• KGS/USD = 0.01170 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00206 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09388 0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01170 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00206 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09388 0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01170 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00206 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09388 0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01170 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00206 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09388 0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01170 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00206 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09388 0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01170 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00206 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09388 0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01170 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00206 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09388 0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01170 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00206 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09388 0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
15 October 2024

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 4

The Ferghana Valley: Navigating Complex Challenges in Central Asia’s Most Volatile Region

The Ferghana Valley is one of Central Asia’s most fertile and densely populated areas, but it is also among the most volatile. Spanning Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, this landlocked region has long been a hotbed of ethnic tension, water disputes, and political instability. These challenges are deeply rooted in the geography, history, and sociopolitical landscape, making the valley a key focal point for understanding broader regional dynamics in Central Asia.   Geographical Importance and Ethnic Diversity Nestled between the towering Tien Shan and Pamir Mountain ranges, the Ferghana Valley covers over 22,000 square kilometers. It is fertile land nourished by the Syr Darya River, making it a critical area for cultivating cotton, fruits, and vegetables. These natural resources have historically drawn diverse populations, creating a vibrant ethnic mosaic. The valley is home to Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, and Tajiks, as well as smaller ethnic groups. While ethnic Uzbeks form the majority, significant Kyrgyz and Tajik minorities inhabit border regions. The ethnic diversity of the Ferghana Valley is both a strength and a source of tension. Soviet-era border policies exacerbated these divisions by creating artificial boundaries that crisscrossed the valley, leaving behind ethnic enclaves — pockets of one nationality surrounded by the territory of another. These enclaves have complicated governance and territorial integrity, making border management a persistent challenge.   The Soviet Legacy and Border Disputes During Soviet rule, the Central Asian republics were organized under Stalin’s divide-and-rule strategy, which deliberately created complex borders to weaken local identities and prevent regional unity. The Ferghana Valley, divided among three Soviet republics, is a prime example of this approach. After the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, the administrative boundaries became international borders overnight between Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The lack of clearly defined borders has sparked numerous conflicts over territory, water, and land. A notable clash between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in 2021 resulted in over 40 deaths and the destruction of homes and infrastructure. Many disputes revolve around access to scarce resources like water and arable land. These issues have escalated into violent confrontations, leading to casualties and the displacement of local populations.   Water: A Scarce and Contested Resource Water is the lifeblood of the Ferghana Valley, but disputes over its allocation are a major source of tension. The valley depends heavily on irrigation for its agricultural productivity, and the Syr Darya River, along with its tributaries, plays a crucial role in supplying water to the region. However, the division of the valley among the three countries complicates water management. Uzbekistan, the most populous of the three, relies on the valley’s water resources for its cotton industry, a cornerstone of its economy. Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which control the headwaters of the Syr Darya, often use their upstream position to leverage water access. This dynamic has led to frequent disagreements over water usage. For instance, Kyrgyzstan has at times threatened to withhold water unless it receives compensation, either through payments or electricity.   Ethnic Tensions and Political Instability Ethnic tensions further complicate the Ferghana Valley’s already volatile...

Kazakhstan to Host Armenia-Azerbaijan Talks on May 10

The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan will hold talks in Almaty on May 10 as they seek to end their long-running conflict, Kazakhstan said on Monday. The negotiations will happen in line with “previously reached agreements,” said Aibek Smadiyarov, spokesman for Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Jeyhun Bayramov, Azerbaijan’s top diplomat, and his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, will attend, according to the Kazakh official. Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in tension and conflict over territory since the 1990s, though the two sides have been working to delineate their borders following Azerbaijan’s retaking of control of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region last year. As reported by TCA last week, in a statement President Tokayev “welcome[d] the agreement between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia to hold talks at the Foreign Ministers’ level on the preparation of a peace treaty between the two states, at the suggestion of the Kazakh side.” Tokayev went on to express his hope the upcoming meeting would help with the “practical implementation” of agreements between the two sides.

Kazakhstan Says It’s Ready to Host Azerbaijan-Armenia Talks; No Date Announced

Kazakhstan’s president said on Wednesday that he hopes planned talks in Almaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia will lead to a lasting peace in the South Caucasus, though he did not provide a date for the negotiations. “I welcome the agreement between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia to hold talks at the Foreign Ministers’ level on the preparation of a peace treaty between the two states, at the suggestion of the Kazakh side,” President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in a statement. He said he hoped the upcoming meeting would help with the “practical implementation” of agreements between the two sides. Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in tension and conflict over territory since the 1990s, though the two sides have been working to delineate their borders following Azerbaijan’s retaking of control of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region last year. Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman Aibek Smadiyarov said this week that Kazakhstan is supporting the talks but will not act as mediator, according to reports in Azerbaijan and Armenia. “The upcoming negotiations will be held exclusively between the parties,” Armenian radio quoted Smadiyarov as saying. “We are not talking about Astana’s mediation, we are only providing goodwill services, the so-called good offices.” Kazakhstan benefits economically from stability in the Caucasus because it exports oil through Azerbaijan. In March, Azerbaijan’s energy minister met his counterpart in Kazakhstan to discuss boosting Kazakh oil flows via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.

Negotiations on Syria Have Started in Kazakhstan

The 21st meeting of the Astana process on Syria has started in the capital of Kazakhstan. The two-day round of negotiations will continue until January 25th. The main agenda of the meeting is the development of the regional situation around Syria, efforts for a comprehensive settlement in the SAR, the humanitarian situation, and mobilization of the international community to promote post-conflict reconstruction of Syria and others. Delegates from the guarantor states of Russia, Turkey, Iran, the Syrian Government and the Syrian opposition are taking part in the negotiations, whilst representatives from Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon are acting as observers. Last June, Astana hosted the 20th meeting on Syria, wherein representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan proposed that the meeting be the last in the “Astana Process” framework, stating that the task was fulfilled and all of its goals had been realized. However, earlier this week it emerged that Kazakhstan received a collective appeal from the participants in the process to resume negotiations. The Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan noted that Astana had not been chosen as a platform for these negotiations by chance, but because it was convenient both politically and geographically for all of the participants, whilst also enhancing Kazakhstan’s standing on the global stage. The head of the delegation from Russia, Alexander Lavrentiev, stated that Russia was one of the initiators of the resumption of this format of negotiations. "We, the guarantor countries of the ‘Astana Process’ on Syria studied this issue and came to the conclusion that Astana should remain the host platform,” Lavrentiev said. “There was a joint request from the three countries to the leadership of Kazakhstan - Turkey, Iran and Russia." Lavrentiev also noted how Kazakhstan's activity in the international arena is expanding, drawing attention to the nation’s joining the UN mission in the Golan Heights. “There, peacekeepers from our Rosgvardiya also maintain stability,” he stated. “I believe that cooperation between our countries will expand and will be useful in this area, as well. Therefore, I believe that the Astana format will remain a very effective mechanism; however, it is obvious that the settlement of the Syrian issue is still far away. The level of trust between the warring parties is still low." Kazakh political analysts noted that with its multi-vector policy, conflict resolution is one of the main concepts of Kazakhstan's foreign policy."Kazakhstan is a trusted partner,” said the scientific head of the Center for Analytical Studies, Eurasian Monitoring, Taisiya Marmontova. “The Astana platform is seen as safe and effective. Now the Arab-Israeli conflict has escalated, it can be seen as doubly commendable that Syria is making great efforts to find points of contact that will allow the opposing groups to launch a constitutional process and remove Syria from the map of hot spots in the world."