Category Archives: Uncategorised

Turkmenistan supplies gas to China

SEPT 2 2014 (The Conway Bulletin) – Turkmenistan is one of China’s most important energy suppliers, the deputy director of PetroChina, Lu Gongxun, said in an interview.

His comments, while not breaking news, underline the importance and high regard that China places on its new partner. Turkmenistan has become vital for the Chinese economy, sending around 50 billion cubic metres (cbm) of natural gas to China each year.

And it’s going to become even more important. By 2021, Turkmenistan will be pumping 65bcm of gas to China each year, eclipsed only by Russia.

“Turkmenistan’s rich gas resources facilitate the implementation of China’s goal of diversifying energy imports. The natural gas imports from the Central Asia play an indispensable role in ensuring the state energy security of China,” he Lu said according to press reports.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 198, published on Sept. 3 2014)

Turkmens protest in Ashgabat

AUG. 27 2014 (The Conway Bulletin) – Around 50 residents of an Ashgabat suburb blocked workmen from removing air conditioning units from their apartment block, media reported, a rare public protest in Turkmenistan. Turkmen officials have ordered apparently unsightly air conditioning units to be removed from apartment blocks despite the souring summer temperatures.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 198, published on Sept. 3 2014)

Kazakh president question the Eurasian Economic Union

AUG. 30 2014 (The Conway Bulletin) – The Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU) is still a few months from coming into existence and yet Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is already threatening to quit the Russia-led alliance.

In an interview with a local TV station, Mr Nazarbayev said he wouldn’t be afraid of quitting the EaEU if the group was damaging the national interests.

“Our independence for which our forefathers fought is our greatest asset,” he said. “First, we will never sacrifice our independence. Second, we will do everything to defend it.”

Mr Nazarbayev’s comments are important as they come against the backdrop of fighting in Ukraine, where Russia is accused of supporting pro-separatist forces. Kazakh officials have become increasingly nervous that the Russia dominated north of the country may look to secede with Russia’s support.

Although economics and business interests weren’t mentioned by My Nazarbayev, there was also a clear underlying message.

Kazakhstan’s increased association with Russia has hurt it economically. Russia’s economy is so important for Central Asia that if it is impinged, this economic malaise is felt further down the chain.

The Eurasian Economic Union will come into place in 2015 and will be a direct descendent of the current Customs Union. Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus are members Customs Union. Kyrgyzstan and of the Armenia plan to join the group in the next few months.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 198, published on Sept. 3 2014)

Tajik police detained Russians

AUG. 27 2014 (The Conway Bulletin) – Police in Tajikistan detained two Russian soldiers for the suspected murder of a Tajik taxi driver in Dushanbe, media reported. Russia maintains a major military base, its largest overseas base, in the Pamir Mountains. If the soldiers are formally accused of killing the taxi driver, it could dampen important bilateral relations.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 198, published on Sept. 3 2014)

Erdogan visits Azerbaijan

SEPT. 2 2014 (The Conway Bulletin) – Newly elected Turkish president, Tayyip Erdogan, travelled to Azerbaijan on a two-day trip to meet with Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, a key ally. It was Mr Erdogan’s second trip abroad as president, underlining the importance of the Turkey-Azerbaijan axis.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 198, published on Sept. 3 2014)

Armenia still looking to CU

SEPT. 2 2014 (The Conway Bulletin) – Officials in Armenia have been mounting a PR campaign to persuade people that sanctions on Russia and their negative effect on its economy will not stop the country joining its Customs Union. Joining the Russia-led Customs Union has become a major policy plank for Armenia’s leaders.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 198, published on Sept. 3 2014)

Georgia wants Red Notice for Saakashvili

AUG. 30 2014 (The Conway Bulletin) – Georgia’s authorities are piling pressure on former president Mikheil Saakashvili by asking Interpol to issue a so-called Red Notice for his arrest, media reported. A Red Notice doesn’t force countries to arrest Mr Saakashvili but it pushes his profile to the top of the wanted list.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 198, published on Sept. 3 2014)

Kazakhstan to produce foods for austronaunts

AUG. 29 2014 (The Conway Bulletin) – Depicting a more modern, technologically advanced side of Kazakhstan, officials have unveiled a plan to build a plant near Karaganda that will produce food for astronauts based on mare’s milk. Toregeldy Sharmanov, head of the Kazakh Academy of Nutrition, told media that mare’s milk was particularly nutritious.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 198, published on Sept. 3 2014)

Fuel supplies fall in Tajikistan

SEPT. 1 2014 (The Conway Bulletin) – Tajikistan is on the brink of a Russian-fuelled petrol crisis according to independent news outlet Avesta.tj.

Unnamed sources told Avesta.tj that a collective of 25 Tajik fuel importers had written to President Emomali Rakhmon to tell him that he needed to buy extra fuel supplies to avoid potentially destructive price hikes. The problem, they said, was export restrictions at the Russian refineries where Tajikistan gets its fuel.

The letter said that supplies of A-92 petrol, imported from Russia, and other types of fuel, may be exhausted by mid-September unless he intervenes to ensure previous levels of supply. Apparently the letter attributes the restrictions to parallel shortages in energy rich Russia. Kyrgyzstan is also hurting. Petrol prices in Tajikistan’s northern neighbour have risen by 13.8% in some parts of the country over an eight month period.

Officially, according to the head of the Kyrgyz Oil Traders association, the reason for the restrictions is that multiple refineries in Russia are undergoing repairs simultaneously.

Unofficially, it’s more likely that sanctions imposed on Russia for its actions in Ukraine are biting.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 198, published on Sept. 3 2014)

ISIL appoints a Tajik leader

AUG. 30 2014 (The Conway Bulletin) – The self-styled Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has appointed a Tajik as one of its leaders, media reported. Officials in Tajikistan said the appointment to ISIL, which has beheaded Western journalists, may increase the number of disenfranchised Tajiks heading to fight for it.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 198, published on Sept. 3 2014)