Summery

     Azerbaijan

Political Front

• Azerbaijani opposition APFP-Musavat election bloc appeals to CEC for registration

Azerbaijani opposition APFP-Musavat election bloc has submitted documents to Central Election Commission (CEC) for registration, head of Musavat party's election department said. Chairmen of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party and Musavat Party signed an agreement on establishing an APFP-Musavat election bloc to jointly participate in the parliamentary elections.

Geo strategic Front

• Azerbaijani leader: Nagorno-Karabakh is a historical land of Azerbaijan -

The historic agreement signed today will ensure the future development of Turkish-Azerbaijani relations, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said, while delivering a speech after signing an agreement on the establishment of the Supreme Council for Strategic Cooperation in Istanbul on Sept. 15, TRT1 television reported.

• Azerbaijan Withdraws Draft Karabakh Resolution From UN

YEREVAN -- Azerbaijan has withdrawn a controversial draft resolution on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict from the United Nations General Assembly, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.

• German-Azerbaijani military cooperation to be discussed in Baku

Baku will held bilateral talks on expanding the Azerbaijan- Germany military cooperation. The talks will be held during the German delegation's visit to the country on Sept. 13 -15 within the framework of cooperation, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said.

• United States confirms interest in Azerbaijan's Gabala radar station

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has confirmed America's interest in cooperating with Russia on a missile defense system using the Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan, Deutsche Welle reported.

• WB ready to discuss new areas of cooperation with Azerbaijan to ensure sustainable economic growth

World Bank (WB) Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Mr. Philippe Le Houérou, will travel to Azerbaijan from Sept. 13 to 15, the WB Baku office reported. The aim of his visit is to familiarize with recent economic and social developments in Azerbaijan and to discuss with the country's leadership, senior government officials, development partners, business community, and civil society the possible ways in which the World Bank can support sustainable economic growth and diversification, and human capital development in the country, the office's statement says.

• President Ilham Aliyev: Azerbaijan–Georgia–Romania Interconnector project marks a new page in energy cooperation - UPDATE

Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Traian Basescu of Romania, Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met in Baku on Sept. 14.

• Waving The Banner Of Azerbaijan's New Oil Boom

Winston Churchill once said that "If oil is a queen, then Baku is her throne." Azerbaijan's oil wealth has a long and storied history. But its oil industry was born in the late 19th century. Initially dominated by British, Dutch, Swedish, and Russian companies, it later became a center of Soviet might.

• President Ilham Aliyev receives World Bank's vice president

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Monday World Bank's Vice President Philippe Le Houerou. During the meeting, the level of cooperation between the World Bank and Azerbaijan`s relevant bodies was praised.

• Joint market to be launched on Azerbaijan-Iran border

Joint market will be launched in Iran's Germi city located along the Azerbaijan-Iran border, MP from Germi city Vali Ismaili said. According to the MP, the joint market will be launched in 70 ha area.

• Baku to host conference on peaceful use of nuclear energy

Azerbaijan's capital will host an international conference on peaceful use of nuclear energy in November. According to director of the Radiation Problems Institute, Adil Garibov, the event will hear nearly 100 reports.

• Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary sign Baku Declaration on AGRI project

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev hosted a meeting with Romanian President Traian Basescu, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Baku on Tuesday, AzerTAc state news agency reported. Opening the meeting to discuss the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania Interconnector (AGRI) project, Aliyev greeted the guests.

Social Front

• Anti Quran-burning rally held in Azerbaijan

A rally was held in Nardaran settlement of Baku today to protest against abuses of the Quran in the United States. Intellectuals and inhabitants of nearby settlement attended the meeting, Meshadi settlement resident Natig Kerimov told Trend. He said the protesters held copies of the Muslim holy book. Abusing the Quran was condemned at the rally.

• ADB: Water level in Caspian Sea may rise 1.5 meters

Seminar on climate change was held with the frame work of Asian Development Bank Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program in Baku.

• Leaders Of Turkic-Speaking Countries To Launch New Regional Grouping

Leaders of Turkic-speaking countries are meeting in Turkey to formally launch a new regional cooperation organization that will strengthen ties between Turkey and Central Asian nations.

Kazakhstan

Political Front

• Kazakhstan President Said To Seek Reelection

An adviser to Kazakhstan's president, Nursultan Nazarbaev, says that country's only leader in its post-Soviet history will seek a fresh term in office in 2012, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

• President Times Infinity

It probably will not come as a surprise to most that Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbaev is planning to run for another term as president.

• Kazakh President's Close Aide Dies

One of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev's closest associates has died in a Swiss medical clinic at the age of 77, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

Nazarbaev reportedly expressed his condolences to the family of Vladimir Ni, an ethnic Korean, who died after a long illness on September 9.

Geo strategic Front

• Kazakhstan Extradites Kyrgyz Citizen To Uzbekistan

ALMATY -- Kazakh officials have extradited a Kyrgyz citizen of Uzbek origin to Uzbekistan, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

Tashkenbai Aubakirov, a senior aide to the Almaty city prosecutor, told RFE/RL that Khurshid Kamilov was wanted in Uzbekistan for alleged involvement in the murder of two Uzbek police and participation in extremist and terrorist activities.

