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
Nazarbayev, Jeenbekov enhance cooperation, ink border demarcation treaty in Astana
The new Kyrgyz President Jeenbekov paid his third visit abroad since his inauguration a month ago to Kazakhstan. The first two visits were to Russia and Uzbekistan, indicating foreign-policy priorities of Bishkek
Dec 26 — “The new Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov arrived Dec. 25 in Astana for a two-day official visit to meet Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and other top officials for talks aimed at re-launching bilateral relations.” READ MORE: https://astanatimes.com/2017/12/nazarbayev-jeenbekov-enhance-cooperation-ink-border-demarcation-treaty-in-astana/
Kazakhstan may merge oil, pension funds: president
Kazakhstan may follow the experience of Norway, which has merged its pension fund with the national (oil) fund
Dec 26 — “Kazakhstan may merge its $23 billion state pension fund with the $57 billion oil fund in order to streamline their management, President Nursultan Nazarbayev said on Monday.” READ MORE: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kazakhstan-funds/kazakhstan-may-merge-oil-pension-funds-president-idUSKBN1EJ0TO
Oil companies pollute water deposits of Kazakhstan
Increasing oil production is taking its toll on the country’s underground water resources, deteriorating the environmental situation in Kazakhstan
Dec 27 — “Remains of oil, heavy metals and other pollutants were found in the Kokzhide underground water storage in Kazakhstan. Excessive water pollution was detected in two out of 17 pilot research wells, Kazinform reported.” READ MORE: https://en.trend.az/business/energy/2841188.html
Kazakhstan National Missing, Believed Detained in China, Amid Ongoing Crackdown
In the attempts to counter religious extremism and separatism in Xinjiang, Chinese authorities have cracked down on local Turkic Muslim minorities, including Uyghurs and Kazakhs
Dec 27 — “A former official in China’s northwestern region of Xinjiang who became a citizen of Kazakhstan is missing, believed kidnapped amid an ongoing crackdown on ethnic minority groups with overseas ties, sources told RFA on Wednesday.” READ MORE: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/kazakh-missing-12272017141959.html
Washington Looks To Strengthen Ties With Kazakhstan Markets
Since 2012, the US and Kazakhstan have been working within their Strategic Partnership Dialogue to create favorable conditions for developing investment and trade
Dec 28 — “Though the global economy is still experiencing ripple effects from the 2015 global drop in oil prices, the United States and Kazakhstan remain strong partners when it comes to trade and economy.” READ MORE: https://caspiannews.com/news-detail/washington-looks-to-strengthen-ties-with-kazakhstan-markets-2017-12-28-6/
KYRGYZSTAN
Agricultural cooperatives in Kyrgyzstan: experience and potential
The inequality in taxation between cooperatives and smallholder farms hampers the development of agricultural cooperatives in Kyrgyzstan
Dec 24 — “On December 21, the Kyrgyz Parliament approved amendments to the Land Code and the Law on the Agricultural Land Management. The bills aim to develop a unified state policy in the agricultural cooperatives movement and create an enabling legal framework for it.” READ MORE: https://timesca.com/index.php/news/19108-agricultural-cooperatives-in-kyrgyzstan-experience-and-potential
An Interview With Aida Salyanova, Kyrgyzstan’s Former Prosecutor General
Salyanova speaks about her trial and sentence, the abrupt end to her work as prosecutor general, former President Atambayev’s legacy, and her vision of Kyrgyzstan’s future
Dec 27 — “December 14 marked 40 days since the murder of Ulan Salyanov in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and his family gathered for a traditional ceremony to remember the deceased. While no one has been charged for the murder, the circumstances appeared suspicious. First, there was no clear motive.” READ MORE: https://thediplomat.com/2017/12/an-interview-with-aida-salyanova-kyrgyzstans-former-prosecutor-general/
Kyrgyzstan reveals data on electricity generation volumes
Kyrgyzstan is increasing electricity generation and has even resumed its export, with the times of power blackouts in winters left in the past. This is largely due to the high water level in the reservoir of the country’s largest Toktogul hydropower plant
Dec 27 — “The volume of electricity generation in Kyrgyzstan for January-November 2017 stood at the level of 13.322 billion kWh, which is 2.671 billion kWh, or 25 percent more than in 2016. This was stated by the chairman of the board of National Energy Holding JSC, Aibek Kaliev, at a press conference, Kabar reported.” READ MORE: https://www.azernews.az/region/124698.html
Uproar in Kyrgyzstan over dog wearing national hat
In Kyrgyzstan, matters of national identity and culture are often in the spotlight of public attention and heated debate in society
