Georgian MPs Ready For Dialogue With South Ossetian Lawmakers
Interfax
Tbilisi, November 19: Georgian parliament members have voiced readiness for a dialogue with South Ossetian lawmakers, despite Tbilisi`s refusal to recognize the breakaway republic`s independence, chairman of the parliamentary commission on Georgia`s territorial integrity Vasil Maglaperidze told reporters on Thursday. On Thursday, he met with European Union representative for the South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie and head of the OSCE mission in Georgia Roy Reeve. `The Georgian authorities are prepared to consider granting South Ossetia a political status within Georgia in compliance with international law and with allowance for recommendations by international organizations,` he said. Talvitie told reporters that `the European Union backs Georgia`s goal of restoring the country`s territorial integrity through peaceful means and is ready to provide considerable aid in that important cause.` He spoke highly of the Sochi agreements reached earlier on the demilitarization of the conflict zone, noting that an EU priority was to provide assistance to the region`s rehabilitation process.
Kazakh Election Commission Nixes Opposition Referendum Proposal
Radio Free Europe
Astana, November 18: Kazakhstan`s Central Election Commission (CEC) has rejected a proposal by the opposition party Ak Zhol to conduct a nationwide referendum to annul the results of 19 September parliamentary elections, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported on 18 November. Ak Zhol co-Chairman Alikhan Baimenov told a news conference in Almaty on 18 November that the CEC decided that three of the referendum`s six questions failed to meet legal requirements and that the number of initiative group members in some regions -- another legal requirement -- was fewer than 30 people. Baimen called the claims `groundless,` and said that Ak Zhol plans to appeal the decision.
Order Of Media Use In Pre-election Campaign Approved
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 17: Central Electoral Commission of Uzbekistan adopted a resolution on 8 November 2004 on use of media by political parties, initiative groups of voters and deputy contenders during the election campaign to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis. To create equal opportunities to use media outlets, the commission resolved that political parties, initiative groups of voters and deputy contenders should appear in all media in the alphabetic order. This means the parties will appear in the media, regardless of their form of ownership, in the following order: 1. Adolat social-democratic party of Uzbekistan; 2. Milliy Tiklanish democratic party of Uzbekistan; 3. Centre for Support of Independent Contenders; 4. Businessmen and Entrepreneurs` Movement (Liberal-Democratic Party) of Uzbekistan; 5. Fidokorlar national-democratic party of Uzbekistan; 6. People`s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan. Besides, according to the resolution, the weekly timetable of appearance of participants of the pre-election campaign at Uzbekiston and Yoshlar TV channels, and Uzbekistan and Yoshlar radio stations will be approved, as well as the order of allocation of place in Khalq Sozi, Narodnoye Slovo and Pravda Vostoka newspapers. The Uzbek Agency of Press and Information has been entrusted to monitor the appearances of representatives of political parties, initiative groups of voters and deputy contenders in the country`s media during the whole period of the pre-election campaign, and submit the monitoring results to the Central Electoral Commission.
Central Election Commission Published 10 Books On Elections
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 17: Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan and Tashkent State Law Institute, Instritute od Strategic and Regional Studies and the National Human Rights Centre published more than 10 titles of literature in the Elections-2004 series, UzA reported. The books are devoted to responsibilities for violation of election laws, financing activity of political parties, election legislation and rights, formation of civil society in Uzbekistan and ethics of political parties in the election process. A special dictionary of election rights and election process covers principles and standards of international election rights and aspects of formation of the Senate and elections in local people`s deputies councils.
International Seminar On Initiative Groups Of Voters Starts
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 17: International seminar `Activity of initiative groups of voters during the election campaign` will be held Tashkent on 18 November, Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan told UzReport.com. The forum is one of the regular international seminars held in the country on various topics related to the December parliamentary elections. The seminar organisers are National University of Uzbekistan, Centre for Support of Individual Candidates, Central Election Commission and Institute for Civil Society Studies. Deputies of Oliy Majlis representing initiative groups of voters, leaders and activists of NGOS and citizens` self-government bodies, heads of diplomatic missions, specialists on election legislation from the UK, Germany, India, Kazakhstan, Poland, Russia, France, South Korea nad other states will participate in the seminar. Experts of the UNDP, National Democratic Institute (US), Freedom House and Konrad Adenauer Foundation (Germany) will also make reports at the forum.
Lawmakers Discussing Changes To Election Code, Allowing Ambassadors To Run For Deputy
Kabar Agency
Bishkek, November 17: At a plenary meeting of the Legislative Assembly of the Jogorku Kenesh of Kyrgyzstan, the problem on introducing changes to the 69th article on elections in the Kyrgyz Republic, submitted by the chamber`s committee for state structure was considered. The bill establishes necessarily live in the country not less then 5 years before running for deputy. Deputies expressed opinion about necessity of non-admission of contradiction of national and international legislation in considering this problem, observing preparation and submit bills for consideration of the chamber on introducing addendum to legislative acts in concordance with requirements of the time-limit of the Legislative Assembly. The discussion will continue on Monday, 22 November, reported press service of the Legislative Assembly.
Former Tajik Interior Minister To Have Closed Trial
Radio Free Europe
Dushanbe, November 15: The trial of former Tajik Interior Minister Yoqub Salimov, set to begin on 23 November, will be closed, RFE/RL`s Tajik Service reported on 15 November. Mahmadali Vatanov, deputy head of Tajikistan`s Supreme Court, said that the investigation of Salimov`s case involved matters considered state secrets. Salimov, who was extradited from Russia to Tajikistan in February, faces charges of treason and abuse of office.
Abkhazia Premier Meets Presidential Election Rivals
Itar-Tass
Sukhumi, November 15: The prime minister of Georgia`s self-style republic of Abkhazia, Nodar Khashba, met on Monday with candidates in the disputed presidential election Raul Khadzhimba and Sergei Bagapsh. Tensions in the republic have been running high since the October 3 election, when the electoral commission declared Bagapsh the winner, but his rival Khadzhimba complained of voting irregularities and insisted on a re-run. Khashba told Tass that an understanding had been reached in the separate talks that `the events of the past Friday, in which one woman was killed, have transcended the boundaries of legality.` Thousands of Bagapsh supporters briefly seized the office of the outgoing president on Friday. He particularly stressed that Bagapsh had also demonstrated comprehension. The prime minister said he had met the two men separately.
OSCE Holds Workshop For Uzbek Border Guards
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 19: Tashkent Centre of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) held a two-day seminar on 17-18 November on issues of tracing and seizing illegally-trafficked small arms and light weapons (SALW), as well as cooperation of neighbouring countries in ensuring borders` security. `This seminar was aimed to establish contacts among experts of OSCE Secretariat in Vienna and their colleagues in Uzbekistan, namely representatives of law-enforcement bodies. Its priority goal is to teach methods of fight against illegal trade in SALW. Uzbek military personnel have already participated in training in Vienna within the framework of our projects,` acting economic advisor of the OSCE Centre Christopher Hornek said. Seminars on this topic were earlier been held in Ferghana, Khorezm, Samarkand, Bukhara and Nukus. The lessons were conducted by employees of customs services of Austria and Finland. By agreeing in December 2000 on the OSCE Document on SALW, the 55 participating states have introduced the world`s strictest standards and measures to restrain transfers, secure stockpiles and remove weapons from circulation. The document provides a clear mandate for assistance of this nature, in order to increase the capacity of enforcement agencies to combat illicit trafficking in SALW.
Armenian Minister Demands Furthern Increase In Military Funding
Radio Free Europe
Yerevan, November 18: Serzh Sarkisian told journalists in Yerevan on 18 November that the 10 percent increase in defense spending projected in the 2005 draft budget is inadequate, Noyan Tapan and RFE/RL`s Armenian Service reported. The budget allocates 54 billion drams ($108 million) for the armed forces in 2005 compared to 50 billion drams in 2004. Sarkisian said the additional funding -- he did not specify how much -- is needed to increase the salaries of army officers and lower level commanders. He expressed confidence it will be forthcoming.
Russian Border Guards Fight Armed Trespassers
RIA Novosti
Dushanbe, November 17: Russian border guards, who serve on the Tajik-Afghan border, engaged in combat with a group of armed trespassers last night at the section of the Moskovsky border detachment. Representative of the press service of the Russian Federal Security Service, Colonel Alexander Kondratyev reported on Thursday that the border guards discovered three drug smugglers on the mountainous section, who moved deep into the Tajik territory. The violators opened fire on the border detachment using small arms and grenade launchers. The border guards also fired, but the smugglers disappeared in the mountainous gorge. At the place of fighting the border guards found many traces of blood, ten bags of marijuana, two boxes of raw opium and ammunition - cartridges and rounds to a grenade launcher. Helicopters are being used to find the violators.
Georgia To Establish Air Defense Central Command Post In Early 2005
Interfax
Tbilisi, November 17: Georgia will establish the Air Defense Central Command Post in early 2005, Brigadier General Amiran Salukvadze, Georgian Air Defense commander, told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday. `A corresponding project has already been worked out, and the Central Command Post is expected to become operational within the next three months,` he said. He also noted that Georgia had recently started paying more attention to controlling its airspace. `The project of establishing an own Airspace Control Center has been worked out, with the latter to become the first step towards the goal,` Salukvadze said. According to him, the project is a long-term one, which comprises several stages, while the tasks have been set only until 2008. `The main objective is for the whole system to comply with NATO standards,` Salukvadze emphasized. He noted that the Kulevi firing range outside Poti would host a four-day tactical exercise of the Air Defense Forces in late November. `The exercise is expected to involve four SU-25 Frogfoot attack aircraft, two MI-24 Hind helicopters, and required maintenance materiel,` Salukvadze said. In the Soviet times the Georgian airspace was monitored by the 19th Detached Air Defense Army. Georgia has recently restored an S-124 air defense system and is going to test it in the near future.
