From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Fri Mar 15 2002 - 14:21:07 EST
CASPIAN NEWS AGENCY
CNA all-inclusive newsline
/19:15 15.03.2002/ Iran says OPEC to maintain oil output level unchanged until
end-June
Moscow, March 15, 2002. (CNA). OPEC ministers agreed today to leave oil output
levels unchanged until the end of June, Iranian oil minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh
said.
"No change. We will keep the level of production until the end of June," he told
reporters after meeting with other OPEC ministers ahead of a formal gathering later
today, AFX reports.
______
/18:34 15.03.2002/ American military officer ran over two Bishkek vitizens
Bishkek, March 15, 2002. (CNA). Member of the Security Service of the International
Antiterrorist Coalition, deploying in the airport of Bishkek the capital of
Kazakhstan, US Army officer Daniel Marion ran over two women from Bishkek, driving
a Toyota Landcruiser car, the Kyrghyz Ministry of the Interior told RIA Novosti.
According to Kyrghyz media's early information, the incident occurred late at night
in a residential area of Bishkek. According to witnesses, at the moment of the car
accident an unknown woman was inside the car.
As it was disclosed to a RIA Novosti correspondent both women were hospitalized in
bad condition.
______
/18:20 15.03.2002/ Shewardnadze thanks Turkish government for military assistance
Tbilisi, March 15, 2002. (CNA). Today, the Georgian President Shevardnadze received
the Turkish delegation headed by the Turkish Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk.
The during the meeting the Georgian President thanked the Turkish government for
military aid - military and technical assistance for USD 3.5 million.
The Georgian President expressed confidence that Georgia and Turkey will continue
and deepen partnership and mutually benefitial cooperation.
On March 14 the Turkish Justice Minister and his Georgia counterpart signed a
cooperation protocol.
______
/17:05 15.03.2002/ OSCE forcing Azerbaijan to cooperate with Armenia, Azeri Foreign
Minister said
Baku, March 15, 2002. (CNA). "OSCE is forcing official Baku to establish economic
cooperation with Armenia, with which Azerbaijan is at war," the Azeri Foreign
Minister Vilayat Quliyev said commenting on the recent visit of the
chairman-in-office of the OSCE, Portuguese Foreign Minister, Jaime Gama, to Baku.
Azerbaijani government will not start cooperation with Armenia as long as the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not solved, the foreign minister asserted, the
Azerbaijani ANS TV station said.
______
/16:30 15.03.2002/ Tbilisi appointed new ambassador to US, Canada and Mexico
Tbilisi, March 15, 2002. (CNA). Today, the Georgian parliament approved the
candidacy of Levan Mikeladze on the post of Ambassador of Georgia to the United
States, Mexico and Canada. Levan Mikeladze replaced Tedo Japaridze, who is
sppointed as the Secretary of National Security Council of Georgia.
Levan Mikeladze was the Georgia envoy in the OSCE and in other international
organizations having head offices in Vienna.
______
/16:14 15.03.2002/ Russia withdrawing its outdated weapons from Georgia to Armenia
Moscow, March 15, 2002. (CNA). Moscow is withdrawing its outdated ammunition from
the largest engineering dump located in Sagarejo (Georgia) to Armenia. The
withdrawal started two weeks ago, Rustavi-2 TV reports. The Defence Ministry has
not expressed any protest in this regard so far. According to the ministry, the
ammunition is outdated.
Sagarejo is the largest warehouse in the Caucasus. The biggest part of the
equipment will be moved to Russia while some will be transported to the Gyumri base
in Armenia. In fact the withdrawal of munitions started after the spread of rumors
about the arrival of US troops in the region.
The Russian military refuse to make any comments, while the representatives of the
Georgian Defence Ministry closely follow the process of withdrawal of the
ammunition stating that it was outdated, therefore Tbilisi refused to accept it.
______
/16:02 15.03.2002/ First group of US military experts will arrive in Georgia March
15-20
Tbilisi, March 15, 2002. (CNA). The first group of the US military experts is
expecting to arrive in Georgia today.
The Defence Minister of Georgia David Tevzadze informed Inter-Press Tbilisi news
Agency that the arrival of the first group of US experts to Georgia is expected for
March 15-20. The US experts will exsercise the departments of the Georgian Defence
Ministry within the framework of the ongoing anty-terrror operation.
______
/14:47 15.03.2002/ Turkmen President confirms security purges
Ashgabat, March 15, 2002. Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov has said that 80
percent of the senior leadership of the country's National Security Committee (KNB)
has been removed from office on suspicion of abuse of power and other legal
violations.
In remarks broadcast overnight on state television, Niyazov told a cabinet meeting
that abuses in the KNB were "enormous."
RFE/RL informs that yesterday, Niyazov dismissed KNB Chairman Mukhammed Nazarov and
replaced him with Interior Minister Poran Berdyev.
Addressing yesterday's cabinet meeting, Berdyev said investigators have found
evidence of links between KNB officials and criminal gangs specializing in drug
trafficking.
Niyazov pledged that reforms in the security agency will continue. He also said the
KNB, Turkmenistan's successor to the KGB, will no longer be allowed to interfere in
the life of citizens and in the activities of private companies.
Niyazov, who has run his nation of 5 million since 1985, brooks no opposition, and
who enjoys the official title of Turkmenbashi or "Head of the Turkmen," has
reshuffled many secret police, military, and judiciary officials in March.
______
/14:43 15.03.2002/ Problems in southern Georgia must not have ethnic dimension,
Armenian President said
Yerevan, March 15, 2002. (CNA). The social and economic difficulties of the
Armenians in Samtskhe-Javakheti Region are the result of the situation in Georgia
on the whole, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan told a France-Presse.
Adding an ethnic dimension to social problems is intolerable, the president said in
response to the correspondent's comment that the ethnic Armenians of
Samtskhe-Javakheti Region say they are victims of the Georgian authorities'
political and economic pressure. According to Kocharyan, a traditional sincere
dialogue with the president of Georgia on the issue of Georgian Armenians was
established a long time ago. "We usually find a solution for all complex and subtle
questions," Kocharyan added.
The president said that the fate of the Armenians who live in Georgia is of concern
to the Armenian authorities and Armenia is ready to contribute to settling the
problem of Georgian regions populated by ethnic Armenians.
According to him, the Georgian leadership has to do all it can to solve the social,
economic and infrastructure problems of the region and encourage the integration of
the region into Georgian society's life. Kocharyan said, "We have established
consistent contacts and mutual understanding with the Georgian leadership on this
issue."
______
/14:08 15.03.2002/ Turkish-Afghan friendship is a heritage of Ataturk'
Ankaran, March 15, 2002. (CNA). The Foreign Minister of Turkey Ismail Cem indicated
that the friendship between Turkey and Afghanistan was a heritage of Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk, stating that Turkey had the will to improve close cooperation in the
reconstruction process of Afghanistan.
Turkish Daily News reports that Cem addressed 20 young Afghan diplomats, who came
to Turkey to receive training from the Foreign Ministry.
"Our demand from you is to develop the friendship between the two peoples," Cem
said. The head of the Afghan delegation, Muhammad Rahim Rahimi, said that the
closeness shown by Turkey throughout history would not be eliminated from the
memories of the Afghan people.
The training program will last for two months. India is the second country training
Afghan diplomats.
______
/14:07 15.03.2002/ CIS oil and gas summit to take place in London April 15-17
Moscow. March 15, 2002. (CNA). The CIS Oil and Gas Summitt will start its works on
April 15, in London and will last till April 17. Oil and gas companies of the CIS,
international oil and gas majors, oil and gas supply companies to the up and
midstream industry, international and regional engineering and contracting
companies, CIS banking groups, international banks and many others will attend the
summit. The summit is initiated by the Energy Exchange Ltd, which is going to bring
together the key decision makers involved in the oil and gas sectors of Russia, the
Caspian and Central Asia at it’s annual 2002 Oil and Gas Summit to discuss
the important issues emerging in this market.
______
/13:47 15.03.2002/ Tajik delegation left for Tehran
Dushanbe, March 15, 2002. (CNA). Today, the delegation of Tajikistan headed by the
Foreign Minister Talbak Nazarov will arrive in Tehran for a three-day visit.
Political officials and representatives of some business circles of Tajikistan are
included into the delegation. This visit takes place on the invitation of the
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi.
CNA correspondent infoems from Dushanbe that the Tajik Foreign Minister will meet
with senior Iranian officials to discuss ways of promoting bilateral ties as well
as cooperation on regional and international issues. The sides will also touche
upon the situation around Afghanistan and fight against terrorism and extremism.
