Kyrgyz Opposition Nominates Former Premier For Presidency
Radio Free Europe
Bishkek, June 10: Kyrgyzstan`s For People Power opposition bloc announced on 10 June that it will support former Prime Minister Kurmanbek Bakiev in the 2005 presidential elections, akipress.org reported the same day. Bakiev served as prime minister in 2002; he resigned in May 2002 amid public outrage over the government`s handling of unrest in Aksy. The bloc, which was formed on 14 January 2004, consists of Asaba, Kairan El, the Democratic Movement Kyrgyzstan, ErK, Erkindik, the Republican Party, and Young Kyrgyzstan. Bakiev is the first officially declared candidate in the upcoming presidential elections.
Georgian Parliament Passes Confidence Vote On Government
Interfax
Tbilisi, June 10: The Georgian parliament passed a confidence vote on the reformed government and the governmental program at an extraordinary session on Thursday. The reformed government of Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania is made up of 15 ministers and five state ministers. The prime minister outlined a governmental program for the next five years. He said the government has overcome a chronic budget crisis for the first time in recent years. `The government is ready to conduct a new economic policy,` Zhvania said. `Efficient business cooperation with Russia` has played a huge role in this, he said. The government will be conducting `an aggressive innovation policy` and intensify privatization, Zhvania said. `State property that does not have an owner must be sold out,` he said.
Control Over Kazakh Party Financing To Be Strengthened
Interfax
Astana, June 10: Kazakhstan`s state agencies plan to strengthen control over the legality of political party financing. `The Justice Ministry and other state agencies will use all the authority that they are given by the law to make certain that Kazakh laws on political parties are obeyed,` Justice Minister Onalsyn Zhumabekov told a briefing in Astana. `If laws are violated, special attention will be given to the legality of party financing, appropriate measures will be decisively taken, and the question of liquidating a party could be raised,` he said. Zhumabekov said the law forbids parties from being financed by non- residents of Kazakhstan, and state agencies have information that certain political organizations are violating this law.
OSCE Centre In Tashkent To Train Domestic Election Observers
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, June 9: The OSCE Centre in Tashkent will begin training courses for domestic election observers in Andijan on 10 June. The programme is intended to prepare observers for the elections on 26 December, after which Uzbekistan will switch from a single to a two-chamber parliament. The courses are conducted in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the non-governmental organization, Renaissance. Similar courses have been held in Nukus and Samarkand. According to Uzbek legislation, domestic election observers can participate in the overall electoral process as representatives of candidates of political parties and initiative groups, but not as independent election observers.
Boosting Role Of Uzbek Women In Public Life
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, June 9: Ahead of parliamentary elections in December 2004, the OSCE Centre in Tashkent is carrying out projects to increase the participation of women in all areas of Uzbek society, the OSCE web site reported. Improving women`s leadership, advocacy and entrepreneurial skills is part of a key programme to get women involved in public and political life. Empowering women The position of women in Uzbekistan has improved, but there is still a lack of educational programmes in leadership. To help rectify this, the OSCE Centre in Tashkent and the International Helsinki Federation (IHF) held women`s leadership training seminars last November and February. Participants discussed their visions of gender equality and analyzed particular violations of women`s rights such as domestic violence - an issue that has yet to be addressed seriously by the government. They compared gender issues and successful projects in Kosovo, Rwanda and Sweden, and looked at the role of men in promoting gender equality. An expert leadership trainer from Sweden, Niclas Ericsson, engaged participants in discussions about their personal experiences and led an interactive, role-playing session addressing gender stereotypes. There was also an emphasis on developing communication, conflict resolution and stress-management skills.
Kyrgyz President Sceptical About Export Of Democracy
Radio Free Europe
Bishkek, June 8: In an 8 June article in Russia`s official `Rossiiskaya gazeta,` President Askar Akaev likened the export of democracy to the Bolshevik export of revolution. The article takes its main theme from the upcoming Eurasia in the 21st Century conference to be held in Bishkek, arguing that scholars and political leaders must work to refute the `clash of civilizations` thesis advanced by American political scientist Samuel Huntington. In this regard, Akaev sees Eurasia as a `continent of synthesis.` He said that `democracy-development issues top the agenda. This is the imperative of the age.` However, he stressed that `genuine power of the people should grow organically within the countries themselves,` and he warned against attempts to `export democracy` in the style of the Bolshevik effort to export revolution. Turning to geopolitical themes, Akaev explained that Kyrgyzstan hopes to maintain good relations with both Russia and the United States without becoming the focus of any rivalry.
Rabbi, Mayor Reach Agreement On Synagogue In Tajikistan
Radio Free Europe
Dushanbe, June 8: Abe David Gurevich, chief rabbi of Central Asia, reached an agreement on 8 June with Dushanbe Mayor Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloev on a location for the construction of a new synagogue in the Tajik capital, RIA-Novosti reported. Pronouncing himself satisfied with his visit to Tajikistan, Gurevich explained that the Jewish community selected a site close to the embankment of the Dushanbinka River. `The construction of a new synagogue may take place with the help of funds from sponsors,` Gurevich said. He noted that Dushanbe`s impoverished Jewish community today numbers approximately 200 people.
Merabishvili To Be Appointed Georgian Deputy Prime Minister
Interfax
Tbilisi, June 8: The current secretary of the Georgian National Security Council, who has been named candidate to the post of Georgian state security minister, will be appointed deputy prime minister of Georgia in charge of security agencies, Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania told journalists. He said that `Merabishvili will be appointed deputy prime minister at the coming government session on Wednesday and, at the same time, he will act as state security minister.` `Merabishvili has good experience in coordinating security agencies.
OSCE Hails Release Of Armenian Oppositionist Prisoners
Pravda
Moscow, June 5: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is satisfied with the release from prison of Aramazd Zakarian and Zhora Sapeian of the Armenian opposition Republican Party and the abolition of charge against them. This is mentioned in the statement of the head of the OSCE Yerevan office, Vladimir Pryakhin, published by the OSCE secretariat in Vienna on Friday. The OSCE also approves the actions of the Armenian authorities releasing Suren Sureniants of the same party and hopes that investigation against him will be ended. Vladimir Pryakhin`s statement reads: `The OSCE hopes that this step taken by the Armenian authorities will promote political dialogue between the opposition and the ruling coalition of Armenia and boost stabilization in this country`.
Georgian PM Announces Changes In Government
Itar-Tass
Tbilisi, June 5: The Georgian leadership has made some changes in the government. Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania told a briefing in Tbilisi on Saturday that Georgy Baramidze, 36, would become the new defence minister. He has worked as interior minister in the last two years. Baramidze will replace Gela Bezhuashvili, 37, who has been defence minister since February and who has been appointed Security Council secretary. Zhvania said Vano Merabashvili, 36, who was Security Council secretary in the last six months, would take up the job of security minister. Zurab Adeishvili, 32, who has been working as security minister in the past six months, has been appointed prosecutor general. Irakly Okruashvili, 31, who has been the prosecutor general since December 2003 and viewed as `the principal striking force` of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili`s team, will become interior minister. The prime minister said Saakashvili would present these appointments to the parliament for confirmation on Monday.
Russia Complains About Georgia`s Troops
Associated Press
Moscow, June 11: A top Russian diplomat met Friday with U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow to complain about Georgia`s briefly sending U.S.-trained Georgian troops into a separatist region. The South Ossetia region of Georgia, which has been de-facto independent since an 18-month separatist war ended in 1992, has been increasingly uneasy since Georgia sent the troops into the region last month. Advertisement South Ossetia`s president Eduard Kokoity said, meanwhile, that the region`s security forces have been put on alert amid rumors that hundreds of ethnic Georgians who fled the region during the fighting would try to return Saturday, the Interfax news agency reported. Since the end of the fighting, South Ossetia has been patrolled by a peacekeeping force of Russians, Ossetians and Georgians. Georgian officials said the dispatching of troops to the region last month was only to build up Georgia`s contingent of peacekeepers. However, the move alarmed South Ossetian officials already nervous over Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili`s vow to bring the region back under Georgian control. Although Russia does not officially recognize South Ossetia`s government, it has close ties with the region and in recent weeks has frequently sharply criticized Georgia`s actions as provocative. Many officials also resented the U.S. program to train Georgian troops, which began in 2002. First Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Loshchinin told Vershbow that Russia feels `serious anxiety in connection with the fact that, despite earlier assurances, a unit trained under the American program of military cooperation with Georgia took part in the provocative actions of the Georgian government in South Ossetia,` a ministry statement said.
Russia-Georgia Talks On Defense Matters To Resume In June
Interfax
Tbilisi, June 11: The next, ninth round of talks between Russia and Georgia on defense matters will most likely be held in Tbilisi before the end of the month, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Gomiashvili said at a briefing on Friday. Georgia welcomes the appointment of Igor Savolsky, a Russian Foreign Ministry special envoy, to head Russia`s negotiating team and expects the talks will proceed a more active vein, he said. Georgia will announce within 24 hours who will head its negotiating team, Gomiashvili said. Earlier reports said that the Georgian delegation at the talks is to be headed by Nikoloz Vashakidze, deputy secretary of the National Security Council. A spokesman for the Georgian Foreign Ministry earlier told Interfax-Military News Agency that the next round of talks will address terms of withdrawal of the 12th and 62nd Russian bases from Batumi, capital of Georgia`s autonomous republic of Ajaria, and Akhalkalaki, a locality in the region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, as well as inspection trips of foreign observers to the former 50th Russian military base in Gudauta, a resort in the breakaway region of Abkhazia. The transfer of several facilities of the Russian military force in Transcaucasia to Georgia will be addressed, too.
Uzbek Armed Forces Get $6.0 Million In US Aid
Radio Free Europe
Tashkent, June 10: U.S. Ambassador Jon Purnell presented Uzbekistan on 10 June with a $6.9 million aid package, Uzbek radio reported the same day. The package consists of equipment for the Defense Ministry, border troops, Customs Committee, Interior Ministry, and National Security Service. The lion`s share -- $4.8 million worth of communications hardware -- will go to the National Security Service`s border troops, UzA reported.
USA Present Equipment Worth US$6.09m To Uzbekistan
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, June 10: On 10 June, Jon R. Purnell, US Ambassador to Uzbekistan, presented a total of US$6.09 million worth of equipment to the Uzbek Ministry of Defence, Border Troops of the National Security Service, State Customs Committee, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the National Security Service. Accepting the equipment was Deputy Minister Rustam Niyazov, for the Ministry of Defence (MOD); Deputy Commander Rashid Habiev, for the Border Troops of the National Security Service; First Deputy Chairman Holdar Serikbaev, for the State Customs Committee; First Deputy Minister Tahir Mallajanov, for the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD). Also participating in the ceremony were officials from the Governments of Uzbekistan and the United States. The equipment consists of general investigative equipment and database hardware for the MVD`s Counter-Narcotics Division (US$93,000); drug laboratory equipment for the MVD`s Main Drug Lab (US$125,000); computer equipment (computers and printers for Border Troops, Customs, MVD, and NSS units (US$188,000); 12 Harris air-to-ground radios for the MOD (US$884,000); and 114 Harris radio systems for the Border Troops reconnaissance platoons (US$4,800,000). The wide array of equipment will significantly enhance the ability of the receiving Uzbek agencies to perform their mission of detecting, deterring, preventing, and interdicting trafficking of drugs, illicit materials, and weapons of mass destruction and protecting the borders of Uzbekistan.
Tajik Border Assurances
Kabar Agency
Dushanbe, June 10: Tajik border guards will alone be able to protect their country`s frontier with Afghanistan after Russian-led troops leave, a joint U.S.-European Union delegation said. The diplomats came to Tajikistan on Tuesday to determine what additional aid to give the Tajiks when the Russian troops -- who have guarded the Afghan border for 11 years -- pull out in 2006. The Russians` expected departure has raised concerns of a steep rise in drug trafficking through Tajikistan, already a major route for smuggled narcotics from Afghanistan. John Fox, U.S. State Department director of the Office of Caucasus and Central Asian Affairs, said any additional aid would depend on requests from the Tajik side -- but that it would be given whether or not Russians stay at the border.
