To Be or Not to Be...? Someone’s grief, and someone’s drinking party

Traditions of the Kyrgyz people were being formed with the help of economic, trade, domestic and other relations with kindred and other tribes that were closely related to the geography of their ha...

Iran of the 60s: unsuccessful attempt to reform

After the coup of 19 March 1953 in the socio-political history of Iran there were fundamental changes: the powers of parliament were limited and the absolute power of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi was...

Topic: Regional rivalry in the Middle East.

In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran are two countries that claim to leadership in the region. With a powerful resources and political potential these countries are the...

Cental Asia

Measures against desertification to be discussed in Uzbekistan
09.04.2013
Cental Asia|Culture & Living|Uzbekistan

Measures related to combating desertification and land degradation as well as improving the condition of land and water conservation will be discussed during the visit of the executive secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Luc Gnacadja to Uzbekistan in late April, a source in government circles told Trend on Tuesday.

Kazakh Prime Minister instructs use of every hectare of agricultural land
09.04.2013
Cental Asia|Culture & Living|Kazakhstan

Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov has instructed akims (governors) of the country's regions to monitor the use of each hectare of agricultural land.

"I instruct the Ministry of Regional Development to continue the inventory and the regional akims to take steps for the usage of each hectare of unused agricultural land and to continue work on the organisation of the use of remote pastures, addressing the question of water provision," Akhmetov said at a government meeting.

Spring racing season starts in Turkmenistan
09.04.2013
Cental Asia|Culture & Living|Turkmenistan

The spring racing season kicked off in Turkmenistan - the homeland of famous Akhalteke horses, Turkmenatlary (Turkmen Horses) state association said on Monday.

True lovers of Akhalteke horses were observing the races at the equestrian complex, the newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan reported.

It is expected that the main annual trophy will be drawn on the last Sunday of April. According to the tradition, the Turkmen holiday of heavenly horses is widely celebrated in the country on that day.

Kazakhstan, Argentina to discuss bilateral cooperation prospects
09.04.2013
Cental Asia|Kazakhstan|Public Policy & Politics

Kazakhstan and Argentina will discuss bilateral cooperation prospects.

Argentina's Deputy Foreign Minister Eduardo Zuain will pay a visit to Astana on April 18-19, spokesman for the Kazakh Foreign Ministry Zhanbolat Ussenov said at a press briefing on Tuesday.

"Zuain plans to meet with Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrisov during the visit," Ussenov said.

EBRD to provide 10.3 mln euros extra for Shymkent wastewater modernisation in Kazakhstan
09.04.2013
Business & Economics|Cental Asia|Kazakhstan

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will increase the amount of financing for modernisation of the wastewater treatment facilities in the city of Shymkent in southern Kazakhstan, EBRD reported on Monday.

The new 10.3 million euros loan will be added to earlier financing of €13.6 million to Water Resources Marketing, a private water utility company in Shymkent, the report said.

Kazakhstan concerned about escalation of tensions in Korea
09.04.2013
Cental Asia|Kazakhstan|Public Policy & Politics

Kazakhstan is strongly concerned about the escalation of tensions on Korean Peninsula, official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Zhanbolat Usenov said at a briefing on Tuesday.

"We hope that the parties will demonstrate maximum self-restraint and calm in order to maintain peace in the region," Ussenov said.

Grain shortage at cereal receiving enterprises in Kazakhstan
09.04.2013
Business & Economics|Cental Asia|Kazakhstan

A grain shortage at the cost of 5.7 billion tenge (150.90 tenge = 1 dollar) was detected at cereal receiving enterprises of Kazakhstan. This was announced on Tuesday, Deputy Chairman of the State Agricultural Inspection of the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan Mars Almabek announced on Tuesday.

Turkmenistan to build reservoirs
05.04.2013
Cental Asia|Culture & Living|Turkmenistan

The Ministry of Agriculture of Turkmenistan plans to build reservoirs on the River Gozganchay in the Kaahka etrap (district) of the Akhal velayat (region) and in Kunya Urgench etrap of the Dashoguz region, according to the decision of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Water management equipment will be supplied by the Türkmen Enjam business entity. The equipment is also designed for the development of new irrigated land with a total area of 25,000 hectares in the Altyn Asyr district of the Akhal province.

Acting governor of Andijan region administration appointed
05.04.2013
Cental Asia|Culture & Living|Uzbekistan

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov appointed Shukhrat Abdurakhmanov as acting governor (head of administration) of Andijan region.

Prior to this appointment, Abdurakhmanov served as deputy governor of the region for agriculture and water resources issues.

As it was previously reported, former governor of the Andijan region administration Akhmadjon Usmanov was appointed as governor of Tashkent region on April 1.

Lavrov: Turkmenistan and Russia interested in early Caspian summit
05.04.2013
Cental Asia|Public Policy & Politics|Turkmenistan

Following talks with the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat on Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the two countries are interested in attending an early Caspian summit.

The text of the statement is given on the official website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"We have a lot in common with regard to the Caspian perspective and interested in attending a summit without delay. Some preparatory work for the event is underway," Lavrov said.