[Backlog post -- article received on 8 November 2013] Jameel-ur-Rehman Zaib The episode of conventional trod behaviour that discouraged economic ties with preoccupied fears of losing the ground to competing markets is no more a show stopper. History is in the making. The landmark Asia-Europe Summit likely to be convened in Delhi, India soon is a glaring example of changing … [Read more...]
Top Kazakh Writer and Diplomat Champions Nuclear Nonproliferation and Cultural Cooperation during US Visit
[Backlog post -- Article received on 20 November 2013] Eugen Babau In an early November visit to the United States, Ambassador Olzhas Suleimenov of Kazakhstan offered American audiences a rare glimpse into his vast literary contributions and the large literary tradition of his homeland. His impressive body of work spans half a century and is revered as one of the richest and … [Read more...]
John Kerry – The Game Changer!!
[Backlog post] General Mirza Aslam Beg For the last several years the United States had been seeking a respectable exit from Afghanistan, as the end game was nearing in 2013-14. Various options were exercised to determine a suitable course of action, but failed. It was John Kerry, a war veteran and an astute diplomat, who in a short period of few months, was able to strike a … [Read more...]
Бердымухамедов в деле государственного строительства: ведущий с фронта
Новости и комментарий nCa Ашхабад, 3 ноября 2013 (nCa) --- Национально-государственное строительство представляет собой длительный и трудоемкий процесс, требующий огромной изобретательности, терпения, гибкости и видения. Национально-государственное строительство также является бесконечным процессом, потому что каждая нация растет; процесс рождения происходит … [Read more...]
Berdymuhamedov in nation-building: Leading from the front
nCa News and Commentary Ashgabat, 3 November 2013 (nCa) --- Nation-building is a long and laborious process, demanding tremendous ingenuity, patience, flexibility and vision. Nation-building is also a never ending process because every nation is growing; new babies are born every day. The best brains in every nation keep struggling with this challenge and continuously … [Read more...]
Политизация проекта ТАПИ
Тарик Саиди Ашхабад, 31 октября 2013 (nCa) --- Заимствовав устаревшее сравнение, можно сказать, что проект трубопровода ТАПИ по отношению к ослабшим и удрученным Штатам, является некой спасательной шлюпкой для пассажиров тонущего корабля. Отступление под храбрым эвфемизмом вывода войск выглядит серьезным и важным. Старые добрые США, не желая отказаться от своей опоры в … [Read more...]
Politicization of TAPI
Tariq Saeedi Ashgabat, 31 October 2013 (nCa) --- Borrowing a tired simile, TAPI is to a drained and dispirited USA what a lifeboat is to the passengers of a sinking ship. The retreat under the brave euphemism of withdrawal is looming large. The good old US of A, loath to give up its toehold in Central Asia, seems desperate for any fig leave to justify its continued presence … [Read more...]
Peace with Taliban – “What has to be, has to be”
General Mirza Aslam Beg There has been a spate of criticism, by a particular lobby in Pakistan, of PAC decision for dialogue with the Taliban for peace. In the same context, I would particularly refer to the comments made by Najam Sethi, in his article titled, بقا کی جنگ یا تباہ کن امن (Fight for Survival or yield to Destructive Peace), published in daily Jang dated October … [Read more...]
Minorities: Precious blood and cheap shed
Yasir Arfat Baloch Why are minorities just the easy access for massacre in most parts of the world? Political rivalries, economic discrimination and social injustice are no more dilemmas for the minorities, but the religious extremism and sectarianism are the syndromes to raise uncertainty in a society and state. Kinship syndrome may create threat for every believer in every … [Read more...]
Энергетическая безопасность, каспийский вопрос и Россия
Тарик Саиди Ашхабад, 21 октября 2013 г. (nCa) --- Несходство во мнениях является неотъемлемой частью диалога, служащего в свою очередь важным шагом к урегулированию разногласий. Международная конференция высокого уровня «Энергетическая безопасность и устойчивое развитие – перспектива ОБСЕ», состоявшаяся 17-18 октября 2013 года в Ашхабаде, является предметом рассмотрения … [Read more...]
