Kyrgyzstan and Turkey sign a number of bilateral documents as part of Turkish PM Erdogan’s visit to Bishkek; Tajikistan and European Union discusses the prospects of improving bilateral ties; Iran and Tajikistan sign an MoU to complete the construction o
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    • According to reports, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey have signed a number of bilateral documents as part of the official visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Bishkek. These agreements include cooperation in the field of tourism, investment opportunities and forestry.1

    In another development, according to reports, as part of Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon’s visit to Brussels, the two countries have discussed the prospects of improving bilateral ties and regional cooperation. Special attention was given to development of a new European Union's Central Asian Strategy for 2014-2020 with issues like energy and health care topping the agenda. 2

    Reports noted that Iran and Tajikistan have signed an MoU to complete the construction of strategically important Istiqlol tunnel by the end of September 2013. The tunnel located 80 kms northwest of Dushanbe and has length of 5 km. It connects Dushanbe with Tajikistan’s second largest city, Khujand. It is also a transit route between Dushanbe and Tashkent. 3

    President Almazbek Atambayev has said that Kyrgyzstan is committed to joining the Customs Union comprising of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. 4

    According to reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia will continue to use Kazakhstan’s space station Baikonur despite tensions which have been brewing over license fees and rocket restrictions. Russia has a contract agreement with Kazakh officials to lease the space facility until 2050, paying $115 million on an annual basis to use it. 5

    Reports noted that Kazakhstan’s petrol production has dropped by 18.2 percent in the first three months of 2013 compared to levels produced during the same period in 2012. With total production for the January-March 2013 period amounting to 600,000 tons of petroleum, the decline can largely be attributed to the closure of its 3 refineries which will remain shut till 2016 for undergoing modernisation. 6

    In other developments, according to reports, President Nazarbayev, during his official meeting with his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambayev, has said that Kazakhstan will assist in the economic development of Kyrgyzstan. This includes strengthening the working of Kazakh-Kyrgyz investment fund, which is intended to hold US$ 100 million of capital to sponsor investment projects in Kyrgyzstan. 7

    According to reports, the United States embassy in Dushanbe has handed over equipment and vehicles worth US$ 2 million to border troops of Tajikistan. The vehicles should assist in combating the threat of narcotics and contraband trafficking. 8

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