The Government of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on February 18 signed several strategic agreements aimed at strengthening a long-term partnership in achieving national development priorities. UNDP and the Government of Turkmenistan signed the following new initiatives to support the country in accelerating the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: “Assistance
The World Bank Board of Executive Directors on February 15 endorsed an adjusted approach to support the people of Afghanistan. “Approach 3.0” will deploy funds from the International Development Association (IDA) through grants to United Nations agencies and other public international organizations. These funds will continue supporting basic services nationwide, particularly those benefiting women, and
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on February 14 that it summoned the Uzbek ambassador to Russia, Botirjon Asadov, over a recent statement by Sherzod Qudratxoja, the rector of the University of Journalism in Tashkent, who called Uzbek citizens who speak Russian but do not know Uzbek “either occupiers or idiots,” RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reported. The Russian
The UN secretary-general’s envoy for Afghanistan met on February 14 in Bishkek with EU and Central Asian officials to discuss joint efforts to assist people in Taliban-led Afghanistan ahead of a more formal international meeting scheduled to take place on February 18-19 in Doha, Qatar, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. UN Special Representative for Afghanistan Roza
On February 13, comprehensive presentation on democratic reforms was delivered to the diplomatic community accredited in Kazakhstan, on the eve of the regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. During a briefing on the topic “Promotion of human rights: a comprehensive dialogue on transformational reforms in
The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and in collaboration with the Tajikistan Ministry of Health, the National TB Program, healthcare professionals, international donors, and the community, successfully completed its Eliminating TB in Central Asia Activity (ETICA) in Tajikistan. Over four years, the activity has made remarkable achievements in the fight
Kazakhstan’s Culture and Information Ministry said it has blocked the Selftanu.kz website, which focuses on LGBT relations, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. The ministry said the move was made “to protect children’s rights” while taking into account “the culture and traditions of Kazakhstan’s society and culture.” Although homosexual relations were decriminalized in Kazakhstan in the 1990s,
On February 12, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) signed the Letter of Intent during the high-level plenary session, “Nature Knows No Borders: Working Together for Migratory Species and Sustainable Development
The opening ceremony of the Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University) took place in Uzbekistan’s Tashkent region on February 10 with the participation of the Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Grethel Aguilar, the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, Aziz
The government of China’s Xinjiang will provide humanitarian financial assistance in the amount of 100 thousand US dollars to help Kyrgyzstan overcome the consequences of the recent accident at the Bishkek thermal electric power plant. This was announced during a February 12 meeting between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Aibek Moldogaziev
The European Union’s special representative for Afghanistan said that Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek will host a meeting on Afghanistan in the near future, Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews reported. Speaking at a press conference in Kabul, Tomas Niklasson said the meeting will be held between the EU and Central Asian countries. “Next week I look forward to meeting
Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Egypt, Official Representative of Kazakhstan to the League of Arab States (LAS), Kairat Lama Sharif on February 6 met with the Secretary General of the Arab International Tourism Organization under LAS Dr. Sherif Fathi Attia. The parties shared views on cooperation in the field of tourism, participation in international tourism exhibitions
Ambassador of Kazakhstan Viktor Temirbayev on February 6 visited the largest city of Northeastern Bulgaria and the “maritime capital” of the country – Varna. During the meeting with the Mayor of Varna, Blagomir Kotsev, the parties noted the important role of interregional cooperation in the progressive development of trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian ties, and also
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has reaffirmed its dedication to advancing women’s empowerment in the information technology (IT) sector in Central Asia. On February 5, USAID partners gathered at the IT Park in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to celebrate the achievements of women in technology and the impact of the Tumaris.Tech and FoundHer initiatives,
A joint briefing by the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the International Organizations, Mukhtar Tleuberdi, and the Permanent Representative of Australia, Ian Biggs, on the preparation of the International Conference on Nuclear Safety (ICONS-2024) under the auspices of the IAEA was held in the United Nations Office in Vienna on February 5. The ICONS-2024 International Conference
Kazakhstan increased the supply of electricity from its Zhambyl power plant to neighboring Kyrgyzstan following an explosion at the Bishkek thermal power plant on February 2. Three workers of the power plant were seriously injured in the explosion, which caused the plant’s breakdown and left parts of the capital city without hot water and heat.
On February 2 in Astana, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) hosted a joint Investment Forum aimed to explore proposals for enhancements to Kazakhstan’s investment legislation and to highlight important achievement supported by the USAID Kazakhstan Rule of Law Program, implemented by the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI). The
The first SCO Digital Forum was held on February 1 in Almaty, gathering the heads of ministries and agencies of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states responsible for the development of information and communication technologies. The SCO includes China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. In his welcoming remarks at the forum,
On February 1, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan hosted a presentation of ongoing and planned US grants in the area of economic development. The event, organized together with the US Embassy in Tashkent, was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Muzaffar Madrakhimov, Director of the US Agency for International Development
Afghanistan’s acting Minister of Defense, Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, met with Abdulsalam Azizov, the head of Intelligence and Border Services of Uzbekistan, to discuss border issues, strengthening bilateral relations, and economic and transit cooperation, Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews reported on February 1. At the meeting, the Afghan minister said that the Islamic Emirate’s security forces are
