The countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia experienced a decline in their democratic development in 2008, according to a report issued June 30 by the American watchdog group Freedom House.
Economic conditions in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia are set to go from bad to worse before they start to slowly improve, according to an International Monetary Fund report.
The threat posed by Islamic militant groups in Central Asia, especially in the Kyrgyz and Tajik portions of the Ferghana Valley, appears to be growing, according to the US State Department's recently released annual report on terrorism.
On May 7, the Czech Presidency of the European Union will host a summit of high-level representatives of six former Soviet republics -- Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. The purpose for the gathering is the kickoff of the EU's new initiative called Eastern Partnership, the brainchild of Poland and Sweden.
The nomination of a key State Department official responsible for Central Asia and the Caucasus is being held up because of concerns about his views on Turkish-Armenian relations.
Democratization experienced backsliding in all three countries of the South Caucasus during 2008, according to the US State Department's annual human rights report.
Security threats are rapidly shifting in Central Asia, according to the America's intelligence chief. Hazards faced by the United States coming from Central Asia are now more likely to be connected to economic factors, than to Islamic radicalism.
Security threats are rapidly shifting in Central Asia, according to the America's intelligence chief. Hazards faced by the United States coming from Central Asia are now more likely to be connected to economic factors, than to Islamic radicalism.
