Central Asia is a significant element of the international security system. The region plays an important role in international politics not only as an object of rivalry for political and economic influence amongst regional actors, but also because of considerable security concerns. After 1990, intense political and economic transitions began in the states of the region. The development of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have been of interest to many international actors, including the European Union. weiterlesen