Turkmenistan Prepares For Parliamentary Elections
Interfax
Ashgabat, November 5: Nominations for parliamentary election candidates have begun in Turkmenistan, the country`s elections commission told Interfax on Friday. The elections have been scheduled for December 19. Fifty electoral districts and 1610 polling stations have been set up for the poll, the presidential administration told Interfax. The previous parliamentary elections in Turkmenistan took place on December 12, 1999, when 2,224,000 people, or 99.6 per cent of all registered voters, went to the polls. According to the law, any citizen who has reached the age of 25 by election day and has lived in the republic for at least 10 years may run for parliament. As in the last elections, Turkmenistan`s administration does not plan to invite international observers.
Turkmenistan At Risk Of Violent Succession - Study
Reuters
Almaty, November 5: Ex-Soviet Turkmenistan is at risk from a violent succession struggle, should its autocratic president suddenly die, and the international community must do more to encourage change there, a Western think-tank said. President Saparmurat Niyazov, who styles himself as Turkmenbashi the Great or Father of All Turkmen, has already accused opponents in the gas-rich Central Asian state of trying to assassinate him in 2002. `The available evidence suggests that any succession struggle is likely to provoke tension, with a high possibility that it could descend into chaos, and possibly political violence,` the International Crisis Group (ICG) said in a report published on Thursday. Niyazov, 64, has ruled Turkmenistan since 1985 and built up a personality cult around himself while rapidly changing, and sometimes jailing, government ministers. He has said he may step down in 2008-9 but has no clear successor. Any kind of popular uprising was very unlikely, the report said, but rival factions within the elite and the opposition-in-exile might fight to gain control. The report by the influential think-tank urged Russia and the West to take a harder line with Turkmenistan by refusing officials visas and freezing financial assets if the government failed to meet human rights benchmarks. `Perhaps the biggest uncertainty around Niyazov`s regime results from the lack of any succession procedure,` said the ICG report, published on its Web site www.crisisweb.org. Turkmen officials were not immediately available for comment on the report but they have in the past criticised Western institutions for `using the language of ultimatums` in talking about the country. The think-tank also urged Russia, its most influential partner because Turkmenistan relies on Moscow for gas transit routes, to take a stronger line against discrimination against ethnic Russians inside the country.
Parliamentary Elections In Uzbekistan Discussed In Egypt
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 4: Round table entitled `Elections to parliament and local legislative organs of the Republic of Uzbekistan` was held at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Cairo, Egypt, Jahon reported. The forum gathered deputies of Egyptian parliament, political scientists, representatives of the diplomatic corps and the public, journalists and Uzbek citizens residing in Egypt. The participants familiarised with information on the course of preparation to the December parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan, as well as changes in the election legislation and legislative authority.
New Kyrgyz Opposition Movement Emerges
Radio Free Europe
Bishkek, November 4: Former Foreign Minister Muratbek Imanaliev announced the creation of an opposition political movement called New Direction at a press conference in Bishkek on 4 November, Kyrgyzinfo reported. Imanaliev is one of 15 people who started the organization; others include former Finance Minister Sultan Mederov and the commentator Kuban Mambetaliev, akipress.org reported. New Direction`s stated priorities are the fight against corruption, the revamping of government, and the formation of a national idea. Mederov told journalists that New Direction does not want to turn away from reforms in Kyrgyzstan. `We feel that these reforms are necessary, but we would like to distance ourselves from the way they are being carried out,` he said. The group, which plans to field a candidate in the October 2005 presidential election, considers the People`s Movement of Kyrgyzstan its political ally, RFE/RL`s Kyrgyz Service reported.
Chairmen Of Five Majilis Committees Appointed
Kazinform
Astana, November 4: At today`s plenary session of the Majilis of Kazakhstan`s Parliament the deputies of the third calling had elected the chairmen of five committees of the chamber, Kazinform reports. Romin Madinov will head Agrarian Committee, deputy of a new convocation Sergey Zhalybin will chair Committee for legislation and court and legal reform. Serik Abdrakhmanov became Chairman of the Committee on international affairs, defense and security after the discussion of the two candidacies of Serik Abdrakhmanov and Tokhtar Aubakirov. Zuare Kadyrova is to be in charge of the Committee for social and cultural development next five years. The head of the Committee for ecology and nature management is Erlan Nigmatulin.
Conference `Political Parties And Elections` Opens In Samarkand
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 4: Conference on `Political parties and elections: World practice and legislation of Uzbekistan` opened in Samarkand 4 November. The two-day forum has been organised in the framework of conferences on preparation to December parliamentary elections, which are held across the country. A number of world expert are participating in the Samarkand conference, including Frederick Starr, director of John Hopkins University`s Central Asia and Caucasus Institute and one of the leading US experts on Uzbekistan and Central Asia.
Deputies Completed New Parliament Formation
Kazinform
Astana, November 4: At plenary session of the Majilis of the Parliament chaired by Ural Mukhamedjanov the deputies had appointed Vera Suhorukova as the Chairman of the Committee for economic reform and regional development and Kenzhegali Sagadiyev as the Chairman of the Committee for finance and budget, Kazinform reports. The lower Chamber of the Parliament adopted also regulation on amendments of the Majilis in a body of Joint commission of the Parliament on budget draft 2005. This issue is to be considered at today`s Joint session of the Parliament`s Chambers.
Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party Holds Session
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 3: Milliy Tiklanish democratic party of Uzbekistan held a session in Tashkent, UzA reported. 230 delegates from all regions of the country participated in the session, chaired by head of the party`s Central Council Khurshid Dostmuhammad. At present, Milliy Tiklanish unites more than 50,000 people, of which 52 per cent are women. New members of the Central Council were elected and election programme was approved at the session. Candidates were also proposed for the upcoming elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan.
Lone Kazakh Opposition MP Resigns Over `rigged` Poll
Reuters
Almaty, November 3: The only opposition member of Kazakhstan`s newly elected parliament gave up his seat on Tuesday in protest at what he said was a rigged election in the oil-rich Central Asian state. The boycott leaves the new lower house, which sits on Wednesday for the first time since the Sept. 19 poll, without dissident voices in a vast state that has reformed its ex-Soviet economy but has never held a vote judged free and fair. `Victory was stolen from us using sleight of hand and falsification of results,` Alikhan Baimenov, co-chairman of the moderate opposition Ak Zhol (Bright Path) party said in a statement. The new parliament would be docile, he said. `This situation represents a real threat not just to our young Kazakh democracy but to our very statehood.` The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has said the September vote did not meet standards for democratic elections and was marred by voter intimidation, media bias and a lack of transparency among electoral officials. President Nursultan Nazarbayev, in power since 1989, dissolved the outgoing 77-seat lower house or Mazhilis earlier on Tuesday to make way for the newly elected deputies. The move came as a surprise as most parliamentarians expected him to wait until the old parliament finished debating the 2005 budget, the first reading of which it passed on Monday.
Adolat Social-democratic Party Holds Session
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 3: Adolat social-democratic party of Uzbekistan held a session in Tashkent, UzA reported. Some 170 deputies representing the party`s organisations in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and the city of Tashkent took part in the session. First secretary of the party`s Political Council Turgunpulat Daminov opened the session. The session approved the party`s pre-election programme. The participants also nominated candidates for deputies to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (parliament) of Uzbekistan. The number of party`s members currently constitutes 51,000 people.
Kazakh President Addresses Parliament
Radio Free Europe
Astana, November 3: President Nursultan Nazarbaev addressed the Mazhilis (lower chamber of parliament) on 3 November as it reconvened after the 19 September elections, Khabar TV reported. Nazarbaev said that the national commission on democracy and civil society will resume its work, which was suspended for the duration of the election campaign. He urged the legislature to support steps to speed reforms and reduce corruption, saying that a 30 percent decrease in the shadow economy will boost budget revenues by 20 percent. And he noted the need to raise teachers` salaries and ensure that young people are proficient in Kazakh, Russian, and English, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported. For their part, legislators elected Oral Mukhamedzhanov, who previously occupied a position in the presidential administration, as the new speaker of the Mazhilis, Kazinform reported. President Nazarbaev stated that `about 10 megaholdings control almost 80 percent of Kazakhstan`s total GDP,` Khabar TV reported. He stressed that these inefficient and nontransparent oligarchic structures hinder the development of small and medium-sized businesses. `We should work to transfer the secondary functions of megaholdings to medium and small business,` he concluded, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported.
Opposition`s Refusal To Work In Kazakh Parliament A Mistake - Presidential Aide
Kazakhstan News
Astana, November 3: The Kazakh president`s political advisor Yermukhamet Yertysbayev said the opposition party Ak Zhol`s rejection of a mandate in the new parliament is a mistake. `I think it`s a bad mistake. Refusing to work in the parliament is not just wrong, it`s stupid,` Yertysbayev said. `In Soviet times, they must have read Lenin`s works very superficially. Lenin wrote that a party must make use of all available methods of work with the masses to popularize their ideology and program,` Yertysbayev said in an interview in the Kazakh parliament.
Financial Groups Should Not Influence Politics In Kazakhstan - Adviser
Kazakhstan News
Astana, November 3: Kazakhstan`s financial groups, which control 80 per cent of the country`s economy, should not influence decision-making by the government and parliament, said Yermukhamet Yertysbayev, a political adviser to President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Speaking at a session of Kazakhstan`s newly elected parliament earlier on Wednesday, Nazarbayev underscored the need to reorganize the country`s major industrial holdings.
Kazakh Speaker Goes Out On Critical Note
Radio Free Europe
Astana, November 2: Zharmakhan Tuyakbai, who gave up his seat in parliament and his position as speaker to protest violations in 19 September elections, questioned the legislature`s new start date in critical comments on 2 November, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported. The newly elected parliament had been slated to start on 1 December; instead, it will begin its work on 3 November. `I am surprised. What`s wrong? Why the rush? I don`t see any reason for this decision. It`s as though we`ve done something wrong and need to be gotten rid of immediately,` Tuyakbai said. He also offered more general criticisms, RFE/RL`s Kazakh Service reported. `Democracy is not developing in our land.... And the main reason for this is the lack of the rule of law.... Those who disrespect our laws most of all are our leaders,` Tuyakbai said.
Kazakh Opposition Party Gives Up Seat In Parliament
Radio Free Europe
Astana, November 2: Alikhan Baimenov, co-chairman of the opposition party Ak Zhol, announced on 2 November that his party is giving up its single party-slate seat in the Mazhilis (lower chamber of parliament) to protest violations in the course of 19 September elections, `Kazakhstan Today` reported. `Our party has never entertained any illusions about the desire and ability of the current authorities to hold these elections on the basis of fair and honest competition. But the extent of violations and falsifications exceeded our most negative expectations,` an Ak Zhol press release said. Ten of the 77 seats in the Mazhilis were apportioned on the basis of party slates, with Ak Zhol receiving one.