The visit, Nazarov said, takes place at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart
Kamal Kharrazi.
______
/13:38 15.03.2002/ Armenia will continue boosting cooperation with Iran, Armenian
President said
Yerevan, March 15, 2002. (CNA). "Armenia does not try to benefit from
contradictions of other states but seeks advantage in the smoothing of these
contradictions," the Armeniam President Robert Kocharian said in his interview to
France-press, while responding the question on whether Armenia intends to change
its policy toward Teheran in light of the recent statement by the US President that
Iran is "the axis of evil". While speaking about Armenia's relations with Iran, the
President said that Armenia and Iran share good-neighborly relations for many years
and these relations promote to further development of economic cooperation.
______
/13:15 15.03.2002/ Turkish and Georgian Justice Ministries sign cooperation
protocol
Ankara, March 15, 2002. (CNA). The Turkish and Georgian Justice Ministries have
signed a cooperation protocol during Turkish Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk's
visit to Georgia, Turkish Daily News reports.
According to a written statement delivered by the Turkish Justice Ministry, the
10-article protocol foresees the exchange of information on legal issues such as
the exchange of experience on the organization of the jurisdiction authorities of
both parties, the exchange of experts in order to make research into issues
beneficial to both parties, and cooperation on legal matters.
Turk stressed in the statement that the protocol would be practiced with the
concrete cooperation programs to be prepared every year, adding that study groups
to be composed of experts would be set up in order to develop these programs. Turk
noted that the information flow on legal areas would be accelerated with scientific
conferences and seminars to be organized by both sides.
______
/12:49 15.03.2002/ US to ensure security of Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline
Tbilisi, March 15, 2002. (CNA). The USA will protect Georgia's security in the
energy sphere, the special adviser to the US President and the US Secretary of
State on Caspian energy recourses, Steven Mann, said at the briefing after the
ceremony of signing of agreement on Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum gas pipeline. "We believe
that security is a very serious issue for Georgia and we are confident that
progress will be achieved in it," Steven Mann said.
The agreement was signed on March 14, between the Georgian government and foreign
investors within the framework of a two-day international conference "Oil, gas and
Energy - 2002". CNA correspodnent informs from Tbilisi that the special advisor of
the US State Secretary for energy issues in the Caspian Region Steve Mann, the
Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Viktor Kalujniy, the Georgian state Minister
Avtandil Jorbenadze, Speaker of the Georgian parliament Nino Burdjanadze, the
President of SOCAR Natig Aliyev and other officials. On December 19, 2001 the
Georgian Parliament ratified the interstate agreement on Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum
pipeline. According to President Shevardnadze starting from 2004 Georgia will earn
annual 175 million USD from Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum pipeline, which would have 245
kilometers on Georgian territory.
______
/12:35 15.03.2002/ Asian bank approved USD 5.3 million projects for Azerbaijan
Baku, March 15, 2002. (CNA). The Asian Development Bank has approved seven projects
for Azerbaijan worth USD 5.3 million, the director of the bank's programmes
department for Eastern and Central Asia, Geert van der Linden, told a press
conference, BBC reports citing Trend.
The projects stipulate consultative services and a feasibility study to prepare
investment projects in the water supply and sewerage system, poverty reduction,
expansion of the microeconomic policy group at the Finance Ministry, construction
of houses for refugees and displaced people and a programme to iodize salt. The
Asian Development Bank intends to allocate grants for the above projects.
In particular, the bank plans to give a soft credit of USD 23 million for the
feasibility study on the water supply and sewerage system by the end of the year.
The credit will be given for 32 years, eight years of which will be on privileged
terms (under 1 per cent interest).
Azerbaijan has been a member of the Asian Development Bank for two years. Following
a recent decision of the bank's board of directors, Azerbaijan was given B1
category (country classification). Azerbaijan can annually receive soft credits
from the bank of USD 25 million with a 0.75-1 per cent interest rate.
Geert van der Linden also said that the Asian Development Bank would open its
office in Baku by the end of this year. So far the bank has rented an office for
coordination work.
______
/12:18 15.03.2002/ Turkmenistan to spend USd 520 million for building electricity
supply lines to Afghanistan
Ashkhabad, March 15, 2002. (CNA). Turkmenistan will spend a USD 520 million on
building electricity supply lines for export of Turkmen electricity to neighbouring
Afghanistan.
The agreement on the construction of the lines was reached during the last week
visit of the Afghan interim leader Hamid Karzai to Ashkhabad.
The lines will be laied from the southern city of Mary to the northern Afghan
cities of Shibirgan and Mazar-i-Sharif. Turkmenistan also intends to construct
power lines to supply electricity to Kabul, Serkhetabad, Herat and Kandahar.
Turkmenistan also plans to export electricity to other countries through
Afghanistan.
______
/12:08 15.03.2002/ Turkey denies it plans provocation in Samtskhe-Javakheti
Tbilisi, March 15, 2002. (CNA). Turkish Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk denied
reports that Turkey plans provocation against Georgia in its Samtskhe-Javakheti
region, largely populated by ethnic Armenians.
Armenian media sources reported recently that Turkey would pressure Georgia through
Council of Europe to hasten repatriation of Meskhs deported from Samtskhe-Javakheti
in 1944. Armenian media concluded that this would cause tensions in region.
"We are friendly countries and strategic partners and, therefore, we will never
resort to measures like provocation," Turkish Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk
stated on March 14, who pays official visit to Georgia, Civil Georgia reports.
Eariler the Caspian News Agency reported that the Turkish special services are
preparing for large-scale provocation. A source in Moscow says that
according to the Turkish plan worked out by the Turkish special services, the
provocation in the region of Samtskhe-Javakhetia must bring to a sharp aggravation
of Georgian-Armenian relations from one side and the Georgian-Russian from the
other side. This according to the Turkish plans must bring to a tough pressure of
the US on Russia and speed up the process of withdrawal of all Russian troops from
Georgia. According to the source, further the Turkish side will try to provoke the
Georgian-Abkhaz military provocation, after which Samtskhe-Javakhetia region will
be announced as a "zone of international responsibility, security of which will be
secured by the Turkish Armed Forces". According to the Turkish plans, by the year
2003 Samtskhe-Javakhetia must be "liberated from the Armenian population and must
be transferred under the protectorate of Turkey."
______
/20:57 14.03.2002/ Armenia and Belarus agreed to boost cooperation
Yerevan, March 14, 2002. (CNA). Today, the Armenian and Belarus foreign ministers
Vardan Oskanian and Mikhail Khvostov signed a cooperation agreement between the
foreign ministries of Armenia and Belarus. The Armenian Foreign Minister started
his official visit to Belarus today.
The ministers also signed protocol on exchange of agreement on friendship and
cooperation between Armenia and Belarus, which was signed by the presidents of the
both states in May of 2001 during the official visit of the Belarus president
Alexander Lukashenko to Armenia.
The press office of the Armenian Foreign Ministry informed CNA that the ministers
discussed prospects of deepening of bilateral political and economic relations and
interaction in international organizations. During the discussion of regional
problems the Armenian foreign minister informed his Belarus counterpart about the
process of the Karabakh conflict settlement. The ministers exchanged opinions about
the recent events in the Southern Caucasus as well.
______
/20:04 14.03.2002/ Armenian organization demands autonomy for Samtskhe-Javakheti
region
Tbilisi, March 14, 2002. (CNA). The chairman of the Javakhk people's movement,
Torosyan, declared that Samtskhe-Javakheti Region, part of Georgia with a large
ethnically Armenian population, must become an autonomous part of Georgia, Armenian
news agency Mediamax reports.
Torosyan stated that peace talks are the most acceptable way of achieving autonomy
for Javakheti.
"I do not think that the demand is a demonstration of extremism, separatism or
hostility toward the Georgian people," Torosyan stated.
Samtskhe-Javakheti region borders with Armenia. The absolute majority of
Akhalkalaki population, main town of Javakheti, is ethnic Armenians.
______
/19:59 14.03.2002/ Turkey is ready for large-scale provocation in Armenian
populated regions of Georgia
Moscow, March 14, 2002. (CNa). The Turkish special services are preparing for
large-scale provocation, the Caspian News Agency was informed from reliable sources
in Moscow. According to the source "the Turkish side is using inner weakness of
Georgia having in mind to strengthen its military and political presence in
Southern Caucasus and in Georgia, in particular."
