BISHKEK (TCA) — European sanctions on Russia and Russian counter sanctions on Europe, as well as new sanctions of Russia on Turkey, have forced European and Turkish manufacturers to find new ways to stay in the Russian market. A new model of export oriented cooperation between Russia and former Soviet States is now taking shape with the purpose to produce in Russia and in several Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) member countries. The new initiative “Made with Italy” is being promoted by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development as a new way of transferring technological know-how and other forms of cooperation to countries that enjoy the benefits of their membership of the EEU and are free from any form of sanctions.

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OSH, Kyrgyzstan (TCA) — In Afghanistan, the Taliban has regained a foothold and launched the spring offensive codenamed “operation Omari,” after the name of its late leader Mullah Muhammad Omar. This will certainly nullify the peace efforts of the quadrilateral coordination group of China, the US, Pakistan and Afghanistan for reaching a direct dialogue between Kabul and the Taliban. The spring offensive will certainly escalate violence and further destabilize the country. Such development on the ground, with the Afghan government’s role in state management reduced by ever intensive fighting, may turn foreign intervention from a last option into the only option. With Afghanistan falling again into chaos, terrorism may spread to neighboring countries of Central Asia and probably China’s western Xinjiang region.  

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