This past week, media outlets focused on the increasing collaboration between Germany and Central Asian countries in the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), as well as in the industries of oil, gas and energy, and direct foreign aid and investment by the European country. The media also reported on the strengthening of relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan especially within the context of the TITR, Kazakhstan's announcement of ending the Astana Process on Syria, Turkmenistan’s participation in the UN’s Third Counter-Terrorism Week, and the concerns voiced at the UN Human Rights Council meeting about human rights violations, particularly the situation of women and girls, in the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
A student looking at the ruins of a classroom at Kabul University, after an ISIS attack that killed 22 students in November 2020. Source: NY Times
The Kazakhstan-Germany Business Forum on June 20 in Astana ended with the signing of 23 commercial agreements totaling more than $1.7 billion (Astana Times, Kaz Inform, Office of Kazakhstan’s President). The forum was attended by Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who arrived in Kazakhstan on June 19 as part of an official visit to the region. President Tokayev emphasized at the forum that Kazakhstan is the leading economic partner of Germany in Central Asia. Kazakhstan accounts for more than 80% of Germany’s foreign trade with Central Asian countries (Astana Times, Kaz Inform). During President Steinmeier’s state visit to Kazakhstan, both state representatives visited the port of Kuryk on June 21 to assess the transportation and logistics projects of the TITR (Astana Times). The two sides also welcomed the launch of the Swedish-German company Svevind Energy's development of a green hydrogen production facility in the Mangystau Region's Karakiya district (Astana Times). The volume of investments in this project is valued at $50 billion (Astana Times, Kaz Inform). In order to produce up to two million tons of green hydrogen yearly starting in 2032, the company aims to build solar and wind power facilities with a combined capacity of 40 gigawatts. Green hydrogen can then be transformed into 11 million tonnes of green ammonia annually. Elsewhere, on June 20, KazMunayGas (KMG), Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company, and the Rosneft Deutschland signed an agreement for the monthly supply of 100,000 tons of crude oil until the end of the year (Astana Times, Kaz Inform).
Steinmeier continued his Central Asian tour with a trip to Kyrgyzstan from 21st to 23rd June (24.kg, Sputnik). The leaders of the two countries engaged in discussions covering a range of topics, encompassing bilateral and multilateral collaborations, and strengthening the bonds of friendship. According to the President of Kyrgyzstan, the presence of Frank-Walter Steinmeier signifies Germany’s willingness to expand relations with Kyrgyzstan across various sectors (24.kg). Germany provided a donation of approximately €14,9 million to facilitate the conversion of debt, with a specific focus on assisting the vulnerable social segments in Kyrgyzstan. The leader of Kyrgyzstan also appealed for Germany’s aid in investing in Kyrgyzstan's environmentally friendly initiatives (24.kg). Given the growing concerns of climate change, the Central Asian nation has encountered many difficulties and risks in its mountainous regions, from loss of biodiversity to desertification, harsh temperature swings and air pollution, especially in the capital, Bishkek. The UNDP has attributed the dangerous air quality in Bishkek to three main reasons; Large garbage burning landfills, brown coal usage, and vehicle emissions (UNDP).
Turkmenistan’s media paid attention this week to the participation of the country’s delegation, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Vepa Hajiyev, in the High-Level Counter-Terrorism week held in New York on June 19-20 (Akipress, Mfa.gov.tm). In his speech, Hajiyev’s emphasized the importance of bolstering the mechanism of the Action Plan aimed at executing the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia. He also highlighted the significance of sustained collaborative efforts among regional nations in the framework of the Dushanbe process. During the conference, Hajiyev also held bilateral meetings with the Head of the Counter-Terrorism Directorate – Vladimir Voronkov, and the Assistant Secretary-General, Natalia Gherman. The topics covered during the discussions encompassed various issues, including a collaborative alliance with the objective of implementing efficient strategies to combat international terrorism, extremism, and other forms of security threats. Significant focus was placed by parties on executing the Regional Action Plan for Central Asia, which will help to enhance the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in the region. Orient.tm Gherman reportedly expressed admiration for Turkmenistan’s dedication to promoting peace and security, recognizing the country’s valuable contributions to enhancing collaboration with the UN. A visit by the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee to Turkmenistan is scheduled for 2024.
