Monopolists seek avoiding competition
By Mazgum Tazhigaly*
ALMATY (TCA). Expecting for fast entry into WTO and ratification of the agreement on the Power Charter of Russia, Mr. Ria Kemper, General Secretary of this organization, insists that the West needs cheap gas, Russian or Central Asian. Given that, the Gazprom must ensure access for transit gas at national tariffs that are cheaper than European ones by 4 times. Read more  

Visiting Officials Don`t Offer Specifics on US-Uzbek Relations Future
By Joshua Machleder
NEW YORK. Despite the fact that a series of US delegations have passed through Uzbekistan in January, no concrete framework for future US-Uzbek relations can be discerned from American leaders` public comments. About the only thing that seems certain is that the United States is interested in establishing a long-term presence in Uzbekistan.   Read more 

The Lack of Russian Military Reform Helped US Forces to CA
By Ariel Cohen
NEW YORK. The January 22 visit to Tashkent by Gen. Tommy Franks, commander of the US anti-terrorism campaign in Afghanistan, has Moscow strategists fretting. Franks` talks with Uzbek leaders comes at a time of great debate in Russia over the United States` intentions in Central Asia. Central Asia watchers in Moscow feel the latest indicators point to a permanent US presence in the region.   Read more 

Growing Prosperity in Kazakhstan Creates Pressure
By Alima Bisenova
NEW YORK. Political activists in Kazakhstan say a recent gathering of opposition parties, as well as the staging of a large political rally, marks a pivotal step in the country`s civil society development.    Read more 

US Military Forces Build up Strength in Kyrgyzstan
By Daan van der Schriek
NEW YORK. A US task force is scheduled to conduct joint military exercises with Kyrgyz troops on January 24, outside Bishkek. In the first of several such planned exercises, US and Kyrgyz soldiers will practice anti-guerrilla operations in mountainous terrain.    Read more 

Chechnya Tape Raises Questions
By Nabi Abdullaev
MOSCOW. A videotape obtained in Afghanistan by U.S. newspaper Newsday shows footage of Osama bin Laden and Khattab, and the Kremlin spokesman on the Chechnya war said Tuesday that this should prove to the world that al-Qaida is financing the Chechen rebels.    Read more 

Sheep Flocks Trampled all of Kyrgyzstan
By Zamir Osorov, TCA contributor
BISHKEK (TCA). Over the past century, Kyrgyzstan`s nature has changed dramatically, and not for better. Whereas the country used to be a large virgin land, all that remains of its unique biological diversity are sporadic islands of untouched nature, mostly high in the mountains   Read more 

Uzbekistan Media Review 17-23.01
TCA Combined report
BISHKEK (TCA). Ancient monuments lure tourists The international foundation Ecosan held a conference, "Ecological tourism - the most important factor in the environmental protection and sustainable development." Uzbekistan probably has the best tourism opportunities in Central Asia. Hair Loss , led light bulbs .   Read more 

Tajikistan Media Review 17-23.01
TCA Combined report
BISHKEK (TCA). France to help restore Tajik airfield French warplanes will be based in Tajikistan as is deemed necessary. Tajik Defense Minister Sherali Khairulloyev spoke about this in the course of talks with visiting Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of France, Jean-Pierre Kelsh.    Read more 

Kyrgyzstan Media Review 17-23.01
TCA Combined report
BISHKEK (TCA). Criticizing government an easy job The situation around the arrest of parliament member Beknazarov and concerning some hard-core opposition members cannot be judged one-sidedly.    Read more 

Kazakhstan Media Review 17-23.01
TCA Combined report
BISHKEK (TCA). Terrorist acts possible The possibility of terrorist acts in Kazakhstan is quite realistic, said Nartai Dutbayev, a newly appointed chief of the National Security Committee.    Read more 

Balkhash - the Largest Lake in Kazakhstan
By Alexey Schetnikov, TCA contributor
BISHKEK (TCA). If you look at the map of Central Asia, you will probably ask a legitimate question, "Why are there so many resorts at Kyrgyzstan`s Lake Issyk-Kul and none at Kazakhstan`s Lake Balkhash, which is much bigger?" Balkhash is practically unknown to foreigners and Kazakhs alike. This lake has huge, untapped tourist potential.   Read more 

