BISHKEK (TCA) — The Publisher’s note: Central Asia is an important geopolitical area between Europe, Russia and China. It is in Central Asia that world powers have confronted each other for centuries; it is here that China needs to succeed with its new Silk Road Belt for direct access to the Western markets; and it is here that a large wealth of raw materials has its origin. Every week thousands of news appears all over the world in printed and online media and it is quite understandable that many of them may escape the attention of busy readers. At The Times of Central Asia, we strongly believe that more information can better contribute to peaceful development and better knowledge of the region, and for this reason we are presenting this Weekly Digest of Central Asia which compiles what other media have reported during the past week.

Continue reading

BISHKEK (TCA) — The language issue has always been a sensitive one in the non-Russian republics of the USSR and now in the post-Soviet independent countries, especially in Central Asia. Moscow has always advocated that the Russian language retain its strong position in such countries as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Today, however, Russia is facing the language problem within its own borders — in the Turkic-speaking republic of Tatarstan, and this problem may have serious implications. We are republishing this article by Paul Goble on the issue, originally published by The Jamestown Foundation’s Eurasia Daily Monitor:

Continue reading

DUSHANBE (TCA) — The former director of Tajikistan’s National Library has gone on trial on charges of violating a law that curtails spending on weddings, funerals, and other private gatherings, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reports.

Continue reading

TASHKENT (TCA) — The Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Greece, in cooperation with the Institute for the Development of Western Greece, the Greek Nationwide Association of Industries based at Industrial Parks and Ellrosa Consulting Group Ltd., have launched the “Initiative for the Development of Bilateral Economic Cooperation between Greece and Uzbekistan – Alexander the Great & Princess Roxanne”.

Continue reading

BISHKEK (TCA) — Secure tenure of land, fisheries and forests is widely acknowledged as being directly related to agricultural productivity, sustainable management of natural resources, and food security. This is the premise of a new project for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan that the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) kicked off with a workshop in Bishkek on September 21.

Continue reading

BISHKEK (TCA) — Russian special envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov is to visit India soon and the Indian leadership expects to explore the possibility of effective collaboration with Russia in the Afghan peace process, Russia’s Sputnik news agency reported from New Delhi citing External Affairs Ministry sources.

Continue reading