Weekly Digest of Central Asia
BISHKEK (TCA) — The Publisher’s note: Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Central Asia was the scene of intense geopolitical struggle and the Great Game between the British and Russian Empires, and later between the Soviet Union and the West, over Afghanistan and neighboring territories. Into the 21st century, Central Asia has become the area of a renewed geopolitical interest, dubbed the New Great Game, largely based on the region’s hydrocarbon and mineral wealth. On top of that, the region now is perhaps the most important node in the implementation of China’s One Belt, One Road initiative through which Beijing aims to get direct access to Western markets. Every week thousands of news appears in the world’s printed and online media and many of them may escape the attention of busy readers. At The Times of Central Asia, we strongly believe that more information can better contribute to peaceful development and better knowledge of this unique region. So we are presenting this Weekly Digest which compiles what other media have reported on Central Asia over the past week. KAZAKHSTAN Kazakhstan and its pungent oil: A curse and a blessing During more than two decades since independence, Kazakhstan and its economy remain largely dependent on crude oil production and the changing world prices of the “black gold” Feb 6 — “It was a hot July morning in 2000 when a helicopter carrying Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev landed on a drilling barge on the Caspian Sea. An anxious-looking Nazarbayev emerged from the aircraft flanked by his customary coterie of flunkeys and security detail. The occasion would mark what seemed at the time like the finest birthday present he would ever receive. Nazarbayev was to turn 60 two days later, on July 6.” READ MORE: https://www.timesca2stg.wpenginepowered.com/index.php/news/26-opinion-head/20807-kazakhstan-and-its-pungent-oil-a-curse-and-a-blessing Kazakhstan Looks to Russian Rivers as Outlets to Global Markets Several of the navigable tributaries to Russia’s Siberian Ob-Irtysh basin rise or pass through Kazakhstan Feb 7 — “Last week (February 2), the influential Russian news and commentary portal IA Rex featured a story headlined, “Kazakhstan Is Seriously Discussing Becoming a Sea Power.” To most readers, the article must have seemed extremely improbable or even to be “fake news” given that Kazakhstan is a landlocked country, hundreds if not thousands of kilometers away from the nearest ocean.” READ MORE: https://jamestown.org/program/kazakhstan-looks-to-russian-rivers-as-outlets-to-global-markets/ Kazakhstan bites bullet and completes $3.4bn bailout of second largest lender Kazakhstan's banking sector was almost destroyed by the 2008 financial crisis and the later shock from the 2014 collapse of world oil prices Feb 7 — “Kazakhstan has finalised a $3.4bn bailout of its second largest lender Tsesnabank. The move involved state-run brokerage First Heartland Securities taking over the lender for an undisclosed amount, the Kazakh central bank said on February 5.” READ MORE: http://www.intellinews.com/kazakhstan-bites-bullet-and-completes-3-4bn-bailout-of-second-largest-lender-156012/ Year of The Youth 2019 Stirs Up Kazakhs The Year of the Youth in Kazakhstan aims at meeting young people’s needs, and recognizes their positive contributions as agents of change Feb 8 — “"Today, there are about 300 million young people...
