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Russia allowed to continue Proton launches
Kazcosmos Kazakh space agency has no objections to launches of Russias Proton carrier rockets from its territory while a new environmentally-friendly launch pad is being put into operation Gazeta.kz reported. It was reported that Russia and Kazakhstan are jointly working on the Baiterek launch pad at the Baikonur space centre....
UK Turkmenistan to cooperate in energy industry
Ashgabat for the second time played host to a joint energy forum . UK State Energy Minister Lord Hunt who represented London at the event was welcomed by Turkmen Head Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Turkmenistan.ru reported. The forum was also attended by representatives of British Petroleum Gaffney Cline Ass Denton Hermes KBR...
Russia is part of power complex development
Following talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe First Vice Premier of Russia Igor Shuvalov said that the country is willing to participate in the development of a power complex in the Central Asia and recognize that the interests of the various states should be balanced Asia-Plus reported. The...
Regulations on liberalizing criminal code coming
The Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights and Turkmenistans Independent Lawyers Association issued in February a joint report which reads that Turkmenistans incarceration rate is one of the highest in the world Turkmenistan.ru reported. In the report Turkmenistans strict Criminal Code has been blamed for prison overcrowding leading to poor health...
Bosch group to open an office in Dushanbe
A delegation of German corporation The Bosch Group recently paid a visit to Dushanbe to present the corporation activities to the government of Tajikistan get acquainted with priorities of cooperation assess opportunities of potential cooperation and coordinate further steps. The delegation which comprised of Rudolf Kolm member of the Bosch...
Kazakhstan Japan sign nuclear pact
Japan and Kazakhstan signed in Tokyo a nuclear pact allowing it to obtain stable supplies of uranium in exchange for nuclear technology Gazeta.kz reported. The document was signed by Akylbek Kamaldinov Kazakhstans ambassador in Japan and Katsuya Okada Japans Minister of Foreign Affairs. The signing of the agreement follows agreements...
IMF welcomes consolidation of banking system
Head of International Monetary Fund IMF mission to Azerbaijan Nienke Oomes was on a recent visit to Baku for consultations under Article IV of the Agreement on the establishment IMF Trend news agency reported. IMF welcomed the Central Bank of Azerbaijans CBA plans to consolidate the banking system and enhance...
128 micro loans provided to women entrepreneurs
The Womens Council Public Association and the National Association of Microfinance Organisations and Credit Unions NAMOCU recently organized Tashkents Centre of National Art. The main goals of the competition was to assist the development of female entrepreneurship providing business support and consultancy services to Uzbek female entrepreneurs helping to foster...
US to extend lease of Kyrgyz airbase
The United States has reached an agreement with Kyrgyzstan to renew rights to an airbase Richard Holbrooke the US pointman on Afghanistan and Pakistan recently announced Irinnews.org reported. The US envy said that this move is crucial for the US-led war effort in nearby Afghanistan In February he visited four...
EU Azerbaijan to begin talks on Association agreement
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Affairs Minister Elmar Mammadyarov recently welcomed Miguel Angel Moratinos Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain Trend news agency reported. Moratinos currently holds the European Unions rotating presidency. Moratinos visit is EUs move to the South Caucasus region including Baku. Moratinos said the...
Lufthansa restarts flights to Tashkent
Following a hiatus of nine years German Lufthansa announced that it will resume the flights between Germany and Uzbekistan Uzbekreport.com reported. This move by the carrier company was taken to strengthen positions in Central Asia. The carrier company will launch new flights including such destinations as Miami Teheran and Tashkent....
Lithuanian vice-speaker visits Baku for talks
The First Vice-Speaker of the Seym of Lithuania Raimondas Sukys said that the aim of his visit of the Lithuanian delegation was to exchange experience with Azerbaijan in the training projects of the European Commission to share views on various issues including the adoption of the documents submitted for consideration by...
Spanish minister sees Georgia-Russia border crossing for himself
Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos whose country holds the European Unions rotating presidency recently paid a visit to Tbilisi as part of his trip to South Caucasus states Civil Georgia reported. Moratinos stood in for EU foreign affairs and security chief Catherine Ashton. After arriving in Tbilisi the delegation...
Armenian leader says his country belongs in the EU
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian should eventually be admitted to the European Union he told Wilfried Martens a former Belgian prime minister leading the European Peoples Party EPP visit to Yerevan recently to discuss the countrys possibilities of becoming a member Armenia Liberty.org reported. During talks with the visiting head of...
The wars over so Burjanadze Putin talk in Moscow
Russias PM Vladimir Putin met with Georgias ex-parliamentary chairperson and leader of opposition Democratic Movement-United Georgia party Nino Burjanadze in Moscow Civil Georgia reported. At the meeting Putin said Life moves forward and I very much hope that by relying on those people who want to have normal relations with...
EBRD says it will give 118 mln euros to Armenian banks
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development recently announced that it has allocated 118 million euros to Armenian banks under Multi-Bank Framework Facility II program officials said. Under this program the bank will invest 130 million euros in Armenias banking sector said Mike Taylor the EBRD director on financial institutions of...
China pledges closer cooperation
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi recently met with visiting Kazakhstans Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev Gazeta.kz reported. In the course of talks the sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and issues of common concerns and reached comprehensive consensus. Jiechi said that China was ready to work with...
International conference on alternative energy
The international scientific conference titled Issues related to the use of alternative energy sources in Turkmenistan recently opened in Ashgabat. The conference garnered participants from 27 countries including Australia Japan Asian European American Africa and other countries Turkmenistan.ru reported. The list of foreign participants comprised of feature scientists members of...
