News Roundup - September 15, 2007

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty: Nazarbaev's Regional Tour Shows Growing Economic Influence
Kazakhstan has for years wanted to be the flagship country in Central Asia. It now seems to be realizing that ambition...
World Politics Review: Security Clampdown Ramps Up Tensions Along Kazakh-Uzbek Border
Uzbek migrants seeking to ply their trades in richer Central Asian neighbor Kazakhstan are in a high-stakes battle of wills with Kazakh authorities along the countries' frontier, sparking clashes with border guards amid mounting concerns of an escalation in the political situation in this remote, oil-rich part of the world...
The Journal of Turkish Weekly: Kazakhstan: The Rising Star of Central Asia
Being one of the countries located in the Central Asia, Kazakhstan with its 16 million population and a territory that is almost three and a half times larger than Turkey draws an increasing profile after becoming independent in 16 December 1991. Rising from the ashes of the Soviets, Kazakhstan’s people with their charismatic leader Nursultan Nazarbayev take important steps toward creating a modern country with its all institutions well integrated to world economy in the Heartland...
EurasiaNet Insight: President Argues That One-Party Parliament Can Be Engine of Modernization
Having a one-party parliament in Kazakhstan creates a "wonderful opportunity" to foster pluralism and prosperity in the energy-rich Central Asian nation, according to President Nursultan Nazarbayev...
Eurasia Daily Monitor: Kazakhstan Seeks Full Control over Kashagan Oil Tap
The ongoing dispute between the Kazakh government and the Italian Agip KCO oil consortium reached a critical point when Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov, addressing the second Eurasian Energy Forum held in Astana on September 6, issued what sounded like an ultimatum...
CNN Money: Bill Letting Kazakh Govts Quit Oil Contracts Seen Passed Sep
An amendment that will give the Kazakh government the right to pull out of natural resources contracts if there is a threat to national security and national economic interests is to be adopted in the next two weeks, a Kazakh lawmaker told Dow Jones Newswires...
CNN Money: Kazakh Resources Proposal Seen Aimed At Kashagan
A plan to allow the Kazakh government to annul natural resources contracts appears aimed at pressuring the Eni SpA (E)- led Kashagan oil developers amid tense negotiations, rather than as a broad- based threat to energy and mining companies in the country, analysts and a person familiar with the matter said Friday...
Global Voices Online: Energy Twists and Media Tricks
Kazakhstani bloggers discuss the controversy over the giant oil field Kashagan in Kazakhstan, currently developed by an ENI-led consortium, which postponed the start of production (now until 2010) and announced an increase of the project’s costs (2.5 times up to $136 billion) - for the second time already...
EurasiaNet Insight: Tajik Leader Backs Kazakh Idea of Central Asia Economic Union
Dushanbe, 13 September: Our region’s population is about 55 million, and common history and culture unite all of us. We should think about cooperation that will not hinder our historical relations, but facilitate our trade and economic relations, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev believes...
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty: Kazakh, Tajik Presidents Sign Investment, Energy Deals
Tajikistan and Kazakhstan have signed a number of agreements on investment and trade during Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev's visit to Dushanbe...
Eurasia Daily Monitor: Possible Food Unrest in Central Asia
Harvest yields below projected levels combined with rising prices have analysts watching events in Central Asia, wondering if increased food prices might trigger civic protests...
Eurasia Daily Monitor: Political Crisis Looms as Inflation Grows in Kyrgyzstan
As food prices continue to rise in Kyrgyzstan, the potential for another political crisis is rising. Kyrgyz Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev recently threatened to sack ministers who failed to foresee and prevent the 30% inflation rate for wheat prices in the past three months. If the domestic economic situation worsens, he might find himself out of a job...
Reuters: Indicators - Kazakhstan - September 14, 2007
Kazakhstan's economic indicators based on data provided by the State Statistics Agency, government institutions, the central bank and exchanges...