weekly news summery

Azerbaijan

Political Front

Geo Strategic Front

• Armenia Seeks PACE Clarifications On Nagorno-Karabakh Panel

Armenian President Serzh Sarkissian meets PACE President Mevlut Cavusoglu in Yerevan on May 12.

• Azerbaijan Calls Nagorno-Karabakh Elections ‘Illegal’

BAKU -- Azerbaijan's Central Election Commission has denounced as illegal the upcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.

• European Parliament Calls For Greater EU Role In South Caucasus

European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said the EU will stick with its existing "good strategy" and "policy instruments," the European Neighborhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership project.

• Several agreements to be signed during Erdogan's visit to Azerbaijan

The program of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s visit to Azerbaijan is scheduled, said Chief of Public Policy Department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Ali Hasanov. “

• Organization of the Islamic Conference supports Azerbaijan's territorial integrity

Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and the peaceful settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the organization's secretary general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said at the opening of the 37th session of OIC Foreign Ministers.

• Prospects of Azerbaijan-US relations discussed in Baku

A delegation of the US National War College, consisting of senior military officers of the Pentagon, visited the Strategic Research Center under the President of Azerbaijan within their tour to the South Caucasus, the Center reported. Azerbaijani and US experts attended the round table on the Azerbaijan-US relations and priorities of domestic and foreign policy of Azerbaijan.

Economic /Energy Front

• Azerbaijani-Turkish Gas Deal Signing Postponed

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev (left) and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan

BAKU -- Azerbaijan and Turkey today said they will sign a deal on Azerbaijani natural gas exports to Turkey during President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Ankara on June 7-8, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.

Social Front

·        Azerbaijani Rights Activists Seek International Help On Torture Cases

Dozens of Azerbaijani nongovernmental organizations have signed a petition urging international organizations to support an investigation into torture cases in Azerbaijan, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.

• Azerbaijan Stops Mosque Demolition After Warning From Iranian Cleric

BAKU -- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has ruled that the controversial Fatimeyi-Zahra Mosque on the outskirts of Baku will be subordinated to the country's leading religious authority, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.

      Kazakastan

Political Front

• Kazakh Opposition Activist Faces New Charges

ALMATY -- A jailed Kazakh opposition activist is facing new charges for violently resisting police, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports. Yermek Narymbaev, the leader of the Arman (Dream) movement, was sentenced to 15 days in jail on May 2 for holding an unsanctioned mass gathering.

Geo Strategic Front

Economic /Energy Front

• Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan Customs Union Talks Fail

Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan have failed to reach agreement on establishing a joint customs union. In a statement from St. Petersburg, where leaders were discussing the possible union, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the sides "couldn't agree on all the issues."

Social Front

• Kazakhstan To Establish Council Of Elders

ASTANA -- The Kazakh government says it is planning to establish a Council of Elders, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports. Kazakh Culture Minister Mukhtar Kul-Mukhammed told journalists on May 18 that the council will be created in accordance with the "National Unity Doctrine," the final version of which was approved by President Nursultan Nazarbaev on May 17.

      Kyrgyzstan

Political Front

• OSCE Calls For Restraint After Deadly Kyrgyz Unrest

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is urging all parties in Kyrgyzstan to avoid further violence following clashes in the south of the country that left at least two people dead.

• Constitutional Crunch Time In Kyrgyzstan

Is Kyrgyzstan about to re-establish its image as the most democratic state in Central Asia, or will the interim government only worsen the spirit of discontent? This week the country faces a pivotal moment, when a special council releases a draft of the new constitution up for approval in a national referendum in late June. Kyrgyzstan's interim government has been in power for just over a month since crowds chased President Kurmanbek Bakiev from office in early April.

• Pro-Government Rally Held In Bishkek

A Kyrgyz youth group has staged a march and rally in the capital Bishkek in support of the interim government.

The group, which calls itself "Aykel," or People of Great Spirit, marched through Bishkek on May 16 carrying banners that read "We are for a unified and stable Kyrgyzstan," "North and South are our Kyrgyzstan" and "Bandits should sit in jail." An estimated 500-1,000 people participated.

• Bakiev's Former Chief Of Staff Under House Arrest In Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK -- The chief of staff of former President Kurmanbek Bakiev has been transferred from a detention center to his home where he will be under house arrest, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports. The transfer of Kanybek Joroev was made after a Bishkek court ruling.

