Summery

     Azerbaijan

Political Front

• Azerbaijani CEC: Some 1,152 MP candidates apply to district electoral commissions

Some 1,152 candidates for parliament have applied to district electoral commissions, 1,092 have received a subscription list from the Central Election Commission, and 200 have already filled them out and submitted them to the CEC, CEC chairman Mazahir Panahov said Monday at a meeting of the committee.

• International observers starting their missions in Azerbaijan

Observation missions of international organizations are starting their mission in Azerbaijan to monitor parliamentary elections in the country, Central Election Commission's department for international relations Rovzat Gasimov said.

• Election Commission to receive final voters' lists by October 3rd

The voters' lists have been finalized for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan. The Sechkiler Information Center is publishing the lists to be sent by October 3 to the precinct election commissions, CEC Secretary Natig Mammadov told a press conference.

Geo strategic Front

• Azerbaijan And The West: Beyond Interest, Toward Commitment

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku in July. A friend in need is a friend indeed. I couldn’t agree more.

• Two democrats risk U.S. interests by blocking envoy to Azerbaijan

The US-based Washington Post newspaper has published an article entitled “Two democrats risk U.S. interests by blocking envoy”.

FOR THE AWARD for Most Craven Election-Year Pandering at the Expense of the National Interest, we nominate -- this week -- Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.).

• Azerbaijan supports Pakistan's position in Kashmir problem"

Within the framework of his visit to Pakistan Commander of Azerbaijani Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Shahin Sultanov met with Defense Minister of this country Ahmad Mukhtar, APA reports quoting official website of Pakistani Defense Ministry.

Economic/Energy Front

• ADB officials visit Azerbaijan State Oil Fund

Members of the Asian Development Bank's Board of Directors have visited Azerbaijan's State Oil Fund. The Fund's Executive Director Shahmar Movmusov informed the ADB officials of Azerbaijan's oil strategy.

• Top ten countries investing in Azerbaijan determined

Great Britain leads the list of the foreign investors in Azerbaijan, during January-July, 2010. According to State Statistical Committee, Great Britain invested AZN 505 038.8 thousand capital in Azerbaijan’s economy during the same time, up 30.8% compared with a year ago.

Social Front

• Sumgait seaside cleaned from litter as part of International Coastal Cleanup -

Over five tons of litter has been collected from Sumgait cost of the Caspian Sea as part of the International Coastal Cleanup action. About 110 volunteers collected over five tons of litter as a part of an ecological campaign held by Cola-Cola. 

• 35% of drugs produced in Afghanistan is smuggled to other countries through Iran-Azerbaijan route"

35 % of drugs illegally produced in Afghanistan is smuggled to other countries through the Iran-Azerbaijan route. This was said by First Deputy General Prosecutor of Azerbaijan Rustam Usubov on Monday at the scientific- practical conference on "Actual problems of the fight against illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors' held at the Science and Education Center in the General Prosecutor's Office.

• Azerbaijan attends 54th session of IAEA's conference in Vienna

The 54th session of International Atomic Energy Agency`s (IAEA) Conference was held in the Austrian capital of Vienna on September 20-24.

• Baku to host meeting of CIS council of heads of migration services

On Sept. 29, Baku will host the eighth meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Migration Services, the press service of the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan reported on Friday.

    Kazakhstan

Political Front

• Kazakh Court Refuses To Issue Warrant For Minister's Arrest

ASTANA -- A court in Astana has refused to issue an arrest warrant for Kazakh Health Minister Zhaqsylyq Dosqaliev over unspecified allegations stemming from an ongoing investigation, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

• Kazakh Police Say Health Minister May Have Simulated Stroke

ASTANA -- Kazakhstan's financial police have said that Health Minister Zhaqsylyq Dosqaliev may have simulated a stroke to escape justice, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

• Kazakhstan’s president confidence rating high

Almaty. September 28. Interfax-Kazakhstan – The poll conducted by the Institute of Political Solutions (IPS) revealed that Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev retains trust of 79.9% respondents.

Geo strategic Front

• Issues of opposing nuclear terror financing discussed in Astana

ASTANA, September 28 (Itar-Tass) -- Issues of opposing financing of nuclear terrorism are discussed at a conference which opened in the capital of Kazakhstan on Tuesday. More than 150 representatives of the countries-participants in the Global Initiative of Combating Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, as well as observers from international organizations take part in the conference which is held behind closed doors.

Economic/Energy Front

• Kazakhstan Renews Push For Global Currency Under UN Auspices

UNITED NATIONS -- Kazakhstan has repeated its idea that the creation of a global currency under UN control would significantly decrease the odds of a future financial crisis.

