By empty (9/17/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Dariga Nazarbaeva, head of the official Kazakh television system and eldest daughter of President Nursultan Nazarbaev, told journalists in Pavlodar on 16 September that she is considering turning the public association Asar into a political party, centrasia.ru reported today. She and nine other prominent figures founded Asar in May 2003 with the stated goal of providing help to less-well-off segments of the population and to young people.

By empty (9/17/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The Kyrgyz opposition Ar-Namys Party has carried out its threat, made in April, to file a libel suit against National Guard commander General Abdygul Chotbaev, gazeta.kg reported on 16 September. The party charges that it was slandered in an article by Chotbaev that appeared in \"Argumenty i fakty Kyrgyzstana,\" No.

By empty (9/16/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) delegation currently visiting Baku issued a statement on 16 September listing its concerns over the country\'s ongoing presidential-election campaign. They said the composition of the Central Election Commission (CEC), 10 of whose members are nominated by political parties loyal to the authorities and five by opposition parties, \"is a source of major concern,\" and called on the CEC to \"take urgent steps to meet the requirements of the election law.\" They advocated that the outcome of the ballot be made public immediately, even though the Election Law provides for a delay of 48 hours.