Nikola Krastev

Kazakhstan: U.S. Businessman Pleads Not Guilty In 'Kazakhgate' Case

James Giffen, the defendant in a corruption case associated with top Kazakh officials pleaded not guilty yesterday to multiple charges of fraud and bribery in a U.S. federal court. The indictment alleges that Giffen, a U.S. citizen and a former consultant to the Kazakh government, funneled over $78 million from oil-concession fees to secret bank accounts in Switzerland belonging to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev, his family, and other officials.

U.S./Kazakhstan: U.S. Figure Linked To Kazakh Leaders Faces Corruption Hearing

Hearings in a corruption case involving a U.S. businessman linked to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev are scheduled to begin today in the U.S. Federal Court in New York. A U.S. indictment alleges that between 1995 and 1999, James Giffen, a former banker and consultant to the Kazakh government, sent and laundered more than $78 million in unlawful payments to Nazarbayev and former Oil Minister Nurlan Balgimbayev. Neither of them has been formally summoned in the U.S. criminal investigation, but the case known as "Kazakhgate" may have far-reaching political consequences for the current government of Kazakhstan.

Central Asia: Strapped For Energy Resources, China And India Look For Alternatives

The impressive economic growth of both India and China has intensified their interest in Central Asia's energy resources. That's the view of two U.S. experts who spoke about the India-China relationship and their emerging ties to Central Asia this week during a panel discussion at the New York-based Asia Society.

Russia: Balanchine -- The Choreographer Who Shaped The Future Of American Ballet

This year marks the centenary of the birth of George Balanchine. The Russian-born choreographer is credited with nearly single-handedly creating contemporary American ballet, and his company, the New York City Ballet (NYCB), rose to world prominence on the strength of his stripped-down, deeply musical works. The NYCB last week hosted a panel discussion on the choreographer and his efforts to promote ballet in the United States.

World: Byzantine Treasures In New York Reveal The Power Of Faith And A Mingling Of Cultures

A landmark exhibition featuring three centuries of Byzantine culture opens tomorrow at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Seven years of research, negotiations, and collaboration have brought together 377 artifacts from 27 countries -- among them Russia, Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro, Romania, Macedonia, Egypt, Greece, and Turkey. Many of the masterpieces are borrowed from churches and monasteries, and have never been exhibited before.

U.S./Iraq: Blix Returns To New York Amid Applause, Queries On WMD

Hans Blix One year after playing a central role in UN Security Council deliberations on Iraq, former chief UN inspector Hans Blix has been warmly welcomed back to New York. Blix has been making multiple appearances in the city to promote his book about the Iraqi disarmament debate, which claims that U.S. and British officials exaggerated the threat posed by Iraq's weapons programs. But Blix also said the Iraqi regime may have doomed itself through its lack of cooperation.

UN: Report Cites Surge In Afghan Opium Output, Sparks Concern Over Turkmenistan

In its annual report, the International Narcotics Control Board notes a surge of opium production in Afghanistan to record levels and expresses concern over Turkmenistan's continued lack of cooperation with the international community in the fight against illicit drugs.

Georgia: Saakashvili Reiterates Special Ties With U.S., Russia; Vows Peaceful Reform

Concluding his visit to the United States, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said he had been received warmly in Washington and New York. The U.S.-educated lawyer addressed the Council on Foreign Relations, a New York-based policy institution, after addressing the UN Security Council yesterday.

Russia: Yukos Says National Oil Output To Surpass Saudi Arabia's By 2009

Simon G. Kukes is the chief executive officer of Yukos, Russia's biggest oil company. Kukes was in New York this week to address a panel of the influential policy institute, the Council on Foreign Relations. Kukes talked about Russia's rising importance as a global energy producer. He also touched on the ongoing controversy surrounding Yukos founder and former chairman Mikhail Khodorkovskii.

Caspian: U.S. Weighing Decision On Status Of Beluga Sturgeon

The United States consumes 25 percent of the world's beluga caviar and is the single largest importer. But an expected ruling by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service could stop trade in beluga caviar in the country. It is unclear if such a ban would positively affect beluga preservation efforts in the Caspian region, but Russia and Kazakhstan -- two of the world's major caviar producers -- express skepticism.

Turkey: Erdogan Expresses Concern Over Greater Kurdish Autonomy In Iraq

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reaffirmed Ankara's strong ties with the West and expressed his government's concern over greater Kurdish autonomy in northern Iraq.

Iraq: UN To Consider Request For Advice On Elections

The United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has signaled that he is considering a request from U.S. and Iraqi officials to re-engage in Iraq. Members of the Iraqi Governing Council and the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) met with Annan in New York yesterday to urge him to send an advisory team to Iraq to examine the electoral situation ahead of the CPA's scheduled pullout in June. As RFE/RL correspondent Nikola Krastev reports from the United Nations, Annan has expressed cautious interest in the proposal.

UN: Initiative Aims To Curb HIV/AIDS Epidemic through Communication

The UN has launched what officials called a "Global Media AIDS Initiative" to enlist the help of mass media in education about AIDS. RFE/RL reports that the UN estimates effective prevention and public education could head off 30 million of the 45 million new HIV infections projected to occur worldwide over the next 10 years.

Iran: Panel Finds Tehran In Precarious Situation Over Nuclear Program

U.S.: Campaign 2004 -- Clark Advocates Strengthening Of NATO Charter

Iran: U.S. Experts See Promise Amid Troubling Trends In Relations

U.S.: Rich In Technology, Entities From Former Soviet Union Seek Western Partners (Part 2)

U.S.: Officials Urge Employment Of Former Soviet Nuclear Scientists (Part 1)

Iraq: U.S. Expert Says Constitutional Process Requires Flexibility By Leaders

UN: New Report Shows Progress Fighting HIV/AIDS, But Member Nations Falling Short Of Goals