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For the six Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union -- Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Tadzhikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan -- the answer may be cultural identity.

He granted recognition to all 12 and announced that diplomatic relations would be opened immediately between the U.S. and Russia, Ukraine, Belorussia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia and Armenia.

Here was the famous domino effect in reverse, whole peoples going uncommunist by chain reaction: Lithuania, Georgia, Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine, Belorussia, Moldavia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kirghizia.

Several weeks ago, violent battles erupted between local militias and the army in the Central Asian republic of Kirghizia, where Soviet soldiers are trying to end fighting between ethnic Uzbeks and Kirghiz.

It was from these little noticed conquests that there emerged the until recently little noticed Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.