Kazakh President seeks re-election in April; Kazakh President calls for privatization in Kazakhstan; Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan to review safety of Kirov Dam; Kyrgyz-Tajik DMs discuss border security; Kyrgyz air fleet to be upgraded by Russia; Turkey helps Ky
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    • Reports noted that Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev has accepted the nomination of the country’s ruling party, Nur Otan, to run for re-election in snap presidential polls scheduled for early April.1 Meanwhile, President Nursultan Nazarbayev has given a call on the February 11, 2011 to begin Kazakhstan’s planned privatization program this year. The first wave of the program is to be followed in 2012-2013 with initial public offerings (IPOs) or the “People’s IPO” by state owned companies.2

    Reports noted that water experts from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to review the safety of an aging Kirov dam that is located on their border. Kazakhstan had raised concerns over the safety of its Taraz city, which lies downstream of the dam.3

    The Defense Minister Abibilla Kudaiberdiev of Kyrgyzstan met with his Tajikistan’s counterpart Sherali Khayrullaev on February 8 to discuss mounting security concerns from Kyrgyzstan with possibilities that terrorists may slip across the Tajik border. Apart from this they also discussed on regional military cooperation, crisis response cooperation and other regional security issues.4

    According to reports, Russia is preparing to offer Kyrgyzstan a range of modern aircraft and helicopters to help modernize its aging civil fleet. The delegates from Moscow visited the Kyrgyz capital for the 12th meeting of the Intergovernmental Kyrgyz-Russian commission on trade-economic, scientific-technical and humanitarian cooperation. During this meeting, both the sides agreed that Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and Russian Helicopters firm will issue proposals within one month, giving the Kyrgyz government three months to respond.5 The Russian side pointed out that the Kyrgyz republic could use its new Sukhoi Superjet 100 and Antanov An-148 passenger aircraft, which would be very well suited for the climate in Kyrgyzstan. It could also use B-200 amphibious planes and Ka-32A11VS, Ka-226, Mi-17 and Mi-8 helicopters.6

    Meanwhile reports noted that Turkey helped 121 Kyrgyz nationals – mainly students to be evacuated from Egypt by providing a plane to fly them home. According to the foreign ministry sources, more than 200 Kyrgyz nationals have refused to leave Egypt and remain in the country.7

    The United States has signed a deal to pass part of a $630 million Afghanistan fuel contract to a newly formed state company in Kyrgyzstan on February 8, 2011. The deal has been signed in a compromise designed to safeguard its air base— a crucial supply hub for the war in Afghanistan.8

    Reports noted that Iran is planning to build new hydroelectric dams in Tajikistan— a large 170-megawatt Ayni hydropower plant (HPP) and invest in two 350-megawatt upgrades of the Nurabad HPP—as its ongoing hydro construction projects near completion.9

    Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov visited Bahrain on February 9 on his first two-day state visit to the Persian Gulf country. He will discuss expanding bilateral cooperation and economic trade with the country’s top officials.10 Turkmenistan, which was previously an isolationist country under former President Sapurmurat Niyazov, has been expanding its ties with Gulf countries, including stepping up cooperation with the United Arab Emirates as well as Qatar and Saudi Arabia.11

    Meanwhile, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Pakistan Turkmenistan may offer surplus gas and excess electricity to help Pakistan get out of the energy crisis that is hampering its growth.12

    Reports noted that Pakistan officials told a Turkmen delegation that Pakistan wants all partners, in the GSPA (Gas Sales Purchase Agreement), of the proposed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline to pay the same price for gas; Pakistan officials told a Turkmen delegation visiting Pakistan this week. It would be worth noting that the current gas pricing proposal would have Pakistan and India pay higher prices than other partners to account for security and transport fees from the Turkmen border through volatile Afghanistan.13

    President Islam Karimov visited Japan on February 9-11, 2011 to reach substantial agreements on uranium and economic development in Uzbekistan. A memorandum of understanding released jointly showed that Japan will provide a $218 million loan to further develop Uzbekistan’s railroad system.14 Uzbekistan also expressed its support for Japan to join the United Nations Security Council. Japan also plans to assist in the search for rare earths elements on Uzbek soil.15

    More importantly, Uzbekistan has signed an agreement with Japan to jointly explore and develop uranium in Uzbekistan which has around 122,356 tons of nuclear metal, having twelfth largest reserves in the world.16 As per the agreement, Uzbekistan will supply uranium to Japan for the next 10 years which marks Japan’s latest step in a strategy to diversify its natural energy sources, and in part to wean itself off from heavy dependence on China.17

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