Eurasia News Digest (1-15 October 2023)

Russia & Central Asia

Germany and Central Asian states voice support for closer cooperation via 'Middle Corridor'

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed leaders from the five Central Asian states for their first-ever summit on Friday, as EU member states seek to win geopolitical allies in the region. In Berlin, leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan discussed strengthening regional and economic cooperation - and the development of the so-called ‘Middle Corridor’ route, connecting the region with Europe. "The leaders confirmed their interest in developing the Middle Corridor and attracting financing for infrastructure projects under the Global Gateway initiative,” the leaders announced in a joint declaration. Click here to read... [2]

Tokayev, Heads of Central Asian States Meet with German Chancellor in Berlin

The synergy of Germany’s political influence and economic opportunities with the enormous potential of the Central Asian states can make a great contribution to the region’s sustainable progress, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a meeting with Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz and heads of Central Asian countries in Berlin on Sept. 29. Click here to read... [3]

Countries participating in 'Middle Corridor' discuss new areas of cooperation

A meeting of the working group on the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, Middle Corridor) and the general meeting of the Association of Legal Entities "International Association "Trans-Caspian International Transport Route" took place in Aktau, Trend reports. During the meeting, agreements were signed on interaction and measures of responsibility when organizing the transportation of goods as part of container trains along the TITR route using feeder vessels and on the organization of container transportation in direct international railway and water communication with the participation of feeder vessels between ports of the Caspian Sea. Click here to read... [4]

Sarzha Multifunctional Marine Terminal Receives Its First Cargo Shipment

The Sarzha multifunctional marine terminal marked its official inauguration on Sept. 29 with the first cargo shipment received for further transportation to the port of Baku via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) in October, reported the Semurg Invest company’s press service. The opening ceremony of the terminal at the port of Kuryk took place in the presence of Symbat Toretayev, the Akim (mayor) of the Karakiya District of the Mangystau Region. The event signaled the start of general cargo operations at the Sarzha Cargo Terminal. The Kazakh development company Semurg Invest spent several years building the terminal along the TITR, recently gaining attention as a focal point of growth. Click here to read... [5]

Turkmenistan and Germany agree to develop bilateral relations

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov held a meeting with Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany for Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia Matthias Luttenberg on September 29 as part of the working visit of Chairman of the People's Assembly of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Germany. The parties discussed a wide range of issues and outlined prospects for bilateral cooperation, the Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan noted. Click here to read... [6]

Kazakhstan to follow sanctions against Russia – Tokayev

Kazakhstan has clearly stated that it will follow the sanctions regime against the Russian Federation, said President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev after negotiations with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Trend reports. "We have contacts with the relevant organizations to comply with the sanctions regime, and it seems to me that there should not be any concerns on the German side regarding possible actions aimed at circumventing the sanctions regime," he said. Click here to read... [7]

Mysterious Border Protocol Signed Between Kyrgyz and Tajik Security Chiefs

On October 2 in Batken, Kyrgyzstan, the heads of the Kyrgyz and Tajik security services reportedly signed a protocol that “gives us the basis to resolve all border issues,” as Kamchybek Tashiev, head of Kyrgyzstan’s Committee for National Security (SCNS or GKNB) put it. Although authorities in both countries released identical statements, neither has published or disclosed the actual details of “Protocol No. 44,” signed amid a regular meeting of an intergovernmental commission that has sought to resolve the two countries’ long-standing border disputes. Click here to read... [8]

China to Stay Long in Power Sector of Kazakhstan

Power sector is one of the most attractive sectors of Kazakhstan economy for Chinese investors. The volume of investments from China to this sphere has already exceeded 25 billion dollars in the last 17 years. China is interested not only in petroleum and gas projects, but also in renewable energy, which is of special interest to Kazakhstan. Click here to read... [9]

Rosatom states readiness to discuss the possibility of constructing nuclear power plant in Tajikistan

According to TASS, Rosatom Deputy Director General Nikolay Spassky told reporters on October 3 that Russia and Tajikistan are considering the possibilities of cooperation in the nuclear sector and technology. "We are talking about nuclear medicine, geological exploration and production of minerals, rare earth metals, training of people and related areas such as digitalization," he said. Click here to read... [10]

Saudi Fund for Development Signs New $20 Million Development Loan Agreement to Construct and Equip Schools in Tajikistan

The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) Chief Executive Officer, H.E. Sultan Al-Marshad, signed today a new development loan agreement with the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Kahhorzoda Fayziddin Sattor, through which SFD is contributing $20 million USD to fund the fifth phase of the "Constructing and Equipping of Secondary Schools" project in Tajikistan. Attending the signing ceremony was the Deputy Minister of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan, Majidi Yusuf Khayrullo, and the Saudi Ambassador to Tajikistan, H.E. Waleed Al-Reshiadan, alongside other officials from both sides. Click here to read... [11]

Iraq signs 'preliminary' gas deal with Turkmenistan

"Iraq and Turkmenistan signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday to provide Turkmen gas to the country, as part of the government's program to diversify its energy sources to ensure a stable and sustainable power supply," a statement from Baghdad's electricity ministry said. Iraq's Minister of Electricity Ziad Fadel clarified that "the pipelines of the Islamic Republic of Iran, connected to Iraqi transport pipelines, will be used to reach the power plants" in Iraq. Click here to read... [12]

How do Central Asian nations respond to conflict between Israel and Palestine?