Energy security, Caspian question and Russia
Tariq Saeedi Ashgabat, 21 October 2013 (nCa) --- Dissimilarity in opinion is an essential part of dialogue, a crucial step toward reconciliation. The high level international conference “Energy security and sustainable development – the OSCE perspective,” held 17-18 October 2013 in Ashgabat, is a case in point. When you put 53 delegations from diverse countries, … [Read more...]
Poor paying with their lives for fizzy drinks
Nadeem M Qureshi Travel through rural Pakistan and two things will strike you. One is heart rending poverty. And the other is hospitality. Visitors are greeted with warmth and selfless generosity. The poorest of the poor will immediately call for ‘paani' for their visitors. Paani means water in Urdu. But in the local lexicon it has come to mean a bottled fizzy drink. And … [Read more...]
Billions of Rupees needed to rebuild Dera Bugti
Kiyya Qadir Baloch Islamabad- Though the previous Balochistan government received a lion's share of funds under the NFC Award, the fate of Dera Bugti people remained unchanged and the insurgency-hit district is giving a deserted look. No new schools, colleges, learning centres, roads or health centres were established after Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti’s assassination and the … [Read more...]
Hotels and cottages in Awaza open to tourists
Ashgabat, 30 July 2013 (nCa) --- The Turkmen state committee of tourism has announced that most of the newly opened facilities and several of the older ones in Awaza, the national tourism zone of Turkmenistan at the Caspian coast, are now open for the local and foreign tourists. Here is the list: Yacht Club ‘Yelken’ – 800-243-70371/72/73/74 Hotel and health improvement … [Read more...]
China: Here and Now – Part 3
Tariq Saeedi Ashgabat, 29 July 2013 (nCa) --- Considering that talent is spread evenly across the continents and races, the size of the talent pool of China is four times that of the United States. At least theoretically, no matter how talented a person gets elected as the president of the United States, there should be at least four persons of the same quality in … [Read more...]
Китай: Здесь и Сейчас – Часть 3
Тарик Саиди Ашхабад, 29 июля 2013 (nCa) --- Учитывая, что таланты равномерно распределяются на всех континентах и среди всех рас, концентрация талантов в Китае в четыре раза выше, чем в Соединенных Штатах. По крайней мере, теоретически, независимо от того, насколько талантлив человек, избранный президентом Соединенных Штатов, в Китае должно быть не менее четырех человек, … [Read more...]
As Linux stalks Windows poor countries will benefit
(Corrected version: in para 4 line 1 - some 22 years ago instead of some 14 years ago) Nadeem M Qureshi What do the International Space Station, the Czech Post Office, the French Parliament and the Turkish Government have in common? All have switched from using a proprietary Operating System (OS) on their computers to an ‘open source’ or free OS; or putting it simply: They … [Read more...]
A new system for Pakistan
Nadeem M Qureshi That the political system in Pakistan needs changing is indisputable. The ‘Whitehall’ model has failed to deliver. Elections routinely bring into parliament the incompetent, insincere and corrupt. They come for the spoils. As ministers, they loot from the exchequer in the form of kickbacks and bribes. As members of parliament, they loot from public works funds … [Read more...]
The Turkish Glum – Part 3: Beyond Turkey
Tariq Saeedi Ashgabat, 9 July 2013 (nCa) [on this site - 25 July 2013] --- In order to understand the situation in Turkey, there are many issues that need to be treated, first separately and then in various combinations. For instance, the significance of the Treaty of Lausanne of 1923 and why it continues to matter, the difference and similarities between the Alawites of … [Read more...]
Турецкая печаль – Часть 3: Вдали от Турции
Тарик Саиди Ашхабад, 9 июля 2013 (nCa) [on this site - 25 July 2013] --- Для того, чтобы понять ситуацию в Турции, нужно рассмотреть несколько вопросов, вначале в отдельности, а затем в их совокупности. Например, важность Лозаннского договора 1923 года и почему оно остается значимым, отличия и сходства между алавитами Сирии и алавитами Турции, демографический состав … [Read more...]
