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Russia pushes its agenda in Central
Asia
By Sergei Blagov
MOSCOW
- As the Russian capital hosted a high profile gathering
of the Eurasian Economic Commonwealth, or EEC,
discussion of multilateral trade issues indicates that
the Kremlin is seeking to reinforce its Eurasian
influence. The EEC includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, hence the commonwealth's main
thrust is predominantly Asia-oriented.
President
Nursultan Nazarbayev represented Kazakhstan in Moscow at
what was the EEC's first economic forum, where he was
told by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia
prioritizes relations with its "reliable Central Asian
partner". There are no problems between the two nations,
Nazarbayev retorted. "We have neither mutual debts nor
contradictions," he was quoted by the RIA news agency as
saying. He also supported Moscow’s idea to use the
Russian ruble as the EEC common currency by 2011.
In September last year, Russian Prime Minister
Mikhail Kasyanov first announced at the EEC meeting in
the Kazakh capital of Astana that the ruble was likely
to become the EEC’s currency "within the next several
months." Although this bold common currency vision is
yet to materialize, Nazarbayev still backs the idea in
its long-term version.
Apart from the currency
plan, Moscow still eyes Central Asia's hydrocarbon
riches. On Wednesday, Kasyanov also urged the EEC forum
to revive the year-old idea to "institutionalize" an
Eurasian natural gas alliance. The gist of the plan is
to band together Asian gas producers around the nexus of
Russian pipelines. However, the plan is yet to
materialize, mainly due to Turkmen reluctance.
The EEC was launched in May 2001 to free mutual
trade. However, the EEC's claims to forge closer
economic ties still largely lack substance, and its
plans of economic integration sound somewhat reminiscent
of the former COMECON, an economic union of the former
"socialist nations".
Like former COMECON
brethren nations, the EEC members try to get the maximum
economic benefits from Moscow. For instance, the Tajik
mission was headed by Prime Minister Akil Akilov, who
came to the EEC forum to seek Russian aid to finish the
construction of the Roghun and Sangtuda hydropower
plants on the river Vakhsh in the southern Khatlon
region.
However, Moscow did not rush to hand
over funds for the project, which is estimated will cost
$400 million. Anatoly Chubais, the head of Russia's
power monopoly Rao Ues, urged the creation of an EEC
common electricity market. However, Chubais told the
forum that the project to finalize construction of two
Tajik hydropower plants is yet to become economically
viable.
Officially, Iraq was not on the EEC
agenda, yet the looming war could not escape the
attention of Russian politicians. On Wednesday, Putin
discussed Iraq over the phone with Chinese President
Jiang Zemin. According to the Kremlin’s press service,
Putin and Jiang pledged to coordinate their respective
policies on Iraq, urged further UN inspections there and
stated "many countries support a political and
diplomatic solution" for the Iraqi issue.
The
Kremlin’s press service did not name any states opposing
the looming war against Iraq. However, Moscow and
Beijing are mindful that some Central Asian states have
voiced opposition, despite the American military
presence in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Notably,
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have stated that the Iraq
crisis should be handled within the United Nation
Security Council. "The UN Security Council must issue
authorization to handle such questions," RIA quoted
Nazarbayev as saying. "A one-sided war in Iraq would be
a great mistake," the Kazakh leader reportedly said.
Kazakhstan believes that the UN Security Council
resolutions should be unconditionally fulfilled by all
states, including Iraq, the country’s Foreign Minister,
Kasymzhomart Tokayev, was quoted by Interfax news agency
as saying.
Earlier this month, Kazakhstan held
an international conference in Alamaty, entitled "Peace
and Solidarity". Attended by dignitaries from some 20
nations, including Tokayev, the gathering urged to
safeguard peace and stability in the region.
Presumably, Kazakhstan authorities are concerned
that Saddam Hussein's demise and US control over Iraqi
oil fields could entail a plunge in the price of oil.
Therefore, the Kazakh oil- dependent economy could
suffer a sensitive blow.
In the meantime,
Kazakhstan also seems to be preparing itself for
inevitable crisis. Defense Minister Mukhtar Altynbayev
has announced that the country is going to boost its
defense in connection with the Iraq crisis.
Anti-terrorist measures, air defense, radar surveillance
as well as radiation, chemical and biological defenses
will be strengthened in Kazakhstan's southern and
western military regions, he was quoted as saying by
RIA.
Kyrgyzstan, now hosting Russian combat
aircraft at the Kant military base, also backs Russia's
cautious position on Iraq. Kyrgyz officials have
expressed opposition to Washington's use of Manas air
base in potential military operations against Iraq.
Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Askar Aytmatov has voiced
support for efforts by Russia, France and Germany to
avert a war.
So far, only Uzbekistan continues
its policy of backing Washington. For instance, Uzbek
Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov stated after
Secretary of State Colin Powell's February 5 speech to
the United Nations Security Council that there was
sufficient evidence to justify Washington's stance.
Regardless of disagreements over Iraq, the
Central Asian states are struggling to deal with radical
Islamic groups. On February 12, Kyrgyz security
officials voiced concern about an increase in militant
activity in Kyrgyzstan, adding that the government
believes radical groups are still plotting to subvert
Bishkek’s regime.
Earlier this month, Kyrgyz
authorities held a trial of a prominent Muslim militant
in the Batken region, southern Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyz
court concluded that the defendant, Sheraly Akbotoyev,
was a spokesman of the late Dzhuma Namangani, and
sentenced him to a long prison term. Kyrgyz defense
ministry official Malik Dzhumagulov reportedly commented
that the trial came as an indication that Central Asian
states still faced grave security threat.
(©2003
Asia Times Online Co, Ltd. All rights reserved. Please
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