Summery

        Azerbaijan

Political Front

Geo Strategic Front

• Azerbaijani-Russian relations reached level of strategic cooperation

 Transport links between Azerbaijan and Russia are developing rapidly. Russia is a big transport corridor, and it assumes great importance for Azerbaijan, head of public-political department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, Ali Hasanov, said in his speech at a forum 'Russia and Azerbaijan: modernity and prospects of cooperation' in Rostov. 

• EU Hosts Eastern Neighbors Ahead Of Russia Summit

BRUSSELS -- Leading diplomats representing the 27 EU governments have met their counterparts from the six members of the bloc's Eastern Partnership -- Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan -- in the Polish Baltic resort of Sopot.

• U.S. Secretary of State Special Envoy Richard Morningstar to visit Azerbaijan

 U.S. Secretary of State’s Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy Richard L. Morningstar will visit Azerbaijan next week.

Economic /Energy Front

• SOCAR's Black Sea terminal transports Tengiz oil

 At the Black Sea terminal of SOCAR in Kulevi, Georgia, transportation of crude oil has started.

• History, BP Oil Spill Haunt Caspian Sea

For years, the race to tap into the Caspian Sea's vast oil and gas resources has outweighed any desire to protect its delicate environment.

Social Front

• Amnesty International Says Rights Abuses Continue To Plague World

Watchdog Amnesty International has warned that human rights abuses continued to plague the world in 2009, with torture or ill treatment, unfair trials and imprisonment, and restrictions on free speech among the most common violations.

      Kazakastan

Political Front

• Kazakh President's Nephew Named Ruling Party Secretary

ASTANA -- Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev's nephew has been named the secretary of the country's main political party, Nur-Otan (Shining Fatherland), RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

Geo Strategic Front

Economic /Energy Front

• Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan customs talks fail

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, May 21 (Reuters) - Russia and neighbouring Belarus and Kazakhstan have failed to reach agreement on some aspects of their joint customs union, their leaders said on Friday.

• World Bank Approves $1Billion Loan To Kazakhstan

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev -- seen with the Belarus and then-Kyrgyz presidents -- has apparently won lots of World Bank confidence. The World Bank has approved $1 billion in budget support for Kazakhstan to help the government implement its economic program.

Social Front

• Kazakh Supreme Court Upholds Verdict Against Journalist

The Kazakh Supreme Court has ruled against an appeal by a journalist convicted of revealing state secrets, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

• Kazakhs Probe Mass Death Of Rare Saiga Antelope

ASTANA -- Kazakh authorities have launched an investigation into the mass death of the endangered saiga antelope in the west of the country, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

The Prosecutor-General's Office spokesperson Nurdaulet Suindikov made the announcement in Astana on May 27.

      Kyrgyzstan

Political Front

• Bishkek Plans To Revoke Former President Akaev's Immunity

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's interim government says it plans to deprive the first president of independent Kyrgyzstan, Askar Akaev, of immunity from prosecution, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

• Kyrgyz Interim Official Will Not Run For President

BISHKEK -- The first deputy chairman of Kyrgyzstan's interim government says he does not plan to run for president or compete in the parliamentary elections later this year, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

• Kyrgyz Protesters Demand Greater Transparency From Interim Government

BISHKEK -- About 100 protesters picketed the Kyrgyz parliament building in Bishkek today, demanding a detailed report on the interim government's activities for the last 45 days, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

• Kyrgyzstan Asks Interpol To Help Catch Bakiev

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's interim government has submitted a formal request to Interpol to assist in locating and arresting ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiev, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports. Interim Government Deputy Chairman Azimbek Beknazarov told journalists in Bishkek on May 27 that the exact whereabouts of Bakiev and his relatives is not clear.

Geo Strategic Front

• Turkish Embassy Official: Former Kyrgyz President Not In Turkey

BISHKEK -- Some 50 members of the Meken Sheyitteri (Martyrs of the Land) movement have picketed the Turkish Embassy in Bishkek to demand clarification of media reports that ousted Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev is in Turkey, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports. Some news agencies in Russia and Belarus reported on May 25 that Bakiev had left Belarus for a vacation in Turkey.

Economic /Energy Front

• Tajiks In Bishkek Picket Uzbek Embassy, Demand Resumption Of Rail Traffic

BISHKEK -- About 50 Tajik students and members of Kyrgyzstan's Tajik Association picketed the Uzbek Embassy in Bishkek today to demand the full resumption of rail traffic between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Social Front

• Kyrgyzstan's Protesters For Hire

It didn't take long for protests against the new government in Kyrgyzstan to start, nor should it really come as a surprise: it happened to the last government shortly after it came to power in 2005 as well.

      Tajikistan

Political Front

• Notorious Former Tajik Governor Dies In Prison

DUSHANBE -- A former powerful governor from Tajikistan's northern Sughd Province has died in a Dushanbe prison, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports. Abdujalil Homidov, 65, was an influential businessman in his region.

• Mizrob Kabirov appointed head of Majlisi milli’s office

DUSHANBE. May 28. “Asia-Plus” -- New staff rotations approved today, May 28, at a regular session of the government. According to the government’s decree, former head of the Department of Finance of the President’s Office Dilmurod Davlatov was appointed director of the State Agency for Material Procurement, Works and Services under the government of Tajikistan replacing Mahmadzoir Sohibov, President’s press service reported.

• Emomali Rahmon holds regular session of the government

DUSHANBE. May 28. “Asia-Plus” -- Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon is holding a regular session of the government.

Geo Strategic Front

• Emomali Rahmon meets with ex-president of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma

DUSHANBE. May 27. “Asia-Plus” -- Yesterday, May 26, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon met with former President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma who arrived in Dushanbe with private visit. The sides have discussed Tajik-Ukrainian relations and talked about the perspectives, President’s press service reported.

• Uzbek-Tajik Dispute Disrupts NATO Supplies To Afghanistan

DUSHANBE -- The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan says it "may have to reroute some shipments" that are stranded in Central Asia after Uzbekistan suspended rail traffic to Tajikistan's southern Khatlon district. ISAF spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Goetz Hasske told Reuters that "some carriages carrying NATO supplies were being held up," citing "ongoing political tensions in the area."

Economic /Energy Front

• Tajiks In Bishkek Picket Uzbek Embassy, Demand Resumption Of Rail Traffic

BISHKEK -- About 50 Tajik students and members of Kyrgyzstan's Tajik Association picketed the Uzbek Embassy in Bishkek today to demand the full resumption of rail traffic between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

• Fuel prices rapidly rise in Dushanbe

In the past 24 hours gasoline prices in Tajikistan’s capital raised by almost 15%. Only yesterday, May 20, in the first half of the day one liter of AI-95 gasoline was sold at a price of 3 Somoni 40 dirams ($0,7) and this morning it grew up to 4 Somoni ($0,9). Meanwhile, gasoline prices are keep growing and it is not clear when they will stop.

Social Front

• Tajik Islamic Party Official Accused Of Human Trafficking

KULOB, Tajikistan -- A regional leader of Tajikistan's Islamic Renaissance Party has been charged with human trafficking, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.

Abdufattoh Abdukholiqov is the head of the Islamic Renaissance Party in the Vose district of Tajikistan's southern Khatlon Province. Davlat Najmiddinov, who heads the anti-organized-crime department in the province's Kulob district, told RFE/RL that Abdukholiqov and his accomplice paid $500 to the mother of a 16-year-old girl whom they planned to sell to someone in Russia.

• World Bank allocates additional $2mln for Tajikistan’s education modernization project

DUSHANBE. May 26. “Asia-Plus” -- The Board of Directors of the World Bank has approved a $2mln grant for the project aimed at modernization of Tajikistan’s education system. According to WB, the goal of additional funding is to develop the system of evaluation of pupils progress and finally improve the quality of pedagogic techniques used for evaluation of the quality of education.

Turkmenistan

Political Front

Geo Strategic Front

• Turkmen border guards get first drones

The border troops of Turkmenistan received new aircrafts designed to conduct air monitoring around the clock in all weather conditions. As the Turkmenistan.ru correspondent reports from Ashgabat, the performance of new aircrafts was demonstrated yesterday to President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at Akdepe military airfield near the Turkmen capital.

• Turkmenistan and India sign intergovernmental agreements

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held talks with Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh, as well as President of India Pratibha Devisingh Patil in New Delhi.

As the Turkmenistan.ru correspondent reports quoting the press service of the head of state, special attention was paid to issues relating to energy security and reliability of energy supplies to world markets.

• President of Turkmenistan to visit India on May 24-26

The governmental delegation of Turkmenistan led by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov will visit the Republic of India on May 24-26. This was reported by the Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov at a regular government meeting.

