Eurasia News Digest (16-30 November, 2023)

Russia & Central Asia

Kazakhstan Takes Part in Meeting as Part of Global South Summit

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu, at the invitation by India’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Subrahmaniyam Jaishankar, participated in a ministerial meeting India and the Global South: Joint Development for a Better Future on Nov. 17, a crucial component of the second Voice of the Global South Summit. Nurtleu congratulated India for successfully concluding its presidency of the G20 this year. Emphasizing the strategic partnership between Astana and New Delhi, he underscored the importance of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Global South, highlighting the necessity to enhance transport connectivity and diversify transport routes. Click here to read... [2]

SCO Commends Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship within Organization

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Secretary-General Zhang Ming commended Kazakhstan’s efforts within its SCO chairmanship at the meeting with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Alibek Bakayev during his working visit to Beijing, China, on Nov. 21, reported the Foreign Ministry press service. During the meeting, Bakayev discussed multilateral cooperation and addressed the priorities of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in the SCO for 2023-2024. Along with pondering about how to enhance the SCO activities further, the sides looked in-depth at the Action Plan for the first half of 2024 within Kazakhstan’s chairmanship. Click here to read... [3]

SCO top prosecutors probe for ways to make their countries’ legal systems more efficient

Chief prosecutor Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states met in the Chinese city of Xi’an on November 8. The meeting resulted in signing of a memorandum confirming a mutual desire to expand cooperation and information sharing. The meeting participants reportedly made serious preparations, fully exchanged views and communicated frankly, focused on the theme of "the role of procuratorial organs in serving the modernization of the country", based on the actual situation of their own procuratorial work, and put forward many forward-looking and constructive thoughts and suggestions, which provided useful reference for the procuratorial organs of various countries to play the role of procuratorial functions and better serve the modernization of their countries. Click here to read... [4]

Hundreds of trucks strained at Ak-Tilek BPC on the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border

A queue of 500 cargo-carrying vehicles has reportedly formed at the Ak-Tilek border crossing as of morning of November 20. On November 19, 280 trucks proceeded from Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan via the Ak-Tilek border crossing, according to Fergana news agency. Kyrgyzstan’s Border Service was quoted as saying that accumulation of trucks at the border crossings is a seasonal phenomenon and related to the increase in the sport of agricultural goods from Kyrgyzstan. At the same time, trucks carrying animals and perishable products reportedly proceed via the crossing points out of turn. Click here to read... [5]

Kazakhstan’s authorities allow LPG prices to rise

On November 20, Deputy Energy Minister Alibek Zhamauov told reporters that from the start of 2024, prices for LPG will be allowed to increase at six-month intervals over the coming three years. The fuel is at present kept artificially cheap by state subsidies. This year alone, more than 300,000 cars have been converted from running on gasoline to LPG, Zhamauov said. This has led to a shortage to requirements of around 15,000 tons per month. And there is scope for this situation to worsen. There are more than 5 million registered vehicles on Kazakhstan’s roads – of that total 88 percent are passenger cars. Eurasianet notes that this is a troubling prospect in the country that saw a wave of political unrest sparked in early 2022 by a spike in the cost of that very same fuel. Click here to read... [6]

Russia meets Tajikistan's needs for petroleum products – Putin

Moscow is almost completely satisfying needs of the Dushanbe’s economy for petroleum products, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in the statement for mass media adopted together with leader of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, TASS reports. Gazprom Neft company is proactively working in the Tajik market, the head of state noted. "Our country is also helping Tajikistan in developing power generating facilities," Putin added. Click here to read... [7]

Kazakhstan officially launches digital tenge

The chairman of Kazakhstan’s National Payment Corporation (NPC), Binur Zhalenov, has made the first transaction with the country’s new central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital tenge. During his speech at the XI Congress of Finance in Almaty on Nov. 15, he paid with a debit card tied to the CBDC account, according to local outlet, Kapital. kz. Zhalenov unveiled the official launch of the digital tenge on Kazakhstan’s retail market today, promising the “massive platform’s development” in 2024. According to the official, Kazakhstan collaborated with Visa and Mastercard, as well as local banks, to integrate the CBDC into plastic cards. Click here to read... [8]

Russia hosts meeting with foreign ministers from Muslim countries to discuss the Gaza situation

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is hosting a meeting of foreign ministers from member nations of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss the situation in Gaza. Russia, which previously enjoyed close relations with Israel, has struck a cautiously pro-Palestinian position since the outbreak of war around Gaza, rebuking Israel for civilian casualties, and restating its long-standing support for a Palestinian state. In addition to seeking a ceasefire, the delegation plans to meet with officials representing each of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Their objective is to exert pressure on the Western nations to reject Israel’s justification for its actions against Palestinians as self-defense. Click here to read... [9]

