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Georgian committee approves constitutional changes

APRIL 23 2017 (The Conway Bulletin) — A committee, dominated by the ruling Georgian Dream coalition, convened to study ideas for a new constitution in Georgia voted overwhelmingly in favour of proposals to strip the presidency of power. Opponents of the proposed new constitution, lead by President Girorgi Margvelashvili have accused the Georgian Dream government coalition of trying to undermine its rivals by tinkering with the constitution and pushing the country towards a one-party rule. The Georgian Dream has a large enough majority in parliament to push through any constitutional changes. A date for a vote in parliament on the proposed changes has not yet been set.

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(News report from Issue No. 326, published on April 28 2017)

Georgia PM visits Tehran

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APRIL 22/23 2017 (The Conway Bulletin) — Georgian PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili travelled to Tehran to meet with Iranian president Hassan Rouhani, underlining increasingly close Georgia-Iran ties. In a series of tweets after the meeting, Mr Kvirikashvili said that he had discussed developing trade and transport ties with Mr Hassan. His visit comes 10 days after Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Zarif visited Georgia as part of a Central Asia/South Caucasus tour.

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(News report from Issue No. 326, published on April 28 2017)

Kazakh military orders two more transport planes

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APRIL 22 2017 (The Conway Bulletin) — Kazakhstan’s military ordered two more Airbus C295 transport planes, bringing the total it now owns to eight. Kazakhstan is in the midst of push to modernise and upgrade its military. The C295 has become the workhorse of choice for many militaries. It can carry 70 soldiers or 50 paratroopers.

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(News report from Issue No. 326, published on April 28 2017)

Georgia considers VAT cut for domestic flights

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APRIL 26 2017 (The Conway Bulletin) — Georgia’s government said that it was considering scrapping VAT on aviation fuel for planes flying domestic routes. While flights to and from international airports have boomed the domestic sector is considered underdeveloped. Scrapping VAT was one of a series of proposals under consideration to change tax mechanisms in Georgia. Other incentives being considered including giving help to small power stations.

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(News report from Issue No. 326, published on April 28 2017)

Kcell posts upbeat economic assessment

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APRIL 26 2017 (The Conway Bulletin) — In an upbeat assessment of the Kazakh economy, Kcell CEO Arti Ots said that Q1 2017 had been a period of stabilisation for the mobile operator. Service revenue, an important indicator of a mobile operator’s health, still fell but only by 1.5% while overall revenue was flat. Operating margins, though fell to 37% in Q1 2017 compared to 42% in Q1 2016, showing just how competitive the sector is. A price war has dented margins in Kazakhstan’s mobile market. Telia is a major shareholder in Kcell although it has said it wants to sell out of Central Asia.

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(News report from Issue No. 326, published on April 28 2017)

Azerbaijan-focused Abershon to produce by 2019

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APRIL 25 2017 (The Conway Bulletin) — The Abershon field in the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian Sea, operated by France’s Total, could start gas production in late 2019 or early 2020, an official at Azerbaijan’s state energy company Socar said. Aberson is considered to be a potentially major gas producer for Azerbaijan which is heavily reliant on the energy sector for revenue. The field was discovered in 2011.

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(News report from Issue No. 326, published on April 28 2017)

Uzbek museum opens exhibit in Moscow

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APRIL 23 2017 (The Conway Bulletin) — Arguably the most famous, talked about and least visited museum in Central Asia is going on show in Moscow until May 10.

The Savitsky Collection is usual housed in a museum in Nukus, western Uzbekistan, one of the most remote corners of the world and better-known for the Aral Sea environmental disaster.

Its curator was Igor Savitsky, a Ukrainian archaeologist posted to Nukus who secretly toured the Soviet Union collecting banned artwork.

The exhibition is hosted at the Pushkin Museum of Fine Art. Reports said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was among the first to visit.

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(News report from Issue No. 326, published on April 28 2017)

Cut military spending, says Kazakhstan

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APRIL 24 2017 (The Conway Bulletin) — Perhaps looking to burnish its self- generated reputation as a peace centre for world conflicts, Kazakhstan’s foreign ministry released a statement calling for a reduction in spending on militaries around the world. Instead of spending their budget on arms, Kazakhstan said that governments should be tackling hunger and poverty. Kazakhstan is hosting peace talks aimed at ending a civil war in Syria. It also currently holds a rotating chair on the UN Security Council.

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(News report from Issue No. 326, published on April 28 2017)

Azerbaijani court extends ex-minister’s jail sentence

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APRIL 26 2017 (The Conway Bulletin) — A court in Baku extended a prison sentence against former Azerbaijani health minister Ali Isanov by seven years for allegedly harbouring drugs in prison and scuffling with guards. Isanov, who has been in prison since 2005 said that the new charges had been fabricated. He was imprisoned for plotting a coup.

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(News report from Issue No. 326, published on April 28 2017)

Russian soldier dies in Armenia

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APRIL 22 2017 (The Conway Bulletin) — A Russian soldier died after being stabbed in the neck at a shop outside Russia’s military base in Gyumri, Armenia, media reported. Investigators have said it is too early to discern a reason for the attack. Gyumri hosts one of the largest Russian military bases outside Russia. In 2015 a Russian soldier killed seven members of the same family in a knife attack.

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(News report from Issue No. 326, published on April 28 2017)