Govt Approves Russian-Kazakh Agreement On Joint Military Planning
Kabar Agency
Moscow, November 17: The Russian government approved on Wednesday the agreement between Russia and Kazakhstan on joint military planning in the interests of the two countries` security. Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov signed the agreement, the press service of the Russian government told Itar-Tass. The agreement will then go to the Russian president, who will submit it to the State Duma lower house of parliament for ratification. The agreement between Russia and Kazakhstan was signed in Moscow on January 16, 2004. Defence ministers Sergei Ivanov and Mukhtar Altynbayev signed the accord. Ivanov stressed after the signing that the document `is a practical agreement, which lets us plan jointly, on a bilateral basis and within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization how to use all the existing military resources, troops and forces for a joint defence and for security`. According to Ivanov, the agreement `gives us a possibility to carry out joint work as concerns the development of our air defence systems, aviation and fleet.` The minister said Russia `is well aware of Kazakhstan`s plans concerning the construction and development of its Navy in the Caspian Sea`. Russia is ready to render `practical assistance in the construction of the Kazakh fleet, the handover of ships, exchange of navigation and hydrographic information, the development of coastal infrastructure, without which the existence of any fleet is impossible`.
Tajik Delegation Visits Pentagon
Radio Free Europe
Dushanbe, November 16: A Tajik delegation led by Deputy Defense Minister Vyacheslav Grudyno visited Washington on 15-16 November for consultations with their colleagues in the U.S. Defense Department, Asia Plus-Blitz reported. Talks focused on military cooperation, defense reform, border security, and security in Central Asia. An unidentified source at the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe told the news agency that `the consultations are yet another step forward in the developing relations between our two countries.` The Tajik delegation included representatives from the Defense Ministry, Emergency Situations Ministry, Border Protection Committee, and National Guard.
Tbilisi, Tskhinvali Start Demilitarizing Conflict Zone
Interfax
Tbilisi, November 16: Georgia and South Ossetia on Tuesday launched the first phase of demilitarization of the conflict zone with the filling in of trenches and dugouts near the village of Tamarasheni. Georgian State Minister for Separatist Conflicts Giorgi Khaindrava told journalists Georgia originally had some problems, as it failed to deliver bulldozers to Tamarasheni on time. However, the trenches near the village had still been filled in on Tuesday afternoon, he said. The destruction of fortifications will be continued on Wednesday, he said. Commander of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone Marat Kulakhmetov told the press that `despite certain lack of coordination between the sides, the demilitarization process must be continued.`
US Promises Tajikistan Help On Border
Radio Free Europe
Dushanbe, November 16: Laura Kennedy, U.S. State Department assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs, met with Tajik President Imomali Rakhmonov in Dushanbe on 16 November, Asia Plus-Blitz reported. Their talks focused on bilateral cooperation, the fight against terrorism, narcotics interdiction, and the February 2005 parliamentary elections in Tajikistan. `The United States hopes, of course, that the elections are democratic,` Avesta quoted Kennedy as saying. Addressing the situation on the Tajik-Afghan border, where Russian guards have begun transferring jurisdiction to their Tajik colleagues (see `RFE/RL Newsline,` 15 November 2004), Kennedy said that the United States will provide `technical assistance` to strengthen the border and will ask international organizations to do the same, RFE/RL`s Tajik Service reported. Kennedy also said that the United States will support Rakhmonov`s proposal to create an international alliance against drug trafficking. As regards the narcotics front, Tajik Foreign Minister Talbak Nazarov said he is encouraged by U.S. and Afghan plans to step up the fight against the growing of opium poppies in Afghanistan, RFE/RL`s Tajik Service reported.
Abkhazia To Reinforce Standby Army Units - Deputy Minister
Interfax
Moscow, November 16: Standby army units in Abkhazia will be reinforced during the hours of darkness, the breakaway republic`s Deputy Defense Minister Major General Anatoly Zaitsev told Interfax- Military News Agency by telephone on Monday. `Georgia is continuing to mass its troops in the Abkhaz direction, and since the extent of the threat grows at night, standby units will be reinforced,` he said. Servicemen have been strictly prohibited from interfering in the political confrontation emerging between supporters of the region`s presidential candidates, he said. On October 3, Abkhazia held its first presidential elections, the results of which were declared illegitimate by the republic`s Supreme Court. The incumbent president has called for new elections.
Georgia Raises Wages In Armed Forces
Itar-Tass
Tbilisi, November 15: Wages in the Georgian army have been raised by 300 percent on average from November 15, Defence Minister Georgy Baramidze said. He told journalists, `Wages will be raised for those civilian and military personnel who serve in the Armed Forces of the country but are not involved in the Training and Equipping programme that is being carried out by the United States for the Georgian Armed Forces.` `The servicemen of five battalions trained in 2002-2004 under this programme will retain their high wages. We are beginning to gradually eliminate the big gap between the wages of servicemen of these battalions and those who do not participate in this programme,` the minister said. In his words, a brigadier general will receive 420 instead of 136 laris (233 instead of 75 U.S. dollars respectively), and a lieutenant`s wage will grow from 46 to 195 laris (from 25 to 108 U.S. dollars). The defence minister`s wage will remain unchanged - 460 laris (255 U.S. dollars). According to Baramidze, the minimum wage of the Defence Ministry`s civilian personnel will increase from 20 to 115 laris (from 11 to 64 U.S. dollars). Servicemen deployed in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan (200, 159, and 50 servicemen respectively) receive bonuses and per diem payments. Pay rises are part of the military reform that is currently under way in Georgia. It also calls for downsizing the country`s Armed Forces. Baramidze said, `Personnel optimisation is under way in accordance with military reform. This process will affect the staffs of the Defence Ministry, the General Staff, and all arms of service, but the reduction will not affect combat-capable units and formation.` The Georgian Armed Forces will be reduced from 23,000 to 17,000 troops. `Army cuts are inevitable. The overall size of the army will be about 17,000 troops.
Georgian Defense Ministry Starts Reform
Interfax
Tbilisi, November 15: The Georgian Defense Ministry initiated an optimization reform, Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze told reporters Monday. `The reform will be conducted at the office of the Defense Minister, the General Staff, other administrative institutions, all branches and services, and the National Guards,` he said. According to him, it is aimed to optimize the structure, i.e. to have as many servicemen as really needed. He added that not all units and detachments would reduce their strength. `Maneuver units will even grow in strength, and the quality of their training will improve with the optimization achieved, ` he said. He stressed that the reform is based on two directives by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. `One of the directives provides for disbanding the Interior Ministry Forces, whose heavy vehicles and artillery have already been handed over to the Defense Ministry. The other one institutes the National Gendarmerie within the Interior Ministry structure,` he said. The Georgian Defense Ministry earlier told Interfax-Military News Agency that the strength of the Georgian army will not exceed 15,000 people, as recommended by Western military experts.
Georgia Keeps Delivery Of New Soldiers To Russian Base
Interfax
Tbilisi, November 14: Georgian leaders still do not allow replacement soldiers to reach the 62nd Russian military base in Akhalkalaki, Samtskhe-Javakheti district, an official in the Russian South Caucasus Army Group headquarters has told Interfax. `The Georgian Foreign Ministry has permitted as few as 40 men reach the base while it needs nearly 400,` Col. Vladimir Kuparadze told Interfax on Monday. `Army Gen. Alexander Baranov, commander of the Russian North Caucasus Military District recently discussed with Georgian officials the issue of keeping the base manned but nothing has changed, most new servicemen have not received permission to enter Georgian,` he said.
Azerbaijan Doesn`t Plan To Host Foreign Military Bases
Interfax
Baku, November 14: Azerbaijan is not negotiating the deployment of foreign military bases in its territory, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov told Interfax. `I am telling you that we are not holding any talks on the deployment of foreign military bases in the territory of Azerbaijan,` he said. `A military base is a regular facility that cannot be deployed overnight. It requires stage-by-stage negotiations. I can definitely tell you that the Foreign Ministry is not holding them,` he said.
NATO To Open Its Office In Tbilisi
Interfax
Tbilisi, November 14: A NATO office is due to open in Tbilisi before the end of the year or in January at the latest, a reliable source in the Georgian Defense Ministry told Interfax on Monday. `A liaison officer of the North-Atlantic Alliance, presumably to be housed in the Defense Ministry`s building, will coordinate, along with Robert Simmons, NATO Secretary General`s special representative in the Caucasus and Central Asia,` the source said. He added that the special representative would periodically visit Georgia to meet with local leaders.
Georgia Pledges To Give Full Info On Troops In S. Ossetia
Interfax
Tbilisi, November 13: Georgia is prepared to present exhaustive information about its armed units in the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone, Georgian State Minister for Separatist Conflicts Giorgi Khaindrava told Interfax on Saturday. `We are prepared to provide an opportunity to the joint peacekeeping forces, OSCE observers, and Tskhinvali representatives to fully control the situation in Georgian villages,` Khaindrava said. Tskhinvali`s accusations that up to 2,000 Georgian troops are stationed in the conflict zone are absolutely groundless, he said. `This can be verified, but it is absolutely clear that illegal South Ossetian armed groups are stationed in the conflict zone, which must be withdrawn from there by November 20, according to the recent Sochi agreements,` Khaindrava said.
Russia Highly Appreciates Kazakhstan`s Contribution To Fight Against International Terrorism
Kazakhstan News
Orenburg, November 19: Russia has high praise for Kazakhstan`s contribution to the struggle against international crime, above all international terrorism, said Russia`s Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev, speaking at a conference in Orenburg on cross-border cooperation between interior bodies of Russia and Kazakhstan. He said that the interior ministries of the two countries had stepped up joint operative campaigns lately. `The quality of search and criminal information exchanged has greatly improved,` the minister said. He pointed out that at present the most acute problem facing the two departments is that of illegal migration. `It ought to be said that the existing system of migration control on the Russian-Kazakh border is not yet able to deal with an inflow of migrants into the territories of our states,` the Russian interior minister said. Zautbek Turisbekov, head of Kazakhstan`s Interior Ministry, said in his turn that nine members of a terrorist group had been detained in the republic recently. The group was involved in a series of bombings on the territory of Central Asian states. `Those detained are now being checked for participation in bandit groups operating on the territory of the North Caucasus,` Turisbekov said. He also reported that the problem of transit of Afghan heroin via Kazakhstan`s territory is also very acute.
Georgia Denies Link To Beslan Hostage Taking
Radio Free Europe
Tbilisi, November 18: Georgian Prime Minister Zhvania rejected on 18 November as `an insult` Russian media reports that the Beslan hostage takers included a Georgian national named Buran Tetradze, Caucasus Press reported. Georgian Deputy State Security Minister Batu Kutelia told the same agency that his ministry has found no evidence that any such person exists.