Tajikistan and Russia sign a number of cooperation documents

Following their talks, Emomali Rahmon and Vladimir Putin witnessed the signing of a package of bilateral cooperation documents including a Plan for Industrial Cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Tajikistan and an Action Plan for transport cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan for 2023–2025. Click here to read... [10]

Chevron’s Kazakh Oil Output Hit in Raging Black Sea Storm

Crude oil loadings at key Black Sea ports in Russia and Ukraine continue to be halted amid a raging storm that has left an estimated two million people without power. Hurricane level winds, massive snowfall and heavy rain shut down electricity lines and led to major flooding. Train transport along the Russian Black Sea coast has also been halted after tracks fell into the sea. The regional storm has affected the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) oil terminal on Russia’s portion of the Black Sea, and it has also halted loadings at the Novorossiysk facilities. According to the CPC, waves of up to eight meters high were ravaging the region. Click here to read... [11]

President Tokayev Explores Aktau, Kuryk Port Expansion with Abu Dhabi Ports CEO

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discussed opportunities for cooperation in expanding Aktau and Kuryk ports with Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and CEO of Abu Dhabi (AD) Ports Group, on Nov. 27 in Astana, reported Akorda press service. According to Tokayev, the development of Aktau and Kuryk ports is a strategic goal of Kazakhstan. Given AD Ports Group’s extensive experience in transportation and logistics, both sides discussed the prospects for mutually beneficial work in this area. Click here to read... [12]

France Pitches Rafale to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan

France is looking to conclude sales of fighter jets to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, according to a report in French media. La Tribune reported on November 26 that French President Emmanuel Macron pitched the Dassault Rafale combat aircraft to both Astana and Tashkent as replacements for their Russian-made fighter jets during his visit to the region from November 1-2. The Uzbek military has recently begun a modernization program, inducting new Turkish-made combat drones earlier this month. Given the age of its combat jet fleet, Uzbekistan, in particular, is viewed as a potential customer, according to La Tribune. Uzbekistan has recently upgraded some of its MiG-29s but has yet to line up a replacement platform. Click here to read... [13]

Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan intend to increase comprehensive cooperation

On November 28, 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov met with the Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Mikail Jabbarov, who arrived in Ashgabat on a working visit. The sides noted the dynamic nature of the development of friendly relations between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. In this regard, the special role of high-level meetings and negotiations in strengthening the political and diplomatic dialogue was noted. In the framework of the negotiations, special attention was paid to interaction in the fuel and energy sector. In particular, an exchange of views took place on the current situation of Turkmen gas supplies to Azerbaijan and their prospects. At the same time, the possibilities of supplying Turkmen electricity to Azerbaijan were discussed. Click here to read... [14]

Tajikistan considers the possibility of joining Russia’s Agroexpress project

Tajikistan is considering the possibility of joining the Agroexpress project, a service for the delivery of food products using accelerated container trains. This initiative was included in the 2023-2025 roadmap for transport sector cooperation between Tajikistan and Russia that was approved by the Transport Minister of Tajikistan Azim Ibrohim and his Russian counterpart Vitaly Savelyev at a meeting that took place in Moscow on November 21, says the press center of the Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan (MoT). Click here to read... [15]

Middle Corridor Can Fulfill Different but Equally Valuable Roles

“Here is an idea. Why not make the Middle Corridor a humanitarian corridor to transport essential goods such as food, energy, health (medical, pharmaceuticals etc)? These goods are always and critically needed, and the Middle Corridor will be less subject to geopolitical tension.” It is one of the suggestions by Leila Batyrbekova, founder of ECATA – Europe and Central Asia Transport and Trade Association. “Regular transit cargo could be transported via the main corridor, of course when sanctions are not an issue.” The transport of essential goods should be guaranteed, and this corridor will be less of a risk, she argues. Click here to read... [16]

Regional engagement called for at the 11th session of the Herat Security Dialogue in Dushanbe

The 11th session of the Herat Security Dialogue took place in Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe on November 27-28. The session was reportedly attended by Afghan opposition figures and envoys of more than 20 countries and organizations. “Russia cannot solve the Afghan crisis [itself] unrealistic… Russia tried to use regional countries to solve these problems, not to destabilize Afghanistan, because for us, destabilization of Afghanistan is a very huge problem,” Vladimir Evseyev, Head of CIS Institute, was cited as saying. “[In] most countries, in the United Kingdom for example, there is no united opposition. It is unrealistic to expect complete unity, but I think it is realistic for Afghans to have a common enough vision for the future,” said Nicholas Kay, former UK Ambassador to Afghanistan. Click here to read... [17]