Putin Seeks Closer Ties with Turkmenistan

MOSCOW (TCA combined report). Russian and Turkmen experts have further converged their countries` positions concerning the division of the Caspian Sea, President Vladimir Putin told his Turkmen counterpart, Saparmurad Niyazov, at the Kremlin on Monday. Niyazov was in Russia for a working visit.    Read more 

War is Over. Air Bases to Stay
By Alexander Kim, military expert
BISHKEK (TCA). Recent political conflicts in Kyrgyzstan have taken public attention away from events that are likely to change the situation in the entire Central Asian region.    Read more 

International Mountain Festival at the foot of Lenin Peak
By Peter Chernyak, TCA contributor*
BISHKEK (TCA). 2002 is the start of a global action - The International Year of Mountains declared by the UN General Assembly at the initiative of Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev, whose drive has been supported by most countries of the world. video converter free .   Read more 

International Mountain Festival at the foot of Lenin Peak
By Peter Chernyak, TCA contributor*
BISHKEK (TCA). 2002 is the start of a global action - The International Year of Mountains declared by the UN General Assembly at the initiative of Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev, whose drive has been supported by most countries of the world.    Read more 

Contraband Gasoline Floods Kyrgyzstan
By Lyudmila Borisova,
BISHKEK (TCA). Kyrgyzstan is being flooded with contraband fuel, which is sold right in the streets of Bishkek. This gasoline is imported from Kazakhstan, where it costs 5-6 Kyrgyz soms per liter (in Kyrgyzstan, the fuel is already being sold for 11-12 soms). .   Read more 

Turkmenistan Hopes for Oil Bonanza
By Adam Kirtley
ASHGABAD. Very few people from the West have ever visited Turkmenistan, fewer still will know much about it. Yet this small country, situated between Iran, Afghanistan and Russia, is actually very significant, at least potentially.    Read more 

China Promises to Help Karzai in Afghanistan`s Recovery
By John Ruwitch
BEIJING. Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji told interim Afghan leader Hamid Karzai on Wednesday that China would do what it could to help rebuild its war-torn neighbour, where instability and a growing U.S. presence have made Beijing uneasy.    Read more 

Staying on in Central Asia
By Jim Hoagland
ISLAMABAD. Mobs do not march in the streets of Pakistan or India waving signs that say Yankee Go Home Very Slowly. But that message is being sent to Washington by the leaders of these two rival nations, who do not want American military involvement in their region to end when the hunt for Osama bin Laden is over.    Read more 

Uzbek Electoral Body Calls On People to Vote

TASHKENT. The Uzbek Central Electoral Commission has called on the Uzbek people to take an active part in the referendum on 27 January which will decide whether to extend the president`s constitutional term of office from five to seven years and whether to introduce a bicameral parliament.    Read more 

US Presence Helping Asian Insurgencies
By Edward Helmore
ALMATY. As the war in Afghanistan becomes a mopping-up operation, the US has stepped up troop deployments in the region, in what Russia and China fear is an effort to secure dominant influence over their backyards , a region rich in oil and gas reserves.    Read more 

Kyrgyzstan Lets French Use Airport
By Olga Dzyubenko
BISHKEK. Kyrgyzstan has agreed to let France deploy warplanes and soldiers at its main civilian airport for a year, bypassing approval by parliament, Kyrgyz officials said Monday.   Read more 

Putin Seeks Eurasian Alliance of Gas Producers
By Robert Cottrell
MOSCOW. President Vladimir Putin called on Monday for a "Eurasian alliance of gas producers" uniting Russia and the three big gas-producing countries of Central Asia.    Read more 

Focus on Return of Qualified Afghans

ISLAMABAD. Reeling from drought, poverty and decades of war, Afghanistan is hardly the place to enjoy the golden years of one`s life. But for Abdul Hamid Mobarez, a 70 year-old Afghan intellectual, nationalist, writer and former journalist, returning to his country after years abroad couldn`t be more natural.    Read more 

Monopolists Seek Avoiding Competition
By Mazgum Tazhigaly*
ALMATY (TCA). Expecting for fast entry into WTO and ratification of the agreement on the Power Charter of Russia, Mr. Ria Kemper, General Secretary of this organization, insists that the West needs cheap gas, Russian or Central Asian.    Read more 

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