Dec 29 — “Lawmakers in Kyrgyzstan urged punishment on Thursday for the owner of a dog pictured wearing one of the Central Asian country’s traditional felt hats in a dog show. Lawmakers joined a growing chorus of voices in slamming the “insult” and police this week said they had started investigating the show, which was held in the capital Bishkek earlier this month.” READ MORE: http://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/2126054/uproar-kyrgyzstan-over-dog-wearing-national-hat
Kyrgyzstan improving quality of education through digital technology
Kyrgyzstan’s numerous universities every year produce thousands of specialists that fill the ranks of the unemployed
Dec 30 — “It is impossible to expand access to education for children and education specialists without access to the Internet, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Sapar Isakov said at the recent international conference on prospects for digital government and digital education in the country.” READ MORE: https://timesca.com/index.php/news/19136-kyrgyzstan-improving-quality-of-education-through-digital-technology
TAJIKISTAN
UAE, Tajikistan plan to create joint investment fund
Tajikistan is striving to attract much-needed foreign investments into its economy — from China to rich Arab countries
Dec 26 — “Tajikistan and the UAE are planning to create a joint investment fund to boost economic ties between the two countries, according to a top official from the country. The fund will facilitate investments in various sectors of Tajikistan economy including infrastructure, energy, tourism and agriculture, among other things” READ MORE: http://gulfnews.com/business/economy/uae-tajikistan-plan-to-create-joint-investment-fund-1.2147397
Tajikistan rose on the World Bank’s ranking for 5 positions
Despite the crisis in the country’s banking sector, Tajikistan’s economy has been showing sustained growth, largely due to remittances Tajik migrant workers send home from Russia
Dec 28 — “Among 153 countries of the world Tajikistan is on the 108th place in the ranking of the best countries for doing business. The ranking was compiled by the American magazine Forbes and was published on December 21 on the website of this magazine, Khovar reports.” READ MORE: https://www.azernews.az/region/124775.html
Tajikistan: searching for food security
For Tajikistan, diversification of agricultural crop production and shifting away from cotton monoculture is vital for improving the wellbeing of local farmers and achieving the country’s food security
Dec 29 — “Uzbekistan’s recent efforts to reform its cotton-production system have caught the attention of Central Asia watchers, and raised hopes for economic growth. Liberalization of the sector on paper, however, cannot guarantee an increase in prosperity. The example of neighboring Tajikistan shows that lifting controls does not automatically lead to greater sector efficiency, or higher living standards.” READ MORE: https://timesca.com/index.php/news/19133-tajikistan-searching-for-food-security
TURKMENISTAN
Expert: U.S. may use Turkmenistan against Iran and Russia
In an interview, the chairman of the Compatriot Russian-Turkmen Friendship Society speaks about Turkmenistan’s problems and analyzes the reasons behind them
Dec 25 — “As another year passes, Turkmenistan pins great hopes with the coming year 2018. The country has been experiencing a severe financial crisis since last year, amid lack of foreign investments and tense situation on the border with Afghanistan.” READ MORE: https://eadaily.com/en/news/2017/12/25/expert-us-may-use-turkmenistan-against-iran-and-russia
Turkmen November gas supplies to China slide versus October amid winter supply crunch: customs data
China is currently the only buyer of Turkmen natural gas, after the suspension of Turkmen gas supplies to Iran and Russia
Dec 26 — “China’s monthly natural gas imports from leading supplier Turkmenistan fell in November from the previous month to their lowest since December 2016, leaving Beijing increasing purchases from elsewhere to try to cope with a growing supply crunch.” READ MORE: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-gas-turkmenistan/turkmen-november-gas-supplies-to-china-slide-versus-october-amid-winter-supply-crunch-customs-data-idUSKBN1EK0I9
China’s Imports of Turkmen Gas Decline
Under today’s economic realities, diversification of natural-gas export is the issue of paramount importance for Turkmenistan’s ailing economy
Dec 27 — “Gas is Turkmenistan’s most significant source of revenue and China is Turkmenistan’s only significant gas buyer. That context makes recent news that Ashgabat’s supplies to Beijing have dropped yet another indication that all is not well in Turkmenistan’s economy.” READ MORE: https://thediplomat.com/2017/12/chinas-imports-of-turkmen-gas-decline/
UZBEKISTAN
How High Should Hopes Be For Change In Uzbekistan?
