On Thursday, March 10, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake Jr. testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia, on U.S. policy and engagement in Central Asia. The hearing was chaired by Dan Burton (R-IN). Assistant Secretary Blake outlined the general U.S. policy on Central Asia with its priorities and challenges as well as addressed issues specific to each of the five states.
According to the testimony, the core interests that shape U.S. policy objectives in Central Asia are: “encouraging Central Asia’s help in stabilizing Afghanistan; promoting democracy; combating narcotics trafficking; promoting balanced energy policies and non-proliferation; and fostering competitive market economies.” I am not sure if these are listed in order of importance, but the topic of the Central Asian countries’ role in stabilizing the larger region and access to Afghanistan was clearly emphasized, perhaps over all the others. Mr. Blake highlighted the importance of the Northern Distribution Network (NDN) as a vital route for getting non-lethal supplies into Afghanistan for U.S. and coalition forces as well as the Manas Transit Center in Kyrgyzstan. “This year we have focused on expanding the capacity of the Northern Distribution Network to offer multiple, alternate routes for our cargo transiting into Afghanistan. These routes are becoming an increasingly important component of our bilateral relationships in the region.” But he added that “our relations with Central Asia are by no means limited to cooperation on Afghanistan” referring to other issues such as human rights, democracy promotion, and economic development, among others.
The Assistant Secretary underlined the engagement with each of the Central Asian countries through the Annual Bilateral Consultations (ABCs), instituted in December 2009. The ABCs constitute “a face-to-face structured dialogue, based on a jointly developed, comprehensive agenda that facilitates candid discussions on the full spectrum of bilateral priorities, including human rights, religious freedom, science and technology collaboration, economic development, defense cooperation, and any other issue that either side would like to bring to the table.” The ABC clearly speaks for U.S. interest and engagement in the region because it highlights a one to one relationship with each individual state.
A budget cut of 6% in funding for the region was announced.
“The President’s Fiscal 2012 budget request includes a 6% decrease in funding for the region compared to budgeted levels for Central Asia in FY 2010. This decrease reflects our commitment to a lean, strategically targeted budget that will advance our interests in Central Asia. The most important of these is the support of Central Asian states for international efforts in Afghanistan.”
Kazakhstan
The Assistant Secretary said that “our relations with Kazakhstan are perhaps our deepest and broadest in Central Asia, with cooperation across a broad range of fields as diverse as non-proliferation, support to Afghanistan, energy and health.” He praised Kazakhstan’s stance on nuclear non-proliferation and its position in the global energy market as it will account for one of the largest increases in non-OPEC supply over the next 10-15 years. Again, in the context of Afghanistan, he said “Kazakhstan provides vital logistical support to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) through the NDN. Kazakhstan is also investing in Afghanistan’s next generation of leaders through a $50 million scholarship program to educate one thousand Afghan students in Kazakhstan’s universities.”
Mr. Blake concluded by reiterating the U.S. government’s commitment to the promotion of democracy, human rights and the role of civil society in the country. He lauded the decision to hold presidential elections on April 3 instead of the referendum that would seek to extend president Nursultan Nazarbayev’s term in office. He said “we and the international community see these elections as an important opportunity to strengthen the electoral process.” True, a snap election with only a two months notice by the incumbent is better than a phony referendum that would put the country back in terms of democratic achievement. But only marginally. It is understandable, however, that if you want to work with somebody, especially such a vital partner as Kazakhstan against the backdrop of the war in Afghanistan, you cannot just threaten it with a stick. I think the hope here is that Kazakhstan will take small steps to a big goal, but while moving ahead slowly it will not take a leap back.
Uzbekistan
This February Assistant Secretary Blake visited Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to hold the second round of Annual Bilateral Consultations. In this context he said, “our dialogue encompassed four key areas of the bilateral relationship: political, security, economic, development, as well as democratic reform.”
Again, Uzbekistan appears to be a very important strategic partner in the war in Afghanistan. “In the regional security field, Uzbekistan remains a valued partner for its participation in NDN and its role in Afghanistan reconstruction. A few years ago Uzbekistan began a new effort to export reasonably-priced electricity to Afghanistan, which dramatically increased power supplied in the north of the country and continues to keep the lights on in Kabul to this day. Uzbekistan has facilitated transit for essential supplies to coalition forces in Afghanistan. Its national rail company, with funding from the Asian Development Bank, constructed an important railroad line that links the southern Uzbek city of Khairaton to the northern Afghanistan city of Mazar-e Sharif. The railroad will help boost trade between Central Asia and Afghanistan.” He commended Uzbekistan’s role during the outbreak of ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan last year by accepting large numbers of ethnic Uzbek refugees. Significant human rights concerns remain including “ending forced child labor in the cotton harvest, opening up the media environment, curtailing abuses by security forces, and ending harassment of civil society and international NGOs.”
Kyrgyzstan
U.S. policy towards Kyrgyzstan is focused on helping Kyrgyzstan consolidate the transition to a parliamentary democracy. The Assistant Secretary praised the parliamentary elections held on October 2010 as historic free and fair elections that resulted in a multiparty parliamentary system of government, a first in Central Asia. Some areas of concern remain. Mr. Blake said that “we continue to monitor the potential for renewed ethnic violence, as tensions remain following violence in the south last June. In our interactions with the new government, we continue to encourage accountability, equal access to justice, respect for human rights and ethnic reconciliation.”
In the context of Afghanistan again: “The Manas Transit Center represents an important contribution by the Kyrgyz Republic to our efforts in Afghanistan. In addition to facilitating the flow of U.S. troops and supplies into Afghanistan, the Transit Center contributes to the local economy by improving employment opportunities for, and purchasing local goods from, local communities.”
Tajikistan
In Tajikistan U.S. policy is “to support Tajikistan in maintaining stability and creating the conditions for economic and democratic development.”
“As our public reports on human rights, on the investment climate, and on religious freedom have made clear, we have concerns about the pace and direction of political developments, as well as restrictions on religious and media freedoms in Tajikistan. These continue to be important parts of our dialogue with Tajikistan.”
Turkmenistan
The Assistant Secretary highlighted the importance of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline project. “TAPI could help integrate the Central and South Asian regions by sending energy resources where they are most needed, and we hope that U.S. firms are involved in its development.” Mr. Blake praised Turkmenistan’s humanitarian help to its neighbor Afghanistan by providing discounted electricity and housing and some other assistance. He said that the U.S. continues to encourage the Turkmen government to improve its human rights record and offered assistance to help advance Turkmenistan’s stated goals of developing a democracy.
