By Fahim Masoud The five republics of Central Asia (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan) are endowed with an immense amount of natural resources and are located in the center of Eurasia. The collapse of the Soviet Union made it possible for these Central Asian states to develop independent relations with the rest of the world.   However, the emerging economic and geopolitical significance of these five republics to China is currently defining the international relations of these republics. Kazakhstan in particular has attracted the interest of the Chinese government. Geographically, Kazakhstan shares a border with China’s western province, Xinjiang. Politically, Kazakhstan is still a dictatorship. China, unlike the United States and European powers, registers no objections to the Kazakh government’s “human rights abuses”. This makes China’s political and economic transactions with the Kazakh government much easier. As China’s thirst for oil and natural gas has stimulated the Chinese to invest heavily in the markets of Central Asia, Kazakhstan will continue to be a particular target for that investment. Janet Liao describes Chinese economic interest in Kazakhstan: With the steady growth of the Chinese economy and its energy demands, Kazakhstan together with other central Asian states— has become one of the key sources for China’s energy supply. In terms of absolute amounts, oil from Kazakhstan still only accounts for a small portion of China’s total oil imports: in 2004, China imported 1.19 million tons (8.3 million barrels) of crude oil from Kazakhstan, compared with the country’s total imports of 91million tons (636.8 million barrels), about 1.31 percent. Nevertheless, a bilateral strategic partnership underpinned by energy cooperation is believed to fit the fundamental interest of both nations. Of course, China is not the only country eyeing the natural resources of Central Asia. Western Europe, Russia, India, and the United States are interested as well. Thus it is no surprise that Central Asia in recent years has become the center of world attention. It is not only energy demands that draw China to Kazakhstan, but also security concerns. The western province of China—Xinjiang or the “NewTerritories”—was annexed to the Chinese empire in 1884. However, ever since its addition to the empire, the [Muslim] Uyghurs, the natives of the province, have been trying to separate and create their own independent state. During the upheaval and instability in China in the 1930s and 1940s, the Uyghurs broke away and created an independent Xinjiang. However, as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) emerged, Mao crushed the natives and re-annexed Xinjiang. Many of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang left China and settled throughout the region now governed by the five Central Asian republics. Uyghurs remaining in China have fomented unrest and been found responsible for “several bombings” in Xinjiang and other parts of China, writes Susan Shirk who is an expert on Chinese politics. China has been working with the Central Asian states to avoid political problems and to extinguish the remnant Uyghurs’ aspirations for an independent Xinjiang by preventing the Uyghurs’ partnering with the diaspora scattered throughout the region. The Uyghur dynamics are just one source of the multifactorial ethnic unrest that will continue to be a major domestic issue for China. Non-Uyghur separatist groups in Tibet and Mongolia also pose strategic threats to the regime. Thus, social unrest, in addition to economic concerns, contributes to need for China to march westward. Central Asia is at the center of a super-continent whose strategic importance is many fold: it is a continent that is home to three of the world’s most sophisticated and advanced economic regions. Seventy-five percent of the world’s population lives in Eurasia and, as Zbigniew Brzezinski notes, “three-fourths of the world’s energy resources” are there as well. Eurasia is also the world’s most dynamic continent, as it is the location of six of the largest economies as well as the six biggest military spenders. The location of Central Asia has made it a “strategic pivot.” The interconnectedness and high degree of economic interaction among great powers makes it unlikely that a strategic player (China or Russia) could use Central Asia as a staging ground for an invasion. However, it should be “America’s primary interest to help ensure that no single power come to control this geopolitical space” [Zbigniew Brzezinski] because any strategic player dominating Eurasia would likely seek to control other parts of the world. Central Asian countries, especially Kazakhstan, can be a conduit of stability, as their natural resources can satisfy some of the energy demands of the People’s Republic of China. Central Asian countries are rich in oil, natural gas, and other resources, and therefore, it makes sense for the Chinese to extend their economic muscle to that part of the world. Kazakhstan is a country that is rich in natural resources and can help Beijing with the prospect of creating jobs for its citizens. China has been working on many infrastructure projects in Kazakhstan: roads, railroads, bridges, airports, and pipelines. These efforts further demonstrate the importance of Central Asia to the Chinese government.

