A New Reality in U.S.-Israeli Relations
U.S. President Barack Obama is making his first visit to Israel. The visit comes in the wake of his re-election and inauguration to a second term and the formation of a new Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Normally, summits between Israel and the United States are filled with foreign policy issues on both sides, and there will be many discussed at this meeting, including Iran, Syria and Egypt. But this summit takes place in an interesting climate, because both the Americans and Israelis are less interested in foreign and security matters than they are in their respective domestic issues. READ MORE
NEW OPPOSITION FORCE IN CENTRAL ASIA?
In recent years, Kazakhstan has rocked the whole cycle of high-profile corruption scandals. Often they are involved are those who today is known as an outspoken opponent of the current government. Most of the time to avoid court (because of the timely escape from the country), now consider themselves zealous fighters for democracy in Kazakhstan. Among them are sentenced to significant time for fraud, corruption, murder, the powerful former officials, businessmen and politicians of all stripes. READ MORE
Visit of senior think tankers and policy makers from the Asia-Pacific region
A group of senior security experts, think tankers and policy makers from the Asia-Pacific region took part in a four-day study tour from 4 to 7 March 2013, aimed at promoting dialogue and exploring opportunities for further cooperation with NATO. READ MORE
Kazakhstan and Poland to set up Association of Interregional Cooperation
Ambassador of Kazakhstan Yerik Utembayev attended the session of the Union of the Voivodeships of the Republic of Poland in Warsaw, Kazinform has learnt from the Kazakh MFA's press service. READ MORE
Uzbekistan withdraws from the agreement with International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC) of UAE
The Uzbek government terminates the agreement with International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC) of the United Arab Emirates to build a chemical complex in Navoi region, reports KazTAG. The reasons for termination of the agreement, reportedly was that the parties were unable to reach the figures that have been determined by the conditions of the document, so it was decided to proceed with the divorce. READ MORE
Russia and Central Asia: Missed Opportunities and New Prospects
What is Russia's role in Central Asia? How do those in Central Asia perceive Moscow's policies? What is at the core of this relationship: labor migration, multimillion loans, or Russia’s security umbrella? READ MORE
Ex-U.S. official on increased role of Azerbaijan, Europe's energy security, Central Asia and Iran's nuclear issue
The importance of Azerbaijan is rising in the world, David Merkel, senior fellow at the Centre for Transatlantic Relations - John Hopkins University in the U.S. and Former U.S. State Department and National Security Council senior official believes. READ MORE
The Irtysh River in Hydropolitics of Russia, Kazakhstan and China
China has signed no international-legal documents on transboundary water objects. READ MORE
Kazakhstan Promotes Central Asian Interests Within OIC
In recent years, Kazakhstan has made an effort to deepen and expand cooperation with the world’s Islamic community. The focus has been on economic and cultural ties, but political and security issues have also been prominent due to the large number of internal and regional conflicts afflicting Muslim majority countries. Toward this end, in 1995, Kazakhstan joined the Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC), which was established in 1969. Kazakhstan then became the first Central Asian country to chair the organization as the rotating head of its Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) from June 2011 to November 2012. READ MORE
US, Chinese Plans for Rail Links with Central Asia Triggering ‘Railroad War’ and Reducing Russia’s Influence
United States plans to link the countries of Central Asia by new rail lines with Afghanistan. At the same time, Washington opposes neither the construction of a railway corridor from Central Asia through Iran, nor Chinese extensions of its national rail system into the area. Nevertheless, according to analysts at the Moscow Strategic Culture Foundation, these overlapping transportation development projects threaten to spark a new “railroad war” in the Central Asian region—one that in the absence of counter-efforts by the Russian Federation is likely to result in a sharp reduction of Moscow’s influence over the countries there. READ MORE
