Summery

Azerbaijan

Political Front

Geo strategic Front

• Kremlin source: Russia is not going to defend Armenia against Azerbaijan

 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and international issues including the current situation in Iran will be discussed during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Baku, a source in Kremlin said. 

• Dagestan interested in developing cooperation with Azerbaijan"

 Dagestan President Magomedsalam Magomedov praised contribution of Caucasus Muslims Spiritual Leader Allahshukur Pashazade to development and strengthening bilateral friendly relations between Azerbaijani and Dagestan peoples, he told media after the meeting with Caucasus Muslims Spiritual Leader Allahshukur Pashazade.

• Nagorno-Karabakh Marks Anniversary, Vows Baku Will Never Claim Control

STEPANAKERT, Nagorno-Karabakh -- Authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh today marked the 19th anniversary of the disputed enclave's declaration of independence from Azerbaijan and pledged Baku will never resume control of their territory, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports. 

• Medvedev Heads To Baku Amid Growing Tensions In South Caucasus

Amid a colorful firework display, Azerbaijan raised a massive version of its national flag on September 1 that it claims is the world's largest, at 70 meters by 35 meters long and a whopping 350 kilograms.

• Azerbaijan Claims Five Killed In Clash On Nagorno-Karabakh Border

Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry has announced that three Armenian and two Azerbaijani soldiers have been killed in clashes near the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. In a statement issued on September 1, the ministry blamed Yerevan for the incident, saying Armenian troops had crossed the line of control separating northern Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan proper and "tried to attack Azerbaijani forces."

Economic/Energy Front

Social Front

    Kazakhstan

Political Front

• Kazakh Opposition Parties Want Referendum On Impeaching President

ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- Kazakhstan's Algha (Forward) and Communist parties have discussed their joint efforts to hold a national referendum on impeaching President Nursultan Nazarbaev, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

Geo strategic Front

• U.S. will unveil names of its representatives at OSCE summit in Astana after its agenda is ready – ambassador

Almaty. August 27. Interfax-Kazakhstan – The U.S. will announce the names of its delegates to the OSCE summit Astana after the agenda of the summit is officially approved. The U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Richard Hoagland told a Friday press conference in Almaty that they would be waiting till the agency was ready and would announce later who would be in the U.S. delegation at the summit.

• NATO wants to see Kazakh peacekeepers in Afghanistan

Ili Military Ground (The Almaty Region). August 27. Interfax-Kazakhstan � NATO is keen on Kazbrig�s (Kazakhstan's peacekeeping unit) participation in operations in Afghanistan.

• NATO wants to see Kazakh peacekeepers in Afghanistan

Ili Military Ground (The Almaty Region). August 27. Interfax-Kazakhstan � NATO is keen on Kazbrig�s (Kazakhstan's peacekeeping unit) participation in operations in Afghanistan.

Economic/Energy Front

• Kazakhstan to double export duty in 2010

 (SRI) - Kazakhstan plans to double its crude oil export duty to $40 per tonne starting in January, wire services reported on Monday citing government sources

Social Front

• Kazakh Rights Defender Jailed

A prominent human rights defender who has drawn attention to problems in Kazakhstan's prisons has been found guilty of hooliganism and sentenced to 10 days in jail, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

    Kyrgyzstan

Political Front

• Suspect In Kyrgyz Policeman's Killing Arrested In Kazakhstan

BISHKEK -- A man suspected of involvement in the killing of a Kyrgyz police colonel in southern Kyrgyzstan in June has been arrested in Kazakhstan, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

• Governors of Osh and Naryn provinces appointed in Kyrgyzstan

Governors of Osh and Naryn provinces have been appointed in Kyrgyzstan.

Relevant personnel decrees were signed by President of transition period Roza Otunbayeva today, on September 3, 2010.

• Four political parties submitted documents for registration in parliament elections in Kyrgyzstan

As of today, four political parties submitted documents for registration in parliament elections in Kyrgyzstan. The statement was voiced by the chairman of the Central Election Commission on Election and Referendum Akylbek Sariev.

Geo strategic Front

• Herbert Salber: Kyrgyzstan intends to deploy OSCE Police after parliamentary elections

“Kyrgyzstan intends to deploy police officers of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe in its territory after the parliamentary elections,” Ambassador Herbert Salber, director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, said today during a briefing in Vienna (Austria) on radio Azattyk.

• Russia urges all OSCE countries to refrain from any pressure on Kyrgyzstan

Russia urges all OSCE countries to refrain from any pressure on Kyrgyzstan, in particular in the promotion of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. This was stated by the permanent representative to the OSCE Anvar Azimov at the meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization

• EU Special Representative for Central Asia discussed situation in Kyrgyzstan with Russian official

The European Union’s Special Representative for Central Asia Pierre Morel discussed with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Grigory Karasin situation in Kyrgyzstan. This was reported by foreign news sources with reference to the Department of Press and Information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

• Kyrgyz, Uzbek Talks On Release Of Kyrgyz Officers Unsuccessful

BATKEN, Kyrgyzstan -- Talks between Kyrgyz and Uzbek border officials on the possible release of two Kyrgyz border guard officers have ended without success, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

• Official: Kyrgyzstan Still In Talks Over OSCE Police

Some protests against the OSCE mission have been based on fears of internationally enforced separatism.