Korean Latvian envoys visit and talk issues
Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarfii recently welcomed new Charge dAffaires of the Republic of Korea to Tajikistan Ro Sun-min Asia-Plus learnt from the MFA information department. During the meeting both sides said they were pleased with the present level of bilateral cooperation between the countries. They exchanged views on ways...
New report on penitentiary institutions
The Association of Independent Lawyers of Turkmenistan and Turkmen Initiative on Human Rights recently prepared a report entitled Penitentiary institutions of Turkmenistan Turkmenistan.ru reported. The authors of the report highlighted overcrowded Turkmen jails colonies detention centers violation of prisoners rights and their humiliation corruption among the representatives of penitentiary institutions...
Keen on developing Islamic finance
During a recent visit to Astana foreign Islamic bankers announced that Kazakhstan is strongly interested in developing Islamic finance. The central Asian nation is emerging strongly as the most proactive and advanced Islamic finance market Gazeta.kz reported. President Nazarbayev is keen to develop diversified economic relations with both traditional partners...
CAREC ready to undertake all efforts to support Tajikistan
An Asian Development Bank ADB delegation representing the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation CAREC Programme recently paid a visit to Dushanbe Asia-Plus reported. The delegation comprised of Shigeko Hattori Director of ADBs Regional Cooperation Division and Ushio Tashibu Regional Cooperation Specialist. The delegation met with senior government officials to discuss...
WB sends a real estate project mission
The World Bank is preparing a review of the Real Estate Register Project in Azerbaijan being realized by the State Real Estate Register Service under the State Committee for Property Affairs formerly the Service for State Real Estate Register of Azerbaijan Trend news agency learnt from the Baku-based WB resident...
Pharmaceutical markets in CEE CIS examined
According to a new report of companies and markets Uzbekistan continues to retain its position of the most promising and risky pharmaceutical markets in Central and Eastern Europe CEE and the Commonwealth of the Independent States CIS . The report predicts that the market will grow by a compound annual...
Government faces protests over fuel bill hike
The government of Kyrgyzstan was forced to cut subsidies and increases the price of electricity and central heating. This move was taken to tackle the effects of the global financial crisis and to build up funds to invest in the energy sector Irinnews.org reported. The price for electricity has already...
Hungary to cooperate in IT alternative energy sources
The Azerbaijani delegation headed by Economic Development Minister Shahin Mustafayev recently visited Budapest to attend the meeting of Azerbaijan-Hungary inter-governmental commission within which Azerbaijan-Hungary business forum and B2B meeting business-to-business took place Trend news agency reported. B2B meetings covered the sectors such as agriculture and food industry medicine pharmaceuticals logistics...
Small Business association created
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov recently inked a Decree On measures to further improve the system of antimonopoly regulation and development of competition Uzbekreport.com reported. The document approved the creation of the Association of Enterprises of Small Business and Private Entrepreneurship. The decision was taken on the initiative of State...
Kyrgyzstan Russia investigate hydrocarbons market
Kyrgyz-Russian Inter-governmental Commission on trade economic science technical and humanitarian cooperation was recently held in Moscow Irinnews.org reported. During the session Kyrgyz Prime-Minister Daniyar Usenov said that Russia and Kyrgyzstan agreed on the probe of the Kyrgyz hydrocarbons market. No solid details are provided so both countries agreed to probe...
Relations with Georgia are above politics says Lavrov
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has been making serious attempts to sever links between the Russian and Georgian peoples the Messenger Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as saying. He made it clear that Russia will not cooperate with Saakashvili but wont avoid contacting the Georgian people. Lavrov said The Russian Federation...
IFC helps Georgian Banks to emerge from crisis
IFC a member of the World Bank Group is training Georgian bankers on managing risks and improving their credit portfolios to alleviate the impact of financial crisis and expand lending to the real economy Civil Georgia reported. The training focused on transfer of distressed assets with a view to stimulating...
Armenia has room to double its planned economic growth
Tatul Manaseryan adviser to Armenian Parliament Speaker recently stated that Armenia can enjoy two times higher than the economic growth planned for 2010 if it uses natural and human resources properly Armenia Liberty.org reported. He predicts 1.2 % growth outlook and there is more room for stabilizing and developing its...
Journalists terrorism charge could mean 525 yr sentence
Terrorist charges have been pressed against Vedat Kursun the former editor of a Kurdish-language newspaper who could face a 525 year jail sentence if convicted. Media rights organizations such as The International Federation of Journalists IFJ and its European group the European Federation of Journalists EFJ have expressed their shock following...
Turkey EU relationship still hinging on Cyprus?
Theorists will not stop expanding on this project until it is solved and what could be the solution also remains endlessly current on the world stage.
ELIAMEP a think tank based in Athens released a paper last week by Prof. Dr. Atila Eralp Director of the Center for European Studies Middle...
World Bank supports tax reforms
The World Bank Board of Directors recently announced that it will offer a loan of USD 17 million to the Kazakhstan Tax Administration Reform Project TARP Gazeta.kz reported. The overall cost of the project is $ 57 million. The project is co-financed by the government of Kazakhstan. Motoo Konishi the...
Kazakh chairs OSCE conference in Bucharest
Romania played host on 24 February the conference Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe OSCE for 2010. A decisive year for Europe informs a release of the Organization.
The conference is organized by the Diplomatic Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Bucharest and by the International Relations and Economic...
Working on peace in the region
During a visit to Iran Speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament Ogtay Asadov met with the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Both sides discussed the development of relations between the two countries. Other issues discussed include peace talks over the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno Karabakh conflict ways of the...
Private business prospects bloom
The President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov said that Accelerated expansion of service industries and small businesses is the key priority of anti-crisis actions. Some of the measures included are tax and credit incentives as well as deepening of institutional reforms to create more favorable environment for starting and running small...
