Energy and Economy

 

Turkmenistan to Export Gas to Iraq

On August 24, Iraqi Deputy Oil Minister for Gas Affairs, Azzat Sabir, announced that Turkmenistan and Iraq had reached an agreement on the import of gas to Iraq from Turkmenistan. This deal was reached during an Iraqi government delegation’s official visit to Turkmenistan. Although private entities have yet to arrange the technical details, an agreement that will detail the volume of gas imported from Turkmenistan will be signed before the end of this year, according to Sabir.

Source: Reuters

Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan Discuss the Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant

On August 26, Ministers of Energy from Uzbekistan, Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov; Kyrgyzstan, Talaibek Ibraev; and Kazakhstan, Almasadam Satkaliyev, discussed the implementation of a cross-border hydropower project, the Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant. In the establishment of a joint venture among these countries, it was decided that Kyrgyzstan will hold 34% of the shares, while Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan will both hold 33% of shares. This project will produce 5.6 billion kWh of electricity annually.

Source: Trend

Turkmenistan to Provide Gas to Uzbekistan

On August 24, the head of the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan, Zhurabek Mirzamakhmudov, announced that UzGasTrade and Turkmenistan have signed a short-term contract that entails Turkmenistan supplying Uzbekistan with up to 2 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The deal was achieved during negotiations in Ashgabat between by Mirzamakhmudov and Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Batyr Amanov.

Source: Gazeta.uz

Security and Politics

 

Kazakhstan Shows Interest in BRICS Membership

The 15^th BRICS Summit was held in Johannesburg on August 24. During the BRICS Plus session, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev joined online as the current Chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). During his speech, Tokayev stressed the need for closer cooperation between BRICS and SCO through trade, transport, and investment projects. President Tokayev also expressed interest in becoming as an official member state of BRICS, contributing to its potential.

Source: Astana Times 

EU Parliament Chair Urges Kyrgyzstan to Comply with International Sanctions During Visit

The European Union (EU) Parliament’s Foreign Committee Chair, David McAllister, pressed Kyrgyzstan to take greater measures to ensure compliance with international sanctions against Russia during a state visit to Bishkek on August 24. He added that while these sanctions are not aimed at Kyrgyzstan, the EU understands “Kyrgyzstan's situation and its involvement in organizations like the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEU) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)." At the same time, he stressed that cases of sanction evasion will be condemned, including the “illicit export and import of goods on the sanctions list.”

Source: RFE/RL

Turkish Defense Minister Visits Azerbaijan

On August 27, Turkish Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler visited Azerbaijan. Güler was received by President Ilham Aliyev in Baku. He also held meetings with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Zakir Hasanov. The two ministers discussed the development of military, military-technical, and military-training cooperation between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, as well as regional security issues and other mutual interests.

Source: Daily Sabah

President of Uzbekistan Appoints Daughter as his Advisor

On August 25, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev appointed his oldest daughter, Saida Mirziyoyeva, as his presidential aide. Prior to this appointment, from 2019 to 2022, she served as the Deputy Head of the Information and Mass Communications Agency. And starting in 2022, she served as the head of the presidential administration’s communications and information policy department. 

Source: Reuters

USAID Deputy Assistant Administer for Asia to Visit Uzbekistan

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Assistant Administrator (DAA) of the Bureau for Asia, Änjali Kaur, will visit Uzbekistan August 26-30 to promote stronger U.S.-Uzbekistan cooperation. DAA Kaur will visit USAID-supported project sites, meet with government officials and development partners, and hold discussions with several private and governmental entities.

Source: U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan

Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Meets with Korean Counterpart

On August 28 in Slovenia, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan held a meeting with Park Jin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea. The ministers discussed strengthening bilateral relations in the spheres of trade, education, culture, and technological innovation.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia 

Sources: Astana Times, Daily Sabah, Gazeta.uz, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Reuters, RFE/RL, Trend, U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan