Central Asia
Kazakhstan approves new green projects in a bid to cut fossil fuels in half by 2050
Kazakhstan‘s new leadership, faced with concurrent challenges of volatile oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic, has approved nineteen new renewable energy projects worth $1.1 billion in the country’s latest effort to go green and diversify its energy supply. To date,...
Uzbekistan pushes back against Russian criticism over language policy
Uzbekistan on Monday (18 May) pushed back against Russian criticism of its plans to enforce the use of the Uzbek language in the civil service, in a rare rebuke of Moscow by Tashkent amid otherwise warm ties.
Kazakhstan fends off allegations it is developing biological weapons
Kazakhstan is not developing biological weapons or researching their possible use against other countries, its ministry of foreign affairs said on Saturday (2 May), denying allegations circulated in Russian and domestic media that the country is working on biological weapons similar to COVID-19
Kazakhstan builds COVID-19 hospital in just two weeks
In only 13 days, Kazakhstan has built a new hospital for patients infected with coronavirus in the capital Nur-Sultan, a feat comparable only to what China achieved earlier this year.
Kazakhstan provides humanitarian aid to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan
In the context of the Covid-19 crisis, Kazakhstan has offered humanitarian aid to its Central Asian neighbours Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, answering a request by Bishkek and Dushanbe.
Kazakhstan takes decisive steps to stop the spread of coronavirus
Despite the relatively small numbers of confirmed coronavirus cases and a first death reported on Thursday (26 March), the authorities in Kazakhstan, a country neighbouring China, are taking the coronavirus pandemic very seriously.
Uzbekistan to become observer in Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union
Uzbekistan will become an observer in the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) before deciding if it wants to become a full member of the trade bloc, the Tashkent government said on Saturday (7 March).
Civil Society – the EU’s best partner in Central Asia
The EU needs to put civil society at the heart of its strategy to rebuild its political presence in Central Asia, writes Barbara von Ow-Freytag.
Kazakhstan will remain ‘locomotive’ of Eurasian integration – President
Kazakhstan and Russia, which are among the founders of the EAEU, will continue to remain the “locomotives” of Eurasian integration, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at the Munich Security Conference on Friday (15 February). Tokayev, who was elected last June...
Europe’s Southern Gas Corridor ‘almost ready’, says Azebaijan’s SOCAR
A 25-year supply contract has been signed with Italy, and the first Azeri gas is expected to start flowing before the end of 2020, said Vitaly Baylarbayov, deputy vice president of SOCAR, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan.
United States accuses WTO’s Appellate Body of overreach in dispute handling
The US Trade Representative's office on Tuesday (11 February) accused the World Trade Organization's Appellate Body, which decides trade disputes between member countries, of "persistent overreaching" and failure to comply with WTO rules.
People in Azerbaijan ‘have a desire to be active’, says newly-elected MP
Azeri people were excited about the elections and have a desire for change, assures Soltan Mammadov, an independent candidate for the 125-seat parliament of Azerbaijan who spoke to EURACTIV as the polling sections were closing on Sunday (9 February).
Uzbekistan resists as US seeks to rally Central Asians against China
Uzbekistan on Monday (3 February) gently resisted Washington’s efforts to rally China’s central Asian neighbors against Beijing over its treatment of Muslim minorities, a contentious issue for the region which has close economic ties to China.
Germany launches ‘Green Central Asia’ initiative
A high-level ministerial conference in Berlin launched on Tuesday (28 January) the ‘Green Central Asia’ initiative, intended to support regional integration between the five Central Asian countries and Afghanistan. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who hosted the conference, stressed that...
Uzbekistan is open for ‘conscientious foreign investors’, seeks ‘honesty vaccine’
The president of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, addressed the newly formed parliament on Friday (24 January), laying out his plans for the next five years. The banking sector, fighting corruption, foreign direct investment, poverty reduction and international trade were at the...
Azerbaijan: remembering red carnations and looking into the future
Hikmat Hajiev, Head of the Foreign Affairs Department of Azerbaijan's Presidential Administration talks about the state of play of EU-Azerbaijan relations, geopolitics, trade and violent Soviet repression.
Croatian Presidency praises Kazakhstan for readiness to host ‘difficult’ WTO ministerial
The Croatian EU Presidency praised Kazakhstan on Monday (20 January) for its initiative to host a ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at a time when the world trade body is facing a deep crisis.
Kazakhstan-EU relations entering a new stage
This New Year marks the start of a fresh chapter in the relationship between the European Union and Kazakhstan and on 20 January, the EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council will discuss the state of play, writes Mukhtar Tileuberdi.
European firms get ‘crumbs’ from China’s Belt and Road
China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), an investment plan aiming to connect Europe with Asia, is sidelining European companies and Brussels should review its competition law to level the playing field, a business lobby said on Thursday (16 January).
Kazakhstan and Belarus to discuss oil supply deal
Kazakhstan and Belarus will discuss an oil supply deal before 20 January, Kazakhstan Energy Minister Nurlan Nogayev told reporters on Wednesday (15 January), without explaining the significance of that date.
Four detained over Kyrgyz journalist beating
Police in Kyrgyzstan said they were holding four suspects on Tuesday (14 January) over the beating of a journalist known for investigating corruption, an incident that triggered international condemnation.
Protests in breakaway Georgian region, Abkhazia
Around 200 demonstrators contesting a local election broke into the authorities' headquarters in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia Thursday evening (9 January) and demanded the resignation of its president. Protests continue today (10 January) with demonstrators setting up camp in front of administration building, local media reports.
Political reform in Kazakhstan is also an answer to a global problem
The recent reforms introducing more democracy in Kazakhstan are also an answer to a global problem – how to respond to the lack of public confidence in leadership around the world, writes Shavkat Sabirov.
