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President Vladimir Putin has sharply criticized the United States and NATO and suspended Russian participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty. Russians are clearly frustrated with what they perceive to be a lack of respect for their concerns, but Putin's omissions are important clues to Russian tactics in this scrap with the United States.
The role of Islam in the formally secular state of Uzbekistan remains a potentially volatile issue. It remains vitally important that both domestic and international actors understand the influence of Islam in Uzbekistan to understand the potential problems facing the nation and the Central Asian region more generally.
KAZMUNAIGAZ: Kazakhstan's National Oil and Gas Company.
None of the five Central Asian states have fulfilled the democratic aspirations that were held by their citizens some fifteen years ago, not to mention the aspirations held by people like us, outside observers, the analysts and activists that are gathered at this meeting.
The question of the relationship between Islamic believers and the state is a critical one; depending on how it is resolved, it either encourages, permits, or discourages the use of violence in the name of Islam.
The intense personal conflict between Putin and Belarussian President Lukashenko has deepened. The underlying causes have existed for some time. There are two explanations as to why problems have erupted now. One is that the Kremlin lost patience with Lukashenko's insolence. The second is that Russian leaders want to eliminate this obstacle before Putin's successor comes to power.