• Kyrgyz Protesters Want Kazakhstan, Russia, U.S. To Help Extradite Bakiev

BISHKEK -- Relatives of those killed during the April 7 uprising in Kyrgyzstan are calling on the Kazakh, Russian, and U.S. governments to help extradite former Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev from Belarus, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

• Calm Returns To Cities Across Kyrgyzstan

Supporters of the interim government assault the administration headquarters in Osh after it was seized by backers of ousted president on May 14.

Cities across Kyrgyzstan are calm after backers of the interim government recovered buildings occupied by supporters of ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiev in the south of the country.

• Kyrgyz Communist Leader Jailed For Two Months

BISHKEK -- A Bishkek court ruled today that Communist Party leader Iskhak Masaliev should be detained for two months in connection with the takeover of government buildings in southern Kyrgyzstan last week, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz and Russian services report. Masaliev, 50, has officially been charged with organizing mass disorder on May 12-13 in the southern cities of Osh, Batken, and Jalal-Abad, where loyalists of former President Kurmanbek Bakiev briefly occupied several regional government headquarters.

• Ousted Osh Mayor, Deputy Blamed For Unrest In Kyrgyzstan

OSH, Kyrgyzstan -- A criminal case has been opened against the former mayor of the southern Kyrgyz city of Osh, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports. Sources in the Osh prosecutor's office told RFE/RL that former Mayor Mamasadyk Bakirov and his deputy, Aytmamat Kadyrbaev, are officially accused of organizing mass disorder in the city on May 13.

Geo Strategic Front

• Kazakhstan Reopens Border With Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK -- Kazakhstan has reopened its border with Kyrgyzstan, which has been closed for more than a month.

Economic /Energy Front

Social Front

• Kyrgyz Civilian Patrols Expand Security Role

Interim government followers disrupt a rally of Bakiev supporters. Many Kyrgyz feel the police have failed to keep the peace between rival groups.

Tajikistan

Political Front

• Tajik Court Sentences 36 For Membership In Banned Islamic Group

QURGHON-TEPPA, Tajikistan -- A Tajik court has sentenced 36 people to prison for being followers of the banned Islamic group Jamaat ut-Tabligh, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports. Judge Ikromjon Abdulhafizov, in the southern Khatlon Province, said the court had proven the guilt of the 36 accused.

Geo Strategic Front

• Top Islamic Body Holds Foreign Minister Meeting In Dushanbe

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon (right) shakes hands with Ahmad Muhammad Ali, Islamic Development Bank chairman, in Dushanbe on May 17.

• Top Islamic Body Holds Foreign Minister Meeting In Dushanbe

DUSHANBE -- A top Islamic body is holding a meeting of foreign ministers in Dushanbe, marking the first time the Tajik capital is playing host to the annual gathering, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.

• UAE foreign minister arrives in Tajikistan on official visit

DUSHANBE, May 17, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan arrived in Dushanbe today morning on an official visit, according to the Tajik MFA information department.

President Emomali Rahmon will hold talks with the UAE foreign minister today.  After a meeting with President Rahmon, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan will meet with his Tajik counterpart, Hamrokhon Zarifi.

• Rahmon receives Turkish FM

DUSHANBE, May 18, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- President Emomali Rahmon today received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu who arrived in Dushanbe to attend the 37th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Member States that opened here today, according to presidential press service.

• U.S. Special Envoy to the OIC attends 37th session of OIC foreign ministers in Dushanbe

DUSHANBE, May 18, 2010, Asia-Plus -- Mr. Rashad Hussain, Special Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and Ms. Nasreen Badat from the U.S. Office of International Religious Freedom have arrived in Dushanbe, according to the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe.

• Tajik president receives Iranian, Afghan foreign ministers

DUSHANBE, May 19, 2010, Asia-Plus /Rasoul Shodon/ -- President Emomali Rahmon yesterday held meetings with Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and the Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul.  The meetings focused on Tajikistan’s bilateral cooperation with Iran and Afghanistan.

Economic /Energy Front

• Tajikistan, WB sign agreement on additional financing for energy emergency recovery assistance project

DUSHANBE, May 15, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- An agreement on additional financing for the Energy Emergency Recovery Assistance project was signed by the Government of Tajikistan and the World Bank in Dushanbe in May 14, according to the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

• UNODC renovates border post in Tajikistan with funds supplied by U.S. Government

DUSHANBE, May 17, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The refurbished Border Guard Post at Yol in Shuroobod District was formally reopened at a May 14 ceremony attended by representatives of the Border Guards, UNODC, and the United States Embassy in Dushanbe, press release issued by UNODC Co in Tajikistan said.

