AUG. 9 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) — Hackers attacked the Kyrgyz foreign ministry website, temporarily plastering it with Turkish language slogans, media reported. It was not clear who was behind the attack, the website of the US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. The attack did, though, show the vulnerability of Kyrgyzstan’s government.
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(News report from Issue No. 147, published on Aug. 12 2013)
AUG. 10 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) — A US warship took part in annual exercises with the Georgian navy in the Black Sea, manoeuvres that increase tensions between Georgia and Russia. The USS Bulkeley, a destroyer, sailed into Batumi port on Aug. 10 and was due to leave Georgian waters on Aug. 13.
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(News report from Issue No. 147, published on Aug. 12 2013)
AUG. 1 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) — During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon promised that Tajikistan’s parliament would soon ratify an agreement that will allow Russia’s military to remain in the country until 2042. Delays in ratifying the deal, made in 2012, have strained relations with Russia.
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(News report from Issue No. 146, published on Aug. 5 2013)
JULY 23 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) — At least one Uzbek soldier died in a gunfight with Kyrgyz soldiers on their shared border. Shootings are relatively common along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border but the incident again highlights tension. Analysts have said the issue could destabilise the region.
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(News report from Issue No. 145, published on July 29 2013)
JULY 16 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) — Underling their close relations, Azerbaijan and Turkey have held joint military exercises, media reported. Azerbaijan and Turkey have signed a series of military agreements since 1992, including the joint manufacturing of long-range missiles.
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(News report from Issue No. 144, published on July 22 2013)
JULY 12 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) — At a press conference in Baku, Iran’s ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mohsen Pak Ayin, said he hoped the Aslanduz border crossing would re-open later this year. There are currently five border crossings open between Iran and Azerbaijan. Relations have been strained between the neighbours over the past few years.
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(News report from Issue No. 143, published on July 15 2013)
JULY 3 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) — Kyrgyzstan wants to sell its Soviet-era torpedo factory on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, media reported. Russia has previously offered to buy the factory and is still the most likely purchaser. Media quoted a Kyrgyz government official saying the factory was worth $30m and the surrounding land another $180m.
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(News report from Issue No. 142, published on July 8 2013)
JULY 4 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) — Russia will upgrade its military base in Armenia and help modernise the Armenian army, local media reported. The move was probably designed to balance out increased Russian arms exports to Azerbaijan, Armenia’s main enemy. Armenia and Azerbaijan are officially at war over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
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(News report from Issue No. 142, published on July 8 2013)
JUNE 25 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) — Kazakhstan may host another round of nuclear talks between Iran and a US-led bloc this year, Iranian media reported. Almaty has already hosted two rounds of talks between Iran and the US-led bloc this year. A third round would further increase the kudos it has earned for holding the meetings relatively seamlessly.
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(News report from Issue No. 141, published on July 1 2013)
JUNE 25 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) — Russia will start sending military aid and kit to Kyrgyzstan from 2014, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported quoting Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defence minister. Accepting Russian military aid highlights a shift in Kyrgyzstan’s allegiance from the US. The US is closing its air base outside Bishkek next year.
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(News report from Issue No. 141, published on July 1 2013)