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.

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BISHKEK (TCA) — In an attempt to maintain good relations with the West, Kazakhstan is trying to resist to Russian propaganda in its media and social-life spheres — a rather difficult task given a large ethnic Russian minority in Kazakhstan. Here below we are republishing this article by George Voloshin on the issue, originally published by The Jamestown Foundation’s Eurasia Daily Monitor:

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BISHKEK (TCA) — The Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) has published a report, “Belt and Road: A Game Changer”. The report was published on the occasion of the China Watcher – Seventh Maria Weber Annual Conference, held in Milan on May 10.

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DUSHANBE (TCA) — United States Ambassador to Tajikistan Elisabeth Millard, Chairman of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) of Tajikistan General-Lieutenant Saymumin Yatimov, and 1st Deputy SCNS Chairman and Commander of the Border Force of Tajikistan General-Lieutenant Rajabali Rahmonali on May 11 attended the handover ceremony of $6 million in vehicles, communications equipment, and thermal cameras to the Main Border Guard Department under the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan. This assistance will be used to increase the ability of Tajikistan’s Border Guards to identify and interdict narcotics crossing along Tajikistan’s borders, the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe said.

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BISHKEK (TCA) — Under its framework to support water and wastewater modernization in Kyrgyzstan, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing financing for projects in four more Kyrgyz cities, with a total population of over 141,000 people. The European Union (EU) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) will jointly co-finance these projects, building on existing successful cooperation on EBRD-led projects, the EBRD said.

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ASHGABAT (TCA) — The 7th meeting of the Joint Turkmen-German Working Group was held in Ashgabat on May 11 to discuss issues of increasing bilateral trade and economic cooperation, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reported.

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