MARCH 4 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – The government of the Karaganda region has said that ArcelorMittal’s temporary move to knock 25% off its workers’ wages at its steel plant in Temirtau last month was illegal, the Tengrinews website reported. It has filed a lawsuit against ArcelorMittal, one of Kazakhstan’s biggest foreign investors.
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(News report from Issue No. 222, published on March 11 2015)
MARCH 5 2015 (The Bulletin) – Severe external shocks have hit Georgia’s economy causing it to falter and for growth to slow to a virtual standstill, the IMF said at the end of a mission to Tbilisi.
But the IMF said that because Georgia has been able to keep its government budget deficit under control it is better placed than other countries in the region to weather the economic storm triggered by a decline in oil prices and the drop in Russia’s economic health.
“We look forward to plans to accelerate reforms to make Georgia a more attractive place for doing business and for investing, for creating jobs, and for boosting growth in the future,” the IMF said in a statement.
“These should include easing recent restrictions on foreign businesses, seeking out new private investment, boosting saving through pension and capital market reforms and raising education standards.”
It also gave a much needed boost to Georgia’s Central Bank chief Giorgi Kadagidze who has been criticised for not doing enough to divert the country from a decline in the value of its lari currency.
“We need to protect independence of the central bank; they are doing a good job,” media quoted Mark Griffiths, who led the IMF mission as saying.
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(News report from Issue No. 222, published on March 11 2015)
MARCH 10 2015 (The Bulletin) – Armenia has lined up Hollywood superstar George Clooney to present the inaugural Aurora Prize in Yerevan on the 100th anniversary of the alleged genocide by Ottoman Turks of Armenians in eastern Turkey, media reported. Turkey denies genocide (March 10). Armenia is using the anniversary to bolster support for its cause worldwide.
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(News report from Issue No. 222, published on March 11 2015)
MARCH 4 2015 (The Bulletin) – Azerbaijan will start exporting weapons to Arab countries this year, media reported quoting the Azerbaijani defence industry minister, Yaver Jamalov. The statement is more evidence that Azerbaijan is concentrating on developing its arms industry, particularly machine guns and rifles.
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(News report from Issue No. 222, published on March 11 2015)
MARCH 11 2015 (The Bulletin) – Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev declared he would run in a presidential election set for April 25.
His announcement ended speculation generated last week when he appeared to suggest this it was time for change.
Instead, live at a conference held by his Nur Otan party, Mr Nazarbayev declared that he would look to extend his 26-year-long reign over Kazakhstan.
“There is no bigger reward or happiness than to have the trust of my nation,” he said. “This inspires and invigorates me, and this is why I look youngish.”
Mr Nazarbayev is 74-years-old and has run Kazakhstan since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
He called an early presidential election this month after his supporters asked him to underline his authority during an increasingly turbulent economic time.
But succession issues are still at the forefront of Kazakhstan-watchers agenda because only last week Mr Nazarbayev appeared to suggest that he may call it a day.
“I have run Kazakhstan for many years already, I stood at the cradle of its independence, so maybe it was time to ‘change stage’, as they say in a theatre,” he said in televised remarks on March 8.
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(News report from Issue No. 222, published on March 11 2015)
MARCH 4 2015 (The Bulletin) – Kazakhstan banned the import of light oil products from Russia for 45 days from March 5 . The measure was brought in to stem the flow of Russian oil products, made cheaper by the fall in the value of the rouble, and to protect jobs and business at Kazakh refineries.
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(News report from Issue No. 222, published on March 11 2015)
MARCH 9 2015 (The Bulletin) – In an interview to the Asia-Plus website, the head of the IMF mission in Dushanbe, Aidyn Bibolov, said remittances would drop by 30% in 2015. Such a large drop would be a big hit for Tajikistan’s economy. Remittances make up 50% of Tajikistan’s GDP.
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(News report from Issue No. 222, published on March 11 2015)
MARCH 10 2015 (The Bulletin) – Iran is planning on opening a customs house in Armenia to try and bolster trade between the two neighbours, media reported (March 10). Both Armenia and Iran are short of regional allies and need to develop relations.
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(News report from Issue No. 222, published on March 11 2015)
MARCH 10 2015 (The Bulletin) – Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani flew to Ashgabat for the start of a two-day state visit that underlined the improved relations between the two neighbours.
Turkmenistan and Iran have been developing their ties over the past few years. Iran is a client for Turkmenistan’s gas.
At a round table meeting at the presidential palace in Ashgabat on Wednesday, Mr Rouhani and Turkmen leader Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov shook hands, smiled and exchanged pleasantries.
“Iranian and Turkmen governments have always tried in the path of development and welfare of their countries as well as preserving and expansion of peace and security in the world,” Mr Berdymukhamedov said according to Iranian media reports from the meeting.
News reports were vague but they suggested that Turkmenistan and Iran had signed a series of deals that extended their trade and energy cooperation.
Mr Rouhani said: “Officials of both countries are aware of the importance of such relations and both believe in bringing into play all capacities to expand the ties comprehensively.”
The meeting was important because the international community is currently trying to decide to what extent it should deal with Iran. Some consider Mr Rouhani to be a more moderate and reasonable leader to work with, others have said that Iran is still a rogue state that wants to build a nuclear weapon.”
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(News report from Issue No. 222, published on March 11 2015)
MARCH 10 2015 (The Bulletin) – China is preparing to begin work on building the first oil refinery in Tajikistan, media reported. China says that work is about to begin and that it should be operational by the end of the year. The refinery is important because it will reduce Tajikistan’s reliance on Russian oil products.
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(News report from Issue No. 222, published on March 11 2015)