16th Session Of Oliy Majlis To Convene On 2 December
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 1: 16th session of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan of second convocation will start on 2 December 2004 in Tashkent. According to a resolution of the Oliy Majlis Council of 1 November 2004, the following issues will be considered by the deputies during the upcoming session: 1. Expected execution of the state budget for 2004. 2. Draft state budget of Uzbekistan for 2005. 3. Bill `On saving pension provision of citizens`. 4. Bill `On status of deputy of Legislative chamber and member of Senate of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan` (second reading). 5. Bill `On status of deputy of regional, district and city people`s deputies council` (second reading). 6. Bill `On recalling deputiy of local people`s deputies` council, deputy of Legislative chamber and member of Senate of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan` (second reading). 7. Bill `On protected nature territories`. 8. Bill `On Trade and Industrial Chamber of the Republic of Uzbekistan`. 9. On introducing changes and addenda to separate legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 10. On ratification of international agreements and treaties. The deputies will also consider other issues within the competence of the Parliament.
Kyrgyz Good Government Council Undergoes Restructuring
Radio Free Europe
Bishkek, November 1: President Askar Akaev issued a decree on 1 November abolishing the National Council on Good Government, RFE/RL`s Kyrgyz Service reported, The functions of the 25-member council, which was created two years ago to fight corruption, will be folded into the 11-member Consultative Council on Good Government, akipress.org reported. Prime Minister Nikolai Tanaev had chaired the National Council; President Akaev chairs the Consultative Council.
Several Thousand Protest New Trade Restrictions In Uzbekistan, Burn Police Cars
Associated Press
Tashkent, November 1: Thousands of people in eastern Uzbekistan protested new trade restrictions on Monday in a rare expression of public discontent in the tightly controlled Central Asian country, a rights activist said. Up to 8,000 people marched from the central bazaar in the town of Kokand to the mayor`s office, burning at least two police cars, according to Ismoil Dadajonov, a rights activist who witnessed the protest. The demonstrators in this town 200 kilometers (124 miles) east of the capital Tashkent were protesting new trade rules that ban the sale of imported goods through intermediaries and require all vendors to get a special license to bring goods from abroad. The new rules _ the latest in a series of restrictions that have stifled private business in the country _ were announced in August and came into force on Monday. Most consumer goods are imported, and many Uzbeks shop for clothes and household goods at bazaars, where prices are lower than in stores. Monday`s protest was sparked by the confiscation by police of goods belonging to two traders, who did not have licenses required by the new rules. Local police confirmed that a protest took place Monday morning but declined to give details. No arrests have been reported.
Georgia Willing To Resume Military Talks With Russia
Interfax
Tbilisi, November 5: Georgia is planning to raise the issue of resuming military talks at the upcoming Moscow meeting of Russian and Georgian security council secretaries. `At the meeting in Moscow, scheduled for next week, we will discuss resumption of talks on military issues, including deadlines for Russian military bases withdrawal from Georgia,` Secretary of the Georgian National Security Council Gela Bezhuashvili told Interfax-Military News Agency on Friday. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and visiting NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said at a joint news briefing in Tbilisi on Thursday that Russia must unconditionally comply with decisions of the OSCE Istanbul summit of 1999 as far as withdrawal of Russian bases from Georgia is concerned. The previous leg of Russian-Georgian military talks took place in Moscow in February 2003. Russia confirmed readiness to comply with the Istanbul summit decisions, but said that 14 years and over $500 million will be required to withdraw the 62nd military base from Akhalkalaki, the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, and the 12th military base from Batumi, the Ajaria region.
U.S. To Double Military Aid To Georgia - Saakashvili
Interfax
Tbilisi, November 5: Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said on Thursday that the U.S. is expected to double its military aid to Georgia. An agreement to this effect is nearly reached, Saakashvili told reporters after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Tbilisi. `The aid will be twice as high as stipulated by the recent U.S. Train and Equip Program, which provided for the training of about 4,000 Georgian servicemen,` the president said. He confirmed Georgia`s readiness to continue cooperation with the international anti-terrorist coalition. `We already cooperate with the coalition in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo, where our military get good experience,` he stressed. `It is these servicemen who will form the core of the Georgian army,` Saakashvili said. Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze said after a meeting with de Hoop Scheffer that Tbilisi will host the NATO mission in the South Caucasus.
NATO Secretary General To Discuss Cooperation Prospects With Armenia
Interfax
Yerevan, November 5: NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will discuss prospects of bilateral cooperation of the Alliance and Armenia during his visit in Yerevan scheduled for Friday. Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Jean Fournet told reporters in Yerevan that the secretary general would like to discuss issues pertaining to more active involvement of Armenia in NATO`s Partnership for Peace program. He said that it is often required to meet the leader of the country at home to feel and understand the country proper and the position of its leader. He recalled that NATO included the South Caucasus into the sphere of its strategic interests, and added that the Alliance has enjoyed rapid development of the relations with countries in the region. As of now, he said, NATO offers its partners to develop an own plan of individual cooperation with the Alliance to make it possible for them to cooperate with the organization to the extent they want.
Georgian Leader Vows More Troops To Iraq
Associated Press
Tbilisi, November 5: President Mikhail Saakashvili said Friday that Georgia will increase its troop contribution to the U.S.-led mission in Iraq, linking the move to President Bush`s re-election. Saakashvili made the announcement in a televised address but did not say how many extra troops would be deployed. Georgia said earlier this week that some 300 troops will join 150 in Iraq now, but it wasn`t clear if Saakashvili was referring to these or additional troops. U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher on Thursday said that Georgia was increasing its troop strength in Iraq to 850. However, Georgian defense officials have yet to confirm that. In announcing the increase, Saakashvili mentioned the re-election of President Bush, who he called a friend of Georgia. `In today`s world, it is impossible to decide one`s own security without friends and allies,` said Saakashvili.
Georgia, S. Ossetia Agree To Demilitarize Conflict Area
Interfax
Tbilisi, November 5: Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and the president of Georgia`s breakaway internal republic of South Ossetia, Eduard Kokoity, agreed at their meeting in Sochi on Friday that the conflict area will be demilitarized and people will be allowed to move freely there, Georgia`s Minister of State Giorgi Khaindrava told reporters. `They decided to withdraw from the conflict area all armed units other than the trilateral peacekeeping force,` he said. The meeting also covered implementation of economic projects in Tskhinvali area, Khaindrava said.
Kazakhstan And German Militaries Build Up Cooperation
Kazinform
Astana, November 4: In accordance with the Program of military contacts between the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan and the Federal Ministry of Defense of Germany for 2004, 4 November in Almaty military delegations of the two countries held talks, our correspondent reports. The two delegations with Minister of Defense of Kazakhstan Bolat Sembinov and Advisor of the Ministry of Defense of Germany on military policy Yurgen Borneman in the head had a constructive exchange of opinions about current issues of international and regional security, bilateral military cooperation, relationship of Kazakhstan with the NATO within the Partnership for Peace Program. Formation of professional army and modernization of armament and military technique was of particular interest. The military officials of the two states noted high level of implementation of joint campaigns and activation of bilateral military cooperation.
Georgia Could Join NATO Earlier Than Expected - PM
Itar-Tass
Tbilisi, November 4: Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania believes Georgia could seek joining NATO more actively. He said in a statement a few hours before the arrival to Tbilisi of NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer that `Georgia could announce that the country will really become member of NATO much earlier that we expected earlier`. Zhvania did not elaborate, but voiced confidence that `this will happen much earlier than it was expected`. `Integration in NATO is one of priorities of Georgia`s foreign policy,` he said.
Saakashvili Thinks Georgia May Join NATO Under His Presidency
Itar-Tass
Tbilisi, November 4: Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said on Thursday that Georgia might join NATO under his presidency. `Georgia is getting closer to NATO. Don`t ask me when NATO is going to accept Georgia - in a year or in the next two or three years. No one can answer this question now. But I am sure that Georgia will join NATO much earlier than many assume. I cannot rule out that it may happen in the time of my presidency,` Saakashvili told a briefing in Tbilisi that was also attended by NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer.
US Welcomes Russia`s Tajik Base
BBC
Dushanbe, November 4: The US ambassador to Tajikistan has welcomed the opening of a Russian military base there as a key element in building stability in the region. Russia`s presence would `open new possibilities to co-operate in the anti-terrorism struggle,` Richard Hoagland said. Mr Hoagland was speaking on a tour of the base, in the capital Dushanbe It is Moscow`s biggest military base abroad and was opened last month by President Vladimir Putin. Russia`s envoy to Tajikistan, Maksim Peshkov, said Russia and the US were facing a common enemy in international terrorism, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.
Several Foreigners Detained On Russian-Azeri Border
Interfax
Stavropol, November 4: Russian border guards have detained several Azerbaijanis on the Dagestani section of the border between the two states for trying to leave Russia illegally, Lieutenant Colonel Sergei Livantsov, press service chief of the North Caucasus regional border guard directorate, said on Thursday. The Azerbaijanis attempted to leave the country using IDs of their Russian relatives, Livantsov told Interfax-Military News Agency. `The detainees` possible involvement in illegal armed formations is being checked,` he said. Over 100 people were denied passage across the border on legal grounds on Wednesday, Livantsov went on. Most of them were fined for administrative violations. According to the press service, border guards have detained over 100 border trespassers and over 1,300 violators of border crossing rules on southern Russian frontiers this year. They have exposed over 30 people involved in illegal armed formations and seized over 30 pieces of firearms and 9,000 ammunition pieces. Border guards have also prevented the smuggling of cargoes worth over $1.47 million. Violators have been fined for over 4.4 million Russian rubles ($153,050). Over 30 kg of drugs have been seized from border crossers.
NATO Nations Discussing Assistance Programs To Transcaucasian Armies
Interfax
Tbilisi, November 4: A two-day conference aimed at discussing capabilities of NATO member nations to provide military aid to Transcaucasian states opened in Tbilisi on Thursday. The conference is very important for development of the Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces, because it will work out specific programs of assistance from NATO member nations, Nikolai Janjgava, spokesman for the Georgian General Staff, told reporters. `In particular, the conference will make decisions on the shape of programs of material and technical assistance to Georgia, various instructional and training courses,` Janjgava said.