According to the Turkish plan worked out by the Turkish special services, the
provocation in the region of Samtskhe-Javakhetia must bring to a sharp aggravation
of Georgian-Armenian relations from one side and the Georgian-Russian from the
other side. This according to the Turkish plans must bring to a tough pressure of
the US on Russia and speed up the process of withdrawal of all Russian troops from
Georgia. According to the source, further the Turkish side will try to provoke the
Georgian-Abkhaz military provocation, after which Samtskhe-Javakhetia region will
be announced as a "zone of international responsibility, security of which will be
secured by the Turkish Armed Forces". According to the Turkish plans, by the year
2003 Samtskhe-Javakhetia must be "liberated from the Armenian population and must
be transferred under the protectorate of Turkey."
______
/17:27 14.03.2002/ OPEC has no reason to alter production quotas, Iran's oil
minister said
Moscow, March 14, 2002. (CNA). OPEC has no reason to alter its production quotas,
Iranian oil minister Namdar Zanganeh said in Vienna.
"It doesn't seem that we need to change production," he told reporters as he
arrived here for a meeting of the 11-member grouping.
"It's better that we promote the situation by better compliance."
OPEC put its price target of 22-28 usd a barrel on hold after the Sept 11 terrorist
attacks amid worries that a high price could damage the fragile global economy, but
Zangeneh said that the price goal had not been changed.
"We haven't changed our decision that we had before, we had some relaxation for the
special economic situation," he said.
"I believe that we should try to have a balance between demand and supply and it's
some part of our responsibility, and the market will determine the price," he
added.
When asked whether Russia was expected to stick to its own output cuts, he replied:
"They've (OPEC) received some positive signals from Russia for better cooperation
and contribution with OPEC."
Russia's reluctant agreement to trim output by 150,000 bpd from January was crucial
in sealing the producer output pact to skim 2 mln bpd from world markets.
______
/17:18 14.03.2002/ New Speaker of Turkmen parliament appointed
Ashkhabad, March 14, 2002. (CNA). Today, the Speaker of the Turkmen parliament,
Rejepbay Arazow, was relieved of the duties of the chairman of the Mejlis due to
his appointment as deputy chairman of the government and the country's defence
minister.
Tagandurdy Hallyyew, who has been working as head of the parliamentary committee on
legislation, and who used to be presidential adviser on legal issues and also
minister of justice, was unanimously elected by the deputies as new chairman of
Turkmen parliament.
______
/16:55 14.03.2002/ Secretary-General of Eurasian Economic Community visiting
Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek, March 14, 2002. (CNA). The secretary-general of the Eurasian Economic
Community, Grigoriy Rapota, is paying a working visit to Bishkek. Today Rapota met
with the Kyrgyz president, Askar Akayev and discussed prospects for interstate
integration and the status of work in the Eurasian Economic Community (Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan). During the talks the sides
discussed agenda of the next session of the Interstate Council of the Eurasian
Economic Community at the level of heads of states. The session will be held in mid
May.
______
/16:31 14.03.2002/ Kazakh authorities consider participation of the state in
Baku-Ceyhan project possible
Astana, March 14, 2002. (CNA). The Kazakh authorities express their support to
construction of the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline and consider possible Kazakhstan's
participation in this project. The Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev made such
a statement at march 13 meetign with the special advisor of the US Secretary of
State for the Caspian basin energy diplomacy, Steven Mann.
The US welcomes Kazakhstan's participation in the Caspian Sea oil projects and will
further promote increase in foreign investments in the Kazakh oil and gas industry.
______
/16:16 14.03.2002/ Power cuts in Kyrgyz districts as Kazakhstan pulls out of common
energy system
Bishkek, March 14, 2002. (CNA). Frequent power cuts will continue until Kazakhstan
joins the Central Asian energy system, the management of the Kyrgyz Severelektro
North Electricity power grid joint-stock company said yesterday.
BBC reports refering to Kyrgyz Public TV that Kazakhstan withdrew from the common
system [Central Asian power grid] about two months ago. Therefore many Kyrgyz
districts have been receiving insufficient electricity since then. They used to
receive electricity from Kazakh electric power lines before. Now the country's
power engineering system is overloaded.
______
/15:01 14.03.2002/ US role should be limited to special operations only, Uzbek
president thinks
Tashkent, March 14, 2002. (CNA). Uzbek President Islam Karimov wrapped up two days
of meetings with top government officials Wednesday, praising the U.S. campaign
against the Taliban but expressing sharp doubts about the rapid future stability of
Afghanistan, Uzreport informs.
"Personally, I do not harbor much optimism about future prospects," Karimov said
Wednesday. "Of course, peacekeeping operations are very important, but I do not
believe that these peacekeepers will interfere into the standoff between warlords
and ethnic groups in Afghanistan, and therefore we cannot rule out the possibility
of these confrontations."
Indeed, Karimov said, "constant, permanent interethnic strife in Afghanistan,"
which adjoins his country's southern border, is all but certain to complicate the
future. He said the United States "shouldn't lose control of the situation," as it
finishes action against the Taliban and al-Qaida, but said a future U.S. role
should be limited to "special operations only."
______
/15:01 14.03.2002/ Russia and Iran will continue cooperation on construction of
nuclear power plant Iran
Moscow, March 14, 2002. (CNA). Russia will fully meet its commitments in the
construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, Atomic Energy Minister
Alexander Rumyantsev said today.
On March 4, 2002 the press secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Iran Reza Asafi
refuted an alleged information stating that Iran and Russia stopped cooperation on
construction of Busher Nuclear Plant. The sides are not going to stop
implementation of this project which follows peaceful means only.
The first unit of the Bushehr plant will be launched in 2004 in accordance with the
plan, he said.
The project of building a nuclear power station in Busher was discussed during the
last year visit of the Iranian president Mohammad Khatami to Moscow. At the talks
the sides committed themselves to continue work on long-term projects, including
the construction of the nuclear power station. At the end of the talks they
announced their intention to expand cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear
power.
______
/14:47 14.03.2002/ Georgia and investors signed agreement on construction of
Baku-Tbilisi-Erezrum gas pipeline
Tbilisi, March 14. 2002. (CNA). Today, within a two-day international conference
"Oil, gas and Energy - 2002" the Georgian government and foreign investors sign an
agreement on Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum gas pipeline construction. CNA correspodnent
informs from Tbilisi that the special advisor of the US State Secretary for energy
issues in the Caspian Region Steve Mann, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia
Viktor Kalujniy, the Georgian state Minister Avtandil Jorbenadze, Speaker of the
Georgian parliament Nino Burdjanadze, the President of SOCAR Natig Aliyev and other
officials. On December 19 Georgian Parliament ratified the interstate agreement on
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum pipeline. According to President Shevardnadze starting from
2004 Georgia will earn annual 175 million USD from Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum pipeline,
which would have 245 kilometers on Georgian territory.
______
/14:30 14.03.2002/ PACE monitoring commission reporters to visit Karabakh conflict
region
Yerevan, March 14, 2002. (CNA). The visit of the reporters of the PACE commission
on monitoring to the region of Nagorno Karabakh conflict will take place April
8-12. The chairman of the Armenian Parliamentary commission Hovannes Hovannesian
said that April 8-9 the reporters will visit Nagorno Karabakh and then Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Hovannesian has noted that the decision of the commission members to
visit Stepanakert displeased the Azerbaijani delegation to the PACE.
______
/14:12 14.03.2002/ Kyrgyzstan and Turkey to boost cooperation in military and
defence sphere
Bishkek, March 14, 2002. (CNA). The Turkish Chief of General Staff General Huseyin
Kivrikoglu visiting Bishkek and the Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev discussed today
the perspectives of development of military cooperation between the both states.
Kivrikoglu thanked the Kyrgyz officials for assisting the anti-terror operation in
Afghanistan. The Turkish Chief of General Staff confirmed intention of Turkey to
render military and technical assistance to Kyrgyzstan for USD 1,100,000 for 5
years fixed in the agreement about the cooperation in military and technical
spheres between Turkey and Kyrgyzstan.
Yesterday, the members of the Turkish delegation met with the Kyrgyzstan Defense
Minister Esen Topoyev, and signed a military grant agreement between Turkey and
Kyrgyzstan. He also met with commander of the National Guard of Kyrgyzstan,
lieutenant-general Abdygul Chotbaev and visited the Kyrgyz-Turkish University
"Manas".
Kivrikoglu is also due to visit Kazakhstan.
______
/13:40 14.03.2002/ Kazakh and US officials discuss energy cooperation
Alma-Ata, March 14, 2002. (CNA). The State Secretary and Foreign Minister of
Kazakhstan Kasymzhomart Tokayev has received the US state secretary's advisor on
Caspian energy policy, Ambassador Steven Mann, who is on a working visit in
Kazakhstan.
