Central Asia

A while back we discussed an upcoming major AIDS conference in Moscow, well the event has arrived and it comes with some positive news. It was the largest Eastern Europe/Central Asia conference ever held and lasted for three days. Around 2,000 participants from over 50 nations took part to assess regional achievements, share results and best practices, examine the epidemic’s recent feminization, and determine how to meet this epidemic’s challenge to their region. The official theme of the conference was ‘Accelerating Access to HIV Prevention, Treatment and Care for All,’ and was hosted by entities from the UN, the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, the International AIDS Society, and a Russian government sponsored organization.

Both regions were said to be at a ‘critical turning point’ in this fight and the UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot optimistically noted that the region’s governments, civil societies and communities were displaying indications of ‘enhanced leadership and cooperation’ on this issue. However, he lamented that discrimination and a negative stigma still resonates in both regions, keeping HIV prevention projects from making real progress. Overall there was good news which showcased that prevention efforts have made an impact; the estimated number of new HIV infections dropped from 230,000 in 2001 to 150,000 in 2007.

A report by the Times of Central Asia included a terse examination of HIV/AIDS in Tajikistan with an emphasis on the fore-mentioned stigma and discrimination that have been associated with the disease. They present a much darker picture of the epidemic’s spread and of a culture and society that has largely turned its back on its victims. They cite recent government data, which indicates that the disease has been on the rise in the country every year since 2001. The Times states that the nation is ’struggling’ to cope’ with the spread HIV/AIDS because of poor medical services and ‘conservative moral attitudes which encourage shame and secrecy.’ We can only hope that the recent conference can bring some effective policies to Tajikistan and help them deal with this challenging and deadly disease.

I want to leave on a more positive note, so here is a story about how the Global Fund to Fight AIDS is considering providing loans, to replace grants, to nations moving above their required income-level such as Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. Kazakhstan’s rising economy will push them above the income-level to receive grants, but Michel Kazatchkine, the fund’s director, cites the nation as an example of a country which can still benefit from a loan and extended help. This sounds like good policy since many of these nations still only have incipient HIV prevention structures and civil society’s which may perish or fall into disrepair without continual aid and oversight by such a group as the Global Fund.

Richard Boucher, Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia gave his ‘The Year Ahead in South and Central Asia‘ news conference a little late this year. Boucher spoke on many topics, which I will break down below, and overall he stated that there’s a ‘new sense of momentum and a new sense of energy’ in both regions. Afghanistan stability was by far the main topic concerning our blog, but he also touched on Kazakhstan’s rising influence, Uzbek’s Termez base, SCO engagement, and a Central Asian Union.

1. Afghanistan- Boucher would reiterate again and again that the Afghan government was taking a lead in more and more of security and governance tasks and that this was the most important sign of progress. There was also strong emphasis on extending the capabilities and reach of the central government out to the local districts. Boucher stated that the chief indicator of stability would be the Afghan government’s ability to ‘deliver opportunity, to deliver justice, to deliver governance and services to the people of Afghan.’

Also in regards to Afghanistan, Boucher stated that the latest NATO summit in Bucharest affirmed the international community’s strong long-term commitment to the effort. Boucher applauded the appointment of Kai Eide as the new Special Rep for the UN Secretary General for Afghanistan. A quick discussion of the regional impact of Afghan’s instability, and therefore stability, was having on Central and South Asia occurred. The nation was called ‘vital’ to the CA states for ‘good’ and for ‘bad.’ He discussed the nation being a ’strategic opportunity’ and a transit point for all of its nearby states (as we discussed earlier, India and Pakistan would use Afghan territory to transport gas and oil from CA) and emphasized the importance of building a network of roads between CA and the nation, for example the Almaty-to-Karachi highway.

2. Kazakhstan- Boucher stated that he recently visited Kazakhstan and talked with their officials about developing public-private partnerships, expanding economic ties, and helping them carry out their commitments as they prepare for the OSCE chairmanship in 2010. He stated that President Nazarbayev has called for entering on the ‘path to Europe,’ which would involve modernization and the standardization of laws and society.

3. Shanghai Cooperation Organization- In answering a reporter from Hong Kong’s question, Boucher stated that the US is not ‘pursuing any particular form of cooperation’ with the SCO, but that it had proved ‘very useful’ in its role in some economic, border, and transit issues. However, Boucher criticized the group for interfering in political areas and for its negative pronouncements about other countries ‘like us.’ Boucher was asked what he thought of Iran as a future member of the SCO, but he did not answer the question.

