
Although Russians are closely watching the demonstrations and regime changes taking place across the Middle East and North Africa, it is the situation in Central Asia that is more likely to affect Russia in the long run.

The failure of the international community to recognize the Caucasus and Central Asia as a region with complex internal dynamics complicates efforts to respond to global challenges ranging from energy security and arms proliferation to humanitarian crises.

While Kyrgyzstan's newly elected parliament has convened its first session, there is still no ruling coalition and the situation in the country remains unpredictable.

Last June's ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan, along with the performance of the country's new parliamentary system of government, will have wide-ranging implications for Central Asia and for regional security.

With global trade talks stalled and lower demand from major economies that were hit hard by the global economic crisis, three regions—Eastern Europe, Latin America, and East Asia—are managing to increase trade within their borders and building a broader free trade system.

The ineffectiveness of the Collective Security Treaty Organization during the recent violence in Kyrgyzstan shows that its member states must take important steps in order to turn the organization into a real instrument for guaranteeing regional security.

If Russia wants to be a principal security provider and peace guarantor in the CIS space, it will need to refocus its strategy away from resisting NATO's drive and U.S. deployments and toward conflict prevention and conflict resolution.

Following the June violence, Kyrgyzstan remains gripped by uncertainty surrounding rebuilding in the South and the upcoming parliamentary election. There is a strong potential for continued conflict in the country if these issues are not addressed.

Central Asia has significant importance to U.S. national interests and the Obama administration has a role to play in promoting human rights in the region.

The international community can help bring much-needed stability to Kyrgyzstan, which has experienced violent ethnic clashes as its leaders lay the groundwork for Central Asia’s first genuine parliamentary democracy.