Russians Said To Be Offered Control Over Kyrgyz Torpedo Factory
Kabar Agency
Bishkek, November 4: Kyrgyzstan is set to sell the state shareholding in a missile torpedo producing factory to Russia, a Russian newspaper has said. The Dastan factory is the only plant in the CIS that produces the Shkval missile torpedoes. Rosoboroneksport (Russian state arms company), which has recently given Kyrgyzstan weapons and military hardware worth 3m dollars free of charge, could buy the shares in Dastan, the newspaper said. The following is the text of Konstantin Lantratov`s report entitled `Kyrgyzstan is offering Russia control over `Shkval` by Russian newspaper Kommersant on 1 November; subheadings inserted editorially: Last Friday [29 October] the parliament of Kyrgyzstan recommended that the state share packet of the Dastan factory be sold to Russian companies. This is the only factory in the CIS that produces the VA-111 Shkval missile torpedoes. In the near future the beginning of the sale of these missile torpedoes for export is expected. Technical details of torpedoes OAO [Open joint stock company] Dastan was formed in 1993 in Bishkek on the basis of an instrument making factory, which back since Soviet times specialized in the manufacture of the high velocity Shkval missile torpedoes. Now Dastan also manufactures self guidance and control systems and noncontact detonators. The antisubmarine Shkval complex along with the M-5 missile, which was developed in NII [Scientific Research Institute]-24 (presently the Region State Scientific Production Enterprise), was accepted into the weaponry of the USSR Navy in 1977 and received the number VA-111. The length of the missile is 8,200 mm, its calibre is 533.4 mm, which allows it to be fired from ordinary torpedo apparatuses. The Shkval weighs 2,700 kg. Its maximum range is up to 11 km. A distinctive feature of the torpedo is its high velocity under water - 90-100 m/sec. In 1989 the USSR and the USA reached an agreement to remove all Shkvals from the Soviet multitarget submarines and their storage in arsenals. At the end of the 90s on the basis of the Shkval an antisubmarine high velocity underwater missile torpedo with an effective range of seven km and a speed of up to 100 m/sec. The export version has the designation Shkval-E. Management of Dastan defence factory At the end of last week the parliament of Kyrgyzstan recommended that the government examine the issue of transferring to interested Russian companies in trust with a subsequent purchase of the state packet of shares in the Dastan defence factory. According to the appraisal of the Committee on State Property of Kyrgyzstan, the packet of 37.665 per cent of the shares, which the state owns, is worth around 4-5m dollars. The state packet is a blocking one. Approximately 35.4 per cent of the shares belong to the factory`s work collective, 6.9 per cent was transferred to the population in coupon auctions and 20 per cent belongs to management. In an interview with the Reuters agency, Anatoliy Makorov, the deputy chairman of the Committee on State Property of Kyrgyzstan, expressed the wish that `those Russian firms that would help Dastan have a future in the decade ahead end up among its founders and stockholders.` One must note that last October Russia and Kyrgyzstan signed a bilateral agreement on the procedure for cooperation in the export of production having a military designation to third countries. Vladimir Polishchuk, who was already at that time deputy chairman of the Committee for Military-Technical Collaboration between the Russian Federation and Foreign Countries, declared that `having signed the agreement, we will look to the future, because in time we are planning to found several joint defence ventures in Kyrgyzstan and subsequently sell their production outside of our states.` India potential buyer of Kyrgyz torpedoes According to unofficial information, the Russian intermediary in the sphere of military-technical collaboration Rosoboroneksport, could become the buyer of the shares in the Dastan factory. On 23 October of last year at the opening of the Russian military air base in Kant, Rosoboroneksport gave Kyrgyzstan a lot of weapons and military property for special units worth 3m dollars free of charge. At that time a representation of the state intermediary was opened in Bishkek. It cannot be ruled out that in the event that Rosoboroneksport obtains the Dastan packet it will transfer a portion of the shares to the control of the Tactical Missile Weapons Corporation, which now includes the developer of the Shkval, GNPP [State Scientific Production Enterprise] Region. In exchange the state intermediary will obtain stock in corporations fulfilling a number of export contracts concluded by Rosoboroneksport. According to Kommersant information, Rosoboroneksport interest in the factory may be connected with possible deliveries of the Shkval-E to India. They plan to arm two project 971 Shchuka-B submarines with these missile torpedoes. Negotiations for the delivery of these to the Indian Navy are now in the final stage. In addition the Shkval-E missile torpedoes are being offered to foreign buyers in order to arm submarines and shore batteries for combating underwater targets.
NATO Chief To Visit Azerbaijan, Armenia.
Kazinform
Yerevan, November 4: NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will hold negotiations with the leadership of Azerbaijan Friday and will then fly to Armenia. The NATO chief, who arrived in Azerbaijan Thursday from Georgia on a tour of South Caucasus, will meet Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, First Deputy Prime Minister Yagub Eyubov in charge of cooperation with the alliance, and Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov. Diplomatic sources in Bakusaid the talks would focus on expanded ties between Azerbaijan and NATO both in the framework of the Partnership for Peace plan and the program of individual cooperation. The parties will also discuss the fight against terrorism within the international coalition, Kazinform refers to Itar-Tass. Another topic will be the preparation for a seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly on the situation in South Caucasus scheduled in Baku in the end of November. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will then proceed to Armenia to meet the leaders of the republic and enhance the positions of the alliance in the country.
NATO Chief Will Not Discuss Timeframe For Georgia`s Entry Into NATO
Interfax
Tbilisi, November 4: NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who is currently on a visit to Georgia, said he does not plan to discuss any timeframe for Georgia`s possible admission to the alliance. There is a cooperation program with Georgia, and it is necessary to put it into practice, de Hoop Scheffer told a joint news conference with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. Asked about the future of Russian military bases in Georgia, the NATO head said that Russia should abide by the Istanbul agreements. Answering the same question, Saakashvili said that `all agreements signed by Georgia and Russia must be honored.`
Baku Plans To Step Up Cooperation With NATO
Interfax
Baku, November 3: Baku plans to step up cooperation with NATO under an individual partnership plan. `I believe that the visit of NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to Baku will open new vistas in cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO,` Novruz Mamedov, head of the Azerbaijani President Administration Foreign Relations Department, told reporters on Wednesday. The NATO Secretary General is to arrive in Baku on Thursday. `Azerbaijan is really one of NATO`s crucial parnters,` he emphasized. He also said that Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliev had submitted the cooperation plan to NATO authorities in the course of his visit to Brussels. Mamedov also noted that Azerbaijan would become one of the new states, cooperating with NATO under an individual partnership plan.
Yerevan To Expand Military Cooperation With Washington
Interfax
Yerevan, November 3: Military cooperation between the United States and Armenia will expand regardless of the outcome of the presidential elections in America, Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian said taking questions from journalists in Yerevan on Wednesday. `Our cooperation with the United States has been developing and expanding, and we will continue to follow this way,` the minister said. He pointed out that the U.S. and NATO announced South Caucasus an area of their strategic interests. At the same time, Armenia is not seeking to join NATO now, and its cooperation with the U.S. and the Alliance is not aimed at replacing Russian-Armenian military-strategic partnership, he said.
Georgia To Stop Sending Peacekeepers To Afghanistan
Interfax
Tbilisi, November 2: Georgia will no longer send its peacekeepers to Afghanistan, Colonel Levan Nikoleishvili, deputy chief- of-staff of the Armed Forces, said on Tuesday. `Fifty Georgian servicemen have taken part in the program of security maintenance at the presidential elections in Afghanistan. When this mission is completed, they will return home,` Nikoleishvili told reporters. `There will be no rotation in Afghanistan,` he said. Servicemen of the 16th Sachkheri mountain rifle battalion, who were trained in the framework of the Pentagon`s Train and Equip program, arrived in Afghanistan in September to stay there for three months. Before leaving for Afghanistan, they took an additional four-week training course in Germany.
Russian Bases In Georgia Hamper Improvement Of Relationship - Burjanadze
Interfax
Moscow, November 2: The presence of Russian military bases in Georgia does not facilitate the improvement of relations between Moscow and Tbilisi, Georgian parliamentary speaker Nino Burjanadze said at a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday. `Russia and Georgia have very good prospects for cooperation without the military bases,` the speaker said. Burjanadze pointed out that Russia pledged to withdraw the bases in line with the 1999 Istanbul agreements. `We view Russia`s statements that the withdrawal of two or three bases would take 14 years and cost over $500 million as pressure,` she said.
U.S. Will Continue Rendering Military Aid To Georgia
Interfax
Tbilisi, November 2: Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze said the U.S. plans to continue rendering military aid to Georgia, including training a Georgian battalion to be sent to Iraq. `U.S. instructors will train a Georgian peacekeeping contingent which will be skilled to perform peacekeeping missions and combat terrorism not only outside Georgia, but also at home,` Baramidze sad.
Burjanadze Calls Visa Delay For Russian Soldiers Retaliation
Interfax
Moscow, November 2: Problems in granting entry visas to Russian servicemen at the Georgian border are the result of Moscow`s unwillingness to simplify the visa regime with Georgia, parliamentary speaker Nino Burjanadze said in an interview with Interfax on Tuesday. `When encumbrances are created for our citizens, when people are sent back from airports, and artificial obstacles are created, then it is normal in diplomatic practice to respond with similar methods,` Burjanadze said. `I do not know what happened there in actuality, but either way, I will not apologize too much,` she said. Last week, Georgia delayed the granting of visas to early 400 Russia servicemen travelling to the 62nd Military Base in Akhalkalaki in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region.
US Military Move Against Iran Through Azerbaijan Impossible
IRNA
Baku, November 1: Iran`s Ambassador to Baku Afshar Soleymani here on Monday ruled out the possibility of any kind of US military moves, including an attack, against Iran through Azerbaijan. Speaking to IRNA, he referred to the news published in some Azeri dailies that have quoted Western periodicals` predictions regarding the possibility of an upcoming US military attack against Iran. He added, `Regardless of the possibility of the occurrence of such an act, the Azeri officials have repeatedly announced that their relation with Iran is too strong to be influenced by any third country.` Soleymani added, `In addition, the Azeri parliament has forbidden the establishment of foreign military bases and usage of Azerbaijan`s land and air space by foreign forces for launching attacks against third countries.` Iran`s envoy referred to the existence of numerous US military bases in different regional countries as sufficient proof that Washington would need no more regional bases for the purpose. Soleymani added, `Above all, the united States cannot launch a military attack against Iran due to several strong reasons. Firstly, because such hue and cry is one of the necessities of the US presidential elections. The Bush administration is in need of more enemies in order to justify its military conduct around the globe, including the occupation of Iraq, for the world public opinion, as well as the American voters. `Secondly, the Americans have suffered form the outrageously high material costs of the lingering Iraq war, as well as the extremely negative effects of the war on world public opinion, that make impossible launching another military attack against any other country, including Iran. `Thirdly, The united States knows well that Iran cannot be compared with Iraq, or Afghanistan, since all pressure levers during the past decades, including economic sanctions and human rights retexts have proved inefficient.` He concluded, `Therefore, a highly expensive military attack from several points of the view will not even bear the expected results for the Americans.`
Georgia To Nearly Double Military Contingent In Iraq
Interfax
Tbilisi, November 1: Georgia will nearly double its contingent in Iraq in November. `We will rotate our national contingent in Iraq on November 8-15, and enlarge it to 300 servicemen,` a representative of the Georgian Armed Forces General Staff told Interfax on Monday. `At present 159 Georgian servicemen are on mission in Iraq,` he said. `Three hundred Georgian servicemen trained by U.S. instructors under the Train and Equip program will go to Iraq this time,` the source said. Georgia has been a member of the multinational coalition in Iraq since 2003. This is the third rotation of the Georgian contingent in Iraq. Seventy Georgian servicemen were sent to Iraq in August 2003, and 159 servicemen replaced them in April 2004 to protect strategic sites in Tikrit and Baji. `Georgia said it was ready to enlarge the contingent to 300 servicemen in the first half of this year, but the enlargement was hampered by financial problems,` the source said.