• SCO exercises in Kazakhstan to train new counter terrorism techniques

ALMATY, September 10 (Itar-Tass) -- New counter terrorism techniques will be trained at the Peace Mission 2010 exercises of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Kazakhstan.

Economic/Energy Front

• Kazakhstan to start introducing EU construction standards in 2011

In 2001 the construction industry of Kazakhstan will start introducing adapted EU standards in structural engineering (Eurocodes), said the head of the Kazakh State Agency for Construction and Housing Serik Nokin.

• Kazakhstan falls five places in Global Competitiveness Report

The Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011 released by the World Economic Forum positioned Kazakhstan 72nd on the list of 139 countries. Kazakhstan fell 5 places from 67th position occupied last year.

Social Front

• Trial Starts For Kazakh Inmates Accused Of Fake Beating Video

SHAKHTINSK, Kazakhstan -- Four convicts have gone on trial in central Kazakhstan for allegedly faking a video of an inmate being beaten, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

In May, a video clip circulated on YouTube showing a man in a Kazakh prison guard uniform beating an inmate at the AK-159/6 prison in the town of Dolinka.

• Watchdog slams lack of Kazakhstan’s media freedom

 (AP) - Kazakhstan’s failure to improve media freedom has damaged its international standing and the situation is getting worse, not better, a media advocacy group said in a report Tuesday.

    Kyrgyzstan

Political Front

• Detention Sparks Protest Rally In Southern Kyrgyz City

UZGEN, Kyrgyzstan -- Officials in the southern Kyrgyz city of Uzgen say a crowd of several hundred people rallied today to demand the release of a local man detained on suspicion of illegal arms possession, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

• Kyrgyz Interior Ministry personnel to be put on alert on October 5

In Kyrgyzstan, the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry personnel will be out on alert on October 5, Deputy Minister Baktybek Alymbekov stated Friday at a session of the staff office for preparation for parliamentary elections.

• Thirty thousand Kyrgyzstanis debarred from voting

In Kyrgyzstan, thirty thousand citizens are debarred from voting, head of the state registration service Almambet Shykmamatov said at a session of the staff office for preparation for elections.

• Kyrgyz President Reshuffles Top Law Enforcement Officials

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbaeva has reshuffled several top judicial and law enforcement officials, saying the move was aimed at strengthening the justice system ahead of next month's elections, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

• Families Get Land After Leaving Disputed Uzbek-Kyrgyz Village

NOOKEN, Kyrgyzstan -- Families from a disputed area along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border have received land to build houses in a nearby village in Kyrgyzstan, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

• Creation of Islamic party in Kyrgyzstan is a matter of time - Kadyr Malikov

 “Creation of Islamic party in Kyrgyzstan is a matter of time,” director of research center “Religion, Law and Politics” Kadyr Malikov stated at the press-conference today.

According to him there is no party presenting representing interests of Muslims in Kyrgyzstan.

• Experts warn religious leaders of Kyrgyzstan not to participate in political struggle

Experts warn religious leaders of Kyrgyzstan not to participate in the political struggle in the secular parties. This was stated at the press conference by representatives of research centers “Religion, Law and Politics” and “Reasonable Solutions”.

Geo strategic Front

• Defence Minister: Talks on creation of US military training center in Osh city maybe will be renewed after the parliamentary elections

 “Talks on creation of US military training center in Osh city maybe will be renewed after the parliamentary elections,” Defence Minister Abibilla Kudayberdiev stated at the press-conference today.

• Minister Says Kyrgyzstan Wants More Cash For Russian Base

Kyrgyz Defense Minister Abibilla Kudayberdiev says his country wants a substantial increase in rent from Moscow if it is to continue hosting a Russian military base on its territory.

• Moscow Offers Arms To Pay For Military Installations In Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK -- Russian officials have offered to supply Kyrgyzstan with arms as payment for Moscow's use of Kyrgyz territory for various military installations, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

• Manas Transit Center lease agreement extended for one year

The lease agreement of the Transit Center at Manas, located in the territory of the airport of Bishkek, has been extended for one more year, the representatives of the US Department of State inform.

Economic/Energy Front

• None of the parties have a validated economic program – economic expert

In Kyrgyzstan, none of the political parties, participating in the pre-election race, has a validated economic program,” economic expert Zhumakadyr Akeneev stated to 24.kg news agency.

Social Front

• Rights Defender Sentenced To Life In Prison In Kyrgyzstan

NOOKEN, Kyrgyzstan -- A well-known ethnic Uzbek human rights activist has been sentenced to life in prison for involvement in the killing of a Kyrgyz policeman, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

• Criticism For Harsh Sentencing Of Ethnic Uzbek Activist

Right groups have condemned a life sentence handed down in Kyrgyzstan to an ethnic Uzbek rights activist found guilty of involvement in the killing of a Kyrgyz policeman.

    Tajikistan

Political Front

• Tajiks Recapture Seventh Jail-Break Fugitive

DUSHANBE -- Tajik authorities say they have captured another member of a group of high-profile inmates who broke out of jail in Dushanbe last month, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.

• Tajik Ministers Assure Ex-Opposition Commanders Of Safety

GAHARM, Tajikistan -- A delegation from Tajikistan's power ministries has told former opposition commanders that a military operation in the eastern part of the country is not aimed at them but at a rebel commander and his supporters, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.

• Islamic Party Urges Clarification Over 'Detention' Of Activist

DUSHANBE -- The opposition Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRP) has asked officials from the country's State Committee for National Security (SCNS) for clarification after the apparent detention of one of its members in the capital, Dushanbe, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.

• Tajikistan Announces Reforms To Islamic Council

DUSHANBE -- Tajikistan's Religious Affairs Committee has announced that the country's highest Islamic institution, the Islamic Council of Ulema, will be reformed in accordance with new legislation, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.

Geo strategic Front

• United States strengthens Tajikistan’s border security and law enforcement sectors

DUSHANBE, September 17, 2010, Asia-Plus  -– Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi and U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan Ken Gross yesterday officially signed Amendment #10 to the Letter of Agreement on Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement between the two governments.

• 20 militants killed on Tajik-Afghan border - official

 (AFP) - At least 20 Islamist militants and one border guard were killed earlier this week in a firefight along the volatile border between Afghanistan and Tajikistan, Tajik officials said Saturday.

Economic/Energy Front

• ADB awards US$122 mln grant to Tajikistan for regional power transmission project

DUSHANBE, September 17, 2010, Asia-Plus – On Thursday September 16, the Government of Tajikistan, represented by Mr. Safarali Najmiddinov, Minister of Finance, and Mr. Abdullo Yorov, Chairman of Barqi Tojik (Tajik electricity supplier), and the Asian Development Bank, represented by Mr. Joji Tokeshi, acting Country Director for ADB’s Resident Mission in Tajikistan, signed a grant agreement for 122 million U.S. dollars in Dushanbe.

Social Front

• UNDP, UNEP jointly with MEDT launches new poverty and environment protection project

DUSHANBE, September 16, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The UNDP and UNEP jointly with the Ministry of Economy and Trade (MEDT) have launched a new poverty and environment protection project in Tajikistan.

• Tajiks stopped from traveling to Iran, Pakistan for religious courses

DUSHANBE, September 11, 2010, Asia-Plus – Dozens of Tajik students, professors, and scholars were taken off a Tehran-bound plane at Dushanbe's airport as they were traveling to Iran on various religious education programs, officials in Dushanbe have said. Officials removed the group from the plane on September 4, but did not publicly comment on the issue until September 8, Radio Liberty reported.

Turkmenistan

Political Front

Geo strategic Front

Economic/Energy Front

• TAPI: An Idea Whose Time Hasn't Quite Yet Come

It's been a dream on a map for more than a decade, a project that could provide thousands of badly needed jobs and a reliable source of energy that could benefit millions in instable areas of southern Asia. TAPI -- the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline -- has proven as elusive a quest as any in the long history of the region.

• Turkmenistan's explored gas reserves sufficient for many decades

The explored reserves of Turkmen gas will be sufficient for many decades ahead, especially since the country has a lot of promising oil and gas fields that are still awaiting their hour.

• Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov answered questions on "Nabucco"

Turkmenistan has no doubts about the real prospect of cooperation with Azerbaijan in various projects to export natural gas in any direction, including Europe through "Nabucco".

• Turkey sends request to Ashgabat for purchase of Turkmen gas

Turkey, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are going to "develop a set of formulas for the long-term supplies of Turkmen gas across the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan and further abroad" to foreign markets

• Turkmenistan: More Charitable Than I Knew

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov: "Would you like to share this melon with me?" Turkmenistan is a unique place. I knew that when I was able to travel around there many years ago, and the news I've seen coming out of the country since my last visit (October 1993) always confirms there is no other place like it.

• Leaders Of Turkic-Speaking Countries To Launch New Regional Grouping

Leaders of Turkic-speaking countries are meeting in Turkey to formally launch a new regional cooperation organization that will strengthen ties between Turkey and Central Asian nations.

Uzbekistan

Political Front

Geo strategic Front

• Kazakhstan Extradites Kyrgyz Citizen To Uzbekistan

ALMATY -- Kazakh officials have extradited a Kyrgyz citizen of Uzbek origin to Uzbekistan, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

Economic/Energy Front

Social Front

• Uzbekistan: Another journalist is expecting the trial

The government of Uzbekistan is going to judge Abdumalik Boboev, another independent journalist and correspondent of Voice of America. He is incriminated the following charges under Uzbek Criminal Code: slander, insult, illegal leaving abroad and illegal entrance to the Republic of Uzbekistan as well as Preparation and dissemination of information, threatening the public safety and order.