Kyrgyzstan has officially applied to become the next member of the Russia-led Customs Union, an institution designed to entrench Russia's economic and political influence in its former Soviet territory. Although joining the union will harm the Kyrgyz economy in many respects, not joining could motivate Russia to use any of the several levers it has in Kyrgyzstan. Other Central Asian countries are watching Kyrgyzstan carefully, as its membership in the Customs Union likely will lead to their eventual membership. READ MORE

Investors hurt by last year’s market turmoil have enjoyed an encouraging turnaround, with many of the worst performing asset classes from 2011 having pivoted to become the standout performers of the new year. Such has been the case with emerging markets. READ MORE

The volume of narcotics flowing out of Afghanistan to Central Asia and Russia appears to have decreased slightly over the past year. But the stockpile of opiates that traffickers already have on hand is sufficient to supply users in Central Asia and Russia for 15 years, according to a leading drug-control expert in Kyrgyzstan. READ MORE

Russia has made an unprecedented offer that indicates a desire to improve ties ahead of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.  READ MORE

Kazakhstan’s parliamentary election for the lower house (Majilis) held last month reflects the start of a new phase in its development based on broader parliamentary pluralism, economic diversification and the gradual introduction of competitive elements into the political system.  The country is committed to reducing its dependence on raw materials exports and developing the conditions to accelerate the growth of the non-resource sector, in particular, competitive small and medium enterprises.  This in turn requires the expansion of a middle class with a greater voice in the country’s development and a stake in successful institutional reform. READ MORE

The alliance between our countries is a partnership of the heart – we count on each other and the world counts on that alliance READ MORE

In Turkey, where the military was one of the main factors of national stability since the times of Kemal Ataturk, the arrest of a former commander of Armed Forces Ilker Bashbut has been extended. In the Ergenekon case where more than one hundred suspects have been taken into custody, he was accused on allegations of plotting a coup against the R.T.Erdogan government. READ MORE

March 2012 marks 20 years of Kazakhstan's membership in the UN, Kazakhstan Ambassador and First Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ms. Akmaral Arystanbekova has shared her memories of the historical moment of Kazakhstan's accession to the United Nations in an interview with Kazinform. READ MORE

Interviewee: Charles A. Kupchan, Whitney Shepardson Senior Fellow, CFR
Interviewer: Bernard Gwertzman, Consulting Editor, CFR.org READ MORE

A meeting of the prime ministers of CIS member states at the Constantine Palace in St. Petersburg in October, where Putin triumphantly announced an agreement to form a free-trade zone after years of fruitless negotiations. READ MORE