A review of what Uzbek President Mirziyoev has accomplished during his first year as the country’s president, and what is yet to be done
Dec 25 — “December 4 marked one year since Shavkat Mirziyoev was elected Uzbekistan’s second president. He had been Uzbekistan’s prime minister since 2003, but when Islam Karimov — Uzbekistan’s first and only president since it gained independence in 1991 — was pronounced dead on September 2, 2016, Mirziyoev moved into the country’s top post despite a constitutional prohibition against the prime minister becoming acting president.” READ MORE: https://www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan-mirziyoev-hopes-for-change-karimov-cotton-foreign-policy/28938193.html
2018 will be the year of entrepreneurship, innovative ideas and technologies: Uzbekistan
In his address, President Mirziyoev outlined Uzbekistan’s priority development tasks for the period of 2017-2021
Dec 26 — “Central Asia’s key power Uzbekistan that is seeking investments from India has declared 2018 as the year of Year of supporting active entrepreneurship, innovative ideas and technologies.” READ MORE: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/2018-will-be-the-year-of-entrepreneurship-innovative-ideas-and-technologies-uzbekistan/articleshow/62248301.cms
Hundreds sacked from Uzbek FinMin in ‘rat’ purge
The Uzbek president is getting rid of the ‘old guard’ of government officials inherited from the late President Karimov’s era, although Mirziyoev himself is a product of the Karimov school
Dec 27 — “Uzbekistan’s Finance Ministry has sacked 562 employees after President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ordered it to root out inefficiency and get rid of what he had called “rats” tarnishing its reputation, the state news agency UzA reported on Wednesday.” READ MORE: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-uzbekistan-finmin/hundreds-sacked-from-uzbek-finmin-in-rat-purge-idUSKBN1EL0Q0
Filling stations with foreign gasoline to appear in Uzbekistan
As Uzbekistan’s oil fields’ reserves deplete and oil refineries lack crude to work at full capacity, the country has experienced chronic fuel shortages in recent years
Dec 28 — “Joint venture Jizzakh Petroleum, which is founded by Uzbekneftegaz, will organize a network of stations selling foreign gasoline in Uzbekistan. The new network will specialize in the sale of motor gasoline brands such as Ai-92, Ai-93, Ai-95 and Ai-98 at free commercial prices, as well as diesel fuel corresponding to European quality and standards.” READ MORE: https://www.azernews.az/region/124780.html
AFGHANISTAN
In Tangled Afghan War, a Thin Line of Defense Against ISIS
Both Russian and US military say the number of Islamic State militants in Afghanistan is growing, posing a threat to the government in Kabul and to the security situation in neighboring Central Asian countries
Dec 25 — “When the American military dropped the largest bomb in its arsenal on an Islamic State cave complex here in eastern Afghanistan in April, the generals justified it as part of a robust campaign to destroy the group’s local affiliate by year’s end.” READ MORE: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/25/world/asia/eastern-afghanistan-isis.html
Afghanistan in 2017: Achievements and Challenges
A summary of achievements and challenges Afghanistan has had this year and what the country may face in the coming year
Dec 28 — “Any assessment of where Afghanistan stands today needs to be put into its historical context. In doing so, it should be recalled that even before the advent of the present conflict, Afghanistan had been one of the least developed countries in the world.” READ MORE: https://thediplomat.com/2017/12/afghanistan-in-2017-achievements-and-challenges/
Afghanistan war aim 3.0
The US is advising the Taliban that victory cannot be achieved in the battlefield but only by negotiation and joining a government in Kabul
Dec 28 — “The Pentagon released its first report since President Trump’s August 21st announcement of a new South Asia strategy. Congress has been informed that the Pentagon would change Pakistani policies by “using a range of tools to expand our cooperation with Pakistan in areas where our interests converge and to take unilateral steps in areas of divergence.” READ MORE: https://tribune.com.pk/story/1594415/1-afghanistan-war-aim-3-0/
ISIS in Afghanistan Is Like a Balloon That Won’t Pop
In spite of the efforts by US military to eradicate it, ISIS has not only survived but has also showcased its ability to strike in Afghanistan
Dec 28 — “ISIS should have been eliminated in Afghanistan. That’s what Americans will tell you, anyway. In April, the U.S. military said that only about 700 ISIS fighters remained in the country and then proceeded to drop the “mother of all bombs,” one of the largest non-nuclear devices, against an ISIS facility in Afghanistan.” READ MORE: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/12/afghanistan-isis/549311/
WORLD
Muslim migrants succeed in Russia despite xenophobia
Some may like it or not, but labor migration from the former Soviet republics of Central Asia to Russia is deep-rooted now, providing Russia with cheap labor force and Central Asia with billions of dollars in remittances sent back home
Dec 24 — “Ravshan and Joomshut are two comical characters playing labour migrants from ex-Soviet Central Asia in Our Russia, an immensely popular TV show. Their broken Russian, bad hygiene, servitude to their Slavic boss and complaints about their unfortunate sex lives have made their names a slur – a negative symbol of many Russians’ attitudes towards the natives of the mostly Muslim region of more than 60 million.” READ MORE: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/12/muslims-succeed-russia-xenophobia-171224055010711.html
‘The Chinese Dream’ and Xi Jinping’s power politics in 2017
A review of what China’s leader Xi Jinping has done in 2017 to achieve his ultimate goal of transforming China into a global superpower
Dec 27 — “China’s President and Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping has managed to tighten his hold over the party and state this year. This was in full display during the 19th congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held in October, when the 64-year-old president won a second five-year term as leader.” READ MORE: http://www.dw.com/en/the-chinese-dream-and-xi-jinpings-power-politics-in-2017/a-41941966
Is China trying to play mediator in Central Asia with offer to include Afghanistan in trade plan?
As China pursues its multi-billion Belt and Road plan, Beijing is interested in peace and stability in Afghanistan and in its good relations with neighboring Pakistan
Dec 28 — “By offering to include Afghanistan in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, Beijing may be seeking to mediate in a decades-long dispute between its two neighbours, but analysts have questioned how effective it can be.” READ MORE: http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2125879/china-ready-work-afghanistan-counter-terror-threat