4. Uzbekistan’s Termez Base- Boucher verified that there had been an accepted provision allowing certain ISAF and NATO officials and non-lethal goods to transit through the base, but that no US aircraft were ‘coming through.’ He stated that only something like 30 Americans, under NATO command, transited through the base last year. I have noticed that all US officials in the region, Pamela Spratlen, have been extremely cautious in explaining that Termez is not a US-controlled base. Treading lightly in Central Asia.

5. Central Asian Union- Boucher briefly voiced his support for CA regional cooperation, especially in regards to trade and transit, but was careful to layout that this was a problem/situation to be handled by internal member states, not ’some outsider like me or anybody else.’

What did you get out of Boucher’s statements? What he said, and what he didn’t say? Is your picture of Afghanistan and the region as rosy as his?

No matter how advanced our human civilization becomes, creating and then depending on such things as the Internet and cell phones, life for all humans still comes down to one thing, WATER. Central Asia’s historically harsh winter this past year has put tremendous strains on all parts of life in the region, from households to each state’s own presidential palace have felt its effects. Water is vital to each nation and person because it is the main provider for not only the agricultural industry, but also of electricity.

This recent story personifies the extent of CA’s water problems: Due to the unusually cold winter and the increased use of electricity, largely powered by hydroelectric sources, the government of Tajikistan is ‘requesting’ that all the residents of the nation, one of poorest in the region, give up half of their salaries in May and June to help fund the Rogun dam. This effort would still only put $10 million into a project that is estimated to cost at least $550 million.

The CA region has been a disorganized and its nation’s have failed to unite to solve this region-wide problem ever since the USSR broke down and each of these states came into existence. Joanna Lillis clearly describes the ramifications of the recent difficult winter and how it has caused a new emphasis in the region on getting their water, irrigation system right. She discusses how each CA nation is really only looking out for themselves and how this is causing all to suffer, especially the poorest in each country.

As was discussed earlier on this page, the presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan made efforts to create a Central Asian Union, which would include a water and energy consortium, a couple weeks ago, but Uzbekistan’s President Karimov quickly put a stop to this idea in his recent visit to Astana; “I want to state right away that this initiative is unacceptable for Uzbekistan.” Uzbekistan, the region’s largest consumer of water, seems to be playing regional power politics with Kazakhstan’s attempt at leading a regional forum, but this does not help in anyway the vital water issues of the region.

Moves have been made however to start to alleviate some of these issues; Kazakhstan will very soon begin its Koksaray reservoir, which will help it contain some of the flooding from water being released from its neighbors, and Kazakhstan’s government and large company Kazkuat, may help pay for Kyrgyzstan’s Kambarta project, which includes two power plants that would cost $2 billion

Kazakhstan is showing their increasing power and political sway in the region by trying to sure up its water and energy needs. These moves are to secure the country the energy and water it needs to help fuel its rising economy, but they should have positive effects throughout the region.

What would truly help solve these water issues would be a regional consortium, for many waterways traverse through all CA nations and what one does affects all others. Lillis advocates using the Eurasian Economic Community as a forum for cooperation, though it does not have Turkmenistan as a member. She discusses a blueprint that is already in place by the EAEC which proposes finding a suitable fuel and energy balance for all countries, attracts financing for Kyrg’s Kambarata project, restoring Soviet principles of irrigation for downstream states (Kazak, Uzbek, Turkmenistan), joint investment in power plants (very important), removing barriers to electricity companies and the creating of a common market between all member states.

This issue is not going away and short-term bilateral deals are only just band-aids on a cracking dam. This is a regional problem and needs a regional solution, but this is easier said than done of course. For instance, US states are still fighting over water as Colorado, Arizona, and California all desperately need the Colorado River’s vital flows. The EU and Germany have stepped up and tried to assist CA authorities on this issue and the US has also done some work, mainly regarding aid, but more needs to be done. If the US could help the region organize (difficult task) or help certain states fund their much needed hydroelectric dams (possible) much good will and the alleviation of suffering should follow.

For all you lucky readers I have a present…Press Conference reports from US State Department officials about ongoing relations with Central Asia! Calm down please.

