FNA to open Tajik Bureau Thursday

FNA’s Office in Tajikistan to Kick off Work Tomorrow TEHRAN (FNA)- Fars News Agency will open a corresponding office in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe on Thursday to cover developments in Central Asia.

The office will be officially inaugurated in a ceremony to be attended by FNA Managing Director Hamid Reza Moghaddam-Far and a number of ranking Tajik officials. The Dushanbe office will be the first in a series of corresponding offices to be opened in the Central Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and Afghanistan by FNA’s regional office.

Former IDF Lt. Colonel Amos Guiora to speak at University of Montana April 23

Missoula, April 21 (Al-Masakin)–Former Lt. Colonel, 19 year IDF vetern, and former legal adviser to the IDF Amos Guiora will speak at the University of Montana at 7pm Thursday April 23.  Guiora will be participating in the 7th Annual Central and Southwest Asia Conference to be kicked-off Wednesday April 22 and will conclude Friday April 24.  Mr. Guiora is an alleged legal expert on Israeli targeting of civilians.  Guiora is a Professor of Law at the University of Utah.

The main topics of discussion at the event will be Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.  Israeli terrorism and Palestinian counter-terrorism, Iran, and the role of Arabic language studies in efforts to curb international and state sponsored terrorism will also be discussed at the event.

It is unknown whether Mr. Guiora has or will be indicted for war crimes.  Al-Masakin is not aware of any outstanding Interpol Red Notices for Mr. Guiora and it appears unlikely that he will be arrested at the event.

EHC/EHC

Media Alert: University of Montana to host 7th Annual Central and Southwest Asia Conference April 22-24

Conference On Central, Southwest Asia At UM April 22-24

Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00) Written by Jennifer Sauer Thursday, 16 April 2009 16:46

UM will host the Seventh Annual Central and Southwest Asia Conference at UM from Wednesday to Friday, April 22-24.

April 16, 2009

Contact: Brian Lofink, UM Central and Southwest Asia Program coordinator, 406-243-2299, brian.lofink@mso.umt.eduThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

CONFERENCE ON CENTRAL, SOUTHWEST ASIA AT UM APRIL 22-24

MISSOULA –

The University of Montana will host the Seventh Annual Central and Southwest Asia Conference at UM from Wednesday to Friday, April 22-24.

The event, which is free and open to the public, is presented by UM’s Central and Southwest Asia Program. The theme of this year’s conference is “Beyond the Headlines: Peace and Conflict in Central and Southwest Asia.”

The conference will bring internationally renowned scholars, diplomats, analysts and journalists to UM to engage the campus and the community in a discussion about the challenges countries in Central and Southwest Asia are facing and how those challenges impact the United States.

A complete conference schedule with information about all speakers is online at http://www.umt.edu/ip/newsevents/centralasiaconference.aspx.

Wednesday, April 22:

• 7-9 p.m.: Keynote presentation — “Islam in the New Afghan Public Sphere,” University Center North Ballroom.

Thursday, April 23:

• 9:30-11 a.m.: “Tajikistan: An Ancient Nation in Transition,” University Center North Ballroom.
• 12:30-2 p.m.: Keynote presentation — “Independence, Civil War and International Mediation: Tajikistan’s Path to Peace,” University Center North Ballroom.
• 2:30-4 p.m.: “On the Frontline: Afghanistan and the Struggle Against Terrorism,” University Center North Ballroom.
• 7-9 p.m.: Keynote panel — “Terrorism, Counter-terrorism and Human Rights in Israel and Palestinian Territories,” University Center North Ballroom.

Friday, April 24:

• 10:30 a.m.-noon: “Kyrgyzstan and the New Great Game,” University Center Theater.
• 1-3 p.m.: “The Role of Arabic as a Language of War and Peace,” University Center Theater.
• 2 p.m.: Tajik Corner Opening Ceremony, University Center Room 220.
• 3:30-5 p.m.: “Confrontation in the Caucasus: The Conflict Between Georgia and Russia,” University Center Theater.
• 7-9 p.m.: Keynote presentation — “Islamist Movements in the Arab World, Iran and Afghanistan and the Potential of U.S. Engagement,” University Center Theater.

The conference is sponsored by the University’s Central and Southwest Asia Program, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center, International Programs, the Office of the Provost and UM President George Dennison, the Office of the Provost, the Montana World Affairs Council and Humanities Montana.

U.S. continuing operations at Manas air base today in Kyrgyztan despite media reports that closure of the base was final

Al-Masakin News Agency

By Edward Campbell

Missoula, Feb. 6 (Al-Masakin)–The United States continued its operations at the air base in Manas, Kyrgyztan despite media rumors to the effect that Kygyz decision to close the base was final.  According to acting State Department deputy Spokesman Gordon Duguid at today’s Daily Press Briefing despite Kygyz government officials statements to the press that the base was to close, the State Department has as of yet not received any official notification from the Kygyz government as to the disposition of the base and that the United States continued its operations there today.

“There are government officials from Kyrgyzstan who have made statements in the press. We have seen those statements. However, we have not received our official notification about the status of the disposition of the Manas base. We proceed with our operations in Manas today and we will continue to do so as we try to continue our discussions with the Kyrgyz Government about our presence there,” the acting Deputy Spokesman said today.

He said that negotiations are on-going both at Manas and at Bishkek, the Kygyz capital, but the Secretary of State has not been directly involved in those negotiations.  The spokesman also confirmed that the United States considers it a priority to remain there, but is considering other options such as cooperation with Tajikistan and has undertaken negotiations with the Tajik government about developing a line of communication from there to Afghanistan.

The Secretary of the Kyrgyz Security Council has been quoted by the press as saying, “The air base’s fate has been decided…I see no reason why the air base should remain in place now that this decision has been taken. We are not holding any talks on this.”

” That may or may not reflect the final deliberations in the Kyrgyz Government. We have been in discussion with the government. They have not responded to us with a request to close down our operations there, and therefore we proceed as normal until we receive that,” Mr. Duguid replied.

EHC / EHC

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Al-Masakin News Agency

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