SEPT. 30 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Turkmenistan introduced new labelling rules for alcoholic drinks and cigarettes, media reported. The labels are described by media as part of a drive by the authorities in Turkmenistan to protect its citizens from alcohol abuse and cigarette smoke but, in reality, it is probably more closely linked to a new tax to be imposed from next April.
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(News report from Issue No. 250, published on Oct. 2 2015)
SEPT. 18 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) — Construction work at a new oil terminal in Turkmenistan’s Lebap region, near the border with Afghanistan, is close to completion, the Ministry of Petroleum said. The terminal will have a capacity of 540,000 tonnes of oil and will boost Turkmen export options.
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(News report from Issue No. 249, published on Sept. 25 2015)
SEPT. 19 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Turkmenistan’s parliament, a rubber-stamping chamber for President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, passed a law which will impose more tax on tobacco and alcohol. Turkmenistan has been looking to raise more tax during the current economic downturn.
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(News report from Issue No. 249, published on Sept. 25 2015)
SEPT. 22 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Ukraine International Airlines postponed the resumption of flights to Ashgabat due to an ongoing row between the two countries’ aviation authorities. Flights were suspended in August and were due to resume on Sept. 21. Ukraine is also locked in a row with the aviation authorities in Uzbekistan.
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(News report from Issue No. 249, published on Sept. 25 2015)
SEPT. 21-23 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Even at a European human rights meeting, it seems, calling President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov a dictator is just not acceptable.
This was the irate response, at least, of a deputy minister of foreign affairs when he slapped down a Turkmen dissident at an OSCE arranged human rights meeting in Warsaw.
Responding to a series of criticisms raised during the meeting, deputy foreign minister Vepa Khadzhiyev listed President Berdymukahmedov’s achievements in bringing “cheaper and more objective information to our citizens.” He also dismissed criticism from human rights groups of a decision to remove thousands of satellite dishes from homes in Ashgabat in April. Human rights campaigners had said this was the behaviour of a dictator.
Opposing Mr Khadzhiyev was the former member of Turkmenistan’s parliament now living in exile in Norway Pirimguly Tangrikuliyev, who openly criticised Western countries for cosying up to Mr Berdymukhamedov.
“They court the dictator because they need access to Turkmenistan’s energy resources,” he said.
This irritated Mr Khadzhiyev who asked rights groups not to use the term “dictator” for Mr Berdymukhamedov.
“A dictator does not provide free electricity, gas and water to his population. Our country increases salaries yearly by 10% and provides free education and healthcare,” he said.
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(News report from Issue No. 249, published on Sept. 25 2015)
SEPT. 15 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Turkmenistan will begin construction on the multi-billion- dollar gas pipeline running from its fields in the east of the country to India in December, Reuters quoted an unnamed government official as saying. This is the strongest indication yet that work is about to being on the so-called TAPI pipeline.
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(News report from Issue No. 248, published on Sept. 18 2015)
SEPT. 17 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Turkmenistan has become the 166th member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the global body charged with developing and encouraging the safe use of nuclear power, media reported.
While Turkmenistan’s accession to the IAEA may not have any major policy implications it is another signifier that Turkmen president Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov wants to bring the country more into the international mainstream.
Turkmenistan normally stays away from joining international organisations.
IAEA members ratified Turkmenistan’s membership at their 59th annual summit in Vienna. also joining this year were the east African country of Djibouti, Guyana in South America and Vanuatu in the Pacific Ocean.
Neutrality is enshrined in Turkmenistan’s constitution and not damaging this long-held policy would have been a key consideration for Mr Berdymukhamedov.
He has steadily moved Turkmenistan into the international mainstream, mainly to exploit Turkmenistan’s gas reserves.
It holds the world’s fourth largest gas reserves.
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(News report from Issue No. 248, published on Sept. 18 2015)
SEPT. 14 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) — Turkmenistan inaugurated a power plant in the Darvaza district, 250km north of Ashgabat, an indicator of how the country is setting itself up as a power exporter.
Turkish company Calyk Energy built the plant and US-based General Electric provided the four gas turbines for the 500MW power plant.
The official Turkmen media reported on Mr Berdymukhamedov’s visit to the opening of the plant.
It said: “The President stressed that Turkmenistan is constantly investing in electricity power generation, which will allow it to increase the exports to meet the demand of world markets.”
Turkmenistan is developing its electricity generation capacity. Power plants are being built in Turkmen- bashi, on the Caspian Sea coast, in the Lebap province, on the border with Uzbekistan, and in Mary, in the south-east of the country.
Turkmenistan is already exporting electricity to Afghanistan.
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(News report from Issue No. 248, published on Sept. 18 2015)
SEPT. 11 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Turkmenistan has signed a deal with Afghanistan to increase electricity exports, media reported quoting various government officials after a meeting between the two sides. The deal cements cooperation between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.
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(News report from Issue No. 248, published on Sept. 18 2015)
SEPT. 7 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – The France-based lobby group Reporters Without Borders said they were increasingly concerned about a journalist held by the Turkmen security forces. It said that Saparmamed Nepeskuliev, a freelance journalist who has worked for the US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, had not been heard of since he was detained by security forces three months ago.
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(News report from Issue No. 247, published on Sept. 11 2015)