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KABUL (TCA) — During his visit to Kabul, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has said that Turkey strongly supports the Afghan government’s efforts for peace in the country, and called on the Taliban to take advantage of the opportunity and engage in a comprehensive dialogue with the Afghan government, TOLOnews reported. Continue reading
BISHKEK (TCA) — On April 7, Kyrgyzstan marked the eighth anniversary of the April People's Revolution. It was the second revolution in the history of independent Kyrgyzstan, which took place in April 2010. The first one was on March 24, 2005. During the clashes between protesters and security forces on 7 April 2010, 87 people were killed and hundreds were injured. This date has been officially celebrated since 2016. Democratic changes “On April 7, 2010, a historic turn was made to the bright future from the path leading the country to a dead end. We once again demonstrated to the whole world that the people of Kyrgyzstan highly appreciates the ideals of justice, will never kneel down and will not tolerate family-clan rule,” Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov said in his address. Earlier this week, Jeenbekov invited ex-presidents Roza Otunbayeva and Almazbek Atambayev to take part in commemorative events dedicated to the April Revolution anniversary. Atambayev accepted the invitation, but did not take part in official events due to “poor health”, said the secretariat of the ruling Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK) headed by Atambayev. Otunbayeva attended the ceremony. Another opinion Those who came to power on the wake of the April 7 events call them historically important, but there are people who hold a different opinion. It is not yet clear what exactly that day brought in terms of history and politics, they say. According to former Parliament Deputy Speaker, Asiya Sasykbaeva, supporters of the Ata Meken opposition party do not consider this date a holiday. It should not be celebrated because young guys were killed, but there are no results of the goals and tasks set, she told the 24.kg news agency. The situation of human rights and freedom of speech has worsened in the country. The judicial system has not been reformed, and the authorities have not been able to depoliticize the law enforcement system, Sasykbaeva said. Changes in Government On April 7, President Jeenbekov accepted the resignation of Abdil Segizbayev from the post of Chairman of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS). On the same day, Segizbayev’s Deputy, Bolot Suyumbayev, was also dismissed. Suyumbayev is known as former bodyguard of ex-President Atambayev. About Segizbayev Segizbayev, a close ally of ex-President Atambayev, was appointed SCNS Chairman in November 2015. In October 2017, he was awarded the Major-General rank. He graduated from the Agricultural Institute as an agronomist. He began his career at the Soros Foundation-Kyrgyzstan as a coordinator of the programs "Support to Mass Media" and "Support for Democracy". Segizbayev was President Askar Akayev’s spokesman. After the revolution in March 2005 and Akayev’s ouster, Segizbayev left politics and worked in public organizations and international programs, where he headed PR and HR departments. In 2011, after Atambayev was elected President of Kyrgyzstan, Segizbayev was appointed his adviser. A year later he headed the department of information policy at the Presidential Office. In 2014, Segizbayev was appointed the first Deputy Chairman and a year later — the Chairman...
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 The Kremlin strategy in Baikonur: putting Kazakhstan’s space program in a box? Although Kazakhstan has big inspirations to develop its own aerospace industry, such plans are heavily dependent on Russia, which leases the country’s Baikonur cosmodrome until 2050 Apr 2 — “Russia has pledged to transfer 44.8 square miles of Baikonur Cosmodrome territory and two Zenit-M rocket launch platforms to Kazakhstan by the end of May 2018 (Iz.ru, March 1). This became possible thanks to the recent amendments to the lease agreement between the two countries, which was concluded this March, following years of negotiations. Several important conclusions can be drawn from this development.” READ MORE: https://timesca.com/index.php/news/19561-the-kremlin-strategy-in-baikonur-putting-kazakhstan-s-space-program-in-a-box Kazakhstan Is on the Brink of Banning Bitcoin, National Bank Chairman Claims Authorities in Kazakhstan mull complete ban of cryptocurrencies in the country, as the digital currency market bears significant risks for ordinary citizens Apr 2 — “In the world of cryptocurrency, regulation will always remain a contentious topic. To a lot of people, regulating this industry serves no purpose other than to prevent innovation from happening. Others see it as a way to pave a more legitimate ecosystem. In Kazakhstan, it appears the country’s national bank wants to ensure that all cryptocurrency activity is forbidden in the future.” READ MORE: https://themerkle.com/kazakhstan-is-on-the-brink-of-banning-bitcoin-national-bank-chairman-claims/ Kazakhstan threatens to block Telegram Kazakhstan’s authorities also demand that companies like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and VKontakte also delete government foe Mukhtar Ablyazov’s content Apr 4 — “Kazakhstan has warned it will block the popular Telegram messaging app unless the company agrees to delete content from a banned political party. Information and Communications Minister Dauren Abayev wrote in a blog post on April 3 that his office has submitted its request to the company directly, asking for the removal of materials produced by the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan, or DVK.” READ MORE: https://eurasianet.org/s/kazakhstan-threatens-to-block-telegram Kazakhstan: Criminal Probe of Media Outlets Human Rights Watch says Kazakhstan should abolish criminal defamation, and stop using...
DUSHANBE (TCA) — Project results have been finalised containing detailed plans for the sustainable remediation of the uranium mining and processing legacy sites at Degmay and Istiklol in Tajikistan. It is now clear what type of work needs to be done to effectively improve the situation for the local population and to stop spreading the contamination, the Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan has said. Continue reading
ASTANA (TCA) — Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the Kazakh government to decriminalize defamation and to stop using libel laws "to harass journalists who are doing their jobs," RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reported. Continue reading
KABUL (TCA) — Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi visited the Afghan capital, Kabul, on April 6 for a day-long trip aimed at easing tensions between the neighboring countries, RFE/RL reported. Continue reading