• Environment agency of Kazakhstan to complete inspections of all oil companies by end of September

Astana. September 27. Interfax-Kazakhstan - The Ministry of Environment of Kazakhstan by the end of this week will complete environmental inspections of oil companies operating in the republic, said the head of state environmental control department Daniyar Aliyev. "At the moment, no inspection reports have been issued yet, as the checks are still going on. At the end of this month or in a few days, we plan to complete all inspections," he told reporters on Monday in Astana.

• Russia, Kazakhstan plan to develop renewable energy industry

MOSCOW, September 28 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's largest hydropower company RusHydro has signed a memorandum of cooperation on building renewable energy enterprises in the Jambyl region in southern Kazakhstan with the regional government.

• Tau Capital invests in Kazakh oil explorer

 (SRI) - Tau Capital, a Kazakhstan-focused investment fund, has agreed to take a 6% stake in Kazakh oil company Lucent Petroleum in exchange for equity and debt financing.

• Japan firms to provide nuclear estimates to Kazakhstan

 (Reuters) - The Japan Atomic Power Company, Toshiba Corp (6502.T) and a unit of Marubeni Corp (8002.T) have reached an agreement with Kazakhstan to provide data and cost estimates on the possibility of the country building its first nuclear power plant.

Social Front

• Kazakhstan’s president reduces civil servants by 15 percent     

ASTANA, September 30 (Itar-Tass) -- Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has signed a decree providing for a 15-percent reduction of the regular staff of organizations financed by the state budget, including the law enforcement and judicial authorities.

• UN Official Hopes Kazakhstan Will Improve Prison System

ASTANA -- UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Manfred Nowak says he hopes Kazakh authorities will stop "window dressing" the situation regarding the country's penitentiary system, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

Kyrgyzstan

Political Front

• Poll shows six of 29 parties will pass to parliament

In Kyrgyzstan, the poll of Perspektiva Consortium has shown that six of 29 parties, participating in the elections, will pass to parliament.

• Ethnic Uzbeks' Trials In Kyrgyzstan Postponed After Disruptions

KARA-SUU/NOOKEN -- Two separate trials of ethnic Uzbeks in southern Kyrgyzstan have been postponed by the judges after disruptions, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

The trial of 10 ethnic Uzbeks in the southern Kyrgyz village of Kara-Suu was stopped by the judge after the defendants' lawyer was attacked by relatives of the victims.

• Ethnic Uzbek Journalist Transferred From Kyrgyz Jail To House Arrest

JALAL-ABAD, Kyrgyzstan -- Uzbek journalist Ulukbek Abdusalamov has been transferred due to his poor health from jail to house arrest in the southern Kyrgyz city of Jalal-Abad, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

• Former Kyrgyz President's Nephew To Stand Trial

BISHKEK -- Authorities in Kyrgyzstan say the nephew of ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiev is to stand trial in connection with deadly interethnic violence there in June, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Geo strategic Front

• Russian Border Guards To Be Stationed In Southern Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK -- Russian border guards stationed in Kyrgyzstan's northern Chui region will be transferred to a southern oblast to help with cross-border issues, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

• Kyrgyzstan’s permanent representative in the UN changes

The permanent representative of Kyrgyzstan in the United Nations Organization has changed. Today President of transition period Roza Otunbayeva signed a decree, according to which Nurbek Jeenbaev was released from the post of permanent representative of the Kyrgyz Republic in the UN in New York City.

Economic/Energy Front

• Kyrgyzstan tries to solve debt problem

Kyrgyzstan tries again to correct its “credit history.”

One and a half year ago in Moscow, during the visit of the Kremlin by representatives of delegation from Kyrgyzstan, we heard the conversation of two Russian officials.

Social Front

• Kyrgyz human rights advocates urge Roza Otunbayeva “to take immediate measures against illegal actions of law enforcement officers and judicial agencies”

Kyrgyz human rights advocates urge the interim president Roza Otunbayeva “to take immediate measures against illegal actions of law enforcement officers and judicial agencies the made during investigations and proceedings against citizens charged with participation in the conflict happened in Osh and Jalal-Abad regions.”

• Kyrgyz Farmer Shot On Uzbek Border

BATKEN -- A Kyrgyz citizen was wounded in a shooting incident on the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border on September 28, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Tashtemir Eshaliev, who heads Kyrgyzstan's Batken Oblast Defense and Security Department, told RFE/RL the incident took place near the village of Kaitpas in the Kadamjai district when an Uzbek border guard shot at Almaz Joroev, who said he mistakenly crossed the border while searching for missing cattle.

