News Digest
FORMER GEORGIAN PRESIDENT\'S SON ASPIRES TO HEAD OPPOSITION
By empty (12/16/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Konstantine (Koko) Gamsakhurdia, deceased President Zviad Gamsakhurdia\'s son by his first marriage, has returned to Tbilisi from his home in Geneva. Gamsakhurdia, who heads the Tavisupleba (Freedom) movement, criticized Georgia\'s new leadership for its alleged incompetence, failure to restore the country\'s territorial integrity, and repeated amendments to the constitution that have given the president virtually unlimited power while weakening the role of the parliament. He said he considers it his duty to assume the role of leader of the opposition.ABKHAZ PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE REAFFIRMS PRO-RUSSIAN ORIENTATION
By empty (12/16/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Sergei Bagapsh told journalists in Sochi on 16 December that if he wins the presidential ballot scheduled for 12 January, Abkhazia will not agree to reenter Georgia “for at least 100 years.” Bagapsh stressed that Russia \"has helped Abkhazia resolve problems peacefully,\" alluding to the standoff between himself and former Prime Minister Raul Khadjimba. Bagapsh added that Abkhazia\'s legislation should be brought into line with Russia\'s to facilitate political and economic integration and Russian investment in the unrecognized republic.RUUSIAN MINISTER CALLS FOR CREATION OF ENGLISH-LANGUAGE TV CHANNEL
By empty (12/16/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Speaking at a cabinet meeting devoted to cultural policy, Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref proposed the creation of an international English-language television channel. According to Gref\'s proposal, the new 24/7 channel would be modeled on the English-language channel of Chinese Central Television (CCTV). \"Since the CCTV English-language channel appeared.ABDUCTED TURK DIES IN AFGHANISTAN
By empty (12/15/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Afghan officials have found the body of a Turkish engineer seized in eastern Kunar province on Tuesday. The dead man, who had been working on a road project, was named by Turkey\'s ambassador to Afghanistan as Eyup Orel, Anatolia news agency reported. He was apparently killed after security forces closed in on his captors.Visit also
Staff Publications
Silk Road Paper S. Frederick Starr, Greater Central Asia as A Component of U.S. Global Strategy, October 2024.
Analysis Laura Linderman, "Rising Stakes in Tbilisi as Elections Approach," Civil Georgia, September 7, 2024.
Analysis Mamuka Tsereteli, "U.S. Black Sea Strategy: The Georgian Connection", CEPA, February 9, 2024.
Silk Road Paper Svante E. Cornell, ed., Türkiye's Return to Central Asia and the Caucasus, July 2024.
Book Svante E. Cornell, ed., "The Changing Geopolitics of Central Asia and the Caucasus" AFPC Press/Armin LEar, 2023.
Silk Road Paper Svante E. Cornell and S. Frederick Starr, Stepping up to the “Agency Challenge”: Central Asian Diplomacy in a Time of Troubles, July 2023.
Silk Road Paper S. Frederick Starr, U.S. Policy in Central Asia through Central Asian Eyes, May 2023.