Moscow Conference Considers Threats Of Terrorism
Uzbek Report
Moscow, November 17: Leaders of terrorist organisations are using modern technologies and weapons to develop plans to use weapons of mass destruction, head of the CIS Antiterrorism Centre Colonel General Boris Mylnikov said at an international scientific-practical conference in Moscow, RIA Novosti reported. In this regard, there is the real threat of a completely new type of technological terrorism, and it is not enough to have the most complete agent network, skilled special task forces and highly precise weapons, Mylnikov said. Only rational use of all forces and means, including information of secret services and analytical potential, will allow concentrating on the most dangerous aspects of terrorist activity and place `a reliable barrier on their way`. `International terrorism has involved members of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the whole world in an undeclared war, in which defenseless people are killed by terrorists,` Mylnikov added. He noted that all kinds of criminal gangs are widely using terrorist methods to reach their own goals. According to head of the CIS Antiterrorism Centre, criminal gangs have found a perfect mutual understanding with transnational organised criminal communities involved in drug trafficking, weapons smuggling, kidnapping and other dangerous crimes. Representatives of almost every CIS secret service, Collective Security Treaty Organisation (Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) attended the conference. The Antiterrorism Centre was set up on 20 June 2000. Russia finances 50 per cent of the centre`s activity, while the rest is equally divided between the CIS countries. The centre is headquartered in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Official Says Kazakhstan Faces Terror Threat
Radio Free Europe
Astana, November 16: Vladimir Bozhko, first deputy chairman of Kazakhstan`s National Security Committee (KNB), said on 16 November in Astana that Kazakhstan faces a growing threat from Al-Qaeda, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and other terrorist groups, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported. The remarks came at a roundtable on fighting terrorism, and only days after the KNB announced its split from an Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist organization (see `RFE/RL Newsline,` 12 November 2004). Bozhko noted that Kazakhstan has deported 14 members of Uighur separatist organizations to Kyrgyzstan and China over the last six years, RFE/RL`s Kazakh Service reported. Mark Allison, a researcher with Amnesty International`s East Asia team, told RFE/RL`s Uzbek Service on 17 November that China is putting political and economic pressure on Central Asian governments to curb Uighur activists. Bozhko also said that Kazakhstan must take steps to ensure that diaspora communities from the Caucasus in Kazakhstan do not support illegal activities in Chechnya, ITAR-TASS reported.
Kazakh Police `fabricated` Charges
Herald Sun
Astana, November 15: The family of an Australian man jailed on terrorism charges in Kazakhstan has appealed to the Australian Government to try to have him released. Norfalat Abdulla, an Australian citizen since 1986, was arrested in Kazakhstan in 2000 along with about 100 others after an incident in which two Kazakh police officers were shot dead. He was sentenced to 15 years` jail in October 2001. His Adelaide-based family believe Kazakh authorities fabricated the evidence used to convict him, including two hand grenades found at his Kazakh home. He had moved there and gone into the wool business in 1996, a decade after his family fled neighbouring western China where they were persecuted for their religion, a brand of Islam. Abdulla now remains locked up in an isolated prison camp, according to ABC TV`s 7.30 Report, which said Australian consular officials had described his prison conditions as appalling. In particular, Abdulla had reportedly told officials who visited him that he had been beaten, held in a cage in the cold and made to stand still for 14 hours. `It`s really frustrating,` his sister Zulfiya Abdulla was quoted as saying. `Until now we keep thinking that our government can do something.` His father Mohammad Abdulla also expressed frustration. `They won`t bring my son home,` he said. `The Australian Government didn`t follow up the case. They are not interested to find the truth because they didn`t follow up his case. Now we are very disappointed.` But parliamentary secretary for consular affairs Bruce Billson was quoted as saying the Government supported the Abdulla family`s appeal for clemency, yet to be determined by the Kazakhstan government.
Kyrgyzstan Endorses Russia`s Intention To Deliver Preemptive Strikes On Terrorists
RIA Novosti
Volokolamsk, November 14: Kyrgyzstan endorses Russia`s intention to deliver pre-emptive strikes on terrorists, Kyrgyz president Askar Akayev said on Sunday in the Russian town of Volokolamsk, Moscow region, speaking to WWII veterans. `We endorse Russia`s intention to deliver pre-emptive strikes on international terrorists,` he said. According to Akayev, to succeed in fighting terrorism, the antiterrorist front should cover all countries and continents. `We share Russia`s approach, to which the opening of the Russian military base in Kant and the establishment of the Collective Security Treaty Organization is ample evidence,` he said. `Russians need to know and understand that Kyrgyzstan is Russia`s friend and forward base in the Central Asia,` the Kyrgyz President underscored. On Sunday Akayev laid a wreath to the Monument of the Twenty Eight Heroes near the station of Dubosekovo, village of Nelidovo near Moscow. He also laid a wreath to the bed of honor of the Twenty Eight Heroes and visited a museum dedicated to them, where he wrote an address in the Book of Honored Guests.
Azerbaijani Minister Wants More Anti-terrorist Cooperation With Russia
Interfax
Baku, November 14: Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov has spoken for intensifying cooperation with Russia in resisting terrorism. `It is one of our main tasks to intensify cooperation because it is virtually impossible to fight terrorism single-handedly,` he told Interfax. `The spread of the threat can be stooped only through joint efforts,` he said. `Relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are at a sufficiently good level and advancing steadily,` Mamedyarov said. Speaking of a settlement in Nagorno Karabakh he said: `Russia has very good possibilities to promote the speedy settlement of our conflict with Armenia.`
Kazakh Government Seeks To Buy Oil Stake
Associated Press
Astana, November 19: Kazakhstan`s oil minister said Friday that the government wants to buy British Gas` entire stake in a project to develop a giant oil field in the Caspian Sea, according to a news report.The statement comes days after Kazakhstan reached a breakthrough in its stalled talks with members of an international consortium preparing to develop the Kashagan oil field, getting their consent to allow the national oil company KazMunaiGaz to join the project. British Gas wants to sell its 16.67 percent stake -- worth about US$1.2 billion (euro977 million) -- and the sides are now negotiating what part could be sold to KazMunaiGaz. `Kazakhstan wants more, we want it all,` Energy Minister Vladimir Shkolnik said at an energy conference, according to Kazakhstan Today news agency. He had earlier said Kazakhstan could agree to buy only a part of the share. The consortium has the right to buy the stake and initially opposed KazMunaiGaz`s bid. British Gas earlier said it intended to sell its stake to other consortium members, which include Italian energy giant Eni, British Gas, Total SA, Royal Dutch/Shell Group, ExxonMobil Corp., ConocoPhillips and Japan`s Inpex. The Kazakh government argues it has ownership rights to Kashagan. Its bid to get a share in the field is seen as part of its effort to increase KazMunaiGaz`s participation in the country`s oil and gas sector, now dominated by foreign investors.
WB To Provide 20 Million-dollar Loan To Armenia To Fight Poverty
Itar-Tass
Washington DC, November 18: The World Bank has decided to provide 20 million dollars in a loan to Armenia intended to back Yerevan`s efforts to eradicate poverty. The World Bank press service has reported that it will be the first loan in the frame of a three-year program of assistance to Armenia in this field. The project aims to accomplish four main tasks, the first one being the enhancement of macroeconomic discipline and improvement of administrative and corporate governance, including the struggle against corruption.
ST Engg To Set Up JV In Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan News
Astana, November 17: ST Engineering Ltd, a defence contractor 55 per cent owned by the Singapore government, said yesterday that it had entered a joint venture with Kazakhstan`s state engineering agency. The firm, to be based in the Kazakhstan capital city of Astana, will provide IT, engineering and defence services in the Central Asian state. ST Engineering will own 51 per cent of Kaz-ST Engineering Bastau, which will have paid-up capital of US$400,000. The remaining stake will be held by Kazakhstan Engineering. ST Engineering`s CEO Tan Pheng Hock said the investment offered a `potential gateway and launch pad` for the defence group, South-east Asia`s largest, into Central Asia.
Over $60 Billion May Be Invested In Turkmen Oil And Gas In 2005-2020
Interfax
Ashgabat, November 17: Turkmenistan expects that over $60 billion will be invested in its oil and gas industry between 2005-2020, the country`s Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Amangeldy Pudakov said. Direct foreign investments under production sharing agreements will account for over 40 per cent of that figure, Pudakov told an international conference on experience in, the potential of and the outlook for international cooperation in the industry. Priority fields have been set in the development of the Turkmen oil and gas industry and areas where foreign investments are most needed, he said. They include exploration of the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea and of promising inland oil and gas fields, the pipeline infrastructure, oil and gas refinery and petrochemsitry, services, as well as oil, gas and products sales on international markets, Pudakov said. Local and independent international experts estimate Turkmenistan`s hydrocarbon reserves at 45.44 billion tonnes of oil equivalent, he said.
Kazakhs See Over $7bn Investment
Kazakhstan News
Astana, November 16: Oil-rich Kazakhstan expects to see $7 billion in investment in its mineral resources this year and a higher figure next year, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Vladimir Shkolnik said on Tuesday. Addressing parliament, he did not make clear what type of investment he was referring to. The country has not announced any major oil deals this year after changing legislation to take a bigger share of the profits. `This is big money because the sector is growing,` Shkolnik said. `The main task... is to ensure that this money should be used to the greatest possible extent in our country and stay in our country, and that revenues from this sector go to education, healthcare and social welfare.`
Kazakhstan, World Bank Continue Cooperation
Radio Free Europe
Astana, Novmber 17: Kazakh Economy Minister Kairat Kelimbetov and World Bank Vice President Shigeo Katsu signed a protocol in Astana on 16 November to continue the Joint Economic Research Program for 2005-07, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported. `Cooperation between the Kazakh government and the World Bank is making a weighty contribution to the strengthening of our country`s economy,` Kelimbetov told a briefing, according to Kazinform. At a meeting with World Bank President James Wolfensohn in Astana the same day, Kazakh Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov stressed, `We attach great significance to the program of economic cooperation with the World Bank,` Interfax-Kazakhstan reported.