The press service of the Kazakh Foreign Affairs Ministry informed CNA that
the two officials discussed in detail a wide range of bilateral issues and agreed
on the necessity to expand mutually advantageous trade and economic and investment
relations between Kazakhstan and the USA.
The officials also discussed details of implementation of the declaration on energy
partnership between our countries, which was signed during Kazakh President
Nursultan Nazarbayev's visit to the USA in late December 2001.
______
/13:34 14.03.2002/ US and Georgia are allies, Georgia Security Chief thinks
Tbilisi, March 14, 2002. (CNA). "US and Georgia are becoming strtegic allies in
light of the recently establishedn cooperation and partnership between the two
states," the Georgian State Security Minister Valeri Khaburdzania stated during his
current visit to United States. The Georgian official is holding talks with his
American counterparts on the situation in Georgia and Pankisi gorge, in particular,
where Chechen and Al-Qaeda fighters are harboring.
After the US the Georgia Security Minister will visit London and will discuss
situation in Pankisi gorge with the British security officials.
______
/13:30 14.03.2002/ Nakhichevan people seek Cyprus status
Ankara, March 14, 2002. (CNA). Visiting Nakhichevan yesterday in order to meet
Nakhichevan Parliament Speaker Vasif Talibov, Turkish State Minister Resat Dogru
said that the people of Nakhichevan demanded a status similar to Cyprus and added
that he would take their demand to Turkish Parliament and launch a study to solve
their problems.
Accompanied by Igdir Mayor Nurettin Aras, Dogru was welcomed by Turkish Consul
General in Nakhichevan Gunsel Goktan, Turkish Daily News reports.
"I will make necessary initiatives to set up an open bazaar on the piece of land
belonging to the Turkish Agriculture Enterprises General Directorate, which is at
Turkey-Nakhichhevan-Iran-Armenia border. The people of Nakhichevan are also
demanding to enter Turkey without passports. We will launch studies in line with
these demands," Dogru noted.
Meeting Nakhichevan Parliament Speaker Talibov, Dogru said that he was visiting
Nakhichevan in order to show the interest given by Turkey to the latter, stressing
that Nakhichevan was a gateway opening to the Turkic republic.
Talibov noted that Nakhichevan owed its present status to Turkey, adding that they
were seeking to improve the current good relations between the two countries.
Talibov stated that Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, which is currently under
Armenian blockade, was receiving Turkey's support for 11 years and added that they
had blood bonds with Turkey.
______
/12:36 14.03.2002/ Kazakhstan's industrial output up 12% in first two monts of 2002
Alama-Ata, March 14, 2002. (CNA). In January-February period of 2002 Kazakhstan's
industrial production grew 12% comparing with the same period of last year and
totalled to 308.8 billion tenge (152.1 tenge/USD 1). The National Statistics
Department of Kazakhstan reported that the highest growth 14.1% was fixed in
manufacturing and 11.8% in extracting industries. Production of oil production
increased by 19.2%.
However, production and distribution of electricity, gas and water slumped 4.6% in
the two months.
______
/12:22 14.03.2002/ US does not plan sending troops to Pankisi gorge
Tbilisi, March 14, 2002. (CNA). "The US has no plans to send U.S. troops into the
Pankisi gorge. We're sending a relatively modest number of trainers over to assist
Georgians in training," the US Defense Secretary Rumsfeld stated at the joint press
conference with the Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov in Pentagon.
The US military instructors are to arrive in Georgia in late March. US President
George W. Bush stated on March 11, that 150 American military experts would be sent
to Georgia.
US military trainers will prepare four battalions of Georgian Defense Ministry to
defeat terrorists harboring in Pankisi gorge.
______
/12:17 14.03.2002/ World Bank to render a USD 350 million to Uzbekistan
Tashkent, March 14, 2002. (CNA). On the third day of his visited, the Uzbek
president, Islam Karimov, visited the head office of the World Bank, where the
sides discussed mainly distributing funds allocated for Uzbekistan and promising
programmes.
According to World Bank officials, commenting on the outcome of the meeting, the
Bank will pledge financial assistance to Uzbekistan in the amount of USD 350 mln
over the course of next two years, reported BBC.
World Bank officials have also pointed out that the amount of such assistance could
increase if Uzbekistan fully implements conditions set forward by IMF earlier this
year.
The official documents signed between IMF and Uzbekistan in January this year, were
Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies, and Technical memorandum of
Understanding.
Multilateral lending agencies have been pointing on convertibility as a key issue
in further flow of financial assistance to Uzbekistan from the west. The World Bank
representative in Uzbekistan, David Pearce, had earlier described a recent Uzbek
memorandum on economic and financial policy which should pave the way to currency
convertibility in the middle of 2002 as significant. In an interview with the Uzbek
newspaper Biznes-Vestnik Vostoka on 21 February , David Pearce outlined the likely
effect on agriculture, the financial sector and the general public. He said the 40
per cent of the population engaged in agriculture stood to benefit, but warned that
measures would be needed to compensate for inflation.
During Uzbek Government’s annual review meeting earlier this year, President
Karimov touched upon the convertibility issue and hinted that the process will be
completed during later this year. Karimov said: "Last year, considerable steps were
taken towards a convertible currency in current transactions. We need to finish
these moves off in 2002."
Following his meeting with World Bank, Uzbek President visited Pentagon, where he
met with US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. During the meeting, the sides have
discussed issues of regional stability in Central Asia.
Tomorrow, on March 14, Uzbek leader is planning to visit New York City to meet with
Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Karimov’s official trip to the US will end with a visit to Bukharian Jewish
community in New York City.
______
/12:14 14.03.2002/ Central Asian states and Russia signed document on expanding
activity on delivery of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan
Moscow, March 14, 2002. (CNA). A joint statement foreseeing expansion of
humanitarian activity for rendering aid to Afghanistan and promoting a post-war
rehabilitation in the Central Asian region was signed among
Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
During the meeting the officials of all states agreed to form a joint team from
representatives of Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to control the
second phase of operation on delivering 7,000 tonnes of food from the Kyrgyz city
of Osh to Fayzabad in Afghanistan under the UN World Food Programme. The program
will start on March 17.
______
/12:04 14.03.2002/ Official of investigative department of Azeri prosecutor's
office killed
Baku, March 14, 2002. (CNA). The Deputy Chief of Investigative Department of the
Azeri prosecutor Rovshan Aliyev was murdered March 13. The criminals killed the
official firing 4 of 5 bullets from makarov type pistol. An investigating
commission was urgently formed and headed by the minister of internal affairs Ramil
Usubov and the prosecutor-general Zakir Garalov.
The main version of murder is connected with Rovshan Aliyev's position. He was
working on investigation of several crimes, particularly the murder cases of
academic Ziya Bunyadov and Shamsi Rahimov. The another version is connected with
his personal life. The search of murderers is going on.
______
/11:47 14.03.2002/ Armenian Foreign Minister visiting Minsk
Yerevan, March 14, 2002. (CNA). The Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
started his two-day official visit to Belarus. CNA was informed in the press office
of the Armenian two-day official visit Foreign Ministry that during the meeting the
Armenian official will discuss with Belarus officials prospects for bilateral
co-operation, as well as the upcoming official visit of the Armenian president
Robert Kocharian to Minsk.
As it was reported earlier, on March 13 the Armenian president met in Moscow with
his Russian counterpart and discussed the Karabakh conflict settlement in light of
the recent visit of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and their new proposals.
Oskanian and Ivanov olso touched upon the security in the Soutnern Caucasus and
situation in Georgia in particular.
______
/19:28 13.03.2002/ Armenia received DEM 35 million loan
Yerevan, March 13, 2002. (CNA). The German government allocated Armenia with
another DEM 35 million (EUR 5.1 million) for continuing the programme of
microcredits for small and medium-size businesses of the German-Armenian
foundation.
Armenian Finance and Economy Minister Vardan Khachatryan, head of the Armenian
Central Bank Tigran Sarkisyan, German ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary
to Armenia Hans-Wolf Bartels and head of the KfW's European office Leon Macioszek
signed appropriate agreements.
Funds will be provided through Germany's KfW bank. The Armenian government received
the loan for 40 years with a 0.45-per-cent interest rate and a 10-year delay for
repayment.
______
/18:40 13.03.2002/ Road will link Turkmenistan and Afghanistan
Ashkhabad, March 13, 2002. (CNA). The representatives of the Hong-Kong based
International Bank of Asia visited the town of Atamyrat on the Turkmen-Afghan
border. The aim of the visit was to determine the economic expediency of financing
the construction of a 100-km main road linking Atamyrat and Andkhoy Afghanistan
(Fariab Province).
