The rare Arabian oryx is believed to have inspired the myth of the unicorn. This desert
antelope became virtually extinct in the early 1960s. As that time several groups of
international conservationists arranged to have 9 animals sent to the Phoenix Zoo
to be the nucleus of a captive breeding herd. Today the oryx population
is over 1,000, and over 500 have been returned to the Middle East.

© 1997 by The Oryx Press
4041 North Central at Indian School Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85012-3397

Maps prepared by Thomas C. Brennan and Lisa Harner.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and
retrieval system, without permission in writing
from The Oryx Press.

Published simultaneously in Canada
Printed and bound in the United States of America

∞ + ⃝ The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the
American National Standard for Information Sciences--Permanence of Paper
for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Betalden, Stephen K.

The newly independent states of Eurasia: handbook of former
Soviet republics / by Stephen K. Batalden and Sandra L. Batalden. --
2nd ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 0-89774-940-5 (pbk.: alk. paper)

1. Former Soviet republics--Handbooks, manuals, etc.

I. Batalden, Sandra L. II. Title.

DK17.B34 1997 97-3893

947.086--dc21 CIP

-ii-