Gazprom May Increase Gas Purchases From Turkmenistan
Interfax
Ashgabat, November 16: Russia`s Gazprom is planning to buy 4.25 billion cubic meters of gas from Turkmenistan, the minimum amount documented in a long-term agreement with Turkmenneftegaz. The company does not intend to limit itself to this amount, which will require an enlargement of the transit countries` pipeline system, Gazprom Deputy CEO Alexander Ryazanov told a conference on prospects for Russian-Turkmen cooperation in the oil and gas sector. Under the contract, Gazprom will purchase over 6 billion cubic meters of gas in 2005. By 2008, annual gas purchases will increase to 70 billion-80 billion cubic meters.
World Bank Extends Economic Survey Program For Kazakhstan
Interfax
Ashgabat, November 16: The World Bank is planning to extend the program for joint economic surveys for Kazakhstan by three years. This program is part of the partnership strategy between the parties, World Bank President James Wolfensohn told a news conference in Almaty on Monday. He said this program is very effective, since it allows the state to save money and spend it on reforms. He added that the signing ceremony will be held in Astana on Tuesday.
Kazakh President Sets Seven Tasks For Financial Sector
Radio Free Europe
Astana, November 15: President Nursultan Nazarbaev told the Fourth Congress of Financial Professionals on 15 November in Almaty that seven key tasks face the country`s government, National Bank, and Financial Monitoring Agency, Kazinform reported. The tasks are bringing the securities market up to modern standards, creating an infrastructure for people to trade on the stock market, developing a program by 2007 for the creation of an accumulation pension system, increasing the capitalization of the financial system, introducing modern risk-management systems, developing credit cooperatives and microcredit, and creating an international financial center in Almaty.
Kazakhstan, Agip KCO Talks On Buying BG Consortium Stake To Continue
Interfax
Astana, November 15: Kazakhstan and members of the Agip KCO consortium have reached basic agreement on the country becoming part of the North Caspian project as a member, and plan to continue specific deal talks on Astana buying BG`s 16.67 per cent stake in the project. `Principled agreement was reached on Kazakhstan being involved in the project, but there are questions: the issues of volumes and a whole series of conditions, guarantees, financial conditions,` Kazakh Energy and Mineral Ministry Vladimir Shkolnik said on Monday. Kazakhstan`s involvement in the consortium means another `whole ranges of procedural moments associated with avoiding a conflict of interests. On the one hand, taxation and control over the project, participation in it on the other,` Shkolnik said. As to the size of the BG stake Kazakhstan is looking to acquire, Shkolnik said, `Kazakhstan wants the maximum, while consortium participants propose the minimum, and the truth is, as always, somewhere in the middle.` `We want to reach a consensus now,` he added. The Kazakh Foreign Ministry announced in early November that Shkolnik and president of the country`s national oil and gas company KazMunaiGaz Uzakbai Karabalin, and consortium members, had reached a principled agreement on participation on production sharing terms during a London meeting on November 4.
Uzbek Govt Plans GDP Growth Of 6.4 per cent For 2005
Interfax
Tashkent, November 15: Uzbekistan`s gross domestic product will grow 6.4 per cent in 2005, according to the government`s strategy for improving the standard of living in the country for the period until 2011. The strategy has GDP growth of 6 per cent for 2004, 7.5 per cent for 2006 and 8 per cent- 8.5 per cent annually for 2007-2010. Per capita GDP growth will increase from 3.2 per cent in 2003 to 4.9 per cent in 2004, 5.3 per cent in 2005 and 6.4 per cent in 2006. The plan for improving living standards will be achieved by `deepening reform in all spheres of community life` and mostly by further economic liberalization, according to the document.
World Bank Issues Grant For Health Improvement In Uzbekistan
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 14: World Bank, government of Switzerland and UNICEF issued a grant to Uzbekistan worth US$.2.8 million for health improvement in the country. Laboratory and technological equipment for enrichment of flour with ferrous components at 34 flour combines of the country will be purchased within the grant. Besides, premixes covering the needs of all these combines for three years will be delivered. The project is continuation of the similar US$1.2-million project implemented by the Asian Development Bank since 2002 at 14 flour enterprises of Uzbekistan.
Kazakh Budget Deficit To Rise To 1.7 per cent Of GDP In 2005
Interfax
Astana, November 14: The deficit of the national budget in Kazakhstan is expected to be raised to 101.4 billion tenge (130.83 tenge/$1) or 1.7 per cent of the GDP in 2005. A cross-party commission of the Kazakh parliament made the decision after discussing deputies` proposals on the draft budget, its head Tolebek Kosmambetov announced. `It is suggested to increase the budget deficit by 13.5 billion tenge to 101.4 billion tenge or 1.7 per cent of the GDP`, he told a joint meeting of the two houses on Monday. Kosmambetov said that the commission suggested raising the revenues by 5 billion tenge and spending by 18.6 billion tenge. He said corporate income tax revenues are expected to go up 11.2 billion tenge while the target figure on VAT will be reduced by 6.2 billion. He said the government and parliament agreed that the amendments to the tax code related to depreciation payments would be enforced as of 2006.
Gazprom Targets $17.8 Bln Exports To Non-CIS In 2004
Interfax
Ashgabat, November 14: Gazprom is targeting revenue of $17.8 billion from exports to the non-CIS in 2004, Alexander Ryazanov, the gas giant`s deputy CEO, said at the Turkmenistan Oil & Gas conference. Ryazanov said Gazprom intended to export 140 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas to the non-CIS this year, and 145 bcm in 2005. Gazprom plans to produce 547 bcm of gas in 2005, Ryazanov said. Earlier, it was reported Gazprom would be targeting production of 542 bcm in 2004.
Bishkek, Tehran Keen On Bilateral Ties
IRNA
Bishkek, November 19: Iran`s Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Gholam Reza Baqeri Moqaddam discussed here on Friday mutual cooperation with First Deputy Prime Minister Kubanychbek Jumaliyev and Minister of Foreign Trade Talant Shabalov. Baqeri Moqaddam told IRNA the two sides officials` visits, specially the official trip of Iran`s high-ranking economic officials with First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref as the head of delegation to Bishkek provided the ground for deepening bilateral relations. Holding the seventh joint economic commission a month ago was a success as well, he added. Iran`s ambassador to Bishkek said Iranian companies have paid attention to construction projects, engineering services and electricity transfer from Kyrgyzstan to Iran which has been supported by both countries` related agencies. In the meeting, Jumaliyev expressed satisfaction over extending cooperation between private and provincial sectors of both countries. Also, implementation of trade and economic agreements between the two countries was discussed in the meeting with Kyrgyz minister of foreign trade.
Ex-Soviet Strongmen Bury Hatchet
BBC
Tashkent, November 19: The Turkmen and Uzbek presidents have signed a declaration of friendship, ending years of mistrust between the two Central Asian neighbours. Uzbek leader Islam Karimov and Turkmen President Saparmyrat Niyazov said all bilateral issues had been resolved. They drank champagne to celebrate their pact in the Uzbek Silk Road city of Bukhara, near their common border. Relations worsened two years ago when Turkmenistan accused the Uzbeks of aiding an attempt to kill Mr Niyazov. Our Uzbek friends and Turkmen citizens residing at the border may sleep quietly and shouldn`t worry about tomorrow Saparmyrat Niyazov President of Turkmenistan The meeting came after four years without presidential-level contact between the two former Soviet states. President Niyazov, known as Turkmenbashi or Father of all Turkmen, rarely leaves Turkmenistan. But on this occasion he travelled across the desert to Bukhara for the surprise summit. New agreements Both men have held power in their countries since before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and neither allows independent media or widespread political dissent. They have both faced criticism from western countries about alleged human rights abuses and slow economic reforms. The leaders agreed to share water resources and ease travel restrictions between the two countries in the hope of boosting bilateral trade, which has increased recently but has been historically low. A dispute over the Kokdumalak oil field, most of which lies in Turkmenistan but has been exploited by Uzbekistan since Soviet times, was also reported to be on the agenda. Neither leader gave details of any discussions, but Mr Niyazov said: `Our Uzbek friends and Turkmen citizens residing at the border may sleep quietly and shouldn`t worry about tomorrow.`
Chinese Bank Opens $300 Million Credit Line For Uzbek Bank
Radio Free Europe
Tashkent, November 18: China`s Eximbank has opened a $300 million line of credit for Uzbekistan`s National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity for the purchase of Chinese technology and equipment, Prime-TASS reported on 18 November, citing a source in the Uzbek bank. The equipment will be used to implement 16 projects in Uzbekistan, mainly in the oil-and-gas and power sectors.
US Official Visits To Uzbekistan Continue
Radio Free Europe
Tashkent, November 18: Laura Kennedy, U.S. State Department assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs, met with Uzbek Foreign Minister Sadyk Safaev in Tashkent on 18 November to discuss bilateral relations, regional security, and democratization in Uzbekistan, Uzbek TV and ITAR-TASS reported. Kennedy also met with Central Election Commission Deputy Chairperson Sayyora Khujaeva to discuss preparations for 26 December parliamentary elections, UzA reported. Meanwhile, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce William Lash is in Uzbekistan on a three-day visit focusing on U.S.-Uzbek economic cooperation, `Biznes-Vestnik Vostoka` reported on 18 November.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary Visits Election Commission
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 18: Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs of the US Department of State Laura Kennedy, who is on a visit in Uzbekistan, met deputy chairman of the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan Sayora Khodjaeva on Thursday. The sides discussed issues of preparation to the upcoming parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan. US Ambassador John Purnell also participated in the meeting. Laura Kennedy arrived in Tashkent to discuss with Uzbek officials perspectives of bilateral political and economic cooperation, democratic reforms in the country, regional security, fighting international terrorism, development of regional integration and other issues.
Issues Of Trade-economic Cooperation Of Kazakhstan And Italy Discussed In Rome
Kazinform
Astana, November 18: Issues of developing the trade-economic cooperation between the two countries, including in sphere of industries and investments were discussed in Rome at held November 11 the 3rd joint session of the Intergovernmental Kazakhstan-Italian work group, created in conformity with the Agreement on friendship and cooperation signed 1997. Head of the delegation deputy Foreign Minister Vadim Zverkov represented Kazakhstan in negotiations. For the purpose of increase of the current economic potential of bilateral cooperation the work group considered an opportunity to attract Italian investments. In the course of the meeting the parties agreed the main principles of the Memorandum on mutual understanding and cooperation in business between Kazakhstan and Italy will be signed up to the end of the year.