Álvaro, Vicente del Bosque’s son with Down syndrome, an example of self-improvement
Clemente Ferrer One of the most touching moments of the celebration after the Spanish victory in the Football World Cup in South Africa was when Álvaro, the son with down syndrome of the coach Vicente del Bosque, lifted the World Champion's Cup. "My son has changed my life" has stated del Bosque on several occasions. The coach's calm personality was known to all, both … [Read more...]
Fighting terror: Why leadership matters
Nadeem M Qureshi In the post September 11 world much has been said and written about terrorism. The 2001 events in New York had nothing to do with Pakistan. But since that time, a series of poor decisions at multiple levels, in and outside Pakistan, have put the country squarely in the eye of an expanding maelstrom of terrorism. Is it now possible to still these swirling … [Read more...]
Enough Oz-Economics… Let’s Get Back to Kansas-Reality!
Ben Tanosborn We simply don’t get it; better yet, we simply don’t want to get it! For all our proud puffing of an academic structure in economics second to none, coupled with business expertise we continuously claim to be the envy of the world, we’ll soon be proving ourselves as nothing but an inflated yokel with our pants down, squatting behind a pyrite-dust sprinkled … [Read more...]
China: Here and now – Part 2
Tariq Saeedi Ashgabat, 19 July 2013 (nCa) --- In the first half of this article, published yesterday (18 July 2013), we argued that China is where it is because of the people of China. This is no earth shattering discovery; just stating the obvious. However, it is necessary to underline this simple fact because the tail end of generation Y and the main bulk of generation Z, … [Read more...]
Китай: Здесь и Сейчас – Часть 2
Тарик Саиди Ашхабад, 19 июля 2013 (nCa) --- В первой части статьи, опубликованной вчера (18 июля 2013 года), мы утверждали, что Китай находится там, где находится сейчас, благодаря народу Китая. Это не шокирующее мир открытие; это констатация очевидного. Тем не менее, необходимо подчеркнуть этот простой факт, поскольку хвостовая часть поколения Y и основная масса поколения … [Read more...]
Conspiracy Behind Coup in Egypt
General Mirza Aslam Beg The “Evil Nexus of three As and O” struck Egypt and overthrew the elected government of President Morsi. We in Pakistan have had suffered such afflictions in the past and therefore our sense of loss for democracy in Egypt, is greater. The “Evil Nexus of three As and O” stand for America, Army, Adlia (Judiciary) and O for the Opportunists of sorts. What … [Read more...]
China: Here and now
Tariq Saeedi Ashgabat, 18 July 2013 (nCa) --- On one end is President Xi Jinping with his superstar wife and on the other end is a teenager, Ding Jihao. Between them, China is inevitable. We will miss the point if we start debating whether 7.5% growth rate in GDP is too much or too little for China, whether the Chinese economy will overheat of freeze. We will be off the … [Read more...]
Китай: Здесь и Сейчас
Тарик Саиди Ашхабад, 18 июля 2013 (nCa) --- На одном конце находится председатель КНР Си Цзиньпин с его женой суперзвездой и на другом конце подросток, Дин Цзихао. Между ними, неизбежно Китай. Мы упустим самое важное, если пустимся в рассуждения о том, высоким или низким для Китая можно считать рост ВВП в 7,5%, перегреется ли от этого китайская экономика. Мы будем далеки … [Read more...]
Privatization a panacea?
Nadeem M. Qureshi Privatization was made fashionable by Britain’s Margaret Thatcher in the 1980’s. The sale, during her reign as Prime Minister, of poorly performing state enterprises to the private sector was widely lauded. Acolytes included global financial institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF as well as then US President Ronald Reagan. It seems Pakistan’s … [Read more...]
PIA: On a wing and a prayer
Nadeem M Qureshi Pakistan International Airlines, the national flag carrier of Pakistan, once a source of pride for the whole nation, is in trouble. Over the last five years it has reported cumulative losses of Rs. 160 billion – this is three times the amount Pakistan spends every year on education. Financial woes aside, service has suffered. Flights are routinely delayed. … [Read more...]
Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan Caspian Dispute: Symptoms of something else
nCa Commentary Ashgabat, 8 July 2013 (nCa) --- As soon as the summer sun starts warming the Caspian waters, something happens to some people in Azerbaijan. Not content with brazenly, illegally and uninterruptedly siphoning off the hydrocarbon resources that rightfully belong to Turkmenistan, they start a war of words every summer that is designed to draw out some kind of … [Read more...]
