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Editor: Eugene Imas

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Contributors: -Risa Chubinsky -Glyn Cozart -Joseph Gates -Thomas Hyde -Katharine Quinn-Judge

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09/23/13-09/27/13

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Azerbaijan

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Azerbaijans Central Election Commission expressed concern on Wednesday over the propaganda mode of pre-election campaign coverage by RFE/RL, Voice of America, and the BBC. The warning followed an appeal to the CEC by the ruling New Azerbaijan party, in which it alleged that RFE/ RLs Azerbaijani service had been carrying out illegal coverage ahead of the October 9 presidential poll. Articles: RFE/RL News.az This week, Russian troops resumed the installation of fences as part of a borderisation plan for the breakaway region of South Ossetia. Georgian President Saakashvili claims that the fences have been cutting through Georgian farmland and has ordered Russian President Putin to cease the process. Russian authorities claim that the demarcation has adhered to the previously determined state borders.

Country News Digest

Russia

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On Thursday Russia and the US agreed upon a draft UN resolution regarding disarmament of chemical weapons in Syria. The current draft stipulates the elimination of Syrias chemical weapons arsenal by mid-2014 but does not include Chapter VII enforcement, which provides for military action. BBC

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Russia Today

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Georgia

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Civil.ge

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In a deal worth $2.6 billion per year, Chinas Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) has signed an agreement with the Ukrainian government-owned firm KSG Agro to lease 100,000 hectares for growing crops and raising pigs in Ukraines eastern region for the next 50 years. XPCC will eventually lease a total of 3 million hectares, which makes up 5% of Ukraines total land and 9% of its arable farmland.

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RFE/RL

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On September 23 former Armenian presidential candidate Vardan Sedrakian was sentenced to 14 years in prison for the attempted murder of opponent Paruir Airikian on January 31, less than a month before the February election. Sedrakian reportedly hired two men to carry out the shooting, who were also sentenced on September 23.

Armenia

RFE/RL

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Uralkali CEO Vladislav Baumgertner, who is still in custody in Minsk after being charged with abuse of power, has requested a meeting with senior Belarusian prosecutors, but has so far received no response. Minsk is still pressing for Russian billionaire Kerimov to be extradited for his involvement in the case, but will consider extraditing Baumgertner to Moscow if Russian authorities cooperate with the investigation.

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Fox News

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RIA

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On the first day of the annual UN General Debate, Turkish President Abdullah Gul addressed the UN General Assembly. Gul criticized the Security Council for not taking a more proactive stance against the Assad regime and has called on the organization to hold the nation accountable for its previous misdeeds. Gul also highlighted the international communitys responsibility to aid the Syrian people.

Turkey

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Reuters

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The European Unions Commissioner for Agriculture announced Wednesday that the EU will lift trade quotas and tariffs on Moldovan wines, without waiting for the ratification of the Free Trade agreement. The agreement is due to be signed in November. Russia, which accounted for 21% of Moldovas exports last year, announced an embargo on Moldovan wines on September 10.

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Kyrgyzstans Ministry of Education announced plans Wednesday to prohibit the distribution of a series of brochures on sexual health, which have been published by a local NGO since 2004. The decision follows an appeal by local religious and political organizations claiming the brochures undermine traditional values.

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This week Afghanistan endured another attack by the Taliban. Militants attacked a checkpoint on the Pakistani border, killing 11 Afghan police officers. The attack happened in the small town of Shorabak and featured the use of heavy weaponry, including mortars.

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Kloop.kg

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Authorities suspended drilling at Kazakhstans giant offshore oil field Kashagan on Wednesday, upon reports of a gas leak on one of its constituent islands. Critics say the complex, which was built in 2000 but only began functioning earlier this month, was opened prematurely and lacks necessary safety mechanisms and procedures.

Kazakhstan

Representatives from Iran and the six major powers met on Thursday at the UN General Assembly regarding negotiations on Irans nuclear program. Further meetings between the governments aimed to resolve the issue have been scheduled for October 15-16 in Geneva.

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In a meeting of the CSTO on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to develop interstate cooperation to further secure the Tajik-Afghan border following anticipated international troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014. Putin further stated that these preventative measures will be aimed at combating the spread of terrorism and drug-trafficking throughout the region.

Tajikistan

The Avaza National Tourist Zone in Turkmenistan played host to a seminar on the topic of initial steps for WTO accession. The event, organized by USAID and the Turkmen Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brought together representatives of 20 Turkmen government agencies and American officials to discuss a range of WTO-related issues. US Embassy

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Articles: Times of Central Asia

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The International Labor Organization began its first mission to monitor Uzbekistans cotton harvest late last week. Rights campaigners expressed concerns on Tuesday that the government had prevented unfettered access for the monitors. In parallel developments, a prominent journalist and an activist both received jail sentences, which experts have attributed to their criticism of harvest labor policies.

Uzbekistan

In a move designed to increase trade ties between the two countries, the United States and Mongolia signed a bilateral transparency agreement this week. The agreement includes measures to address corruption, in addition to more practical elements, such as the provision of Mongolian commercial legislation in English.

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In a national first, doctors at Tartu University Hospital successfully transplanted a patients stem cells in order to restore movement to a young womans hand and forearm. The patient is now able to fully extend her fingers and move her hand and wrist after years of immobility. Doctors believe this will lead to further opportunities to restore tissue effectively.

