Wednesday, 20 October 2004
ARE AFGHANISTAN’S ELECTIONS A WATERSHED?
By Stephen Blank (10/20/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND:Many of the fears cited above remain valid, even if the conclusion they seemingly pointed to has not taken place. NATO still does not have enough troops outside of Kabul and members are stalling on effecting major command reforms that would unite this force with the American led force and thus ensure unity of command, as well as multiplying those forces’ strike and peace support capabilities. There seems to be no good reason for this stalling and undoubtedly NATO secretary-general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is tired of going around with a begging bowl, to use his words, to get members to contribute to a commitment which they freely made.
Wednesday, 20 October 2004
RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE IN TAJIKISTAN INAUGURATED
By Hooman Peimani (10/20/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND:The Soviet Union’s fall ended Russia’s military presence in most of the Central Asian and Caucasian countries. Moscow maintained some of its bases in Georgia and Armenia, while keeping a small number of troops in the Central Asian countries, excluding Uzbekistan, to guard their international borders as their respective military forces in-formation were unable to perform the task. As a result, Russia ended up with a limited degree of military presence in its former Asian republics in the early 1990s.
Wednesday, 20 October 2004
A STRONG JAPANESE INITIATIVE IN CENTRAL ASIA
By S. Frederick Starr (10/20/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND:In late August Japan unveiled a major new initiative with respect to the five countries of Central Asia formed after the collapse of the USSR. Since 1992 Japan has pursued an active if low-keyed policy of supporting economic and social development in the new states of Central Asia. Down to 2002 it had allocated a total of $2.
Wednesday, 20 October 2004
THE SURPRISE OF ABKHAZ ELECTIONS
By John Mackedon (10/20/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND:The ensuing struggle has resulted in a number of resignations and appointments, including the appointment of Nodar Khabasha, who openly stated that he was sent directly by Russian President Vladimir Putin to help “stabilize” the situation in Abkhazia as well as the resignation of the Chairman of the CEC as well as the filing for resignation by the Chairman of the regional Supreme Court; it has not, however, resulted in a final President-elect. Abkhazia has practiced de-facto independence since it split from Georgia after a civil war in 1992-93, a war that was clearly won through Russian intervention. Since that time the breakaway republic has had only one president, Vladislav Ardzinba, who assumed power before the war had even played itself out and was ultimately elected president in the first two presidential elections held in the region, in 1994 and 1999.Visit also
