THE FSB STRENGTHENS ITS PRESENCE IN ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA
By Konstantin Preobrazhensky (3/7/2012 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Abkhazia and South Ossetia are both highly dependent on Russian economic, political, and military support, and it would be natural for Russia to introduce its own system of governance by “siloviki,” the officers of power ministries, in these regions. However, most high officials in Abkhazia and South Ossetia represent only one power ministry: the FSB. Officers from other power ministries, such as the Army or police, are very rare on high governmental positions.
KYRGYZSTAN IN 2015: ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACKWARD
By J. Edward Conway (3/7/2012 issue of the CACI Analyst)
As Kyrgyzstan approaches the two-year mark of the April 2010 revolution, its future socio-economic prospects have gone from bad to worse. Anti-foreign investment rhetoric since the parliamentary and presidential elections has encouraged an unprecedented level of instability in the business environment for multinational companies. Foreign development assistance will decline significantly following the 2014 NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan and the 2015 Millennium Development Goals target date, especially given the financial austerity measures demanded by the domestic politics of leading donor countries.
PAKISTAN’S ENERGY FUTURE: INTERNATIONAL PRESSURES AND REGIONAL COMPLUSIONS
By Rizwan Zeb (3/7/2012 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Pakistan’s energy resources are increasingly receding and consumption rising. The only solution to this problem is to import gas. The Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline provides the most viable option but international compulsions, especially pressure from Washington and sanctions on Iran, makes it problematic.
TURKMEN LEADER VISITS ISLAMABAD AND BEIJING TO BOOST DIVERSIFICATION OF ENERGY EXPORTS
By Jan Šír (11/30/2011 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Turkmenistan is once again at the focus of Central Asian energy geopolitics. While the country’s capital Ashgabat hosted its annual international forum Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan – 2011, President Berdimuhammedov embarked on a quick succession of visits to Pakistan and China. In mid-November, he visited Islamabad to keep Turkmenistan in the game for entering the fast-growing energy markets of Pakistan and India.
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