Russia Ratifies Air Defense Agreement With Uzbekistan
Interfax
Moscow, June 10: The Russian Federation Council has ratified an agreement between Russia and Uzbekistan on the joint use of Russian air forces and Uzbek air defense forces to protect the countries` airspace. The ratification will provide a legal basis for the joint use of Russian and Uzbek forces `to fight off enemy air attacks in the Central Asian strategic direction,` Chairman of the Federation Council defense and security committee Viktor Ozerov said when presenting the document. The senator pointed out that the agreement does not interfere with the countries` interstate commitments to third countries, which, he said, is fundamentally important for Russia, as it is a signatory to the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The implementation of the agreement will strengthen Russia`s political and military positions in the Central Asian region and will contribute to improving Russia`s national security, he said.
Tajik Border Assurances
The Moscow Times
Dushanbe, June 9: Tajik border guards will alone be able to protect their country`s frontier with Afghanistan after Russian-led troops leave, a joint U.S.-European Union delegation said. The diplomats came to Tajikistan on Tuesday to determine what additional aid to give the Tajiks when the Russian troops -- who have guarded the Afghan border for 11 years -- pull out in 2006. The Russians` expected departure has raised concerns of a steep rise in drug trafficking through Tajikistan, already a major route for smuggled narcotics from Afghanistan. John Fox, U.S. State Department director of the Office of Caucasus and Central Asian Affairs, said any additional aid would depend on requests from the Tajik side -- but that it would be given whether or not Russians stay at the border.
NATO-Georgia Partnership Programme To Be Adopted
Itar-Tass
Tbilisi, June 9: Georgian Defence Minister Gela Bezhuashvili said at a briefing here on Wednesday that a programme of individual partnership of Georgia and NATO would be adopted at the forthcoming NATO summit, due to be held in Istanbul on June 28-29. The programme `provides for Georgia`s cooperation with NATO in the military, political and economic sphere, as well as in the upholding of human rights,` Bezhuashvili said. `The programme of individual partnership of Georgia and NATO was presented by Georgia in Brussels on June 7, at a meeting held in the `26 plus 1` format, and was praised unanimously,` he continued. According to his information, during the discussion of the programme the NATO leaders asked questions on problems of financing, on the infrastructure, on the reduction of the Georgian army and on the resources Georgia is willing to use for fulfilling its commitments within the framework of the programme.`
Georgia Pushes For Russian Military Bases Pullout
Civil Georgia
Tbilisi, June 9: Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili said, on June 9, that Russia`s two military bases in Georgia `have no strategic importance` for Moscow any more and they should be pulled out. `We will still push the issue of pulling out of Russian military bases from Georgia. Russia should understand that their bases have no strategic importance any more. And the issue should not be a subject of dispute between Tbilisi and Moscow,` Salome Zourabichvili said at a news briefing on June 9. On May 31 the Georgian Foreign Ministry issued an appeal urging Russia to resume talks over the military issues and hold the next round of talks in Tbilisi on June 10-11. Tbilisi has already proposed Moscow the setting up of a joint, anti-terrorism center in Tbilisi, in exchange for the pullout of Russian military bases from Georgia. The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the issue is under consideration.
Kazakhstan Proposes Controlling Arms In Caspian Region
Interfax
Astana, June 9: Kazakhstan is inviting the other Caspian states to set up a five-sided mechanism on arms control in the region, Kazakh Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Tokayev said opening a meeting of experts from Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Iran dealing with the Caspian Sea`s legal status in Astana on Wednesday. `We have to admit that if the demilitarization (of the Caspian Sea - Interfax) is interpreted as disarmament, this is an impracticable objective. In the context of the realities that have taken shape, it would be more reasonable to talk about the establishment of a five- sided mechanism to control weapons in the Caspian basin by concluding relevant treaties. This would make it possible to reach an arms balance in the Caspian region,` he said.
Armenia To Increase Its Military Budget In 2005
Interfax
Yerevan, June 9: Armenia`s military budget will be increased in 2005, Defense Minister Serzhik Sarkisyan told Interfax on Wednesday. `Not naming any specific figures, I can say for sure that Armenia`s military budget will be increased,` he said. Speaking about the NATO conference on military training scheduled to take place in Baku next week, Sarkisyan said Armenian servicemen will attend the gathering. There are currently no obstacles to Armenia`s participation in the conference, Sarkisyan said. `Armenia will only accept full-fledged participation in NATO training in Azerbaijan, not participation with observer status,` he said. Speaking about this week`s exchange of fire on the Armenian- Azerbaijani border, Sarkisyan said that `such cases sometimes occur. Azerbaijan often tries to push its positions forward, and Armenia curbs such attempts.`
Georgia Asked To Send Military Doctors To Afghanistan
Interfax
Tbilisi, June 9: NATO has asked Georgia to send military doctors to Afghanistan, Georgian Defense Minister Gela Bezhuashvili told a briefing on Wednesday. `If we make this decision, this will be the second operation after Kosovo under NATO aegis involving Georgia,` Bezhuashvili said, adding that his ministry is considering the request. `We have highly qualified doctors, many of whom are willing to go to Afghanistan. But this is a political decision. That is why it will be made taking all circumstances into consideration,` he said.
Armenian Parliament Moves To Facilitate Troop Deployment To Iraq
Radio Free Europe
Yerevan, June 8: The Armenian parliament ratified on 8 June an intergovernmental agreement with Kuwait signed in February that regulates the status of Armenian servicemen in Kuwait en route for service with the international peacekeeping force in Iraq, RFE/RL`s Armenian Service reported. Armenia plans to send up to 50 doctors, demining experts and drivers to Iraq, but Deputy Defense Minister Lieutenant General Artur Aghabekian told Noyan Tapan on 19 May that no date for their departure has yet been set.
Kazakh Reservist Head Questions Iraq Involvement
Radio Free Europe
Astana, June 8: Retired Major General Aytkali Isengulov, head of Kazakhstan`s Union of Reserve Servicemen, told a news conference in Astana on 8 June that the involvement of Kazakh peacekeepers in Iraq raises many questions, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported. `We should send our troops there if that country has invited us directly, but they should not be sent there by somebody else,` he said. `Virtually all of Iraq is now involved in a fight against occupiers who are currently in that country without any support from the UN.` Isengulov went on to suggest that most of the countries that have sent troops to Iraq have ulterior motives, such as a wish to join the EU or maintain good relations with the United States. Isengulov heads an organization with 30,000 members. A contingent of 27 Kazakh peacekeepers is currently stationed in Iraq.
US Ready To Provide Technical Assistance For Tajik Border
Radio Free Europe
Dushanbe, June 8: A U.S.-EU group to evaluate the situation on the Tajik-Afghan border wound up its trip to Tajikistan with a news conference on 8 June, Avesta reported. John Fox, director of the U.S. State Department`s Office of Caucasus and Central Asian Affairs, said that the United States wants to help, but will do so carefully. `The United States will not interfere in bilateral relations between Tajikistan and Russia on questions of guarding the Tajik-Afghan border,` Fox said. RFE/RL`s Tajik Service quoted Fox as saying: `I am confident that Tajik border guards, just like Russian border guards now, will be capable of providing security on the border. And if they need our assistance, we are ready [to provide it].` U.S. Ambassador Richard Hoagland stressed that U.S. assistance would be purely technical.
Armed Incident Happens On Azerbaijani-Armenian Border
Itar-Tass
Baku, June 8: One serviceman was killed and another was wounded in Armenian shooting at Azerbaijani positions in the Fizuli district of Southwest Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday. The ministry said that Azerbaijani positions came under large-caliber machinegun fire in the Kazakh district in the country`s west as well. The shooting stopped only after Azerbaijani servicemen opened fire, the ministry said. The ministry bluntly denied Armenian claims of alleged movement of Azerbaijani units in the conflict zone. Meanwhile, press secretary of the Armenian defense minister Col. Seiran Shakhsuvaryan told Itar-Tass that Azerbaijani units tried to take more advantageous positions on the border near Berkaber village of Armenia`s Tavush district in the small hours of Monday. He said Armenian units tried to stop Azerbaijani soldiers from moving towards a local pump station and the soldiers opened fire at the village.
Details Emerge On Russian-Tajik Agreement
Radio Free Europe
Dushanbe, June 7: New details emerged on 7 June about the agreement on military cooperation that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Tajik counterpart Imomali Rakhmonov signed at their 4 June meeting in Sochi, Asia-Plus Blitz reported the same day. A source in the Tajik presidential administration told the news agency that Russia will write off $250 million of Tajik debt in exchange for the space-surveillance center in Nurek. Russia will use the remaining $50 million of Tajik debt to invest in projects inside Tajikistan. The source said that a `political decision` has been made on a permanent Russian military base in Tajikistan, with only `a few technical issues` to be resolved. Moreover, Russia will join an international consortium to build the Sangtuda hydroelectric power station. Finally, the two countries will work together to conclude an agreement on labor migration. Richard Hoagland, U.S. ambassador to Tajikistan, denied on 7 June media reports that the United States had offered Tajikistan $12 million to ensure the withdrawal of Russian guards from the Tajik-Afghan border, Avesta reported the same day. Hoagland said, `The visit by the U.S. and EU delegation headed by the State Department Caucasus and Central Asian Affairs Officer John Fox is not a game with respect to Tajikistan.` Hoagland stated that the delegation arrived in Dushanbe at the request of the Tajik president to discuss aid for the training of border protection specialists. Some published reports had suggested that the delegation intended to counterbalance ongoing Tajik-Russian negotiations over military cooperation.
Tajikistan To Allow Russia To Deploy Military Base
Interfax
Sochi, June 5: Tajikistan will give Russia territory to deploy a military base for an unlimited period of time, according to an agreement reached during negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov in Sochi on Friday. Putin`s aide Sergei Prikhodko told journalists that the presidents also agreed that territory currently being used as testing areas by the Russian military in Tajikistan will be given to Russia under the same conditions. Speaking about the meeting between the presidents, Prikhodko said that `agreements were reached on the base parameters of several agreements that will allow the resolution of all remaining issues in Russian-Tajik relations.` He said that once agreements on liquidating Tajikistan`s debts, the presence of Russian border guards, a Russian military base in Tajikistan, and laws on migration are prepared, `we will begin to prepare for an official visit of President Putin to Tajikistan.`
Interview Of SCO RATS Executive Committee Chief
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, June 11: In mid-June Tashkent will host the summit of heads of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states, which will be marked with the official opening of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS). The meeting coincides with the third anniversary of the organisation - leaders of Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan signed the declaration on establishment of SCO in Shanghai on 15 June 2001 - and ends one-year chairmanship of Uzbekistan in the SCO. In an interview to Jahon news agency, director of RATS Executive Committee Vyacheslav Kasymov spoke on the structure`s goals and its activity. - Vyacheslav Temirovich, could you please tell about the RATS concept and its structure? - The decision to establish permanent SCO bodies like the Secretariat and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure was adopted at the organisation`s first summit in Shanghai. At the Moscow summit last May, Tashkent was determined as the place for RATS location. Facilities and equipment for operation of RATS were allocated within a short period of time. This January RATS started functioning as a full-fledged body. RATS has two executive bodies - the board and the Executive Committee. The board consists of representatives of administration of special services of the six states, and two sessions of the board have already been held. The Executive Committee also consists of representatives of all SCO member states. Presently RATS board is headed by the representative of Kyrgyzstan, and the Executive Committee - by the representative of Uzbekistan. - What tasks does the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure have and how are they going to be met? - The tasks are laid in the SCO founding documents - the Declaration on Establishment of SCO, Shanghai Convention for Fighting Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism - and defined in detail in the RATS Cooperation Plan for 2004-2006 approved in April. In short, RATS tasks are developing single approach for SCO states in fight against terrorism and other problems of the modern society. Our activity is divided into several important directions. First, coordination of activity of law-enforcement bodies and special services, providing assistance in search for members of terrorist, extremist and separatist groups, fighting drug trade and other crimes supporting international terrorism. The second direction is informational-analytical cooperation, which includes compilation of an information database on various issues of RATS work. The third direction is international legal cooperation. Constant contacts are needed not only within the SCO, but also with corresponding structures of international organisations, such as the United Nations (UN), Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Association of South East Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU).