Russias loan to Kyrgyzstan not used properly
Vitalyi Skrinnik the first secretary at the Russian Embassy in Bishkek recently announced that under the agreements a loan of 450 million euros provided to Kyrgyzstan by Russia was not utilised as per purpose Irinnews.org reported. He said that the Kyrgyz authorities had used money to establish a fund maybe...
Development fund has approved budget 2010
The development fund DF KR of Kyrgyzstan recently held a board meeting where it summarized the results of 2009 and discussed plans for 2010 Irinnews.org reported. DF KR approved the budget for this year which amounts to seven billion soms.
Around 680 million soms would be directed to the microcredit company;...
Intl Commission of Kazakhstan Uzbekistan
The 11th sitting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission for bilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan discussed the possibility of expansion of trade and economic cooperation of two countries Uzbekreport.com reported. The agenda of sitting included the questions of expansion of trade and economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan cooperation in...
Netherlands opens an embassy in Baku
The Netherlands Kingdom Secretary General Ed Kronenburg will visit Azerbaijan in early March the first secretary of the Azerbaijani Embassy in the Kingdom Elchin Bashirov told Trend News agency. Kronenburg will discus cooperation prospects between Azerbaijan and the Netherlands and various aspects of development of cooperation between the two countries...
US envoy Holbrooke praises Georgias Afghan effort
After a tour of Central Asian countries aimed at strengthening regional assistance in stabilizing Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke the United States special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan came to Georgia and said he welcomed what he called Georgias extraordinarily important contribution to the international effort in Afghanistan. On his arrival in...
Moscow Sokhumi sign military treaty to use Abkhazia
Moscow and Sokhumi have inked a number of treaties including on military and military-technical cooperation setting terms of use of military base in Abkhazia for at least 45 years Civil Georgia reported. Defence Minister of Russia Anatoly Serdukov and his de facto Abkhazian counterpart signed the document in The Kremlin...
ERBD says Armenias image damaged over detention
Valeriu Razlog head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EBRD Yerevan Office said the bank was concerned over the detention of SIL Concern holding company co-owner Saribek Sukiasian. Sukiasian a brother of prominent pro-opposition businessman Khachatur Sukiasian was detained along with one of his business partners on suspicion...
President takes a trip to Burj Khalifa
Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum accompanied President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov when he toured Khalifa Burj the worlds tallest tower Turkmenistan.ru reported. The Dubai Crown Prince briefed the Turkmen President about the construction phases of 828...
Tajikistan invites Dubai Airport Freezone to sign an MoU
An eight-man business delegation led by Kasymov Akram Deputy Chairman Sughd Region of the Republic of Tajikistan recently paid a visit to Dubai Airport Freezone. The delegation comprised of officials from the Ministry of Economy Sughd Economic Free Zone Panj Free Zone and heads of industry from the Republic of...
IMF to grant additional 42 mln aid to Tajikistan
The global financial crisis has gravely affected the economy of Tajikistan leading to political instability. An International Monetary Fund IMF team led by Axel Schimmelpfennig recently visited Dushanbe to conduct the combined first and second reviews under a three-year extended Credit Facility arrangement worth around 116 million euros Asia-Plus reported....
Afghanistan talks joint energy projects
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon recently welcomed visiting Afghan Minister of Energy Muhammad Ismail Khan today Asia-Plus learnt from the presidential press service. One of the main topic at the meeting was the progress of implementation of Tajik-Afghan joint energy progress. Following a two-hour talks with Rahmon the Afghan minister noted...
Ashgabat hosts Indian commission on cooperation
A regular meeting of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Indian commission for trade economic scientific and technological cooperation was recently held in Ashgabat Turkmenistan.ru reported. The meeting was attended by the delegation of representatives of government agencies and large companies of India led by Indian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Preneet Kaur....
EBRDs new strategy to support the economy
The new three year strategy of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development envisage that it will support economic diversification and the development of a more sustainable model in Kazakhstan reads a press release. The bank will focus on the corporate sector by addressing immediate financing needs. The strategy states...
Caspian News - New Europe News
Caspian News - New Europe News: The European News Source.
CrisisWatch N°79, 1 March 2010
Four actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated and two improved in February 2010, according to CrisisWatch. Côte d’Ivoire’s President Gbagbo dissolved both the electoral commission and government on 12 February, triggering violent protests that killed at least 7. In Niger soldiers launched a successful military coup, while in Kenya the coalition government was plunged into crisis over two major corruption scandals. The situations improved in Yemen, where the government and Houthi rebels reached a peace agreement, and in Guinea, where prospects for an end to military rule continued to improve.
Abkhazia: Deepening Dependence
In the eighteen months since Russia recognised it as independent from Georgia, small but strategic Abkhazia has become increasingly dependent on its giant patron. The International Crisis Group gives a snapshot of the current situation, particularly the extent of Russian economic, political and cultural dominance in the Black Sea entity.
CrisisWatch N°78, 1 February 2010
Two actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated and two improved in January 2010, according to CrisisWatch. In Haiti, up to 200,000 are feared dead in a devastating earthquake that has reversed much of the country’s recent progress in institutional strengthening, while a fresh outbreak of violence between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria claimed at least 320 lives. The situation improved in Guinea where hopes for an end to military rule were raised after successful talks between junta leaders and regional mediator Blaise Campaoré.
Crisis Group - Caucasus
The International Crisis Group (Crisis Group) is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation committed to preventing and resolving deadly conflict.