Georgian Interior Ministry Troops Transferred To Defense Ministry
Interfax
Tbilisi, November 1: The transfer of Interior Ministry Troops to the Georgian Defense Ministry is over, a source in the Defense Ministry told Interfax-Military News Agency on Monday. Now that 7,000 Interior Ministry troopers are subordinated to the Defense Ministry, the total strength of the Georgian Armed Forces nears 22,000, he said. The Interior Ministry has only special task units left. Local observers say that the troops were transferred by the NATO recommendation.
Uzbek Border Troops To Receive Ukrainian Made Military Boat
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, October 31: Heavy transport plane An-124-100 Ruslan of the Antonov Airlines will deliver armoured artillery river boat Gyurza from Kiev to Termez, Delovaya Nedelya reported. The boat was built by Ukraine`s Leninskaya Kuznya plant for Uzbek border troops in the framework of the US State Department sponsored Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) programme. Two military boats will be constructed for the Uzbek side within the US$5.6-million contract signed in 2003 between the US State Department and specialised foreign trade firm Progress, subsidiary of UkrSpecExport state company. The second boat is expected to be delivered to the customer in December. The boats for special divisions of Uzbek border troops fighting drug traffic on the Amudarya River in Uzbekistan`s south will be based in the port of Termez.
Abkhazia Says Georgia Poised For Armed Invasion
Interfax
Sukhumi, October 30: The defense minister of the Georgian breakaway region of Abkhazia, Vyacheslav Eshba, on Saturday cited `accurate information` that `Georgian armed forces are being concentrated` near the Abkhaz border and said they were getting ready to invade Abkhazia. Eshba told Interfax he had alerted the Abkhaz armed forces.
Bulgaria, Azerbaijan Agree On Defense Cooperation
Azernews
Sofia, October 30: The defense ministries of Bulgaria and Azerbaijan signed the military cooperation plan to provide for experts exchange in the field of military education, technical cooperation and industrial entrepreneurship in the military field. The delegation of Azerbaijan led by Defense Minister Colonel Safar Abiyev has visited Sofia this week to discuss issues of bilateral cooperation, the AzerTaj state news agency informed. The two ministers conferred also over the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh during which Minister Abiyev expressed concern about Bulgaria having not recognised so far Armenia as an aggressor, training of terrorist groups and cultivation of drugs.
US Terror Warning On Uzbekistan
The Australian
Washington DC, November 4: TERRORIST attacks against US interests in Uzbekistan might be imminent, the United States said. It warned US citizens in the country `to exercise extreme caution`. `The United States Government has received information that terrorist groups may be planning attacks against US interests in Uzbekistan in the near future,` the State Department said . `We remind all Americans that terrorists do not distinguish between official and civilian targets,` it said. `The Department of State urges Americans in Uzbekistan to exercise extreme caution, including avoiding large crowds, celebrations, and places where Westerners generally congregate,` it said. The statement was issued a day after the US embassy in Tashkent issued an apparently unrelated warning to Americans alerting them to the possibility of violent protests at Uzbek shopping centres against new restrictions on the sale of imported goods. The latest warning noted that a number of suicide bombings had occurred in Uzbekistan in June, including one outside the US embassy one outside the Israeli embassy and a third at the prosecutor general`s office in the capital. In March and April, a string of blasts and police shootouts which featured the nation`s first-ever suicide bombings killed at least 33 insurgents, 10 policemen, three children and one bystander.
Georgian Mercenary Reportedly Detained In Chechnya
Interfax
Khankala, November 4: A member of an illegal armed group detained in Chechnya has proven to be a Georgian citizen, spokesman for the federal forces in the North Caucasus Maj. Gen. Ilya Shabalkin told Interfax on Thursday. `The guerilla was detained in a special operation back in January, but he successfully hid information on his identity from the investigators for a long time,` Shabalkin said. The guerilla has been identified as a Georgian citizen who fought in Chechnya since 2002, he said. The guerilla was a member of a group acting in the Urus-Martan district.
Kazakh Police Detail Uzbek Counter Terrorism Cooperation
Radio Free Europe
Astana, November 3: Kazakhstan`s National Security Committee (KNB) released a statement on 3 November providing details on recent counterterrorism cooperation with Uzbek law enforcement, Kazinform reported. `The investigative sections of the KNB and their counterparts in Uzbekistan had a need to double-check the testimony of individuals charged with crimes in connection with the terrorist attacks in Tashkent (in March and June 2004),` the statement read. The KNB said that prosecutors from the two countries agreed that Uzbek authorities will surrender two Uzbek citizens to Kazakh authorities for questioning, and Kazakh authorities will hand over three Kazakh citizens to Uzbekistan for questioning. The press release noted that the accused gave written consent in the presence of lawyers and that all of the individuals will be returned to their countries of origin when investigations are complete.
Astana Expels 3 Suspected Terror Accomplices To Uzbekistan
Interfax
Tashkent, November 2: Kazakhstan has expelled three people suspected of helping to organize acts of terrorism last spring to Uzbekistan, a source in Uzbek law enforcement told Interfax on Tuesday. The Kazakh Prosecutor General`s Office expelled three residents of South Kazakhstan: the brothers Abdunabi and Azamat Kadyrakhunov, and Elmurat Mammatkulov. `Defendants in the trial in Tashkent named them many times as organizers of secret meeting places and henchmen of the perpetrators of acts of terrorism in Uzbekistan,` the source said. The Supreme Court of Uzbekistan tried the first group of terrorists on July 26 through August 24. In the acts of terrorism in Tashkent and Bukhara on March 28 - April 1, 14 people died and 53 were injured. In addition, 33 terrorists were killed in the explosions and in efforts to seize them. The source said the Kadyrakhunov brothers and Mammatkulov will be involved in investigative actions related to the case probed by the Prosecutor General`s Office of Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan handed over to Kazakhstan two terrorists sentenced to long prison terms in relation to the investigation of a criminal case opened by the Kazakh National Security Committee, the source said.
Kazakhstan Set To Buy BG`s Stake In Kashagan Field
Kazakhstan News
Astana, November 5: Kazakhstan now has legal grounds to have the priority right to buy back British Gas`s stake in the Kashagan [oil] project, a high-ranking representative from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has told the Interfax-Kazakhstan [news] agency. `The parliament today adopted a fundamental legal provision on giving the state a priority in cases when stakes in projects to develop natural resources are to be sold. This means Kazakhstan now has all legal grounds to be the first to claim BG`s stake in the major Kashagan oil project,` the interlocutor said. As has been reported, Kazakhstan`s parliament today adopted amendments to the legislative acts concerning the extraction of subsoil resources and the conduct of oil operations. The document contains a provision, which was initiated by the Senate (the upper house) of the country`s parliament, on the state`s priority right to purchase a licence to extract subsoil resources and/or a stake in projects to extract natural resources, including hydrocarbons. The source from the energy ministry noted that `until today, the Kazakh government`s main argument in the negotiations with BG (on purchasing its stake in Kashagan) and other members of the consortium [that develops the Kashagan oil field] had been the constitutional provision on subsoil resources being exclusively the property of the state`.
Italian Co To Build Underwater Pipeline In Kazakh Oil Deposit
Kazakhstan News
Almaty, November 4: The Italian service company Saipem has won a tender for the construction of an underwater pipeline system at the Kashagan deposit in the northern part of the Caspian Sea. The contract cost is some 520 million U.S. dollars and the company will install the system in 2006-2007. Saipem is a subsidiary of the Italian Eni company which is member of the consortium developing the Kashagan deposit in the Kazakhstan`s part of the Caspian shelf 70 kilometres southeast of Atyrau (fomer Guriev). The consortium comprising BG Group, ENI, Exxon Mobil, Inpex Masela Ltd, ConocoPhillips, Royal Dutch/Shell and Total intends to start commercial oil production at Kashagan in 2007. The deposit`s proved oil reserves are 1.5 billion tonnes.
170-mln-dlr EBRD Loan For Azeri Gas Field Finalized
Agence France-Presse
Baku, November 4: The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development and Azeri state oil company SOCAR have ironed out details of a 170-million-dollar (130-million-euro) loan to develop the controversial Shah Deniz Caspian gas field, they said Thursday. `We`ve finalized all the documents, but the official signing is planned for December,` EBRD spokeswoman Kate Dunn said by telephone from London. SOCAR confirmed that a deal was made, saying it had signed a `technical` agreement with the bank in Baku. Recoverable reserves in the Shah Deniz field have been estimated at 625 billion cubic meters (2.187 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas, making it a world-class field. However, the project has been dogged from its inception by worries over whether a market can be found for the gas.
ADB, Uzbekistan Sign Four Loan Agreements Worth US$164.2m
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 3: Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Rustam Azimov and President of the Asian Development Bank Tadao Chino signed four loan agreements worth US$164.2 million on Wednesday. These projects are `Increasing grain crop capacity` (US$26 million), `Rehabilitation of Amu-Zang machine channel system` (US$73.2 million), `Strengthening women`s and children`s health` (US$40 million) and `Improvement of system of publishing textbooks and study literature for general-education schools` (Phase Two, US$25 million). The government of Uzbekistan and the ADB also signed a Memorandum of understanding, envisaging the bank`s participation in projects on supporting private business without government guarantees. In line with the memorandum, the ADB together with other investors will assist in creation of the Central Asian small business and private entrepreneurship support fund.
Tajik Parliament Passes Tax, Customs Codes
Radio Free Europe
Dushanbe, November 3: Tajikistan`s Majlisi Namoyandagon (lower chamber of parliament) passed a new Tax Code and Customs Code on 3 November, RFE/RL`s Tajik Service reported. The new Tax Code introduces a two-tier income tax with rates of 8 percent for those who earn less than 100 somonis a month ($36), and 13 percent for those who earn more, Avesta reported. Tax Minister Ghulom Boboev told the news agency that the tax code has been simplified and improved. `Agricultural producers will pay a single land tax instead of six-seven taxes,` he said.
