pendence, Uzebekistan now promotes a large degree of exploration, and thus has a large oil and gas industry (Blij, 321) they have also experienced growth in their new found service sector. Georgia is also experiencing diversification. With its fertile lands, Georgia has harnessed it's agricultural sector into producing tabacco, various fruits, and even timber (Blij, 150). It also has a booming tourist industry because of it's warm climate and scenic beauty (Blij, 150). Recent statistics show that in the year 1995, because of this diversification, countries such as Uzbekistan and Georgia have drastically improved their overall Gross Domestic Product when compared to statistics recorded in 1992. Uzbekistan had a rating in 1992 of -11.1% and Georgia had a whopping -45.6%. In 1995, the totals showed signs of great improvement; both at -5.0% (Table 2). Contraction was still occuring, but at a slower rate. This in turn provided some hope. There was even a larger increase in the country of Armenia where the 1992 statistic for GDP was -52.4%, and in 1995, it had improved to a +5.0% (Table 2). The question of economic coexistance between Russia and its former republics still remains a mystery. There are many stronger, much more controversial issues in Russia's republics, when it comes to the issue of economics, independance, and growth. Many of the citiznes in the breakaway republics are not eager to have peace and open relations with their russian counterparts. The republics have yearned for independance for sometime now. Russian Census data showed the majority (60 to 80 percent) of the ethnic populations in Russia itself have supported movements for more autonomy...