Aliyev Wants Better Trade Relations With Turkey
Interfax
Baku, November 18: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has spoke in favor of improving trade and economic relations with Turkey. `The current level of economic cooperation is unacceptable to us. In the conditions of growing economic development in our countries, the volume of bilateral trade and economic relations does not, of course, reflect the real potential,` Aliyev said on Thursday at the opening of the Azerbaijani-Turkish business forum in Baku. The president spoke of the presence of real possibilities for strengthening economic cooperation with Turkey aimed at raising the amount of trade turnover to at least $1 billion. Aliyev also spoke of the importance of the joint realization of the Baku-Tbilisi-Jeihan gas pipeline, and also the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline. In addition, the president said there is a favorable investment climate in Azerbaijan.
Summit Expected To Open New Stage In Uzbek-Turkmen Relations
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 18: Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan will sign the Treaty on eternal friendship, strengthening trust and development of cooperation during the first summit of heads of two states in the last four years. Other important documents to be signed during the meeting of President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov and President of Turkmenistan Saparmurat Niyazov in Bukhara on Friday are intergovernmental agreements on use of water industry objects and mutual visits of citizens. The prepared treaty is expected to boost Uzbek-Turkmen relations in all spheres, while the two agreements will regulate the order of border crossing and use of Uzbekistan`s water objects on Turkmen territory, Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan told UzReport.com. The presidents will also discuss joint development of the Kokdumalak deposit, delimitation of the state border, regional cooperation and security. Last time the two leaders met during President Karimov`s official visit to Turkmenistan on 21-22 September 2000. `Uzbekistan is eager to maintain active political dialogue with official Ashgabat and negotiations in Bukhara are viewed as a new stage in development of relations between the two countries,` the Foreign Ministry said. Apart from face-to-face meeting, presidents Karimov and Niyazov will participate in the expanded talks and then visit the Bahauddin Naqshbandi memorial complex.
US Ambassador Purnell Makes First Visit To Navoi, Zarafshan
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 17: On 15-17 November, US Ambassador to Uzbekistan John Purnell made his first official visit to Navoi and Zarafshan in the country`s northwest, US Embassy in Tashkent told UzReport.com. During the visit, Ambassador Purnell met Navoi regional governor Bahriddin Ruziev, governor of Navoi city Bakhrior Khamdamov, governor of Zarafshan Akhmad Umarov and general director of Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine Nickolay Kuchersky. The purpose of the visit was to discuss issues of regional importance, to review the progress of US-government-funded projects and exchanges, and to become acquainted with cities of Navoi and Zarafshan. In Navoi, the ambassador also met management of the Navoi branch of Uzbek-American cellular company Coscom and toured their main office and basing station. The cultural portion of the visit included a visit to the Navoi Sports Stadium and the Culture Palace. On 15 November, John Purnell visited Navoi Fish Farm and Processing Plant. With support from the USAID, Washington DC-based Small Enterprise Assistance Fund (SEAF) established the Central Asia Small Enterprise Fund (CASEF) with the objective of providing venture capital financing to small and medium-sized enterprises in Central Asia. SEAF recently agreed to have CASEF invest in a new joint venture that will hatch and grow fish for local consumption throughout Uzbekistan.
Presidents Of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan To Meet In Bukhara
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 17: President of Turkmenistan Saparmurat Niyazov will pay an official visit to Uzbekistan on 19 November on the invitation of President Islam Karimov. During the high-level talks in the city of Bukhara, heads of the states will discuss issues of development of Uzbek-Turkmen cooperation, in particular, economic ties. A number of bilateral documents will be signed during the visit. Tashkent and Ashgabat expect the talks to serve as an impulse to expanding of cooperation in all spheres.
Official Delegation Of Kyrgyzstan Headed By President A. Akaev Visits Germany
Kabar Agency
Bishkek, November 17: President of Kyrgyzstan Askar Akaev during his visit to Germany has met with members of the Eastern Committee of the German Economy, including representatives of business and political elite. According to the presidential press service, A. Akaev noted that the meeting allows discuss the most important problems regarding the both economic development of the Kyrgyz Republic and participation of Germany`s investment in expanding bilateral trade and implementing investment projects. `This is a good chance to listen your idea as well as learn new approaches, which you follow in business`, - said the president. The head of the state pointed out three sectors of Kyrgyzstan`s economy, representing interest to study possibility of investing financial resources on the part of Germany. In particular, hydroenergetics, its structural transformations and setting up new capacities. The second direction is creation of forked transport infrastructure through Kyrgyzstan to Central Asia and then to Europe. The third one is creation of medium entrepreneur`s class due to development of sectors such as service, tourism, processing industry and information technologies. A.Akaev expressed hope that scheduled joint Kyrgyz-German business forum in Bishkek on spring 2005 will raise bilateral cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Germany to a new level. Beisdes, a handing over ceremony of honorary professor title of the Kottbus University in Berlin to Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev held in Brandenburg.
Iranian, Turkmen Presidents Call For Cooperation On Caspian Sea
IRNA
Tehran, November 17: President Mohammad Khatami and Turkmen President Saparmurat Niazov on Wednesday studied ways to develop bilateral cooperation in the upcoming conference of the Caspian Sea neighboring states. Speaking in a telephone conversation, President Khatami expressed pleasure with the completion of the construction of Friendship Dam in Turkmenistan and hoped to take part in the inauguration ceremony of the dam. He called for holding expert studies to speed up implementation of the accords signed earlier between the two countries and explore grounds for developing cooperation.
Kyrgyz Interior Ministry`s Academy And Police Academy Of Munster To Sign Cooperation Agreement
Kabar Agency
Bishkek, November 17: The Kyrgyz Interior Ministry`s Academy and Police Academy of Munster (Germany) will sign an agreement on cooperation. This was disclosed during the meeting of Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev with Federal Interior Minister of Germany Otto Shili. According to the presidential press service of Kyrgyzstan, the head of the state noted Germany`s help in the frame of OSCE Police Assistance Programme. Touching upon the problem to continue and expand training programmes, exchange skills, technical assistance to law-enforcement bodies, A. Akaev welcomed the decision to sign the agreement on cooperation.
Egypt Assists Training Uzbek Bankers
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 17: Technical Fund for Cooperation with CIS countries under the Foreign Ministry of Egypt organised 11 workshops for Uzbek banking specialists over the four years of cooperation with the Tashkent Regional Banking Educational Centre (RBEC). Along with seminars held at the Egyptian Banking Institute, 6 trainings were held at RBEC in the framework of cooperation. `Technical Fund and the Embassy of Egypt in Uzbekistan will further develop effective cooperation in improving the banking system of Uzbekistan,` Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Egypt to Uzbekistan Gamel Said Fayed said at the meeting with seminar participants in Tashkent. In autumn, specialists and managers of banks of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan participated in the seminar on banking in Cairo.
Russia, India Mull Gas Shipments From Central Asia, Iran
Interfax
New Delhi, November 17: A project by Russia and India aimed at delivering gas to India from Central Asia and Iran will be on the agenda of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov`s visit to India on November 18-20, a source in the Russian parliamentary delegation told Interfax.
Tashkent Satisfied With Relations With Washington
Interfax
Tashkent, November 17: The Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Sadyk Safayev positively evaluates the development of relations between Tashkent and Washington. `The level of the Uzbek-American relations allows the representatives of both countries to openly discuss the fundamental issues of political, economic and social development of Uzbekistan,` the minister said on Tuesday at the meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State Acting Advisor Michael Kozak in Tashkent. Kozak, during his visit to Uzbekistan, is discussing the possibilities for the development of Uzbek-American relations, is familiarizing himself with the democratic reforms in the republic and the preparations for the parliamentary elections.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary To Visit Tashkent
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 17: Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs of the US Department of State Laura Kennedy will arrive in Tashkent from Almaty on Thursday, Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan told UzReport.com. During the visit she will discuss with Uzbek officials perspectives of bilateral political and economic cooperation, democratic reforms in the country, regional security, fighting international terrorism, development of regional integration and other issues. In Tashkent, Laura Kennedy will hold talks with Foreign Minister Sadyk Safayev and chairman of the Central Election Commission Buritosh Mustafayev, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Economy. On Friday Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US Department of State will leave Tashkent for Almaty.
Armenian Delegate Attends Energy Conference In Baku
ArC News
Baku, November 16: An international conference dedicated to energy cooperation among the Caspian basin countries was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel of Baku on Saturday on the initiative of the European Union. Issues related to prospects for energy cooperation among regional countries were discussed at the event attended by delegations from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, as well as by Armenian Energy Ministry`s department head Levan Vardanian. Deputy Prime Minister Abid Sharifov said in the conference that the Armenian representative`s participation in the event is not a sign for Azerbaijan`s cooperation with official Yerevan. Vardanian told journalists that he came to Baku without any difficulties. He thanked the Azerbaijani side for highly organizing the conference as well. Despite the fact that the Azerbaijani government has concealed the Armenian representative`s planned participation in the conference, his arrival in Baku has sparked strong protests by local public and political organizations. The Garabagh Liberation Organization held a picket outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Saturday in a protest against the Armenian delegate`s visit. The opposition Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front party of Azerbaijan, in turn, issued a statement protesting the position of the government, which has offered facilities for Vardanian`s participation in the conference and concealed the fact from the public.
Russian Gas Company Wants More Info On Turkmen Gas Reserves
Radio Free Europe
Ashgabat, November 16: Aleksandr Ryazanov, deputy chairman of Gazprom, said on 16 November in Ashgabat that the Russian gas monopoly would like to have a clearer picture of Turkmenistan`s gas reserves, ITAR-TASS reported. `By 2008, [Gazprom`s annual] purchases of Turkmen gas will be 80 billion cubic meters, which is why it is already important to have a clear picture of raw material availability,` Ryazanov said. Gazprom is not the only party with an interest in greater clarity. Pakistani officials recently canceled a meeting of the steering committee for the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan natural-gas-pipeline project because Turkmenistan has not yet provided certified evidence of reserves at its Daulatabad gas field (see `RFE/RL Newsline,` 12 November 2004).
Politics Hamper Georgian-Russian Economic Cooperation - Georgian Minister
Interfax
Moscow, November 16: Unsettled political problems between Georgia and Russia are hampering the development of economic cooperation between the two countries, said Georgian Economics and Infrastructure Minister Kakha Bendukidze. `The main problem is to come to understand what Russia actually wants. It would be fine if Russia were to articulate its policy towards Georgia,` Bendukidze told journalists in Moscow on Tuesday.
Armenian-Iranian Pipeline Project Put Back To Year-end
Interfax
Yerevan, November 16: Construction of the Armenian stretch of the Iran - Armenia gas pipeline will not now begin until December this year, the Armenian Energy Ministry told Interfax. Work on the Armenian stretch of the pipeline was due to start late October, but was delayed because preparations were not complete. The ministry said dignitaries from Iran and Armenia would attend a ceremony to mark the beginning of the project in December close to the Armenian city of Meghri. It is expected that the first two kilometers of the Meghri - Kajaran pipeline will be built. Iran`s Sanir will lay the pipeline. An official at Gazprom said last week that the Russian gas giant was considering a role in the construction of a gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia. But the Armenian ministry said this was unlikely as the project does not promise high returns. Iran signed a deal to supply Armenia with 36 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas per year over 20 years with the possibility of extending this by five years and gas supplies to 47 bcm in May this year.
Armenian Minister Not Optimistic About Nagorno-Karabakh Dispute
Voice of America
Moscow, November 16: Armenia`s defense minister says neighboring Azerbaijan is not serious about negotiating a settlement of the dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh territory. In an interview with Reuters news agency published Tuesday, minister Serzh Sarksyan said he is not very optimistic about the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. He accused Azeri President Ilham Aliyev of trying to put pressure on Armenia through the United Nations. Mr. Sarksyan said the issue can only be solved through compromise. He said he sees no signs that point to a resumption of armed conflict between the two countries. Russia, the United States and France, among others, are trying to mediate an agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Safayev, Kozak Discuss Uzbek Parliamentary Elections
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 16: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Sadyk Safayev and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy Human Rights and Labor of the US Department of State Michael Kozak met on Tuesday, and the two discussed issues of December parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan. The upcoming parliamentary elections are expected to be one of the important political events of the country in 2004, Safayev noted during the talks. Later, Kozak held meetings with representatives of NGOs. On Wednesday, the US State Department representative is scheduled to hold meetings at the ministries of interior and justice, Prosecutor General`s Office and Central Election Commission. He will also meet leaders of five parliamentary fractions. On Thursday, Michael Kozak will visit Namangan region and on Friday Andijan region, where he will meet representatives of local administrations. On 20 November, Kozak will leave Tashkent for Frankfurt on Main.
Kazakhstan Seeking Israeli Investors
The Jerusalem Post
Astana, November 16: Kazakhstan is keen on luring additional Israeli companies to invest in the former Soviet republic and will showcase its various opportunities at an expo in the Dan Hotel, Tel Aviv on Tuesday. Held under the aegis of the Israel Institute for Export and International Cooperation, the conference, `Doing Business in Kazakhstan,` will include a delegation of 23 business and government officials, headed by Industry and Trade Minister Adilbek Dzhaksybekov. According to institute chairman Shraga Brosh, 144 Israeli firms are currently active in Kazakhstan. The Central Asian country is seeking partnerships in all field, but is most interested in advanced technology firms rather than traditional industries, he said.
Naftohaz Ukrayiny To Broaden Cooperation With Turkmenistan
Interfax
Ashgabat, November 16: Ukraine`s national oil and gas company Naftohaz Ukrayiny plans to broaden cooperation with Turkmenistan, including in oil purchases. These plans were announced by Naftohaz Ukrayiny CEO Yury Boiko during talks with Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov on Monday, the Turkmen presidential press service told Interfax. The parties discussed the current state and prospects for cooperation in the gas sector, including the strategic aspect of Turkmen-Ukrainian economic relations, with a special accent on Turkmen gas exports to Ukraine under the bilateral agreement intended for 2002- 06. Ukraine, alongside Russia and Iran, remains a major importer of Turkmen gas. Turkmenistan will export 36 billion cubic meters of gas to Ukraine at $44 per 1,000 cubic meters in 2004, as much as in 2003.
Kyrgyz President Meets With US Diplomat
Radio Free Europe
Bishkek, November 15: President Askar Akaev met with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Laura Kennedy in Bishkek on 15 November, RFE/RL`s Kyrgyz Service reported. In their talks, Akaev assured Kennedy that the 2005 presidential elections will be fair and transparent. He also noted that the U.S. air base in Manas has played a significant role in the destruction of terrorist bases in Afghanistan. Akaev also thanked the United States for its help in fighting drug trafficking, Kyrgyz radio reported. Kennedy said that Kyrgyzstan is a leader in democratic and market reforms, and thanked Kyrgyzstan for its support in the struggle against international terrorism.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary Of State Visits Uzbekistan
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 15: Michael Kozak, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor of the US Department of State, arrived in Tashkent on Monday from Frankfurt on Main. The purpose of the visit to discuss perspectives of Uzbek-US relations, familiarise with political and democratic reforms, preparation to the December parliamentary elections and other issues with officials, as well as hold meetings with representatives of NGOs, Foreign Ministry told UzReport.com. On Tuesday, Kozak is scheduled to meet Uzbekistan`s Foreign Minister Sadyk Safayev and hold talks at the National Human Rights Centre. The following day, the US State Department representative will hold meetings at the ministries of interior and justice, Prosecutor General`s Office and Central Election Commission. He will also meet leaders of five parliamentary fractions. On Thursday, Michael Kozak will visit Namangan region and on Friday Andijan region, where he will meet representatives of the local administrations. On 20 November, Kozak will leave Tashkent for Frankfurt on Main.
Russia, Turkmenistan Hold Joint Oil And Gas Conference
RIA Novosti
Ashgabat, November 15: A Russo-Turkmen conference on partnership options in the oil and gas industry was held Monday in Turkmenistan`s capital, Ashgabat. The forum brought together officials from the Russian gas giant Gazprom and from various fuel companies of Turkmenistan. Speaking at the conference, Gazprom Deputy Board Chair Alexander Ryazanov set forth tasks that his company is planning to fulfil in cooperation with Turkmenistan in the next few years. Among other things, he highlighted the need to increase natural gas imports, to upgrade and renovate the CAC (Central Asia-Center) gas pipeline on the basis of thorough feasibility studies, to inventory Turkmen gas reserves, to conduct a technological audit of Turkmenistan`s gas transportation capacities, and to step up recovery from gas-fields in the republic`s Caspian shelf. Under the 2003 agreement on natural gas supplies between Russia and Turkmenistan, Gazprom shall receive 4.25 billion cubic meters of Turkmen natural gas this year and 6 billion cubic meters next year. By 2009, the annual gas supply shall have reached 70 to 80 billion cubic meters. To make that happen, the sides plan to raise the carrying capacity of the CAC from today`s 44-45 billion cubic meters to 50 billion at an initial stage and then up to 80 billion. Also, Gazprom is now considering the possibility of building an additional pipeline via Uzbekistan. If launched, the project may be completed in 2.5 years` time.
Kyrgyz President Meets Chinese Delegation From Xinjiang
Radio Free Europe
Bishkek, November 15: President Akaev received a delegation headed by Wang Lequan, secretary of the Communist Party in China`s Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, in Bishkek on 15 November, Kyrgyz TV reported. Talks focused on efforts to increase the export of Kyrgyz goods to China, akipress.org reported. Wang also met with Kyrgyz Prime Minister Nikolai Tanaev to discuss the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway through the Torugart Pass and the reconstruction of the Osh-Sarytash-Irkeshtam road, Kyrgyz radio reported.
Day Of Latvian Republic Marked In Tashkent
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 15: Day of Latvian Republic was celebrated in the Council for friendship and cultural relations of Uzbekistan and foreign countries in Tashkent, UzA reported. In their opening speeches, deputy chairman of the council Babur Ashuraliyev and ambassador of Latvia Igors Apokins said that the strengthening relations between the two states are based on mutual trust and friendship. Agreements reached during the visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Latvia in April 2004 contributed to expansion of bilateral relations.
U.S. Assistant Secretary Of Commerce, Uzbek Officials Discuss Economic Cooperation
Interfax
Tashkent, November 15: U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce William Lash discusses with Uzbek officials in Tashkent the outlook for trade between their countries, an official in the Uzbek government`s press service told Interfax on Friday. The two sides are also expected to discuss the role that Uzbekistan can play in rebuilding Afghanistan, the official said. The United States is now one of Uzbekistan`s top 10 trading partners, Ilkhom Zakirov, head of the Uzbek Foreign Ministry`s press service has told Interfax. Trade between the two countries totaled nearly $354 million in the first three quarters of 2004, a 45 per cent year on year increase, with Uzbekistan having exported to the United States $118.2 million and importing from the U.S. $236.1 million worth of goods, he said.
State Minister Atalay Due In Turkmenistan
Agence France-Presse
Ashgabat, November 15: Turkish State Minister Besir Atalay will come to Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan on Tuesday to attend inauguration of Sultan Sanjar Shrine which was restored by Turkish International Cooperation Agency (TICA). The inauguration ceremony will take place in historical city of Mevr on Wednesday. On Thursday, Atalay will attend an international symposium on `Sultan Sanjar and His Era` to be organized in Ashkhabad in association with TIKA and Turkmen Ministry of Culture. Atalay is scheduled to hold a series of bilateral talks with Turkmen officials during his stay in Turkmenistan. He is expected to return to Turkey late on Thursday.
Iran Prepared To Host Next Caspian Summit: Safari
Tehran Times
Tehran, November 14: In light of the ongoing multilateral negotiations to demarcate maritime borders, it seems unlikely that a final agreement on the Caspian Sea legal regime will be reached soon, Iranian special representative for Caspian Sea affairs Mahdi Safari said here on Sunday. Safari, who is also the general director of the Foreign Ministry`s Department of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Affairs, told the Mehr News Agency that it was decided at the Caspian littoral states summit in Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan that Tehran would host the next Caspian summit. Safari went on to say that the Islamic Republic of Iran was prepared to host the meeting at any time, but the Caspian states have still not agreed on a specific date for the summit. The 15th session of the Special Group to Define the Convention of the Caspian Sea Legal Regime was recently held in Moscow, he added. Safari said that the special representatives and the deputy foreign ministers of the Caspian littoral states discussed a vast range of issues at the meeting. The second draft of the convention, division of seabed resources, determining fishery zones, the issue of free transit through waterways and channels, the trade and non-trade shipping regime, regulations for laying pipelines on the seabed, methods to settle disputes, the establishment of a permanent secretariat, drafting the convention, and the current military status of the Caspian Sea were also discussed during the gathering, he said.