Premier Says Tajik Power Sector Needs $2 Billion
Radio Free Europe
Dushanbe, June 10: Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov told the 25th session of the CIS Energy Council in Dushanbe on 10 June that Tajikistan`s hydropower sector will need $2 billion in investment over a 5-6 year period to provide neighboring countries with cheap, abundant energy, RIA-Novosti reported the same day. The investment could help to boost annual energy production to 15 billion kilowatt hours. Overall, the prime minister said that Tajikistan is using a mere 3-4 percent of its total energy potential of 520 billion kilowatt hours. Anatolii Chubais, CEO of Russia`s Unified Energy Systems, told the session that he sees `serious progress` on the CIS energy market, Interfax reported.
WB, Uzbekistan Sign Grant Agreement To Support Agricultural Reforms
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, June 10: The World Bank and the Government of Uzbekistan signed a grant agreement of US$517,000 on 10 June to support agricultural reforms in the country. Funding for the grant is being provided by the Government of Japan. The purpose of the grant is to support the implementation of the Rural Enterprise Support Project, which main objectives are to increase profitability and productivity in the agricultural sector; support the emergence of private sector initiatives; and ensure sustainability of the agricultural sector through rehabilitation of irrigation and drainage systems and improved farm management. On behalf of the Government of Uzbekistan the grant was signed by Mr Rustam Azimov - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy. The World Bank`s Country Manager for Uzbekistan, Mr Martin Raiser signed the grant for the World Bank. His Excellency Mr Akio Kawato- Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Uzbekistan took part at the ceremony.
LUKoil Set To Seal $1Bln Gas PSA With Uzbekistan
The Moscow Times
Tashkent, June 10: Oil major LUKoil and Uzbekistan`s state energy holding Uzbekneftegaz will next week sign a $1 billion deal to develop large Uzbek gas fields, an Uzbekneftegaz official said Thursday. A preliminary production-sharing agreement was struck in July 2001, but the project has been on hold since then awaiting changes to Uzbek law, which previously provided investors with few guarantees. The law was changed in October. `The signing of this production-sharing agreement, with a total volume of investment of some $1 billion, is set to take place during President Vladimir Putin`s visit to Uzbekistan,` said the official, who asked not to be named. Putin is due to attend a regional security summit in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, on June 16-17. The contract on a group of fields in the country`s south will become Uzbekistan`s largest PSA to date, the official said. Both LUKoil and Uzbekneftegaz have not publicly disclosed details of their PSA, keeping silent on the duration of the project and the shares allotted to each side.
Krtsanisi Village Folk Against Laying Of BTC Pipeline
RIA Novosti
Tbilisi, June 9: People in the Krtsanisi village of the Gardaban district (East Georgia; several kilometres away from the capital) demand a meeting with the Georgian leaders to discuss the situation surrounding construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. On Wednesday afternoon a group of villagers began picketing the State Chancellery building, the Novosti-Georgia news agency reports. They threaten with staging actions outside the American embassy to Georgia and renouncing their Georgian citizenship. In the morning villagers, demanding compensations for the use of their plots of land, obstructed pipeline-laying work in the Gardaban district. Things got worse when a special force tried to separate the villagers and building workers. The police have detained three women suspected of arranging the action, violating law and order, showing resistance to law-enforcers.
Russia, Iran To Build Hydroelectric Power Station In Tajikistan
RIA Novosti
Dushanbe, June 9: In the next 2-3 months Russia, Tajikistan and Iran will hold a trilateral meeting on the formation of a consortium to build the Sangtudinskaya hydroelectric power station, said Unified Energy Systems of Russia CEO Anatoly Chubais. `We are interested in this project,` Mr. Chubais noted following the meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov. Preparations for the construction of the Sangtudinskaya hydroelectric power station on the Vakhsh River with 670 MW capacity have been already completed. According to Anatoly Chubais, $350,000-520,000 are needed to accomplish the station. All in all, the construction costs $482,700,000. The Sangtudinskaya hydroelectric power station is the first project of the interstate target programs within the EurAsEC framework (the Eurasian Economic Community includes Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
Kazakhstan: EBRD To Provide $300 Million In `selective` Investment
Kazakhstan News
Ankara, June 9: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will invest up to US $300 million to strengthen Kazakhstan`s economy over the next two years. `Our objective is to invest primarily in the private sector with some public sector involvement. We do this on a very selective basis. Where we feel we can have an impact, that`s where we are involved,` Suzanne Gaboury, senior banker for Central Asia with the EBRD, told IRIN from London. Future EBRD investments will be in a combination of the domestic corporate sector, private sector, foreign investors, limited state projects as well as for continuing funding of the ongoing Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) and Small Business Programme (KSBP). The latest EBRD report shows that local bank participants in the KSBP have disbursed more than 21,000 loans (up to $200,000) to Kazakh small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in recent years.
Nelson Resources Arranges US$70M Financing For Kazakhstan Oilfield Stake
Canadian Press
Toronto, June 8: Nelson Resources Ltd. has announced a four-year financing agreement to fund the acquisition of a half-interest in a Kazakhstan oilfield by subsidiary Nelson Buzachi Petroleum B.V. The agreement with French bank BNP Paribas and Swiss-Dutch oil company Vitol S.A., worth up to $70 million US, is structured as an advance payment by Vitol to Nelson Buzachi for future deliveries of crude oil from the North Buzachi field. Nelson Buzachi will repay the funds through crude oil deliveries in equal monthly instalments starting Nov. 29 and guaranteed by Nelson Resources (TSX:NLG). `We continue to be excited by the potential of this oilfield, and I am very pleased that we have secured long-term financing on such favourable terms,` Nelson CEO Nick Zana stated Monday.
World Bank Approves Azerbaijan Credit
Interfax
Baku, June 8: The board of directors of the World Bank has approved a credit for Azerbaijan of $15 million to finance a rural development project, a source in the republic`s government told Interfax. `The World Bank has approved a credit for Azerbaijan of $15 million, which will be provided to the country at the beneficial terms of the International Development Association - 0.75% per year for 35 years, of which the first 10 years are a grace period,` the source said. Azerbaijan has been cooperating with the World Bank since 1992 and in this time the bank has paid out a total of about $600 million in credits to the republic.
Kyrgyzstan Economy Grows 7.6% In 5 Mths
Interfax
Bishkek, June 8: Kyrgyzstan`s GDP grew 7.6% year-on-year to 27.24 billion som in January-May 2004, the country`s National Statistics Committee told Interfax, citing preliminary data. Kyrgyz GDP, excluding enterprises who work at the Kumtor gold deposit, rose 5.6% to 24.46 billion som. Industrial output grew 14.6% to 22.06 billion som in the five months. Excluding enterprises working on the Kumtor deposit, output increased 7.5% to 11.64 billion som. Kyrgyzstan posted a trade deficit of $60 million in January-April. Exports were $213.3 million and imports were $273.3 million. Kyrgyzstan expects GDP to grow by 4.5% in 2004 and inflation should be around 4%.
China`s ZTE Corporation Enters Tajik Mobile Phone Market
Interfax
Dushanbe, June 8: China`s ZTE Corporation has set up a company under the name TK Mobile in Tajikistan that will offer standard CDMA2000-1X mobile telecommunication services. The company will be the sole operator using that standard in Tajikistan, company manager Madina Ismailova told Interfax on Monday. Tajik telecommunications operators relying on the GSM standard have said that they do not fear competition from the new company. `TK Mobile will not find it easy to win the market. Over a billion subscribers use GSM while CDMA is not widely known,` Bakhtiyer Muminov, executive director of the Tajik-U.S. company Babilon-Mobile said. His company has no intention of reducing its rates. Matlyub Uljabayev, deputy director of Indigo Tajikistan, said that the new company could not undermine prices even if it wants to. Ismailova said that the Chinese company is an old hand in the Tajik market. ZTE completed a $5.5 million project in January 2004 to overhaul a telephone exchange in Dushanbe, she said. The project was financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, she said.
Uzbekneftegaz, Lukoil To Sign PSA On June 16
Interfax
Tashkent, June 8: Uzbekneftegaz national holding company will sign a production-sharing agreement for the Kandym oil and gas project with Russia`s Lukoil on June 16, a source in the holding`s administration told Interfax. Technical details of the draft have been discussed, and both parties have approved it, he said. The signing will be timed to coincide with a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Uzbekistan to attending the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Uzbekistan will gain about $1 billion in taxes from the Kandym project.
Turkmenistan To Start Export Of Natural Gas That Meets World Market Standards
Associated Press
Ashgabat, June 8: Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov inaugurated a newly built compressor plant that will enable the country to export world-standard natural gas to Russia and Europe, state-run newspapers reported Tuesday. Niyazov said the compressor plant in the Dashoguz region of northern Turkmenistan would increase the competitiveness Turkmen gas on the world market. Oil- and gas-rich Turkmenistan plans to export 41 billion cubic meters (1,450 billion cubic feet) of gas to Ukraine and Russia this year. By 2007, it hopes to increase its annual exports to 100 billion cubic meters (3,530 billion cubic feet).
Chinese Oil Companies Interested In Kyrgyzstan
Interfax
Beijing, June 7: China`s Shenli Oil Company, a component of the Sinopec oil giant, will take part in the development of oil fields in Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz Ambassador to China Erlan Abdyldayev told Interfax. He said an agreement on Chinese participation in oil appraisal and development in Kyrgyzstan was reached at the sixth session of the Kyrgyz-Chinese intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation in Beijing on May 18-22, 2004. Shenli will reconstruct old oil wells, which are regarded as inefficient, in Kyrgyzstan. `Judging by the company`s cooperation with Azerbaijan and its activities in China, Shenli has enough technology and equipment to reconstruct old wells and develop horizontal shafts,` the ambassador said. China has shown interest in the development of new oil fields in the Alai Hollow of Kyrgyzstan.
EBRD To Invest Some $300 Mln In Kazakhstan
Interfax
Aktau, June 7: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development intends to invest about $300 million in Kazakhstan`s economy within the next few years. The EBRD views Kazakhstan as a very successful country and will invest about $300 million in various sectors of its economy, such as small and medium business development, agriculture, infrastructure, and private business, EBRD President Jean Lemierre said at a Friday press conference, following the 11th plenary session of the Foreign Investors Council that took place at the resort area of Kendirli in western Kazakhstan. The EBRD president did not specify exactly within which period the bank intends to invest theses financial resources in Kazakhstan.
Turkmenistan To Export Over 100 Bcm Of Gas From 2007
Interfax
Ashgabat, June 7: Turkmenistan will be able to export over 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas per annum from 2007, Turkmenistani President Saparmurad Niyazov said at the opening of a natural gas dehydration unit at the Deryalyk compressor station in the north of the republic on Monday. The president said that natural gas exports will be increased not only by reconstructing existing pipes and building new pipelines, but also by gas dehydration and pumping capacities. A source in the state company Turkmengaz told Interfax that Turkmengaz signed the contract for the construction of the Deryalyk station, costing $23.143 million, with Germany`s Pall GmbH, Switzerland`s Sulzer Chemtech and Belgium`s Enex Process Engineering in April 2002. Construction took 15 months, starting in November 2002. The source said that the launch of the new gas purification and dehydration unit with a capacity of up to 75 bcm per year will increase the quality of the exported gas and significantly increase the capacity of the Turkmenistan-Europe pipeline system.
Kazakh Steel Exported In European Market
RIA Novosti
Astana, June 5: Kazakhstan and the European Union have signed an agreement establishing the dual control system over exports of Kazakh steel products to the EU without quantity restrictions, the press service of Kazakhstan`s Foreign Ministry said. The document was inked by Kazakh ambassador to the EU Konstantin Zhigalov and Ireland`s ambassador Anne Anderson, whose country presides over the European Union in the first half of 2004. The agreement introduces the dual control system of 12 steel products without quantity restrictions. It also implies that these products should have quality certificates granted by Astana and Brussels. The agreement effective till 2005 was signed as part of preparations for the session of the Kazakhstan-EU Cooperation Council in mid-July 2004.
Kazakhs Ready To Discuss Taxes With Oil Majors
Kazakhstan News
Kendirli, June 5: Kazakhstan will balance the interests of foreign investors and the state as it tries to maximise benefits from its natural resources, President Nursultan Nazarbayev said late on Friday. Western oil companies complained after the oil-rich Central Asian state introduced higher taxes for future oil and gas projects late last year and said it would impose stricter rules for production sharing agreements (PSAs). The government has since maintained a take-it-or-leave-it stance, saying it will not retreat or change the new rules. But, following a regular meeting with investors on the shores of the Caspian Sea, Nazarbayev hinted at a softer line. `At the same time, we will consider international experience and the interests of Kazakhstan in order to maximise the state`s benefits from our natural resources,` Nazarbayev said.
