Eurasia News Digest (1-15 November, 2023)

Russia & Central Asia

Uzbekistan, France hold imperative bilateral agreements

The governments of Uzbekistan and France signed eight bilateral documents on November 2, in Samarkand on various areas of cooperation to vitalize the mutual strategic partnership. Extensive talks were held between the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron in an expanded format with the participation of the official delegations of the two countries on November 2, in Samarkand. The eight bilateral documents were signed by the delegations in the fields of finance, education, culture, and other areas of bilateral cooperation in the presence of the Presidents. Click here to read... [2]

Central Asia fears Israel-Gaza war could fuel radicalization

Central Asian analysts have raised fears that the war between Israel and Hamas might have a ripple effect across the region, fueling a new wave of radicalization exacerbated by the effect of strident Russian propaganda. Regional authorities issued a series of calls to stop the violence and resolve the crisis through political and diplomatic means. While public perception reflects these positions, the tone of discussion is not as composed. Social media is filled with heated debate that risks incite ethnic and religious discord. Click here to read... [3]

Kazakhstan Intends to Increase Export Volumes to Hungary by $700 Million

Kazakhstan is ready to increase exports to Hungary in 95 types of products worth nearly $700 million, said Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov at a Nov. 2 meeting with Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. In 2022, the trade turnover between the countries increased by 24% to $172 million. This year, the countries maintain positive dynamics. Click here to read... [4]

Uzbekistan allocates funds for Gaza through UN agency for Palestinian refugee

Uzbekistan has allocated funds to UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, to provide humanitarian assistance to the population of Gaza Strip, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said on Friday. Speaking at the 10th leaders' summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Kazakhstan's capital Astana, Mirziyoyev urged Israel and Hamas to a cease fire. The only and most just solution to this problem should be adopted on the basis of the principle of "two states for two peoples," he stressed. Click here to read... [5]

Central Asia to face water shortage in five years

Central Asia will face water shortage in 2028-2029. The EDB Board Chairman Nikolay Podguzov announced at the World Hydropower Congress. According to him, a significant increase in demand for electricity is expected in the region at the same time. Hydropower plays a key role in the region not only in electricity generation, but also in regulating the flow of rivers for irrigation purposes. Therefore, the countries are interested in multipurpose use of their water resources and want to attract investments to develop water potential. Click here to read... [6]

Kazakh PM Outlines New Horizons in China Cooperation at Import Expo in Shanghai

Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov outlined key aspects of Kazakh-Chinese cooperation during the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai on Nov.5. Smailov underscored the significance of consolidated efforts, especially amid geopolitical tensions worldwide, to achieve sustainable economic development. Like many other nations, Kazakhstan grapples with the consequences of global economic challenges, including trade impediments, disruptions in manufacturing networks, and financial instability. Click here to read... [7]

Turkic Integration Gains Momentum as OTS Summit Concludes in Astana

Turkic integration is gaining momentum amidst ongoing geopolitical turbulence. As the 10th anniversary summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) concludes in Astana on Nov. 3, experts are optimistic about the future of the organization. The summit, hosted by Kazakhstan, was attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban, and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council) of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, representing observer states in OTS, also participated. The event provided a platform for discussions on strengthening economic, cultural, and political ties among Turkic-speaking countries. Click here to read... [8]

Saudi Arabia ready to provide US$100 million for completion of construction of Roghun HPP

The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has announced its readiness to provide a concessional loan of 375 million riyals (equivalent to 100 million US dollars) for completion of the construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power plant (HPP) in Tajikistan. Thus, SFD becomes the first among the world development funds to express a desire to finance the Roghun hydropower project.

The funds that can be allocated for completion of the construction of the Roghun hydropower plant make up half of all financial assistance provided by the SFD to Tajikistan since 2002. Click here to read... [9]

Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Lu’s Travel to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and India

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will travel to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and India on November 4-11. Assistant Secretary Lu will lead a U.S. delegation to Central Asia to build on the success of the inaugural C5+1 Presidential Summit on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in September and the C5+1 Regional Connectivity Ministerial in October. Assistant Secretary Lu will then travel to India to prepare for and support the U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. Click here to read... [10]

Iraq and Turkmenistan make progress toward deal to transport gas via Iran

Iraq and Turkmenistan agreed to the terms of a gas deal on Wednesday, marking another important step in Iraqi efforts to diversify its supply. An Iraqi delegation led by Electricity Minister Ziad Ali Fadel met with representatives of Turkmengaz, Turkmenistan’s state gas company, in the Turkmen capital of Ashgabat on Wednesday. During the meeting, the two sides signed a protocol stipulating that Turkmenistan will supply Iraq with 9 billion cubic meters of gas per year. In a statement on Thursday, Turkmenistan’s Foreign Ministry said the gas will be transported via Iran for five years. Click here to read... [11]

Russia’s central Asian neighbour holds key to Moscow’s gas export hurdles

Kazakhstan will seek to strengthen its role as transit country for Russian natural gas shipments to Central Asia and possibly to China and Pakistan before committing to long-term gas supply agreements with gas giant Gazprom, the country’s top officials told Russian President Vladimir Putin on his visit to Astana on Thursday. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev set the tone by publishing his remarks in a Moscow-based newspaper on the eve of the Putin’s visit, writing that “we are interested in making the full use of our transit potential and are ready to further increase the volume of Russian gas transportation”. Click here to read... [12]