Medvedev continues shake up of Russia's law enforcement system (Ria Novosti)
President Dmitry Medvedev has dismissed a deputy Russian justice minister and appointed a new interior minister in the volatile North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia as part of his efforts to improve law enforcement in Russia, the Kremlin said on Tuesday. Source : Ria Novosti (subscribe) Explore : Asia, Dmitry Medvedev, Russia, World
Unsnarl the Armenia-Turkey-Azerbaijan jam (Japan Times)
YEREVAN, Armenia — Will Turkey's current turmoil between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the country's powerful army complicate and delay the country's boldest initiatives in years — the moves to address decades-old tensions with both Armenians and Kurds? Restructuring the role of Turkey's army is vital, but if Turkey cannot follow through with the Armenian and... Source : Japan Times (subscribe) Explore : Armenia, Asia, Azerbaijan, World, Yerevan
The President of Georgia or television prankster? (Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness)
If Georgians were under any misapprehension about their President before the weekend's bizarre developments in Tbilisi, surely now they must concede that he's mad, bad and dangerous to know! Saakashvili's government controlled TV station, Imedi, broadcast the news that Russia had invaded, as part of its main 8pm news bulletin. For the eagle eyed, a disclaimer had preceded the story,... Source : Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness (subscribe) Explore : Asia, Georgia, Russia, United Kingdom, World
EBRD President to visit Armenia March 18 (Panarmenian)
Loretta Martikian: this is Mr. Mirow's first visit to the South Caucasus. Source : Panarmenian (subscribe)
Two policemen killed in Russia's Chechnya (People Daily)
Two policemen were killed in a shootout with militants in Russia's restive North Caucasus of Chechnya, a spokesman for local law enforcement said Sunday. The clash occurred when a special operation against a group of suspected militants was conducted around the Chechen town of Bamut, near the border of another North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia, said the spokesman. Source : People Daily (subscribe)
Georgian TV fake invasion report "part of information war on Russia" (Ria Novosti)
Saturday's fake report by a Georgian TV channel on an alleged Russian invasion and on killing the South Caucasus state's president was part of an information war waged by Georgian authorities, Russia's envoy to NATO said Sunday Source : Ria Novosti (subscribe)
Two policemen killed in Russia's Chechnya shootout (Ria Novosti)
Two policemen were killed in a in a shootout with militants in Chechnya, in Russia's North Caucasus, a spokesman for local law enforcers said. Source : Ria Novosti (subscribe)
Four militants killed in south Russia's Dagestan (People Daily)
Four militants were killed in a special operation in Russia's volatile southern region of Dagestan, the local branch of the Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Saturday. The security forces gunned down four militants who put up armed resistance in the clash in the village of Zubutli-Miatli, Russian news agencies quoted a local FSB official as saying. Three of the dead have been... Source : People Daily (subscribe) Explore : Asia, FSB, Intelligence and espionage, Russia, World
Over 80 evacuated after landslides in south Russia (Ria Novosti)
Landslides in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan have destroyed homes and caused the evacuation of 82 people, emergency workers said on Saturday. Source : Ria Novosti (subscribe)
Militant group cornered by police in south Russia (Ria Novosti)
A militant group has been surrounded in a village in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan. Source : Ria Novosti (subscribe)
Russia to hold first official drag racing competition (Ria Novosti)
Fans of fast driving are getting ready for the first official drag racing competition in Russia to be held in the North Caucasus republic of Chechnya on Saturday. Source : Ria Novosti (subscribe)
Four militants killed in Russia's Chechnya (People Daily)
Russian police killed four militants in the turbulent North Caucasus republic of Chechnya, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said on Thursday. The militants were gunned down in a special operation conducted near the village of Nokhtch-Keloi in the Shatoi district, Russian news agencies quoted Kadyrov as saying. Three of the dead had been identified as suspects on a wanted list... Source : People Daily (subscribe)
Abkhaz Independence Leader Dies (Institute for War & Peace Reporting)
Territory unites to mourn Ardzinba, though divisions remain. By Anaid Gogoryan in Sukhum (CRS No. 535, 12-Mar-10) Source : Institute for War & Peace Reporting (subscribe)
Georgians Question Squeeze on Bribe-Taking (Institute for War & Peace Reporting)
Despite progress, people doubt the government’s boast on corruption fight. By Ana Kandelaki in Tbilisi (CRS No. 535, 12-Mar-10) Source : Institute for War & Peace Reporting (subscribe)
Four militants killed in police operation in Chechnya - Kadyrov (Ria Novosti)
Four militants were killed in a special police operation in the mountainous south of Chechnya, in Russia's North Caucasus, Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov said on Thursday. Source : Ria Novosti (subscribe)
Russia: Sweden gives refuge to Chechen bandits (Islam in Europe)
Russia: Sweden gives refuge to Chechen bandits 'Bandits' being the new Russian term for Islamic extremists. Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has hit out at Sweden for providing a home for Chechen "bandits". Pushing back at criticism of Russia's human rights record in the North Caucasus, Medvedev made his comments at a joint press conference in the Kremlin with... Source : Islam in Europe (subscribe)
Russia arrests 10 militants linked to train bombing (People Daily)
Russia on Wednesday formally arrested 10 militants linked to last November's train bombing that killed at least 26 people. The suspects were captured March 2 during a special operation conducted in Russia's turbulent North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia. Six other insurgents, including the notorious warlord Alexander Tikhomirov, were killed in the operation. Alexander... Source : People Daily (subscribe) Explore : Asia, Russia, Suicide Bombing in Ingushetia, World
Karabakh War Still Finds Victims (Institute for War & Peace Reporting)
Fifteen years on, doctors say disease brought on by stress of war continues to kill people. By Karine Ohanyan in Stepanakert (CRS No. 535, 11-Mar-10) Source : Institute for War & Peace Reporting (subscribe)
Baku Tackles Garbage Mountain (Institute for War & Peace Reporting)
Incinerator will burn city rubbish but some fear worse pollution. By Diana Isayeva in Balakhany (CRS No. 535, 11-Mar-10) Source : Institute for War & Peace Reporting (subscribe)
Armenian Genocide recognition will strengthen US' position in South Caucasus region (Panarmenian)
Vahan Babayan: With US recognizing the Genocide, issues linked to changes in Armenia's foreign policy many occur. Source : Panarmenian (subscribe)
Wikio - Caucasus
Wikio - World - Asia - Caucasus
TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN MOVE TOWARDS AGREEMENT ON SHAH DENIZ GAS
In recent days, energy diplomats on both the Azerbaijani and Turkish sides have revealed that an agreement in principle over the price that Turkey will pay for Shah Deniz gas from Azerbaijan has been reached. However, there are several ongoing sets of simultaneous negotiations over Shah Deniz, also taking place in the context of larger implicit bargaining games over other the Caspian Sea basin deposits of natural gas and indeed the geo-economics of their supply to Europe over the next several decades. These subtleties must be unpacked in order to understand the wide-ranging significance of even seemingly small agreements.