Economic/Energy Front

• Kyrgyzstan Launches New Hydroelectric Power Plant

Kyrgyzstan has launched a $200 million hydroelectric power plant, its first since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

• In 2011 GDP per capita to make up $980 in Kyrgyzstan

In 2011 GDP per capita will make up $980 in Kyrgyzstan, or 45.7 thousand soms. Such data were given in a medium-term forecast of socio-economic development of the republic for 2010-2013, prepared by the Ministry of Economic Regulation of Kyrgyzstan.

As noted, in 2013 GDP per each citizen of Kyrgyzstan will make up $1,281.

• Kyrgyzstan’s rate of economic growth exceeds average rate for CIS in 2010

The rate of economic development of Kyrgyzstan is higher than the average among CIS. This was reported by the Interstate Statistic Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States for the first six months of 2010.

Social Front

• New School Year Brings Anxiety In South Kyrgyzstan

Almaz, a 13-year-old boy in the southern Kyrgyz city of Osh, couldn't wait to see his classmates. His parents, however, were among many in the area who aren't sure their child would be there when schools reopened on September 1.

Tajikistan

Political Front

• Suicide Car Bomber Hits Tajik Police Station

KHUJAND, Tajikistan -- Officials in Tajikistan say two suicide bombers in an explosives-packed car slammed into a police station in the northern city of Khujand, killing two police officers and wounding some 25 others.

• Top Tajik Security Chiefs Dismissed Following Prison Break

Tajikistan's top security chief has been dismissed along with his three deputies, days after 25 inmates broke out of a security agency prison in Dushanbe.

• Tajik police suspect IMU of masterminding blast in Khujand

DUSHANBE, October 3, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- According to the preliminary data, today’s blast in Khujand has been committed by supporters of those suspected of having killed Homidjon Karimov, former bazaar director in Isfara district.

Geo strategic Front

• President Rahmon receiving visiting NATO’s special envoy today

DUSHANBE, August 31, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- President Emomali Rahmon is receiving visiting NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia, Mr. Robert Simmons, today afternoon.

• Tajikistan to attend SCO anti-terror drill in Kazakhstan

DUSHANBE, August 30, Asia-Plus 2010, Asia-Plus -- A special company-strong subunit of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) that is part of mobile subunits of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will represent Tajikistan in a multinational anti-terror drill that will take place in Kazakhstan from September 9 to 25 under of the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Asia-Plus has learned from the source at a MoD.

Economic/Energy Front

Social Front

• Tajik Parents Punished For Children's Truancy

QURGHONTEPPA, Tajikistan -- A court in the town of Qurghonteppa in southern Tajikistan has for the first time passed sentence on parents whose children failed for months to attend school, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.

    Turkmenistan

Political Front

• Mejlis of Turkmenistan and U.S. Congress to develop cooperation

The U.S. congressman and member of the foreign affairs committee, Brent Woolfork discussed issues of further strengthening the Turkmen-American inter-parliamentary relations with the Majlis members. He arrived in Ashgabat on a working visit.

Geo strategic Front

• Ukrainian delegation holds talks in Ashgabat

The Ukrainian delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Viktor Maiko paid a working visit to Ashgabat. The delegation held several meetings with the government of Turkmenistan, as well as the administration of Ashgabat, where they discussed issues of Turkmen-Ukrainian cooperation in transport and communications and urban planning.

Economic/Energy Front

• Pakistani President notes timeliness of construction of TAPI gas pipeline

"The initiative of the Turkmen side on construction of the transcontinental TAPI gas pipeline is timely and relevant, and it was warmly welcomed by the people and the leadership of Pakistan," President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari said during a telephone conversation with President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

• Turkmenistan to sign agreement on renewable energy under technical cooperation programme

Turkmenistan will sign a financial agreement under the regional programme "Efficient Energy Programme for Central Asia: Renewable Energy Sources - Programme of Energy Efficiency (RES-EE)" as part of the technical cooperation programme with the European Commission.

• Turkmenistan and Afghanistan sign framework agreement on TAPI

Representatives of the Governments of Turkmenistan and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan signed a framework agreement on the construction of the Turkmenistan - Afghanistan - Pakistan - India (TAPI) gas pipeline during the second meeting of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Afghani commission for trade and economic cooperation in Kabul, August 30.

Social Front

• Afghanistan regions received humanitarian aid from Turkmenistan

The Afghan city of Turgundi was the first to receive humanitarian aid from Turkmenistan, who sent a motor caravan with 1 thousand tons of flour to the neighboring country. The humanitarian cargo was met by the leaders of the administration of Herat province, representatives of the public, including the Turkmen community, living compactly in border areas of Afghanistan.

• Another Social-Networking Site Banned In Turkmenistan

There's an interesting post on neweurasia.net by Annasoltan about Turkmenistan banning a popular social-networking site, agent.mail.ru.

    Uzbekistan

Political Front

Geo strategic Front

• Kyrgyz-Uzbek Talks Held On Release Of Kyrgyz Border Guards

BATKEN, Kyrgyzstan -- Kyrgyz and Uzbek officials are holding talks on the possible release of two senior Kyrgyz border guards being held in Uzbekistan, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Economic/Energy Front

Social Front