Iran To Export Natural Gas To Azerbaijan, Armenia
IRNA
Tehran, June 5: Iran is to export 200 to 350m cubic meters of natural gas to Azerbaijan per annum from the coming winter according to a contract that is to be signed by the two sides after necessary negotiations and agreements. Deputy Minister of Petroleum for Caspian Oil and Gas Affairs Hamdollah Mohammadnejad told IRNA here on Wednesday that Iran has been in talks for more than one decade with the republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia on export of its natural gas. Mohammadnejad said that Iran is also to export 1.2 to 2.5b cubic meters of natural gas to Armenia a year for a period of 20 years through a 20-inch pipeline. The gas, he added, would be transferred to Magri border region through a 120 kms pipeline.
U.S. To Extend Armenia $700 Mln
Interfax
Yerevan, June 11: Armenia expects to receive $700 million in aid from the United States in 2004-2008 under the Challenges of the Century program, Armenia`s Finance Minister Vardan Khachatryan said on Thursday. Armenia hopes to receive $100 million of the aid before the end of 2004. The government is currently developing specific projects in order to receive this money. It is anticipated that the money will be used in education, healthcare and social services, and to rebuild the country`s infrastructure, such as irrigation systems and rural area roads. Armenia also expects to receive $20 million - $25 million from the World Bank under a program to fight poverty, Khachatryan said.
Second Caspian Summit To Be Held No Earlier Than 2005
Interfax
Astana, June 11: The second Caspian summit will not be held any earlier than 2005, experts said at the 14th session of the special working group on defining the legal status of the Caspian Sea in Astana on June 9-10. `Iran has suggested holding the summit in December 2004, and some countries are suggesting January 2005. We hope to know the concrete date for the next summit in January,` Iranian special representative for Caspian affairs Mehdi Sarafi told a Thursday press conference in Astana. The heads of state of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan had their first summit in Ashgabat in April 2002. The experts agreed to hold the 15th session of the special working group in Moscow in September. The experts said that the 14th session was positive. `We are close to an understanding on some clauses of the convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea,` Ambassador Ravil Cherdabayev from the Kazakh Foreign Ministry told the press conference.
Turkmenistan And Georgia Discuss Debt Settlement Issues
News Central Asia
Ashgabat, June 11: Ambassador of Georgia, Dr. Peter Chkheidze, had a meeting with President Niyazov Thursday to discuss modalities for settlement of longstanding debts owed by Georgia to Turkmenistan. Georgia owes a sizeable sum to Turkmenistan on account of the natural gas it purchased from the central Asian nation in 1993-94. Turkmenistan has consistently shown flexibility on the issue because of the prevailing economic situation in Georgia. The debt that stood at about US $ 500 million in the beginning has been cut down by half during the last 18 months. During 2003 alone the debt was slashed by US $ 90 million. Georgia has provided repair of military hardware and reconstruction of railway carriages and engines as partial settlement of the debt.
Azerbaijan-Russia-Iran Transport Consortium May Be Based In Baku
Tehran Times
Baku, June 11: The Azerbaijan State Railway Office told AssA-Irada that the headquarters of the Azerbaijan-Russia-Iran consortium on the Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway may be based in Baku. The railway will be part of the North-South transport corridor. Working groups from the three countries are expected to establish the consortium`s charter fund and work schedule by July 1. The location of the entity`s headquarters may be determined in a meeting scheduled for July in Baku. Funds totaling $15 million are required for Azerbaijan to join the North-South transport corridor. The funds will be spent on the construction of a 6-km railway connecting Azerbaijan with Iran and a railway bridge over the Astarachay River. Construction of the Tehran-Baku railway, which is to link up with Russia`s railroads, may commence early in 2005. According to the initial appraisal, $102 million is required for the implementation of the project, under which 340 kilometers of railway lines in Iran and Azerbaijan will be built and upgraded.
Shanghai Six Summit Due In Uzbekistan
RIA Novosti
Moscow, June 11: The summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (Russia, China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kirghizia) is expected to adopt the Regulations on the SCO Observer Status and the protocol on cooperation and coordiation between its members` foreign ministries, Alexander Yakovenko, official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, told the RIA Novosti news conference. The summit, due in Uzbekistan`s capital Tashkent on June 17, will also consider combating new threats and aspects of economic cooperation. Alexander Yakovenko expressed the hope that the heads of state will issue concrete instructions to intensify cooperation in all areas, such as political, economic, humanitarian. The official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that a new mechanism for regular meetings between the secretaries of the SCO security councils has recently been created. `The new mechanism could assume coordination between the corresponding bodies in the struggle against new challenges and threats`, Alexander Yakovenko said. Moscow sees the SCO as a dynamically developing organisation and the Tashkent summit will provide an additional impetus in its development, Alexander Yakovenko said. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation `is assuming a noticeable tone and its role is increasing, especially in arranging multilateral contacts in the region and opposing international terrorism`.
German Defence Ministry`s Visit To Uzbekistan Cancelled
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, June 11: The visit of German Defence Ministry Peter Struck to Uzbekistan and Afghanistan was cancelled on recommendation of doctors. Doctors earnestly recommended minister to take care in near future, the spokesman of Defence Ministry of Germany said. Peter Struck has been taken to hospital suffering from a heart ailment. According to the ministry, the health of Struck is improving and he will be under medical observation several days. Struck, 61, has been defence minister for two years, and was being touted as a possible replacement for Finance Minister Hans Eichel in the event of a cabinet reshuffle. He has even been seen as a possible successor to Schroeder.
Eurasian Forum In Kyrgyzstan Discusses Future Relations Conception
Itar-Tass
Cholpon-Ata, June 11: Delegates from European and Asian countries at their meeting in Kyrgyzstan this Friday discuss a conception of future relations in Eurasia. The meeting takes place in the resort site of Cholpon-Ata as part of the international forum `Eurasia in the 21st Century: Dialogue of Cultures or Conflict of Civilisations` organised on the Kyrgyz president`s initiative and held under the aegis of UNESCO. The draft conception underscores the need to make every effort not to oppose culture values of various civilisations in the future, but to jointly solve security problems and cooperate in fight against international terrorism and other violence manifestations. Countries of the continent should also develop trade and economic cooperation, including by setting up new international transport corridors, as well as tourism, forum participants believe. Participating in the forum are Kyrgyz representatives, including President Akayev, and politicians and scientists from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Russia and Pakistan.
Moscow Expects Ashgabat`s Decision On Citizenship
RIA Novosti
Ashgabat, June 11: Russia is hoping that Turkmenistan will speed up the consideration of Moscow`s proposal to convene the Russian-Turkmen commission for citizenship in Moscow in 2004. `We are waiting for an answer from the Turkmen side. Unfortunately, there has been no answer for a long time,` Alexander Yakovenko, official spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry, said at a RIA Novosti press conference. The Russian-Turkmen commission for citizenship was set up on the basis of an agreement between the two presidents in 2003. On July 8 of the same year, the commission gathered for its first session. According to Yakovenko, then the sides agreed to hold the next session in Moscow. (Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov unilaterally devalued the agreement he signed with Russia on dual citizenship and decided that all the citizens of the republic should choose one of the two citizenships.) Yakovenko also noted that Moscow had suggested to Turkmenistan that an inter-parliamentary dialogue be established. In particular, this refers to the recognition of Russian diplomas in Turkmenistan.
Kazakh - Baku-Ceyhan Agreement May Be Signed Soon - SOCAR
Interfax
Baku, June 11: Work has been completed on an intergovernmental agreement for the transportation of Kazakh oil through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and it may be signed in the near future, Natik Aliyev, president of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR), told journalists. `The next round of talks between working groups from the two countries will take place soon, at which we will regulate some details. Then we will make a report to the government and sign the agreement within an acceptable amount of time,` Aliyev said. He said that the question of ratifying of this intergovernmental agreement by the Kazakh parliament has not yet been resolved and the Azerbaijani government has been informed of this. Aliyev said that the does not believe that the ratification issue will create any problems. `The main thing is that Kazakhstan should give government guarantees to meet of all obligations in the intergovernmental agreement. Ratification of this document in parliament is a domestic procedure. This procedure, which is still applied in Kazakhstan, satisfies foreign investors, given their activity in oil, gas and infrastructure projects in that country,` Aliyev said. The SOCAR president also ruled out the possibility of the Kazakh side putting forward conditions for joining the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project.
Chinese President To Visit Uzbekistan
Interfax
Tashkent, June 11: Chinese President Hu Jintao and his wife Liu Yongqing will pay a state visit to Uzbekistan on June 14-18, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry`s press service told Interfax on Thursday. The visit`s agenda will involve meetings with Uzbek President Islam Karimov and Parliamentary Speaker Erkin Khalilov. A joint declaration will be signed at the meeting that is aimed at further advancing bilateral partnership, friendship and cooperation. An intergovernmental agreement outlining joint efforts to counter drug trafficking, as well as a memorandum on expanding trade, business, investment and financial cooperation, will also be signed. The two nations are also expected to adopt a cooperation program for their Culture Ministries for 2004-2007, and sign an agreement on cooperation between their Justice Ministries. During the visit, the Uzbekneftegaz national holding company and the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation plan to sign an agreement on cooperation in the oil and gas sector. Hu Jintao will attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tashkent on June 16-17.
Uzbekistan, China Should Strengthen Economic Interaction - Hu Jintao
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, June 11: President of China Hu Jintao was interviewed by Jahon news agency prior to his official visit to Uzbekistan. In his interview, Jintao said Uzbekistan achieved gratifying success in economic, political and social reforms. He added that as friendly neighbour China respected development way chosen by the people of Uzbekistan and supported Uzbekistan. `We note with pleasure that Uzbekistan is expanding foreign relations, development of friendship and cooperation with other countries,` he said. Speaking about upcoming visit, Chinese leader said that he would exchange opinions on bilateral relations, regional and international issues of mutual interest with the Uzbek President Islam Karimov. `Top priority will be given to broadening cooperation between Uzbekistan and China in politics, economy, scientific-technical, cultural and other spheres, as well as fight against `three evils` [terrorism, separatism and extremism], including Eastern Turkistan terrorist group, issues of security maintenance and interaction with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation,` Jintao added.
Russia And Kazakhstan To Discuss Cooperation
Kazakhstan News
Astana, June 11: An international conference of political analysts of Russia and Kazakhstan devoted to Russian-Kazakhstani cooperation has opened in Astana (Kazakhstan) today. The conference should promote the exchange of scientific experience between the two states in the spheres of democracy and establishing a common political, economic and cultural area, Kazakhstani Minister of Information Sauytbek Abdrakhmanov pointed out. The conference will last two days.
SCO May Admit Pakistan As Its New Member At Tashkent Summit
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, June 10: The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has agreed in principle to expand its membership, said a spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Office Liu Jianchao. `We hope Pakistan`s application to this effect will receive a favourable response from the member countries, when it formally comes under consideration,` he said when asked to comment on the SCO`s position on new membership. The official noted that SCO adopted principle of openness and prepared to establish links and cooperation with other states and international organisations. He said Pakistan is an important country in the region and could be helpful in achieving the SCO`s objectives. A consensus has also been reached in the organisation to give an `observer status` to the interested countries. It has been decided that the regulations for observer`s status will be approved at the Tashkent summit, to be held on 17 June. After the relevant parties reached an agreement upon consultation, the system of giving membership will also be brought to the agenda of the SCO, the spokesman added. Pakistan applied for its membership back in September 2000, and up till now its application is pending for consideration. China has always been supporting Pakistan`s entry into SCO. It is hoped that the other member countries, Russia Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will also take positive view on Pakistan`s request. Liu said the Tashkent summit meeting will be the SCO`s first meeting since the organisation entered a new stage of development, which will be of great importance to further promote its role in regional and international affairs. The purpose of the Tashkent summit meeting is to deepen the cooperation among SCO members in the security, trade and economic areas. During the meeting, heads of state of the member states will make important decisions on cooperation in various fields like diplomacy, security, economy and transport, and also will sign a series of agreements and documents. Meanwhile, the Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui at a press briefing said the organisation is still very young and the six SCO members need to have further discussions before deciding whether or not to accept new members. Li said a regulation on the observer status will be ratified at the upcoming summit, which will give the organisation a larger space in the diplomatic field. The official said the SCO has increased importance during the past three years since its founding. `Many countries believe that the organisation has become an important force in maintaining regional stability and there are more and more countries expressing willingness to join the organisation,` he added. Li said `Currently we have no regulations and laws about new membership. But I believe it will be possible for some countries to attend SCO meetings as observers in the near future.` The organisation was formally established in June 2001 and grew out of efforts in the 1990s to strengthen confidence-building measures in the Central Asian border regions and fight regional terrorism, religious extremism and separatism. It has been decided that the regional anti-terror center of the SCO will be officially launched at Tashkent summit. An agreement on the establishment of the centre was signed by SCO members in June 2002 at the St. Petersburg summit, which aims to facilitate cooperation between the six member states in their fight against terrorism, Li added.
