Author Archives: Editor

Azerbaijan promises construction projects to Israeli companies

BAKU/MARCH 9 (The Bulletin) — Azerbaijan’s government has promised Israeli companies contracts to rebuild Nagorno-Karabakh, the region that it took control of last year after a six-week war with Armenia.

Israeli military advice and technology were critical for helping Azerbaijan defeat a well-dug in Armenian army that had held Nagorno-Karabakh since the early 1990s, and analysts said that the contracts were effectively payback for this help.

Media quoted Ibrahim Khazar, Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Turkey, as saying that the construction work would concentrate on restoring the region’s “historical and authentic heritage”. He also said that Israeli companies had offered to “rehabilitate” the region.

Analysts have said that rebuilding Nagorno-Karabakh will give Azerbaijan’s construction sector a boost.

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— This story was published in issue 475 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on March 15 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Turkey and Uzbekistan agree to strengthen bilateral business relations

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MARCH 9 (The Bulletin) — Turkey and Uzbekistan agreed a deal to strengthen bilateral relations, especially business and economic relations. At a press conference in Tashkent, the Turkish foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said Turkey-Uzbekistan relations had great potential and that they would sign a free trade agreement in the “upcoming period”. Turkey sees itself as a force in Central Asia and the South Caucasus and wants to boost its presence and influence.

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— This story was published in issue 475 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on March 15 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

EU appoints mediate for Georgian political stand-off

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MARCH 9 (The Bulletin) — Highlighting the central role that the EU expects to play in mediating a resolution to a breakdown in the political system in Georgia since a disputed election in October last year, European Council President Charles Michel appointed a personal envoy to talks. It is expected that Christian Danielsson, head of the EU delegation in Sweden, is expected to mediate in the talks. Last month police arrested a senior opposition leader and the PM resigned. Protests have continued on the streets.

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— This story was published in issue 475 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on March 15 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Marks & Spencer says to set up retail websites for Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan

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MARCH 9 (The Bulletin) — British retailer Marks & Spencer said that it was launching websites in 46 new markets to sell its clothes, including in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The expansion is part of a plan by Marks & Spencer to wring more value out of its brand from international markets. By opening websites targeting consumers in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Marks & Spencer is acknowledging that both markets have matured. Marks & Spencer has operated shops in Baku and Almaty since 2014 and 2012.

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— This story was published in issue 475 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on March 15 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Turkmenistan takes batch of Chinese coronavirus vaccine

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MARCH 9 (The Bulletin) — Despite not acknowledging a single case of the coronavirus that causes the Covid-19 disease, Turkmenistan has accepted batches of a China-made vaccine. It has already approved the use of the Sputnik-V Russia-made vaccine. Most Central Asian countries have accepted supplies of both the Russian and Chinese vaccines, reflecting the geopolitical struggle over the region.

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— This story was published in issue 475 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on March 15 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Women in region march against violence

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MARCH 8 (The Bulletin) — Women in Central Asia and the South Caucasus’ biggest cities marched in protests against domestic violence on International Women’s Day. The region, known for its unreformed macho overtones, has one of the worst records in the world for domestic violence. Activists have said the coronavirus lockdowns have exacerbated the issue. Last year the women’s rights march in Bishkek was attacked by masked men. This year it passed off without incident.

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— This story was published in issue 475 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on March 15 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Azerbaijan nears completion of hazelnut processing plant

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MARCH 7 (The Bulletin) — Azerbaijan has nearly finished constructing a hazelnut processing plant that will help it boost exports, as Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev ordered in 2017, media reported. The processing plant will create 150 jobs and will be able to process 7,000 tonnes of hazelnuts per year. Azerbaijan has been trying to boost non-oil exports.

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— This story was published in issue 475 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on March 15 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Phone records spurs Georgian PM resignation demands

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MARCH 7 (The Bulletin) — An opposition TV station in Georgia published what it said was a recording of a phone call between PM Irakli Gharibashvili and Bera Ivanishvili, son of the founder of the Georgian Dream government coalition Bidzina Ivanishvili, which it said showed the excessively close link between the government and the billionaire. In the phone call, Bera Ivanishvili is allegedly heard trying to pressure Mr Gharibashvili into prosecuting people who he said had harassed him online. Mr Gharibashvili has dismissed the phone call as a fake.

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— This story was published in issue 475 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on March 15 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Anti-coronavirus curfew protests continue in Georgia

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MARCH 6 (The Bulletin) — Although some bars and restaurants have now been allowed to reopen, there were more protests in Georgia against the government’s anti-coronavirus 9pm – 5am curfew. Georgia has seen some of the most dogged protests against its government’s coronavirus restrictions.

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— This story was published in issue 475 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on March 15 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Uzekistan to set up electric scooter production site

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MARCH 5 2021 (The Bulletin) — Uzbekistan will set up a factory producing electric scooters, media reported. Details were scant but reports said that the scooters would be built at a factory in the Kokand special economic zone and that the unnamed business hoped to produce 4,500 annually, rising to 23,500 by the end of 2022.

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— This story was published in issue 474 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on March 5 2021