25 Jun 2024

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Alleged Arson: Greek Authorities Detain Crew of Pleasure Boat Carrying Kazakh Tourists

The Greek authorities are investigating a forest fire on Hydra Island that was allegedly caused by fireworks that were launched from a luxury boat carrying tourists from Kazakhstan.

The captain and 12 crewmembers of the vessel Persephone face arson charges in connection with the fire that broke out on Friday night, Greek media has reported. Citing Greek police, Kazakhstan’s foreign ministry said no Kazakh citizens have been detained “and no claims were made against them either,” according to the official Kazinform News Agency.

The Persephone headed in bad weather to a marina after the fire broke out Friday and the 17 Kazakh passengers left Greece from the international airport in Athens on Saturday morning, reported Proto Thema, a Greek newspaper.

“The fire of Hydra endangered the island, burned 300 acres and our firefighters made superhuman efforts to contain it. The case is before the Piraeus Public Prosecutor’s Office and it remains to be proven what exactly happened,” said Vassilis Kikilias, Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection in Greece.

The fire occurred in a pine forest in a remote area of Hydra, a popular tourist island. Residents expressed anger about the incident, which is among a number of wildfires that Greece has been battling amid high temperatures.

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Times of Central Asia

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24 Jun 2024
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Central Asian Leaders Offer Support, Condolences to Putin After Dagestan Attack

Several leaders in Central Asia have spoken by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and expressed their condolences after attacks by alleged Islamic militants in the Russian area of Dagestan killed about 20 people. 

The quick expressions of support on Monday reflect longstanding security ties between Russia and Central Asian countries, as well as growing concerns about extremist attacks in the region, particularly following the March 22 assault on the Crocus City concert hall in the Moscow area that killed more than 140 people. The violence in Russia on Sunday happened in two cities in a mostly Muslim region of the North Caucasus and targeted police and places of worship. 

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said in his conversation with Putin that Uzbekistan was ready “to continue active cooperation between the relevant structures in the fight against common threats in the field of security,” according to a statement by Mirziyoyev. The two leaders also discussed implementation of agreements reached during a visit by Putin to Uzbekistan on May 26-28. 

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made similar remarks in a call with Putin, saying Kazakhstan “condemns any assassination and evil attempt on the lives of civilians and regards it as a great threat to international and regional security,” Tokayev’s office reported. It said the two presidents talked about strengthening their “strategic partnership” and discussed the agenda of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, to be held in the Kazakh capital of Astana on July 3-4. 

Tajikistan’s leader Emomali Rahmon sent a message expressing “a feeling of deep sadness” and pledges of collaboration on security issues to Putin, saying his country had been fighting terrorism for decades.

“Tajikistan, which has been fighting against all forms of terrorism for more than 30 years, strongly condemns this inhuman act of violence in Dagestan and advocates active cooperation in the fight against terrorism,” Rahmon said. 

Kyrgyzstan’s leader, Sadyr Japarov, who left Bishkek on Monday on an official trip to Belgium, also expressed solidarity with Russia. 

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the March 22 attack in suburban Moscow and several Tajik suspects were arrested, leading to some harassment and increased scrutiny of many Central Asian migrants who travel to Russia in hopes of finding work. The situation fueled diplomatic tension between Russia and some Central Asian countries, though their leaders have worked to stabilize relations. 

Putin blamed battlefield adversary Ukraine for the March 22 attack, but he didn’t offer evidence and Kyiv denied the allegation.

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24 Jun 2024

@Gazeta.uz

Central Asia, Tajikistan International Affairs, Tajikistan Business Economy, Tajikistan, Business & Economy

Tajikistan to Export 70% of Rogun Electricity to Central Asia

About 70% of the electricity generated after the Rogun hydroelectric power plant (HPP) in Tajikistan reaches full capacity will be exported to other Central Asian countries. This is according to agreements signed with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, which Tajikistan’s minister for energy and water resources, Daler Juma, announced at a recent meeting of the energy ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in Astana.

“The Republic of Tajikistan, which has a huge hydropower potential, continues the construction of the Rogun HPP with a capacity of 3,780 MW. The Rogun HPP ensures the energy security of the Republic of Tajikistan and contributes to increasing the volume of exports to neighboring countries. It should be noted that 70 percent of the produced products are exported to cover the growing demand in the region’s countries,” said Juma.

Construction of Rogun the HPP began in 1976, but it was suspended in 1991 after the collapse of the USSR.

