News Digest
GEORGIAN OPPOSITION BLAMES PRESIDENT FOR RUSSIAN AGGRESSION
By empty (8/23/2002 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Opposition National Movement head and former Justice Minister Mikhail Saakashvili told journalists in Tbilisi on 23 August that the Russian bombing raid was a response to President Shevardnadze's pathological helplessness and inability to protect the country's interests. Saakashvili said that between 80 million-90 million laris ($36 million-41 million) have been spent annually to maintain Shevardnadze' presidential guard, while funding for the Border Guards is one-tenth that amount. (Caucasus Press).U.S. GRANTS HUMANITARIAN AID TO UZBEKISTAN
By empty (8/23/2002 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Ambassador William Taylor, who is the U.S. official responsible for coordinating assistance to Europe and Eurasia, presented Uzbekistan on 22 August with hospital equipment and medical supplies worth some $51 million.RUSSIA DENIES BOMBING PANKISI, WHILE GEORGIA CLAIMS TWO KILLED
By empty (8/23/2002 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Georgian officials said a woman and child were killed when four military aircraft presumed to be Russian bombed the Pankisi Gorge early on 23 August. Seven other people were injured. A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman denied that Russian aircraft flew any such bombing raid.TURKMENISTAN BEGINS EXPORTING ENERGY TO IRAN
By empty (8/22/2002 issue of the CACI Analyst)
On 22 August, Turkmenistan began exporting 50 megawatts of electricity (220 voltage) daily to Iran, Interfax and turkmenistan.ru reported. The exports, for which Iran will pay $650,000 annually, were agreed on during talks in April in Ashgabat between Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Khatami.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.