______
/18:01 13.03.2002/ Use of force in Abkhazia will sestabilize situation in Georgia
Tbilisi, March 13, 2002. (CNA). "Sukhumi is concerned that the Georgian authorities
could try to resolve the Abkhaz problem by military means, "including the use of
those units that can be trained for anti-terror operations in the Pankisi gorge,"
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov stated, Civil Georgia reports.
Speaking to the State Duma's deputies today, Russian Foreign Minister said "We
declare about the danger of such a choice, as it would significantly destabilize, I
would even say, explode, the situation in Georgia itself," Ivanov said, speaking
with the Russian MPs on March 13.
Situation in Abkhazia will be discussed on March 14 at the Georgian Parliamentary
session.
______
/17:42 13.03.2002/ Karzai proposes that Russia rebuild Soviet property in
Afghanistan at its own expense
Moscow, March 13. 2002. (CNA). Khamid Karzai, the head of the provisional
administration of Afghanistan, believes that Russia should cover 100% of the costs
of restoring the Soviet-built property destroyed in Afghanistan, Interfax reports.
"The Soviet Union built them, the Soviet Union destroyed them, let Russia now
rebuild them," Karzai told a news conference in Moscow on Wednesday.
______
/17:22 13.03.2002/ Heads of "Caucasus Four" parliaments will meet in St. Petersburg
Yerevan, March 13, 2002. (CNA). The heads of the Parliaments of "Caucasian four":
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia will meet March 26 in St.Petersburg. The
secretary of CIS Interparliamentary Assembly Mikhail Krotov informed that this
meeting of the Speakers will take place within the framework of the sessions of CIS
Interparliamentary Assembly. Regional problems, struggle against international
terrorism and settlement of the regional conflicts are expected to be discussed
durign the meeting.
______
/16:45 13.03.2002/ Situation in Kodori threatens peace in region
Tbilisi, March 13, 2002. (CNA). The situation in Kodori gorge, breakaway Abkhazia,
is serious and threatens peace in region, the Spokesman of the Russian Foreign
Ministry Aleksandr Iakovenko said.
Russian official called the Georgia to withdraw its military units from upper
Kodori gorge, the only part of Abkhazia controlled by the Georgian government.
Under the protocol signed by the Georgian and Abkhazian sides the Georgian troops
should be withdrawn from the gorge.
Eariler Georgian Special Affairs Minister Malkhaz Kakabadze states that Abkhazians
cannot guarantee security for the Georgian population of Kodori in case the
Georgian Defense Ministry units leave the gorge.
______
/16:26 13.03.2002/ Russian government limits oil exports for some companies
Moscow, March 13, 2002. (CNA). Russian government commission on access to oil
pipelines has adopted a decision to cut by 20 %, oil exports of 24 oil companies
that owe the federal budget about 2 billion rubles (USD 64.54 million), Russian
Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko declared after the meeting of the
commission today. It is expected that these oil companies will not export some
25,000 tons of oil on the whole.
The commission also decided to cancel administrative regulations on furnace oil
supplies. "The situation on the domestic market is normal, the furnace oil reserves
of energy generating enterprises are above the norm and there is a balance between
the supply and demand of furnace oil on the market. Thus no special measures are
necessary", the Deputy PM said.
______
/15:20 13.03.2002/ Gazprom has prepared interim IAS consolidated financial
statements
Moscow, March 13, 2002. (CNA). OAO Gazprom has prepared interim IAS consolidated
financial statements for the nine months ended 30 September 2001. The company
remains one of the few Russian companies to produce IAS statements for the fourth
year. The results demonstrate the Group’s stable financial position, the
press release of the company reads.
As at 30.09.2001 gross sales for the reporting period of 2001 was RR443,707 m
having increased by 2% against the similar figure for the first nine months of
2000. Gas sales for the first nine months were RR365,979 m, export gas sales were
RR 257,669 m. Similar figures for the first nine months of 2000 were RR368,572 m
and RR257,024 m, respectively.
Operating costs for the first nine months of 2001 totalled RR282,746 m or 11% less
against the similar figure for the first nine months of 2000.
Gross profit increased by more than 43% and comprised RR163,380 m (similar figure
for first nine months of 2000 was RR113,954 m).
Stable low gas prices on domestic market continue to constrain sales. The company
continues to subsidise domestic customers due to both low gas prices and the slow
rate of payments for such supplies. Expected increases in Russian gas prices,
whilst welcome, fail to significantly reverse the effective significant erosion of
domestic prices by inflation over the last few years.
Last year the Group negotiated further restructuring of its tax liabilities to the
federal budget. The gain from discounting of taxes to their fair value totalled
RR20,031m and is disclosed in the statements of operations as part of net finance
costs.
As a result of the above factors, profit before taxation of the Group for the
reporting period increased to RR168,776 m against the similar figure for the first
nine months of 2000 (RR130,442 m).
However, due to significant profit tax charges (including deferred part) net profit
of the Group for the first nine months of 2001 amounted to RR32,349 m (for the
first nine months of 2000 net profit totalled RR38,379 m). In the absence of a
significant decline in inflation, relatively high deferred tax charges will
continue to accrue on its underlying asset base.
It should be highlighted that net profit of the company for the 3 months ended 30
September 2001 was RR22,266 or RR9,092m higher than for the same quarter of 2000.
______
/15:18 13.03.2002/ World Bank will extends a USD 60 million loan to Azerbaijan
Baku, March 13, 2002. (CNA). The World Bank announced about its decision to extend
a USD 60 million loan to Azerbaijan to stimulate growth of the country's economy
outside of the oil sector.
The press release of the bank reads that the credit follows what is called
"significant intensification" of reforms in that country over the last two years.
As a result of the recent research and examination the state of economy of
Azerbaijan the International Monetary Fund has judged Azerbaijan's economic
performance favorably, stressing that growth potential coupled with low inflation
are encouraging.
______
/15:12 13.03.2002/ US and Uzbekistan signed five joint agreements
Tashkent, March 13, 2002. (CNA). The United States and Uzbekistan reaffirmed their
"strategic partnership," inking five agreements to boost cooperation on a broad
range of issues, including democratization of the former Soviet republic, AFP
informs.
The main document, a declaration that sets out the goals of the new US-Uzbek
relationship forged amid the war on terrorism, asserts that Uzbekistan will take
more steps toward open political and economic systems with Washington's help.
"Uzbekistan reaffirms its commitment to further intensify the democratic
transformation of its society politically and economically," said the agreement
signed by US Secretary of State Colin Powell and his Uzbek counterpart Abdulaziz
Kamilov.
"The United States agrees to provide the government of Uzbekistan assistance in
implementing democratic reforms," it said, laying out key areas such as multi-party
democracy, independent media and an impartial judiciary.
The agreement also restated a US pledge to offer assistance to Uzbekistan should it
face any external threat to its security or territorial integrity.
The other pacts signed Tuesday included one to begin a nuclear non-proliferation
program that will repatriate highly enriched uranium from an Uzbek research reactor
to Russia and replace the system with one that uses a lower grade of the material.
That agreement, signed by Kamilov and US Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, puts
into place an existing non-proliferation deal concluded last year.
Another pact agreed to on Tuesday provides small- and medium-sized Uzbek businesses
a 55-million dollar credit from the US Export-Import Bank to purchase US goods.
The fourth pact completes an agreement for Washington to purchase land for a new
embassy in Tashkent. The existing embassy in Tashkent is located in a Soviet-era
discotheque that is widely considered one of the shabbiest US diplomatic missions
in the world.
The fifth agreement signed on Tuesday creates conditions for the two countries to
expand cooperating in the areas of science and technology.
______
/14:59 13.03.2002/ Armenian Defence Minister to visit Romania
Yerevan, March 13, 2002. (CNA). The Armenian Defense Minister, Serzh Sargssian will
pay an official visit to Romania in the second half of 2002, the Armenian Minister
and Romanian ambassador to Armenia Paul Platona agreed durign March 12 meeting. The
press office of the Armenian Defence Ministry informed CNA that during the meeting
the sides discussed bilateral interest and cooperation, as well as possibilities of
bilateral military and military-political cooperation. Regional security was
anopther topic of the meeting.
______
/14:52 13.03.2002/ Georgian Official Excludes Russia's Involvement in Pankisi
Operation
Tbilisi, March 13, 2002. (CNA). "Information about the Russia's intention to launch
military operation in Pankisi gorge is exaggerated, the Georgian Deputy Defense
Minister Gela Bezhuashvili said while commenting some reports allegedly saying that
Russia has plans of military operation in Pankisi, where Chechen fighters and
terrorists linked to Al Qaeda are harboring.
