Energy and Economy

 

Iraqi Delegation to Visit Turkmenistan to Discuss Possible Gas Deal

The Iraqi Minister of Electricity, Ziyad Ali Fadel, announced that two Iraqi delegations will visit Turkmenistan and Qatar this week to discuss a potential gas import deal. Because of the suspension of gas imports from Iran, Iraq has been unable to operate its 6,000 megawatts power plants. Talks with Turkmenistan will aim to establish gas imports to make up for lost Iranian gas and fuel these power plants. 

Source: Iraqi News

Saudi Arabia to Host Central Asia Summit with the GCC

Saudi Arabia is set to host the 18^th summit of the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Central Asia in Jeddah on July 19.  Invitations have been extended to officials from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

Source: News Central Asia

Kazakhstan is Increasing Oil Exports Through Alternative Routes

Kazakhstan’s oil exports through non-Russian routes saw a growing trend in the second quarter of 2023. Oil transport through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline increased 18 times from 19,200 tons in Q1 to 347,100 tons in Q2. This trend represents an effective export diversification strategy of Kazakhstan in transporting crude oil to European countries.

Source: Caspian news 

Security and Policy

 

Turkmenistan Dismisses Several Top Officials

Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdymukhammedov dismissed several top government officials last week due to poor job “performance.” This included Minister of Energy Hajimuhammet Rejepmyradov, Agriculture Minister Allanur Altyyev, the chief of the Turkmenhimiya chemical concern, Nyyazly Nyyazlyyev, the chairman of the State Joint Stock Exchange, Begench Charyyev, and the chairman of the State Sports Committee, Gulmyrat Agamyradov.

Source: RFE/RL

Central Asian Security and Cooperation Forum was Held in Astana

On July 13-14, the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, organized a Central Asian Security and Cooperation Forum. The forum gathered leading scholars and experts from 25 countries with major goals of strengthening regional cooperation, sharing ideas, and finding solutions for regional problems. 

Source: Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies

Kazakhstan Meets with U.S Officials in DC

On July 12-13, Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Umarov and Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Security of the Mazhilis of the Kazakh Parliament Aigul Kuspan met with Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul and Co-Chairs of «Friends of Kazakhstan» Caucus at the Congress Jimmy Panetta and Robert Aderholt to discuss strengthening of U.S.-Kazakhstan relations. They discussed U.S.-Kazakh trade relations, the repealing the Jackson-Vanik amendment, and the development of the Trans-Caspian Trade route. The Kazakh delegation also met with USAID, the National Security Council, the Caspian Policy Center, and other DC-based think tanks. 

Source: Astana Times

Brussels Hosts Sixth Round of Talks Between Armenia and Azerbaijan

On July 15, President of the European Council Charles Michel hosted Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev for the sixth round of trilateral talks in Brussels. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place on July 21, but was moved earlier due to rising tensions between the two sides. Several issues were on the agenda during the talks, including sovereignty and territorial integrity, border delimitation, connectivity, and humanitarian supplies. “As a matter of priority, violence and harsh rhetoric should stop in order to provide the proper environment for peace and normalization talks,” said Michel following the meetings.

Source: European Council 

The ICJ Rejects Armenia’s Request Against Azerbaijan Regarding the Lachin Corridor 

On July 14, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) unanimously rejected Armenia’s request of 12 May, 2023, for modification of the Court’s 22 February 2023 order in the Armenia v. Azerbaijan case concerning the Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Court rejected Armenia’s request to “withdraw any and all personnel deployed on or along the Lachin Corridor since 23 April 2023 and refrain from deploying any such personnel on or along the Lachin Corridor,” as it was ruled that the checkpoint installed by Azerbaijan did not impede movement along the corridor. 

Source: International Court of Justice, Trend News Agency 

Azerbaijan to Provide $7.6 million in Humanitarian Assistance to Ukraine 

On July 17, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed an executive order to allocate $7.6 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine. According to the executive order, the aid is expected to be allocated to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Energy for “the acquisition and shipment of electrical equipment for the purpose of providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine.” 

Source: Trend News Agency 

Sources: Astana Times, Caspian News, European Council, International Court of Justice, Iraqi News, Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, News Central Asia, RFE/RL, Trend News Agency