Iranian Oil Swap With Caspian States Hit By High Price Of Light Crude
Agence France-Presse
Tashkent, November 14: A hike in light crude prices has hit an oil swap deal between Iran and three Caspian states, with the countries preferring to sell their oil directly to more profitable markets, the student news agency ISNA reported Sunday. `Because of the higher price of light crude compared to heavy crude, the Caspian coastal states have exported their light crude to Mediterranean and northwest European markets directly,` said the head of the state-owned National Iranian Oil Company`s international affairs department, Hojjatollah Ghanimifard, quoted by ISNA. He said normally the countries mixed light crude with heavy crude to make it ready for treatment in Iranian refineries in Tehran and Tabriz. `Currently the light crude price has fallen down a little in the northwest of Europe, but it is still high in the Mediterranean markets,` the official said, adding however that the future of the deal was not in doubt. Based on a three-phase project, called CROS, 120,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude is being received by Tehran and Tabriz refineries from Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. In return for receiving the oil, Iran exports the same amount to the three countries` customers via the Gulf, earning between 1.5 to two dollars per barrel for the arrangement and up to 90 million dollars a year.
Tbilisi Warns Moscow Not To Interfere In Abkhaz Affairs
Interfax
Tbilisi, November 13: The Georgian Foreign Ministry circulated a statement early on Saturday in protest of a Russian Foreign Ministry statement saying that Russia would have to apply all measures needed to protect its interests in Abkhazia in case the situation in that republic continues to worsen. The Georgian Foreign Ministry called on Moscow `to refrain from interfering with the internal affairs of an autonomous republic within another state.` The Georgian Foreign Ministry appealed to the member-countries of the Group of Friends of the UN secretary general on Georgia and the entire international community `to support Georgia`s sovereignty.` Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili told the press early on Saturday that `Russia`s steps interfering in the internal affairs of an autonomous republic within another country are a gross violation of all international standards and principles.
Kyrgyz Intelligence Agency Accused Of Kidnapping Prominent Rights Defender
Associated Press
Bishkek, November 19: Kyrgyzstan`s security agency was accused Friday of involvement in the disappearance of a prominent human rights activist who staunchly criticized the president. Human rights activists, opposition members and relatives of Kyrgyz rights defender Tursunbek Akunov alleged the nation`s security service kidnapped him and called on authorities to find him. Akunov, who heads the Human Rights Movement of Kyrgyzstan, has been missing since Tuesday after leaving home to meet security officials. His wife Gulmira Japarova said her brother accompanied him to the appointment location, but didn`t see with whom he was going to meet. Japarova said her husband frequently met with security agents on their request. `I know for sure that it was the security agency involved (in his disappearance),` Japarova told a news conference. The National Security Agency has denied involvement in Akunov`s disappearance, and said in a statement Friday that none of its officers had met with him because `the agency didn`t need to meet him.` Interior Ministry spokesman Joldoshbek Buzurmankulov said police started searching for Akunov after his wife reported he was missing. Akunov had been campaigning for the resignation of President Askar Akayev and collected 5,000 signatures on a petition for the president to leave office, said Tolekan Ismailova, head of the Civil Society Against Corruption group.
Abkhazia To Refuse Talks With Tbilisi Until UN Probe Into Boat Attack
Itar-Tass
Sukhumi, November 17: The prime minister of the self-proclaimed republic of Abkhazia, Nodar Khashba, and the UN secretary-general`s envoy for Georgia, Heidi Tagliavini, reached an accord on Thursday on inclusion of the issue of Georgia`s firing on a Turkish ship off Abkhazia`s coasts in the next report of the UN Security Council. `After the shooting by the Georgian side on a civil ship near Abkhazia`s coasts, we have refused any further talks with Georgia until an assessment of this incident is given in the next report of the UN Security Council,` Khashba told Itar-Tass after his meeting with Tagliavini. On July 29, Georgia`s warship opened fire on a Turkish fishing-boat in an area several miles from Abkhazia`s capital Sukhumi. The attack left no victims. The Abkhazian prime minister said Tagliavini `treated this problem with an understanding and recognised the need to include the issue of the fire attack on the ship in the next report of the UN Security Council`.
Inmates Cuts Veins In Kyrgyz Prison Protest
Radio Free Europe
Bishkek, November 17: A group of 18 inmates at a detention center in Osh cut their veins and declared a hunger strike on 16 November to protest conditions at the facility, RFE/RL`s Kyrgyz Service reported the next day. Human rights activist Sadyk Makhmudov told reporters on 17 November that medics provided first aid to the prisoners who maimed themselves. However, Makhmudov said that the inmates were insisting that they will continue their hunger strike until they can hold talks with regional penitentiary authorities about improving the conditions of their detention.
Govt Backs Clemency For Kazakh Prisoner
ABC Online
Astana, November 15: The Federal Government is supporting a clemency application for a former Adelaide man imprisoned in the former Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan on terrorism charges. In October 2001, Noorpolat Abdulla was jailed for 15 years by a closed court in the central Asian republic after being found guilty of preparing for a terrorist act. His relatives say the charges were based on fabricated evidence and claim he has been tortured. Federal parliamentary secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade Bruce Billson says during the last consular visit, no concerns were expressed about Mr Abdulla`s treatment. The Government is supporting the family`s plea for clemency.
8,400 Inquiries Received By IOM`s Human Traffic Project
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 14: About 8,400 telephone calls from throughout Uzbekistan, including 416 calls from Tashkent, were received in one year by the Human Traffic Prevention Project implemented by the International Organisation for Migration. The project, launched in November 2003, is implemented with financial support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Currently seven telephone hotlines are working in Uzbekistan providing free information on migration, employment and study opportunities abroad, project coordinator Nodira Karimova a press conference in Tashkent on Friday. `The hotlines inform people about what human trafficking is and ways to avoid becoming its victim. People learn about the hotlines mostly through the media,` she said. To inform the population and draw attention to the problem the project prepares social video clips, posters (some 100,000 copies are to be published by 2005) and advertisements in the media and public transport. Various prevention measures, including round tables for residents of mahallas (local communities) of Tashkent and Tashkent region, discussions for youth and seminars for school students were organised in the project framework.
Government Considers Creation Of Nuclear Technologies Works In Kurchatov
Kazinform
Astana, November 18: Today the Government has studied issues concerning creation of the nuclear technologies works in Kurchatov, informs the press service. According to the information of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the concept of the nuclear technologies works has been developed. The feasibility studies have been completed as well. The plant is being constructed as a part of the Industrial-Innovative Development Strategy and is called to promote high technological industrial production, perspective developments in the sphere of nuclear and allied industries Experts state that Kazakhstan at present has all the necessary components for successful realization of the project. In general, the participants of the session approved the concept and expressed common opinion to adjust the document in a series of aspects.
Officers Of Tajik Security Ministry Seize Over 245 Kilos Of Drugs
Itar-Tass
Dushanbe, November 18: Officers of the Tajik Security Ministry have seized more than 245 kilograms of drugs, including over 60 kilograms of heroin, during a special operation. One of the `owners` of the mortal cargo was detained, Itar-Tass learnt at the Public Relations Cenetre of the Tajik Drugs Control Agency. According to head of the Public Relations Centre Avaz Yuldashev, a cache with drugs was discovered in a truck ZIL-130, which was stopped by security services` officers for an examination at the approaches to Dushanbe. The details of the operation are not revealed in the interest of investigation secrecy.
Over 500 KG Of Drugs Withdrawn In CSTO Countries
RIA Novosti
Moscow, November 17: Over 550 kg of drugs have been seized over the two days of the Channel-2004 anti-drug operation, the PR center of the Russian Federal Drug Control Service said to RIA Novosti on Thursday. `The second stage of the Channel-2004 operative-preventive operation is underway in order to cut channels for trafficking of drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors on the territory of the Collective Security Treaty Organization member-states, RIA Novosti`s interlocutor said. According to him, on November 16-17 over 550 kg of drugs were withdrawn from illegal trafficking, 859 criminal proceedings were launched and over 2,000 crimes solved. `For instance, law enforcers searched a car and discovered 183 kg of drugs in the Karaganda region, Kazakhstan. Anti-drug policemen seized over 8.5 kg of heroin in the Samara region, Russia. In Tajikistan policemen detained two people and withdrew 10.5 kg of heroin from them,` RIA Novosti`s interlocutor noted. `Representatives of Azerbaijan, Iran and Uzbekistan`s law enforcement bodies participated in the operation as observers for the first time,` he stressed.
18-million Soums Fraud Case Revealed In Urgench
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, November 16: Khorezm regional department of internal affairs revealed a large financial fraud case, UzA reported. Law enforcement bodies returned 18 million soums into the bank account of Urgench State University of Al-Khorezmi. The money had been withdrawn from the account based on spurious payment order. The region`s criminal investigation department noticed that a large amount of money was transferred from the account of the university to that of Oybek-Bakhor private firm, and then to a third account of another private firm Aziz-dost on the following day. The operation was organised by the resident of Urgench, owner of Faravonlik Kaliti farm.
Turkmenistan: UNODC And UK Government Train Customs Officials
IRIN News
Ankara, November 14: A seminar to train Turkmen and Afghan customs officials on how to detect chemical precursors to help reduce drug trade in Central Asia is being held in the Turkmen capital, Ashgabat, thanks to a joint initiative by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the UK government. Precursors are chemicals such as kerosene which can be used to turn raw substances like opium into morphine, or morphine into heroin. `We are training customs officers on how to recognise precursors. This is very important as we are neighbouring Afghanistan,` Chary Atayev, a national project coordinator with the UNODC, told IRIN from Ashgabat. `We have to stop traffic of precursors going to Afghanistan from other countries,` he added. Atayev explained that controlling precursors used to develop illegal substances - heroin being the most common - could help reduce drug trafficking in the region. `We should be ready to prevent any [crossborder] movement and that`s why this training is so relevant,` he noted. The course will train some 50 Turkmen customs officers on the meaning of precursors and how to detect them. The two-week course will finish on Friday and Afghan border officials are also expected to participate.