Direct from the European Commission. There is an end to the five-year on December 1, 2014 Stockholm Programme of the European Council and its Action Plan, the Commission ( IP/10/447 ), identifying priorities in the area of freedom, security and justice are established. Transition also ends that had been committed. In the Lisbon Treaty concerning justice Therefore, the Commission presented in Annex future package that will be submitted to the Council on 26 June 2014. JUSTICE POLICY

• Mutual trust should be the basis of justice policies of the EU (eg EU instruments such as the European arrest warrant and the rules relating to conflicts between Member States)
• It should be a priority to continue to take that EU citizens encounter when they exercise their right to freedom of movement and residence. In another EU country, the obstacles
• Companies must be assured that they are an efficient way to enforce compliance with contracts across the EU and disputes can make without the problems it while still experiencing now pending.

INSTRUMENT OF LAW In order to cope with the threats to which the rule system is exposed in each of the 28 Member States, the European Commission adopted a new framework today. The new framework for the rule of law complements the infringement proceedings – which apply when EU law is not respected – and the so-called “Article 7 procedure” of the Lisbon Treaty, the new framework provides a tool early warning.. With this, the Commission and the MemberState concerned may consult in order to prevent systemic threats escalate. When offering the new framework of the EU law no solution, 7 is always the last resort to resolve a crisis and to ensure that European values ​​are observed. The new framework makes visible how the Commission exercises its role under the Treaties. No new powers for the Commission created or claimed. Examples of system threats in recent years: Attempt to dismantle (Romania), attempt to undermine (Hungary) the independence of judges to the Constitutional   Court. HOME AFFAIRS POLICY The Stockholm Programme, which in 2010-2014 was decisive for the policy in the area of home affairs, is nearing its end. Therefore, the Commission now presents a strategic vision for the future priorities for Home Affairs: the agreed legislation and existing instruments should be fully implemented and the EU to respond to new opportunities and challenges. What improvements are possible?

• Synergies with other policies (such as trade) can be improved,
• the movement of highly skilled service can be better controlled,
• a structured dialogue on labor migration can be set up with Member States, industry and trade unions,
• the recognition of foreign professional qualifications and skills can be simplified,
• and that more work can be made ​​of the integration of migrants into the labor market and the host societies at large.

 

New book in Dutch about New York by ‘city-expert’ Willem Post. For the first time in world history a majority of people live in cities. In his newest book ‘The Magic of New York’, Willem Post explains the different factors of success that make New York the number one city of the world for many. What can other international cities learn from New York? In ‘De Magie van New York’ Willem Post will share his view on the success factors of New York, supported with interesting facts and need-to-visit places. This book offers insights about how other cities all over the world can learn andbe inspired to becoming a succesful city. Dutch newspapers like NRC, het Financieel Dagblad, AD en Het Parool highly recommend this ‘sophisticated travelbook’. Willem Post is based in The Hague and specialised in American politics and foreign policy. He is one of the most requested U.S. experts. He studied Modern American History and International Relations at Leiden University. As U.S. specialist he comments for many media-organisations, such as the NOS, BBC the World and Public Radio International in the United States. During the Nuclear Security Summit Willem Post explained the importance of nuclear security at BBC the World and many other Dutch and international media. Photographer Ton Wienbelt contributed to this book with remarkable photographs. Book is for sale via bookshops like Paagman and many others in The Hague and The Netherlands. You can also order via www.demagievannewyork.nl, the website of the authors. Willem Post is writer of six books about the political, historical and social developments in the United States of America, including ‘Obamaworld’ (2009).