Trade Caravan Leaves For Tajikistan
Central Asia Daily
Lahore, June 10: A Pakistani trade caravan, reviving the centuries old silk route trade traditions, left here on Thursday for the Tajik capital Dushanbe. Punjab Minister for Industries, Commerce & Investment, Muhammad Ajmal Cheema saw off the caravan, comprising a container-carrying truck, at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI). The vehicle will reach Dushanbe in about 10 days, covering a distance of 1,500 km after passing through Peshawar, the Afghan capital Kabul, Kunduz and the Afghan-Tajik border town of Bandar Sher Khan. A 60-member delegation of businessmen from the LCCI will leave for Dushanbe by air on June 23, two days ahead of the single country exhibition being organised in the Tajik capital from June 25 to 27. `This is a laudable step by the LCCI which will definitely open up new markets for Pak trade in Central Asia,` said Muhammad Ajmal Cheema. The minister said that Tajikstan had free trade agreements with five former Soviet republics including Belarus, the Russian Federation, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. `Pakistani products can access these countries through Tajikistan,` Cheema observed.
Struck`s Health Condition May Hinder To His Visit To Uzbekistan
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, June 10: German Defence Minister Peter Struck will probably postpone his visit to Uzbekistan and Afghanistan due to bad health condition. Peter Struck has been taken to hospital suffering from a heart ailment. It is still unclear status of German Minister`s visit to Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, earlier scheduled for 18-20 June. Struck, 61, has been defence minister for two years, and was being touted as a possible replacement for Finance Minister Hans Eichel in the event of a cabinet reshuffle. He has even been seen as a possible successor to Schroeder.
Uzbek President For Unifying Railway Tariffs In CIS And Baltics
RIA Novosti
Moscow, June 10: President of the Russian Railways joint stock company Gennady Fadeyev met Uzbek President Islam Karimov yesterday, on the eve of the 38th session of the CIS Railway Council in Tashkent. According to the Russian Railways press service, the Uzbek president advocated unified railway pricing and tariff policy in the CIS and Baltic countries. Such an influential body as the Railway Council should solve this problem and thereby prove stability of interstate relations, stressed Karimov. He also spoke for developing transport corridors between republics of Central Asia and China.
Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev Received Yuri Luzhkov
Kabar Agency
Astana, June 10: He arrived in Kazakhstan to take part in the celebrations of the Days of Moscow in Astana. During their talk Nursultan Nazarbayev stressed that commodity circulation between Moscow and Kazakhstan rose by 40 percent. Meeting participants believe that this figure does not represent the maximum potential. Russian capital remains interested in Kazakhstani grain and meat supplies. Mayor Luzhkov also talked about Moscow companies` intentions to take part in construction works in Astana. But the Eurasian Union`s support and development become the main theme discussed by Nursultan Nazarbayev and Yuri Luzhkov. President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov also took part in a solemn ceremony for the Russian capital`s cultural days in Astana.
Iran`s Vice-president Meets Kyrgyz President
IRNA
Bishkek, June 10: Vice-President for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mohammad Ali Abtahi held talks with Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev here Thursday. On the sidelines of a regional conference on dialogue among civilizations`, Akayev appreciated the presence of Iran`s high-ranking delegation to the conference as well as the message of his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Khatami. He hailed Khatami as an outstanding figure who has presented the idea of `dialogue among civilizations` to the humanity. Abtahi, for his part, underlined that violence and terrorism are expanding in the region and dialogue is the most effective way to confront them. The two officials also studied mutual cooperation between the two countries in trade, economic and humanitarian fields. Abtahi arrived in Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday evening to take part in the two-day conference titled `Euro-Asia in the 21 st Century; dialogue or confrontation among civilizations` which began on Thursday.
Uzbekistan Elected As Vice-president Of UN General Assembly
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, June 10: The UN General Assembly elected Uzbekistan as the vice-president of the fifty-ninth session of General Assembly, which will be opened on 14 September. According to the UN, Foreign Minister Jean Ping of Gabon was elected on 10 June to preside over the session. `Supporting the President this year will be Vice-Presidents from Algeria, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Ghana, Zambia, Bangladesh, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Syria, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Antigua and Barbuda, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Australia and Belgium, the Assembly decided,` the UN statement said.
Russia May Reinforce Border With Kazakhstan
Kabar Agency
Moscow, June 10: Due to the reduction of the number of Russian frontier guards in Tajikistan Russia should think about `equipping its border with Kazakhstan correspondingly,` Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared at a briefing after a government meeting today. Commenting on the approval of government agreements on simplified visa procedures with France and Italy he noted that Russia should strengthen and build up its borders in accordance with world standards. The European Union should be confident of Russian borders, which is a necessary condition on the way to its strategic goal, i.e. non-visa procedures between Russian and the Shengen zone, the minister added.
Kazakhstan-China Pipeline Documentation To Be Ready In Fall
Interfax
Almaty, June 10: Development of all technical documentation for the construction of the Atasu-Alashankou pipeline from Kazakhstan to China should be completed by the fall, the Kazakh government`s press service said. The press service said that Kazakh Prime Minister Danial Akhmetov said at a government meeting on Wednesday, dedicated to discussing this project, that construction of the 988-km pipeline with two pumping stations, 34 crossings and other engineering works, should be completed by the end of 2005. Akhmetov issued a directive to ministries and departments to prepare a budget sheet and regulative acts for the implementation of this project. According to the press service, a joint company set up by KazMunaiGaz and China National Petroleum Corporation will manage the construction. `I think that this will be a test of [our] ability to carry out serious, large-scale projects, particularly for our national company,` Akhmetov said. The Atasu-Alashankou pipeline will be built from the Atasau rail station in Karaganda region to the Chinese border near the Druzhba- Alashankou rail terminal. The cost of the pipeline is estimated at USD 700 mln, to be financed using borrowed fund, to be attracted by the participants under Chinese guarantees. The sides plan to start building the Atasu-Alashankou pipeline this summer and to complete it in December 2005. The launch of the first phase of the pipeline is planned for 2006, and the second phase - 2011.
Kyrgyz, Tajik Presidents Address Eurasia Conference
Radio Free Europe
Dushanbe, June 10: Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev and Tajik President Imomali Rakhmonov addressed the international forum `Eurasia in the 21st Century: Dialogue of Cultures or Clash of Civilizations?` in Cholpon Ata, Kyrgyzstan on 10 June, Kyrgyz and Tajik news agencies reported the same day. In his remarks, the Tajik president stressed that only dialogue and partnership are capable of resolving security issues, overcoming terrorism, and halting the globalization of violence, Tajik TV reported. For his part, the Kyrgyz president noted that globalization is exacerbating the plight of most people in the world, Kabar news agency reported. Nevertheless, Akaev placed his faith in dialogue and suggested that the phrase `clash of civilizations` should be eliminated from the international political lexicon.
Kazakh-Uzbek Border Row Continues
Radio Free Europe
Tashkent, June 10: Kazakh First Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Abuseitov said on 10 June that Uzbekistan was premature in justifying the actions of its border guards before the completion of an investigation into a 1 June fatal shooting on the Kazakh-Uzbek border, Khabar TV reported on 10 June. Additionally, Kazakhstan`s Foreign Ministry invited Uzbek Ambassador Turdyqul Butoyarov to discuss the progress of the investigation. Uzbek border guards shot and killed a Kazakh national on 1 June under disputed circumstances.
International UNESCO Forum Kicks Off In Cholponata
Kabar Agency
Bishkek, June 10: The international forum `Eurasia in the 21st century: dialog of culture or conflict of civilizations?` has opened in Cholponata, Issykkul under the aegis of UNESCO. President Askar Akaev of Kyrgyzstan, UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura and President Emomali Rahmanov delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. In his speech, A. Akaev expressed hope the forum will give powerful impulse to achieving dialog of civilizations and work out approaches, which are useful mite in common efforts of human being, make life more safe and happy. The forum`s programme includes two-day work at plenary meetings and free discussions. The main attention will be paid to activities of Central Asia in providing its safety, in solution of socioeconomic and cultural development problems, environment protection, providing with water, fight against terrorism and fundamentalism.
Turkmenistan Critical Of Media Comments On Russian Diplomas
Interfax
Ashgabat, June 10: The Turkmen Foreign Ministry has issued an official statement protesting `inaccurate reports` in the Russian media on the situation with Russian college diplomas in Turkmenistan and asked the Russian authorities to take appropriate measures. Starting from June 1, 2004, Turkmenistan stopped recognizing foreign diplomas issued after June 1, 1993. The Turkmen Foreign Ministry said that `a series of meetings has recently taken place between Turkmen representatives, Russian diplomats and State Duma deputies to inform the Russian delegation that there have not been any cases in which diplomas have not been recognized or people dismissed because of this.`
US-Kazakh Energy Commission Meets
Radio Free Europe
Astana, June 10: U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Kyle McSlarrow met with Kazakh Energy Minister Vladimir Shkolnik and Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov in Astana on 10 June for the third session of the Kazakh-U.S. commission for energy partnership, news agencies reported the same day. Interfax-Kazakhstan quoted McSlarrow as saying, `We are pleased with how energy cooperation has developed between our countries since Kazakhstan gained independence.` For his part, Akhmetov stated, `The United States holds first place in terms of investment in the Kazakh economy -- it has totaled over $9 billion over the past 10 years, largely in the oil and energy sectors.`
Uzbek Envoy To Pakistan Presents Credentials To Gen. Musharraf
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, June 9: The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Uzbekistan to Pakistan Anvar Solikhbaev presented his credentials to the President Pervez Musharraf on 9 June. The ceremony was held at the Aiwan-e-Sadar. A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan army presented the guard of honour. National Anthems of Pakistan and Uzbekistan were also played on the occasion. The Uzbek envoy and the Pakistani president discussed issues of mutual interests.
Uzbek President Receives Russian Railways` Head
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, June 9: The President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received the president of the open joint stock company Russian Railways Gennadiy Fadeev at the presidential residence Oqsaroy on 9 June. The head of Russian Railways arrived in Tashkent to participate in the session of CIS Railways Council, which opened on 9 June. The Uzbek leader expressed his satisfaction with the level of cooperation between railways companies of two countries. He underlined importance of railways in expansion of economic cooperation. The sides discussed cooperation of railways companies of two countries and issues on implementation of new opportunities in this direction.
Moscow Days Of Culture Open In Astana
Itar-Tass
Astana, June 9: The Moscow Days of Culture opened here as part of Russia`s Year in Kazakhstan on Wedensday. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov took part in the solemn ceremony on this event in the congress hall. Luzhkov noted that cooperation between the two capitals of the neighbouring countries is expanding every year. This cooperation is mutually beneficial for Moscow and Astana. After the opening ceremony Moscow companies gave a concert. Meanwhile, Russian pop stars held a concert at the Palace of Youth. Oleg Gazmanov, Alexander Buinov, Igor Nikolayev, Lada Dens and others are singing for residents and guests of Astana. The Moscow Days of Culture will last till June 11, the city administration press service said.
Namangan Region`s Governor Receives Russian Business Delegation
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, June 9: Governor of Namangan region Tulqin Jabborov received a delegation of the Russian Federation. Deputy head of Noginsk district administration (Moscow region) for economic issues S.Kozemirov and director-general of Noginsk mechanical rubber production plant O.Volchkov headed the delegation. The sides discussed issues of development of business contacts and cooperation in other spheres representing mutual interest.