Tajikistan Posts More Industrial Growth In CIS In Jan-Sept
Interfax
Moscow, November 3: Tajikistan posted the most industrial production growth--16 per cent--of the Commonwealth of Independent States countries in January-September, the CIS inter-governmental statistics committee reported. Industrial output increased 15.7 per cent in Belarus, 14.4 per cent in Ukraine, 10.3 per cent in Kazakhstan, 9.2 per cent in Kyrgyzstan, 7.9 per cent in Moldova, 6.5 per cent in Russia, 5.1 per cent in Azerbaijan, 4.9 per cent in Georgia and 1.6 per cent in Armenia. No figures were provided for Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan. GDP grew an average 8 per cent across the CIS in January-September (7 per cent in the same period in 2003), industrial output an average 8 per cent (8 per cent), retail sales 12 per cent (10 per cent) and investment in fixed capital 14 per cent (15 per cent). Ukraine`s GDP expanded 13.4 per cent over the nine months (more than in the same period one year earlier), Tajikistan`s GDP grew 12.6 per cent, Belarus`s 10.8 per cent, Armenia`s 10.2 per cent, Azerbaijan`s 9.9 per cent and Kyrgyzstan`s 7.0 per cent.
Kyrgyz Parliament Against Privatizing Kyrgyztelecom
Interfax
Bishkek, November 3: The deputies of the Kyrgyz parliament`s lower house are speaking against the privatization of national communications operator Kyrgyztelecom and asking the legislative assembly, the upper house, to support their initiative to halt the process. The lower house press service told Interfax the parliamentary committee for the strategic development of industry and entrepreneurship maintains that there were violations of law during the tender for 51 per cent of the state`s stock in Kyrgyztelecom to a foreign investor. The committee also holds that it would not be advantageous to sell the stock to a foreign investor because Kyrgyztelecom currently operates at a profit and company revenue increases annually. `Why sell the goose that lays the golden eggs?` committee chair Dzhanysh Rustenbekov asked the lower house on Tuesday.
ADB Issuing Uzbekistan $164 Mln For Health, Education & Agriculture
Interfax
Tashkent, November 2: President of Asian Development Bank (ADB) Tadao Chino and Uzbek Prime Minister and Economics Minister Rustam Azimov signed four agreements on Tuesday concerning credits totaling $164.2 million for health, education and agriculture needs. The ADB offices in Uzbekistan told Interfax that $40 million will go to maternal and child health, $26 million to support grain-growing, $73.2 million to overhauling the Amu Zang irrigation system and $25 million to developing the publishing of textbooks for public schools. The loan monies are to be extended for 25 years, including a five- year grace period, at the ADB`s standard easy rate tied to LIBOR.
Saipem Wins Kashagan Pipeline Contract
Kazakhstan News
Astana, November 2: Saipem has been awarded the contract for the construction and installation of the offshore pipeline system as part of the development of the program of the Kashagan field located in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea, approximately 80 km southeast of the town of Atyrau. The contract, awarded by the companies of the North Caspian Sea Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), following an international tender, has a total value of US $520 million. The scope of work comprises the engineering, procurement of bulk materials, coating, laying and pre-commissioning of pipelines, fibre optic cables and umbilicals. Line pipes will be provided by the client. Saipem will install the pipeline system between 2006 and 2007 with a new lay barge and new trenching equipment.
Gazprom To Buy 4.5 Bcm Of Gas From Turkmenistan In 2005
Interfax
Ashgabat, November 2: Gazprom next year will buy 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas from Turkmenistan and provide transit for a large volume of natural gas to Ukraine, Deputy Chairman Alexander Ryazanov said during a meeting with Turkmen President Saparmurad Niyazov. The talks centered on a 25-year agreement between Russia and Turkmenistan on cooperation in the gas industry that took effect at the start of this year. Due to an increase in the amount of gas purchased and transported the modernization of the pipeline system was discussed. Shipments to Gazprom will increase to 60 billion - 70 billion cubic meters of gas a year in 2007.
Kazakh Parliament Passes 2005 Budget With 1.5 per cent Deficit In 1st Reading
Interfax
Astana, November 1: At a joint house session on Monday, Kazakhstan`s parliament passed in its first reading the country`s budget for 2005 with a deficit of 87.75 billion tenge, or 1.5 per cent of projected GDP for next year. The second reading is scheduled for November 5. It was reported earlier that the budget bill has revenue at around 1.136 trillion tenge (19.4 per cent of projected GDP) and spending at 1.224 trillion tenge (20.9 per cent). GDP is forecast at 5.85 trillion tenge for 2004, representing real growth from 2004 of 7.9 per cent. The official exchange rate for November 1: 132 tenge/$1.
President A. Akaev Congratulates George Bush On Victory
Kabar Agency
Bishkek, November 5: President of Kyrgyzstan Askar Akaev has send a congratulatory message addressed to US President George Bush on the victory at the presidential elections. In his message the head of the state congratulated G. Bush on behalf of Kyrgyz people and personally himself on re-election as the President of the Unites States of America. Kyrgyzstan pays great importance to development and strengthening ties of friendship and cooperation between our states and nations, and will remain reliable partner of America in fighting with international terrorism, says the message. By using the chance wish robust health, all blessings and successes to you and your family, and wish peace and prosperity to the friendly people of Great America.
Tajikistan Donors Meeting
RIA Novosti
Dushanbe, November 5: On Friday President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmonov received a consultative meeting of Tajikistan Donors in his Pugus out-of-town residence. In his address to the participants in the meeting, the Tajik leader said he saw `today`s meeting as a [sign of] confidence in the economic processes, peace, and stability in Tajikistan.` `This is a warranty for positive decisions on the future of our country we are going to reach today,` he said. The Tajik President also said his country `pursued an open-doors peacekeeping policy oriented at equal partnership with other countries.` `We are closely tied in political-to-humanitarian partnership with Russia, the U.S., France, Germany, Japan, and other countries,` he emphasized. Tajiksitan`s international debt has been reduced from $980 million to $630 million. `In the past years we have been pursuing a tighter monetary policy [than before], especially concerning the international debt,` Mr. Rakhmonov said, `as a result, this effort helped reduce the international debt substantially (from $980 million as of January 2003 to $630 million in October 2004).` `In the past five years and nine months the GDP grew by more than 50 per cent, and poverty decreased from 83 per cent in 1999 to 64 per cent in 2003, which means that more than a million people ceased to be poor,` the Tajik President said.
President Of Uzbekistan Congratulates George Bush With Victory
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, Novermber 4: President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov sent a telegram to George Bush, congratulating him with re-election to the post of the president of the United States. `High trust that the American people have shown to you is a proof of support of your administration`s policy,` the telegram read. `Today the USA have taken on the historical mission and an uneasy burden of the world leader in fight with international terrorism and other transnational threats. Uzbekistan highly evaluates the efforts of your administration and our government is ready to continue deepening multilateral relations with the US,` the head of the state said. `In the past four years, a solid foundation to the American-Uzbek strategic partnership has been laid. Significant experience of mutually beneficial cooperation has been accumulated, which is not only aimed at ensuring regional and global security, but also solution of key for Uzbekistan tasks of implementing democratic and market reforms,` Islam Karimov noted.
President Nazarbayev Congratulated US President Bush With His New Presidential Term
Kazinform
Astana, November 4: President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has sent a congratulation telegram to USA President George Bush on the occasion of his new presidential term, press service of the President reports. `We highly appreciate cooperation and strategic partnership between our countries. We expect this relationship to receive proper development during the period of your presidentship`, is said in the telegram. President Nazarbayev emphasized common success of the two states in resistance to the global terrorism, nuclear non-proliferation and peacemaking and reconstruction activities in Iraq. Nursultan Nazarbayev wished George Bush success in the state activity for prosperity of the American people.
Head Of MFA: Kazakhstan To Greet The Victory Of George Bush
Kabar Agency
Astana, November 4: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Kassymzhomart Tokayev stated that Kazakhstan greets the victory of George Bush in US presidential election and relies on further cooperation in an important problem of modern times such as an international terrorism and trade-economic cooperation of mutual interest, MFA`s press service reports.
JICA Plans Rural Development Project In Karakalpakstan
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 4: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) presented a project on development of rural areas in Karakalpakstan at a training in Nukus in late October, organised within JICA`s press tour for Uzbek journalists. Japanese experts, together with Council of Ministers of Karakalpakstan, Agriculture and Water Ministry, district administrations and Dehkan and Farm Economies Association conducted a study in Nukus, Kungrad, Muynak and Chimbay districts of the republic to prepare to the project. These districts were defined as most critical, with more than 40 problems requiring solution identified, including lack of qualified personnel, low volume of investments in agriculture, out-of-date agricultural equipment, health problems, water shortages and saline soil. `The purpose of our mission is to study the situation in the fields of agriculture (including rice-growing and livestock farming), water resource management (salinity prevention) and development of local production (agricultural and livestock production processing),` head of JICA mission Yokoi Seichi said.
Armenian Energy Minister Expected To Visit Baku
ArC News
Baku, November 4: An international conference with participation of Caspian and Black Sea countries` ministers for energy and transport will be held in Baku on November 12-14, according to the Ministry of Transport. A meeting of energy ministers from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan will be held on November 12 and 13. The Armenian energy minister is expected to attend the meeting as well. Another meeting to be attended by transport ministers from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Romania, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan will be held on November 13 and 14. Prospects for cooperation among regional countries will be discussed in both meetings.
China, Kazakhstan May Build Gas Pipeline
Interfax
Beijing, Noveber 4: Kazakhstan has proposed to China that they build a gas pipeline to Chinese territory, a Kazakh source told Interfax on Thursday. `Currently, three projects for building a gas pipeline for the export of Kazakh natural gas into China are being looked over by China. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has talked many times of the possibility and expedience of such exports,` the source said. The first project calls for building a new branch of the pipeline from Almaty to the Chinese border. There is now a section of pipeline to Almaty that transports fuel from the Amangeldy gas condensate field to Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The second project calls for the pipeline to be built from the oil and gas fields in west Kazakhstan to Chimkent, then toward Almaty and China. The third proposal is to build a branch from Omsk to the south of Kazakhstan through Astana and then toward the Kazakh-Chinese border. China prefers the first proposal, because it is the least complicated from the technical point of view, and construction could be started quickly, the source said. The third project is most beneficial from Kazakhstan`s point of view, because it would allow the connection of the Russian pipeline with the Chinese pipeline.
Ambassadors Of Kenya And Mexico To Hand Credentials To Secretary Of State Of Kazakhstan
Kazinform
Astana, November 4: Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassadors of Kenya to Kazakhstan Matthew Mitiri and Mexican United States to Kazakhstan Amanda Mungia handed the credentials to the Secretary of State of Kazakhstan Oralbai Abdykarimov, Kazinform reports. Kazakhstan and Kenya have a great potential of mutual benefit cooperation and it is necessary to define the main direction of it, told a briefing the Kenyan ambassador. Kenya is ready to increase volumes of export of tea and coffee to Kazakhstan and also supply with products of fruit-growing and floriculture. Besides it is possible to cooperate in sphere of tourism.
