Eurasia News Digest, September 1-15, 2023

Russia and Central Asia

Presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Russia give start to construction of three schools

Today we give a start to the construction of three out of nine schools in Bishkek, Batken and Karakol, » the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov said at a ceremony of starting the construction of Russian-language general education institutions in the republic. All schools in Kyrgyzstan and Russia have opened their doors today and are accepting students, he said. More than 150,000 children went to educational institutions for the first time in Kyrgyzstan.Click here to read… [2]

Kazakhstan to Strengthen Position as Key Transit Hub in Eurasia

During his state-of-the-nation address on Sept. 1, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said Kazakhstan should bolster its role as a vital transit hub in Eurasia and aim to become a full-fledged transport and logistics power, according to the Akorda press service. Given Kazakhstan’s strategic location, connecting the global North and South as well as West and East, Tokayev emphasized that the transport and logistics industry should serve as one of the pillars of economic development. However, he noted that key challenges in the industry need to be resolved first.Click here to read… [3]

Pope Francis makes historic trip to Mongolia

86-year-old Pope Francis became the first pope in history to set foot on Mongolian soil on Friday (local time), Reuters and other media reported. This is the first visit by a pope in the 2,000-year history of Christianity to Mongolia, a predominantly Buddhist country where Catholics make up only about 1% (about 1,450 people) of the population.Click here to read… [4]

Kazakhstan to hold nationwide referendum on nuclear power plant construction – President

In a joint session of the Kazakh Parliament chambers, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke about nuclear energy development in the country, Kazinform reports. «Nuclear energy development has turned into the economic and political issue of particular importance. On the one hand, being the world’s largest uranium producer, Kazakhstan needs to develop its own nuclear generation. Some experts stand for building NPP with small reactors. On the other hand, some people and experts express concerns over safety of NPPs, » the President noted.Click here to read… [5]

Emomali Rahmon signed a decree on autumn conscription into the army

President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon signed a decree on the autumn conscription, which will begin on October 1 and last until November 30, the press service of the head of the Republic of Tajikistan reports. According to the decree, young people born in 1996-2005 will be called up for military service in the autumn campaign. And the servicemen who have served the established term of military service will be dismissed from the Armed Forces in October-November 2023.Click here to read… [6]

Kazakhstan’s New Economic Model to be Citizen-Centered, Says Tokayev

Kazakhstan’s new economic development model will focus on the interests and needs of its citizens, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in his Sept. 1 address to the nation, according to the Akorda press service.“Every year, more than 400,000 children are born in Kazakhstan. By year’s end, the population will reach 20 million. Based on 2022 statistics, average life expectancy has surpassed 74 years, with the median age at 32. Roughly a third of the population is young. The government’s task is to convert these demographic trends into competitive advantages,” said Tokayev.Click here to read… [7]

Kaztransoil Increases Volume of Oil Sent To Baku Port by Over Tenfold

Kazakhstan's Kaz Trans Oil increased the volume of Kazakh oil exports to the port of Baku by 12 times from January through August of 2023, a source at the company told Trend. Thus, the volume of transportation of Kazakh oil from the port of Aktau for export from January through August of this year amounted to 2.164 million tons, which is 759,000 tons, or 54 percent more compared to the same period last year. Oil exported from the port of Aktau was produced from the Tengiz field (520,000 tons), from the Dunga field (252,000 tons), from the fields of the Buzachi Peninsula (1.385 million tons) and from the Kashagan field (7,000 tons).Click here to read… [8]

U.S. Senators Introduce Bill to Rescind Trade Restrictions on Central Asia

A bipartisan bill has been introduced to the U.S. Congress aimed at ending Cold War-era trade restrictions for Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan and grant those countries permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status. Senators Chris Murphy and Todd Young put the bill forward on September 7 saying the Jackson-Vanik amendment, approved in 1974, "is an outdated trade policy that is holding back our partnerships with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan."Click here to read… [9]

Meeting of Central Asia heads: Sadyr Japarov tells about water resources issues

President Sadyr Japarov made a speech at the V Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia in Dushanbe (Tajikistan). Presidential press service reports. Sadyr Japarov noted that the consultative meetings create favorable conditions for maintaining regular dialogue at the highest level, and also significantly strengthen mutual trust between the states.The President proposed reforming water management organizations so that they correspond to today’s realities. He also proposed resuming cooperation within the framework of the 1998 agreement on the use of water and energy resources of Naryn — Syr Darya rivers between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.Click here to read… [10]

Central Asian countries may boost trade up to $15 billion - President Tokayev

The trade within Central Asia has grown by 80% for 5 years and this is not limit, since the Central Asian countries have a good potential for development of trade, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during the Central Asian Summit in Dushanbe on September 14. The Central Asian region is developing actively. New opportunities open up in trade, investments, business, science and innovations, he said.Click here to read… [11]

