NOV. 22 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – World Bank data showed, again, that Tajikistan’s economy is the most reliant in the world on remittances, media reported. In 2011, remittances, mainly from Russia, accounted for 47% of Tajikistan’s GDP. Second on the list was Liberia with a 31% share. Remittances made up 29% of Kyrgyzstan’s GDP last year.
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(News report from Issue No. 114, published on Nov. 23 2012)
NOV. 8 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – Russia is preparing to give millions of dollars to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to both modernise their armed forces and bolster its own position in Central Asia, Kommersant, a Russian business newspaper, reported by quoting sources. According to the report Kyrgyzstan will receive $1.1b and Tajikistan will receive $200m.
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(News report from Issue No. 112, published on Nov. 9 2012)
NOV. 3 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – The Uzbek authorities sentenced three women to jail for spying for neighbouring Tajikistan, local media reported. Relations between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have been increasingly strained over the past few years, most recently because of Tajik plans to build a dam to generate electricity.
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(News report from Issue No. 112, published on Nov. 9 2012)
OCT. 29 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – It may seem routine between neighbours but a phone call by Tajik president Emmomali Rakhmon to his Uzbek counterpart, Islam Karimov, is significant. The two leaders barely talk and tension between the countries has been rising. Quoting the Tajik presidential press service, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported the telephone call on Oct. 29.
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(News report from Issue No. 111, published on Nov. 2 2012)
OCT. 27 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – It may have been grand-standing, but it was still clear that Tajik president Emomali Rakhmon was pleased.
Mr Rakhmon was opening a new tunnel under a treacherous mountain road that links the north of Tajikistan to the south, when, according to the Russian news agency RIA-Novosti, he said that this was now the shortest route between Asia and Europe.
He was wrong, of course, but the Shakhristan Tunnel is still important. Not only does it improve journey times between Dushanbe, the capital, and Khujand, the second city, but this 5km-long tunnel under the Pamir mountains also underlines China’s commitment to the region.
With funds from Beijing, a Chinese company built the tunnel under a pass which is often closed by snow in the heavy winter months.
Tunnel projects in Tajikistan form just one part of China’s regional strategy. It is investing heavily in Central Asia, building relations by improving transport links, handing out cheap loans and buying up resources.
Across the border from where Mr Rakhmon was admiring his new tunnel, the Uzbek government was also thanking Beijing. It had just borrowed $220m to modernise a heating plant in Tashkent.
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(News report from Issue No. 111, published on Nov. 2 2012)
OCT. 31 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – World Trade Organisation (WTO) members are ready to vote Tajikistan into their club later this year after the Tajik government agreed to move its trade policies in line with international standards, media reported. Kyrgyzstan is currently the only state from Central Asia with WTO membership.
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(News report from Issue No. 111, published on Nov. 2 2012)
OCT. 25 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – US-based Human Rights Watch described as “politically motivated” a decision by a court in Tajikistan to close a human rights group for holding an incorrect licence. The Association of Young Lawyers (Amparo), which is based in the north Tajikistan city of Khujand, investigates torture allegations.
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(News report from Issue No. 110, published on Oct. 26 2012)
OCT. 5 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a deal with his Tajik counterpart, Emomalii Rakhmon, to extend Russia’s lease on a military base in the Pamir mountains. The deal extends Russia’s tenure on the base until 2044. In return, media reported that Russia had agreed to supply modern weapons.
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(News report from Issue No. 108, published on Oct. 12 2012)
OCT. 4 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – Russian president Vladimir Putin flew into Tajikistan for the start of a two-day visit which is expected to culminate in a deal to extend Russia’s lease on a military base. The base is Russia’s largest overseas mission and is considered a vital component of its military strategy.
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(News report from Issue No. 107, published on Oct. 5 2012)
SEP. 26 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rakhmon has told Tajiks to hoard two years worth of food supplies ahead of winter, media reported. The presidential office quoted Mr Rakhmon as saying that a global rise in commodity prices and a winter that is expected to be harsh, means it is vital to stock up on supplies.
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(News report from Issue No. 106, published on Sep. 28 2012)