EU Learning Curve Heralds Beginning Of End Of Sanctions

The European Union's curious history of applying punitive sanctions on non-member states is likely to prove short-lived. After EU foreign ministers decided on October 27 to remove all remaining restrictions on Uzbekistan, which has one of the world's most repressive regimes, the end of the whole idea of sanctions cannot be far away. More

Has EU Learned Lessons From Uzbek Process?

The EU has decided to lift the last of the sanctions imposed on Uzbekistan after the 2005 Andijon massacre. In dropping a largely symbolic arms embargo, the EU said that relations with Uzbekistan have acquired a "new scope and quality" over the past two years. But looking at the lessons learned over the course of the two-pronged sanctions regime, observers and rights activists have a markedly different assessment of the measures' effectiveness. More

The Best Place In The World To Live? You Might Be Surprised

What's your idea of the best place in which to live? Many people would probably answer that palm trees and a gleaming beach would be a good start to their idea of earthly paradise. But in real life, the country which scores best on a whole range of economic and quality-of-life issues is a good deal colder. More

Uzbekistan Stumbles On Courting Tourists

Promoting itself as a hospitable tourist stop along the ancient Silk Road, Uzbekistan is seeking to boost its tourism industry and attract more foreign travelers. But the authoritarian regime in Tashkent maintains a strict visa procedure that all but discourages outside visitors. More