By empty (3/3/2006 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The Russian government will submit to President Vladimir Putin a draft agreement regulating the withdrawal of Russia\'s military bases from Georgian territory. The document envisions the withdrawal of the Russian bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki by the end of 2008, giving Russia until late 2006 to withdraw military hardware from the Akhalkalaki base. The Russian base in Akhalkalaki is to be closed down on December 31, 2007, at the latest.

By empty (3/3/2006 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Armenia will de jure recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh if negotiations with Azerbaijan on a settlement of their conflict over the predominantly ethnic Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan reach a deadlock, Armenian President Robert Kocharian told journalists on Thursday evening. \"Armenia should be prepared that the talks may reach an impasse, although chances to make progress still remain,\" he said. \"However, if Azerbaijan firmly states that time is working for Azerbaijan and tries to resolve the Karabakh issue by bolstering the army and using force, Armenia will take the following steps: first and foremost, it will de jure recognize the independence of the republic of Nagorno-Karabakh,\" the president said.

By empty (3/2/2006 issue of the CACI Analyst)

In a March 1 interview with the newspaper \"Delo No,\" former Foreign Minister Roza Otunbaeva said that little has changed in Kyrgyzstan since the ouster of President Askar Akaev on March 24, 2005. She said, \"I do not think the country has undergone drastic changes. There was crime when Akaev was in power, and crime has remained since [current President Kurmanbek] Bakiev came to power.