Iran and South Caucasus

Iran-EAEU FTA to be signed in near future

The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Eurasian and Economic Union (EAEU) are going to sign a long-awaited free trade agreement (FTA) in the coming month and the FTA could go operational in the next Iranian calendar year (begins in late March 2024), an official with Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) said. Speaking in a press conference held prior to the second EAEU exclusive exhibition Mohammad-Sadegh Ghannadzadeh said: "Currently, Iran and Eurasia have reached an understanding on the text and list of goods for free trade, and soon in Russia, five EAEU member countries and Iran will sign the agreement, and if approved by the parliament, the FTA will be implemented next year." Click here to read... [18]

Baku accuses France of stoking new war in Caucasus

Baku and Yerevan have been locked in a decades-long territorial conflict over Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh region, which Baku reclaimed in September after a lightning offensive against Armenian separatists. "[France] is pursuing a militaristic policy by arming Armenia, encouraging revanchist forces in Armenia, and laying the groundwork for provoking new wars in our region," Aliyev said in written comments to an international conference in Baku. Click here to read... [19]

Russia developing defense cooperation with Iran

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov declared that Iran and Russia are enhancing their military and defense partnership despite mounting pressure from the West. The spokesperson also declined to address U.S. allegations suggesting that Iran is contemplating providing ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the Ukraine conflict. "I don’t think this is worth a comment. We have been developing our relations with Iran, including defense cooperation, but we do not comment on this information," Peskov said. Click here to read... [20]

Baku ready for direct peace treaty talks with Yerevan

Baku says it is ready to enter into direct negotiations with Yerevan on a bilateral basis with the aim to finalize a peace treaty as soon as possible. "Stagnation in peace talks does not contribute to stability and prosperity in the region. Azerbaijan is ready for direct negotiations with Armenia on a bilateral basis to finalize a peace treaty as soon as possible. We believe that the two states should make decisions together on their future relations," the statement reads. It emphasizes that both countries "are responsible for the continuation of the peace process, including the choice of a mutually acceptable place [for negotiations] or the decision to hold a meeting at the state border." Click here to read... [21]

Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye mull military cooperation for 2024

The ministers shared their views on the prospects of cooperation in the fields of military education, military medicine and other aspects of mutual interest, said the ministry press service. They underlined the importance of joining efforts in the fight against factors that may pose a threat to regional security, and expanding the scope of trilateral military exercises and training, it said. The meeting ended with the signing of a protocol on conducting joint military drills among Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Georgia in 2024. Click here to read... [22]

Blinken holds separate calls with Azerbaijani, Armenian leaders to discuss peace process

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held separate phone calls with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to discuss efforts to reach a peace agreement between the two countries. According to a readout of the phone call between Blinken and Aliyev, the Secretary welcomed Aliyev’s commitment to "conclude a durable and dignified peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia." "The Secretary recognized the suffering that this long-standing conflict has caused Azerbaijanis and Armenians alike and underscored the benefits that peace would bring to everyone in the region," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. Click here to read... [23]

Government Approves De-oligarchization Action Plan

On November 27, at its weekly meeting, the Government of Georgia approved the “Action Plan for Avoiding the Excessive Influence of Vested Interests in Economic, Political and Public Life in Georgia”, also known as the “De-Oligarchization Plan”. At the beginning of the meeting, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said that he and Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili would communicate with European colleagues to inform them about the de-oligarchization plan. “It is our common wish that all these reforms envisaged in these nine steps will be implemented as soon as possible,” Prime Minister Garibashvili said, referring to the nine recommendations that Georgia must implement following European Commission’s recommendation of the country’s candidacy. Click here to read... [24]

Armenia Turns to Iran to Reduce Energy Dependence on Russia

As Armenia gradually turns away from its traditional strategic ally, Russia, it is tentatively exploring deeper partnerships with the likes of France and the United States. And then there is Iran. Tehran and Yerevan have enjoyed cordial – even warm – relations since the early 1990s. That entente now looks poised to develop yet further, but geopolitics makes this a complicated proposition. The appeal of this development is most evident in the numbers. As Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan told Armenian Public Television in an interview aired on November 14, trade between Armenia and Iran is booming. Where the countries traded $350 million worth of goods in 2021, the expectation is that this figure will rise to $1 billion by next year, he said. Click here to read... [25]