News Catch-up

Regional

• Just when it looked like debate over the CIS had died down a little, it comes back with a vengeance. This time the issue has been brought up by the Georgian opposition, who have called for Georgia to quit to CIS and called it a "Russian appendage". The Speaker of the Georgian parliament said that "certain circles in Russia" showed an unwillingness to develop a constructive dialogue with Georgia, reports RFE/RL.
• More positively for the CIS, KazInform reports that 2006 has been declared Year of the CIS and is also the 100th anniversary of the Russian State Duma. According to Sergei Mironov, 2006 is a year of realization of scaled tasks, set by the interstate programs and model legislation plans, apparently, whatever that means in non-bureaucratese.
• A certain Vladimir Putin has written an article published in Japan's Asahi entitled "Russia turns towards wider Asian cooperation" that looks at Russia's plans to develop its economic role in the region.

Kazakhstan

• With election day drawing near, a certain amount of controversy was probably inevitable, as Gazeta.kz's article on disagreement between the Central Elections Commission and the ODIHR over the apparent lack of opposition parties in election committees shows. Nevertheless, official pronouncements remain unabashedly positive, both regarding the democratic nature of the elections and relations with the OSCE and ODIHR.
• Oil fever looks to be rising with news that a pipeline between China and Kazakhstan has been completed, reports The Star. The pipeline is 1000 km long and is expected to transport 140 million barrels of oil to China annually. China's The People's Daily also notes that Russia is keen not to lose out, with plans to use at least part of the pipeline to export oil to China.
• Kazakhstan has also been busy consolidating bilateral relations with Ukraine, as ForUm reports, noting that the 2 heads of state signed a two-year action plan and joint declaration last week. As part of this plan, Kazakhstan has bought 7 Ukrainian AN-148 aircraft and cooperation in the energy sector is currently being described as "very promising".
• Another target of Kazakh bilateral relations is Georgia, according to a report from PrimeNews that Kazakhstan is ready to supply Georgia with 2 milliards cubic meters of gas at a reduced price from the next year - subject to being able to coordinate plans with Russia's Gazprom.
• Slightly more surreal is a report that Portugal is apparently intending to strengthen cooperation with Kazakhstan, but then again, why not?
• The Borat Scandal is continuing apace, reports the Guardian (see Registan for more details), who have also helpfully provided a useful beginner's guide to Kazakhstan. National pride is a sensitive thing...
• Air Astana has suspended all flights to Turkey after getting news that Turkish authorities have ordered all arriving Kazakh planes to be detained to ensure repayment of a Kazakh government debt. BAE Systems, who own 49% of the company (the Kazakh government owns the other 51%, unfortunately) cannot be impressed...

Kyrgyzstan

• Head over to the New Eurasia Kyrgyzstan Blog for a quick catch up with events here in Kyrgyzstan.

Turkmenistan

• Lots of outrage from the Turkmen government and demands for apologies, reports NewsCentralAsia, due to references by two media outlets to an "Islamic Movement of Turkmenistan", which, the Turkmen government assures us, categorically does not exist, and has been thought up to discredit Turkmenistan.
• I'm sure the Turkmen authorities will be just as outraged by a BBC report on the state of healthcare in the republic - but not, unfortunately, for the right reasons. It makes for very grim reading (having said that, it turns out here in Kyrgyzstan I have to pay USD 80 up front if I need an ambulance and they won't dispatch one until I cough up - but at least Kyrgyzstan has ambulances I guess).
• Keeping up the ourage factor is Reporters Without Borders, who have declared Turkmenistan an "enemy of the internet" along with China and Iran according to an RFE/RL report.
• Finally, Turkmenistan.ru reports that the new amended Constitution will come into effect on January 1, 2006.

Uzbekistan

• The moral outrage continues in Uzbekistan with World War 4 report looking at the conclusion of the Andijan "show trial" and the signing of a defence pact with Russia (Registan has a post on this as well). New Zealand's Herald takes a quick look at the response to the trial and the mood international condemnation - which may, according to Registan, result in further sanctions against Uzbekistan. Outrage all round...
• Reuters reports that despite objections, the US has paid up $23 million for the use of the K2 base, despite previous plans to delay payment for a year. The US to remaining upbeat about the payment:

But Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona told the Senate last month,
"Paying our bills is important, but more important is America standing up for
itself, avoiding the misimpression that we overlook massacres and avoiding cash
transfers to the treasury of a dictator just months after he permanently evicts
American soldiers from his country."

Reports, newswraps, etc.

• IWPR's Reporting Central Asia No. 419 part 2 (Nov 12) has articles on continuing problems with land squatters in Bishkek and on Tajikistan's disappearing opposition; No. 420 (Nov 15) reports on murdered deputy Bayaman Erkinbaev's brother's protest by self-immolation, and concerns that President Bakiev may be attempting to consolidate his power via constitutional reform; No. 421 (Nov 18) has articles on Turkmenbashi's profitable gas dealings, the increasing problems Orthodox Christians face in Turkmenistan, and the crippling cost of funeral wakes in Kyrgyzstan.
• AlertNet's Central Asia Weekly Newswrap (Nov 18) is available.