Global Voices Online

Bboyd informs of the first visit that Turkmenistan's President Berdymukhamedov is paying to the EU, receiving a “cautiously upbeat welcome”. The EU has earmarked 30 million euros ($43 million) for the period through 2010 if Ashgabat is to upgrade the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

Recent Links also in Central Asia & Caucasus

Azerbaijan might still be a predominantly Muslim country, but Scary Azeri in Suburbs says that many of the trappings of Christmas in the West can be observed in its New Year festivities. The blog details how the holiday is spent in much of the former Soviet world.

AdnanEmin's Blog, Prison Diary, a new blog from Azerbaijan, has been set up to republish letters sent from prison in the oil-rich former Soviet republic by Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, two detained video blogging youth activists sentenced last week and considered by Amnesty International to be prisoners of conscience. The first post carries a message from Milli after his sentence.

Brave New Foundation posts a petition and YouTube video with young veterans asking Obama not to send more troops to Afghanistan.