October 19, 2005
Replaying the Great Game in Central Asia
"There is a direct parallel between the current Russian-American rivalry in Central Asia and the military-diplomatic duel that the Russian and British empires were waging in the Eurasian heartland in the 19th century, the analysts say," Eurasia Daily Monitor reported back on October 13, 2005.
"Both Moscow and Washington deny they are intensely competing in the strategically important region, but the two sides' deeds are more eloquent than words," the publication said. Read more here.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:36 AM | Comments (0)
Russian Foreign Minister to Visit Uzbekistan: Why?
Ria Novosti reported today that, "Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will arrive in Uzbekistan on a routine visit October 21 to discuss regional integration, the political situation in the region, the fight against terrorism and drug-trafficking, and measures to enhance global strategic stability and disarmament."
"Special attention will be paid to the military and political situation in Central Asia and joint efforts against international terrorism, extremism, and drug-trafficking," official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Kamynin said Wednesday, October 18, 2005, according to the news agency. Here's more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:29 AM | Comments (0)
August 14, 2005
Analyst Say A Third Caucus War is Likely
"Observers, security officials, and journalists across Russia are all talking about the possibility of another big war in the North Caucasus," reports Andrei Smirnov in the Eurasia Daily Monitor. "This conflict is already known as "the third Caucasus war," as there have been already two military campaigns in Chechnya," he wrote in an August 11, 2005 report.
Here's more. It's worth reading and pondering.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:16 PM | Comments (0)
Will Oil Diplomacy Bring Peace to Central, Southeast Asia?
On August 14, 2005, WebIndia123.com published an article headlined "Oil diplomacy to bring peace in Southeast and central Asian countries: experts."
I wonder how that can be predicted with certainty, while Muslim populations are oppressed and denied political and religious expression in much of south and central Asia. That's what sparked the armed rebellion in the region that threatens to spread.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 01:52 PM | Comments (0)
Bakiyev Sworn in as Kyrgyzstan's New President.
Kurmanbek Bakiyev was sworn in August 14, 2005 as Kyrgyzstan's new president. According to Reuters, he is "the first leader in ex-Soviet Central Asia to be elected in a vote judged fair by foreign observers." Here's more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 01:37 PM | Comments (0)
August 08, 2005
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Looks at Islam in Central Asia
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty says, "Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Central Asian republics have seen a revival of Islam. The process kicked off quickly as Islam has always had deep roots in the region and missionaries and funds arrived from other Muslim countries to help rebuild schools and mosques," the U.S.-sponsored propaganda station says on its website.
"Nowadays," Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty added, "most Central Asians consider themselves Muslims. Still, many observers say that there are differences between the identity and religious practices of Muslims in Central Asia and those in other parts of the Islamic world."
Here is the first part of a four-part series on Islam in Central Asia. Here is Part II.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 02:05 AM | Comments (0)
U.S. Intends to Remain in Central Asia
MosNews.Com, citing Interfax news agency reports, reported August 5, 2005 that, "The USA intends to maintain its military presence in Central Asia despite the upcoming closedown of its air base in Uzbekistan." This comes from "a high-ranking Moscow-based military-diplomatic source." Here's more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 01:54 AM | Comments (0)
May 17, 2005
Relatives Demand to See Officials Who Handled Beslan Crisis
On May 17, 2005, parents and relatives of the 330 people killed on September 3, 2004 in the Beslan school hostage crisis in Beslan, North Ossetia stated at the trial of Nur-Pashi Kulayev, the only surviving hostage taker, that "they wanted to see officials who allowed the group of 32 rebels to reach the school face justice, not just Kulayev, who could be sentenced to life in jail if convicted," reports The Scotman's Mike Eckel from Vladikazkav. Here's more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 10:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Beslan Relatives Call for 'Real Justice' in School Siege Case
Nur-Pashi Kulayev, "the only Chechen militant to have survived the Beslan school siege in September last year has gone on trial amid calls from bereaved relatives that he be handed over to face 'real justice,'" reports Andrew Osborn, a Moscow correspondent for The Independent of London. Here's more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Uzbekistan's Free Peasants Party Says 745 Killed by State Forces
Nigara Khidoyatova, head of the Free Peasants Party in Uzbekistan, said May 17, 2005 that "her party had compiled a list of 745 people allegedly killed by government troops in Uzbekistan, the highest estimate so far, and that many were shot in the back of the head." according to The Associated Press. "But authorities contradicted the claim, saying the toll was far lower," the wire service said. Here's more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 09, 2005
Joong Ang Daily: 'Korean Firms Open a Digital ‘Silk Road'
Joong Ang Daily of South Korea reported May 9, 2005 that, "LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics are opening up something of a digital silk road in Central Asia, as their brands of digital appliances are market leaders in countries such as Russia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. A decade after it first entered the Kazakhstan market in 1994, LG Electronics grabbed the leading market share there in the markets for major household appliances such as air conditioners, vacuum cleaners and microwave ovens," the daily said. Here's more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 10:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 03, 2005
Amnesty International Wants Pressure Put on Turkmenistan
"Amnesty International (AI) has requested that world leaders pressure Turkmenistan to follow human rights agreements by saying that spreading violations in this country are arousing concerns," reports Zaman Online.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Amir Mir Takes a Look at 'War and Peace in Waziristan'
Amir Mir, senior assistant editor of the Monthly Herald, one of the Karachi-based Dawn Group's newspapers, reported in a May 4, 2005 article in Asia Times Online that, "The American commander of the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan, Lieutenant-General David Barno, stated on April 18 that terrorists were infiltrating into Afghanistan from Pakistan, and that Islamabad had been asked to begin a fresh operation against remnants of Taliban and al-Qaeda presently hiding in the Waziristan region of Pakistan."
"However," Mr. Mir wrote, "Peshawar Corps Commander Lieutenant-General Safdar Hussain was quick to dismiss Barno's claim on April 20, describing it as a highly irresponsible remark: "Lt Gen Barno should not have made that statement. It was a figment of his imagination. There is no bloody operation going on until we have the right intelligence." Safdar, while ruling out joint military operations with the US-led coalition forces, added, "My strategy is to achieve the end goal without firing a shot." Read more here.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 16, 2005
Tymoshenko to Russia: Stop Treating Ukraine like `a Little Brother'
Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukraine's prime minister, has "called on Russia to stop treating Ukraine like ``a little brother,'' saying it was time for an equal relationship between Kiev and its former imperial master," according to Kiev Ukraine News Blog.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 05:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 20, 2005
Yushchenko Cranking up the Pressure Against Kuchma
A February 20, 2005 post at Kiev Ukraine News blog has an update on Ukranian affairs, written by "an American expat who has been living in Kiev for the last 13 years." The blog reports that "as Ukraine's ex-President Leonid Kuchma settles into a comfortable retirement, his future is in the hands of some of his fiercest political enemies, who accuse him of misdeeds ranging from corruption to ordering the murder of a journalist." The report continues:
President Viktor Yushchenko, sacked by Kuchma in acrimony as prime minister in 2000, is cranking up the pressure. He has unleashed his government to pick through sales of state property and alleged "insider" deals under the previous regime.Kiev Ukraine News blog said "the real specter haunting Kuchma's future is Heorhiy Gongadze." Click here to read why.Even Kuchma's retirement package — fat pension, two cars, cook, maid and much more — is under investigation. Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, whom Kuchma once had thrown in jail, ordered the government to come up with a new, slimmed-down version.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:30 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
