By empty (9/29/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The government of the unrecognized Republic of Abkhazia has demanded security guarantees for the delegation it will send to Tbilisi in early October to participate in talks on preventing the resumption of hostilities, Astamur Tarba, who is an aide to Abkhaz President Vladislav Ardzinba, told Interfax. Tarba reasoned that \"the hosting side is responsible for security, including moral responsibility.\" A delegation headed by Abkhaz Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba failed to travel to Georgia last week for UN-mediated talks after the head of the Tbilisi-based Abkhaz government in exile, Tamaz Nadareishvili, said on Georgian television that Shamba could be arrested if he came to Tbilisi.

By empty (9/29/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

A three-day investors\' conference in Dushanbe sponsored by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) concluded with the signing on 27 September by Tajik Economy and Trade Minister Hakim Soliev and IDB President Ahmad Muhammad Ali of an assistance agreement. The agreement covers the creation of an investment-holding body with an initial capitalization of $200 million. An unnamed official at the Economy and Trade Ministry told the agency that investors at the conference showed interest in development projects, particularly the construction of a cement plant and a luxury hotel in Dushanbe, as well as in rare-metals mining and hydropower projects.

By empty (9/29/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Islam Karimov on 29 September sent a message to the opening of an investors\' conference organized by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in Tashkent promising that Uzbekistan is taking measures to improve its investment climate. Uzbekistan joined the IDB earlier this month. More than 100 potential investors from IDB member states are attending the conference, which is focusing on investment opportunities in Uzbekistan.