Kazakhstan to host SCO tenth anniversary; Kazakh presidential election to be held in April 2011; Seventh Asian Winter Games held in Astana-Almaty; Turkish PM Erdogan visits Kyrgyzstan; Tajikistan to introduce E-Voting system;
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    • The 10th anniversary jubilee summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will be held on June 15, 2011 in Kazakhstan’s capital city Astana. This was announced by Kazak foreign affairs ministry on 1st February. It would be worth noting that Kazakhstan has been chairing the major security grouping since summer 2010.1

    Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev have signed a decree on February 4, calling early presidential elections on April 3, 2011 which was to be originally held in 2012. The Kazakh President has rejected the referendum proposal to extend his term up to 2020. In response to Nazarbayev’s proposal to call early polls, the two houses of parliament convened two days early to make the necessary constitutional amendments, which have been passed.2

    Meanwhile, the 7th Asian Winter Games were held from January 31 to February 6 in two cities of Astana and Almaty. Astana has spent $1.5 billion preparing for the games, the first sporting event of its size in Central Asia. 26 countries participated in 69 events. Kazakhstan finished on top of the medals table with 70 out of 207 medals. Japan and Korea reached second and third places respectively. Sapporo, a city of Japan will host the next games in 2017.3

    Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was on a two day visit to Kyrgyzstan from February 1-2 Feb, 2011. During the visit, he met with his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambayev. At a joint press conference the two sides had agreed to lift 90-day visa requirements in both countries and create a joint council to facilitate economic cooperation.4 The leaders plan to lift all visa requirements for Turkish and Kyrgyz nationals by the end of 2011. Erdogan announced additional $15 million in assistance to Kyrgyzstan, to the $10 million given in 2010, to help Bishkek recover from political tumult.5 Both leaders announced the implementation of a Strategic High-Level Cooperation Council, to be held in March, to further economic ties. Erdogan also said he supported more tripartite cooperation between Turkey, Kyrgyzstan and Russia that would make investments in Kyrgyzstan.6 Turkish Defense minister Vecdi Gonul—who accompanied Erdogan as part of the delegation—announced this week that his country will give the Kyrgyz army $1 million in additional to the $8.5 million in funds and supplies it has given the Central Asian country’s armed forces since 1991.7 Turkey will also support the construction of a new military training center in the southern province of Osh, which will be part of the Military Institute of the Kyrgyz forces.8

    Tajikistan will partially introduce an electronic voting system in time for its 2015 parliamentary elections as per the financial conditions of the country. The country’s Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER) said it plans to set up the system in the regional administrative centers and cities of Dushanbe, Khorog, Khujand, Kulob, Qurghon-Teppa and Tursunzoda. The e-voting systems technology can permit voting via telephones, private computer networks and the internet, making it easier for distant or disabled voters to cast their ballots.9 The other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) that have already implemented this system are Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

    Key players in Tajikistan’s energy sector held a meeting in Dushanbe to discuss the development of renewable energies. The seminar was called to discuss a law passed in late December 2010 meant to protect the environment in light of Tajikistan’s increased renewable energy development.10 This law provides for obtaining electricity from other sources, in particular, small hydro, solar, wind power and other sources.11

    Turkmenistan government officials welcomed representatives from two dozen German companies to discuss economic cooperation and development. The discussions were held on continuing cooperation in economic sectors, including oil and gas, transport and agriculture. Representatives from the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technologies were also part of the delegation. German representatives expressed keen interest in participating in the development of various sectors of Turkmenistan economy as well as in initiating new projects within Turkmenistan.12

    Reports noted that plans are at work in Uzbekistan to add a third line to the Kazakhstan-China pipeline. The third line is part of a list of projects presented by Uzbek planners and approved by Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov. The $2.2 billion project is slated to be completed by the end of 2013 and will receive funding assistance from the China State Development Bank and the China National Petroleum Company (CNPC). The new pipeline will transport 25 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas each year.13 The current pipelines run through the Uzbek regions of Bukhara, Kashkadarya and Navoi, and then connect with Kazakhstan’s gas transportation system.14

    In other developments, reports noted that to further spur economic cooperation with China, Uzbek authorities are opening a trade house in eastern Uzbekistan. An opening ceremony for the regional office took place on February 3, 2011. The Uzbek-China Trading House will be located in Namangan province which has strong ties with China, having exported $1.5 million worth of products.15 The other Uzbek-Chinese Trade House is located in the Uzbek capital Tashkent.

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