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Pamela Spratlen (Photo, left) recently made diplomatic visits to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and in each destination held a press conference.

In Bishkek, she participated in what was called the second Comprehensive Policy Dialogue with Foreign Minister Ednan Karabayev and introduced the Millennium Challenge Corporation Threshold program. Kyrgyzstan, which is the first country in CA to be selected to participate, will receive $16 million dollars to help them reform their judicial, law enforcement, and criminal justice sectors. Spratlen also voiced her disapproval of the Kyrg government’s recent handling of the December 2007 elections, which it still has failed to release the results of, during the press conference. Spratlen also answered questions regarding recent local protests against the US use of the Manas base in the country.

In Dushanbe, Spratlen discussed her meetings with Tajik government officials, civil society, NGOs, and members of the business community and stressed that the questions that were of ’special interest’ to her were regarding development of democratic institutions and civil society, and about economic recovery and growth, specifically concerning the effects of the recently passed harsh winter. A discussion of the security situation in Afghanistan along with questions pertaining to the US use of Uzbekistan’s Termez airbase (she reiterated that ‘it’s not our airbase. It won’t be our airbase.’ Just that ‘our citizens can use it.’) were highlights of the press conference. Lastly, a reporter from the BBC asked her about the recent controversy over Tajik government’s falsification of its finances to the IMF. She answered that the US and the international community were ‘very concerned’ and had ‘lost some of its confidence’ that the Tajik government fully understood all of its responsibilities to the IMF and the needs of its people.

Just over a week ago, Richard Boucher, Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia (Spratlen’s boss), held a press briefing titled ‘The Year Ahead in South and Central Asia.’ I have actually not had time to read it all the way over so I will hold my comments until next week, but here is a short review of his statements (to no one’s surprise it appears that Afghanistan was a major topic of discussion, but also Indian energy relations in the CA too).

Have a great weekend!

(Photo Source: US State Department Website)

On April 21st I discussed Turkmenistan-EU’s growing energy supply relations, specifically in regards to the building of the Nabucco and Trans-Caspian Pipelines, and yesterday I dropped you a quick article about a recent Memo of Understanding (MoU) between Turkmenistan and India regarding oil and gas cooperation. I have been wanting to discuss India’s growing role in Central Asia for quite awhile now and the visit of their Vice President Hamid Ansari to the region last week provides a great opening.

It was during this visit that the MoU was signed between Turkmenistan and India. The agreement paves the way for Indian energy companies, such as OSGC, OVL, GAIL, AND IOC, to participate in the hydrocarbon sector in Turkmenistan. During these talks, the long delayed Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India Gas Pipeline Project (TAPI) was also featured and this Radio Free Europe article believes that the project is gaining strength. This project is far from becoming a reality, but it has one major benefit and that is it would provide the struggling Afghan government some much needed transit fees. However, one of the project’s main obstacles is the lack of security in southern Afghanistan due to the current insurgency. Overall it was a productive visit and Ansari left Turkmenistan with these words; “India considers Turkmenistan an extended neighbor, a natural ally and a key partner in Central Asia.”

India’s Vice President Ansari followed up his visit to Ashgabat with a trip to Kazakhstan, where he met with Prime Minister Massimov and President Nazarbayev. The two sides also signed a MoU, though one that seems less substantial, ‘expressing readiness to work on a project specific mode in the hydrocarbon sector.’ Food production, Information Technology, and education were also emphasized in their discussions.

One of major issues standing in the way of greater relations between India and the CA states is a lack of efficient transportation capabilities; roads, railways..etc. However, the Indian Press has reported that an International North-South Transport Corridor linking CA with India will soon be developed. Indian Union Minister for Extenal Affairs Pranab Mukherjee happily stated; “The absence of direct surface transportation routes has been a major handicap in furthering economic and trade ties between India and Central Asia. The recent steps taken by Kazakhastan, Turkmenistan and Russia to increase road and rail connectivity may help in the development of the corridor.” Of course, just like the TAPI, this has been in the works for years so it’s still a ‘wait and see.’

