Central Asia: Looking for an Independent Identity Power

Given the current circumstances, the main problem faced by the Central Asian countries is that they do not have an identity independent from Russia and although they are seeking for one’s own identity, the authoritarian and repressive attitude of the officials and the conflict between their mentality and western values and standards have contributed to the strengthening of these countries’ dependency on Russia. At present, Central Asia is the focal point of two divergent forces; one from the East represented by Russia, in cooperation with China and the other one from the West represented by European Union and US. Although the clash of these forces’ interest in the region has tipped the balance in Russia’s favor, the western influence over Central Asian countries should not be ignored. Having in view the region’s current situation and the growth of organized cooperation in this region, under the control and supervision of Russia in cooperation with China, the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Central Asia require the involvement in the process of regional organization by acquiring the membership status in Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Euro-Asia Economic Society and even ECO only if this not construed as a threat to Russia’s interests.