Category: Asia and Pacific

Sign the petition for Khojaly Massacre

Responsible department: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

On the 26th February Azerbaijan mourns the 20th Anniversary of one of the darkest days in its history. On this day in 1992 Armenian military forces brutally murdered 613 civilian inhabitants of the town of Khojaly in the illegally occupied region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Twenty years after this fateful day we remember those who died during events which led up to the illegal occupation of around 18% of Azerbaijan’s sovereign territory, which still continues to this day in direct contravention of four UN Security Council Resolutions. We the undersigned urge the Prime Minister to condemn this shocking act and the continuing Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territories which prevents the survivors from returning to their homes.

Sign the petition: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/27069

January 21, 2012
Japanese companies join forces for Istanbul bridge

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

Only days after a failed government tender for the construction and operating rights of a large toll road and a third bridge over Istanbul’s Bosphorus, Japanese candidates decide to set up a consortium to re-try their chances

Fatih Sultan Bridge over the Bosphorus is seen in this undated photo. Turkey is seeking investors to build a third bridge to connect two sides of Istanbul.

Gökhan Kurtaran
gokhan.kurtaran@tdn.com.tr

Four Japanese firms are still interested in building a third bridge over Istanbul’s Bosphorus following the failed tender by the Turkish government Jan. 10, according to a Japanese diplomat.

“Japanese companies are still showing their interests to join the construction of the third bridge,” Yasuhiro Fukuda, trade attaché from Japanese Embassy in Ankara, told the Hürriyet Daily News in an interview yesterday.

Mitsubishi, IHI, Obayashi and Itochu, the companies that were authorized to but did not attend the tender, along with five more foreign and nine local competitors, were still willing to take their chances and restart the talks with the government, according to the Japanese official.

“They are open to talks on the details of the project with the government officials,” said Yasuhiro.

The cost of the highway road project that stretches from Adapazarı to Tekirdağ in Turkey’s northwest, which also includes a third bridge over Istanbul’s Bosphorus, was estimated at $6 billion.

“The project is too big to finance,” general manager of one of the Japanese firms told the Daily News under the condition of anonymity yesterday by phone. Both construction and operating rights of the third bridge and the highway should be divided and introduced as two tenders, which would ease financing, the source said.

“A smaller scale would make the project feasible and profitable for us,” the source said, adding that Japanese firms were preparing to start the talks with Turkey. “Any action plan including some incentives from Turkish government would be appreciated by us,” said the executive.

Talks may start soon

Despite the failure of the tender, Fukuda said this shouldn’t be taken as a sign that the Japanese firms are losing their interest in the project. Bilateral talks between a possible Japanese consortium and the Turkish government was possible soon, he added. Turkey’s Finance Minister Mehmet Şimsek said Jan. 11 the state was capable of funding the project on its own, but preferred not to.

The government offers 25-year operating rights for the toll road project which spans 414 km.

Cengiz, Gülsan, Kolin, STFA, Mapa, Nural, Park, Holding, Varyap and Yüksel were the possible local bidders. In addition to the Japanese firms, Stradag from Austria; Moskovskly Metrostroy, NPO and Mostovik from Russia; FFC Construction from Spain; and Astaldi from Italy also received specifications for the tender.

via BUSINESS – Japanese companies join forces for Istanbul bridge.

January 20, 2012
Kyrgyzstan-Turkey: a new big brother?

17/01-2012 15:37, Bishkek – 24.kg news agency , by Asel OTORBAEVA

Almazbek Atambayev as the President of Kyrgyzstan has finished his first official visit. Nobody surprised that Turkey was chosen for beauty parade of the new head of the state at the foreign-policy scene. Turkey’s leader Abdullah Gül didn’t fail to note this fact. “It is symbolic that the President of Kyrgyzstan has paid his first official visit to Turkey,” he told journalists in Ankara.

According to him, Turkey considers this like symbol of friendship and affinity between two countries. “Kyrgyzstan is in a complicated position and it is needed to exert every effort in order to recover economy. I hope signed documents will assist in this. Turkey will continue rendering economic aid to Kyrgyzstan. Our investors are always ready to pour money into economy of Kyrgyzstan and into other spheres. It is necessary to continue military, cultural and educational cooperation,” Abdullah Gül said and together with Almazbek Atambayev signed Declaration for 20-years joint cooperation.

Why Bosporus?

It’s well-known that Turkey is a second home for Almazbek Atambayev where he has business and many friends. Just let’s remember the muddy story with “poisoning” the then Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev who drank whether water or kefir from the bar in the Government. But the fact remains that Almazbek Atambayev entrusted his health to guru of Turkish medicine.

