The U.S. Agency for International Development's recently unveiled strategy for assistance to Central Asia (2001-2005) is a sober and cautious plan, apparently born of disappointment in regional governments' records on democratic and economic reform.
Leaders from across the Caucasus and Central Asia are returning home after addressing a wide variety of security and cooperation issues during the UN Millennium Summit.
The United Nations Millennium Summit offers leaders from the Caucasus and Central Asia opportunities for important discussions on a variety of regional issues, including the projected Trans-Caspian pipeline, and peace prospects in Nagorno-Karabakh.
With fighting continuing in Central Asia, several high-profile political leaders and human rights activists have called for negotiations between regional governments and Islamic insurgents. Such appeals, however, are proving premature. The rhetoric of both Uzbek and Kyrgyz leaders remains adamant, and they appear committed to the pursuit of a military solution.
Central Asian authorities have assailed Afghanistan's Taliban movement for providing logistical support to Islamic insurgents operating in the region. Those same officials, however, have been tight lipped about what role the local civilian population is playing in the insurgency. They also have been less than candid about the capabilities of the armed forces to confront the insurgency.
With sporadic fighting continuing between government forces and Islamic insurgents, Central Asia faces the prospect of becoming embroiled in a long-term conflict.
Following Tsarist Russia's conquest of Central Asia, some of the Russian bureaucrats, scientists and professionals who arrived to govern the newly acquired territories brought cameras with them.
The People's Republic of China is taking a growing interest in improving economic relations with Central Asian states. Indeed, there are indications that China harbors aspirations of replacing Russia as the dominant economic force in Central Asia, thus placing Beijing in better position to address its domestic security concerns.