Caspian Sea Negotiations Paralysed
Kazakhstan News
Moscow, November 4: Russia`s newly named presidential envoy Igor Yusufov is refusing to comment on the most recent stalemate in negotiations over the division of seabed resource rights between the five Caspian littoral states -- Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Iran. Talks between Yusufov and his counterparts in Moscow ended last week without any progress on the seabed division, the core issue in dispute. In March, Yusufov was dropped from the Russian cabinet after serving as oil minister during the period when he defended the Yukos oil company against attacks from the Kremlin; these culminated in the indictment and imprisonment on fraud charges of Yukos chairman, Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Yusufov was demoted to the sub-ministerial rank of presidential representative for energy cooperation, his office told The Russia Journal. He was then introduced to the opening session of last week`s five-nation working group on the Caspian Sea by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. As the Russian negotiator for the Caspian, Yusufov has replaced Victor Kalyuzhny. According to Lavrov, 8 of 23 articles in the contentious Caspian pact have now been finalized, and `part` of the treaty preamble. Neither Yusufov nor his spokesman would comment on the refusal of Iran to accept the share of the seabed which Russia and the other states have been proposing. The only point of agreement between Russia and Iran came in a separate meeting at the Russian Foreign Ministry by Mekhdi Safari, the special Iranian representative on the Caspian. He and Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Savolskim agreed on the desirability of keeping out of Caspian affairs countries which do not belong in the region, according to a Russian communique. This is a guarded reference to the United States. Yusufov is regarded in Moscow as favourable to US oil company interests, but said through a spokesman that he has no comment at this stage.
Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev Received WB Vice President
Kabar Agency
Bishkek, November 4: President Askar Akayev received the World Bank Vice President in Europe and Central Asia Ieshu Katzu. According to the presidential press service, a wide circle of issues of interaction between the World Bank and various institutes of the country is discussed at the meeting. The possibilities of expansion of programs implementing in Kyrgyzstan jointly with the World Bank are also discussed. Ieshu Katsu arrived in Bishkek to participate in the second Consultative meeting of international donors, which was held yesterday.
Central Asian Nations Urged To Join WTO
Associated Press
Brussels, November 4: A top World Bank official urged central Asian nations on Thursday to cooperate more closely to foster trade, and to strive to join the World Trade Organisation. The five central Asian nations that became independent in 1991 after the Soviet collapse were focused more on nation-building and developing identities than on cooperating with each other, World Bank vice-president for Europe and central Asia, Shigeo Katsu said. `In order to actually move toward regional cooperation, it is going to be very important that the countries don`t think in terms of winner and loser,` Katsu told The Associated Press in an interview. `This is where everyone has to make a case to all the regimes and actually help them see the benefits of regional cooperation,` he said. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have had trade and border disputes during their 13 years of independence. Unwillingness to work together has hindered all five nations` development. Katsu said the five should join the World Trade Organisation `because there are particular rules for dealing with disputes.` However, he said Uzbekistan`s unwillingness to take part in regional cooperation was `going to be a drag` for the region.
Ceremony To Observe US Presidential Elections Held In Tashkent
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 3: Official ceremony to observe US presidential elections was held in Tashkent`s Intercontinental Hotel on 3 November from 6 to 11 am. About 600 US citizens living in Uzbekistan participated in the ceremony. `High attendance of voters shows deep interest in US domestic issues,` US ambassador to Uzbekistan John Purnell told the gathered. `The bright democratic process that we are currently observing is the core of political and public life of America,` he added. At the elections in Tashkent, 230 persons cast their votes to John Kerry and 143 to George Bush. Asked why most of US citizens living in Uzbekistan voted for Kerry, Robert Simens of the US embassy in Tashkent said: `I believe that Kerry is better, but the US people think Bush is the optimal variant for us now.` `Most of those in Tashkent voted for Kerry because people not familiar with internal political situation and not living in the States mostly assess the country`s foreign policy,` he explained.
ADB President Visits Samarkand
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 3: President of the Asian Development Bank Tadao Chino, who is on a visit in Uzbekistan, visited Samarkand on 3 November. Vice Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Rustam Azimov accompanied Tadao Chino during the trip, which was made on the Tashkent-Samarkand speed train. The route was opened as a result of the joint project implemented by Uzbekistan and the ADB. In Samarkand, Tadao Chino familiarised himself with the Imam al-Bukhari memorial complex and the city`s historical monuments, as well as visited the academic lyceum of the Samarkand State University and Samarkand Olympic reserve college.
Azerbaijan Wants UN General Assembly To Discuss Territory Issue
Itar-Tass
Baku, November 3: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said international discussion of Azerbaijan`s conflict with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict would not harm the settlement process. Azerbaijan wants the discussion at the 59th session of the UN General Assembly of the problem of chunks of its territory seized by the mostly Armenian enclave Nagorno-Karabakh during the military phase of the conflict. Aliyev told reporters on Wednesday that discussing the issue `will not make any harm to the Minsk process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict`. `We want the questions related to the Karabakh conflict, occupation by Armenia of Azerbaijani territories to be brought to a broad international audience in a full degree,` he said. Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan remains committed to the Minsk process `and does not seek at all any organization replacing the Minsk group of the OSCE on Nagorno-Karabakh` as a mediator.
Delegation Of MIA Of Kazakhstan Arrived In Hong-Kong
Kazinform
Beijing, November 3: On Wednesday, November 3 at 21:30 by local time the delegation of Kazakhstan`s policemen led by deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan Vladimir Kurbatov arrived with a visit to Hong-Kong through Beijing at the invitation of the police commissioner of the Syangan Special autonomous region of China. As Consul General of Kazakhstan to Hong-Kong Bulat Sarsenbayev said the programme of the trip envisages the negotiations with the commissioner of the local police Li Mi Qwai and visits to training centers. This call was initiated by General Consulate of Kazakhstan to Hong-Kong.
The Second Consultative Meeting Of International Donors Is Conducting In Bishkek
Kabar Agency
Bishkek, November 3: The second Consultative meeting of international donors is conducting in Bishkek. Prime Minister Nikolai Tanayev, who is the co-chairman of this forum opened the meeting. `I am deeply convinced that today`s meeting is well-timed and vital`, N. Tanayev said. According to his words, Kyrgyzstan is on the threshold of important events - parliamentary, presidential elections, consideration by the Paris club of creditors of the issue concerning the writing off the part of the foreign debt. In the course of his speech President Askar Akayev noted that the previous meeting `demonstrated brightly the intention of the state, civil society and donor community to raise the quality of transformations directed to poverty reduction on the principles of partnership`. The head of the state told that guiding lines and principles for mutually beneficial cooperation of all interested sides were laid in the UN Millenium Goals, Comprehensive Development FRamework, and National Strategy of Poverty Reduction. Touching the issues of this meeting the head of the state told that its necessary to analyze the issues of harmonization of foreign debt for more focusing and rational distribution of resources.
Russian Ambassador To Uzbekistan Visits Bukhara Region
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 3: Ambassador of Russia to Uzbekistan Farit Muhametshin paid a two-day visit to Bukhara region on 31 October-1 November to familiarise with its industrial potential and investment opportunities. According to Russian embassy in Tashkent, the envoy met mayor of Bukhara region to discuss issues of deepening economic collaboration with regions of Russia and to establish cooperation in the sphere of culture and tourism. During the meeting, the sides noted that realisation of existing potential of interregional cooperation would imply a new impulse to Uzbek-Russian relations within the Strategic Partnership Agreement. They stated that Bukhara region, being one of the most developed regions of Uzbekistan, could occupy an important place in such cooperation. Muhametshin visited some enterprises of light and textile industries and met representatives of leading tourist companies of Bukhara. He also held talks at the regional Trade and Industrial Chamber, which focused on issues of development of cooperation between the two countries in the sphere of small and medium business. The ambassador also met representatives of the administration of city and regional departments of national education and visited school No.1 of Bukhara city, where he spoke to schoolchildren - participants of Russian programmes on cultural and interschool exchange with Uzbekistan - and teachers.
Russian Diplomat To Attend Zhvania-Kokoity Meeting
Interfax
Moscow, November 3: Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Loshchinin will take part in a meeting between Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and President of the self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity, which will take place in Sochi on November 5, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko told Interfax on Wednesday. `Loshchinin is going to Sochi on November 4 to take part in the meeting between Zhvania and Kokoity scheduled for November 5,` he said. On the trip to Sochi, Loshchinin will be accompanied by Russian Ambassador in Tbilisi, Vladimir Chkhikvishvili, Russian Co-Chairman of the Joint Control Commission for Georgian-Ossetian settlement Valery Kenyaikin, North Ossetian Co-Chairman of this commission, Teimuraz Kusov, and Commander of the joint peacekeeping forces in the Georgian- Ossetian conflict zone, Maj. Gen. Marat Kulakhmetov.
Abkhaz Presidential Candidates To Return Home After Moscow Consultations
Interfax
Moscow, November 3: The presidential candidates of Georgia`s breakaway republic of Abkhazia, Raul Khadzhimba and Sergei Bagapsh, will soon return to Sukhumi from Moscow. `Following consultations in Moscow on Tuesday, Khadzhimba and Bagapsh will come back to Abkhazia on Wednesday. Their plane will depart from Moscow in a few hours,` a source told Interfax. He said the Abkhaz presidential candidates had held several consultations in Moscow, including at the Russian Security Council. `Russia recommended that they prevent tensions in Abkhazia and hold repeat elections,` the source said. He did not say, however, whether the consultations had drawn the presidential candidates` positions nearer. The first competitive presidential elections were held in Abkhazia on October 3.
ADB President Awarded With Uzbek Order
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 2: President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received visiting President of the Asian Development Bank Tadao Chino on 2 November. The sides discussed issues of further development of relations between Uzbekistan and the ADB. During the ADB president`s visit to Tashkent, Uzbekistan and the ADB reached an agreement on allocation to Uzbekistan of the new credit worth US per cent150 million until 2008. Islam Karimov awarded Tadao Chino with Buyuk Khizmatlari Uchun (For Great Services) order. The high award was given to the ADB president for his contribution to development of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the ADB and other financial institutions, as well as assistance in implementing economic reforms and strengthening regional cooperation.
