By Ainura Cholponkulova (7/28/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

BACKGROUND: The interim Constitutional Council – consisting of state officials, parliamentary deputies, political parties and non-governmental organizations – suggested amendments to the Constitution in 2002. One of the recommendations was the introduction of a party list electoral system. However, in February 2003, the party list electoral system provision was removed from the agenda by a presidential task force.

By Niklas Swanström and Svante Cornell (7/14/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

BACKGROUND: Following the fall of the Taliban regime, Afghanistan’s opium production rapidly rebound, recording the second-largest harvest of 3,422 tons already in 2002. That was still lower than the 4,565 ton bumper crop of 1999, but production kept growing in 2003 to 3,600 tons, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. However, production figures are becoming more difficult to assess, mainly due to the security situation in the country.

By Theresa Freese (7/14/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

BACKGROUND: In the early hours of 7 July, Georgian peacekeepers, police, and local authorities detained nine Russian vehicles carrying military equipment to Russian peacekeepers based in Tskhinvali. Once vehicles were inspected, Georgian authorities confiscated two trucks carrying 300 unguided helicopter missiles. The Ossetian response was rapid.