Uzbekistan speaks for more active elimination of trade barriers

Central Asia need to build free trade zone without restrictions, President of Uzbekistan ShavkatMirziyoyev said at the Central Asian Summit in Dushanbe on September 14. The President of Uzbekistan suggested adoption of the comprehensive regional program for creation of sustainable trade and logistical chains in the region. President Mirziyoyev proposed joint production of mineral fertilizers, polymers, finished metal products, finished food products as part of industrial cooperation.Click here to read… [12]

South Caucasus and Iran

Azerbaijan, China ink agreement on investment cooperation

A framework agreement on strengthening production capacity and investment cooperation between Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Economy and China’s National Development and Reform Commission was signed. The document was signed by Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov and Chairman of the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission Zheng Shanjie, News. Az reports. Minister Jabbarov noted that the document will contribute to enhancing bilateral economic ties and bolstering cooperation in the field of investments.Click here to read… [13]

Nagorno-Karabakh's leader resigns

Arayik Harutyunyan has resigned as de facto president of the Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, effective on September 1. He made the announcement on Facebook on August 31, posting: "I made this final decision two days ago, taking into account my contacts in the past weeks with all domestic and foreign actors and the public." There had been speculation for weeks about his possible resignation and he openly mused about it amid demonstrations this week in the region's de facto capital, Stepanakert.Click here to read… [14]

Turkish, Iranian FMs hold talks in Tehran

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with his Iranian counterpart, Hussein Emir Abdullahiyan, in Tehran on Sept. 3 to discuss a range of bilateral and international issues. Fidan's visit to Iran marked his first official trip to the country since assuming the position of top diplomat. The ministers engaged in bilateral discussions and led inter-delegation meetings, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and strengthening relations between Türkiye and Iran.Click here to read… [15]

South Africa says inquiry found no evidence of arms shipment to Russia

An independent inquiry has found no evidence that South Africa supplied weapons to Russia, President Cyril Ramaphosa has said. The panel rejected claims made by the US ambassador to South Africa that a Russian ship was loaded with ammunition and arms in Cape Town last December. The allegations had raised questions over the country's professed neutrality in the war with Ukraine. Mr Ramaphosa said it had damaged the nation's currency and reputation.Click here to read… [16]

Erdogan plans to discuss grain deal under new UN terms with Putin — source

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to discuss with Russian leader Vladimir Putin the viability of the grain deal under new UN terms, a policy source in Ankara told TASS. "Definitely, the coming talks in Sochi will mostly focus on the viability of the previous grain deal. The two leaders will thoroughly consider new proposals that have been drafted by the United Nations with Turkey’s participation," the source said.Click here to read… [17]

Iran Opposes Foreign Presence in Caucasus

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stressed the need to stand against the presence of foreign parties in the Caucasus, calling for cooperation and negotiation to settle the differences among counties. In a meeting with Turkey's Foreign Minister HakanFidan in Tehran on Sunday, President Raisi said respect for the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries is the most effective way to counter terrorism. "The effective exercise of national sovereignty of any government over all its territories is the best way to prevent terrorist and anti-security activities," he said.Click here to read… [18]

EU says it does not recognize so-called elections held in territories of Karabakh region

The EU on Saturday said that it does not recognize the so-called elections held in territories of Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region. "In view of the so-called 'presidential elections' in Khankendi/Stepanakert on 9 September 2023, the European Union reiterates that it does not recognise the constitutional and legal framework within which they have been held," Nabila Massrali, the spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy, said in a statement.
Click here to read… [19]

Georgia claims to meet EU's 12 criteria, hopes to gain candidate status by end of this year

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibachvili discussed the country's bid to gain EU candidate status with the bloc's foreign policy chief during a meeting on Friday, stressing that most of the 12 criteria have been met and implemented. Georgia's EU integration process is ongoing, but reminded that the EU did not grant Georgia candidate country status last year, Garibashvili said at a joint press conference in Tbilisi with Josep Borrell, the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.Click here to read… [20]

Ankara slams elections held in Karabakh by Armenia

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has slammed the elections held in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan under the control of illegal Armenian forces as a worrying development that can undermine the ongoing peace talks between Baku and Yerevan. “The elections held in the territories of Karabakh region of Azerbaijan under the control of illegal Armenian forces is a new manifestation of efforts to unilaterally legitimize the current situation in the region, which is contrary to international law,” read a statement issued by the ministry over the weekend.Click here to read… [21]

What does the surprise visit of the president of Azerbaijan to Tajikistan mean?

Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, unexpectedly came to Dushanbe on September 14 and spoke with President Emomali Rahmon. This visit coincided with the time when the leaders of five Central Asian countries gathered in the capital of Tajikistan. Their fifth consultation session will take place on September 14-15 in Dushanbe and was announced a few months ago. The website of the President of Tajikistan Ilham Aliyev was named "guest of honor" at the meeting of the heads of states of Central Asia.Click here to read… [22]

Rahmon to participate in C5+1 summit in New York next week

A source within the Tajik president’s press service noted that the event would take place on the sidelines of the high-level political forum on sustainable development that will take place at UN Headquarters in New York from September 18-19. According to him, the US President Joe Biden has invited Emomali Rahmon to take part in the C5+1 summit.Click here to read… [23]