In my brief discussion of recent activity in relations between India and Central Asia, it is obvious that energy supplies are a crucial component of their current and budding relations (Ah ha! here is an article about a Cultural Dialogue between the two), but each side has much else to gain by deepening their connections. For India, not only does their rising economy need energy (Pun Warning!) to fuel its drive to world power status (2.5 billion barrels of oil consumed a day), but it also has much incentive in growing overall trade relations and maintaining a stable environment in the CA. India is surrounded by unstable or authoritative states and if it can cultivate positive and effective relations with its immediate northern neighbors, all the better. For CA, the positives to a relationship of India are obvious; another market to diversify their energy supplies, a strong nation that can help them balance Chinese, Russian, and US pressure, help in progressing their economies beyond just energy supplies (IT sector?), and greater amounts of foreign investment. India is also the only democratic state close enough and strong enough to have some influence in the region and hopefully through time this can have a positive effect.

I will promise to keep you abreast of this ongoing, shall we say dynamic, relationship. Can you think of any more positives for each side? What about negatives? How do you think Russia, China, and even the US view this burgeoning relationship? Should the US work with India in CA to curtail the influence of Russia and China? Is this even feasible?

We have discussed Turkmenistan’s ‘opening up’ diplomatically from their isolationist and totalitarian Niyazov era on a few occasions. The nation’s participation in the latest NATO Summit, EU Troika, and their warming of relations with Turkey, for instance. I am pleased to report that this ‘opening up’ seems to have some legs:

1. Current President Berdymuhamedov has introduced major amendments to the constitution, planned for September 2008. A special committee has been formed to propose constitutional reforms and the president requested the ministry of justice, ministry of internal affairs, ministry of national security, the Supreme Court, prosecutor general, and the institute of democracy and human rights to create working groups to also propose reforms. For reasons of showcasing the transparency of this process, Berdymuhamedov stated that the mass media will publish the details of proposed amendments and that local journalists will be invited to attend the constitutional reform meetings once a month. After the parliament debates the proposals, a special session of the Khalk Maslahaty (People’s Council) will be held in September in Ashgabat to adopt the amendments. Berdymuhamedov asserted; ‘The world is moving forward and any state that cannot keep pace with the global developments will inevitably be left behind.”

2. Last Wednesday, Turkmenistan and Lithuania signed a memorandum of understanding for intergovernmental cooperation with an emphasis in the energy, transportation, tourism, trade, culture and humanitarian spheres. This is another example of Turkmenistan looking toward to the West to increase its leverage in all directions and to court the resources and markets that Europe can provide. During the meeting with Lithuania’s Prime Minister Kirkilas, Berdymuhamedov stated; “European direction is one of the priority areas for the foreign policy strategy of Turkmenistan. We are taking steps to deepen our dialogue with the EU.”

3. On a much larger scale, Turkmenistan and India have signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the oild an gas sectors, but this will be discussed in the next few days.

4. On a cultural bent, Berdymuhamedov gave parliament his approval to work on changing the names of the months back to their traditional forms. The nation’s previous dictator, Niyazov, infamously changed these names in 2002 to versions that honored Turk heros, chief among them, himself. The official parliament resolution should happen sometime this year, maybe as early as June. Gurbansoltan (April), Turkmenbashi (January), and Ruhnama (September) will soon be left to the trash heap of history.

It is important to not overstate these reforms and claim that Turkmenistan is headed towards democracy and an open and vigorous foreign policy, but these reforms, even as slight as some appear, matter and are positive signs none the less.

To personify just how far Berdymuhamedov and Turkmenistan have to go though, here is a report from Forum 18 about a recent government raid on a Bible class in Ashgabat. Unfortunately, religious and personal freedoms are still pedestrian in this nation showing signs of progress.

Two steps forward, three religious persecution steps back.

(Photo Source: The Guardian, Guardian.co.uk)

Since the new year, there has been a serious rise in attacks against non-slavic immigrants in Russia, mainly in the city of Moscow. Human rights groups accuse nationalist extremists, with neo-Nazi sympathies, of murdering between 41-53 immigrants, most of which are from Central Asia or the Caucacus. These types of attacks have occurred in recent years in Russia, but they are becoming more organized and severe. Many of the victims have been stabbed 20-30 times during an attack and far-right websites warn that future attacks may include the use of bombs and guns. Semyon Charny, an expert at the Moscow Bureau for Human Rights, said the situation in Moscow was ‘like a safari.’