SOUTH KOREA’S MOVE IN CENTRAL ASIA
The opening of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline in December 2009 has focused deserved attention on China’s growing presence in Central Asia, particularly in the energy field. But the larger story transcends China and is really about the growing connections between Central Asia and East Asian countries in general, not just China. In this context, South Korea’s reinvigorated moves to consummate energy and infrastructure contracts with Central Asian producers are particularly revealing. Following President Lee Myung-Bak’s visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in 2009, there has been a series of acquisitions and search for assets by Korean companies.
UKRAINE AND AZERBAIJAN PROVIDE NEW MOMENTUM FOR THE OBPG PIPELINE
The January 14 meeting by east European leaders in Batumi, Georgia, marked an important step toward the realization of the southern energy corridor. Among them, Ukrainian and Azerbaijani participation is of utmost importance. Both countries demonstrate a certain degree of pragmatism in their relations with both Russia and the West, trying to reap the benefits of partnerships on both sides. Azerbaijan’s duality is shown by its agreement to sell 1 bcm of gas to Russia while still supporting the southern corridor. During the 2010 Presidential elections in Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovich spoke of mending Ukraine’s relations with Russia while simultaneously integrating with Europe.
THE ROGUN CONTROVERSY: DECODING CENTRAL ASIA’S WATER PUZZLES
The ongoing polemic between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan over the latter’s decision to construct the Rogun hydropower station has intensified, threatening to escalate amidst regional environmental challenges, widespread poverty, border disputes, and lack of inter-state cooperation, especially on water management issues. This context creates a potentially explosive environment in Central Asia that has witnessed a number of ethnic and resource-related conflicts in the past, primarily in the Fergana Valley, requiring effective intra and extra-regional policy responses to avoid water wars that are to some extent already under way across the region.
NEW STRATEGIC REALTIES IN THE BLACK SEA/CASPIAN REGION
The recent developments in the Black Sea/Caspian region indicate a dramatic shift in the geopolitical environment of the region. The reduced strategic ties between regional actors; diminishing U.S. interest and capacity to enforce strategic access to Central Asia through the Caucasus; and increased pressure from Russia on the entire region could ultimately lead to a different strategic picture of the region in the next decade. The new geopolitical realities have a profound impact on the development of energy infrastructure in the region, and more importantly, on the prospects of integrating the region in broader Euro-Atlantic security and economic system.
RECONCILING WITH THE TALIBAN: OPPORTUNITIES AND PITFALLS
The main topic of discussion at the January 28 London conference on Afghanistan was the renewed coalition support for the Afghan government’s reintegration and reconciliation initiatives. With varying degrees of enthusiasm, the United States, the United Kingdom, and other members of the international coalition endorsed Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s call for national reconciliation. Seeking to weaken the Taliban insurgents by dividing the group’s less committed members from its hard-core supporters makes tactical sense, but the initiatives entail serious risks that must be understood and reduced.
UKRAINIAN ELECTIONS COMPLICATE SOUTHERN ENERGY CORRIDOR
Viktor Yanukovych came first in the presidential elections in Ukraine, but Yuliya Tymoshenko has instructed lawyers to bring to the courts evidence of voting irregularities to put Yanukovych’s margin of victory under question. Even if the latter is able to muster a negative majority to oust her from office and form his own parliamentary majority, he may be forced to call new parliamentary elections. Nevertheless, he has already moved on the energy front through floating new proposals, if not yet able to offer them formally for legislative consideration. The elections in Ukraine change the odds also for other projects in the east-west energy corridor from Central Asia and the Caucasus to Europe.
MOSCOW APPOINTS COMPROMISE CANDIDATE TO LEAD TROUBLED DAGESTAN
The Kremlin has sprung something of a surprise by re-embracing the influential Magomedov clan in its efforts to bring stability to the republic of Dagestan. The head of this clan, Magomedali Magomedov, steered Dagestan through a difficult post-Soviet transition phase before finally being replaced in 2006. It is not entirely clear what lies behind the Kremlin’s change of heart regarding the utility of the Magomedov clan. It seems likely, however, that this sudden volte face is related somehow to the Kremlin’s failure to convince Dagestan’s truculent political elite as to the merits of its preferred candidate: Magomed Abdullayev.
MEDVEDEV CREATES NEW ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT IN RUSSIA’S SOUTH, NAMES KHLOPONIN AS ENVOY
On January 19, President Dmitri Medvedev finally made good on his pledge to invest one particular official with ‘personal responsibility’ for overseeing the situation in the Northern Caucasus. Alexander Khloponin is the president’s plenipotentiary representative to the ‘North Caucasus Federal District’, a new jurisdictional entity created by Medvedev, and has also been awarded the rank of a deputy prime minister in the federal government. Given that Medvedev has identified an underperforming economy as the main reason for the instability in the region, how does the new envoy propose to stimulate the economic situation there?