Economic /Energy Front

• Ashgabat hosted Turkmen-Kazakh business forum

On May 26, Ashgabat hosted the Turkmen-Kazakh business forum organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan and the National Agency for Export and Investment "Kaznex Invest" (Kazakhstan).

• Turkmens set to start work on new gas pipeline

(AP) - Energy-rich Turkmenistan will start later this month building a pipeline linking its natural gas-rich fields in the east to the Caspian Sea coast in an effort to increase its export potential, a state newspaper said Monday.

• Turkmenistan Opts To Build Key Gas Pipeline On Its Own

Turkmenistan now plans to build the East-West natural-gas pipeline without outside help, according to information posted on the government's website and published in state newspapers today. The East-West pipeline should stretch some 1,000 kilometers, bringing some 30 billion cubic meters of gas from fields in the eastern part of the country to areas along Turkmenistan's Caspian Sea coast per year.

• Turkmenistan and India to discuss construction of gas pipeline through Afghanistan and Pakistan

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has arrived in India on the first state visit. He is expected to discuss cooperation in the oil and gas industry and other spheres with the Indian side.

• Turkmenistan to start construction of "East-West" gas pipeline

Turkmenistan will start building the East-West pipeline with the capacity of 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year. A resolution authorizing the start of construction was signed by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Social Front

      Uzbekistan

Political Front

• Prominent Uzbek Sports Journalist Jailed For Religious Extremism

TASHKENT -- The prominent Uzbek sports journalist Khairulla Khamidov has been sentenced to six years in jail on charges of associating with a banned Islamic group, RFE/RL's Uzbek Service reports.

• More Signs Of Karimova's Fall From Grace?

Another sign perhaps that Gulnara Karimova's empire is crumbling.

Former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, rumored to be the highest-paid football manager in the world, is leaving the Tashkent club, Bunyodkor.

• Cluing In On The Uzbek Succession

RFE/RL is closely following the troubles the Swiss-registered company Zeromax is facing, especially considering the energy company's reputed ties to the Uzbek president's head-turning eldest daughter, Gulnara Karimova.

Geo Strategic Front

• President receives SCO foreign ministers

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received members of the session of the Foreign Ministers Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states at Oqsaroy residence on May 22.

• SCO foreign ministers meet in Tashkent

The session of the Foreign Ministers Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states was held in Tashkent on 22 May. State secretary and foreign minister of Kazakhstan K.Saudabayev, foreign minister of China Yang Jiechi, vice foreign minister of Kyrgyzstan T.Makeyev, foreign minister of Russia S.Lavrov, foreign minister of Tajikistan H.Zarifi and foreign minister of Uzbekistan V.Norov participated in the meeting. SCO General secretary M.Imanaliyev and Director of SCO Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure Executive committee D.Jumanbekov also attended the session.

• Rail Traffic Between Uzbekistan, Southern Tajikistan Restricted

DUSHANBE -- Uzbekistan has suspended rail traffic to Tajikistan's southern Khatlon district, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports. The Uzbek consul-general in Dushanbe, Zafar Rahimjonov, said on May 24 that floods in Uzbekistan have destroyed 11 kilometers of railroad tracks between the Amuzang and Termez stations and Uzbekistan does not have sufficient resources to guarantee its complete restoration.

• Uzbek-Tajik Dispute Disrupts NATO Supplies To Afghanistan

DUSHANBE -- The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan says it "may have to reroute some shipments" that are stranded in Central Asia after Uzbekistan suspended rail traffic to Tajikistan's southern Khatlon district.

Economic /Energy Front

• Afghanistan launches construction of railroad linking Mazari Sharif with Uzbek border

DUSHANBE. May 26. “Asia-Plus” -- The official opening ceremony for the construction of a new railroad linking Mazari Sharif with Uzbek border was held today in Afghan city of Hairaton, Afghan Ariana-TV reported today.

• Uzbekistan blocks cargoes provided for Afghanistan

At least 100 rail wagons loaded with energy cargoes which should be transported to Afghanistan through the territory of Tajikistan remain blocked in Uzbekistan, deputy head of the transportation service of the Tajik Railroad Andrey Tropin told the AP.

Social Front

• UNICEF office in Uzbekistan is under Pressure

Ferghana.Ru sources report the new UNICEF problem in Uzbekistan: the office space. Due to the reconstruction of several districts in Tashkent, the current UNICEF office is expected to be demolished while the new address is unknown yet.