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This week it was confirmed that former Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas recently wed his former chief of staff and mistress Jana Nagyova. This marriage complicates a massive corruption case against Necas, who resigned in June amid corruption charges, as family members cannot be compelled to testify against one another under Czech law. New York Times

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On Thursday several human rights groups called upon Lithuanian authorities to re-open the investigation of the presence of secret detention facilities (or black sites) operated by the US Central Intelligence Agency. These renewed calls for reinvestigation follow claims that a Saudi national was detained by the CIA in Lithuania between 2004-2006.

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Bloomberg

A new survey from the Atlas of Roma Communities has found that more than 400,000 Roma live in Slovakia, and represent 7.45% of the countrys population. This number is up from 2011, where the census found that only 2% of the population was Roma. Based on these findings, the Office of Government Proxy for Roma Communities will implement development programs for the most disadvantaged populations.

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Latvian president Andris Berzins has made his voice heard on the issue of public transportation in Seattle. On an economic development tour of the United States, the president lent his support to a Seattle-based Latvian Lutheran Evangelical Church threatened by the proposed construction of a light-rail system. It remains to be seen if the planned tracks will be re-routed.

Latvia

Hungary cut its interest rate to 3.60%. This 20 point basis cut was the 14th straight monthly cut, bringing the rate to a new low. Economists are projecting further cuts, possibly bringing the rate as low as 3.00%, in a continued governmental attempt to spur the economy.

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Former Polish president and Nobel Peace Prizewinner Lech Walesa has called for Poland to unite with Germany. Walesa says unification would expand economic and defense cooperation between the two countries, and that Germanys admittance of its past has led to positive relations between the two countries. While some officials were angered by the comment, others merely interpret it as a sign of the former leaders eccentricity. Articles: Telegraph Daily Mail

Poland

Romanias Constitutional Court ruled that a bill allowing stray dogs to be euthanized is legal, sparking protests from animal rights groups outside of parliament. The bill is a response to the death of a 4-year-old boy after being mauled in Bucharest. Under the law, stray dogs will be taken to shelters and killed if they are not adopted or claimed within 14 days. Animal welfare groups are calling for the government to find a more sustainable and humane solution. Articles: Romania Insider ABC News

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Bulgarias Constitutional Court has postponed the hearing for Delyan Peevskis case for possible reinstatement as an MP until October 8. Peevskis appointment as head of the State Security Agency in June triggered mass protests that have continued for over 100 days. Protestors believe Peevskis appointment blurred the line between government and corporate interests. Articles: Novinite Sofia Globe

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After a meeting between Croatian Justice Minister Miljenic and European Justice Commissioner Reding this week in Brussels, Croatia has agreed to amend its extradition laws to conform to EU standards, thereby avoiding EU sanctions. The amendment will go into effect as soon as possible, but no later than January 1, 2014. World Bulletin

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Albanias Central Election Commission announced Friday that it would fine four of the countrys key political parties for their failure to meet gender quotas in June 2013 elections. Under electoral code, 30% of the top tier of each partys candidate list must be women, yet, the CEC reports, most female candidates ended up in the bottom of party lists in June, resulting in meager representation.

Albania

Balkan Insight

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EPCG, Montenegros power utility, has extended the deadline for submission of bids for the construction of a coal-fired unit at its Pljevlja power plant until October 31. The move is a result of several interested companies needing more time to prepare their bids. This construction should improve the security of Montenegros energy supply and will bring the plant in line with EU technology and environmental standards.

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The mayor of Belgrade and Democratic party leader Dragan Djilas was ousted from his position on Tuesday. The city council assembly, which elects the capitals leader, voted 60-0 to remove Diljas, claiming that he has led the city into steep debt. Diljas was elected mayor in 2008 and has accused the Serbian government of sliding into authoritarian rule.

Serbia

10TV

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Kosovo has opened an investigation into last weeks killing of a EULEX officer in the countrys restive northern region. On Friday the EU announced a reward of up to 27,500 euros for any information leading to the arrest of the guilty parties. Kosovos deputy prime minister announced Wednesday that the EULEX Mission, whose mandate expires next summer, had served its purpose and was no longer needed.

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Balkan Insight

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EULEX Kosovo

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A proposed amendment to the Macedonian constitution defining marriage as between a man and a woman failed to reach the required majority. Marriage is already defined as being between a man and a woman in the countrys Family Law, and the countrys main opposition party, the Social Democrats, SDSM, stated that the amendment was redundant.

Macedonia

The Prime Minister of Slovenia, Alenka Bratusek, will put herself to a vote of no confidence in Parliament when she presents her plan for the 2014 budget in the upcoming weeks. Bratuseks draft budget is expected to slash Slovenias deficit in an effort to avoid an international bailout.

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Balkan Insight

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On Monday NATO Bosnia & Assistant Secretary General Herzegovina for Public Diplomacy Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic met with state officials in Sarajevo regarding future NATO membership for Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the meetings Grabar-Kitarovic cited political unity and cooperation in the allocation of military property as prerequisites for qualification for NATOs Membership Action Plan. Dalje

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World Bulletin

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The Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies is a U.S. Department of Education Title VI-funded National Resource Center (NRC) that strives to increase understanding and appreciation of the cultures and challenges of the region stretching from Central Europe to the Pacific and from the Baltic to the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas

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2013 by Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies; School of Foreign Service; Georgetown University * CERES is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites.

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Box 571031, ICC 111, Washington, DC 20057-1031 Email: ceres@georgetown.edu Tel.: (202) 687-6080 Fax: (202) 687-5829

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