Tajikistan

Political Front

• Second Tajik Prison Escapee Killed By Security Forces

DUSHANBE -- The Tajik Interior Ministry says security forces have killed a second escapee from a prison break last month, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.

The ministry said on September 28 that Russian national Gusein Suleimanov, 25, was killed by security forces in the Chanoro village of Faizobod district one day earlier. It is the same district in which Rahmiddin Azizov, another of the 25 prison escapees, was killed the previous day in a shootout.

• Tajik Officials Say Former Rebel Involved In Deadly Attack On Army

DUSHANBE -- Tajikistan's Interior and Defense ministries say they believe former United Tajik Opposition (UTO) fighter Abdullo Hakimov (aka Mullo Abdullo) played a role in the attack on September 19 in which 25 Tajik soldiers were killed and dozens more injured, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reported.

• President urges to strengthen fight against terrorism and extremism

DUSHANBE, September 28, 2010, Asia-Plus – Issues related to recent events in the country, maintenance of public order and prevention of crime were the focus of a September 27 meeting of the Council of Security of Tajikistan, presided over by President Emomali Rahmon.

Geo strategic Front

• Kremlin's Ruling Party Boosts Ties Across The Former Soviet Union

As Kyrgyzstan gears up for crucial parliamentary elections on October 10, former Prime Minister Felix Kulov's Ar-Namys party has picked up a key endorsement from Russia's ruling United Russia party.

• Some Fear Tajik Opposition Stronghold Could Become Hotbed Of Islamic Insurgency

It was just a few weeks ago that Tajik President Emomali Rahmon was traveling to his country's eastern Rasht region on a mission of goodwill, opening a new college there and discussing economic and social issues with locals.

• Tajik Authorities Apprehend Two More Armed Militants

DUSHANBE -- Tajik authorities say they have arrested two armed supporters of former warlord and special police unit head Mirzokhuja Ahmadov in the mountainous Rasht district, some 200 kilometers east of the capital, Dushanbe, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.

Economic/Energy Front

• ECO energy and oil ministers to meet in Dushanbe

DUSHANBE, September 28, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The Ministry of Energy and Industries of Tajikistan (MoEI) will host the 2nd Ministerial Meeting on Energy/Petroleum of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

• IMF expects Tajikistan’s year-end inflation to stand at 9 percent

DUSHANBE, September 25, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Mr. Todd Schneider, visited Tajikistan from September 13 to September 24 to hold discussions with Tajik authorities on the third review under a three-year extended credit facility arrangement with Tajikistan.

Social Front

• Lenin Statue Removed For 'Renovation' In Southern Tajikistan

KULOB, Tajikistan  -- Residents of the southern Tajik town of Khatlon discovered on September 29 that the monument to Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin had been removed from the town's central park, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.

    Turkmenistan

Political Front

Geo strategic Front

• Ambassador of Czech Republic accredited in Turkmenistan

On September 28, Speaker of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan Akja Nurberdieva received credentials from the Ambassador of the Czech Republic Robert Kopecky.

Economic/Energy Front

• Turkmenistan increases throughput capacity of C Asia-China gas pipeline

ASHGABAT, September 27 (Itar-Tass) -- Turkmenistan commissioned a compressor station Bagtyyarlyk on Monday. This is the starting point of the Turkmenistani stretch of the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline. The compressor station is located on the Turkmenistani-Uzbek border in the Khodzhambassky district of the Lebap region.

Social Front

• Paucity Of Turkmen Books At Ashgabat Book Fair

Readers in Turkmenistan have thousands of books to choose from if they wish to know about culture, history, economy, science fiction, or other apolitical themes.

An international book fair opened in Ashgabat earlier this month under the motto "The Book is the Way to Cooperation and Progress."

• Turkmen Dipping Their Toes Into Online Forums

"I read 'Ruhnama' to the end. It is a mixture of soup, rice, pepper, and poison. I would say it shows Turkmenbashi's thought process. The ideas are not in order. It's chaotic. The beginning of the thought is in the middle, the middle is at the end, and the end is at the beginning."

    Uzbekistan

Political Front

Geo strategic Front

• The U.S., caught between the Afghan war and human rights in Uzbekistan

The U.S. has been accused of becoming soft on Uzbekistan's human rights record because of its close military cooperation with Tashkent on the Northern Distribution Network, which carries a significant portion of U.S.'s war materiel to Afghanistan via Central Asia. But evidence has been somewhat hard to come by to either prove or disprove that assertion.

Economic/Energy Front

Social Front

• The Tashkent-based journalists could not remember a single name of Uzbek senators

On September 23 US embassy in Uzbekistan organized the meeting of Mimi Tennyson Goss, the expert in the field of public administration and journalism, PhD of Harvard University, with journalists.