(MENAFN- AzerNews)
By Sabina Mammadli
Central Asia Weekly Review: 21-28 Sep
22
HIGHLIGHTS
Kazakhstan holds collective drills of CSTO
OSCE ready to help with equipping police of
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan ink protocol to end border
conflict
Turkmenistan marks 31 years of independence
Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan sign joint protocol on border
demarcation
KAZAKHSTAN
Kazakhstan holds collective drills of CSTO
Rapid reaction forces of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) launched drills in the Zhambyl and Alma-Ata
regions of Kazakhstan.
The exercises, codenamed Interaction-2022, Poisk-2022, and
Echelon-2022, will be held from September 26 to October 8.
During the movement of the military contingents, issues of
commandant service, air defense, and comprehensive support will be
worked out.
Earlier, the CSTO joint headquarters reported that the
Interaction-2022 command and staff drill provides for working out
the issues of preparing and conducting a joint operation to
localize the armed conflict in the Central Asian region of
collective security.
During the Poisk-2022 drills, the issues of organizing and
conducting intelligence by the forces and means of the intelligence
agencies of the CSTO member states in the interests of the
collective rapid reaction forces of the organization will be worked
out.
The special Echelon-2022 exercise is aimed at working out the
issues of organizing logistics.
Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia agree to boost tourism
cooperation
Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia debated issues concerning the
expansion of cooperation in the spheres such as tourism, culture,
and civil aviation.
The Kazakh PM noted that for the past years Kazakhstan and Saudi
Arabia established friendly and constructive relations.
“Muslims from around the world are looking forward to an
opportunity to perform Hajj. This year 4,000 Kazakhstanis gained
such a right thanks to attention and efforts of Saudi Arabia,” the
PM said.
He also thanked Saudi Arabia for its active participation in the
VII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions held
in Astana.
In turn, Saudi Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said that opening
regular flights will give an additional impulse to strengthen
bilateral ties and contribute to increasing the number of tourists
and pilgrims.
KYRGYZSTAN
OSCE ready to help with equipping Kyrgyz
police
Kyrgyz Deputy Interior Minister Oktyabr Urmambetov and OSCE
Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Alexey Rogov discussed the process of
stabilizing the conflict situation and restoring destroyed houses,
infrastructure, military, and other facilities.
The OSCE official, who arrived in the Batken region as part of a
diplomatic mission, expressed his readiness to provide
comprehensive assistance in form of providing police officers and
military personnel of the Internal Troops with the necessary
equipment and various technical means.
An emergency situation has been introduced in the Batken region.
Shooting began at several sites on the border between Kyrgyzstan
and Tajikistan on the morning of September 16. Settlements in
Leilek and Batken districts came under fire. The Ministry of Health
reported 198 victims, 62 people were killed. As a result of the
armed conflict on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, residents of seven
villages in Batken and Leilek districts, as well as Dzhekendi
village in Chon-Alai district of Osh Region, left their homes.
UN Human Rights Committee to review Kyrgyzstan's human
rights record
The United Nations Human Rights Committee will review
Kyrgyzstan's human rights record at its upcoming session in Geneva,
which starts on October 10, 2022.
The Committee will assess Kyrgyzstan's compliance with the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and adopt
conclusions and recommendations based on the third periodic report
about the implementation of the covenant submitted by Kyrgyzstan's
government, as well as other information, including NGO
reports.
Human rights activists note a number of problems in the
protection of fundamental freedoms in the republic, in particular
increasing attempts by the authorities to control the media
environment and suppress discussion on issues of public
interest.
Human rights activists note increasing intimidation and
harassment of journalists, bloggers, civil society activists,
lawyers, and others, who criticize the authorities and speak out on
corruption and other issues that are sensitive to those in power.
It is of particular concern that a growing number of critics of the
authorities have been subjected to surveillance, searches of their
homes, detention, interrogation, and criminal prosecution in
apparent retaliation for their journalistic and civic
activities.
TAJIKISTAN
Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan ink protocol to end border
conflict
As a result of negotiations, held on the Tajik-Kyrgyz border, to
resolve the conflict escalations, a protocol for the termination of
the border conflict between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan was
signed.
