Field Reports
CSTO’S ANTITERRORIST EXERCISES “RUBEZH-2004”SCORE HIGH RATING AMONG MEMBER-STATES
By Erica Marat (8/25/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
The CSTO’s Collective Rapid Reaction Forces (CRRF) exercises were conducted in two stages, the first in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the second in Balykchy, Issyk-Kul oblast in Kyrgyzstan. Together, about 1,700 CRRF troops out of the organization’s total of 4,500 were involved in the exercises. The second stage was comprised of practical trainings at “Edelweiss” military camp in a remote mountainous place with some elements of military infrastructure that remain from the Soviet times.A CLASH OF “TRADITIONAL” AND NEW POLITICAL CULTURES IN KAZAKHSTAN
By Marat Yermukanov (8/25/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
The underlying idea of political reforms is to create a “governable democracy” and to consolidate the society under the slogan of national unity, giving priority to political stability over democratic reforms. State officials in their talks with western political circles reiterate that Kazakh society is not ready to accept democratic ideas. The same point is pressed home to the domestic audience.AZERBAIJAN FACES DIFFICULT FOREIGN POLICY CHOICES
By Fariz Ismailzade (8/25/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Khatami’s visit came at a perfect time. While hesitating to visit Azerbaijan during the presidency of Heydar Aliyev, Khatami nevertheless decided to accept the invitation of the new Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev and visit Azerbaijan in order to start “a new era” in the bilateral relations. During his visit, he held talks with the political leadership of Azerbaijan, participated in the Iranian-Azerbaijani business forum and traveled to Ganja, the second largest city of the country, to visit the grave of the greatest Azerbaijani poet Nizami.FATE OF CONFLICT ZONE RESIDENTS HANGS ON A THREAD IN SOUTH OSSETIA
By Theresa Freese (7/28/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
After reports that Russians (seen as controlling South Ossetian authorities) were bringing arms and military equipment into Tskhinvali region, events escalated into a pre-conflict situation. As evidence that Russia was assisting Ossetians, Georgian police and peacekeepers detained Russian vehicles carrying unguided helicopter missiles into Tskhinvali. The response was rapid.Visit also
Staff Publications
Silk Road Paper S. Frederick Starr, U.S. Policy in Central Asia through Central Asian Eyes, May 2023.
Analysis Svante E. Cornell, "Promise and Peril in the Caucasus," AFPC Insights, March 30, 2023.
Oped S. Frederick Starr, Putin's War In Ukraine and the Crimean War), 19fourtyfive, January 2, 2023
Oped S. Frederick Starr, Russia Needs Its Own Charles de Gaulle, Foreign Policy, July 21, 2022.
Silk Road Paper S. Frederick Starr, Rethinking Greater Central Asia: American and Western Stakes in the Region and How to Advance Them, June 2022
Oped Svante E. Cornell & Albert Barro, With referendum, Kazakh President pushes for reforms, Euractiv, June 3, 2022.
Oped Svante E. Cornell Russia's Southern Neighbors Take a Stand, The Hill, May 6, 2022.
Silk Road Paper Johan Engvall, Between Bandits and Bureaucrats: 30 Years of Parliamentary Development in Kyrgyzstan, January 2022.
Oped Svante E. Cornell, No, The War in Ukraine is not about NATO, The Hill, March 9, 2022.
Analysis Svante E. Cornell, Kazakhstan’s Crisis Calls for a Central Asia Policy Reboot, The National Interest, January 34, 2022.
Book S. Frederick Starr and Svante E. Cornell, Strong and Unique: Three Decades of U.S.-Kazakhstan Partnership, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, December 2021.
Silk Road Paper Svante E. Cornell, S. Frederick Starr & Albert Barro, Political and Economic Reforms in Kazakhstan Under President Tokayev, November 2021.