CA/FSU news rundown

Last day in Copenhagen today - back to the UK early tomorrow morning to the slightly less architecturally splendid Birmingham (with the exception of the space age Selfridges) - even so, don't knock Brum until you've tried it. So a final news rundown on Central Asia and the former Soviet Union...

Regional

• Reflecting one of the main topics of the week, The Moscow Times has a piece entitled Dismissing the CIS, which considers Georgia and Ukraine's efforts to form a democratically-based "alternative" to the CIS. RIA Novosti reports that even in Russia opinion over the future of the CIS is divided.
• Looking more widely, the World Socialist Web Site takes a look at Sino-Russian joint military exercises, concluding, slightly predictably, that it is "a reaction to agressive US policies". The Japan Times also reviews the situation with an editorial piece, whilst MosNews has an article entitled "Russia and China not planning Joint Military Bloc".
• More bad news for those wishing to promote the CIS with the conclusions of an International Organisation for Migration official that "The borders between CIS member states do not hinder drug and human trafficking".
• At a more grass-roots level MosNews reports on efforts amongst democratic youth movements across the CIS to unite. The new Transnational Democratic Network includes Kyrgyzstan's Birge!.
• Great Game fever continues with a Media Monitors article that identifies a new coalition of Russia, China and Iran to oppose the US.

Kazakhstan

• Recombinomics reports on further outbreaks of wild bird flu in 7 Kazakh villages.
• The Washington Times has a piece on Kazakh support for the US presence in Central Asia, quoting the Kazakh Foreign Minister, Kasymzhomart Tokayev, as saying that the Great Game was indeed back on in the region. Donald Rumsfeld has returned the diplomatic compliment, calling Kazakhstan a "worthy partner in the international arena", according to PNR newswire. Wonder how long this one will last...
• Best story of the week is President Nazarbaev's assertion that Kazakhstan is too rich for a revolution. Possibly somewhat delusionally, given that poverty is still a problem in many parts of the country, especially away from Almaty, he quoted Victor Hugo on the chances of a revolution:

“I am reminded of a brilliant quote by Victor Hugo: Poverty gives birth to
revolutions and revolutions give birth to poverty.”

• Fresh from lavishing praise on the US, Kazakhstan's Nazarbaev is also heaping praise on the SCO and the opportunities it presents for economic development and fighting transnational crime, saying that membership is firmly in Kazakhstan's interests, reports RIA Novosti.

Kyrgyzstan

• KyrgyzInfo reports that Aidar Akaev, son of ex-president Askar Akaev, is preparing to take up his seat in the Zhogorku Kenesh. One could say better late than never, but seeing as emotions still run high amongst many people when the name Akaev is mentioned, it may not be plain sailing, especially bearing in mind how quickly his sister, Bermet, was stripped of her mandate after her return supposedly for election irregularities in her constituency.
• A national democratic party, Uluu Birimdik or Great Union/Великое Объединениe has been formed in Bishkek reports KyrgyzInfo. Its three main aims are to create a strong country, a strong spirit and a strong nation". So far so good, but it will no doubt cause concern amongst the republic's ethnic minorities who collective comprise approximately 35% of the population, especially with statements like the one below:

«...нас всего 3 миллиона, и мы, кыргызы, как нация можем
состояться только здесь, в Кыргызстане. Другой родины у нас нет, мы обязаны
сохраниться и развиваться как нация».

"...there are all of 3 million of us, and we, the Kyrgyz, as a
nation can exist only here in Kyrgyzstan. We have no other motherland, we are
compelled to preserve and develop ourselves as a nation"

• Looks like Adil Toigonbaev is safe for the time being in Kazakhstan, since the Kazakh General Procurator does not forsee handing him over to the Kyrgyz authorities, according to KyrgyzInfo.
• Also from KyrgyzInfo is a slightly worrying report that the number of people suffering from malaria in Bishkek is still increasing. Currently 90 people have completed a course of treatment, with another 40 currently undergoing it. The source of infection is thought to be marshy land around 2 new building sites.
• RIA Novosti reports that China and Kyrgyzstan are to strengthen military cooperation.
• The arrest warrant that had been issued for ex-Prime Minister Nikolai Tanaev has been cancelled, reports RIA Novosti, meanwhile the BBC reports on his return to Bishkek.
• The EBRD has issued a press release on a new project in Kyrgyzstan to extend the telecomunications and ICT network across the country.
• Development Gateway has an article on continued high prices on vegetables at the republic's bazaars, partly due to a late harvest, but also because of the political uncertainty of the last few months.
• DG also reports that Kyrgyzstan recorded deflation of 1.3% in July, according to figures from the National Statistics Committe.
• There is also a timely report posted on the DG website concerning the practice of resorting to public protest rather than using normal political channels. There have been concerns since the so-called Tulip Revolution in March that people may use protests to try and get their own way simply if they do not like how events are progressing, effectively resulting in a form of mob-rule.
• New Hampshire's the Union Leader reports that former US Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan made it home safely.
• More cloak and dagger politics is suspected with General Procurator Azimbek Beknazarov's announcement that he is to start purging political circles in an effort to reduce corruption, according to Vechernii Bishkek via DG.
• AlertNet reports on problems with clean water in Karakol.

Tajikistan

• Border guards shot down a hang glider with 20 kilos of heroin, reports World War 4 Report. It is thought that smugglers have been gliding narcotics into Tajikistan for onward transportation for about 3 years.
• Classic ambiguous headline from AlertNet: "Half a million dollars needed for demining dogs". Thankfully not a case of gross animal cruelty, but a report on the need to establish a centre to train dogs and handlers to help efforts to demine the republic.

Turkmenistan

• RFE/RL has a report on the short life span of many officials and ministers in Turkmenistan, noting that noone is safe from suddenly finding himself out of favour with Turkmenbashi and possibly even charged with various crimes.
• Unusually for isolationist Turkmenistan, the Chinese Xinhuanet reports that Turkmenistan and the US have held talks on regional security with a view to strengthening cooperation.

Uzbekistan

• Samarkand was the site of the first public protests in Uzbekistan since Andijan in May, reports RFE/RL. The two protests were sparked by forced resettlement of people whose homes were maked for demolition, and the relocation of one of the city's bazaars.
• Newsblaze has an opinion piece on the influence of religion in the Ferghana valley, suggesting that Karimov's fate may depend more on religion that he's like to think, even allowing for a good dose of paranoia as befits any Central Asia despot.