Chinese Foreign Minister visits Kazakhstan; Kazakhstan expresses concern over dam building by China in Xinjiang; Kazakh CEC approves referendum for extending Nazarbayev’s term;
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    • Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China Yang Jiechi paid an official visit to Astana on 27-29 December 2010 aimed at promoting Kazakh-Chinese strategic partnership. Discussions were held between the two sides on a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation in political, economic and humanitarian spheres. The foreign ministers of both the countries discussed coordinating efforts in Astana within international organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the United Nations and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA).1 Particularly discussions were held on the up coming events to mark the 10th SCO anniversary, to be held in 2011 in Kazakhstan and, 2012 in China. Kazakh Secretary of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kanat Saudabayev and Yang Jiechi signed the Memorandum on Cooperation for 2011-2013. Both sides agreed to deepen the mutual trust in political field, increase practical cooperation, enhance cultural exchanges and coordination in world affairs, promote increased understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries, and enhance cooperation in trade, infrastructure and energy.2

    Reports noted that the Kazakhstan government will discuss its concerns with Beijing over building dams in West China in early 2011. Kazakhstan believes that the frenzy in which the new dams and irrigation projects are built, have led to substantial water level drops in Kazakhstan’s Balkhash Lake. These constructions, taking place on the Xinjiang region bordering Kazakhstan, have reduced volumes of water flowing from Irtysh and Ili rivers that drain into the Lake.3 The Irtysh and Ili rivers, crucial to Kazakhstan's water security, have their source in Xinjiang, which sustains the livelihood of more than two million Kazakhs. The problem has been persisting since 2000 as China accelerated development in the region.4 “The water level is now lower by more than two metres to what it was three decades ago. Pollution is also rising, which has affected the banks and surrounding areas. Agriculture, the health of the ecosystem and the communities around it are at risk,” Gabit Koishibayev, a senior counsellor at the Kazakh Embassy in China who is involved in negotiations with the Chinese government noted.5

    Meanwhile reports noted that Kazakhstan's Central Election Commission has endorsed a bid by supporters of President Nursultan Nazarbayev to extend his term until 2020. A group of President Nursultan Nazarbayev's supporters had convened in Ust-Kamenogorsk earlier in December 2010 to take this decision. It would be worth noting that Nazarbayev's term ends in 2013, who has been president since 1990. Under the Kazakh constitution, proposed referenda must first be registered by the Kazakhstan's Central Election Commission (CEC), and then 200,000 signatures must be collected to put the question to the public.6

    The newly elected Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev was on a two days working visit to Moscow on December 27-28, 2010. This is the first visit of Prime Minister Alzambek abroad as head of the new government. The PM was accompanied by cabinet Ministers, Kyrgyz Ambassador to Russia Ulugbek Chinaliyev and other officials. He requested Russia to include a Kyrgyz monitor in the Customs Union between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus.7 Apart from the possibilities of joining the Customs union, both leaders discussed energy projects. In this regard the PM met representatives from Russia’s Gazprom and Rushydro and pushed for the resumption of joint energy projects.8

    Meanwhile, Kyrgyz interim President Roza Otunbayeva is proposed to be nominated for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize 2011 by the Islamic Human Rights Commission in Central Asia. This is in recognition for her efforts to bring in Parliamentary democracy within Central Asia and particularly Kyrgyzstan. As the interim President of Kyrgyzstan she oversaw the referendum in which vast majority of Kyrgyz citizens voted to switch the country from presidential to parliamentary system of government.9

    Reports noted that Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov signed a decree on December 28, 2010 to appoint Elyor Ganiev the country's Foreign Minister including other changes in the ministerial appointments.10 Meanwhile, Uzbekistan has raised the price it charges for gas sold to Kyrgyzstan, the Kyrgyz Energy Ministry announced on 29 Dec 2010. The new rates would be $255 for every 1,000 cubic meters of gas, as compared to $240 for the same amount in 2010.11 However, Kyrgyzstan’s state gas company Kyrgyzgas refutes the claim by Uzbek state gas company Uzbekneftegaz that the former failed to pay its 2010 gas bill amounting $3 million.12

    Tajikistan has paid off its entire $25 million debt owed to Turkey, the Tajik Finance Ministry said in a statement on December 31, 2010. The Central Asian nation had received $25 million in loans from Turkey in 1998. Turkey and Tajikistan have been trying to boost their economic relations, particularly in the past couple of years.13

    In other developments in the region, reports noted that issues relating to priorities and perspectives of the traditional Turkmenistan-Iran cooperation were discussed during a visit to Ashgabat by a high-level delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran led by Deputy Oil Minister, Chairman of the National Gas Company of Iran Javad Oudzhi.14

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