In recent weeks the Mediterranean states of Greece and Turkey have pushed to strengthen their diplomatic ties to the Central Asian region and its states. In the case of Turkey, it is the continuing of a growing relationship, and in the case of Greece, it is an attempt to reinvigorate what has in recent times been a minimal presence in the region.
Turkey has successfully reemphasized its historic connections to the region and its people, and Prime Minister Erdogan diplomatic visits to Turkmenistan and Mongolia in early October is just the latest in a series of up close efforts to strengthen bilateral relations. Erdogan, who traveled with a group of influential Turkish ministers, attended a Turkish-Turkmen Business Council meeting and met with Turkish expatriates and businessmen in Ashgabat. Though I could not find a report stating so, there is no doubt that energy supplies were also discussed as Turkey and the EU desire routes circumventing Russia and in the weeks following the Georgia crisis, Moscow has been deepening its energy supply monopoly with the states of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan, while also making efforts in Azerbaijan. In Mongolia, Erdogan inaugurated the Bilge Khan highway, constructed with Turkish assistance, the Orkhon Museum, and a monument of Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, in Mongolia's capital city of Ulan Bator.
Greece's relations with the Central Asian states has been lackluster as their Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis would agree, but she was out to change this during the recently concluded Forum of Security between the EU-Central Asia in Paris. Bakoyannis met privately with all five CA attending states foreign ministers and stated that 2009 was to be the year when relations with the CA states was to become an ‘absolute priority.’ Bakoyannis mentioned energy supplies and common historical and ethnic connections as being important reasons for closer ties.
Now here are what some of FPA's other blogs are doing in regards to issues related to Central Asia:
FPA Blogs: Provocative stories involving Central Asia
A. Karin Esposito at Religion & Politics writes about the Islamicization of the Afghan judiciary and the Karzai government's failure to contain it. The piece centers on infringements of religious and women's rights.
B. Bilal Qureshi's Pakistan blog daily provides in-depth insight and analysis of 'the most dangerous place in the world.’ Today he tells us the story of Haroon Bacha, a talented singer who desperately seeks refuge from the Taliban who have targeted him because of his musical profession. I consider Balil's page a great resource for my discussions on the current situation of unrest and violence in Afghanistan/Pakistan.
C. Nikolaj Nielsen of Human Rights blog recently did a piece on Uzbekistan's illegal child labor practices, specifically the harvesting of cotton. Nielsen takes a European perspective of the purchasing of Uzbek cotton to manufacture clothing and links to several interesting background reports.