"Such steps by Russia would be considered as an act of aggression against Georgia,"
the Georgian official said.
As it was inforemd earlier Russia offered Georgia to launch joint antiterrorist
operation in gorge, which was rejected by Georgia.
______
/14:35 13.03.2002/ Turkmenistan and Turkey signed military cooperation agreement
Ashkhabad, March 13, 2002. (CNA). "Turkey has sought to have an influence in the
Caucasus and Central Asia since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990 because of
its ethnic and historic ties to the region," Military Chief of Staff Huseyin
Kivrikoglu, who is on official visit to Ashkhabad, stated after meeting the Turkmen
President Saparmurad Niyazov. The Turkish official said he believed that the ties
between Ankara and Askhabat would progress.
"I am sure that our relations will improve in line with the principle of not
intervening in domestic politics," the Anatolia news agency quoted him as saying.
Kivrikoglu and Turkmen Defense Minister Gurbandurdi Begenchov later signed an
agreement for Turkish military equipment donations for Turkmenistan and a protocol
for financial aid, but the details of the two documents were not immediately
available.
Anatolia quoted Kivrikoglu as saying that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) was ready
to share its knowledge and experience with the Turkmen military and ready to help
the country in the defense industry sector. The Turkmen Defense Minister in return
said that his country was pleased with the training program provided by the Turkish
military.
"I feel at home as soon as I step on Turkmen soil," he was quoted as saying by the
agency. The trip was first of its kind by Kivrikoglu to the country.
The Turkmen president described the relations between the two countries as
"brotherly ties," the agency said.
______
/14:21 13.03.2002/ US is not against ordinary contacts between Armenia and Iran for
one of the main objectives of the US foreign policy is to support open borders, the
US Ambassador to Armenia said
Yerevan, March 13, 2002. (CNA). "The US is not against ordinary contacts between
Armenia and Iran for one of the main objectives of the US foreign policy is to
support open borders, communication lines and peaceful relations among the regional
countries," the US Ambassador to Armenia John Ordway said while answering questions
by the Armenian Azg daily about the possibility of striking Armenia’s
immediate neighbor Iran by the US in light of the recent address by the president
George Bush when he called Iran, Iraq and North Korea "axis of evil."
"We are not against ordinary contacts between Armenia and Iran. But along with
this, we are very much concerned that Iran supports terrorism and gains mass
destruction weapons. As Iran is Armenia’s immediate neighbor I expect that
Armenia should also be concerned with this," the Ambassador added.
The Ambassador said that in the State of the Union address president Bush put on
the same footing the two main sources of threats and instability- proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction and terrorism. These two threats come to supplement one
another. Several countries, which are seeking to develop nuclear, chemical and
biological weapons, support terrorism. North Korea, Iran and Iraq demonstrate an
aggressive strive to gain mass destruction weapons.
"The goal we pursue is that these nations should join the majority of world
countries in the global anti-terrorism war and refrain from efforts to develop or
acquire weapons of mass destruction. President Bush called on our allies and
partners to join their efforts to prevent these regimes from acquiring or using
mass destruction weapons directly or through terrorists," the Ambassador said.
______
/14:07 13.03.2002/ No action is possible in Pankisi Gorge without notifying Russia,
US president assured
Tbilisi, March 13, 2002. (CNA). "No action is possible in the Pankisi gorge without
notification of Russia," the US president assured the Russian Defense Minister
Sergei Ivanov, who met with the US president George Bush March 12.
The situation in Georgia in light of presence of terrorists in Pankisi gorge and
other regional issues were discussed during the meeting.
As it was reported earlier at the request of the Georgian President Edward
Shevardnadze, the United States is planning to send up to 150 military experts to
prepare Georgian soldiers to reestablish order in this region."
______
/13:57 13.03.2002/ US against construction of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
Yerevan, March 13, 2002. (CNA). "The US is very much concerned that Iran supports
terrorism and strives to gain mass destructive weapons. In the light of these
concerns we oppose any investments in Iran’s natural gas and oil sector, the
US Ambassador to Armenia, John Ordway, said while answering the question by the
Armenian Azg daily on the US position regarding construction of Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline. "This is a position, fixed by our legislation, as well as by our policy.
We realize very well Armenia’s difficult situation concerning energy security
and we work with the government of the USA to help improve this situation However,
our position is not to support any investment in construction of a pipeline coming
from Iran or through Iran," the Ambassador said.
______
/13:41 13.03.2002/ Turkish justice Minister visits Georgia
Tbilisi, March 13, 2002. (CNA). The Turkish Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk,
started his official visit to Georgia. The visit will last till March 16.
During the visit the Turkish Minister will meet with his Georgian counterpart
Roland Giligashvili and will sign a cooperation protocol.
Justice Minister of Turkey will also meet the Georgian President Shevardnadze,
Speaker of the parliament Nino Burjanadze and other Georgian state officials.
______
/13:31 13.03.2002/ Gazprom stocks dropped by 7.6%
Moscow, March 13, 2002. (CNA). Within one day Gazprom’s stocks fell by 7.6 %.
The company's capitalization went down by $1.1 billion. This is much more than the
Federal Tax Police Department officers want to get from Gazprom. On March 12, head
of the Federal Tax Police Department of Moscow Viktor Vasilyev said that they were
discussing the issue of filing a criminal case against Gazprom management for tax
evasion amounting to 30 billion (USD 966 million). The same day the mass media
spread an information about the resignation of the board chair Alexey Miller, who
in fact went on vacation on March 11.
The company stocks price was going down all day long. Amongst everything else, the
unprecedented fall is connected with the rumor circulating amidst brokers that
Vladimir Putin had allegedly signed an order for Alexey Miller's resignation from
the post as Gazprom's head. Alfa Bank and the United Financial Group are referred
to as unofficial sources of information, and the most active seller of Gazprom
stocks is Gazprombank.
______
/12:57 13.03.2002/ Kazakhstan offers Uzbekistan use of Caspian Port
Alma-Ata, March 13, 2002. (CNA). Kazakhstan suggested Uzbekistan use the Kazakh sea
port of Aktau to transport its freight, the Kazakh prime minister's spokesman,
Murat Buldekbayev, told journalistst. The Prime ministers of the both states met in
the southern Kazakh town of Shymkent on March 12.
Kazakhstan Today informs that the talks also focused on the transport tariff
policy. There was also discussion about water and energy issues, which Kazakh
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Vladimir Shkolnik described as being of
"vital importance".
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are preparing to sign a trilateral agreement
on the distribution of water from the Toktogul reservoir for irrigation. The Kazakh
side has proposed working out a long-term agreement on these issues and setting up
a consortium of countries that use this water. The Uzbek government intends to
consider these proposals.
______
/12:43 13.03.2002/ US and Uzbekistan signed strategic partnership declaration
Washington, March 13, 2002. (CNA). On March 12, the Uzbek delegation led by the
President Islam Karimov arrived in the US with an official visit. During the
meeting in the White House, the US President George Bush and Islam Karimov
discussed bilateral relations. The presidents exchanged views on issues ranging
from security to the economy and other matters of interest to them. During the
talks, which were held in an atmosphere of openness, mutual trust and sincerity,
issues of international importance were also considered. The presidents signed
strategic partnership declaration.
President Bush thanked the Uzbek President his country's key assistance in the war
in Afghanistan. Bush "stressed the importance of progress on human rights" during
the meeting with Uzbek President Islam Karimov, both for the country's own future
and for U.S.-Uzbek relations, said White House spokesman Sean McCormack.
Bush also made clear that the United States does not want to have permanent
military bases anywhere in central Asia, McCormack said. U.S. military officials
have said they do want continued access to local bases, however.
The United States has had 1,000 troops in Uzbekistan since last fall to help fight
the war in Afghanistan, and many analysts expect it to maintain or expand military
ties in central Asia, even after the war.
U.S. officials recently announced a tripling of foreign aid to Uzbekistan, to $160
million. Earlier Tuesday, Uzbek and U.S. officials signed agreements designed to
stop nuclear proliferation and boost the country's economy.
Durign at meeting with the Secretary of State Colin Powell, "The secretary stressed
to President Karimov that the region's long-term security and stability are
inextricably linked to the need to strengthen human rights and democratic
institutions," Boucher said. On Wednesday, Karimov is to meet Defense Secretary
Donald H. Rumsfeld.