Туркмено-Азербайджанский каспийский спор: Симптомы чего-то еще
Комментарий nCa Ашхабад, 8 июля 2013 (nCa) --- Как только летнее солнце начинает прогревать воды Каспийского моря, с некоторыми людьми в Азербайджане что-то начинает происходить. Не довольствуясь наглым, незаконным и непрерывным выкачиванием углеводородных ресурсов, которые по праву принадлежат Туркменистану, они каждое лето разворачивают словесную войну, которая нацелена … [Read more...]
Babar Awan visits Bugti refugees camp, demanded safe restoration of IDPs
Kiyya Qadir Baloch Islamabad- Pakistan People’s Party law maker Babar Awan visited Bugti refugees camp in Islamabad here on Sunday and extended support to the refugees and also demanded chief justice of Pakistan to play his role for restoring Bugti refugees in their areas. Babar Awan on this occasion said country's survival was impossible without rule of law and urged that … [Read more...]
Asian Games Flag Hoisted in Turkmenistan – Medalists of Incheon Games given cash prizes
nCa Report Ashgabat, 8 July 2013 (nCa) --- The Ashgabat stadium was packed to capacity Sunday evening. Except for government officials, diplomats and journalists, everyone was under 23. Some of us must have felt quite ancient in the presence of such enormous numbers of vibrant, colourfully dressed youth. The occasion was the transfer of the Asian Indoor Games and Martial … [Read more...]
В Туркменистане поднят Флаг Олимпийского Совета Азии – Медалисты Азиатских Игр в Инчхоне награждены денежными призами
nCa Report Ашхабад, 8 июля 2013 (nCa) --- В воскресенье вечером стадион «Ашхабад» переполнился зрителями. За исключением государственных чиновников, дипломатов и журналистов, здесь собрались молодые люди в возрасте до 23 лет. Некоторые из нас, должно быть, почувствовали свой возраст, в присутствии такого огромного количества ярко, красочно одетой молодежи. Поводом стала … [Read more...]
IDP protest after hospital administration refrain to handover dead body to deceased family
Kiyya Qadir Baloch Islamabad: Hunger strike of Dera Bugti affectees is continuing for the last four days outside Al-Shifa international hospital for getting the dead body of their one fellow, who died on July 3 in the same hospital but the administration refused to hand over the dead body to Dera Bugti affectees which may lead them to hold guns again as the government seems … [Read more...]
[Archive Material] — Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan Caspian Dispute – The Legal Position
This report was initially published in September 2009. It is being reproduced here for record. Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan Caspian Dispute – The Legal Position nCa Report by Tariq Saeedi Caspian is a matchless body of water, brimming with all kinds of legal questions.. One of the most contested questions in Caspian is the division of the seabed among the littoral … [Read more...]
[Архив Материал] — Туркмено-Азербайджанский Каспийский спор — Правовая Позиция
Этот доклад был опубликован сначала в сентябре 2009 года. Он воспроизводится здесь для записи. Туркмено-Азербайджанский Каспийский спор -- Правовая Позиция Доклад nCa Report – Тарик Саиди Бескрайние просторы Каспия сегодня наполнены до краев не только водой, но и всевозможными проблемами правового характера… Одним из наиболее спорных вопросов на Каспии является раздел … [Read more...]
Strange request: Publish our press release but don’t attribute it to us
On 4 July 2013, at 10:30 am (GMT+5), we received a press release from the email rajanzed@gmail.com. The name of the sender was Rajan Zed. It was about a singer of Turkmenistan origin, aspiring to ‘hit the world dance floors with her songs.’ We published it in good faith. It was carried at our site at this URL: … [Read more...]
Americans’ “Freedom to Flutter” in Their Gilded Cage
Ben Tanosborn Tomorrow I’ll be watching from my residential perch in Fort Vancouver – the cradle of a Europeanized Pacific Northwest – one of the nation’s top fireworks displays celebrating yet another Fourth of July. Today, as the enclave prepares for the welcoming of tens of thousands of celebrants, I ponder the meaning of freedom… and how my disgruntled mood when … [Read more...]
