Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from April, 2008
Kazakhstan: NATO Coop. and Regional Integration
Patrick Frost reports that amidst failure of the initiative of Central Asian Union's creation, NATO’s Special Representative recently visited Kazakhstan to discuss the railway transit project.
Afghanistan: Learning from PRTs
Josh Foust opines on the Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan and takes a critical view on their effectiveness.
PangeaDay: Videos to change the world on May 10th
On May 10th 2008 at 18:00 GMT, 24 films will be broadcast during a 4 hour event. What makes this different is that this event, PangeaDay will be broadcast from six locations worldwide in seven different languages worldwide to be viewed through internet, television or cellphones with one unique purpose: to make each other know about the lives of others and focus on what makes us similar, instead of what makes us different and let us work together towards peace.
Armenia: Djulfa
Blogian comments on a recent interview given by a former presidential candidate in Armenia on the destruction of an ancient Armenian cemetary in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan. The blog says that while the eradication of Djulfa should not result in Armenia pulling out of peace talks with Azerbaijan to...
Armenia: Nationalism & Remembrance
The Armenian Patchwork posts some photographs of the 23 April march to the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan by youth affiliated to the Armenian Revolutionary Federation — Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D). The blog says that it was surprised by the nationalism on show.
Armenia: Black Dog of Fate
On the occasion of the 93rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, The Armenian Odar Reads reviews Peter Balakian's Black Dog of Fate. Although the book has been around for some time , the review is quite timely given yesterday and is an interesting account of not just the Armenian Genocide,...
Armenia: Politicized Youth Group
Seetizen, the blog of a prominent youth activist in Armenia, criticizes the Sksela youth movement which was founded by other activists close to the campaign team of former president Levon Ter-Petrossian. Although the Sksela youth movement is meant to be politically neutral, the blog says that the reality suggests the...
Armenia: April 24 — Genocide Memorial Day
Yesterday marked the 93rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocideand the deaths of approximately 1.5 million Armenians in Ottoman Turkey. Every year on 24 April, a date marking the roundup of Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in what is now Istanbul, Armenians commemorate the massacres and deportations worldwide. In Yerevan, this is particularly the case with hundreds of thousands marching up to the Tsitsernakaberd memorial overlooking the capital to lay flowers and pay their respects.
Kyrgyzstan: Pictures from the trip to the country's northern parts
The Azamat Report made a visit to Naryn, a mountaneous region on the north of Kyrgyzstan, and now posts pictures of the road tripping.
Kazakhstan: Almaty Traffic Jam Photo
Ehot posts a photo of traffic jam, which is already a regular phenomenon in Almaty, the largest city of Kazakhstan and the region's business hub.
Afghanistan: TV stations under government pressure
Afghan PenLog returns to the issue of a ban on allegedly “un-Islamic” soap operas on the Aghanistani private TV stations, and says this decision of the government was made under pressure from the parliament and clerics.
Iran: Armenians remember Anniversary of Genocide
Armenians remembered 93th anniversary of Armenian Genocide in Tehran,Iran. You can watch related photos of this event here.
Georgia: Drone Downed
Registan comments on the latest scandal to hit Russian-Georgian relations after the alleged shooting down of an apparently unarmed Georgian drone by what appears to be a Russian MiG-29. For a variety of reasons outlines in the post, the blog concludes that the true circumstances of the incident may never...
Armenia: Alternative Genocide Action
Hrag Vartanian remembers an unconventional action staged thirty-nine years ago by American-Armenian artist Kardash Onnig outside an Armenian Church in New York. The protest which called on ethnic Armenians to “Un-hate a Turk” was held on 24 April, the day Armenians worldwide remember the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
Kazakhstan: Chevron to Face New Fine
Zhanna Zhukova informs the redaers that Kazakhstan’s government threatens U.S. oil major Chevron with a fine equivalent to $309 million for alleged environmental violations.
Turkmenistan: Problems of the Opposition
Maciula writes about the condition and problems of the Turkmen oposition and claims that the West has little chance to exert pressure on the Turkmen authorities to make the political system more democractic.
Kyrgyzstan: Controversy over Military Base
Elena tells about the situation around incident in Kant, location of the Russian airbase in Kyrgyzstan, where a 24-year Russian citizen was seriously wounded by Kyrgyz police.
Kazakhstan: New Capital's PR in Action?
Adam reports on the highly praiseful and therefore suspicious report by Voice of America about the Kazakhstan’s new capital, whose 10th anniversary is to be widely celebrated in the country this summer.
Afghanistan: Rising Numbers of Suicide Bombings
Patrick Frost tells about an upcoming US government report describing a dramatic increase in suicide bombings in the last five years with Iraq and Afghanistan being the location of a large majority of these attacks.
Kyrgyzstan: Short Protest Against US Base
Elena reports about a short protest against the American airbase, which was held today in the Old Square in Bishkek, the Kyrgyzstan's capital city.
Afghanistan: Progress, Problems, and Passageways
Patrick Frost reviews an optimistic appraisal of Afghanistan’s stability by the US Commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, Gen. Dan K. McNeill, who has stated that the Afghan army and police forces should be able to secure most of the country by 2011.
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