Hamas declared a military operation against Israel on October 7, resulting in 5,000 rockets and shells fired towards Israel on the same day. While gunfire persists in several Gaza locations, the people have begun a revolution and are returning to nation-building. The head of Hamas' military wing, Muhammad Deif, h osas urged 'everyone with a rifle to take it out'. However, the Israel Defense Forces claim that the militants do not have complete control. Despite claims by Israeli authorities, residents, Amnesty International, and other human rights organizations, a senior Hamas spokesperson stated that militants did not target civilians. Daryo's editorial team has thoroughly gathered key comments from Central Asian countries thus far. Click here to read... [13]

Work on the second phase of Qosh Tepa Canal starts in Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s media reports say that following the completion of the work of the first phase of the Qosh Tepa Canal, work on its second phase began on October 11. TOLOnews reports that senior officials of the Islamic Emirate who went to Balkh province to participate in the opening ceremony of the second phase of the Qosh Tepa Canal, said that Afghanistan will reach self-sufficiency in growing its own grains. “The Islamic Emirate intends to pay serious attention to agriculture and managing water, as we witness its good example in taking steps in the building of the Qosh Tepa Canal,” Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy prime minister for economic affairs, was quoted as saying. Click here to read... [14]

Iran and South Caucasus

Azerbaijan unveils reintegration plan for Armenians in Karabakh

Azerbaijan unveiled a plan for the reintegration of the Armenian population of Karabakh, state media reported. According to a document published by Azerbaijani state news agency AzerTag, Azerbaijan ensures equality of rights and freedoms for all, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or language. The administration of territories inhabited by Armenians will be conducted through special representative offices appointed by the president of Azerbaijan, with the participation of local residents. Local administrations, called municipalities, will be formed through elections. Click here to read... [15]

Georgia claims US contributes funds to coup preparations

Two weeks ago, the Georgian government said a coup was being plotted for this fall. Now it claims the U.S. is helping fund it. USAID, the international aid arm of the US government, and its Serbia-based partner organization that organized the DIY revolution workshop in Tbilisi have dismissed the claim as false and absurd. The US Embassy in Tbilisi assailed the Georgian claims, saying they “fundamentally mischaracterize” the goals of US assistance to the country. Domestic critics contend that the government’s accusations are politically motivated, intended to kneecap opposition elements as Georgia gears up for parliamentary elections in 2024. Click here to read... [16]

Georgian PM: new defence code “of national importance”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday hailed the country’s recently adopted defence code as being of “national importance” and said the Defence Ministry would be “fully authorised” to ensue compulsory military conscription starting from 2025. In his comments at the weekly Government meeting, the official said the code approved by the Parliament with its third and final reading in late September offered six-, eight- and 12-month training programmes for recruits in accordance with their career decisions. Click here to read... [17]

Ukrainian, Azerbaijani Leaders Affirm 'Territorial Integrity' In Talks

krainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on October 4 said he and Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev both "affirmed our commitment to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity" during a telephone conservation. "We also discussed regional security, actual challenges, and formats of mutual cooperation," Zelenskiy's statement on Telegram said. Aliyev's office in a statement confirmed the call and stressed that Zelenskiy also expressed thanks to Azerbaijan for the humanitarian aid that Baku has sent to Ukraine to tackle problems caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022. Click here to read... [18]

Tehran strongly opposes proposed Zangezur corridor, Raisi says

Raisi made the comments in a meeting with the Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council Armen Grigoryan on Wednesday in Tehran. Reiterating Iran’s stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Raisi emphasized that the Zangezur corridor is a platform for NATO presence in the region and a threat to the national security of countries, which the Islamic Republic firmly is at loggerheads with. Grigoryan presented detailed reports about the Caucasus during the meeting. Click here to read... [19]

Armenian PM signs declaration with EU on recognizing Azerbaijan's borders, including Garabagh

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at a meeting with representatives of the EU, Germany, and France on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit in Granada (Spain) signed a declaration recognizing Azerbaijan's 86,600 sq km territory, including Garabagh, Azernews reports citing the text of the declaration circulated by the EU Council. The parties remain committed to all efforts aimed at normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the basis of mutual recognition of the sovereignty, inviolability of borders, and territorial integrity of Armenia (29,800 sq km) and Azerbaijan (86,600 sq km), as already stated in the statements of the President of the European Council Charles Michel on 14 and 15 May 2023, the document says. Click here to read... [20]

NATO PA Condemns Russia’s Intent to Build Naval Base in Occupied Abkhazia

NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) adopted on October 9 a resolution – “Strengthening Stability and Security in the Black Sea Region Following Russia’s Full Scale Invasion of Ukraine,” which, among other issues, denounces Russia’s occupation of Georgia, condemns the Kremlin’s plan to build a naval base in occupied Abkhazia, and reiterates support for Georgia’s eventual NATO membership. Click here to read... [21]

Aliyev Says Azerbaijan Ready to 'Instantly' Begin Georgia-Hosted Talks with Armenia

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said his country is willing to “instantly” begin peace talks with Armenian leaders “here in Georgia” if Yerevan agrees to negotiations following Baku’s victory last month over ethnic-Armenian separatists in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. “We need Georgia's involvement in this situation,” Aliyev said following meetings with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in Tbilisi on October 8. Click here to read... [22]

Foreign Ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia might meet in Kyrgyzstan

Contemplating the potential of holding discussions among the many international ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on October 12 this yr in Bishkek on the sidelines of the CIS summit occasions, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin stated, Trend studies. He emphasised that the dialog between Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on the entire vary of points is ongoing. Click here to read... [23]

Iran and Azerbaijan begin building road to Nakhchivan

Construction of a road from Azerbaijan to its exclave Nakhchivan through Iranian territory has begun. This road will plausibly stand in the place of the “Zangezur Corridor” road that would have run from Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan through the southern Armenian province of Syunik. Armenia had committed itself, in Point 9 of the November 2020 Trilateral Declaration putting an end to military hostilities of the Second Karabakh War, to the construction of such a road. Click here to read... [24]