Field Reports

The local election campaign has dominated politics in Georgia for the last few weeks, and has been plagued by a struggle for control over the formerly ruling Citizen\'s Union of Georgia Party. Four main parties are leading the polls, but none looks likely to poll even 15%.

The state commission that had been investigating the Aksy events released its report on May 18. The report points out the main causes of the tragedy, on the basis of which the Commission makes nine suggestions including the suggestion to President Askar Akayev considering personal responsibility of several senior state officials for the events.

The most hardly hit by unemployment, depleted infrastructure, worsening educational standards, low income and other concomitants of the economic changes in Kazakhstan was the rural population. The utter pauperization of people of rural areas have always been the trump card in the hands of the opposition. Now the leaders of the country seem to realize that rural areas can no longer be ignored.

A day after the Ashgabat talks on the Caspian sea ended in failure, Russian President Vladimir Putin announce Russia would hold extensive military exercises in the Caspian sea, pointing to the risk of an increased militarization of the political situation in the Caspian sea. Azerbaijan and Iran both voiced concern, while Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have yet to react.

In 2001 Kyrgyzstan officially achieved growth in key macroeconomic indicators. According to statistical information, there was an increase in the country\'s GDP, inflation dropped, the local currency kept a relatively firm exchange rate, and there was a rise in real household incomes. However, many observers are critic and claim nothing has improved in the economy.

Two separate events discussing the Aksy bloodshed took place in Bishkek lately, one government-sponsored and one opposition-led. Opposition figures reiterated ther far-reaching demands, while the government shows no sign of taking serious action.

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami was the last in a lost of foreign leaders that visited Uzbekistan and pledged financial support for the country. The U.S., China and Turkey have all sent high-level delegations to Tashkent. The changes in financial aid and attention reflect the changing geopolitical configurations in the Central Asian region.