The document was signed by the heads of the State Committee for
National Security of the two countries - Saimumin Yatimov and
Kamchybek Tashiev.
The sides expressed hope that the agreement will be fulfilled
and peace will be reached.
“Today we signed the protocol that can be called
demilitarization. Measures were taken; they are reflected in the
documents, and now they only need to be observed. We also held
talks on the sidelines and agreed that there should be no more
conflicts on the Tajik-Kyrgyz border,” the Tajik official told
journalists.
In turn, the Kyrgyz official noted that in order to prevent
conflicts in the future, it was decided to suspend the border
posts, 'constantly leading to conflicts'.
Tajikistan applies for UN Security Council
Tajikistan has applied as a non-permanent member of the UN
Security Council.
The remarks were made by Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin
Muhriddin at political discussions within the framework of the 77th
session of the UN General Assembly.
“Tajikistan is nominating itself for the first time as a
non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, hoping to take
this seat in 2028,” Mukhriddin said.
According to him, small states should have more opportunities to
contribute to the support of peace and security. At the same time,
the diplomat noted the long-term contribution and participation of
the republic in the activities of the UN and the presence of a
unique peacekeeping experience.
TURKMENISTAN
Turkmenistan marks 31 years of independence
September 27 marks the 31st anniversary of
Turkmenistan's independence.
The country's capital city Ashgabat held a festive parade on the
square in front of the State Tribune complex.
The cadets of the specialized military school named after
Berdimuhamed Annayev of the Ministry of Defense, the Military
Institute, the Naval Institute, the Institute of the Ministry of
Internal Affairs, the Border Institute, and the Institute of
National Security, as well as battalions of military personnel of
all branches of the military, marched in front of the podium with a
harmonious step.
Behind them, military equipment drove across the square, and
aviation in the sky.
A flower-laying ceremony at the Monument of Independence of
Turkmenistan was also held early in the morning, which was attended
by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, leaders and representatives of
the government, parliament, public organizations, political
parties, elders, heads of diplomatic missions accredited in
Ashgabat and foreign guests of the holiday.
Turkmen reps took part in Int'l CIS Conference on dev't
of social services
Representatives of state bodies of the social and labor spheres
of Turkmenistan took part in the International Conference of the
CIS on the development of social services, including the
rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, which was held
online.
The conference discussed new methods and approaches in the
social service systems of the CIS countries, issues of
rehabilitation and observance of the rights of persons with
disabilities, as well as topical issues in the development of the
social service system in the Commonwealth states, innovative
approaches to the provision of social services to the population,
problems of social inclusion.
At the end of the online conference, the sides adopted a
resolution on the development of social services, within the
framework of which the CIS member states confirmed their readiness
to further develop the social security system and modernize the
system of support for persons with disabilities, including through
consolidation of efforts and international cooperation.
UZBEKISTAN
Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan sign joint protocol on border
demarcation
Kyrgyz Head of the State Committee for National Security
Kamchybek Tashiev and Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov signed a
joint protocol on border demarcation on September 26.
According to a statement by the Kyrgyzstan government, the
protocol envisages the initiation of the procedure for reaching an
agreement on a new draft for certain sections of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek
state border.
In March 2021, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan agreed on a treaty to
end the long-running dispute over the border that stretches a total
of 1,379 kilometers but is not clearly demarcated.
Uzbekistan, Germany discuss issues of cooperation in
field of labor migration
Uzbek and German diplomats discussed cooperation in expanding
the geography of labor migration and strengthening interaction
between the business circles of the two countries.
During the meeting, the president of the Frankfurt am Main city
council, the council of elders and the commission for preparation
and control of elections of the city Hilime Arslaner stated that
Germany is sincerely pleased with the achievements of Uzbekistan
and attaches great importance to further strengthening cooperation
between the two countries.
It was noted that the interaction of the Central Asian countries
within the framework of the SCO can be very useful.
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Sabina Mammadli is AzerNews' staff journalist, follow her on
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