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INTRODUCTION
After the collapse of the USSR the Central Asian region has drawn attention of different forces and states. A search for national self-identity and economic self-sufficiency was an important factor that made the newly independent states turn first to the countries which were geographically, culturally and ethnically close to them. In a broader international context they were perceived by many observers as a future part of the expanded Middle East. The activities of the neighbouring countries, including Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, China proved to the fact that in a foreseeable future developments in the region might contribute to further changes in geopolitical situation. There were a lot of speculations concerning expansion of China in southern Kazakhstan and its intention to exert influence in certain areas of Kyrgyzstan, a spill over of the Afghan conflict into Tajikistan as well as an impact of the civil war in the country upon the region. Rivalry between Iran and Turkey (though sometimes overestimated) has been widely discussed in the context of an eventual choice of either Islamic or secular model by the Central Asian states.
Russia has not perceived Central Asia as a region of special importance with an exception of Kazakhstan. Even within CIS Transcaucasia has had higher priority, not to mention the Slavic republics. Russia's practical policy, especially at initial stages of its independence, seemed to almost ignore Central Asia. Severance of economic ties, the process of erosion of a single cultural space, obvious reluctance to make economic sacrificies to meet the needs of the republics made their search for new partners more intense. Meanwhile, dependence upon Russia and dissapointment in the abilities of foreign investors to get them out of the crisis made a majority of the republics strive for reintegration, or at least, for a higher level of cooperation with Russia than its leaders were ready to offer at the time.
The complicacy of formulating a strategy with regard to Central Asia is also due to the fact that the countries of the region are too different and do not make up a single whole despite all arguments about a single Turkestan or a Central Asian union. The perspective of Central Asian union arose certain concerns in Russia regarding security dimension of collaboration among the Central Asian republics. It might push the region towards co-operation with foreign countries in the sphere most sensitive to Russia.
The countries of the region possess different economic potentials and resources, the more developed being Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, with Turkmenistan having chances for improving its economic situation thanks to its gas and oil and a numerically small population. Kyrghyzstan is a comparatively poor republic, and Tajikistan devastated by the civil war ranks last.
The republics' geographical location with regard to Russia is likewise different. Kazakhstan has a long border with it (over 7,000 km.). The other republics have no common border with it at all. Militarily, Kazakhstan with its nuclear potential is of special significance, but a serious military challenge comes from Tajikistan, where Russian frontier troops are engaged in combat operations.
Ethnically, Central Asia is not a single entity either. With the Turkic population dominating, it includes the Persian-speaking Tajiks and a considerable percentage of Russian, Ukrainian, Korean and German population.
Finally, the republics of Central Asia are not homogeneous from the point of view of stability. A grave threat to the entire region and to Russia comes from the situation in Tajikistan, now an arena of a protracted conflict, which has led, owing to its growing internationalization, to the permanent military tension on the Tajik-Afghan border. Experts forecast a growth of instability in Kyrghyzstan; certain interethnic problems arise in Kazakhstan, where in case of their aggravation they could have a most destructive character.
The debates on Central Asia show that it is becoming a focus of greater attention of different political forces in Russia. The evolution of positions which testifies to the fact that Russia is still lacking a strategy vis-a-vis the region, has an importance of its own. It can help to better understand Russia's interests and limitations which shape its approaches towards Central Asia.
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