Johanna Popjanevski - The Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst

More documents

Recommendations

Info

24Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, 12 December2007Turkmenistan formally opened constructionSaturday on a north-south railroad from the borderwith Kazakhstan to Iran, a project seen as aneconomic boon for the oil- and gas-rich Caspian Searegion. President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedovceremonially began the construction by laying asection of gilded rail in the northwestern city ofBereket. The 700-kilometer (420-mile) line willimprove Turkmenistan's connections with Russiavia Kazakhstan and to the Persian Gulf coast viaIran. Turkmenistan is the second-biggest naturalgas producer in the former Soviet Union, afterRussia. Turkmenistan's immense natural gasresources and Kazakhstan's booming oil industryplay an increasingly important role in regionalgeopolitics. The United States has long opposedplans to export Central Asian hydrocarbons via Iranand supported new export routes bypassing theexisting ones through Russia. (AP)GEORGIAN ACTING PRESIDENT WILL NOTCONGRATULATE UNITED RUSSIA3 DecemberGeorgian Acting President Nino Burjanadze hassaid she will not congratulate United Russia'sadministration on their victory in the State Dumaelections because of the Sunday statement by partyleader Boris Gryzlov. He said that the newparliament might consider the independence ofAbkhazia and South Ossetia. "I think I am not theonly one indignant at another hint by the Russianauthorities at the possible recognition ofindependent an Abkhazia and South Ossetia andtheir possible affiliation to Russia this January," shetold a Monday press briefing in Tbilisi. Theinternational community should react to Gryzlov'spronouncements appropriately, Burjanadze said."Russian citizens who live in Abkhazia and SouthOssetia were naturalized in an evasion of bilateralagreements, Georgian laws and internationalnorms," she said. (Interfax)BAKU IS CHOSEN ISLAMIC CULTURECAPITAL FOR 20093 DecemberBaku has been chosen the capital of Islamic culturefor 2009, the agency reports referring to the pressservice of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism ofAzerbaijan. The decision was accepted at the 5thconference of ministers of culture taken place inTripoli of the countries members of theOrganization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Theparties accepted the proposal of Azerbaijan to carryout the 6th conference of ministers of culture ofOIC countries in Baku in 2009. The participants ofthe conference approved the strategy of culturalsolidarity on missions of development andcivilization of Moslems, the plan of activity onupdating cultural policy in the OIC countries, itsconformity with the international changes and thestrategy of development of informationcommunicationtechnologies in the Islamiccountries. The Azerbaijan delegation presented atthe conference the National report on application inAzerbaijan the strategy of culture for the Islamicworld prepared by the Ministry of Culture andTourism of Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijan delegationat this meeting was headed by the Minister ofCulture and Tourism Abulfas Karayev.(Kazakhstan Today)TURKMENISTAN TO BUILD CASPIANTOURIST RESORT3 DecemberTurkmenistan's leader inaugurated the constructionof a $5 billion (2.4 billion pound) tourism complexon the Caspian coast on Monday, his latest gestureto open up the reclusive nation to the world. Lockedaway during Soviet times and later under the 21-yearrule of Saparmurat Niyazov, Turkmenistan hasbeen slowly opening its doors since KurbangulyBerdymukhamedov came to power a year ago.Unlike Niyazov, who banned ballet and operaduring his rule, Berdymukhamedov has sought toattract foreign investment and turn his desert nationinto a tourist destination. On Monday, he officiallyopened construction of a complex onTurkmenistan's Caspian Sea coast, where he plansto build dozens of new hotels, fountains, roads andparks. "Any government that has such a coast wouldsee it as a huge blessing," he said after a ceremony."Turkmenistan is actively integrating into theglobal community while following its own model ofdevelopment." State media have touted the area as atourist hotspot but critics believe its long, coldwinters and remote location dent its allure as atourist destination. The Turkmen leader said thegovernment would earmark $1 billion for the project,not far from the Iranian border, while foreigncompanies including Russia's Itera and France'sBouygues have pledged to put in a further $4 billion.He vowed to introduce tax breaks for constructioncompanies and easier visa procedures for tourists --a step forward for a country which was first in theex-Soviet block to introduce a visa regime for otherformer members. Separately over the weekend,
Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, 12 December 2007 25Berdymukhamedov opened a project to build a 560mile railway that would eventually link Iran andRussia through Central Asia. "Turkmenistan isturning into an important transport centre for thecontinent which will economically benefit thenation," the state Turkmen news agency reported.(Reuters)GEORGIA NOT TO INVITE RUSSIANELECTION OBSERVERS4 DecemberGeorgia will not invite Russian observers tomonitor the January 5 early presidential elections,Nino Burjanadze, the acting president, said in aninterview with the Russian newspaper, VremyaNovostei, published on December 4. “Russia also isnot inviting us to monitor elections [in Russia],”she said. “At the same time, I think that noteveryone who would have come to Georgia wouldbe objective. There are more and more signs thatRussia is not interested in Georgia’s stability andwelfare.” She also said that invitation to monitorGeorgia’s elections were not sent to theCommonwealth of Independent States (CIS),although Tbilisi, she said, had invited some of CISmember states, which have “friendly” relations withGeorgia.The Georgian authorities have already called onOSCE and other international organizations to send“as many observers as possible” to observe theJanuary 5 polls. (Civil Georgia)AFGHANISTAN ASKS U.S. FOR MOREWEAPONS, TRAINERS4 DecemberThe Afghanistan military needs more trainers andequipment in order to gain control of their country'ssecurity, the Afghan defense chief told Secretary ofDefense Robert Gates on Tuesday. Gen. BismillahKhan said that while "the U.S. has been more thangenerous," the Afghan army's weapons areinadequate and old, specifically its heavy artilleryand armored vehicles. Speaking through aninterpreter while sitting at a small table with Gates,Khan added that "we don't have enough mentors,enough advisers." Gates told Khan that "we knowyour interest in small arms and mortars and we arelooking for ways to expedite" the equipment. Andhe added that he also was well aware of the shortageof trainers — a shortfall U.S. military officials saidwas as many as 2,000-3,000. According to Maj. Gen.Richard Cone, the U.S. is about to begin providingM-16 rifles to the Afghans, and is poised to deliverabout 10,000 a month, up to 60,000. And he saidthere is an ongoing effort to obtain helicopters forthe Afghanistan forces, including plans for anadditional 34 in the near future. Cone said thehelicopters will be key to relieving some stress onU.S. and NATO forces, which currently have toshuttle Afghan troops around the country. (AP)EXXON REFUSED TO TRANSFER ITSKASHAGAN SHARE TO KAZMUNAYGAS5 DecemberExxon Company refused to transfer its share inKashagan project to KazMunayGas. The Ministerof Energy and Mineral Resources Sauat Mynbayevinformed on Tuesday. Earlier KazMunayGasinformed on signing new memorandum of mutualunderstanding with Kashagan consortium thatincludes solution of the issue of delay in realizationof the project and increase in expenses. "Accordingto the new memorandum all members ofconsortium, except for one, reached consent ontransfer the part of shares to the project at the rateof necessary for increase of KazMunayGasCompany share up to the level of largeparticipants," KazMunayGas press service informs.According to the document of December, 20, 2007the parties should finish negotiations on transfer ofshares and increase of KazMunayGas role inoperational activity. New memorandum of mutualunderstanding has been signed following the resultsof intensive negotiations at the level of CEO's ofthe companies." (Kazakhstan Today)PRESIDENT GUL TO TRAVEL TOTURKMENISTAN5 DecemberTurkish President Abdullah Gul will depart forTurkmenistan on Wednesday on a formal visitupon an invitation by President GurbangulyBerdimuhamedov. Gul and Berdimuhamedov willhave a tete-a-tete meeting on Thursday. During hisstay in Turkmenistan, Gul will also visitmausoleum of Saparmurad Turkmenbasi, formerpresident of Turkmenistan, who passed away lastyear. After attending a business forum between thetwo countries, Gul will return to Turkey on Friday.(Turkishpress)TURKEY PROPOSES GAS PIPELINE FROMTURKMENISTAN6 DecemberTurkey has offered to revive the idea of building apipeline to deliver gas from Turkmenistan via Iran,
Page 1: Central Asia-CaucasusAnalystBI-WEEK
Page 4 and 5: THE CENTRAL ASIA-CAUCASUS ANALYSTEd
Page 6 and 7: 4Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, 12
Page 30: 28Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, 12

Johanna Popjanevski - The Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?