CIVIL SOCIETY
Human rights, environmental, and cultural issues

Latvian President Begins Central Asian Tour to Bolster EU Ties
Latvian President Valdis Zatlers began an eight-day visit to Central Asia on October 2, aiming to strengthen political and economic ties between the region and the European Union.

Georgia: Separatist Territory of Abkhazia Promotes a "New Era"
A EURASIANET PHOTO ESSAY: TEXT BY ELIZABETH OWEN; PHOTOS BY SOPHIA MIZANTE
September 30 was Independence Day in the disputed territory of Abkhazia, and all the celebratory trappings were on full display: flags, speeches, fireworks and a massive parade. But amid the celebrations of the 15th anniversary of separatist Abkhazia’s defeat of Georgian forces, one unspoken question hung in the air: How independent is the independent Abkhazia?

Armenia: New Speaker Vows to Pursue Conciliatory Policies
BY MARIANNA GRIGORYAN
Hovik Abrahamian, a major force within the governing Republican Party of Armenia, has assumed the leadership of the Caucasus country’s parliament. Seeking to distance himself from a controversial past, Abrahamian has pledged to act as a conciliator. But many opposition leaders remain leery of the selection.

Kazakhstan: Astana Strives to Overhaul the Education System
BY JOANNA LILLIS
With the academic year under way in Kazakhstan, the country’s education system is back in the spotlight. In connection with President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s desire to turn Kazakhstan into one of the world’s 50 most competitive economies, officials want to make rapid progress in raising education standards.