31.07.2010

Catherine A. Fitzpatrick

There's never a free moment! Now President Berdymukhamedov is scolding musicians, telling them they should stop imitating world pop music, but instructing them not to just arrange folk tunes, either, the semi-official news service turkmenistan.ru reported.

Whatever they manage to produce under these restrictions, musicians are mandated to use as many of Turkmenistan's 72 musical instruments as they can. Last week, the Turkmen leader criticized Vice Premier Maysa Yazmukhammedova and the Ministry of Culture and Television and Radio Broadcasting which she oversees for «failing to realize the potentials of national culture.» Who knows what the hapless official did wrong - preparation is under way for a big song and dance festival in the Caspian resort of Avaza - the president's pet project - and that's why performers have fallen… >> подробнее

29.07.2010

Catherine A. Fitzpatrick

Turkmkenistan Weekly Round

Turkmen Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov (photo) reported on his participation in the meetings of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Almaty and the international conference on Afghanistan in Kabul at a cabinet meeting this week, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reported.

President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov says Ashgabat stands ready to provide its good offices for an inter-Afghan peace dialogue under the aegis of the United Nations. The Turkmen leader has also highlighted the recent discussion in Kabul of the prospects for building the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-Indian (TAPI) pipeline, estimated at USD 8 billion. The security challenges for such a pipeline through war-torn territories are enormous, but the project has been promoted as key to the post-conflict reconstruction of Afghanistan. Meredov was also in Teheran on July 24, welcoming improved Iranian-Turkmen… >> подробнее

27.07.2010

Charles Recknagel

While no one was looking, this Central Asian country just adopted the most liberal constitution in the region. Will Moscow let it live?

In recent weeks, Kyrgyzstan has offered little in the way of good news. Once regarded as the best hope for democracy in Central Asia, the country's government was thrown out in a coup last April. Just months later, the southern part of the country descended into communal warfare, sending tens of thousands fleeing, many across the border into Uzbekistan. Seventy-five thousand people are still displaced. Amid the violence, Kyrgyzstan's hopes for democracy seemed like a distant fantasy. And then something unexpected happened: The interim government followed through on its promise… >> подробнее