The U.S. presence in Uzbekistan and other central Asian countries has created a new
sphere of influence in a region where American military might was unthinkable a
decade ago.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz
Kamilov have signed a declaration on strategic partnership and cooperation. The
document emphasizes military security as well as the value of a market-based
economy and an open, democratic system.
Karimov also held talks with the US agriculture secretary, the chairman of the
board and chief executive director of the Newmont Mining Corporation, and the US
treasury secretary.
______
/12:11 13.03.2002/ Armenian and Russian Foreign Ministers discussed security issues
in Southern Caucasus
Moscow, March 13, 2002. (CNA). Russia is satisfied with the level of development of
political dialogue between Armenia and Russia, the Russian Foreign Minister Igor
Ivanov said on March 12 during his meeting with visiting Armenian Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian. The Russian official also praised the bilateral cooperation
between the two countries.
CNA was informed from diplomatic sources that during the meeting the two officials
discussed the Karabakh conflict settlement in light of the recent visit of the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs and their new proposals. Oskanian and Ivanov olso touched
upon the security in the Soutnern Caucasus and situation in Georgia in particular.
Today the Armenian Foreign Minister arrived in Minsk with official visit.
______
/11:56 13.03.2002/ Kazakh and Uzbek prime ministers about delimitation of borders
Alma-Ata, March 13, 2002. (CNA). The Kazakh and Uzbek prime ministers, Imangali
Tasmagambetov and Otkir Sultonov, met on March 12 in southern Kazakh town Shymkent
to discuss the recent delimitation of borders between the both states. The both
officials think that a number of disputed areas on the border do not complicate
Kazakh-Uzbek relations. The sides reached accord on delimitation of 96% of border
line, Tasmagambetov underlined. He thinks that "disputed areas are a normal
phenomenon in international practice and this should not be made a problem".
Sultonov noted that a "clear legal basis" was formed in this area, reminding about
the agreement signed last year by the two presidents. The prime Minister suggested
to carry out a detailed inventory of the disputed areas.
______
/19:54 12.03.2002/ Hurricane Hydrocarbons net profit in Kazakhstan rises by 9% in
2001
Alma-Ata, March 12, 2002. (CNA). Canada's Hurricane Hydrocarbons, Ltd. oil company
made a net profit of about 170m dollars in Kazakhstan in 2001, the
Interfax-Kazakhstan reported.
"The Canadian Hurricane Hydrocarbons, Ltd., which operates in oil fields and owns a
refinery in Kazakhstan, made a net profit of 169m dollars in 2001, a 9 per-cent
increase on 2000," the agency said.
The company's total revenue increased to 603m dollars in 2001 from 523.2m dollars
in 2000, the agency said.
At the same time, the agency noted, the company's general and administrative
spending totalled 55.2m dollars (44.6m dollars in 2000).
The Hurricane Kumkol Munai, in which the Canadian Hurricane Hydrocarbons, Ltd. owns
a 89.5 per-cent stake, produced 3,616,967 tonnes of oil in Kazakhstan in 2001, a
8.5 per-cent increase on 2000, the news agency added.
______
/19:13 12.03.2002/ Armenia actively participate in BSEC
Yerevan, March 12, 2002. (CNA). Armenia actively participate in the works of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, the Speaker of the
Armenian parliament Armen Khachatrian said today at the meeting with the Secretary
General of BSEC Parliamentary Assembly George Petricu. The press office of the
Armenian Parliament informed CNA that, George Petriku appraised the active
participation of Armenia in formation of legal basis for economic, trade, social
and cultural cooperation of the BSEC member-states.
______
/18:52 12.03.2002/ Azerbaijan criticizes Trubnikov’s statement on expansion
of format of Karabakh negotiations
Baku, March 12, 2002. (CNA). The Azeri press widely covered the visit of the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs in the region and especially the statement of the Russian
Deputy Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Trubnikov, who stressed the necessity to expand
the format of negotiations for the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. This
statement has negative reaction in Azerbaijan. The former head of the Azeri
President's Secretariat Eldar Namazov named useless proposal on participation of
the Azeri and Armenian communities of Karabakh in the negotiations for it is the
presidents who make decisions. Expansion of the format cannot give impetus to the
settlement of the conflict, he said.
______
/18:15 12.03.2002/ Uzbek president meets senior US officials
Tashkent. March 12, 2002. (CNA). Uzbek President Islam Karimov, who yesterday
arrived in Washington on an official visit, was met by US Assistant Secretary of
State for European and Eurasian affairs Elizabeth Jones and other officials at the
US armed forces' Andrews Air Force Base. The head of Uzbekistan has been
accommodated at Blair House, which is the guest house of the US president.
This morning President Islam Karimov met Ann Veneman, the US agriculture secretarym
Uzreport informs.
The meeting between Islam Karimov and Ann Veneman discussed further broadening
agricultural cooperation between the two countries, attracting US advanced
technologies to Uzbek agriculture and exchanging information in this field.
Uzbek leader has also met the chairman of the board and chief executive director of
the Newmont Mining Corporation, Wayne Murdy, at Blair House. Uzbekistan and Newmont
Mining have been cooperating for many years. The meeting discussed further
expanding the cooperation, moulding it into a new shape and giving it new meaning,
as well as taking joint actions against changes in world market prices.
Islam Karimov also met US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill. During the talks,
President Karimov said that financial aid to Uzbekistan from such a powerful state
as the United States was very important for Uzbekistan.
______
/18:05 12.03.2002/ President Khatami to visit Central Asian states in April
Ashkhabad, March 12, 2002. (CNA). In April, the Iranian President Khatami will
visit Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to seek ways
of further strengthening and developing mutual relations with these countries,
Iran's Special Envoy in Caspian Sea Affairs Mehdi Safari announced in Ashkhabad.
IRNA reports that Iran's envoy was speaking in a meeting with Turkmen Vice
President for Oil and Gas Affairs and the Head of Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Economic
Commission Yolly Gurbanmuradov for talks on the ways to diversify Tehran-Ashkhabad
economic bonds and mutual cooperation in different fields.
He cited bilateral cooperation in banking, trade and customs affairs as the main
topics raised in his talks with the Turkmen official.
Safari also added that an Iranian delegation will visit Turkmenistan late March to
prepare the ground for future cooperation between Tehran and Ashkhabad.
______
/18:00 12.03.2002/ Possibilities for developing the Kazakh Caspian Sea shelf are
"promising", US envoy sais
Astana, March 12, 2002. (CNA). US hopes that this year Kazakhstan will hold tenders
for developing petroliferous blocks in Kazakh part of the Caspian Sea, the visiting
Astana special adviser to the US State Department on the Caspian Sea region, Steven
Mann, said. He added that possibilities for developing the Kazakh Caspian Sea shelf
are "promising".
Earlier the Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Karim Masimov said that possible holding
of tender would be possible only after a programme for developing resources of the
Caspian Sea is adopted.
During today's press conference the US envoy also said that the USA is ready to
assist Kazakhstan in exporting gas. According to Steven Mann the US could become "a
good partner" for Kazakhstan in this matter. He emphasized that both countries had
common interests in the energy sphere. He emphasized that the US government
promoted increasing American investments in Kazakhstan's energy sector. However,
the US dipolomate did not go into details of the project.
The goal of the current visit is to discuss prospects of US-Kazakh energy
partnership within the declaration signed by the US Secretary of State Colin Powell
and the former Kazakh Foreign Minister Yerlan Idrisov, during Kazakh President
Nursultan Nazarbayev's visit to Washington on 21 December 2001.
______
/17:50 12.03.2002/ Turkmen president calls for halt to oil exploration in Caspian
Ashkhabad, March 12, 2002. (CNA). The Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov
highlighted in Ashkhabad the common stance of Tehran and Ashkhabad on the legal
status of the Caspian Sea, which has yet to be determined by the five coastal
states, IRNA reports.
Speaking at a meeting with Iran's special envoy for Caspain Sea affairs, Mehdi
Safari, the Turkmen president also stressed the need that any oil exploration in
disputed regions of the inland sea must be halted.
Safari is on a groundbreaking visit to Turkmenistan before a scheduled
participation of President Mohammad Khatami in the forthcoming summit of the
coastal states of Caspian Sea in Ashkhabad.
Niyazov said that Khatami's visit to Turkmenistan was "very important", since it
would help the two neighboring countries upgrade their bilateral relations.
The five coastal states of the sea, namely Iran, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan,
Kazakhstan and Russia, have still to come up with a formula over the legal regime
of the sea to exploit its resources.