Kazakhstan Urges Speeding Up Caspian Division Process
Kazakhstan Today
Almaty, June 9: Kazakhstan suggests that the Caspian bed be divided on the basis of agreements from the littoral states taking into consideration the commonly approved norms of international law. Kazakh Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Tokayev said this in Astana today, addressing the 14th session of a special working group for drawing up a convention on the Caspian`s legal status. `We are using this principle to divide the sea bed between Russia and Azerbaijan and this has given our state promising opportunities to use the sea bed,` he said. The Kazakh Foreign Ministry believes that `the delay in resolving issues related to the Caspian regime does not meet the national interests of the littoral states and worsens the problems related to this unique system`. `In the view of the Kazakh side, above all, the problem of dividing the Caspian water area into zones should be resolved and their regime should be defined,` Tokayev said. `An agreement on this issue would act as a catalyst to resolve other problems,` he thinks. `We suggest that the Caspian Sea be divided into territorial seas, fishing zones and an open sea in accordance with commonly approved international practice,` the foreign minister said. `The external borders of the territorial seas should be the state border,` he stressed. `The regime of the fishing area has been practically agreed on. Only the issues related to defining this zone as a separate category and verifying its width still remain open,` Tokayev said.
Friedensdorf International Head Visiting Uzbekistan
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, June 9: The delegation of Friedensdorf International (Peace Village International)led by its head Roland Gegenfurtner is visiting Uzbekistan. Friedensdorf International (Germany) is examining a group of children from Uzbekistan, requiring special treatment in German clinics, at the medical-social centre of the Foundation Soglom Avlod Uchun (For Health Generation). According to UzA, representative of German foundation will also visit to Jizzakh, Kashkdarya, Samarkand, Syrdary and Surkhandarya regions to observe health conditions of children with health problems.
Rais To Attend World Conference In Kyrgyzstan
Central Asia Daily
Islamabad, June 9: Rais Munir Ahmed, Minister of State for Minorities, Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Youth Affairs, will attend an international conference on `Eurasia in 21st century: dialogue of cultures or conflict of civilisations`, being held in Kyrgyzstan from June 10-11. The conference will focus on the important issues like cultural diversity, sustainable development, and commonality of values and their role in strengthening the prospects of dialogue among civilisations, says a press release. During the conference, the minister will highlight Pakistan`s efforts for the promotion of dialogue and cooperation between the regions of Central Asia, Eurasia and South Asia. The minister will also highlight the relevance of President Musharraf`s strategy of Enlightened Moderation that advocates a two-pronged approach: to fight extremism and to promote moderation; and to seek a just resolution of political disputes involving Muslims around the world. The concept calls for ending discrimination and stereotyping of Muslims in the Western societies. The concept of Enlightened Moderation, which has been endorsed by the OIC, emphasises collective efforts by the Islamic countries for their social and economic development.
EURASEC Summit In Astana To Focus On Electric Energy Issues
RIA Novosti
Moscow, June 9: The Eurasian Economic Community summit will focus on EurAsEC cooperation on effective development of hydroelectric resources of the Syr-Darya and Amu-Darya Rivers, the formation of the EurAsEC common tariff zone of railway carries, draft agreement on cooperation in the securities market and draft treaty on the EurAsEC legislative principles. All in all, 19 issues will be on the agenda of the EurAsEC summit in Astana in late June, EurAsEC Secretary General Grigory Rapota told RIA Novosti. According to him, the work on priority trends of EurAsEC development for 2003-2006 was recently completed. This document was adopted and signed by all EurAsEC leaders. `This document confirms and classifies three stages of the integration development: the improvement of the free trade regime, formation of the Customs Union (2006) and the formation of the Common Economic Space,` Mr. Rapota said. The document also outlines tasks to be solved for the achievement of these goals.
CIS Collective Security Alliance Reviews Last Year`s Performance
RIA Novosti
Moscow, June 9: Last year was a busy one for the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization [an alliance of six former Soviet republics: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Armenia], CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha said at a news conference on the RIA Novosti premises Wednesday. `We registered our organization in the UN and applied for observer status,` Bordyuzha reported. Last year, leaders of the CSTO member nations set up a standing council and a head office, worked out a common visa policy, reached an agreement on the establishment of a coordinating council for national anti-drug agencies, and undertook joint efforts to counter political and religious extremism, he said. Work is getting underway to set up information defenses against modern-day threats and challenges, Bordyuzha said. Specifically, an international media forum has recently been held in Moscow to discuss ways in which the mass media could counter terrorism and drugs trafficking. Speaking of the agenda of the CSTO presidential summit, to be held in the Kazakh capital of Astana later this month, Bordyuzha said that it would be dominated by issues such as mutual prevention of classified information leaks, the training of military personnel, and further military buildup of the organization. The CSTO`s peacekeeping capabilities may also feature on the agenda, he said. The CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization is currently considering the possibility of introducing uniform standards for the armed forces of all the member states, Bordyuzha reported. According to him, there is no clear-cut vision for CSTO`s military component just yet, but some specific proposals on common army standards can be translated into the reality at this point already, notably in areas such as armament, military hardware, combat training, and army staff structure. `The transition to uniform standards is an imperative. If we contemplate the possibility of conducting joint combat operations, we have to solve the issue of their compatibility,` the CSTO Secretary-General pointed out. He said the member states had already reached consensus on harmonizing standards in armaments, hardware, and combat training. Speaking of NATO, Bordyuzha said CSTO did not look upon the North Atlantic alliance as an adversary and that the two organizations had quite a few levers to prevent a clash between each other. As he passed on to the U.S.-led Coalition`s base in Kyrgyzstan, Bordyuzha said he did not see this as a cause for worry. The forces deployed there are meant for air protection of operations in Afghanistan, which are in Russia`s as well as the Coalition`s interests, he noted. He then shared with the media his opinion on the planned transfer of control over the Tajik-Afghan border to Tajikistan. The handover is unlikely to have any negative impacts, he believes. `In my view, the scheme that has been developed today-joint control of the Tajik-Afghan border in cooperation with Russian guards-will not let the border control system collapse,` the CSTO Secretary-General pointed out.
Al-Assad Confers With Speaker Of Kazakh Parliament
Kazakhstan News
Astana, June 9: Syria`s President Bashar al-Assad received this morning Speaker of Kazakh Parliament, Zharmakhan Tuyakbai and an accompanying delegation. During the meeting which was attended by Speaker of the People`s Assembly, Mahmoud Abrash, the two sides reviewed the historical and cultural relations between the two countries and prospects of developing them further in parliamentarian, economic, trade and tourism spheres so that they would reflect positively in the interests of the two friendly peoples. The delegation expressed support to Syria`s stances and just causes.
Speaker Of Kazakh Parliament Departure
Kazakhstan News
Damascus, June 9: Speaker of Kazakh Parliament , Zharmakhan Tuyakabay and an accompanying delegation left here on Wednesday concluding a four-day visit to Syria. He was seen off at Damascus International Airport by Speaker of the People`s Assembly Mahmoud al-Abrash and a number of officials. In a statement to SANA reporter, Tuyakabay appreciated his meeting with President Bashar al-Assad which gave him a new understanding about the region and the Arab causes. He described his visit to Syria as a fruitful on all levels particularly concerning developing the joint historical and economical relations between the two friendly countries and peoples.
Vice President Arrives In Bishkek
IRNA
Bishkek, June 9: Vice president for legal and parliamentary affairs, Hojatoleslam Seyed Mohammad-Ali Abtahi and his entourage arrived in capital city of Bishkek on Wednesday to attend the regional conference dubbed as `Eurasian 21st Century: Dialogue or Conflict Among Civilizations`. Upon arrival at Bishkek airport, Abtahi and the accompanying delegation were welcomed by Kyrgyzstan`s first deputy prime minister d the Kyrgyz Head of Iranian-Kyrgyz Joint Commission, Kubanische Aliyev. The Iranian delegation carrying a message from President Mohammad Khatami to the upcoming conference on Dialogue Among Civilizations, set out for the the resort city bordering Issyk-Kul Lake, where the meeting will be held. The `Dialogue Among Civilizations` conference was organized upon the initiative of President Askar Akayev in cooperation with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The conference is slated to open on Thursday.
Georgia May Lose Voting Right In Int`l Organizations Over Debts
Interfax
Tbilisi, June 9: Georgia could lose its voting right in many international organizations due to its failure to pay membership fees. Since 1992, Georgia has incurred over $64 million in debts to international organizations, Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Zhvania said at a news briefing on Wednesday. `This year, the Georgian state budget has earmarked only 1.5 million lari [about $800,000] to reduce its debt to international organizations, and all this money will be transferred to the UN, OSCE, UNESCO, CIS, and a number of other priority organizations for Georgia,` Zhvania said. The Georgian Foreign Ministry is holding negotiations with international organizations on phased clearance of the debts, he said.
Untouched Grounds Available For Tehran-Dushanbe Cooperation
IRNA
Tehran, June 9: Minister of Economy and Finance Safdar Hosseini said here on Wednesday that there are good and untouched grounds for cooperation between Iran and Tajikistan. Hosseini further told his Tajik counterpart Hakim Soliyev that Tehran and Dushanbe have signed agreements for implementation of several development projects, including Sangtudeh power plant and Anzab tunnel, in a near future. He hoped that the Tajik party will pay its debts on time to speed up implementation of the projects. Soliyev also hoped for trilateral cooperation between Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan in near future.
GUUAM Summit Postponed
Radio Free Europe
Tashkent, June 8: The planned meeting of the presidents of the five member states of GUUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Moldova), which was scheduled to take place in Batumi on 16 June, has been postponed indefinitely, Caucasus Press and Russian news agencies reported on 8 June. ITAR-TASS cited the Georgian Foreign Ministry as saying that the date was not convenient for some members, while Caucasus Press cited Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin as saying that Batumi is not a suitable venue because the situation in Georgian remains unstable.
Turkmen - Russian Diploma Row Continues
Radio Free Europe
Ashgabat, June 8: Turkmenistan`s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on 8 June condemning Russian media reports that foreign diplomas are no longer valid in Turkmenistan (see `RFE/RL Newsline,` 2 June 2004). According to the statement, which was published on turkmenistan.ru, Russian state television has ignored official Turkmen assurances that foreign diplomas are merely being verified, not invalidated. The ministry took particular exception to a 6 June report on RTR television featuring an interview with Avdy Kuliev, former foreign minister of Turkmenistan and current chairman of the United Democratic Opposition of Turkmenistan, who lives in exile in Moscow. The statement expressed `profound indignation` at the appearance on Russian state television of a man Turkmen authorities consider a criminal.
National Education Minister Celik Leaves For Kyrgyzstan
Turkish Daily News
Istanbul, June 8: Turkish National Education Minister Huseyin Celik left for Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday to attend an international meeting organized by UNESCO. Speaking to reporters at Istanbul`s Ataturk Airport, Celik said that UNESCO decided in its 32nd General Assembly in Paris to hold a meeting entitled, `Eurasia in the 21st century: a dialogue between cultures or a conflict of civilizations` in Bishkek. Celik said that President Askar Akayev of Kyrgyzstan invited Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the ninth President Suleyman Demirel to the meeting and stated that he would attend the meeting on behalf of Erdogan, as Erdogan would pay a visit to the United States.
Friendship And Cooperation Treaty Between Kyrgyzstan And Italy Ratified
Kabar Agency
Bishkek, June 8: The signing ceremony of Protocol on ratification of basic political treaty on friendship and cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Italy took place in the ministry for foreign affairs. The Minister for Foreign Affairs Askar Aitmatov and ambassador of Italy in Kyrgyzstan Diego Lorenzo Longo signed the protocol. Within the Framework of treaty on friendship and cooperation signed on March 3, 1999 in Rome, the development of multilateral relations on trust, mutual respect and cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Italy is ratified. In particular, the sides will promote the expansion in the economy, industry, agriculture, science, technical and ecological sphere, the press service of the ministry informs.
