By Theresa Freese (6/16/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Many see the humanitarian activities as a “big show”. Perceiving the initiatives and a Georgian military buildup as an attempt to overthrow his government, the self-declared South Ossetian republic’s President Eduard Kokoev, on 12 June suspended all relations with Tbilisi outside of the Joint Control Commission, representing Georgia, South Ossetia, North Ossetia, and Russia. On the backdrop of a military buildup in Shida Kartli, the Georgian government has been launching a series of one-time humanitarian and cultural events across conflict zone villages.

By Aijan Baltabaeva (6/16/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

However, in January 2004, signals about an alliance of oppositional forces started to appear. The political bloc For People’s Power united part of the opposition leaders, forming a first step toward unification. In June 2004, the political bloc chose former Prime Minister Kurmanbek Bakiev, who left the cabinet disagreeing with Akaev’s policy, as its single candidate to ballot in the presidential elections.

By Marat Yermukanov (6/2/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

As was made public by “Kazmunaygaz” officials, the construction of the 988 kilometer long pipeline which is to link Atasu railway station in Central Kazakhstan with Alashankou terminal on the Chinese border will start this year. It is estimated that the construction of the pipeline with a projected capacity of 20 million tons of oil annually will cost a total of $688.4 million.