CA News catchup

Greetings once more from (still) warm and sunny Bishkek - 20 degrees C for the middle of October is a little unexpected, but shouldn't complain I guess, especially seeing as there's still a fair amount of doubt about the reliability of the city's heating system... Anyhow, the latest from Kyrgyzstan is over at the New Eurasia Kyrgyzstan Blog, all the other Stans are still here. Onwards and upwards...

Regional

• Play it again... and again, and again ... Eurasia Daily Monitor has an article by Igor Torbakov entitled "Central Asia: Replaying the Great Game" arguing that there are "direct parallels" between the original Great Game and current events in the region, despite denials from both of the alleged key players. You know the rest...
• One more denial from a key player is Rice's confirmation that the US is not seeking new bases in the region, which interestingly comes via Sergei Lavrov, according to RIA Novosti.
• However, New Zealand's Stuff puts a slightly different spin on the matter, quoting Lavrov as saying that US bases must go - as soon as Afghanistan is stable. Quite a get out clause whilst allowing plenty of hawkish posturing...
• Hot on Condi's heels comes news that Donald Rumsfeld is set to go on tour to China, South Korea, Mongolia and Kazakhstan, reports the offical US-government run Washington File.

Kazakhstan

• The BBC reports that Condoleezza Rice has called on Kazakhstan to set an example to the rest of the region as a leader in economic and democratic reform. One can hope...
• Meanwhile the republic's opposition was less than happy with Rice's performance, arguing that her visit put oil and military interests above democratic development, notes axcessnews.
• On a lighter note, the Electric New Paper has a report on the growing popularity of golf in the republic - well there's certainly lots of space for it...

Kyrgyzstan

• Head on over to the New Eurasia Kyrgyzstan Blog...

Tajikistan

• The Eurasia Daily Monitor has an article on Tajikistan's efforts to get increased support for strengthening its border with Afghanistan by seeking new international partners and at the same time pressuring Moscow to honour previous promises.
• Contrary to earlier speculation on whether the US might be looking to establish a base in the republic, Interfax reports that Condoleezza Rice has said that Washington will not deploy a base in Tajikistan.
• "I've found a terrorist group" fever is running high again with a report from ITAR-TASS that (I quote) "Security agencies of Tajikistan’s Sogdiisky district have exposed a radical extremist group clamouring for the overthrow of authority and making anti-governmental calls." The group is accused, among other more abstract and ambiguous things, of conspiring with the IMU and murdering a local Christian Baptist.

Turkmenistan

• Gas in the subject of an article from RIA Novosti noting that Turkmenistan is keen to get Ukraine to pay back its debts in full by the end of the year - this will be no small feat if the figures quoted are anything to go by: Ukraine has so far only paid $8.4 million of a total debt of $484 million. Time to win the lottery...
• The UN has a report on continuing human rights abuses in the republic, which paradoxically concludes that there has been a lack of overall improvement and that there has been some progress in addressing the issues - bureaucratese strikes again.
• Meanwhile RIA Novosti reports that 8,000 prisoners are to be amnestied on the occasion of the end of the Holy moth of Ramadan. This will apparently reduce the number of prisoners in the country to 4,137.

Uzbekistan

• Internews has a press release on its US site that its presence in the republic has been formally closed down after a brief court hearing on last Tuesday rejected the organisation's appeal.
• MosNews has an article arguing that EU sanctions against Uzbekistan are inefficient, citing Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying the measures would have little impact on the republic.
• Ferghana.ru has an article on the so-called "Andijan Affair" looking at the fall out from the May events both at home and abroad. Altogether a disquieting read.
• Meanwhile Reuters reports that a witness at the trial has claimed that troops did indeed shoot at people holding white flags, in what could be considered a serious departure from the expected script. One is left hoping that the witness in question, Marguba Zakirova, will not suffer any adverse consequences by speaking out in court.

Reports, newsletters, etc.

• AlertNet's latest Central Asia Weekly Newswrap (Oct 14) is available.