EurasiaNet.org - Central Asia, Caucasus News
EurasiaNet provides information and analysis about political, economic, environmental and social developments in the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus, as well as in Russia, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia.



Azerbaijan: Medvedev Makes Splash in Baku, But is it More Style than Substance? (Jul 3)
BY SHAHIN ABBASOV
Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev concluded July 3 talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev by pronouncing Baku to be Moscow’s "strategic partner." Meanwhile, the head of the Kremlin-controlled conglomerate Gazprom, Alexei Miller, announced that talks would soon begin on the Russian firm’s purchase of Azerbaijani gas. But experts remain unconvinced that the upbeat rhetoric surrounding Medvedev’s visit will lead to any change in the existing bilateral relationship.


Two US Congressmen Think Kazakhstan’s President Deserves a Nobel Peace Prize (Jul 3)
BY JOSHUA KUCERA
Two members of the US Congress are spearheading an effort to nominate the president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, for a Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of Kazakhstan’s decision in the early 1990s to give up nuclear weapons it inherited upon gaining independence from the Soviet Union.


Turkey: Arrests, Court Case Reveal that Turkey is Dangerously Polarized (Jul 2)
BY NICHOLAS BIRCH
Simmering tension between Turkey’s secular establishment and popular religious-minded government is reaching the boiling point. Some experts are expressing concern that Turkish society has become so polarized that events could take a dangerous turn.


Russian President Strives for a Breakthrough Moment in Caspian Basin Energy Game (Jul 2)
BY STEPHEN BLANK
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is set to embark on a potentially pivotal diplomatic tour during which he will strive to settle the contest to develop and export Caspian Basin energy in Moscow’s favor.


Iran Quietly Supported a Partitioning of Iraq (Jul 2)
BY KAMAL NAZER YASIN
In public and in even in its diplomatic dealings, Iran has adamantly opposed the partition of Iraq, variously deriding the idea as a "diabolical plot," a "colonial scheme," and "divide-and-rule politics." Yet, behind the fa?ade of opposition, Iranian leaders seem to have quietly concluded that a tri-partite partition of Iraq along ethnic-confessional lines may be in Iran’s best interests.
A EurasiaNet Commentary


Central Asia: Western Democracies Enable "Petro-Authoritarianism" - Report (Jul 2)
BY DEIRDRE TYNAN
Driven by "petro-authoritarianism," the countries of Central Asia are thoroughly throttling democratization, according to an annual survey conducted by the watchdog group Freedom House.


Uzbekistan: Human Rights Concerns Raised Amid Sanctions Freeze (Jun 23)
BY JOANNA LILLIS
Nearly two months after the European Union ruled that sanctions against Uzbekistan would remain suspended for six months, there are signs that Western governments continue to seek rapprochement with Tashkent. The trend is happening even while human rights bodies caution that lifting sanctions altogether will leave the West with no leverage to seek improvements in the country’s dismal human rights record.


Energy: Nabucco Chief Eyes Iranian, Russian Gas Despite U.S. Objections (Jun 23)
BY BRUCE PANNIER
When finished, the Nabucco gas pipeline will run from eastern Turkey to the heart of Europe, completely bypassing Russia. But while its route is established, its suppliers have yet to be fully determined. And therein lies the controversy.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL


Armenian Opposition Rallies; PACE Says Reforms "Inadequate" (Jun 20)
BY MARIANNA GRIGORYAN
With cries of "Fight, fight till the end!" supporters of ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosian on June 20 held their first large-scale public demonstration in Yerevan since the violence of March 1 that left ten people dead.


Turkmenistan: Wireless Internet Offer Hints At End To State Monopoly (Jun 20)
BY FARANGIS NAJIBULLAH
Russia’s Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) has become the first company, foreign or domestic, to offer wireless Internet connection in Turkmenistan -- a country dubbed "one of the world’s Internet enemies" by a top media rights group.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL