Tag Archives: international relations

Ukraine complains to Kazakhstan over map

SEPT. 25 2015, ALMATY (The Conway Bulletin) — Ukraine’s embassy in Astana sent an official protest note to the Kazakh foreign ministry after a school text book published a map of Russia showing the annexed region of Crimea to be firmly within its borders.

The map touched off a row that not only threatens to derail relations between Ukraine and Kazakhstan but also highlights the sensitive diplomatic tightrope that former Soviet states have to walk. Russia is the main economic driver of growth in Central Asia but Kazakhstan, and others, also need to maintain good relations with the West which firmly backs the Ukrainian government against the Kremlin.

“The Ukrainian Embassy has sent a note of protest to Kazakhstan’s foreign ministry because school books issued by the Mektep publishing house say the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is a federal subject of the Russian Federation,” Ukraine’s statement said.

“The distribution of this information contradicts the position of the international community and Kazakhstan that has repeatedly stated its support to Ukraine’s territorial integrity.”

Mektep is one of the biggest publishers of school textbooks in Kazakhstan. Its textbooks are used across the country and are based on the school curriculum.

The map, published in a geography textbook aimed at 16-year-olds earlier this year, showed Crimea as part of Russia.

Crimea quit Ukraine last year after a referendum overwhelmingly supported joining Russia. The referendum, though, has not been recognised by Kiev or its Western allies. Since then a civil war in the east of Ukraine has pushed relations between the West and Russia to a post-Cold War low.

Only a few countries, such as Syria, North Korea and Venezuela recognise Crimea as part of Russia. Kazakhstan, officially, has been careful not to recognise it as part of Russia.

When contacted by a Bulletin correspondent in Kazakhstan, the Mektep publishing house declined to comment. A couple of the book’s authors had previously spoken to RFE/RL, though.

They defended the map by saying that it wasn’t meant to be a political statement but instead to reflect the results of last year’s referendum.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 249, published on Sept. 25 2015)

Turkmen President is no dictator, says official

SEPT. 21-23 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Even at a European human rights meeting, it seems, calling President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov a dictator is just not acceptable.

This was the irate response, at least, of a deputy minister of foreign affairs when he slapped down a Turkmen dissident at an OSCE arranged human rights meeting in Warsaw.

Responding to a series of criticisms raised during the meeting, deputy foreign minister Vepa Khadzhiyev listed President Berdymukahmedov’s achievements in bringing “cheaper and more objective information to our citizens.” He also dismissed criticism from human rights groups of a decision to remove thousands of satellite dishes from homes in Ashgabat in April. Human rights campaigners had said this was the behaviour of a dictator.

Opposing Mr Khadzhiyev was the former member of Turkmenistan’s parliament now living in exile in Norway Pirimguly Tangrikuliyev, who openly criticised Western countries for cosying up to Mr Berdymukhamedov.

“They court the dictator because they need access to Turkmenistan’s energy resources,” he said.

This irritated Mr Khadzhiyev who asked rights groups not to use the term “dictator” for Mr Berdymukhamedov.

“A dictator does not provide free electricity, gas and water to his population. Our country increases salaries yearly by 10% and provides free education and healthcare,” he said.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 249, published on Sept. 25 2015)

Japan and Kazakhstan push on nuclear test ban

SEPT. 23 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Japan and Kazakhstan will co-chair a conference in New York later this month which will push for a comprehensive ban on nuclear testing, UN official Lassina Zerbo told Japan Times in an interview. Both countries have a vested interested in nuclear issues. The US dropped two atomic bombs on Japan in 1945 towards the end of World War 2. Kazakhstan sees itself as the champion of anti-nuclear issues.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 249, published on Sept. 25 2015)

Georgian soldier dies in Afghan

SEPT. 21 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – A Georgian soldier, Private Vasil Kuljanishvili, was killed while on patrol outside Bagram airbase in Afghanistan, Georgia’s ministry of defence said. Kuljanishvili’s death means that 31 Georgian soldiers have died in Afghanistan supporting US operations against the Taliban. Georgia wants to join NATO.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 249, published on Sept. 25 2015)

Iran-Uzbekistan trade to increase

SEPT. 15 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – The Iranian ambassador in Tashkent, Ali Mardani Fard, told news agency RIA-Novosti it wanted to increase by three or four times its trade volumes with Uzbekistan. The statement, while vague on detail, underlines Iran’s potential impact on trade in the region with its re-emergence into the global economy.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 248, published on Sept. 18 2015)

China to build power plant in Georgia

SEPT. 11 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Chinese Dongfang Electric plans to build a 150 MW thermal power station in Georgia, Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili said during a trip to Beijing. The cost of the project is estimated at around $200m. China has expanded its investments in the South Caucasus.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 248, published on Sept. 18 2015)

Turkmenistan joins global atomic energy agency

SEPT. 17 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Turkmenistan has become the 166th member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the global body charged with developing and encouraging the safe use of nuclear power, media reported.

While Turkmenistan’s accession to the IAEA may not have any major policy implications it is another signifier that Turkmen president Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov wants to bring the country more into the international mainstream.

Turkmenistan normally stays away from joining international organisations.

IAEA members ratified Turkmenistan’s membership at their 59th annual summit in Vienna. also joining this year were the east African country of Djibouti, Guyana in South America and Vanuatu in the Pacific Ocean.

Neutrality is enshrined in Turkmenistan’s constitution and not damaging this long-held policy would have been a key consideration for Mr Berdymukhamedov.

He has steadily moved Turkmenistan into the international mainstream, mainly to exploit Turkmenistan’s gas reserves.

It holds the world’s fourth largest gas reserves.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 248, published on Sept. 18 2015)

Kyrgyz som slips to new low

SEPT. 16 2015, BISHKEK (The Conway Bulletin) — Kyrgyzstan’s som dropped to its lowest level against the US dollar since independence, forcing the Central Bank to step in to brake its fall.

At exchange kiosks in Bishkek, the som traded at 72/$1 before recovering to around 69/$1 after the Central Bank’s intervention. Still, the fall in the som, now down 13% in the past month, has pushed up inflation and worried people.

“Food is getting more expensive, it definitely reflects on the family budget,” a 52-year-old man who declined to be named said as he left a supermarket in central Bishkek.

When the Kyrgyz government pushed the country into the Russia- led Eurasian Economic Union last month it said food prices would fall.

Emil Umetaliev, a Bishkek-based analyst, said this promise has been shown to be empty. “How can they be cheaper if in Russia they are getting more expensive because of an internal crisis?” he said.

To stop the slide, the Central Bank bought $18m worth of som but a source at the Bank told the Bulletin officials were anxious.

“The Bank made intervention but it did not particularly affect such a fast growth of dollar,” she said.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 248, published on Sept. 18 2015)

US stamps of Azerbaijan musicians

SEPT. 17 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – The US Postal Service has issued two stamps commemorating famous Azerbaijani cultural figures, media reported quoting the Azerbaijani consulate in Los Angeles. The stamps are dedicated to the 130th birthday of composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli and the 100th birthday of singer Rashid Behbudov. Azerbaijani official in the US have been lobbying hard to promote the country.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 248, published on Sept. 18 2015)

Azerbaijan-Iran talks on rail link

SEPT. 17 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Azerbaijani and Iranian officials have held talks to discuss connecting their railway networks, media reported quoting a regional Azerbaijani governor. If the two railway systems are connected, the link would give trade between the region and Europe a major boost.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 248, published on Sept. 18 2015)