TURKMENISTAN is Central Asia's North Korea, according to Fariz Ismailzade in an article in the latest Caci Analyst. The NYTimes had an article yesterday on Stalinist show trials in the country. Turkmen President Saparmurad Niyazov has also made appearances in the "news of the weird" categories over the past year: for example, his official moniker is now "first and eternal President of Turkmenistan." But human rights violations in the country are serious. On its very short list of friends, Niyazov apparently has a cautious Iran and a wavering Turkey.