Eurasia News Digest(1-15 September, 2024)

Russia & Central Asia

Kazakh President Announces Date for Controversial Nuclear Plant Project

Kazakhstan will hold a referendum on October 6 on whether to build a nuclear power plant, President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev announced on September 2. Toqaev has argued the project is needed to diversify energy sources in Kazakhstan, which has abundant oil and natural gas reserves. It is also the world’s leading producer of uranium, used to fuel nuclear power plants. Kazakh Energy Minister Almasadam Satqaliev has said the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan is the only way to meet a rising domestic power demand and carbon-neutrality goals. Currently, Kazakhstan gets about 80 percent of its energy from coal-fired plants and another 15 percent is generated by hydropower, while the rest comes from renewable energy resources. A single Russian nuclear power reactor operated from 1972 to 1999, generating electricity and desalinating water. Click here to read... [2]

Russia cuts financial support to Abkhazia in ‘serious blow’ to relations

Abkhazia’s Foreign Minister has confirmed that Russia has cut financial support to Abkhazia for failing to enact pro-Russian reforms. Sergei Shamba told reporters that Russia had suspended the Socio-Economic Development Programme for Abkhazia. Russian financial aid makes up a large proportion of Abkhazia’s government budget. The move comes amidst a growing rift between Abkhazia and Russia, with widespread public backlash over a number of measures pushed by the government with Moscow’s support. Click here to read... [3]

Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan partner on $150mn joint ferry production to boost transport ties

Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are set to collaborate on a $150mn joint ferry production initiative aimed at addressing Uzbekistan's transport needs, according to Trend. The venture will focus on producing ferries specifically for Uzbekistan, reflecting a growing commitment to enhancing bilateral transport and transit cooperation. Discussions are also underway to explore additional collaborative measures, such as joint warehouse infrastructure development and the formation of a joint venture to improve transportation along the Trans-Caspian route. In prior discussions, the presidents of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan explored the creation of a joint logistics company within the Trans-Caspian Corridor and the construction of warehouses and logistics centers in Baku and other strategic ports. Click here to read... [4]

Kyrgyzstan boosts gasoline exports to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan

Kyrgyzstan has significantly increased its gasoline exports to Afghanistan and Uzbekistan in the first half of 2024, Trend reports, citing the analytical company Argus. The agency highlights that this increase in exports is attributed to the rise in fuel production at local mini-refineries. Kyrgyzstan exported 5,800 tons of gasoline from January through June, more than double the 2,600 tons exported during the same period last year. The bulk of this gasoline, specifically AI-80 and AI-92 grades, was shipped to Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. Exports to Afghanistan surged to 3,700 tons from 500 tons, with retail network operators in northern and central Afghanistan being the primary buyers, as reported by traders. Click here to read... [5]

Russia gears up for second summit with Central Asia as global influence competition intensifies

Russia is preparing to host a second summit with the five Central Asian countries—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—in the near future. This announcement was made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a recent address to students and faculty at MGIMO of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Lavrov highlighted the importance of the "Central Asia plus Russia" format, which was established a few years ago. The first summit and several ministerial meetings have already taken place, and the preparation for the next summit is underway. The minister also discussed the ongoing competition for influence in Central Asia among global powers. Click here to read... [6]

German Chancellor to pay visit to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will hit the road and pay a visit to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan on September 15-17, making it his inaugural journey to Central Asia, Trend reports via the German government's office. Scholz is set to have a heart-to-heart with the leaders of both Central Asian nations, with the aim of taking their cooperation to the next level. Bilateral and foreign policy issues will also be put on the table. On September 17, Scholz will also attend the second "Central Asia-Germany" (5+1) summit in Kazakhstan. The first summit, held in Berlin last year, was a game-changer that paved the way for the signing of a strategic regional partnership program, and this trip aims to take things to the next level and build on the solid foundation that was laid. Click here to read... [7]

Kyrgyzstan Takes Taliban Off Its Terrorist List

Kyrgyzstan's foreign minister said on September 6 that the country had taken the Taliban off of its terrorist list "to secure regional stability and further develop the ongoing dialogue." A day earlier, the Taliban-led Afghan government's Foreign Ministry expressed thanks to Bishkek for removing the group from its terrorist list. The Kyrgyz Prosecutor-General's Office earlier this week issued a list of 20 groups labeled as terrorist organizations. It did not include the Taliban. In early June, Kazakhstan said it removed the Taliban from its terrorist list. The Taliban regained control over Afghanistan in August 2021 after the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country. Click here to read... [8]

Iran and the South Caucasus

Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary launch Green Energy Corridor JV

Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary have established a joint venture on the Green Energy Corridor, Azerbaijan’s energy minister Parviz Shahbazov wrote on X, Trend reports. “The Bucharest Meeting of the Ministers/Steering Committee on the establishment of the Green Energy Corridor between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary ended with important results on the implementation of the Quadrilateral Agreement and the transformation of Azerbaijan into a European Green Energy supplier. With the signing of the Shareholders' Agreement, we achieved the establishment of a Joint Venture in Bucharest. We agreed that the leadership of JV-Green Energy Corridor energy company, as the body responsible for the implementation of the Feasibility Study, should be based on rotation, and also agree to draft an Action Plan, to speed up the processes up to the next meeting,” the minister said. Click here to read... [9]

Armenia and Azerbaijan tout possible peace deal

A long-awaited agreement that could bring peace to the South Caucasus after decades of conflict is close to being completed, Armenia and Azerbaijan have confirmed. In a press conference, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that his government has made a formal offer to Azerbaijan to sign a peace treaty, after judging that sufficient progress has been made on key issues in bilateral talks in recent months. “We have 17 articles in the latest draft of the peace treaty. Thirteen of them, including the preamble, are fully agreed on,” Pashinyan said. “We offer the following — to take all agreed-upon articles and wordings and sign it as a peace treaty.” Click here to read... [10]

USAID doubles aid package to Armenia to $250 million

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has more than doubled its five-year aid package to Armenia, from $120 million to $250 million. The Armenian government approved the amendment of the development cooperation grant agreement. The move comes as Armenia seeks closer ties with the West as its relations with Russia continue to plummet. According to the agreement, the additional money will go to improving governance, civil participation in democracy, and improving the sustainable management of natural resources. Click here to read... [11]

Armenia to participate in BRICS and CIS summits

Armenia has confirmed that it will participate in a BRICS summit this October and an informal Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in Moscow next year, despite deteriorating ties with Russia. Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakyan Safaryan confirmed that Armenia would be participating in the summits. The Russia-led CIS summit will take place in Moscow next year, ahead of Russia’s World War II victory commemorations. While Armenia is not a member of BRICS, Armenia has been invited to its summit in Kazan in October as a member of the CIS. Russia is a major player in the intergovernmental bloc, which includes Brazil, India, China, and South Africa. Click here to read... [12]