The city of Moscow has a large Central Asian minority, about 850,000 of the city’s 10 million inhabitants, who many perform manual labor positions in which there are not enough ethnic Russians to perform. Unfortunately, many Russian citizens seem to see the immigrants as threatening and weak government oversight and policing has helped provide legitimacy to these feelings. In fact, the government has recently passed anti-immigration legislation which some have argued gave tacit approval to the attacks.

Steps have been taken to try to curb this violence by human rights groups, the Russian government, and CA and Caucacus authorities. In late February, the Russian police arrested many leaders of various far-right groups, and in at least one case one leader received a conviction for ‘agitating inter-ethnic discord,’ but the violence has continued as others have taken their place. Raimkul Attakurov, ambassador for Kyrgyzstan in Russia, wrote a letter to Russia’s human rights ombudsman calling the incidents ‘the savage attacks of fascist monsters.’ Embassies have told their citizens to keep a low profile, not to go out on their own, especially to bars, and be well-dressed. Russian government officials have also sat down to discuss the problem with local Azeri, Kyrgyz, Tajik local community leaders, but alas nothing has curbed the ethnic violence.

It seems clear that outright racism has been a factor in these attacks. Opinion polls show that many Russians are ‘uncomfortable’ with the presence of these CA/Caucacus immigrants, even if they aren’t ‘taking their jobs.’ Putin’s domestic and foreign policy has worked hard to bring back Russia’s sense of importance in the world and in regional affairs and this may be helping to create a backlash against non-slavs in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

What should the Russian government do to curb these attacks? What should the governments of the CA/Caucasus states do? I read that there had been diplomatic calls against these abuses from several states, like the above mentioned Kyrg Ambassador Attakurov, but did not find many other official protests. The CA states depend on employment and remittances from Russia so their governments obviously do not want to upset the boat, but this is becoming a serious problem. These neo-Nazi groups have a fascist agenda of violence and hatred that cannot be accepted/condoned/pacified/ignored.

1. US/NATO-Kazakhstan Cooperation: NATO’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, Robert Simmons recently visited Kazakhstan to discuss the ‘Line Communication‘ project. The project involves the railway transit of non-lethal goods through the territories of Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan to Afghanistan by NATO forces. Simmons has reported that Russia and NATO exchanged letters that allow transit through Russian territory (as has been discussed on this page) and stated that he received a ‘positive response’ from the Astana’s government regarding their cooperation in the project. Simmons also stated that he was next off to Uzbekistan to cement their cooperation in the project.

In addition, the United States and Kazakhstan opened what is called ‘second-track diplomacy‘ in Wash. DC on April 9. This includes a ‘dialogue’ featuring Kazakhstan’s Institute of World Economics and Politics and the US’s Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The meeting involved members from each government as well as academic scholars.

2. President Karimov visits Astana- Uzbekistan’s president follows Kyrgyzstan’s head of state to Astana in what one analyst calls the beginning of a ‘new political axis’ in Central Asia. An exact agenda is not known, but energy issues, food prices, and Central Asian regional integration will no doubt be discussed. The Turkish Weekly doubts that much progress will be made regarding regional integration. This is in contrast to Astana-Bishkek’s recent discussions supporting a CA union. Quoting Karimov; “Seeking cheap popularity, some colleagues of mine make high-flown speeches on cooperation and come up with all sorts of slogans. Unfortunately, nothing at all is being done in practice.” Alas, he is for the most part right.

3. Lastly, here is a quick analysis of Kazakhstan’s leading role in the region, pertinent domestic issues, and its ‘free agent’ status in regards to the world’s great powers.

Have a great weekend!

(Picture Source: CIA World Factbook)

Yesterday, we discussed security progress in Afghanistan and this was led by the words of the NATO commander for the mission, Gen. Dan K. McNeill, who seemed optimistic that the Afghan military could take over security for the country by 2011. However, Gen. McNeill also stated that though ‘toe-to-toe’ battles were on the downswing, the use of IEDs and suicide bombers was on the rise by the Taliban and other insurgents.

Just as McNeill was making his assessment, the Washington Post was leaked information about an upcoming US government report describing a dramatic increase in suicide bombings in the past 25 years, with the last five years seeing the biggest spike. The report states that of the 1,840 suicide incidents in the past 25 years, more than 86% have occurred since 2001. This is an alarming trend.

