Wednesday, 25 February 2004
ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS OF KAZAKHSTAN: OLD METHODS IN NEW GARBS
By Marat Yermukanov (2/25/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND: A recently released report of the Healthcare Ministry of Kazakhstan states that the number of officially registered drug users rose from 49,700 in 2002 to 52,800 in 2003. Non-government organizations call these statistics into question, suspecting that these figures are underreported. According to their estimates at least 350,000 people in Kazakhstan regularly use various kinds of drugs and intoxicating substances.
Wednesday, 25 February 2004
FACING THE RUSSIAN RHETORIC IN EURASIA
By Ariel Cohen, Ph.D. (2/25/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND: When Secretary of State Colin Powell landed in Moscow on Monday, January 26, after attending Mikheil Saakashvili’s inauguration, he was facing an atmosphere decisively different than the Georgian celebrations. Over the last several months, Russian leaders have sent signals indicating a less cooperative stance in the CIS. Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov has called 2004 a year to reassert Russia’s position in the CIS.
Wednesday, 25 February 2004
IS ILHAM ALIYEV FULFILLING EXPECTATIONS?
By Fariz Ismailzade (2/25/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND: The presidential elections of October 15, 2003 brought Ilham Aliyev to the presidency of Azerbaijan. Some termed it a dynastic transfer of power from father to son, while others coined it as the beginning of a new era in Azerbaijani politics. Much was expected of the young Aliyev: reforms in the political and civil society sectors, liberalization of the economic sphere from the control of the governmental officials; more rapid integration into the Western institutions and reliance on a younger cadre in the state administration.
Wednesday, 25 February 2004
AMERICAN BASES IN THE FORMER SOVIET UNION?
By Stephen Blank (2/25/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND: Even though all the former Soviet states are formally sovereign, Moscow clearly finds it difficult to accept this fact. It has never truly accepted that they have the right to accept the stationing of foreign troops or foreign military assistance from third parties other than Russia. Moreover, the Russian government has retained bases in Georgia, kept troops in Moldova, and attempted to launch various coups against other rulers or states it has deemed insufficiently subservient to Moscow.Visit also
