By Erkin Akhmadov (10/3/2007 issue of the CACI Analyst)

This fall promises to be full of political activity in Uzbekistan. On September 18, Uzbekistan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) announced the date of the next Presidential elections, to be held on December 23, 2007. The election campaign started on September 21.

By Erica Marat and Asel Murzakulova (10/3/2007 issue of the CACI Analyst)

As the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has recently declared its wish to pursue energy cooperation among its member states, its regional counterpart, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), has also been expanding dynamically, trying to increase its functions beyond anti-terrorism activities.

The CSTO, comprised of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, has limited possibilities for further enlargement. The organization therefore opts for expanding its activities.

By Nino Kalandadze (9/20/2007 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The Rose Revolution of 2003 not only brought about a new breath of freedom to Georgia, but also triggered wide ranging social and political reforms.  These reforms have served to place Georgia on an unalterable course for institutionalizing a democratic process and an open, transparent government.  One area that has received special attention is modernizing the Georgian judicial process to place the country within the established parameters of law that members of the European Union follow.