Where are these attacks occurring and by whom? It comes as no surprise that Iraq and Afghanistan have been the location of a large majority of these attacks; 920 in Iraq, 260 in Afghanistan, since 2001. In just last year alone, 658 attacks occurred around the world, including 542 in US-occupied Afghanistan and Iraq. Whether one supports the US troop presence in Afghanistan and Iraq or not, this specific method of violence has to be disturbing.

This is not just a US problem. The report states that suicide bombings have occurred in dozens of states on nearly every continent. In the past 25 years, 21,350 people have been killed and 50,000 injured by its use. Mohammed Hafez, of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, called this the ‘globalization of suicide bombs,’ which no longer are ‘confined to conflict zones, but are happening anywhere.’ He calls these suicide perpetrators ‘martyrs without borders.’ These incidents are not just occurring in US occupied territories, evidenced by the recent ‘plane incident’ in China’s Xinjiang Province, which if successful would have been added to this list.

What is behind this rise in suicide bombings as a method for warfare/violence? Is it just used because it has proven effective in changing state policy, as scholar Robert A. Pape strongly argues, or is something deeper and more troubling behind its rise? Do we now live in a world that has to accept this type of violence, ‘it can’t be stopped if someone really wants to do it,’ or is this just a phase or in fact something that can be defeated or at least marginalized?

The American Commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, Gen. Dan K. McNeill, gave an optimistic appraisal of Afghanistan’s stability on Sunday, stating that the Afghan army and police forces should be able to secure most of the country by 2011. McNeill argued that Afghan forces have done an effective job managing security for Kabul, although he stated with NATO support, and expressed confidence that the country could handle the presidential elections set for September 2009. According to McNeill, the insurgents ‘did not have a very good year last year’ and predicts that ‘toe-to-toe’ fights will probably be less common. However, he admits that the insurgent techniques of choice, IEDs and suicide bombing (which will be discussed tomorrow), is still a concern. He also acknowledged the veracity of reports stating an increase in foreign fighters arriving into Pakistan’s tribal areas which border Afghanistan.

Also of interest, Gen. McNeill asserted that ‘the long-term stability of Afghanistan depends on the good will and help of all its neighbors, not just Pakistan. All neighbors have to be helpful, and there are quite a few neighbors around here.’ One of those neighbors McNeill is no doubt referencing is Uzbekistan, and as has been reported on this blog, there has indeed been cooperative progress made. Here is President Karimov just over a week ago: “I would like to state that Uzbekistan stands ready to discuss and sign with NATO an agreement on providing for a corridor and transit through its territory to deliver non-military cargos through the border junction Termez-Khayraton.. In Uzbekistan we distinctly realize that achievement of peace and stability in Afghanistan would be a decisive factor of security which opens up big opportunities…”

On a more somber note, Richard Weitz, who I have referenced before, attended a briefing by counterinsurgency specialists Bruce Hoffman and Seth Jones titled “America’s Counterinsurgency Conundrum: Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Quest for Stability.” Jones and Hoffman reported their findings from their experiences with the US 82nd Airborne Division in four Afghan provinces bordering Pakistan. The two specialists argue that the US military has improved its counterinsurgency methods of late, but that much more needs to be done to defeat the Taliban and bring stability to the region. Hoffman laments of the lack of resources given to the US effort by its government, arguing that way too much is being spent on Iraq. Both specialists argued for the international community to see this Islamic insurgency in Afghanistan and Pakistan as an ‘integrated whole.’ In other words, one is directly connected to the other and for success to be reached progress needs to occur on both sides of the border. Lastly, Hoffman calls this battle America’s ‘most acute foreign policy challenge.’

Quickly, a diplomatic visit by Krygyzstan’s President Bakiev to Kazakhstan this past week has been called a ’success’ by the head of Krygyzstan’s Head of Presidential Administration Medet Sadyrkulov. Kazakhstan President Nazarbaev assured Bakiev that a recently anounced ban on wheat exports would not apply to his country, the two sides discussed the possibilities of Kazakhstan financing a second gas pipeline through Kyrg territory, an agreement between the two states to hold a CA joint economic forum in Kazakhstan in 2009, which would focus on better distributing regional energy and water supplies among all five CA states, and lastly they discussed formulating a common CA plan for dealing with the Europe.