Chinese President Hu Leaves For Poland, Hungary, Romania, Uzbekistan
Agence France-Presse
Beijing, June 8: Chinese President Hu Jintao left Tuesday on a state visit to Poland, Hungary and Romania before heading to Uzbekistan for the fourth summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Hu is traveling with his wife Liu Yongqing, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai and other officials, the Xinhua news agency reported. During the trip, Hu will attend the Tashkent summit of the SCO, an anti-terror and trade group that brings together China, Russia and the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Its session is likely to include a bilateral meeting between Hu and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Afghan President Hamid Karzai will take part in the June 16-17 summit at the invitation of host nation Uzbekistan with the war on terror high on the agenda, Chinese officials have said. The summit will mark the formal establishment of an SCO counterterrorism center in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent.
U.S. Embassy In Kazakhstan Will Move To New Capital
Interfax
Astana, June 8: The U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan will move from Almaty to Astana in May 2006, after the new embassy compound is completed, Charles Williams, director of the Overseas Buildings Operations section of the U.S. State Department, told a Tuesday foundation laying ceremony in Astana. He said the compound is expected to be completed in spring 2006, and the embassy will move in May 2006. The $90 million embassy compound will occupy an area of 10,000 square meters and include an office building, the ambassador`s residence, quarters for marines and several auxiliary buildings. The embassy is expected to house 70 U.S. staff members and 230 Kazakh employees.
Bishkek Backs UN Efforts Aimed At Iraq Stabilisation-Kyrgyz FM
Itar-Tass
Bishkek, June 7: Official Bishkek supports efforts of the United Nations and the United States aimed at stabilisation of the situation in Iraq, it is said in a special statement circulated by the Foreign Ministry of Kyrgyzstan on Monday. The document stresses that at present, the process of building of a peaceful, democratic and independent state in Iraq is beginning, to which testifies the beginning of formation of the composition of the Interim Administration in that country. `Kyrgyzstan points out with satisfaction that a mechanism of transfer of power from the multinational forces` military command to representatives of the Iraqi government has been created. So, we highly assess the activities of the United States that practically confirm U.S. adherence to its commitment to transfer sovereignty to the Iraqi people by June 30, 2004,` reads the statement.
Kazakh Foreign Minister Sums Up US Trip
Radio Free Europe
Astana, June 7: Kazakhstan`s Foreign Ministry provided details on 7 June of Foreign Minister Qasymzhomart Toqaev`s trip to the United States last week, KazInform reported the same day. According to the Foreign Ministry statement, at his meeting with Toqaev, U.S. deputy national security adviser Stephen Hadley praised Kazakhstan`s `wise economic policy over the last 10 years` and promised continued U.S. support for Kazakhstan. Senator Ted Stevens, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, told Toqaev that democracy-building in Kazakhstan has paved the way for significant progress in bilateral relations. Congressman Henry Hyde, chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, noted that U.S.-Kazakh cooperation is on the upswing. Toqaev also met with the leadership of the Council on Foreign Relations on 4 June in New York, as well as with UN officials.
Russia, Georgia Welcome Agreements Reached In Tskhinvali
Itar-Tass
Moscow, June 7: The Russian and Georgian foreign ministries welcomed and supported the agreements reached by the co-chairmen of the joint control commission in Tskhinvali on June 2. Moscow and Tbilisi `welcome any efforts aimed at restoring trust and friendship between the Georgian and Ossetian peoples,` the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday. The sides noted `the importance of the decisions that reaffirm the obligations of the parties based on relevant international agreements.`
Al-Abrash And Kazakh Speaker Of Parliament / Press Conference
Kazakhstan News
Damascus, June 7: People`s Assembly Speaker, Dr. Mahmoud al-Abrash on Monday reiterated Syria`s commitment to just and comprehensive peace in accordance with the international legitimacy resolutions . In a joint press conference with Kazakh Speaker of Parliament , Zharmakhan Tuyakabay Al-Abrash stressed Syria`s overt and clear stances regarding combating the international terrorism, freeing the Middle East from weapons of mass destruction away from bias policy. For his part, Tuyakabay underlined Syria`s important and vital role in the region ,due to its prominent position, and in the Organization of Islamic Conference OIC noting to both countries` s identical points of view in the international circles towards a number of issues. Regarding the US sanctions he said: ` this procedure contradicts the international law` asserting his country`s rejection to hegemony policy and illegitimate acts. Tuyakabay renewed his country`s stand by Arab just causes . He emphasized the deep-rooted historical relations between Syria and Ukrainian stressing the necessity of developing them in service of the two friendly peoples. Earlier, Kazakh Speaker of Parliament , Zharmakhan Tuyakabay and an accompanying delegation arrived in Damascus yesterday on a visit to Syria. He was received at Damascus International Airport by Speaker of the People`s Assembly Mahmoud Abrash.
Kyrgyz Premier Meets With International Corruption Fighters
Radio Free Europe
Bishkek, June 7: Nikolai Tanaev met on 7 June with a group of international experts to discuss the achievements of Kyrgyzstan`s National Council on Good Governance, Kyrgyz radio reported the same day. Noting that the council is the first body of its kind in the CIS, Tanaev cited it as an example of Kyrgyzstan`s commitment to democratic reforms and asked international organizations to support it. The mission of international experts included Benjamin Allen, a policy adviser for the UN Development Program; Stian Christensen, the CIS program officer at Transparency International; and Macedonian Interior Ministry official Slagjana Taseva. During their visit, the international mission will analyze existing Kyrgyz legislation and submit recommendations for a more effective anticorruption strategy, the Kabar news agency reported.
Iran, Tajikistan Explore Ways Of Boosting Trade Transactions
IRNA
Tehran, June 7: Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi underlined here Monday the need for Iran-Tajikistan joint economic commission to find new strategy for expansion of mutual cooperation. Kharrazi made the statement in a meeting with Tajik Minister of Economy and Trade Hakim Soliyev, the Information and Press Department at Foreign Ministry announced. Kharrazi pointed to cultural and historical commonalties and common language between Iran and Tajikistan and expressed hope that the existing potentials would be utilized by both sides. He also described trend of development in Tajikistan as being in line with restoring stability to the republic and voiced Iran`s support to this end. The Tajik minister, for his part, described as favorable the growing trend of cooperation between Iran and his country.
West Kazakhstan, Russian Saratov Regions Sign Cooperation Agreement
Gateway to Russia
Astana, June 6: The West Kazakhstan and Russian Saratov regions have signed a trade, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation agreement for 2004-05. The governors of West Kazakhstan and Saratov regions [Dmitriy Ayatskov and Nurgali Ashimov respectively] signed this agreement during the days of economy and culture of Saratov Region in West Kazakhstan. Saratov Region has now organized the regions` commercial exchange, cultural activities and sports games in [the administrative centre of West Kazakhstan Region] Uralsk now.
Kazakh -Arrival
Syrian Arab News Agency
Damascus, June 6: Kazakh Speaker of Parliament , Zharmakhan Tuyakabay and an accompanying delegation arrived in Damascus this evening on a visit to Syria. He was received at Damascus International Airport by Speaker of the People`s Assembly Mahmoud Abrash. In a statement to reporters, Tuyakabay underlined Syria`s important and vital role in the region ,due to its prominent position on Arab , regional and international levels influencing the course of the political events in the region. He expressed his countries desire to promote relations with Syria.
President Karimov Received Heads Of SCO Security Councils
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, June 5: President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received secretaries of security councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation at the presidential residence Oqsaroy on 4 June. In particular, Islam Karimov met Deputy Minister of Public Security of China Yan Huanin, Secretary of Security Council of Russia Igor Ivanov, Secretary of Security Council of Uzbekistan Ruslan Mirzaev, Secretary of Security Council of Tajikistan Amirqul Azimov, Secretary of Security Council of Kazakhstan Bulat Utemuratov and Deputy Secretary of Security Council of Kyrgyzstan Mukambek Kasymaliev. The security councils secretaries gathered in Uzbekistan to prepare for the organisation`s Tashkent summit and discuss other issues of mutual interest. Speaking to the secretaries, President
Karimov noted that their meeting was another opportunity to coordinate views and approaches on various issues of security, which will be discussed at the level of heads of states.
Kyrgyzstan To Host 21st Century Eurasia International Forum
RIA Novosti
Bishkek, June 5: The international forum `Eurasia in the 21st Century: Cultural Dialogue and Conflict of Civilizations` will be held in Kyrgyzstan from June 9 to 12. The UNESCO national commission in Kyrgystan has sent invitations to the leaders of 13 Eurasian states. The summit is to be attended by prominent scholars, politicians and culture and religious figures from Austria, Belgium, the United Kingdom, India, Iran, Spain, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, the United States, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The forum may be gathered on the shores of mountain Lake Issyk-Kul. Conferees will look into the capacity of the East and the West to be equal partners in a dialogue on principles of tolerance and mutual understanding.
Ukrainian President For Peaceful Return Of Karabakh To Azerbaijan
ArC News
Yerevan, June 5: Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma wished his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliev early and peaceful return of Karabakh to Azerbaijan, reports INTERFAX. `One should call a spade a spade,` Kuchma said. `When 750,000 Azeri refugees suffered a colossal human tragedy.` `Ukraine has always supported and will support Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity.` Kuchma urged OSCE Minsk Group to be more active in the matter. Aliev thanked Kuchma for his position on the issue.
Uzbek Delegation Visits Moscow City Duma
Uzbek Report
Moscow, June 5: The delegation of Uzbekistan, including representatives of Uzbek officials and the NGOs visited Moscow city Duma on 3 June. The guests were received by the speaker of the Moscow Duma Vladimir Platonov. The delegation is visiting Moscow within the framework of the programme on exchange of experience in cooperation between state structures and `third sector` organisations. Mr Platanov familiarised the guests with functions and powers of Moscow city Duma, its structure, main activity direction, order of consideration of bills, collaboration of legislative and executive powers of Russia.
Iran, Tajikistan Keen On Boosting Economic Ties
IRNA
Tehran, June 5: A high-ranking Tajik economic delegation left for Tehran to attend the fifth Iran-Tajikistan Economic Commission on Saturday. The visiting Tajik delegation consists of the ministers of economy, and transport, deputy ministers of energy and education as well as senior economic experts. Iran`s ambassador to Dushanbe, Nasser Sarmadi Parsa, told IRNA that the Tajik delegation mainly aims to discuss expansion of economic and trade cooperation between Tajikistan and Iran. `Iran-Tajikistan Economic Commission is scheduled to hold meetings in Tehran as of Saturday and the first round of negotiations will focus on bolstering cooperation in the field of agriculture and industries. `Assessment of existing obstacles and proposing proper strategies enabling Iran to invest in Tajikistan are among the major issues on the agenda,` he added.
OSCE Centre In Tashkent To Hold Roundtables On Prison Monitoring Reports
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, June 11: The OSCE Centre in Tashkent is to organise two roundtable meetings in Uzbekistan to discuss the results of a prison monitoring initiative that took place earlier this year. The roundtables, which will be held in Tashkent on 14 June and in Bukhara on 20 June, are part of the OSCE Centre`s long-term prison reform programme. They aim at formulating recommendations to the Uzbek Parliament on the implementation of prison monitoring reports that were submitted to the Government in April 2004. With the support of the OSCE Centre, two local non-governmental organizations had monitored the human rights situation in the country`s places of detention and juvenile prison colonies in early 2004.
The Issue Of Trafficking In Human Beings Discussed In Tashkent
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, June 8: Two-day National Conference entitled `Combating Trafficking in Human Beings: Prevention, Legislation and Protection of Victims` opened on 8 June 2004, in the framework of the project on Combating Trafficking in Central Asia implemented by the national Organisation for Migration (IOM), with financial support of the American Agency for International Development in Central Asia (USAID/CAR). The initiative of organizing the event belonged to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the IOM. The USAID administers the US foreign assistance programme providing economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 80 countries worldwide. The co-organiser of the conference is the Department for Prevention of Crimes Related to Recruitment of Persons for the Purpose of Exploitation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Heads of Departments, officials of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Uzbekistan, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan, Office of the Prosecutor General of Uzbekistan, Border Control Service, National Security Service of the Republic, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection who are responsible for implementing measures on prevention of trafficking, and NGOs, international organizations and mass media representatives participated in the conference.