TURKMENISTAN-CHINA GAS PIPELINE BECOMES A REALITY
The opening of the first segment of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline last month is only one in a series of recent events in Caspian Sea basin energy developments. It signifies Turkmenistan’s first real moves to break its dependence upon Gazprom and the Russian state for international sales of its energy resources. These developments are to the detriment of Europe, which remains dependent upon Russia and Turkey as transit countries and has been unable to push forward the implementation of its Nabucco pipeline project.
Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Analyst - Analytical Articles
GEORGIAN OPPOSITION LEADER MAKES CONFUSING POLITICAL MOVES
The upcoming mayoral elections are increasingly causing confusion among Georgian opposition leaders. The political maneuvers of the most popular opposition candidate, Irakli Alasania, between Western-oriented and pro-Russian parties last week have decreased the opposition’s chances of winning the post of Tbilisi Mayor.
RICHARD HOLBROOKE VISITS CENTRAL ASIA
On February 17-21, the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, visited the Central Asian states. As part of the tour, he visited Uzbekistan on February 19 and met with President Islam Karimov in the Oqsaroy residence. Uzbekistan’s President expressed his intention to further develop Uzbek-U.S. cooperation on the establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan. In return, Holbrooke noted an interest on the U.S. administration’s part in strengthening cooperation on regional security. In addition, Holbrooke emphasized the special importance of Uzbekistan’s position for the settlement of the conflict in Afghanistan.
ARMENIA TAKES FIRST STEP TOWARDS ENPOWERING LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT
On February 1, the Armenian government introduced a bill to the National Assembly which marks a new step in the development of its state structure, as it is intended to radically increase the role of local municipalities. The local self government bodies in Armenia have so far been very week, with limited powers and influence. In particular, this is obvious in the weakness of their financial capacities. In 2010, the integrated budget of the local communities is set to 88.3 billion drams (US$232 million), which is just 9.4 percent of the central government budget. The local municipalities are expected to collect only 25 billion drams through their own revenues, the remaining 63 billion being transferred from the central government. In addition, almost half of this transfer, 30 billion drams, will be allocated to the capital city of Yerevan, which harbors one third of the country's population. Not surprisingly, the local municipal governments are usually poorly organized, poorly paid and short of qualified specialists. Until recently, the central government was the only body eligible for collecting taxes, but has gradually passed the collection of land and property taxes to municipalities.
INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS PROSECUTED IN TAJIKISTAN
On February 23, a preliminary hearing took place in a lawsuit against three independent weekly newspapers and a lawyer that were accused of libel for publishing the content of a press conference. Two judges of the Supreme Court of Tajikistan and one judge of the Municipal Court of Dushanbe sued three media outlets of Tajikistan, the “Asia Plus”, “Farazh” and “Ozodagon” newspapers. The judges demanded to defend their honor and dignity and to recoup moral damage at a total amount of 5,5 million somoni (approximately US$1,2 million). Furthermore, the judges demanded that the newspapers’ activities should be stopped while the court’s decision is pending.
FORMER KYRGYZ DEFENSE MINISTER SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON
On January 11, former Kyrgyz Defense Minister Ismail Isakov was sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment. In addition, he was deprived of his General’s rank and obliged to pay a heavy fine. Isakov was found guilty of the illegal transfer of one of the ministry’s apartments to his son’s ownership while heading the office. At the same time, the Bishkek Military Court freed Isakov on other two charges – the illegal selling of written-off military hardware and embezzlement of budget funds. Isakov has already appealed against the sentence at the Republican Military Court.
ARTIST SENTENCED FOR DEFAMING THE UZBEK NATION
Umida Ahmedova is a documentary photographer and Uzbekistan’s first camerawoman. In the end of 2009, she was charged with insult and defamation of the Uzbek nation on the basis of some of her works. Ahmedova went through a trial, where she was found guilty on all charges. The incident received wide publicity domestically in Uzbekistan, as well as internationally. This is a likely reason why the artist was granted an amnesty and released.
GEORGIA OFERS ALTERNATIVE ROUTE TO AFGHANISTAN
Georgia's president Mikheil Saakashvili voiced the proposal for Georgia is to become a logistical hub for NATO's Afghanistan mission in a phone interview with the Associated Press on January 29th.
TAJIKISTAN-UZBEKISTAN RELATIONS FREEZE OVER ROGHUN PROJECT
On February 3, Tajikistan’s Prime Minister Akil Akilov received a letter from his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoev, who requested the Tajik Government to reconsider its construction of the Roghun hydropower station. The Government of Uzbekistan insists that an international and independent assessment of the Roghun construction project should be conducted, and is concerned that the Roghun project may entail disastrous consequences for the entire region.
PRO-OPPOSITION JOURNALIST FOUND GUILTY IN YEREVAN COURT
On January 19, Nikol Pashinyan, editor-in-chief of pro-opposition Haikakan Zhamanak Daily, was sentenced to seven years in prison for organizing mass disorders during the opposition protests on March 1-2, 2008, following the disputed presidential election in February 2008. At least 10 people died and hundreds were injured in the clashes between government forces and protesters who challenged the official results that gave victory to current president Serzh Sargsyan. Pashinyan, an active supporter of former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s bid to challenge Sargsyan’s planned ascension to power, went into hiding and turned himself in on July 1, 2009. This was one month before the deadline given to all fugitives by the parliament-approved presidential amnesty, which secured the release of around 30 opposition activists.
