United States calls for democratization in Central Asia; CSTO to compile a list of extremist and terrorist organizations; Anti-drug trafficking center approved; Tajikistan and Uzbekistan seek guidance on applying to WTO; Ata-Zhurt party threatens Kyrgyzs
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  • The United States gave a call to the Central Asian republics for democratization. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake said this week that the situations in Tunisia and Egypt make the case for Central Asian nations on the “need to be sure that their political and economic systems respond to the aspirations of their young people, and that they address things like corruption".1 The United States is attempting to deepen ties in the region, an important northern route for non-military supplies for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, Blake told a Congressional hearing in Washington, D.C.2

    The Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will compile a list of extremist and terrorist organizations in its member states to prevent suspect groups and members from slipping across borders. In doing so, it hopes to prevent suspected group members from escaping prosecution in one CSTO member state by taking refuge in another.3 Meanwhile, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on March 9 signed a law ratifying an agreement to create a center to combat drug trafficking in Central Asia. This follows passage of the measure by both houses of Russia’s legislature and an agreement reached in 2009 between Russia and Central Asian nations to create the center to coordinate measures to curtail drug trafficking and drug trafficking networks in partner nations as well as to gather, store and analyze information aimed at cutting down on trans-border crimes.4

    Reports noted that representatives of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan joined delegates from nine other developing nations to attend an international conference, sponsored by the Center for WTO Studies in the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) in New Delhi, offering guidance on applying to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Delegates from countries interested in acceding to the global trade body learned from the experiences of Nepal, China and Vietnam on the rules and regulations of the WTO and the challenges countries face before being offered membership in the body. 5

    Ata-Zhurt (Motherland) party head Kamchybek Tashiev who is the faction leader of Kyrgyzstan’s ruling coalition has threatened to pull his party out of the government over Russian corruption allegations against First Deputy Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov. The allegations swirl around an investigation supported by Babanov into a leading Kyrgyz mobile operator Megacom. 6 While Kyrgyz protesters took to the street in front of the Belarusian embassy in Bishkek this week to demand the extradition of former Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev for financial crimes, corruption. Reports noted that Kyrgyzstan’s security forces had to open fire on protesters in Bishkek.7

    Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon paid a three day state visit to Paksitan from March 8-10 along with a delegation of lawmakers and businessmen to tie down bilateral agreements in the fields of hydropower, trade and investment, healthcare, agriculture and sports. During his visit, Rahmon expressed interest in helping Pakistan construct power plants to combat extensive electricity outages; they concluded agreements to expand highway and rail connections to link their countries and vowed to set up joint ventures to produce construction materials and process precious and semi-precious stones; and reaffirmed their commitment to aid stabilization efforts in Afghanistan.8

    Turkmenistan’s Railway Minister met with delegates from the Afghan government on March 9 to discuss progress on a proposed railway line that will link the two countries. The proposed railway, upon its completion, will run 75 miles from Atamyrat-Imamnazar in Turkmenistan to Akina, Afghanistan.9 Meanwhile, London-listed energy company Petrofac announced on Monday that Turkmenistan will be ready to pump gas to China from its massive South Yolotan field by the end of 2013. Turkmenistan—already has one pipeline to China in operation which provides China with 40 bcm per year—announced it would increase its gas deliveries to China by 20 bcm following an agreement reached by the two sides earlier this month.10

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