EurasiaNet.org - Central Asia, Caucasus News

Georgia: Russian Troops Disregarding Presidential Pullout Pledge

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:46:12 -0400

TEXT BY GIORGI LOMSADZE AND ELIZABETH OWEN. PHOTOS BY ABDUJALIL ABDURASULOV
Disregarding assurances given by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that a troop withdrawal would commence August 18, Russian forces remained deployed in many areas of Georgia. In one instance, Russian troops tried to advance deeper into Georgian territory. Meanwhile, in and around the separatist territory of South Ossetia, there were indicators that Russian troops were intent on establishing a permanent presence.

Georgia: OSCE Finally Agrees to Deploy Additional Monitors

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:45:59 -0400

BY JEAN-CHRISTOPHE PEUCH
After days of heated talks, all 56 OSCE member states agreed on August 19 to deploy additional unarmed monitors to Georgia. The OSCE monitors will be responsible for tracking the implementation of a framework agreement signed by Georgian and Russian leaders.

Georgia: Russian Invasion Strengthens Support for Saakashvili

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:45:42 -0400

BY GIORGI LOMSADZE
Despite Russia’s continuing troop presence and the destruction of key economic and military installations in Georgia, domestic support for Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili remains strong. A significant number of Georgians continue to believe Russia is pushing for regime change in Tbilisi, but Saakashvili does not appear to be going anywhere.

Georgia: President Says Georgian Troops Control South Ossetia

Fri, 8 Aug 2008 16:44:45 -0400

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, addressing the nation via television August 8, indicated that Georgia had won the opening battle for control of the separatist territory of South Ossetia. The outcome of the war, however, remains very much in doubt.

Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev Seeks to Make Economic, Diplomatic Inroads in Mongolia

Fri, 8 Aug 2008 16:00:10 -0400

BY JOANNA LILLIS
Kazakhstan's president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, visited Mongolia with the twofold intention of bolstering political stability there following last month's post-election protests, and seeking an economic foothold in the East Asian country's lucrative and under-developed mining sector.

Georgia: All-Out War Looms in South Ossetia

Fri, 8 Aug 2008 14:57:24 -0400

BY ELIZABETH OWEN
Georgia and Russia stood at the brink of an all-out conflict August 8, after Georgian Interior Ministry units opened a campaign to retake the separatist territory of South Ossetia. Civilians were scrambling to escape the conflict zone, amid reports that Russian armor and aircraft had entered the conflict.

Georgia: Tbilisi Declares Cease-Fire in South Ossetia

Thu, 7 Aug 2008 15:16:02 -0400

BY ELIZABETH OWEN
Trying to prevent developments from spiraling out of control, Georgia has declared a cease-fire following an outburst of heavy fighting with separatist forces in the breakaway region of South Ossetia on August 7. Georgia is blaming Russia for the escalation of violence.

Nuclear Negotiations with Iran May Continue Amid Caution

Wed, 6 Aug 2008 15:06:00 -0400

BY KAMAL NAZER YASIN
Iran is refusing to compromise, but it wants to keep on negotiating with the international community over the fate of the country’s nuclear program. Iranian officials continue to hope that they can revamp a deal, but some experts caution that Tehran may err in pushing too far.

Armenia: Push for Kocharian Trial -- A Push for PR?

Wed, 6 Aug 2008 15:03:52 -0400

BY MARIANNA GRIGORYAN
In a move that could very well hamper rather than promote political reconciliation in Armenia, the country’s leading opposition politician, Levon Ter-Petrosian, is mounting a campaign to have former president Robert Kocharian tried for "heavy crimes" against the Armenian people.

Kazakhstan: Astana Aims to Become World's Top Uranium Producer

Tue, 5 Aug 2008 13:37:16 -0400

BY JOANNA LILLIS
Kazakhstan may have relinquished its arsenal of nuclear weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but it is seeking to expand its role in a variety of atomic energy-related fields. The country hopes to outstrip rivals Canada and Australia next year to become the world’s biggest uranium producer.

Georgia: Tensions Flare Over Breakaway South Ossetia

Mon, 4 Aug 2008 15:00:54 -0400

BY GIORGI LOMSADZE
In the wake of an armed clash in Georgia’s separatist-minded territory of South Ossetia, all sides are eschewing conciliatory gestures and are instead embracing aggressive rhetoric.