Special Focus
Tajikistan President`s Remarks On Women And Mosques Draw Sharp Reactions
President Rakhmonov`s recent remarks on women and Islam are drawing sharp reactions. In an address to the nation marking the 10th anniversary of the Tajik Constitution, Rakhmonov reminded women that the Council of Ulema -- the country`s highest Muslim body -- has forbidden women from attending mosques, calling them a distraction.
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/civilsociety/articles/pp111404.shtmlRussia Warns Abkhazia Opposition Over Unrest
Russia has cautioned against unrest in Georgia`s breakaway republic of Abkhazia, saying it will take any steps it will deem necessary to defend its interests in the region. Supporters of Abkhazia`s opposition presidential contender, Sergei Bagapsh, took control of the main administrative buildings in the Abkhaz capital Sukhum November 12. Reports say one woman died of wounds received during clashes with police.
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/pp111304a.shtmlAbkhazia Crisis Adds To Russia`s Political Headaches In The Causasus
Relative calm has returned to Abkhazia following a confrontation linked to the Georgian breakaway region`s disputed `presidential` election. Even though large-scale violence has been averted for now, recent developments mark a substantial blow to Moscow`s Caucasus policy.
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav111504.shtmlSigns Show Uzbek Stability Buckling Under Economic Stress
Uzbekistan`s social order is showing signs of buckling under economic stress. Authorities in Tashkent have consistently insisted that international terrorists are responsible for the spasms of violence that have shaken the country this year. But recent rioting in the Ferghana Valley shows that discontent over the country`s sclerotic economy is prompting ordinary Uzbeks to vent their rage.
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/business/articles/eav111604.shtmlTajiks Begin Taking Control Over Guard Duties From Russians On Southern Border
Russian border guards started handing over the watch along the Tajik-Afghan border to their Tajik counterparts late last week. On the eve of the handover, Nuralisho Nazarov, the commander of the Tajik border guards, listed areas to be transferred to his force. As he did, he vowed that defense of the border would remain as strong as it has been under the some 20,000-25,000 Russian border troops who have guarded it since 1991.
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/pp111704a.shtmlTurkey Cautious On Possibile Rapprochement Opening To Armenia
An omission from Armenia`s draft 2005 budget has touched off speculation that a rapprochement with Turkey may be in the offing. The missing line item concerns Yerevan`s long-standing effort to win international recognition for what Armenian officials portray as the genocide of 1915-16. Some observers interpret the dropped genocide reference as an effort to extend an olive branch to Turkey.
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav111704.shtmlRussia Comes On Strong (Part 1)
October was a significant month for Russia in terms of its interests in Central Asia. In the years following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia was relegated to helping the region primarily on issues of security. Few considered Moscow to have the financial means to become a major investor in the region. But that has changed. Russian President Vladimir Putin`s government now appears to be using the lure of money to bring its former Soviet republics back into its fold. In a two-part series, RFE/RL looks at Russia`s recent moves in Central Asia. Visiting the Tajik capital Dushanbe last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin surprised his audience by pledging substantial financial investment in the Central Asian republic.
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http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/11/5cb963eb-9823-4a34-9198-801e1f7eacb1.htmlRussia Comes On Strong (Part 2)
Russia emerged as a major investor in Central Asia in October. Images of Russia as an economically challenged former superpower faded as President Vladimir Putin and Russian companies visited the area making new deals in the region`s energy sector. But Russian gains in Central Asia in October weren`t confined solely to investment. In this second of a two-part report, RFE/RL takes a closer look at Russia`s moves on Central Asia last month. Backed by unexpected revenues from oil and gas sales at record prices on the world market, Russia went on what one analyst termed a `shopping spree` in Central Asia.
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http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/11/ffdd150c-4daa-4577-9d8a-893ff8613e82.htmlNATO Deepens Its Partnership With Central Asia
NATO Secretary-General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, visited Central Asia October 18-21 with the express aim of further strengthening the Alliance`s partnership with the region. Accompanied by Ambassador Robert Simmons, NATO`s recently appointed Special Representative for Central Asia and the Caucasus, he discussed the War on Terror, Afghanistan and cooperation in defense reform with each of the five heads of state in Central Asia, confirming the high priority NATO attaches to deepening its partnership with these countries. His high profile tour indicates advances in building on the consensus achieved at NATO summit in Istanbul in June on moving forward, though the timescale and scope may be slower than some would like.
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http://www.cacianalyst.org/view_article.php?articleid=2836Georgia: Revolution Has Ended, Key Reforms Still Ahead
One year after the `Rose Revolution` that brought Mikheil Saakashvili and his allies to power, Georgians start to recover from the extended honeymoon with the new administration. Most of 2004 was devoted to shaping the new format and personnel of the Georgian authorities. Criticisms that surface now in Georgia mainly regard insufficient transparency of administration and continued human rights abuses. The key economic reforms, however, are still pending legislative approval this fall. Hence, the lasting impact of the `Rose Revolution` can only be gauged in late 2005.
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http://www.cacianalyst.org/view_article.php?articleid=2837
Independent Electronic Media Network In Uzbekistan Set To Challenge State TV In Election Coverage
On 11 December 2003 fifty independent TV and radio stations organized the `Association of Electronic Mass Media of Uzbekistan.` This September the Association has formed a private TV network consisting of twenty-four stations. This network has now announced that it intends to provide detailed coverage of the forthcoming (26 December) Olij Majlis elections. Further, it has declared that it will compete hard against the government TV channels in its coverage, seeking to identify and provide details on the ideologies, programs, and concrete actions of all the five competing political parties.
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http://www.cacianalyst.org/view_article.php?articleid=2838Political Parties, Regionalism And Pre Election Campaign In Kyrgyzstan
During the presentation of his new book `Thinking of the future with optimism` at the Russian Diplomatic Academy in Moscow on September 13th, Kyrgyzstan`s President Askar Akayev said the Georgian Revolution had been initiated by outsiders and constituted a challenge to all Post-Soviet States. He also said Shevardnadze`s overthrow motivated him to write the book and that he now felt energized to successfully lead the country for several years. This statement alarmed not only opposition leaders, but also moderate parties in Kyrgyzstan. Putin`s initiatives of reform in the political system after the Beslan massacre, and the parliamentary election results in Kazakhstan, to some degree shifted the election process in Kyrgyzstan.
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http://www.cacianalyst.org/view_article.php?articleid=2839Nazarbayev Seeks To Close Kazakhstani Political Sphere By Opening Economy
Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev has driven his political opponents out of parliament. Now he is trying to drive them out of business. Nazarbayev launched a campaign in early November designed to greatly curtail the influence of Kazakhstan`s oligarchs, or entrepreneurs who run many of the country`s largest conglomerates. Some of those being targeted are key financial backers of opposition political parties, including Ak Zhol and Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DCK).
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/business/articles/eav111804.shtmlGlobalisation Spurs Islamic Neo Fundamentalism: Expert
The front line in the struggle to contain Islamic radicalism is not to be found in predominantly Muslim regions, such as the Middle East or Central Asia, but in the West, contends Olivier Roy, a leading French scholar on Islam. What Roy portrayed as the `neo-fundamentalist` movement is more interested in keeping Western cultural, economic and political values at bay than it is in building new Islamic states.
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/recaps/articles/eav111804.shtmlCentral Asia: China`s Mounting Influence, Part 1 -- An Overview
Despite its geographic proximity, China for the past century played only a marginal role in Central Asia. Economically, politically and culturally, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan were firmly in Russia`s orbit. But independence in 1991 brought changes -- among them the opening of the `Bamboo Curtain` to the East. Initially, it was shuttle traders bringing consumer goods from China who began to fan out across Central Asia.
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http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/11/7f3c4d39-12c8-4507-928b-2164b8750112.htmlCentral Asia: China`s Mounting Influence, Part 2 -- The Battle For Oil
China is reaching out to Central Asia to feed its growing appetite for energy resources. Although some projects have languished for years, a new pipeline project from Kazakhstan may turn into China`s first major Central Asian energy route. Radio Free Asia reports in the second part of a series on China`s mounting influence in Central Asia.
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http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/11/c86ec286-3604-491b-a669-dba6ce77152c.htmlCentral Asia: China`s Mounting Influence, Part 3 -- Xinjiang`s Thirst Threatens Kazakh Water Resources
Since China`s annexation of the Xinjiang-Uighur autonomous region in 1950, Beijing has pursued policies that have put considerable pressure on the local environment. This western region, which borders Central Asia, is home to China`s main nuclear testing site. Pollution does not respect political boundaries, which is why the impact of the 42 reported tests at Lop Nor worries Central Asians, as does the planned construction of oil and gas pipelines linking Xinjiang to Central Asia. But the most immediate concern is water. China`s `go west` policy aimed at further developing its northwestern province requires ever-growing amounts of water. In the third part of a series on China`s mounting influence in Central Asia, RFE/RL correspondent Antoine Blua looks at the long-term implications for Kazakhstan of China`s increasing use of trans-boundary rivers.
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http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/11/78161e31-612b-4f88-8acf-b46fcfd088c2.htmlCentral Asia: China`s Mounting Influence, Part 4 -- Facing Militant Threats
China and Central Asia are facing similar threats from militant Islamic groups, but are they working together to fight them? China and four Central Asia states are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which has focused on cooperation in the name of security. Such cooperation has involved information-sharing, some joint military exercises and, as of this year, an antiterrorism center in Tashkent. But experts also say cooperation appears to be a way for China to restrict activity by Uyghur nationalists in the region. RFE/RL correspondent Kathleen Moore reports in the last of a four-part series on China`s mounting influence in Central Asia.
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http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/11/d541f15b-c660-4310-8afd-33c787f5ecae.htmlSerious Instability Possibile In Turkmenistan Without Urgent Changes: Report
Turkmenistan needs to diversify its economy and reverse the `destruction` of its education system, otherwise it faces `serious instability,` an International Crisis Group country report bluntly states. It goes on to recommend that the international community apply more consistent and focused pressure on President Saparmurat Niyazov`s regime.
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav111904.shtmlThe Complex Search For Peace In The Georgian Region Of South Ossetia
The demilitarization process in South Ossetia, one of Georgia`s renegade regions, is a mere two-weeks old, but it is already showing signs of fraying. A shooting incident on November 19 left two Georgia peacekeepers wounded. Meanwhile, Tbilisi has indicated that Georgian and South Ossetian forces would not be about to meet the established deadline for demilitarization.
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/civilsociety/articles/eav111904.shtml
Report dated 19 November 2004