By empty (2/2/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder assured visiting Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili in Berlin on 30 January that Germany will send specialists to advise on reforming the Georgian customs service and to train diplomats, the \"Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung\" reported the following day. Economic Cooperation and Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul pledged 26 million euros ($32.4 million) for Georgian economic development and to help combating corruption.

By empty (1/31/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The Asar party -- which was registered in December and is led by President Nursultan Nazarbaev\'s eldest daughter, Darigha -- held its first congress on 31 January. According to party Political Council member Yerlan Karin, among the suggestions for party activities that were put forward at the congress was encouraging a dialogue among the government, the opposition, and society to draw up a joint reform program. Karin also introduced to congress participants an initiative intended to ensure clean elections, and promised that the party\'s newly established parliamentary faction will take an active role in assessing draft legislation on the media and on elections that is making its way through the parliament.

By empty (1/28/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The new U.S. ambassador to Uzbekistan presented his credentials to the president Wednesday, and the government of this former Soviet republic said it had \"regular contacts\" with Washington concerning human rights.