Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from June, 2007
Russia, Sweden: Lavrov and Georgian Wine
Vilhelm Konnander reports that the Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov was drinking Georgian wine banned in Russia during his recent visit to Sweden.
Kazakhstan: No more gambling!
What happened to the ubiquitous casinos in downtown Almaty since they got banned? Adam Kesher investigates on neweurasia.
Facets of Afghanistan
Both Registan.net and Nonpon discuss the drawings of Canadian National Post illustrator Richard Johnson, who spent two months embedded with Canadian troops in Kandahar and presents a rare and haunting insight into life in the war-torn province.
RFE/RL under attack in Armenia
The Armenian branch of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, one of the few independent broadcasters in the country, is under increasing pressure from the government, report Oneworld and The Armenian Observer.
Central Asian Agriculture
Bonnie Boyd reports of locusts plaguing the region and draconian regulations forcing Uzbek farmers to harvest green wheat.
Armenia: Power Plates
Armenia Blog has photos of prestigious license plates.
Central Asia: China's Soft Power
At Registan.net, Joshua Foust examines how Central Asia might be impacted by China's soft power.
Uzbekistan: Electioneering
Uzbekistan's president has been making numerous trips to various regions of Uzbekistan in what Jamiyat of neweurasia calls the launch of a re-election campaign.
Tajikistan: Reforms Continue
James reports on the continued reforms being implemented by Tajikistan's President Rahmon. The president argues that his cultural reforms are designed to cut back on excessive spending by impoverished citizens, while others say they are invasively micromanaging Tajik lives.
Tajikistan: Truce Anniversary
Beyond the River says that recent political developments highlight questions that have remained open since the peace agreement in Tajikistan's civil war, the tenth anniversary of which is coming in a few days.
Armenia: Road Work
Notes from Hairenik reports on traffic nightmares in Yerevan and a planned two years of construction on major roadways.
Afghanistan: The Next President
Afghanistanica considers what makes for an electable presidential candidate in Afghanistan.
U.S. Concerned About Armenia’s Ties With Iran
“Iran is planning massive investments into the economies of Georgia and Armenia. We’re talkingof 1 billion dollars for Tbilissi and a analogous offer to Yerevan. For your consideration: the total amount of Russian investments in Georgia in 2006 did not exceed 30 million dollars, as to Armenia, after arrangements made...
Uzbekistan: Demographic Explosion
Libertad wonders how the government of Uzbekistan will be able to handle providing services to the country's rapidly increasing population.
Tajikistan: Safer Skies
Vadim says that the purchase of new, modern planes will help Tajikistan's airline become safer.
Kyrgyzstan: Men's Health
Genderstan discusses men's health as a gender issue in Kyrgyzstan, noting that deleterious cultural attitudes about masculinity are often ignored.
Armenia: Future in a Flat World
Nazarian writes about Armenia's place in a globalizing economy.
Mongolia: Firefighter Tragedy
Tom Terry writes that while many in the United States are grieving the deaths of 9 firefighters in South Carolina, many in Mongolia are mourning the deaths of 14 firefighters who perished when their helicopter crashed while taking them to fight a blaze in a rural area.
Central Asia: Peak Oil
Bonnie Boyd explains what peak oil has to do with Central Asian states and warns that they must use petrodollars to build a foundation for the future.
Armenia: Colorful Cranes
Artur speculates that the reason more and more tourists are coming to Yerevan is to see all the colorful cranes.
Afghanistan: Kuchi-Hazara Dustup
Ronin reports that the recent clash between Hazaras and Kuchis in Afghanistan has been resolved with the Kuchis withdrawing to Pashtun land.
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