TAJIKISTAN SEEKS ALTERNATIVE DESTINATIONS FOR ITS LABOR MIGRANTS
Speaking to journalists on January 7, Tajikistan’s Migration Service chief Safiallo Devonaev said the government is strengthening efforts to diversify destinations for the country’s surplus labor. Already this year about 1,000 physicians and nurses from Tajikistan will get jobs in Saudi Arabia under an agreement reached in November 2009. They can soon be followed by engineers, drivers and construction workers. According to Mr. Devonaev, Tajik authorities are working to reach similar agreements with Qatar, Iran, Kuwait, Belarus and Ukraine. In the long term, the Migration Service chief said, European countries, Turkey and Canada might be willing to take Tajik workers.
Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Analyst - Field Reports
3 March 2010 News Digest
Kazakh oil transit more economical via Poland than Ukraine – company chief
18 March
Diverting Kazakh oil supplies towards Poland turned out to be more cost-effective, head of national gas company KazMunayGas Kairgeldy Kabyldin told a press conference in Astana on Thursday. "We asked for help from our Russian colleagues, who suggested sending supplies towards [Poland], which turned out to be economically more effective than towards Odesa," he said, adding that 3.5 million tonnes of Kazakh oil had been diverted towards Gdansk. In late 2009, Ukrainian monopolist Ukrtransnafta notified KazTransOil in writing about the unilateral termination of the contract on Kazakh oil transit via Ukraine as of January 26, 2010. At the same time, the Kazakh-Ukrainian intergovernmental cooperation agreement on the supply and transit of Kazakh oil to and via Ukraine, signed on June 1, 2004, remains valid. The February supplies of Kazakh oil will be shipped towards Poland (Gdansk). Ukratransnafta will be seeking to increase the oil transit fee for Kazakhstan, said Yuriy Prodan, Ukraine's Fuel and Energy Minister. "Commercial talks are under way about the price of transportation. If the parties are satisfied with the price and quantities, a relevant agreement will be signed," he said. (Interfax)
17 February 2010 News Digest
Iran spends lavishly on gas infrastructure
3 February
Tehran announced plans to spend roughly $9 billion to develop its domestic natural gas infrastructure as part of a five-year development plan, officials said. Javad Owji, the head of the National Iranian Gas Co., said there are plans to build thousands of miles of pipelines inside the country, the Petroenergy Information Network in Iran reports. "Construction of 3,000-3,700 miles of gas pipelines and 20-22 pressure control stations is included in the development plan for 2010-2015," he said. Iran sits on some of the largest natural gas deposits in the world, hosting the giant South Pars gas complex in the Persian Gulf. A weak domestic capacity and pressure from economic sanctions over its controversial nuclear program prevents the Islamic republic from realizing its full capacity, however. Nevertheless, Iran has made some progress in expanding its client base, reaching deals with Azerbaijan for natural gas exports through northern arteries. Tehran points to its lucrative gas reserves to make the case for a role in Europe's Nabucco pipeline, though Western powers have said Iran will play no part in the project. Islamabad and Tehran, meanwhile, expect to sign off on a long-delayed pipeline from South Pars as early as next week. (UPI)
3 February 2010 News Digest
Kazakhstan to use Finland as example to spur development – Nazarbayev
22 January
Kazakhstan needs to adopt practices used by Finland to develop in areas such as business, education and science, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said. "Previously, we learnt from the "Southeast Asian tigers" [Singapore]. And our choice was right at that time. We copied their strategy and developed. But this stage has come to an end. Now we need to learn from Finland," Nazarbayev said in Astana on Friday, addressing the government's session on the country's socioeconomic development in 2009. "We have visited [Finland] and studied processes there. We have all the necessary documents," he said. Kazakhstan should use Finland's experience of maintaining "high education standards, competition during the distribution of funds among scientific research institutions and sophisticated national infrastructure," Nazarbayev said. Kazakhstan should also borrow Finland's ability to "unite the efforts of the state, science and business," he said. "In the past, we studied and applied the experience of Southeast Asia. But today we will learn from Finland. It would be good if we managed to do even better than them," Nazarbayev said. (Interfax)
20 January 2010 News Digest
RUSSIA SEEKS TO DOUBLE AZERI GAS INTAKE
28 December
Russia is planning to double its intake of natural gas from Azerbaijan in a potential challenge to European efforts to engage the Eurasian nation in the independent Nabucco gas pipeline network. The Russian Novosti news agency quoted senior Azerbaijan official Rovnag Abdullayev as saying supplies to Russia would double to 35.3 billion cubic feet from 2010. It was unclear if a new deal had been signed in addition to contracts initialed in October. Abdullaev, president of Azerbaijan's state oil and gas company Socar, said: "We have held negotiations. Azerbaijan has a potential to increase gas supplies, we will supply Russia with 1 billion cubic meters (35.3 billion cubic feet) of gas in 2010." Azerbaijan and Russia signed contracts Oct. 14 for the supply of 17.65 billion cubic feet of Azerbaijan natural gas to Russia, with the option to increase the volume. The prospect of double the contracted quantity of natural gas ending up in Russia, along with Azeri contracts to supply gas to Iran, further whittles down supplies that may be available if and when the Nabucco pipeline to Europe goes on stream. The $11.3 billion Nabucco gas pipeline is intended to pool gas supplies from Central Asian and Middle Eastern supplies for transmission to Europe through Turkey. The pipeline is backed by the West as an alternative to European dependence on Russian gas. However, while Nabucco is still in a planning stage, China has opened a 1,138-mile pipeline to Turkmenistan and begun taking delivery of gas from that country, originally a potential participant in the Nabucco project. The pipeline has the capacity to pump about 1.6 trillion cubic feet of gas and has made China one of the largest consumers of gas from Central Asia. The China-Turkmenistan pipeline also signals a geopolitical shift in the region because, until recently, Turkmenistan supplied most of its gas to Russia. The Nabucco pipeline project likewise aims to wean suppliers from Russia and to bypass Russian territory, passing through Turkey instead. Nabucco would utilize gas supplies from Central Asia as well as the Middle East, except Iran, which is emerging as a major consumer of Azerbaijan gas. Earlier in December, Azerbaijan signed an agreement with Iran to deliver natural gas to the northern Iranian provinces through an existing 916-mile Kazi-Magomed-Astara gas pipeline. The deal involves export of 17.6 billion cubic feet a year of gas -- a fraction of the pipeline's capacity of 353 billion cubic feet per year. Both sides have discussed installing new compression stations on the pipeline to increase its throughput capacity. Mohammad Bagher Bahrami, the Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan, said his country plans to buy at least 175 billion cubic feet of Azeri gas in the future. If implemented the deal will further reduce gas supplies that may be available for the planned Nabucco pipeline. (UPI)
23 December 2009 News Digest
Dashnaks Plan More Protests Against Turkish-Armenian Protocols
14 December
A leading member of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) has said the party will launch street protests in early January aimed at scuttling implementation of the Turkish-Armenian protocols signed two months ago, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reported. The Armenian Constitutional Court is scheduled to start assessing the accords on January 12. Vahan Hovannisian said today the party has received numerous calls to hold "serious actions of protest" on the eve of the announcement of the Constitutional Court decision. He said that "seeing that a popular wave [of protest] is again rising, we can state for certain that there will be no calm in Armenia during those days." Dashnaktsutyun quit the four-party coalition government in April to protest President Serzh Sarkisian's policy of rapprochement with Turkey. The party staged protests against the Turkish-Armenian protocols signed in Zurich on October 10, which it considers a sellout. The party is particularly unhappy with Yerevan's formal recognition of the existing Turkish-Armenian border and its acceptance of a Turkish proposal to set up a joint commission of historians that would research the mass killings of Armenians at the end of the Ottoman Empire. (RFE/RL)
9 December 2009 News Digest
Eight bombs defused on border between Dagestan and Chechnya
29 November
Law enforcers discovered and neutralized eight booby traps during preventive efforts conducted on the administrative border between the republics of Dagestan and Chechnya on November 27-29, the press service of the Dagestani Interior Ministry told Interfax on Sunday. The press service said the efforts were conducted by the Dagestani police together with operatives and Interior Troops. "During the operation eight booby traps planted in the routes of operative and search teams were discovered and defused. One serviceman was slightly wounded in the process," a ministry spokesman said. (Interfax)
25 November 2009 News Digest
Slain Kazakh Opposition Figure’s son gets Government Job
28 October 2009 News Digest
UZBEKS TO STAY MEMBER OF CENTRAL ASIAN POWER GRID 14 October
14 October 2009 News Digest
Foes say Saakashvili distorted war report China buying Kazakh energy assets
1 October
Georgia's opposition rounded on President Mikheil Saakashvili after a damning report on last year's war with Russia, and one former ally accused him of distorting its findings to deceive the Georgian people. The Georgian government and the country's main television broadcasters said the independent report, commissioned by the European Union and released on September 30, pinned the blame for the five-day war on Russia. Opposition leader and former Saakashvili ally Nino Burjanadze said the government was concealing the report's key finding -- that Georgia began full-scale hostilities with an unjustifiable assault on the pro-Russian breakaway region of South Ossetia. The report said the assault was the culmination of a long period of increasing tensions, provocations and incidents, and added that Russia's military response went beyond reasonable limits and violated international law.
But it said the five-day conflict began with Saakashvili's order to unleash heavy artillery on South Ossetia on August 7, which was followed by a devastating Russian counter-strike. "Again, the Georgian authorities have tried through their controlled media to hide the truth from their people," Burjanadze told a news briefing in the capital, Tbilisi. "The hiding and mutilation of the facts in the report is also a crime." Saakashvili himself has so far been silent on the report. He survived months of opposition protests earlier this year against his record on democracy and last year's war. Analysts forecast renewed pressure after the report's publication, but say another leadership challenge from a weak opposition appears unlikely. Another defector from Saakashvili's camp, former UN ambassador Irakly Alasania, said in an interview with Reuters that the 41-year-old president had damaged Georgia's international standing with his "irresponsible" actions. "It was his decision that really triggered full escalation," he said, speaking in English. "But there were the whole set of preconditions and provocations that we can also blame the Russian Federation for." The opposition has been careful to balance criticism of Saakashvili's conduct with contempt for Russia's military action, for fear of being labeled traitors by the authorities. The Georgian government insists the war was the result of Russian aggression after years of intensifying Russian political and military support for separatists in South Ossetia and Georgia's other rebel region, Abkhazia. (Reuters)
2 October
China is continuing its purchases of Kazakh energy assets. Xinhua news agency reported Thursday that the China Investment Corp., the country's sovereign wealth fund, Wednesday announced it had paid $939 million for a stake in Kazakhstan's JSC KazMunaiGas Exploration Production oil and gas company. The CIC is China's sovereign wealth fund, with a capitalization estimated at $300 billion. According to a statement on the CIC Web site, the corporation purchased about 11 percent of KMG EP's Global Depository Receipts through its Fullbloom Investment Corp. subsidiary, which is wholly owned by CIC. KMG EP's stock is listed on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange and its GDRs are traded on the London Stock Exchange. Following the CIC announcement of its purchase KMG's GDRs rose 9.95 percent to $22.10 in London trading. In April China National Petroleum Corp. agreed with Kazakhstan's state oil firm KazMunaiGas to jointly buy oil producer MangistauMunaiGas for $3.3 billion. (UPI)
Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Analyst - News Digest