Russia: No Country for Charitable Souls

Fri, 1 Aug 2008 13:09:51 -0400

BY SVETLA MARINOVA
The Russian government appears to be implementing a plan to bring Russia’s non-governmental sector under the Kremlin’s control. The idea is to deliver a one-two punch to civil society activists -- first by pushing out Western organizations now operating in Russia and replacing them with Russian entities that are beholden to the country’s political leadership.

Turkey: Court Ruling Represents "The End of the Beginning" of Secular-Islamist Tension

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:37:20 -0400

BY NICHOLAS BIRCH
The refusal of Turkey’s constitutional court to ban the governing Justice and Development Party pulled the country back from the brink of political upheaval. Nevertheless, the country’s political foundation remains unsound, and the court ruling could easily prove to be merely a temporary reprieve from turmoil.

Turkey: The Truth is "Missing" in Media Coverage of Domestic Politics

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:08:03 -0400

BY YIGAL SCHLEIFER
An increasingly bitter political battle in Turkey is playing out in the country’s media outlets -- mostly owned by a handful of large corporate groups. Pro-government newspapers and television stations are facing off against pro-secularist media outlets. Each side is accusing the other of slanting the news in a way that seems to benefit their position.

Azerbaijan: Energy-Rich, Healthcare-Poor

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:07:17 -0400

BY ELKHAN SALAHOV
Azerbaijan may have the mega-energy revenues needed to build roads and to refashion its military, but when it comes to regional healthcare, the country’s attention appears to be focused elsewhere.

Abkhazia Prepares for Olympics with a Little Help from Its Friends

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:50:01 -0400

BY ELIZABETH OWEN
The XXII Olympic Winter Games may still be six years away, but at vendors’ stalls in the northern Abkhaz resort town of Gagra, the Sochi 2014 paraphernalia is already blowing in the breeze. Its presence is no accident.

Pakistan: Bush Administration Sticks with Pakistani Military

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:48:58 -0400

BY RICHARD WEITZ
President George W. Bush is talking to Pakistan’s civilian leaders, but the US presidential administration continues to exhibit a stubborn preference for maintaining close ties with the Pakistani military, an institution that is widely discredited inside the South Asian state.

Turkmenistan: Berdymukhamedov Tinkers with Constitution in the Name of Efficiency

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:47:50 -0400

BY DEIRDRE TYNAN
Safely ensconced in power, Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov is now striving to make the Central Asian state’s authoritarian system more efficient. To do that, Berdymukhamedov is giving the Turkmen Constitution a makeover.

Azerbaijan Gets Ready to Go Nuclear

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:46:59 -0400

BY MINA MURADOVA
Flush with cash from energy exports, Azerbaijan is preparing to build its first nuclear reactor. Flush with cash from energy exports, Azerbaijan is preparing to build its first nuclear reactor. Government scientists and officials tout the project as a sign that the country is now poised to flex its research muscles, but some ecologists warn of potential risks to the health and welfare of nearby population centers.

US Pushes for Talks between Leaders of Georgia and Abkhazia

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:45:23 -0400

BY ELIZABETH OWEN
As part of a growing Euro-Atlantic campaign to reduce tensions between Georgia and Russia over the breakaway region of Abkhazia, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza traveled to Sukhumi on July 25 to push for Abkhaz participation in international peace talks in Berlin. The trip is the second for the senior American diplomat since May.

Azerbaijan: Opposition Journalist Leaves for France

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:19:52 -0400

BY KHADIJA ISMAYILOVA AND MAARIF AKPERILI
Azerbaijani opposition newspaper reporter Agil Khalil, the focus of a recent scandalous court case, has left Azerbaijan for France after several earlier thwarted attempts to leave the country.

Kazakhstan: Astana Diplomat, On the Hot Seat, Gives US Congressmen an Earful

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:49:54 -0400

BY JOSHUA KUCERA
Facing mounting criticism over its drift away from democratization, Kazakhstan aggressively defended its record at a recent US Congressional hearing. A senior Kazakhstani official said his country would conduct reforms at its own pace and without pressure from anyone, brushing aside criticism made by several US lawmakers.