In a rather surprise move, on June 21 and at the 20th round of the Astana Process on Syria, Kazakhstan announced that it will stop hosting these talks (Astana Times, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kazakhstan). Astana has been actively involved in efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis ever since 2017. The Astana format was developed as an additional platform for negotiations alongside the Geneva process and was intended to solve specific practical tasks to end the conflict. According to official comments from the Kazakhstan Foreign Ministry, initial goals of establishing de-escalation zones, halting violence between the warring parties, and averting a large-scale humanitarian crisis have been accomplished (Kaz Inform). In this regard, the gradual withdrawal of Syria from isolation in the region can be regarded as a successful result of the efforts of the Astana Process on Syria. According to Alexander Lavrentyev, special envoy of the Russian president for Syria, this decision was a big surprise for Russia, Iran and Türkiye, who plan on continuing negotiations on Syria in Moscow, Tehran, Ankara, or Damascus in rotation (Kursiv Media, Kursiv Media).
On June 22, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov met with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov, who was on an official visit to Baku (Astana Times). The two countries signed ten agreements defining significant areas of cooperation in logistics and transportation, digitization, sports, tourism, and culture (Qaz Monitor). In the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan is Kazakhstan's most significant trading and economic partner. The amount of trade between the two countries rose by 40% in 2022 to an all-time high of $460 million (Astana Times). This year, the pattern of growth continued, with bilateral trade increasing by 40% to $185 million. One of the most important agreements signed during Prime Minister Smailov's visit to Baku is the creation of a joint logistics company that will engage in unifying tariffs and handling all cargo on the TITR (Astana Times, Qaz Monitor). The company’s major objective is to shorten cargo transportation time between China and Europe, in order to reduce delivery time from 53 days to 18-23 days. The company's activities will guarantee delivery within 18 days this year, and eventually within 10-15 days. In addition to Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan’s industry minister Marat Karabayev said that Georgia is expected to join the agreement in the near future (Kazakhstan Today).
Shifting the focus to Afghanistan, the participants of the UN Human Rights Council meeting voiced their concerns regarding the well-being and fundamental rights of the people in Afghanistan (TOLOnews, Ariana News). According to Richard Bennet, the UN’s special rapporteur for Afghan human rights, the de-facto government of Afghanistan is not fulfilling its obligations under international human rights standards, specifically regarding women’s right to education. During the meeting, Hend Al-Muftah, Qatar’s envoy to the UN, conveyed her country’s profound concern about the suspension of female students in secondary schools and the prohibition of Afghanistani women from working in non-governmental organizations (NGO). Over the course of the previous week, female students in Afghanistan expressed their anxieties regarding their future prospects due to the ban imposed on their attendance in universities and schools (TOLOnews). Qatar and Italy expressed their readiness to extend assistance and support to Afghanistan in the field of education. However, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) stated that the closure of universities for girls is a “temporary” measure, without providing specific information regarding the resumption of women’s education.
Since the complete withdrawal of the US and its allies from Afghanistan in August 2021 and the subsequent return of the Taliban to power, Taliban officials have repeatedly claimed that the ban on the right to education for women and girls is of a “Temporary” nature, as reported in March 2023 (Aljazeera), December 2022 (The Guardian), August 2022 (Khaama Press), March 2022 (Sunday Times), December 2021 (BBC), and September 2021 (NY Times). It is doubted that the excuse will be any different this time around, but the IEA claimed it is committed to adhering to international norms and obligations that align with Islamic law, ensuring there are no contradictions. The Taliban also urged the international community to abstain from interfering in what they frame as the internal affairs of Afghanistan (Ariana News).