Iran calls for a condominium or common sovereignty over the sea and has made it
known that it considers any unilateral deals for energy exploration in the Caspian
Sea as null and void before the issue of legal regime of the Caspian is settled.
Iran, the official added, still believes the agreements of 1921 and 1940 between
Moscow and Tehran are still valid until a new legal regime of the Caspian Sea is
drawn up.
______
/17:25 12.03.2002/ Mine-clearing important for Afghanistan, Russian Prime Minister
said
Moscow, March 12, 2002. (CNA). "If the Afghan interim governmet address to Russia
with a request to assist in mine-cleaning Russia could take part in mine-clearing
operations in Afghanistan, the Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov said. He
added that necessary conditions must be created for operations".
The situation can not be stabilised in Afghanistan untill such a seriousproble
exists in the country, Kasyanov added.
The recent blasts that killed a German and a Danish sapper in Afghanistan are
another confirmation of this, Kasaynov said.
______
/17:04 12.03.2002/ Armenia and Egypt hold political consultations
Yerevan, March 12, 2002. (CNA). The regular round of Armenian-Egypt political
consultations took place in Cairo. The press office of the Armenian Foreign
Ministry informed CNA that the Armenian delegation was headed by deputy foreign
minister Ruben Shugarian. During the consultations a wide range of issues on
political and economic cooperation was discussed. Durign the meetings the sides
reached an accord on holding Armenian-Egyptian economic committee regular meeting
in Yerevan. The parts also discussed signing of an agreement on double taxation
prevention.
The regional and world issues were as well discussed durign the talks.
______
/14:53 12.03.2002/ International business conference started its work in Alma-Ata
Tashkent, March 12, 2002. (CNA). An international conference "Role of business -
associations in protection of interests and creation of favorable conditions for
development of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) in Central Asia" opened
March 11 in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan.
The conference is organized by the International Organization "Counterpart
International" and Corporation Pragma and USAID.
Uzbekistan is represented at the conference by 30 delegates from 17 various
organizations.
______
/14:46 12.03.2002/ Transneft board to discuss results of 2001 business activities
Moscow, March 12, 2002. (CNA). Today the Board of Directors of the Transneft oil
company is going to review the results of the company's operations in 2001,
Transneft Vice President Sergei Grigoryev told RBC. According to him, among other
issues, the Board of Directors is to discuss the company's dividend policy. The
company is planning to use 10 per cent of its net profit for paying dividends.
As the Energy Ministry previously reported, according to preliminary estimates, the
revenues of the Transneft joint-stock company were RUR69.4bn ($2.24bn) in 2001,
gross profit was RUR35.9bn ($1.16bn), and the amount of taxes paid to the state
budget was RUR21.2bn ($684.09m). The expected share of profit left at the company's
disposal will amount to RUR22.5bn ($726.04m).
______
/14:17 12.03.2002/ Kidnapped Russian citizen released in Pankisi
Tbilisi, March 12, 2002. (CNA) Kidnapped Russian citizen was released in Pankisi
gorge on March 11. He was detained by the criminals during a year, Civil Georgia
reports.
Until now there was no information that the Russian citizen's was detained in
Pankisi.
Georgian law enforcement agencies report nothing concerning the details of the
case.
______
/14:08 12.03.2002/ Azerbaijan can be main US ally in eliminating terrorism in
region, US senator
Baku, March 12, 2002. (CNA). The US Senator Sam Brownback noted the significance of
Azerbaijan for stability and development in the Caucasus and Central Asia in a
speech at the fifth conference of the US-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce, BBC
reports.
The US politician assessed the following as Azerbaijan's post-independence
successes: the development of democracy; cooperation in the field of
non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; involving the OSCE and UN in the
process of settling the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict; banning the stationing of
foreign military bases in the country; encouraging foreign investment; and
attracting US companies to the exploitation of Caspian energy resources.
Supporting President George Bush's decision to render assistance to the Southern
Caucasus countries to combat terrorism, the senator said that Azerbaijan could
become a main ally of the USA in the fight against the growth in influence of
international terrorism, extremism, the spread of weapons and drug smuggling.
Brownback said that he is currently working on a draft law to guarantee trade
privileges for Central Asia and the Caucasus. The senator believes that by using
its rich potential, Azerbaijan can be a model for the whole region and Washington
should continue rendering assistance to Azerbaijan in this field.
______
/13:59 12.03.2002/ Armenian Foreign Minister left for Moscow
Yerevan, March 12, 2002. (CNA). Today, the Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian left for Moscow for a working visit.
The press office of the Armenian Foreign Ministry informed CNA that durign the
visit the Armenian Minister will have talks with his Russian counterpart Igor
Ivanov. The members of the Armenian delegation will also meet with the
representatives of the Armenian community in Moscow.
______
/13:52 12.03.2002/ Russian defense minister thinks victory over Taliban won't come
quickly
Moscow, March 12, 2002. (CNA). The Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov believes
that today "a large part of Afghanistan is not under anybody's control yet."
"If armed groups of 200-300 people don't march along roads, it will be very
difficult to destroy them from air," Ivanov told reporters in Washington.
Ivanov said he has always "warned against being over-optimistic about the
settlement of the situation in Afghanistan." ""It's very hard to fight in
Afghanistan. Fighting an enemy whom you don't see, who doesn't seem to be
organized, but is actually very well organized is difficult. It's impossible to
fight without any losses at all. It's a myth," the defense minister said.
"Fighting seriously to try to eradicate the main roots of fanaticism and
extremism will take a long time," he said.
Ivanov said he does not see "any significant positive results from the actions
of the international peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan." "But on the other hand,
one should be objective and it's a bit too early to expect positive results when
only 2-3 months have passed since the deployment of the peacekeeping force there,"
he said.
"Afghanistan first of all needs military-technical assistance not in terms of
arms supply, but in terms of maintenance and servicing of the military equipment
they already have," Ivanov said. "Afghanistan needs so-called non-combat equipment
that provides administrative and communication support," he said.
The Afghan army also needs ammunition, the minister said. "The Afghan army
basically has enough weapons, it lacks only aircraft equipment," Ivanov said,
Interfax reports.
______
/13:34 12.03.2002/ Iran ready to assist in resolving the Karabakh conflict
Baku, March 12, 2002. (CNA). "Iran ready to render assistance in resolving the
Karabakh conflict. But such a proposal should come from Baku because Tehran cannot
interfere in the situation at its own discretion. Such an opinion was expressed by
the head of the Iranian parliamentary delegation, Ali Asghar Sherdust, said during
a meeting with the Azerbaijani-Iranian parliamentary friendship group.
"Iran always backs Azerbaijan's stance and does not pursue only its own interests
in relations with the country," the Iranian MP said.
______
/13:14 12.03.2002/ CITES lifted ban on caviar export
Baku, March 12, 2002. (CNA). The UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has lifted the ban on caviar from the
Caspian Sea countries.
Under the quotas for 2002, Russia can export 29.4 tons of caviar, Azerbaijan 7.77
tons, Kazakhstan 23.5 tons, Turkmenistan 5.8 tons and Iran 75.767 tons.
Russia and Kazakhstan can sell registered reserves remaining from last year.
______
/12:56 12.03.2002/ Turkmen Persident received head of Itera International Group of
Companies
Ashghabad, March 12, 2002. (CNA). Terms of fulfillment of the contract on
purchasing 10 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas and operating commitments for
transporting gas to Ukraine were discussed by the Turkmen President Saparmyrat
Niyazov and the head of the Itera international group, Igor Makarov. Itera supplies
hi-tech oil and gas equipment needed to build compressor stations and upgrade oil
and gas pipeline systems.
The exchange of opinions also touched upon issues relating to the recent accords
within the CIS on cooperation in the sphere of extracting and transporting natural
gas. As statement on this was signed at the 1 March informal summit in Alma-Ata by
the presidents of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Russian Federation. The
development of this framework agreement at bilateral and multilateral level,
Saparmyrat Turkmenbasy explained, will make it possible to protect the interests
both of gas producing and purchasing countries. In this process commercial
operators of the gas deal and their ability to create trusting relations between
the participants have a very great role to play, the Turkmen head of state said.
The Itera head reported on the results of the company's work in the first quarter
of the current year. Assessing these, Saparmyrat Turkmenbasy said that Itera had
managed to cope with delivering significant amounts of gas in the autumn and winter
period, but now they should prepare for the next peak season [autumn-winter
2002-2003]. The overall situation in the gas transportation system and the
opportunities for expanding the market for selling Turkmen gas were analysed in
this respect.
______
When re-using CNA content, we require that you credit Caspian News Agency by
including "CNA/www.caspian.ru"
|
