Tag Archives: international relations

Problems mount in Kyrgyz farming

JUNE 25 2014 (The Conway Bulletin) – Kyrgyz agriculture accounts for around a fifth of GDP and just under half the country’s employment according to the country’s National Statistics Committee, yet many farmers say the sector is on its knees.

As Kyrgyzstan prepares for entry into the Eurasian Economic Union comprising Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, discussions over farming’s future are only likely to intensify.

On June 12, Alibek Rakaev, Head of the Association of Pastoralists told journalists that meat production in the country was falling due to the prevalence of diseases that village vets have proven unable to diagnose or treat. Livestock farming was in a “critical condition”, he said.

Back in Soviet times Kyrgyzstan’s meat and dairy products were exported all over the Union, but neighbouring Kazakhstan now views Kyrgyzstan’s products with caution and has banned import of Kyrgyz milk and meat in the past. The Eurasian Economic Union has even tighter controls.

Poultry farmers might welcome membership, with high tariffs on non-Union imports potentially restricting the flow of Chinese chicken and eggs onto the domestic market, but for Kyrgyzstan’s crop-growers, Jomart Jumabekov, a member of the Public Advisory Board on the Ministry of Agriculture, said, closer integration with Russia and Kyrgyzstan means problems.

“I view the Customs Union negatively. Russian and Kazakh wheat and grains already dominate our market,” Mr Jumabekov told the Conway Bulletin. “With even fewer barriers to trade with these countries, we will stop growing even a small proportion of our own food. No-one will till the land.”

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(News report from Issue No. 190, published on June 25 2014)

Georgia—Russia trade increases

JUNE 24 2014 (The Conway Bulletin) – Trade between Georgia and Russia increased by a third in the first five months of the year compared to the same period in 2013, Georgia’s statistics agency said. Relations between Georgia and Russia have improved recently. Russia has allowed Georgia to export wine, water and other products once again.

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(News report from Issue No. 190, published on June 25 2014)

NATO proposes cooperation to Georgia

JUNE 24 2014 (The Conway Bulletin) – NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the Western military alliance would propose closer cooperation with Georgia but would not offer it the full membership that it so desperately craves, media reported. NATO holds its AGM in Cardiff in September.

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(News report from Issue No. 190, published on June 25 2014)

Tajikistan and Pakistan agree on CASA- 1000

JUNE 24 2014 (The Conway Bulletin) – Tajikistan and Pakistan have agreed on a price for electricity, a diplomatic source told Pakistan’s Express Tribune newspaper, clearing a major obstacle for the CASA-1000 project. CASA envisages Tajikistan supplying Pakistan with electricity. Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif visited Dushanbe earlier this month.

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(News report from Issue No. 190, published on June 25 2014)

Sargsyan visits Georgia

JUNE 19 2014 (The Conway Bulletin) – Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan concluded a two day trip to Tbilisi by saying the two countries’ different strategies towards Russia and the EU could strengthen their relations. Georgia has chosen closer ties to the EU while Armenia has looked to Russia.

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(News report from Issue No. 190, published on June 25 2014)

Barroso meets with Azerbaijan’s President

JUNE 14 2014 (The Conway Bulletin) – European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso visited Baku in a strong show of support for strengthening relations with Azerbaijan.

Mr Barroso pledged not only the EU’s full support for the Southern Corridor, an energy transit route from the Caspian Sea, but also support for a pact to further push Azerbaijan towards Europe.

Europe’s main motivation for the Southern Corridor — hinged around a gas pipeline linking the Caspian Sea to central Europe — is to reduce its reliance on Russia for its gas supplies. Azerbaijan’s motivation is to link directly to a major client.

But talk of another deal moves EU-Azerbaijan relations on to another level. Potentially, at least.

“We held a very successful meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, and made important decisions, one of which was to hasten the completion of a new agreement between Azerbaijan and the EU,” media quoted Mr Barroso as saying.

Russia is likely to look poorly on any move by Azerbaijan to integrate more closely with Europe. Just as with Ukraine and Georgia, Russia considers Azerbaijan to be part of its patch.

Three days after Mr Barroso’s visit to Baku, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov flew into town for bilateral talks. He is sure to make this point to the Azerbaijani leadership.

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