Central Asia in India-US democracy radar

New Delhi

6 November 2005

After Iraq, Afghanistan, Nepal and Burma, it is the turn of the

Central Asian republics to engage the attention of the United States-India Global

Democracy Initiative.

As the largest Central Asian republic of Kazakhstan prepares for the December 4

presidential election, Washington has proposed an even closer US-India partnership to

help build democratic institutions in Central Asia.

The matter found a mention in the November 2 Senate hearing on US-India Civil Nuclear

Cooperation Initiative in which Washington said it was seeking "early tangible progress"

with India for democracy in certain countries.

Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns told the Senate Foreign

Relations Committee that Washington will seek ways to work together in strengthening

democratic institutions and practices in "specific countries."

He said, "We hope India will share its democratic experience with Central Asian nations,

which are having a difficult time making the transition [t]o democracy, and assist them in

building [democratic] institutions [a]nd the advancement of human rights."

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev said last month that his government's

strategy and the major issue of expediting his country's development was a harmonious

combination of economic, social and democratic changes.

He has suggested democratic reforms that would include development of local self-

government and delimitation of authority between central and local governments and

adoption of a special law on reforms in 2006.

Also proposed were the introduction of elections for Akims (mayors and governors) to

further promote decentralisation of power besides ensuring rights and freedoms and

greater protection for citizens during trials.

Washington has also said it shared with New Delhi the goal of a return to democracy in

Nepal and a defeat of the Maoist insurgency. Both countries supported the return to the

peace process in Sri Lanka and proposed to "do more" to promote human rights and

democracy in Burma.