Putin visits Kazakhstan, part of his efforts to cement ties with ex-Soviet neighbors

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Kazakhstan on Thursday, part of his efforts to cement ties with the ex-Soviet neighbor and major economic partner in the midst of tensions with the West over Ukraine. Putin’s talks in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana follow his trip last month to Kyrgyzstan for a summit of ex-Soviet nations and a visit to China. Click here to read... [13]

EU will not ‘push’ Russia out of Central Asia, says Russian foreign minister

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the European Union of attempting to drive Russia out of Central Asia, and said the bloc was failing, in an interview broadcast. Moscow’s sway over a region it considers its sphere of influence has waned since the offensive in Ukraine, with Europe, Russia, China, Turkey and Iran all vying for influence in Central Asia. “The European Union isn’t hiding its intentions to restrain [Russia] in every possible way and push it out of Central Asia and the South Caucasus,” Lavrov said. Click here to read... [14]

Kazakhstan, Türkiye Sign Military Cooperation Plan for 2024

Kazakhstan and Türkiye have inked a military cooperation plan for 2024, strengthening their bilateral ties in various strategic sectors. A statement released by the Defence Ministry of Kazakhstan revealed that the comprehensive document was signed following negotiations between Kazakh Colonel General Ruslan Zhaksylykov and Turkish Minister of National Defense Yashar Guler in Ankara. During the discussions, both parties delved into the current state and future prospects of their mutual interests. Click here to read... [15]

Iranian President's Visit To Tajikistan Symbolic Of Growing Rapprochement

Up-and-down relations between Iran and Tajikistan in the past decade shot up again after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's official visit to Dushanbe on November 8-9, his second trip to the Tajik capital in 18 months. Raisi's visit to Tajikistan was symbolically important amid a rapprochement between the countries that overshadowed the relatively standard batch of bilateral agreements that were signed. Click here to read... [16]

Iran and South Caucasus

Iranian president to visit Tajikistan on November 7

The Iranian president will pay an official visit to Tajikistan on November 7-8. A bilateral meeting with the Tajik president followed by a second meeting with a wider circle is planned within the framework of the visit," Abdufattoh Sharifzoda said. In October, Rahmon and Tajik Defense Minister Sherali Mirzo discussed security issues with Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiyani in Dushanbe. Click here to read... [17]

Talk of Joining the Union State of Russia and Belarus Spurs Debate in Occupied Abkhazia

On November 1, the de-facto legislature of the occupied Abkhazia was supposed to hold a special extended meeting of the “Committee on International, Inter-parliamentary Relations and Relations with Compatriots” to discuss Abkhazia’s readiness to join the Union State of Russia and Belarus. However, as committee chairman Alkhaz Bartsits says, the meeting did not take place top diplomat Inal Ardzinba was in “on a business trip.” Click here to read... [18]

US top diplomat Blinken meets Turkish FM for tough Israel-Gaza talks

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met his Turkish counterpart as he continued a challenging Middle East tour aimed at easing regional tensions over the Israel-Hamas war. Blinken met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan for two and a half hours in the Turkish capital Ankara, but was snubbed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Blinken’s trip to Turkey follows on the heels of strained meetings with Arab leaders in Iraq, Palestine, and Jordan over the weekend. Click here to read... [19]

German Foreign Minister Again Appeals For Armenia, Azerbaijan To Return To Peace Talks

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has again appealed for a rapid continuation of peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia under the mediation of EU Council President Charles Michel. "People throughout the region are hoping for peace. This requires a willingness for the benefit of all Azerbaijanis and Armenians to find a new way of living together," Baerbock said on November 4 after talks with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in Baku. This is the only way to achieve lasting peace, she said, adding that this would also be in Azerbaijan's interests. Click here to read... [20]

Armenia says outline of a peace deal agreed with Azerbaijan

Armenia's prime minister says there's broad agreement on mutual recognition of territorial integrity, border demarcation, and the opening of transport links. Pashinyan told parliament on October 30 that a peace deal is "realistic" if the sides remain faithful to the principles of mutual recognition of territorial integrity, delimitation/demarcation of the shared border based on the 1991 Almaty declaration and the opening of transport links in a way that respects the two countries' sovereignty and customs laws. Click here to read... [21]

Georgia recommended for EU membership candidate status

After much suspense and speculation, Europe's doors opened slightly wider for Georgia on November 8 when the European Union laid out its plan for making itself a bigger place in the future. Georgia was recommended for membership candidate status - a move that many hope will help sharpen the nation's blurred focus on EU integration and democracy-building. Click here to read... [22]

Armenia receives French armored vehicles instead of Ukraine

The announcement was made by journalist and analyst Leonid Nersisyan on Sunday, accompanied by photos of the armored vehicles spotted in the Georgian port of Poti en route to Armenia. It is worth noting that the Bastion armored vehicles received by Armenia are the same vehicles that Arquus pledged to deliver to Ukraine in 2022 from its stock of 24 units. Click here to read... [23]