US based Dance-pop singer Shirin of Turkmenistan origins aspires to hit world dance floors with her songs
This press release has been removed at the request of the sender. Please see the following story to find as to why it has been removed: Strange request: Publish our press release but don’t attribute it to us http://newscentralasia.net/2013/07/05/strange-request-publish-our-press-release-but-dont-attribute-it-to-us/ … [Read more...]
Star-studded Concert at Awaza
Ashgabat, 4 July 2013 (nCa) --- A star-studded concert was held on 29 June 2013 at Awaza, the national tourist zone of Turkmenistan. Here are some photos showing the stars in action: … [Read more...]
The infertile Russian imagination
nCa Commentary Ashgabat, 2 July 2013 (nCa) --- It is a pity ----- The Russians don’t know how to fib. They would spend considerable time and effort to manufacture a fairly plausible untruth and then spoil the whole thing by overdoing it. They should learn the art subtle deception from Americans. The latest example is the report by a Russian journalist that a Turkmen … [Read more...]
Бесплодная фантазия России
Комментарий nCa Ашхабад, 2 июля 2013 (nCa) ---Какая жалость ----- Россияне не способны привирать. Они тратят значительную часть времени и усилий на производство красивой правдоподобной лжи, а затем все портят, переусердствовав в своей выдумке. Им следует поучиться искусству изощренного обмана у американцев. Последним примером служит репортаж российского журналиста о … [Read more...]
The Jennifer Lopez Furor
(Updated 2 July 2013 -- correcting minor typos) nCa Commentary Ashgabat, 1 July 2013 (nCa) --- Jennifer Lopez performed in a concert in Turkmenistan on 29 June 2013 and it caused severe trauma to the self-appointed defenders of all kinds of things --- as if she needs their permission to sing a song. The critics, imitating each other like parrots, say that JLo should … [Read more...]
Фурор Дженнифер Лопес
Комментарий nCa Ашхабад, 1 июля 2013 г. (nCa) --- Дженнифер Лопес приняла участие в концерте в Туркменистане 29 июня 2013 года и это вызвало тяжелую критику среди самозваных защитников всего и всия --- как будто она нуждается в их разрешении, чтобы петь. Критики, подражая друг другу, как попугаи, говорят, что JLo должна извиниться и вернуть деньги, полученные от концерта, … [Read more...]
The Turkish Glum – Part 2: Not for the love of Turkey
Tariq Saeedi Ashgabat, 26 June 2013 (nCa) --- No training is required in deciphering the hieroglyphics: These protests are not for the love of Turkey; they are for the hatred of Erdogan. There are quite a few ways to deal with this jiggery-pokery. Here are some of them: 1. Show the price people are paying for these protests: Calculate the losses being caused by these … [Read more...]
Турецкая печаль – Часть Вторая: Не во имя любви к Турции
Тарик Саиди Ашхабад, 26 июня 2013 (nCa) --- Не нужно особой подготовки, чтобы расшифровать значение: Эти протесты происходят не из-за любви к Турции, а по причине ненависти к Эрдогану. Существует довольно много способов справиться с этими интригами. Вот некоторые из них: 1. Показать народу цену, которую они заплатят за эти протесты: Рассчитать потери, понесенные в … [Read more...]
US-Afghan bilateral negotiations; peace on chess board
Jameel-ur-Rehman Zaib US, until recently, was bent upon crushing the all hideouts of the terrorist outfits operating in unbridled manners in the war-torn Afghanistan and she seemed unmoved to invite Taliban for table talk, but a sudden mind-changer made her realize that the stakes were no more in her favor and the war was unwinnable. Whatever the reasons behind the … [Read more...]
The Turkish Glum – Part 1: Before the Glum
Tariq Saeedi Ashgabat, 24 June 2013 (nCa) --- The initial title of this article, when I started writing it on the afternoon of 12 June 2013, was ‘A quick fix for Turkey.’ Basically, I was just going to propose that Erdogan should announce a national referendum to determine the fate of the Taksim square. That would remove any controversy fuelling the street demonstrations, I … [Read more...]