Category Archives: Uncategorised

MP defends Azerbaijan’s human rights record

JAN. 30 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) — Samad Seyidov, a pro-president Azerbaijani MP, said Azerbaijan hasn’t imprisoned anybody for their political beliefs. Mr Seyidov was countering criticism of a crackdown on human rights by Azerbaijan. The day before another opposition journalist had been jailed for so-called hooliganism.
ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 217, published on Feb. 4 2015)

Kyrgyz imams want French bocott

JAN. 29 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) — Imams in south Kyrgyzstan urged people to boycott French goods, especially perfume, or at least counterfeit versions, which is stocked in markets. The boycott is in retaliation for the printing of the cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed by French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 217, published on Feb. 4 2015)

Karimov hits 77

>>The long-serving leader needs to organise his succession>>

JAN. 30 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) — Known as Papa, ironically rather than for any genuine paternal feelings, Uzbek President Islam Karimov has just celebrated his 77th birthday.

He has ruled over Uzbekistan for 26 years — he came to power shortly before the 1991 break-up of the Soviet Union — meaning that half of Uzbekistan’s 30m population have only known him as their leader.

But because of Mr Karimov’s age and rumours over his health, it will soon be time to pick a new leader. Mr Karimov himself has kept his opinions close to himself but candidates from within his administration have emerged as contenders, especially now that his eldest daughter, Gulnara, has been taken out of contention.

Top of this list is probably Rustam Inoyatov, the head of Uzbekistan’s secret intelligence service. He is a long serving official and is powerful but he is also a similar age and vintage to Mr Karimov.

There are others too, including finance minister Rustam Azimov and senate head Ilgizar Sobirov. And these options are what pose a real threat to Uzbekistan’s stability and Mr Krimov’s legacy.

For Mr Karimov, or Papa, this year is going to be busy.
ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 217, published on Feb. 4 2015)

Armenia plans Eurobond issue

FEB. 2 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) — Armenia’s finance ministry said it planned to issue Eurobonds later this year to help it through a tough economic period. A sharp fall in the Russian rouble has hit Armenia with analysts warning of a recession. The finance ministry did not specify the type of Eurobond it was considering issuing.
ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 217, published on Feb. 4 2015)

Gazprom is Armenia’s highest taxpayer

FEB. 2 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) — Gazprom Armenia was the largest taxpayer in Armenia in 2014, media reported, highlighting just how important Russia is to the Armenian economy. Gazprom Armenia owns Armenia’s gas pipeline system. In 2014 it paid taxes of nearly 43b dram ($90m). This was almost double the second highest taxpayer.
ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 217, published on Feb. 4 2015)

11 policemen arrested in Georgia

FEB. 2 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) — News reports from Georgia said 11 former and serving police men have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the 2006 murder of a man. A bomb killed the man’s father last month. The police are accused of a cover up and the case may rock the establishment. Georgia’s interior minister resigned last month.
ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 217, published on Feb. 4 2015)

Georgia to tighten monetary policy

JAN. 30 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) — Georgia’s Central Bank chief, Georgy Kadagidze, said he would tighten monetary policy next week after another drop in the value of its lari currency. Mr Kadagidze has said that he would not spend the bank’s reserves heavily to prop up the lari which has lost around 15% of its value since November.
ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 217, published on Feb. 4 2015)

NATO plans training base in Georgia

>>Russia has warned Georgia about getting too close to NATO>>

JAN. 30 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) — NATO plans to open training facility in Georgia by the end of the year, a move certain to irritate Russia which has previously warned the Georgian government not to get too close to the Western military alliance.

Alexander Vershbow, NATO deputy secretary-general, announced the opening of the base on a trip to Tbilisi.

For Georgia, the decision by NATO to open a training centre is a major diplomatic coup. It is desperate to join the alliance and has been a keen supporter of its mission in Afghanistan. Georgia still has soldiers serving in Afghanistan.

As for NATO, the move is more risky. It doesn’t want to antagonise Russia but it also needs to look strong.

Over Ukraine, Russia and NATO are already engaged in something of a proxy war. NATO accuses Russia of sending weapons and soldiers to help pro-Russian rebels fight the Ukrainian forces. It is also considering arming the Kiev government forces.

It’s not entirely clear what the NATO training centre in Georgia will look like or what it will actually do. Relations between Georgia and Russia have steadily been improving since a war in 2008.

During the war, Russia forces roamed parts of Georgia and occupied military bases. Placing a base, even a training centre, in Georgia will move NATO onto the frontline.
ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 217, published on Feb. 4 2015)

Berdymukhamedov flies to Ankara

MARCH 3 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Turkmen president Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov flew to Anakara for talks with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on cooperation in the energy sector. Media reported that Mr Erdogan wants to set up a grouping with Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. This is likely to revolve around the South Caucasus energy corridor.
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(News report from Issue No. 221, published on March 4 2015)

Kyrgyz president appoints female prosecutor

JAN. 29 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) — Kyrgyz president Almazbek Atambayev approved the selection of Indira Dzholdubayeva as prosecutor-general. One of Ms Dzholdubayeva’s main tasks is to clamp down on corruption. Her selection as Kyrgyzstan’s prosecutor-general is eye-catching because Kyrgyzstan is still a male dominated society and she is only 35-years-old.
ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 217, published on Feb. 4 2015)