakistan in the aftermath of elections that dealt a serious blow against the US-backed president there, Pervez Musharraf.

Uzbekistan: Having Weathered Winter, Authorities Brace for Spring

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:04:52 -0400

BY ALISHER KHAMIDOV
Along with neighboring states in Central Asia, Uzbekistan was battered by fierce winter weather for the better part of three months, featuring temperatures as low as minus-20 Celsius. The Deep Freeze has now given way to the Big Drench, as uncharacteristically heavy rains have pelted the country, and are forecast to continue for up to two weeks. Many Uzbeks are now worried about the possibility of severe flooding.

OSCE's Human Rights Office Finds Itself in Crossfire over Election Monitoring

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:52:59 -0400

BY JEAN-CHRISTOPHE PEUCH
A controversial election-monitoring mission in Armenia has plunged the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights into a full-blown credibility crisis. Already under attack from member states that are hostile to ODIHR's democratization mandate, the Warsaw-based office is now facing harsh criticism from civil society advocates.

Turkey: Culture Warriors Take Aim at Alcohol

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:52:42 -0400

BY NICHOLAS BIRCH
As clips go, it seems pretty inoffensive: scenes of men doing Lords of the Dance impressions in a dark, water-filled basement interspersed with shots of a crowded dinner table studded with bottles of wine.

Armenia: Administration Candidate Claims Outright Presidential Victory, Opposition Supporters Won’t Admit Defeat

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:01:18 -0400

BY MARIANNA GRIGORYAN
While retiring President Robert Kocharian was extending his congratulations to Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian on his presidential election victory, while at the same time hailing the vote as "free and fair, thousands of Armenians attended a protest rally in central Yerevan, decrying the results as fraudulent.

Tajikistan: Severe Winter Weather Means Looming Pestilence and Hunger

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:01:02 -0400

BY KONSTANTIN PARSHIN AND KAMBIZ ARMAN
The United Nations is stepping in to try to rescue Tajikistan from a social catastrophe brought on by severe winter weather. But even if an emergency UN appeal for assistance generates a robust international response, it is questionable whether Tajikistan will be able to avoid entering a downward spiral, featuring pestilence and widespread hunger.

International Observers: Armenia's Vote Passes the Mark

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:00:44 -0400

BY GAYANE ABRAHAMYAN AND ELIZABETH OWEN
Despite widespread opposition and domestic observer claims of violence and intimidation, an international observation team has deemed Armenia's February 19 presidential vote a step forward in the country's start-and-stop process toward Western-style democracy.

Armenia's Presidential Vote Remains a Cliffhanger

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:05:56 -0400

BY MARIANNA GRIGORYAN
After months of accusations and counter-accusations between the campaigns of Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian and former president Levon Ter-Petrosian, voters went to the polls February 19 to decide who will become Armenia's next president. In a region where election outcomes have often been clear well in advance, Armenia's presidential vote is shaping up as a cliffhanger, with preliminary official results not expected to be released until February 20.

Opposition Threatens Mass Hunger Strike

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:05:37 -0400

BY NINA AKHMETELI
Georgian opposition leaders have given President Mikheil Saakashvili's administration until February 22 to meet its protest demands. If their conditions are not met by the deadline, opposition leaders vow that they will launch a mass hunger strike all across Georgia.

On Election Day, Turkey Outweighs Politics in Border Village

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:05:18 -0400

BY YIGAL SCHLEIFER
Not far from Armenia's borders with Turkey and Georgia, at an age-old trading crossroads, lies the village of Shirakavan. The political excitement connected to the country's February 19 presidential vote commands little attention here. Rather, the focus is on the day-to-day struggle to survive and how, if possible, Armenia's relations with Turkey could play a role.

In Armenian Politics, Candidates' Wives Stay Behind the Scenes

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:04:40 -0400

BY MARIANNA GRIGORYAN
Former US President Bill Clinton may have presented his wife and current presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton to voters as a "two-for-one" deal, but in Armenia, election campaigns and candidates' wives decidedly do not mix.

Georgia: As Protests Start in Tbilisi, Murdoch Eyes Opposition TV Channel

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:03:33 -0400

BY GIORGI LOMSADZE
While in Britain billionaire Badri Patarkatsishvili's recent death conjured up parallels to former KGB operative Alexander Litvinenko's assassination in late 2006, at home it raised questions about the fate of his Georgia-based businesses, chief among them the beleaguered Imedi TV channel.

Cyprus Vote: Big Ramifications for Turkey's EU Bid and NATO's Operational Capacity

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:03:03 -0400

The future of Turkey's European Union bid could hinge on the February 17 presidential election in Cyprus. The prospect of a new Greek Cypriot leadership may offer the last chance for uniting the divided island, analysts say. Permanent division, experts add, would create a lasting source of political tension that not only could prevent Turkey's EU accession, but also hamper the EU's and NATO's strategic capabilities.

Kyrgyzstan: New Effort Aggressively Counters Hizb Ut-Tahrir, Religious Extremism

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:02:43 -0400

BY BRUCE PANNIER
Kyrgyzstan has signaled the imminent launch of a campaign to stamp out the outlawed Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, marking a departure from a toothless ban that has contrasted sharply with its treatment elsewhere in the region.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL

Armenia: Governing Party Members, Dashnaks Defect to Ter-Petrosian's Campaign

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:05:54 -0400

BY GAYANE ABRAHAMYAN
With just three full days of campaigning left, the battle lines are deepening in Armenia's presidential race, as two members of the governing Republican Party of Armenia, one member of the party's parliamentary faction, and five members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation have voiced support for former President Levon Ter-Petrosian.

What Future For The OSCE?

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:05:31 -0400

BY JEAN-CHRISTOPHE PEUCH
Finland's Foreign minister Ilkka Kanerva, who took the helm of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on January 1, believes the time has come to build what he calls "a new spirit of Helsinki."