• Japan provides some US$1.3 mln support development of human resources in Tajikistan

DUSHANBE, May 17, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- On May 17, 2010, Mr. Yoshihiro Nakayama, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in Dushanbe, and Mr. Hamrokhon Zarifi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan exchanged Notes concerning the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) in the framework of the Japanese Grant Aid, according to the Japanese Embassy in Dushanbe.

Social Front

• Presentation of Dushanbe as Islamic Culture Capital in 2010 takes place on May 18

DUSHANBE, May 17, 2010, Asia-Plus -- An official ceremony of presentation of Dushanbe as Capital of Islamic Culture for the year 2010 will take place in Dushanbe on May 18 in the framework f opening of the 37th Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Member States, according to the Ministry of Culture (MoC).

• US military transport aircraft airlifts humanitarian aid to Kulob

KULOB, May 17, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The U.S. military transport plane, C-17, has airlifted humanitarian aid to the city of Kulob for the disaster-hit people.

Damian Wampler, Press Attache, U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, told reporters in Kulob yesterday that the assistance included 84 tents (for 16 people each) from strategic reserves of Pentagon and the US rescue service for a total amount of 550,000 U.S. dollars.

      Turkmenistan

Political Front

• Turkmen Leader Again Advocates Multiparty System

DASHOGUZ, Turkmenistan -- Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov says he has ordered parliament to draft a law on political parties, RFE/RL's Turkmen Service reports.

• Mejlis of Turkmenistan to prepare draft law on political parties

In the course of the May 14 meeting of the Council of Elders in Dashoguz, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed the Mejlis (National Parliament) to prepare a draft law on political parties.

Geo Strategic Front

• Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Vladimir Putin hold telephone conversation

On May 19, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation. The conversation was initiated by the Russian side, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH) said.

Economic /Energy Front

• Programme for socio-economic development of Turkmenistan until 2030 signed

A meeting of the Council of Elders of Turkmenistan was held in Dashoguz on 14 May. The meeting considered the draft "National Programme for Socio-Economic Development of Turkmenistan in the period of 2011-2030," as well as a number of new laws of Turkmenistan such as "On local executive authorities", "On amendments to the Criminal Code of Turkmenistan and approval of the new edition of the Criminal Code", "On advocacy and legal practice in Turkmenistan", "On seed growing."

Social Front

• Turkmen Officials Deport RFE/RL Journalist

Turkmenistan's Migration Office in Ashgabat has banned an RFE/RL journalist from entering the country although he had a valid visa, RFE/RL's Turkmen Service reports.

Allamourad Rakhimov, a Prague-based broadcaster and native of Turkmenistan, arrived at Ashgabat airport early on May 19 with a visa that was initiated by his family.

• Days of Culture of Turkmenistan to be held in Moscow and St. Petersburg on 25-30 May

A number of events will take place in Moscow and St. Petersburg on 25-30 May 2010 as part of the Days of Turkmen Culture in Russia. As the Turkmenistan.ru correspondent reports from Moscow quoting the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Russia, the official delegation of the Ministry of Culture and Broadcasting of Turkmenistan as well as the delegation of artists totaling 65 people will participate in the events.

      Uzbekistan

Political Front

• Uzbekistan To Reduce Sentences For Those Who Repent

TASHKENT -- Uzbek President Islam Karimov has signed an amendment to the Penal Code which cuts an offender's prison term by up to one-third in the event he/she repents, RFE/RL's Uzbek Service reports.

• Does PM's Rise, Energy Firm's Demise Shed Light On Uzbek Succession Question?

If Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyaev is really in the running to become president one day, then he must feel his chances have improved lately. Mirziyaev has recently been given extra and significant responsibilities and made an important appearance in Moscow as a representative of Uzbekistan.

Geo Strategic Front

Economic /Energy Front

Social Front

• Controversy Over Uzbekistan Intrudes At Cannes AIDS Benefit

Liz Taylor and Giorgio Armani were among the notable guests who were expected to attend the celebrity fund-raising event Cinema Against AIDS in Cannes last night. It's become one of the big social events of the annual film festival and last year raised $4.5 million for AIDS research.