Latest Articles about Central Asia

ASTANA TAKES NEW DIRECTION FOR RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION

In addition to developing the Aktau seaport on the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan is also putting more emphasis on developing domestic and international rail lines. In recent years the government has made significant strides toward reducing Kazakhstan's dependence on the Russian transport network. A railway line... MORE

WILL RE-PRIVATIZATION OF KYRGYZ MEDIA QUIET OPPOSITION VOICES?

On October 15, KOORT (Kyrgyz public radio and television) was re-privatized as a result of a legal investigation of the previous management on corruption charges. This news came shortly after the highly popular newspaper, Vecherny Bishkek, was returned to its previous owner, Alexander Kim, under... MORE

FOOTPRINTS FROM THE NORTH IN CENTRAL ASIA AND AFGHANISTAN

Amid politically correct disclaimers of any intent to compete with the United States in Central Asia, Moscow is multiplying its efforts to capitalize on Washington's recent difficulties in the region. Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov and other Russian officials are criticizing U.S. and the... MORE

CENTRAL ASIA: REPLAYING THE GREAT GAME

There is a direct parallel between the current Russian-American rivalry in Central Asia and the military-diplomatic duel that the Russian and British empires were waging in the Eurasian heartland in the 19th century, the analysts say. Both Moscow and Washington deny they are intensely competing... MORE

RUSSIAN LUKOIL PLANS TO DIG DEEP FOR KAZAKH OIL

After two fruitless years exploring the Tyub Karagan deposits, Russia's Lukoil refuses to remain a bystander while major Western and Chinese companies battle for Kazakhstan's oilfields. The most persuasive indication of the Russian drive to regain lost positions in Kazakhstan is the announcement of Lukoil's... MORE

TAJIKISTAN SEARCHES FOR BORDER SECURITY ASSISTANCE

Tajikistan has launched another serious diplomatic effort aimed at increasing its border security capabilities and addressing the long-standing international security issues presented by the weakness of the Tajik-Afghan border. Dushanbe is looking not only towards the United States and NATO, but also seeking funding from... MORE

CACO-EEC MERGE TO ELIMINATE OVERLAPPING GOALS

As leaders of Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan gathered for the October 6 Central Asian Cooperation Organization (CACO) summit in St. Petersburg, they decided to merge their grouping with yet another post-Soviet institution. The move appears to indicate that Moscow's policies in Central Eurasia still... MORE

KYRGYZ, UZBEK LEADERS CHOOSE COLD PEACE OVER OPEN CONFRONTATION

On October 6 Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and Uzbek President Islam Karimov held a bilateral meeting to discuss future cooperation. The meeting took place during Central Asian Cooperation Organization summit in St. Petersburg. This is the first face-to-face meeting between the two presidents following several... MORE

KAZAKHSTAN STRENGTHENS TIES WITH NATO

Kazakhstan has taken further steps towards strengthening its partnership with the NATO Alliance, as part of its ongoing strategy aimed at improving its domestic and regional security while balancing its relations with the United States, Russia, and China. During a visit to Kazakhstan in early... MORE