25 Jun 2024

@turkmenportal

Central Asia, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan International Affairs

U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan Matthew Klimow Completes His Mission

The U.S. ambassador to Turkmenistan, Matthew Klimow, has completed his diplomatic mission in Turkmenistan.

At a press conference following his departure, Klimow noted that this week marked precisely five years since he began his work in Turkmenistan. He elaborated on critical areas of U.S.-Turkmen cooperation that have advanced significantly during his mission.

Among them, he highlighted the successful collaboration on the COP 28 methane emissions reduction program, water resources management, advisory support on Turkmenistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as assistance in developing the export potential of small businesses and implementation of cultural and humanitarian projects.

Klimow also emphasized the importance of STEM projects in developing young people, and training them in digital and information technology skills. He paid particular attention to initiatives aimed at the participation of girls and young women.

Regarding joint Turkmen-American projects, Klimow commented that Turkmenistan’s most valuable resource is its people. During his numerous trips around the country, he was always impressed by the sincere, hospitable, and friendly people. He also praised the country’s young people, noting their enthusiasm and desire for knowledge after meetings with students and schoolchildren.

Klimow’s successor, Elizabeth Rood, will arrive in Turkmenistan on July 23.

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25 Jun 2024

@kazpravda.kz

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

French Company Signs Contract With Karachaganak Consortium

Technip Energies NV, a French engineering and technology company in the energy sector, has entered into a five-year service agreement with Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. (KPO) to develop the Karachaganak field in northwest Kazakhstan.

According to representatives of Technip, the agreement covers a wide range of services, from consulting and conceptualization to detailed design of facilities and infrastructure.

The project will be implemented through the joint venture TKJV LLP, created by Technip Energies in cooperation with the Kazakh company KPSP.

Technip Energies is already engaged in projects in Kazakhstan, including the production of “green hydrogen” (Hyrasia One) and the construction of a gas processing plant at Kashagan.

Earlier, Kazakhstan’s energy minister, Almasadam Satkaliyev, announced the implementation of investment projects to expand Karachaganak. These projects are planned until 2028 and will maintain the production shelf at 11 million tons annually.

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25 Jun 2024

@acdf.uz

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Life & Culture, Uzbekistan Life & Culture, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Uzbekistan to Present Silk Roads Exhibition at British Museum

An exhibition dedicated to The Silk Roads will open at the British Museum in September 2024. Great Britain’s grandest museum will show artefacts from Uzbekistan’s museum collections.

Exhibits will include one of the world’s oldest chess pieces, and a monumental wall painting from the Hall of Ambassadors in Samarkand’s ancient quarter, Afrosiyab.

The Foundation for the Development of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan will present 14 exhibits from the Samarkand State Museum and the State Museum of Art of Uzbekistan. Among them will be a wall painting of the Red Hall of the Varakhsh Palace, an ossuarium with a lid, a silver dish with Sogdian inscriptions, a jug from Kafir-Kala, and other unique archaeological finds, demonstrating the importance of Central Asia in the history of the Silk Road.

“Massive in scope and vast in geographical coverage, the Silk Roads exhibition will demonstrate how the movement of people, objects, and ideas along the Silk Roads helped shape culture and history. The project will focus on the defining period of their history, from 500 to 1000 AD,” a statement from the culture foundation explains.

The Silk Roads exhibition will be on view at the Sainsbury Exhibition Gallery at the British Museum from 26 September 2024 to 23 February 2025.

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25 Jun 2024

@gov.kz

Central Asia, Kazakhstan Local Politics, International Affairs, Local Politics, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs

Over a Million Ethnic Kazakhs Have Returned to Kazakhstan Since 1991

Since 1991, over 1.1 million ethnic Kazakhs have returned to live in Kazakhstan, the government has reported.

Since the start of this year 7,353 ethnic Kazakhs have received the status of kanda (Kazakh repatriates). Just under half (49.4%) arrived from China, 34.4% came from Uzbekistan, followed by Turkmenistan (6.3%), Mongolia (5.4%) and Russia (3.2%).

These kandas have settled in different regions of Kazakhstan, but labor-deficient regions — the Akmola, Abay, Kostanay, Pavlodar, East, and North Kazakhstan regions — have been promoted as potential new homes.

Kandas resettling in these regions are provided state support, namely a relocation subsidy of KZT 258,400 ($560) per family.

The Ministry of Labor has announced that since 2023 the pilot relocation program has implemented a “one window” mechanism for granting kandas status through Kazakhstan’s embassies. This initiative allows ethnic Kazakhs to address issues related to visiting Kazakhstan, securing employment, finding housing, and obtaining official status without physically entering the country. To date, 9,569 applications from ethnic Kazakhs have been processed under this new system.

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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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24 Jun 2024
Central Asia, Home, Tajikistan International Affairs, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan Home, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan Home, Features, Uzbekistan International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan Features

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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