Tajik Official Says Uzbekistan Waging Railway War
Radio Free Europe
Dushanbe, November 2: Aleksandr Andrianov, deputy director of Tajikistan`s passenger railway company, told Asia Plus-Blitz on 2 November that Uzbek rail authorities are waging an `undeclared war` against their Tajik counterparts. Andrianov said that the recently introduced requirement of an Uzbek transit visa for Tajik citizens en route through Uzbekistan by train began with a 21 October telegram from Uzbek railroad authorities. He said that the telegram and the requirement violate an existing agreement between the two countries that allows rail travel without a visa. Amonhoja Hojibekov, also a deputy director in Tajikistan`s passenger rail company, added: `We sent a letter to the Tajik Foreign Ministry asking them to explain to the Uzbek side...the absurdity of such telegrams and decisions in violation of the abovementioned agreement, but 10 days have gone by and our Foreign Ministry has done nothing.`
Frederick Starr Holds Meetings In Uzbekistan
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 2: Director of the John Hopkins University`s Central Asia and Caucasus Institute Frederick Starr, who is on a visit in Tashkent, held talks at the Oliy Majlis and the Institute of Strategic and Inter-Regional Researches under the President of Uzbekistan on 2 November. One of the leading US experts on Uzbekistan and Central Asia, Starr arrived in Uzbekistan to participate in the conference on `Political parties and elections: World practice and legislation of Uzbekistan`, which will be held in Samarkand on 4-5 November. The talks with heads of parliamentary fractions focused on issues of preparation to the upcoming parliamentary elections. During the negotiations in the Institute of Strategic and Inter-Regional Researches, the sides discussed issues of activity of the two-chamber parliament in Uzbekistan.
Asian Development Bank Head Visits Tajikistan And Uzbekistan
Radio Free Europe
Tashkent, November 2: Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Tadao Chino met with Tajik President Imomali Rakhmonov in Dushanbe on 2 November to discuss 2004-2006 cooperation, Asia Plus-Blitz reported. ADB Regional Director Muhammad Tusnim said that work has begun on an ADB-financed highway from Dushanbe that will eventually reach Kyrgyzstan, Avesta reported. The project`s first phase will receive $15 million this year; the $20 million second phase is set to begin in 2005. Additionally, the ABD will provide Tajikistan with $32 million in grants and loans in 2005, with $22 million going to irrigation and $10 million to customs modernization. Also on 2 November, Chino met with Uzbek President Islam Karimov in Tashkent, Uzbek TV reported. The two discussed cooperation and signed agreements for projects on health care, textbooks for schools, irrigation systems, and crop yields. Chino and Karimov reached an agreement on a new $150 million ADB loan to Uzbekistan through 2008, UzA reported.
Iran`s Exclusive Exhibition To Be Held In Tajikistan
IRNA
Mashhad, November 2: Iran`s Third Export Commodities Exhibition is to be held in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan from December 9, a local official said here Tuesday. Some 50 local industrial and producing companies are scheduled to take part in the one-week exhibition which is aimed at promoting Iran-Tajikistan economic and trade relations as well as expanding investment sectors between the two countries, Managing Director of Mashhad International Exhibition Alireza Houshangnezhad added. Iranian companies are scheduled to showcase their commodities in such major fields as construction materials, food, aluminum industry, technical and engineering services, pharmaceutics, packaging, plastic, paint and chemical materials and household appliances, he said. An exclusive conference dubbed `study strategies for developing Iran-Tajikistan trade relations` is to be held on the sidelines of the exhibition in Dushanbe, Houshangnezhad added. He said that Tajikistan is considered as Iran`s second trade partner in Central Asia.
Kyrgyz President Ends Greece Visit
Radio Free Europe
Bishkek, November 2: President Askar Akaev ended a visit to Greece and returned home on 2 November, RFE/RL`s Kyrgyz Service reported. The Kyrgyz president met with Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyannis during the trip. `Kyrgyzstan places great significance on the signing of several bilateral agreements at the governmental and ministerial level,` Akipress.org quoted Akaev as saying. The agreements are intended to increase economic and political ties.
Georgia Reaffirms Plans To Join EU, NATO
Interfax
Moscow, November 2: Georgian parliament speaker Nino Burjanadze has reaffirmed Georgia`s plans to join the European Union and NATO. `We have never made a secret of our plans to become a member of the European Union and NATO, since these organizations share the same values we do,` Burjanadze told students of the Moscow International Relations Institute on Tuesday. She said Georgia`s membership in NATO and the EU would ensure its stability, unity and prosperity. `This meets the interests of Georgia, and Russia, as well, since Russia is interested in a stable Georgia,` she said.
Belgian Senate Head Supports Kazkah OSCE Bid
Radio Free Europe
Astana, November 2: Anne-Marie Lizin, the president of Belgium`s Senate, said on 2 November in Astana that Belgium will aid Kazakhstan in the latter`s bid to chair the OSCE in 2009, `Kazakhstan Today` reported. The remark came after Lizin met with President Nursultan Nazarbaev. Noting that she takes a sympathetic view of Kazakhstan`s official policy of a gradual transition to democracy, the Belgian senator said, `I am truly delighted that a young Central Asian democracy wants to take on the responsibility of chairing [the OSCE in 2009],` Interfax-Kazakhstan reported.
Greek Envoy Urges Azerbaijan To Allow Armenian MPs To Attend NATO Seminar
ArC News
Baku, November 1: The Greek ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mercurios Karafotias, told a news conference on Monday [1 November] that he supports the Armenian parliament members` participation in the `Rose Roth` seminar of NATO Parliamentary Assembly to be held in Baku on 26-28 November. Karafotias said that the sides should continuously exchange views on settling the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagornyy Karabakh peacefully.
Russian SC Secretary Praises Russian-Uzbek Dialogue
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 1: Secretary of Security Council of Russia Igor Ivanov called the dialog between Uzbekistan and Russia as exclusively constructive during a press conference on 1 November in Kremlin. `I think that especially during the past year and a half, political dialogue between our countries has significantly livened, especially on the highest level. I cannot recall such a constructive dialogue between our countries during all five years of my serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs,` RIA Novosti quoted Igor Ivanov as saying. The Security Council Secretary believes this is primarily the accomplishment of the presidents of the two countries - Vladimir Putin and Islam Karimov. According to Igor Ivanov, `this dialogue bears quite an objective nature, in the context of future of bilateral relations, as well as relations between our states within multilateral mechanisms on the CIS area`. Head of Russia`s Security Council noted the role of President Islam Karimov in Russia`s joining the Central Asian Cooperation organization (CAC). `President of Uzbekistan played a crucial part in Russia`s becoming a full member of CAC. This emphasises the importance that Uzbek administration attributes to cooperation with Russia, as well as Russia`s role in the framework of regional cooperation in Central Asia,` said Ivanov. According to the secretary, numerous results have been achieved in this sphere. `This is primarily expansion of the dialogue on issues of economic cooperation - certain projects related to GazProm`s and Lukoil`s investments in Uzbekistan have already been developed,` he noted.
SCO Transport Ministers To Discuss Transport Corridors In Dushanbe
Itar-Tass
Dushanbe, November 1: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization transport ministers will gather in Tajikistan`s capital Dushanbe for a third conference to discuss the development of transport corridors crossing the territories of the SCO member-countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and China. A Tajik Transport Ministry official has said special attention will be paid to the route from Uzbekistan through Dushanbe, the Pamir mountains and the Kulma pass to the Xinjiang-Uigur autonomous district of China. Tajikistan hopes that this route will be used to deliver cargoes from Russia and Europe. However, major investments will be required to adjust this transport route to international standards. Some parts of the route, in particular, those crossing the Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous region, must be fundamentally upgraded. Tajikistan will be able to cope with this task only with assistance from other SCO member-countries.
Director Of CA, Caucasus Institute (US) Visits Uzbekistan
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 1: Director of the Central Asia and Caucasus Institute of the Hopkins University (US) Frederick Starr arrived in Tashkent on 1 November, Foreign Ministry told UzReport.com. Starr will participate in the conference on `Political parties and elections: World practice and legislation of Uzbekistan`, which will be held in Samarkand on 4-5 November. The forum will be carried out in the framework of the international conferences on preparation to the December parliamentary elections held in the country. Frederick Starr is one of the leading American experts on Uzbekistan and Central Asia and author of a number of analytical materials on the country. On 2 November, Starr will meet Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Sadyk Safayev and heads of parliamentary fractions. He will also visit the Institute of Strategic and Inter-Regional Researches under the President of Uzbekistan and the History Institute of the Academy of Sciences.
Kazakh President Meets With Uzbek Ambassador
Radio Free Europe
Astana, November 1: Nursultan Nazarbaev met with Turdiqul Butoyarov, Uzbek ambassador to Kazakhstan, in Astana on 1 November to discuss bilateral relations, Khabar news agency reported. Butoyarov noted that the two countries could do more to exploit their `huge potential` for economic cooperation, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported. Stressing that the Kazakh and Uzbek presidents are making significant efforts to carry out existing economic accords, Butoyarov pointed to the work of the intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation, which holds its next session in November. The two men also reviewed the border delimitation process, which was completed in 2002, and the ongoing border demarcation process.
President Of Uzbekistan Meets OSCE Chairman`s Representative
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 1: President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met personal representative of the acting chairman of the OSCE on Central Asia Martti Ahtisaari in Tashkent on 1 November. During the meeting at the Oqsaroy residence, the sides considered the current state and perspectives of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the OSCE. Earlier the same day, Martti Ahtisaari met chairman of the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan Buritosh Mustafayev and Foreign Minister Sadyk Safayev. The purpose of his visit to Tashkent is to discuss perspectives of cooperation between OSCE and Uzbekistan and exchange opinions on the situation in the region, including Afghanistan, as well as familiarise with the pace of democratic and economic reforms in the country.
Envoy Of OSCE Chairman Arrives In Uzbekistan For Visit
Itar-Tass
Tashkent, November 1: Personal envoy of incumbent Chairman of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Martti Ahtisaari arrived in the Uzbek capital for a two-day visit on Monday to discuss prospects of cooperation between Uzbekistan and OSCE, as well as the situation in the Central Asian region and Afghanistan. During the visit, the OSCE envoy will hold talks with Uzbek Foreign Minister Sadyk Safayev and meet chairman of the Central Electoral Commission Buritosh Mustafayev. It is expected that during a meeting with the CEC chairman, the sides will speak about OSCE observers` participation in elections to the two-chamber Oliy Majilis (parliament) due to be held in Uzbekistan on December 26, 2004.
ADB President To Arrive In Uzbekistan On 2 November
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 1: Asian Development Bank`s President Tadao Chino will arrive in Uzbekistan on 2 November within his nine-day official mission to Central Asia. The mission, which started on Sunday, includes visits to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In Uzbekistan, Tadao Chino will discuss with leaders and government officials issues of regional cooperation. Signing of several loan agreements is also expected. They will cover spheres like improvement of children`s and women`s health, publication of textbooks and increasing grain production.
