Central Asia General:
–All SCO this week, every day. First, the beginning of a Collective Security Timeline, on a separate page in this blog, for reference. Stray and random bits of info are welcome: leave a comment and a reference and I’ll put it into the list.
–Nathan Hamm over at Registan.net discusses and gives great references to the study of nomadism as a theory for explaining Central Asian politics, etc–and more importantly, the limits of its use.
Kazakhstan:
Not a great week for one of my favorite places:
—Rakhat-gate moves to Austria, discussed here yesterday. What a mess.
–With the Kashagan oil field in delayed production, Kazakhstan will not be able to meet new commitments for oil distribution. This is a problem for Poland, the Ukraine, and the West, since Nazarbaev cannot commit to the Trans-caspian line without the crude to fill it. News analysts continue to see these things as all-politics. No, no, no! It's a production constraint with political and economic repercussions. Ihlam Aliev President of Azerbaijan can plead, but if the oil ain't distributable, it ain't. In the meantime, Italy's ENI, the operator of the field, is facing dismissal by Kazakhstan's authorities–or at the least–less favorable contract terms.
–Kazakhstan and Jordan strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in the realm of agricultural commerce, transportation agreements, and paving the way toward more intimate free trade relationships. This article also references Egypt-Kazakh relations.
Kyrgyzstan:
–China's Hu Jin-tao will visit Kyrgyzstan for the first time ever on August 14th, for SCO summit but also bilateral talks; and thence to Kazakhstan & Russia.
–Global Voices Online rounds up the Kyrgyzstani preparations for the SCO summit, which include beautification and security measures. It's not all fun, getting ready for a party. Mirsulzhan has more on the primping and preening of Bishkek, and other aspects for the locals.
–In the same post, Mirsulzhan details the reactions of Kyrgyzstani bloggers toward Feliks Kulov's idea of a Kyrgyz-Russia reunification. It makes one wonder if Mr. Kulov's has taken a look at Belarus’ plight at the moment.
–Bermet Akaeva is charged again, with a possible 2-year sentence if convicted. This time, she's being charged for trying to influence the outcome of the last charge.
—Bread prices are up, and citizen confidence is down.
–Kyrgyzstan's farmers are better off than Uzbekistan's and Turkmenistan's: not only do they know that the world cotton market has turned to lint, they are refusing to plant the crop. That is called a rational supplier response to market price–in the U.S. cotton growers are doing the same. Yet the adjustment for Kyrgyzstan is catastrophic, with 60% of its work force involved in agriculture.
Mongolia:
–An Indian news agency explains Khaan Quest 2007, a military exercise reported in the CAB last week, as a bid for India and the U.S. to keep tabs on China's space program and other strategic observations. A Mongolia-India war game immediately follows Khaan Quest 2007: this one is named “Nomadic Elephant.” Considering previous ties and balance of power theory, one should next expect that Pakistan's observer status in the SCO might be ramped up to a full membership. Don't know that though . . . Pakistan is complicated . . .
–Mongolia's President Enkhbayar to attend SCO meetings as an observer.
Tajikistan:
–A sign of increasing bilateral regard: The former Iranian Foreign Minister and the first Iranian ambassador to Dushanbe are awarded with Tajikistan's Peace Prize, for work undertaken during the Tajik Civil War.
–Two former Guantanamo detainees are on trial in Tajikistan for illegal border crossings and “mercenary activity” in Afghanistan.
–In Dushanbe, unlicensed mosques are being razed;
Turkmenistan:
–IWPR discusses grain harvest shortfalls in Turkmenistan.
Uzbekistan:
—Erk opposition party website has been hacked: or censored: or both. . .
–A look at the importance of Iran to Uzbekistani commerce.
Xinjiang:
–Again, yesterday, here: SCO Military exercises began in Xinjiang, and then move this weekend or so to Chelyabinsk. Chelyabinsk was verboten to foreigners for 30 years–now Chinese troops are lobbing fake bombs and driving tanks in the area. Amazing. And–significant.