On July 9, 2018 High-level Dialogue of the European Union-Central Asia and Afghanistan on issues of politics and security has been held in Ashgabat. The meeting was held at the level of deputy foreign ministers. The delegation of the European Union at the meeting was headed by Jean Christophe Belliard, Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs […]
Диалог высокого уровня ЕС-Центральная Азия и Афганистан состоялся в Ашхабаде
9 июля 2018года в Ашхабаде состоялось заседание Диалога высокого уровня Европейский Союз-Центральная Азия и Афганистан по вопросам политики и безопасности. Встреча прошла на уровне заместителей министров иностранных дел. Делегацию Европейского Союза на заседании возглавил Заместитель Генерального секретаря по политическим вопросам Европейской службы внешних связей Жан Кристоф Белльяр. В повестку дня заседания были включены вопросы противодействия […]
Anti-terror conference held in Dushanbe in May 2018
nCa Report The embassy of Tajikistan in Ashgabat hosted Wednesday (6 June 2018) a briefing for the diplomatic community and the media. Ambassador Farrukh Homiddin Sharifzoda, who conducted the briefing, dealt with the two main issues: International conference on water, which will be held later this month in Dushanbe – we have covered this in […]
Trump withdraws from Iran Nuclear Deal – Probable side effects for Central Asia
Tariq Saeedi President Trump announced Tuesday (8 May 2018) that he was pulling out of the Iran Nuclear Deal. This would potentially bring several consequences to the doors of Central Asia, some positive, some negative. There are four elements to this mix: 1. Rationale of Trump for ditching the Iran deal; 2. Response of US […]
Brexit bombshell and Central Asia
nCa Commentary Ashgabat, 25 June 2016 (nCa) — The ‘Leave’ vote in the hotly contested Brexit referendum is a big surprise for all, especially those who were campaigning for it. It will take a while, perhaps two months, to fully comprehend the scope of this decision and how it will impact Central Asia. In the […]
Ошеломительное известие о выходе Великобритании из ЕС и Центральная Азия
Комментарий nCa Ашхабад, 25 июня 2016 (nCa) — Голос в пользу выхода в ходе горячего референдума по вопросу о выходе Великобритании из состава ЕС (Brexit) стал большим сюрпризом, особенно для тех кто организовал всю эту кампанию. Пройдет некоторое время, возможно, два месяца, прежде чем будут осознаны масштабы этого решения и то, как оно повлияет на […]
Russia-Ukraine deal: Connotations for Central Asia – Part Four
Tariq Saeedi Ashgabat, 26 Dec—If ‘the west’ is a myth, what is reality? The reality is what Machiavelli pointed out long ago: permanent interests In fact, Machiavelli is in need of correction – instead of permanent interests we just need to talk of interests, permanent or temporary. Except for the need for survival, peace and […]
Russia-Ukraine deal: Connotations for Central Asia – Part Three
Tariq Saeedi Ashgabat, 24 Dec—The Russian bailout package with the $15 billion bond purchase and immense discount on gas price at its core, translates into one life-size message for the so-called ‘west’: You are damned if Yanukovych falls and you are damned if he doesn’t. The current gas sale-purchase agreement between Russia and Ukraine will […]
Russia-Ukraine deal: Connotations for Central Asia – Part Two
Tariq Saeedi Ashgabat, 23 Dec—Whether we equate it with Karate or Chess, the Russian bailout package for Ukraine is a brilliant move. Europe now finds itself between a hard place and Putin. We shall return to it later. For now let’s look at the gas deal. Heavy discount on gas Gazprom agreed to slash gas […]
Russia-Ukraine deal: Connotations for Central Asia – Part One
Tariq Saeedi Ashgabat, 20 Dec—Russia and Ukraine signed 15 bilateral documents Tuesday (17 Dec). If good sense can somehow prevail on all sides, the net impact would be entirely positive for all players – a win-win situation albeit different players taking home unequal slices of win. The Moscow-Kiev deal includes the bailout package for Ukraine, […]