President Of Asian Bank Of Development To Visit Tajikistan
Itar-Tass
Dushanbe, November 1: Prsident of the Asian Bank of Development (ABD) Tadao Chino, Japan, is arriving in Dushanbe within the framework of his tour of Central Asian republics. During talks with Tajik leaders, the sides will focus on issues of cooperation in the Central Asian region. The aim of the president`s tour is `to stress the importance of regional cooperation for further development of the region,` Itar-Tass learnt at the office of the ABD representation here. At talks with Tajik head of state Emomali Rakhmonvo and an economic team of the republic`s government, Tadao Chino will also discuss the pace of implementation of the ABD program of aid to Tajikistan within three years of credits worth 100 million dollars to render aid in creating a rural infrastructure and restoring transport communications with neighbouring countries.
UN General Assembly To Debate Karabakh
RIA Novosti
Moscow, November 1: The United Nations General Assembly supposes to take up the Karabakh issue. The prospect will certainly not encourage negotiations on the problem-laden Azeri territory populated by Armenians for centuries. The opinion comes from Russia`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs press and information department. It spoke up after an initiative came to add `Developments in the Occupied Areas of Azerbaijan` to the General Assembly agenda. `The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk group, Russia among them, abstained as the issue was put to vote. As we see it, the initiative for debates parallel to an OSCE discussion will hardly be beneficial for the negotiations.` The vote shows the world`s majority to share Russian diplomats` point, say ministerial PR.
Normalize Georgian-Russian Relations Through Dialogue - Ivanov
Interfax
Moscow, November 1: Moscow wants to solve the problems in Russian - Georgian relations through dialogue, Russian Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov told Georgian parliament chairman Nino Burjanadze in the Kremlin on Monday. `We discern changes for the better in our dialogue and believe that dialogue is the sole way to resolve the issues on the agenda, he said. Ivanov rejected the lack of progress in resolving numerous issues. `What is important is to have a political will to tackle problems. We have such a will and hope to make progress,` he said.
U.S. Deputy Secretary Of State Praises Kazakhstan`s Opposition
Associated Press
Astana, November 1: U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage on Friday praised Kazakhstan`s opposition parties, which suffered a crushing defeat in recent elections, for their commitment to democracy. Armitage said he felt `quite energized` after his meeting with leaders of Kazakh political parties in the capital, Astana. He praised them for their `very strong views, healthy appreciation of the political process, and great affection for the democratic process.` Political tensions have escalated in this former Soviet republic since opposition parties refused to accept the results of last month`s parliamentary elections, alleging mass falsifications. According to the official poll results, President Nursultan Nazarbayev`s party and its allies won an overwhelming majority of seats in Parliament. The U.S. State Department and other Western observers have said the elections fell short of democratic standards.
Uzbeks Protest At British Envoy`s Sacking
The Scotsman
Tashkent, October 31: About a dozen people protested in the Uzbek capital today at the sacking of the British ambassador - an outspoken critic of the human rights situation in the Central Asian nation. The protesters gathered outside the British Embassy in Tashkent, holding signs that read: `Uzbek people love our friend Murray,` `Don`t give up Mr Craig Murray, fight for democracy and freedom in Uzbekistan.` `We are here to defend Craig Murray who has been betrayed by the British government,` said one of the demonstrators. Public protests are rare in the tightly controlled former Soviet state. The Foreign Office sacked Mr Murray two weeks ago, saying he had lost the confidence of senior officials and colleagues.
Kyrgyz President Comes To Greece On 2-day Official Visit
Itar-Tass
Athens, October 31: Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev has arrived in Greece on a two-day official visit at the invitation of Greek President Konstandinos Stephanopoulos. He will have negotiations with the president, the prime minister, the parliament speaker, the Athens mayor and leaders of main political parties. The presidents will sign a number of bilateral agreements.
Nagorno-Karabakh Criticizes Azerbaijan`s UN Initiative
Interfax
Stepanakert, October 31: The Foreign Ministry of Nagorno- Karabakh has criticized Azerbaijan`s proposal at the UN that the territory of this self-proclaimed republic be examined. `The Azerbaijan-initiated discussion at the UN of the situation on the territories controlled by Nagorno-Karabakh has yet again shown Azerbaijan`s disinclination to settle the entire range of problems in relations between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh,` Deputy Foreign Minister Masis Mailian told Interfax. A UN General Assembly committee earlier recommended, following a proposal by Azerbaijan, that the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh be considered at an assembly session. Azerbaijan alleged that the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh is used for drug manufacturing and terrorist training. `This step by Baku is purely propagandistic in its nature, which in no way facilitates the creation of a favorable atmosphere essential for reaching a comprehensive solution to the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh,` Mailian said.
Uzbekistan Seeks Indian Observers For Parliamentary Polls
Central Asia Daily
New Delhi, October 30: Uzbekistan on Saturday asked India to send observers to oversee the first parliamentary elections in that country scheduled in December this year. This was conveyed by visiting Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sadiq S Safayev to Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee during a meeting in New Delhi. Praising Indian democracy as genuine and incomparable, Safayev requested the speaker to send election observers from Indian Parliament, a Lok Sabha release said. Chatterjee conveyed his heartfelt wishes to the people of Uzbekistan for upholding parliamentary democracy.
Uzbekistan Keen On FTA With India
Uzbek Report
New Delhi, October 30: Uzbekistan on Saturday said it would discuss signing a free trade agreement and easing visa norms with India early next year at the India-Uzbek summit in Tashkent, UNI reported. `We will discuss the free trade agreement and liberalising the visa regime between the two countries early next year at the India-Uzbek summit,` said visiting Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Sadyk Safayev. He said he had discussed the issue of liberalising visa norms with his Indian counterpart, Natwar Singh, on Friday. `But only next year, we will try to resolve the issue,` he said. Uzbekistan will also ask its embassy in New Delhi to provide excellent and efficient visa clearance services to Indian diplomats and businessmen. He said his country had also sought permission to fly additional flights between Tashkent and Ahmedabad. `At present, we have two flights between Tashkent and Amritsar,` he added. The visiting minister invited Indian expertise in privatisation to open up its healthcare and banking sector. `Uzbekistan is keen to study India`s experience and expertise in privatisation of and investment into large enterprises and banks with the direct participation of Indian experts,` he said. The Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan also invited Indian companies to invest in a number of sectors including oil and gas, food and agricultural processing, textiles, aircraft construction and maintenance, building of machinery, production of construction materials, chemical industry, information technology and pharmaceuticals.
Georgia Beefing Up Police In S. Ossetia - Peacekeepers
Interfax
Moscow, November 4: Georgia is continuing to beef up its police forces in South Ossetia, Erdni Natyrov, a spokesman for the joint peacekeeping forces, told Interfax on Thursday. `Monitoring conducted by military observers and OSCE representatives has shown that a police unit from the Shida Kartli region was deployed south to the village of Akhalsopeli on the grounds of a hay barn, concerning which the command of the joint peacekeeping forces was not notified,` he said.
Gas Pipeline Blast Kills Three In Kazakhstan
Reuters
Almaty, November 2: An explosion on a pipeline in western Kazakhstan carrying gas from Central Asia to Russia triggered a fire that killed three people and injured three, officials said on Tuesday. The cause of the blast on Monday was not immediately known. The officials said it took about nine hours to put out the fire on the Soviet-era pipeline. The three injured people were taken to hospital with burns. Gas supplies via the pipeline were suspended immediately after the blast, authorities said. It was unclear on Tuesday if supplies had resumed. Kazakhstan`s state gas carrier KazTransGas declined to give further details.
Georgian Police Detain Humanitarian Convoy In South Ossetia
Itar-Tass
Moscow, November 2: The Georgian police have detained a humanitarian convoy near the village of Ergneti, South Ossetia. `Three trucks with flour and sugar accompanied by an armored personnel carrier of the Russian peacekeeping battalion left Tskhinvali but were stopped by the instruction of Shida Kartli Governor Mikhail Kareli,` representative of the Joint Peacekeeping Force Headquarters` press service Erdni Natyrov told Itar-Tass by phone from Tskhinvali on Tuesday. He said Georgia `violated decisions of the Joint Control Commission, including Article 4 of the Supplement to the Regulations on the Joint Control Commission of 1994.` The article regulates transportation of humanitarian cargo in the conflict zone. Natyrov said Georgia had stopped Russian humanitarian convoys before.
OSCE Centre Helps Organise Training For Uzbek Prison Staff
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 1: Senior staff of Uzbekistan`s prison system on 1 November began a 10-day study visit to Poland as an important step towards implementing a comprehensive prison reform in their own country. The programme in Poland`s Kalisz prison training centre is organised by the OSCE Centre in Tashkent and Uzbekistan`s Central Prison Administration. The visiting group is made up of representatives from the Presidential Administration, the Interior Ministry and Uzbekistan`s Central Prison Administration, OSCE Centre in Tashkent said. The Polish Association on Legal Education, which is assisting the OSCE Centre in Tashkent with the programme, will arrange visits to Poland`s prison administration, the Justice Ministry and the Ombudsman`s Office. The visitors will also meet academic staff and students at Warsaw University`s Law Faculty. The training programme includes lectures on Poland`s penitentiary system, contemporary prison staff training and Polish and international experiences in this field. The Uzbek delegation will also participate in debates on prison issues and Kalisz Centre activities.
Laws On Land And Water, Tax Code Enter Into Force In Turkmenistan
Interfax
Ashgabat, November 1: New laws on water, land and tax entered into force on Monday in Turkmenistan. The national media published the laws on Monday. The 15th session of the Khalk Maslakhaty (People`s Council) adopted the laws and the code on October 25. Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov said at the People`s Council that the laws were due to enter into force on January 1, 2005, but their soonest endorsement would help the development of agriculture. The local media reports that the president will soon tour the country `to explain clauses of the new laws and develop clear mechanisms of their implementation.`
Turkmen Deputy Premier Loses Job Over Cotton Harves
Radio Free Europe
Ashgabat, October 30: President Saparmurat Niyazov issued a decree on 30 October dismissing Enebai Ataeva from the posts of deputy prime minister and governor of Ahal province for `serious shortcomings,` turkmenistan.ru reported the next day. A report on Turkmen TV on 30 October indicated that the president is unhappy with the results of this year`s cotton harvest, which has collected 0.7 million tons of raw cotton instead of the planned 2.2 million tons. Ataeva`s dismissal came in the course of a presidential tour through various provinces to examine agricultural affairs. Murat Atagarriyev, formerly chairman of the Food Industry Association of Turkmenistan, was appointed to replace Ataeva.
Uzbek Citizen With 5 Kg Of Heroin Detained In Kazakhstan
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, October 30: Citizen of Uzbekistan driving Niva car was detained with 5 kg of heroin during a raid in the suburbs of Atyrau, Kazakhstan. According to Kazinform quoting a Kazakh National Security Committee officer, the driver confessed he had been driving to Astrakhan. During the expertise, stamped paper labels with Arabic letters and figures 777 were found in each pack of drug substance. The driver was arrested and criminal investigation was launched.
Special Focus
Religion, State And Fear In Central Asia
Central Asia is a region known throughout history for its diversity of devotion. Settled populations pr