Vandals Destroy Buddhas In Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan News
Almaty, June 8: Vandals have shot off the face of an ancient Buddha engraved on a rock in a gorge in southern Kazakhstan, local media said Tuesday. The rocks with images of Buddha tower above the Ili River in the Tamgaly-Tas gorge in the Almaty region, 550 miles to the south of the capital, Astana. It is not certain when the Buddhas were engraved but most scholars think they are at least 700 years old. Hunters or tourists visiting the gorge destroyed a part of the arm of a Buddha three years ago, the Kazakh Karavan newspaper said. In addition to the images of Buddha, the gorge contains numerous petroglyphs from different epochs. A lot of people visit the gorge and generally the only damage that occurs is when they write their names on the rocks or leave garbage. Local authorities said they will post police officers to guard the images.
Kyrgyz Rights Advocates Denied Access To Files
Radio Free Europe
Bishkek, June 7: Kyrgyzstan`s Civil Society Against Corruption announced on 7 June that it has appealed to the head of the country`s National Security Service (SNB) to give human-rights advocates access to files the SNB has been keeping on them, akipress.org reported the same day. More specifically, Civil Society asked for SNB dossiers on Natalya Ablova, Tursunbek Akunov, Tolekan Ismailov, and Ramazan Dyryldaev. The appeal cites constitutional and legal justifications for citizens to demand access to such information. The existence of the dossiers came to light during 21 May parliamentary hearings on allegations the SNB planted eavesdropping devices in the offices of lawmakers.
Residents Of Uzbekistan Support Death Penalty - Poll
Interfax
Tashkent, June 7: Residents of Uzbekistan object to a moratorium or abolition of the death penalty, judging by a poll done by the Izhtimoii Fikr (Public Opinion) Center. `The absolute majority of residents, 78.2%, think the death penalty is permissible or necessary for punishing grave crimes,` a center source told Interfax on Monday. `The rate was 76.9% in 1999,` he added. The center polled 1,200 people, 47.1% of them men and 52.9% women, in nine regions of Uzbekistan. `Citizens of the republic believe the death penalty is a fair punishment that criminals must face,` said the center`s sociologists. Respondents think that `fear for one`s own life is the only thing that can stop a criminal.`
Tonnes Of Drugs Seized In Tajikistan
Itar-Tass
Dushanbe, June 8: Tajikistan`s police burned on Tuesday more than 600 kilograms of heroin seized from drug-runners. An Interior Ministry spokesman told ITAR-TASS that Russian border guards had confiscated more than 2,500 kilograms of drugs, two-thirds of which was heroin, since the beginning of this year. According to the National Agency for Drug Control, the drug situation remains tense on the Tajik-Afghan border. June begins the `harvesting season` at opium plantations that sprawl over 80,000 hectares in Afghanistan. An estimated 450 tonnes of heroin can be produced from the new crop. Afghan drug dealers have set up near border with Tajikistan more than 20 new mini factories, each of which can turn out up to 20 kilograms of heroin a day.
Afghan `heroin Factories` Moving Closer To Border - Tajik Official
Gateway to Russia
Dushanbe, June 5: About 20 new `heroin factories` have been set up in Afghan border areas in the immediate vicinity of Russian border posts. Each of them may produce 15-18 kg of crude heroin in a 24-hour period. Thus, Afghan drug syndicates are bringing the production of the poison closer to possible border crossing points, and continuing to threaten Tajikistan with `drug expansion`, an employee of the Tajik Drug Control Agency (DCA), Col Shavqat Olimov, told journalists today. He said Russian border guards faced heroin smuggling for the first time in 1996, seizing a total of 6 kg [that year]. Later, individual heroin seizures were in kilograms, and Russian border guards and Tajik law-enforcement bodies have begun [annually] seizing heroin in tonnes since 2001. The Tajik colonel pointed out with regret that after the beginning of the antiterrorist campaign in Afghanistan, opium plantations increased several times there and reached over 80,000 hectares. `According to UN data, the opium harvest may exceed 4,000 tonnes [this year]. New laboratories are needed to process it into heavy drugs and they are being equipped,` Olimov said. At the same time, the director of the Drug Control Agency, Ghaffor Mirzoyev, said: `This must not be the problem of bordering states alone; this is a problem of the entire international community.`
Uzbekistan To Launch Two Satellites With Russia Assistance
Itar-Tass
Tashkent, June 7: Uzbekistan plans to launch two space satellites with the assistance of Russian partners, an official in the Uzbek state-run Space Research Agency (Uzbekcosmos) told Itar-Tass on Tuesday. The Uzbekcosmos official explained that the cost of each satellite would fluctuate within the range of 60-70 million US dollars, depending on the business situation on the market of electronic equipment. One communications satellite and one satellite for the remote sensing of the Earth are to be lofted into space by means of the advanced Russian space rocket system Angara. The Uzbekcosmos official pointed out that the two Uzbek satellites are to be launched under the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2001within the framework of mutual cooperation between the Uzbekcosmos and the Russian M. Khrunichev State Space Research and Production Centre in the development of Uzbek satellites.
Kazakhs Look To The Heavens
Associated Press
Baikonur, June 5: The Russians who run this Soviet-built cosmodrome, which launched the first man into space, once ridiculed the local Kazakhs as not fit to join in their ascents to the heavens. The Kazakhs are no longer the brunt of ethnic jokes. A booming economy has filled their wallets with oil dollars, and this Central Asian nation is hoping to realize its own space dreams. Kazakhstan is planning space exploration missions and an increased presence at Baikonur, which remains Russia`s main launch site for manned space flights. Set in the isolated western steppes of Kazakhstan, the base was the scene of the historic launches of the first satellite to orbit the Earth and pioneer cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Baikonur has gained additional importance since the U.S. space shuttle was grounded last year after the Columbia disaster, making the site the only gateway to the international space station. Despite the collapse of the Soviet Union at the end of 1991, Russia has continued to use Baikonur -- the world`s biggest space complex -- and the complex operates virtually as a Russian enclave. But the Kazakhs don`t just want to collect rent anymore. Kazakhstan`s independence brought often tense talks with its former Russian masters over the use of Baikonur. Finally, in 1994, a lease agreement was signed for Russia to pay $115 million a year. When the time came this January to extend the lease, the sides clashed again. Still, they agreed to extend it through 2050 -- at the same rent, but with a provision for Kazakhstan to take part in future space projects. In 2005, Kazakhstan plans to put a communications satellite in orbit, paying Russia about $65 million to design, build and launch it. The Kazakhs also are forming a squad of cosmonauts. Aidyn Aimbetov and Mukhtar Aymakhanov have been training for nearly a year at the Russian cosmonaut center, with one of them scheduled to fly in 2006. Kazakhstan and Russia have also agreed to jointly develop a new launch complex for the more environmentally friendly Angara vehicle, an alternative to the Soyuz booster now in use. The estimated $400 million cost will be shared equally. The new complex is scheduled to be ready by the end of 2008.
Yerevan Adamant In Delaying Metsamor Closure
Radio Free Europe
Yerevan, June 9: The Armenian government remains determined not to close the Metsamor nuclear power plant in the near future and reaffirmed this position during talks with senior officials from the European Union last week, Industry Minister Karen Chshmaritian said on Tuesday. Chshmaritian headed a delegation of government officials who represented Yerevan at a regular meeting of an Armenia-EU `cooperation committee` which took place in Brussels on Friday. The issue of Metsamor`s future was high on its agenda. `The European side wants Armenia to set a date [for Metsamor`s closure],` Chshmaritian told a news conference. `However, Armenia can not set a date without having financing resources [to replace the facility] and clarifying the entire procedure for the closure.` The EU has long been arguing that the plant is located in a seismically active area and that its Soviet-built nuclear reactor does not meet modern safety standards.
Armenian Government Determined To Prolong Operation Of Nuclear Power Station
Radio Free Europe
Yerevan, June 8: Armenian officials made clear to EU representatives in Brussels last week that Yerevan will not set a deadline for shutting down the Medzamor nuclear power plant until an alternative source of energy is available, RFE/RL`s Armenian Service reported on 8 June, citing Industry Minister Karen Chshmaritian. The EU has been pressuring Yerevan since the late 1990s to decommission the plant by late 2004 and has offered 100 million euros ($123 million) toward the cost of doing so and of providing inexpensive alternative sources of energy. Chshmaritian said that at least $1 billion is needed to that end, and that the government wants to keep the plant operating until 2016.
Armenian NPP To Start Mothballing Program
Interfax
Yerevan, June 8: The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant will have a program ready to mothball the station by the end of 2004, the country`s Trade and Economic Development Minister Karen Jshmartain said at a press conference on Tuesday. The topic was discussed during the fifth meeting of the EU-Armenia Cooperation Committee in Brussels on June 4, he said. The meeting decided to set up a working group of power engineers on closing the nuclear power plant. The working group should review all the financial and technical aspects of mothballing the station and present their own program, Jshmartain said. The European Union has not set any concrete timeframe for closing the NPP without replacing its capacity with other sources. A project to build an Iran-Armenia gas pipeline was discussed as an alternative to the NPP, but the volume of gas would not be enough to replace the energy capacity of the NPP, Jshmartain said. The committee also discussed a project put forth by Armenia to build a new NPP in Armenia to replace the old one. The EU confirmed that it is ready to extend Armenia 100 million euros to close the NPP and replace its capacity, although Armenian specialists think that at least $1 billion is needed for this.
Japan To Invest In Yerevan Power Plant
Interfax
Yerevan, June 7: The Japanese government plans to invest $4.5 million in the construction of a thermal power plant in Yerevan with a capacity of 1.5 megawatts based on a waste incineration plant, Armenian Natural Resource Minister Vardan Aivazyan told journalists on Monday. He said that the ministry has approved the construction of the plant and thermal power plant at the Nurabshen dump, which covers an area of over 60 hectares. Talks are currently underway between a potential subcontractor for the project - Japan`s Shimizu - and the Yerevan Mayor`s Office. Aivazyan said that the project would involve the use of up to 800 - 900 cubic meters of rubbish per day to produce methane to be used in electricity production.
Special FocusTajikistan: Parliament Follows Regional Trend By Adopting Moratorium On Death Penalty
Tajikistan`s lower house of parliament unanimously adopted a moratorium on the death penalty June 2. The Majlisi Namoyandagon set no end date for the moratorium, which is to take effect immediately after becoming law. Once that happens, the stiffest penalty in the Tajik Penal Code will be 25 years in prison.
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/rights/articles/pp060504.shtmlGeorgia Keeps Pressure On South Ossetia
Against the backdrop of warming Georgian-Russian relations, South Ossetian leaders are struggling to resist the pressure being exerted on the separatist region by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. Many observers in Tbilisi believe that popular support for South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoyev is shaky.
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav060704.shtmlInvestment Upgrade Fuels Kazakhstan`s Oil Ambitions
Kazakhstan`s leaders, confident that demand for their country`s oil will expand rapidly, are taking an aggressive approach on new exporting and licensing projects. As high oil prices boost Kazakhstan`s economic health, the country`s government is adopting a tougher negotiating stance with Western investors, while exploring deals with Russian and Chinese companies.
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/business/articles/eav060804.shtmlArmenian President In Control As Opposition Protests Fizzles Out
Armenia`s President Robert Kocharian appears to have warded off a challenge to his authority, surviving a two-month opposition protest campaign that aimed to force his resignation. Even though the protests failed to attract large numbers of Armenians, some political analysts in Yerevan say the opposition campaign inflicted considerable political damage on Kocharian.
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav060904.shtmlBanking Decree Hurting Uzbek NGOs
With the stated intention of combating money laundering by local NGOs, the government of Uzbekistan is hobbling dozens of efforts by international organizations and foreign governments to stimulate civil society in the country. New regulations are making it difficult for foreign donors to assist small businesses, libraries, women`s groups and other non-state entities in Uzbekistan.
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav061004.shtmlKyrgyzstan: Parliament Rejects Draft Amendment To Ease Libel, Slander Laws
Kyrgyzstan`s parliament has rejected a draft amendment proposed by President Askar Akayev that would have eliminated jail sentences for libel and slander. By a two-thirds majority, it voted that libel and slander should remain criminal offenses punishable by up to three years in prison.
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav061004a.shtmlAzerbaijan: Is President Ilham Aliyev`s Power Base Wobbling?
Members of the Azerbaijani government and other state officials have been trading accusations of corruption and other misdeeds through the media for the past few weeks. Indications that political jockeying among the ruling elite may be intensifying have, in turn, fueled speculation about President Ilham Aliyev`s ability to control his team.
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http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/06/026e8a1c-0796-417d-b4fb-3e4ad595a342.html
Report dated 11 June 2004