Subsequently, Tajikistan continued constructing 600 MW hydroelectric power stations, as outlined in the project, using its resources and support from international funds and organizations. Two of the six aggregates have already been operational, and the third is planned to be operational in 2025. Juma reported that the two hydraulic units produced more than 7 billion kWh of electricity.

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24 Jun 2024

@RB ASIA

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U.S. Ranks Among Top Ten in Uzbekistan’s Foreign Trade Turnover

The Statistics Agency of Uzbekistan has presented information on the country’s foreign trade turnover for January – May 2024. The republic’s foreign trade turnover (FTT) reached $26.7 billion during the reporting period. The volume of exports was $10.8 billion, and the volume of imports was $15.8 billion. Compared to the same period last year, the volume of exports increased by 1.9%, and the volume of imports increased by 3.7%. Uzbekistan’s negative foreign trade balance has reached $5 billion.

China has retained its position as Uzbekistan’s largest trading partner. During the reporting period, the volume of mutual trade reached $5 billion, which is 18.9 % of the republic’s total foreign trade turnover. A significant segment of foreign trade turnover was also registered with Russia (17.9%), Kazakhstan (5.9%), Turkey (4.5%), and South Korea (3.4%).

Top 10 countries with the highest share in foreign trade turnover of Uzbekistan in January-May 2024 were: China – $5.05 billion; Russia – $4.78 billion; Kazakhstan – $1.58 billion; Turkey – $1.19 billion; Korea – $920 million; France – $471 million; Turkmenistan – $455 million; Germany – $426 million; the USA – $386 million; and Afghanistan – $382 million.

For the five months in question, exports without gold increased by 5.9%, almost $6.58 billion. During this period, the share of gold exports decreased from 40.3% to 38.6 %, or $4.2 billion. Furthermore, the share of industrial products in total exports rose from 15.8% to 15.9%, chemicals from 4.3% to 5.6%, mineral fuels from 3% to 3.2%, and machinery and transport equipment from 4.5% to 4.6%, whilst the share of food products and live animals decreased from 6.3% to 5.8%.

Machinery and transport equipment (37.3 %), industrial goods (15.2 %), and chemicals and similar products (12.3 %) accounted for the largest share of imports.

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24 Jun 2024

@primeminister.kz

Central Asia, Environment, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan to Invest $1 Billion in Repairing Water Management Infrastructure

Kazakhstan’s minister of national economy, Nurlan Baibazarov, has announced that the country is to repair its water management system following recent severe floods.

“The floods that took place in the spring showed the underdeveloped infrastructure of the country’s water management system. We have identified 16 projects that require investments of more than 500 billion tenge [over $1 billion],” Baibazarov said.

According to the minister, preferential financing will come from from the Saudi Islamic Development Bank. Funds are provided for an extended period at a very low rate, enabling the resolution of long-standing issues in this sector.

The renovation of the water management system will include the construction of reservoirs and irrigation canals and the fortification of the technical infrastructure for all services.

“First of all, according to the instructions of the head of state, we will carry out a complete renewal of equipment and facilities in the Ministry of Emergency Situations system. In the water sector, we will also equip the Kazvodkhoz system with the necessary equipment,” Baibazarov added.

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24 Jun 2024

@kgrk.info

Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan, Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Uranium Purification Plant to be Rebuilt in Kyrgyzstan

The authorities in Kyrgyzstan will spend 1.6 billion som ($18m) to pay the Kara-Balta Mining Combine’s tax debts. In addition, the enterprise’s specialists will be paid wages they have yet to received in years.

Earlier, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov instructed the government to take measures to preserve jobs and assets. He also demanded that all the plant’s facilities be restored for fully-fledged work with uranium.

“Thus, the enterprise has created favorable conditions for sustainable work, and most importantly all unique specialists have been preserved,” the General Director of the Karabalta Mining Company LLC, Kubanychbek Risbaev stated.

The Kara-Balta Mining Combine was built in 1955 and was one of the largest uranium processors for the nuclear industry of the USSR. In the 1990s, the plant was privatized and sold to a foreign company. Unsuccessful management by the new investors led to a sharp decline in production, and in 2016, the mill suspended its uranium operations and was declared bankrupt in 2022.

In 1998, Combine’s laboratory was accredited by the UKAS service and was tested by the London Precious Metals Association a year later. Since then, Kyrgyzstan has officially become a trading participant at the London Metal Exchange. The ongoing modernization work includes the launching of additional facilities, and the introduction of new technologies and modern equipment.

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