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Annotation

            The presented work is the first in the series of the Institute of Europe researches devoted to comparative analyses of positions of Russia and EU in Central Asia. Also analyzed is a possibility of using experience of EU for the development of Eurasian Economic Community and Shanghai Co­operation Organization. Although for different reasons Russia and EU ac­tivated its policy toward Central Asia in the beginning of new century. Rus­sia started to pay attention to the region after beginning of V. Putin presi­dency, for EU the significance of Central Asia increased after beginning of military operation in Afghanistan in 2001. At the same time the policies of both is defined by concerns about activation of radical Islamic organiza­tions, of narcotraffic and also by economic considerations in which depos­its of gas and oil in Central Asia are dominating. Some place in activizati-on of Russia's and EU policy in the region plays considerations of geostra-tegic character - closeness of China to the region and its policy activation in Central Asia. Research is also analyzes problems of Russia's image evo­lution in the countries of Central Asia.