News Digest
RUSSIA\'S MUSLIMS SAID TO BE SPLIT OVER JIHAD ON USA
By empty (4/4/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Head of Russia\'s Council of Muftis Ravil Gaynutdin has stated that his organization will not declare jihad (holy war) against the USA. This statement came in the wake of the announcement by the Central Islamic Board of Muslims of Holy Russia (the former Central Muslim Board of Russia and the CIS\'s European Countries) that it is declaring jihad against the United States. \"Russia\'s Muslims are not declaring jihad against the US even though the situation in Iraq is deteriorating.LUKOIL INCREASES STAKE IN AZERBAIJANI OIL PROJECT
By empty (4/4/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)
The presidents of LUKoil and Azerbaijan\'s state oil company SOCAR, Vagit Alekperov and Natik Aliev, signed an agreement in Baku on 4 April under which LUKoil will acquire from SOCAR a further 20 percent stake in the consortium created in 1997 to explore and develop the offshore D-222 (Yalama) Caspian block. Initially LUKoil had a 60 percent stake and SOCAR a 40 percent stake in that project. (ITAR-TASS).EIGHT KILLED IN CHECHEN BUS BOMBING
By empty (4/4/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Six people died immediately and two more of injuries received when a radio-controlled bomb exploded on the evening of 3 April on a bus in Grozny. At least nine more people have been hospitalized with serious injuries. Most of the bus passengers were female construction workers.KAZAKH PRESIDENT CALLS FOR LIBERALIZATION
By empty (4/4/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Nursultan Nazarbaev delivered his annual state of the nation address to a joint session of the Kazakh parliament on 4 April. The speech was broadcast live by Khabar Television. Nazarbaev said there are indications the economy is improving: The state budget is projected to reach 1 trillion tenges ($6.Visit also
Staff Publications
Silk Road Paper S. Frederick Starr, Greater Central Asia as A Component of U.S. Global Strategy, October 2024.
Analysis Laura Linderman, "Rising Stakes in Tbilisi as Elections Approach," Civil Georgia, September 7, 2024.
Analysis Mamuka Tsereteli, "U.S. Black Sea Strategy: The Georgian Connection", CEPA, February 9, 2024.
Silk Road Paper Svante E. Cornell, ed., Türkiye's Return to Central Asia and the Caucasus, July 2024.
Book Svante E. Cornell, ed., "The Changing Geopolitics of Central Asia and the Caucasus" AFPC Press/Armin LEar, 2023.
Silk Road Paper Svante E. Cornell and S. Frederick Starr, Stepping up to the “Agency Challenge”: Central Asian Diplomacy in a Time of Troubles, July 2023.
Silk Road Paper S. Frederick Starr, U.S. Policy in Central Asia through Central Asian Eyes, May 2023.