It’s known also that the family of the then leader of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK) sat snug in Turkey out of harm’s way during persecution of the opposition in Kyrgyzstan.

However, Kyrgyzstan’s foreign policy priorities are fuzzy and misty for the present. Neither the Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor the Parliament nor the President has voiced this concept yet. The country chosen for the first official visit gives grounds to suppose that Almazbek Atambayev has decided to “be unfaithful” to another his vis-à-vis – authorities of Russia – and to focus on broadening Eurasian geography.

“One is trying to bring Kyrgyzstan to its knees in exchange for drawing up and collection of money,” he stated in the Parliament of Turkey. According to him, the republic declared its independence 20 years ago. “But this is not absolute independence. We depend on powerful countries technically and financially. We have own reserves of oil but there is no one to make oil. Every year we import fuel with difficulties from other countries. Our natural resources were exported for trifling sum. But we never become slaves. Because it is better for all Turkomen to die than to be slaves on knees,” Almazbek Atambayev said.

Well, it’s not so hard to guess who meant the head of the republic…

We are Turkomen

Surely, Turkish political elite enjoyed compliments paid by the Kyrgyz President without turning a hair. Besides, Almazbek Atambayev used Turkish breaching protocol when holding meetings with official Ankara. “Relations between Kyrgyzstan and Turkey attain absolutely new level,” he stated to journalists during the visit. In his opinion, cooperation passes from formalities to the nitty-gritty. “I think Turkic-speaking countries have to develop at same paces as Turkey. Then states of Turkic world will get stronger,” said Almazbek Atambayev.

Speeches of the guest teemed with Turkic terms. He didn’t stop admiring at achievements of “the big brother” and didn’t hide he dreams about the same for his motherland.

About love

However, the Kyrgyz President safeguarding himself for future said the traditional: Russia remains strategic partner of Kyrgyzstan.

“Such states like Turkey, Russia supported us since independence. Russia is a strategic partner of Kyrgyzstan. Rapidly developing relationships between Turkey and Russia encourage us. Our country will benefit from this. Turkey is example for Kyrgyzstan how to build strong democratic state. I think all Turkic-speaking countries have to follow this way,” he said to deputies of the Grand National Assembly.

Meanwhile Turkish press covered the visit in such a manner, “The President of Turkey Abdullah Gül and his wife Hayrünnisa Gül gave an entertainment in honor of the Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev paid the official visit to Turkey and his wife Raisa Atambayeva. Speaking at the dinner Atambayev called Gül “the big brother” and his wife “daughter-in-law”. As Habertürk reports, “Atambayev, having called Turkey “the Motherland”, said, “Kyrgyzstan is far away from Turkey however every Kyrgyz knows that Turkey for Kyrgyz is star, the Motherland directing to us”.

“Big” prospects…

Kyrgyz officials depicted many prospects following the first official visit to the friendly state and they exaggerated traditionally prospects’ scale. For example, the Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev said during visit to Ankara that “probably, Kyrgyzstan will be the first country for which market of Turkey will be opened by quota system”.

According to him, our delegation handed over a draft agreement on issuing quotas by Turkey for labor migrants from Kyrgyzstan. Meanwhile our compatriots work illegally on shores of Bosporus.

Let’s note that the agreement on imposing visa-free regime between Kyrgyzstan and Turkey was signed in 2011. However, Turkey hasn’t still ratified the agreement.

Besides, Turkey promised to construct a bread-baking plant in Chuy province. The Secretary General of the Union of Turkish World Municipalities Mustafa Bashkurt told journalists they are asked about this … by the mayor’s office of Bishkek.

He noted that Bishkek mayor’s office stands ready to afford a territory. According to his estimations, € 3.5 millions will be needed to construct the plant.

Mustafa Bashkurt didn’t mention whether Bishkek mayor Isa Omurkulov told the Turkish side about future of local representatives of small business or about risks in competitive ability for Turkey.

The President of Kyrgyzstan promised Turkish businessmen that he would ensure total protection of their investments. “My will of the head of the state will be enough to give guarantees to investors,” he told journalists in Istanbul.

… and unknown

So, one just can guess about other prospects as the President said nothing because he feared to hoodoo. “Let me note I met with ten Turkish billionaires who are ready to discuss issues on investing in Kyrgyzstan. They will visit the republic and consider our proposals to work in spheres of telecommunication, power economy, and mining and garment industry where they have big experience. The main thing is we have regained confidence shattered for recent 20 years when bribes arranged all deals. Our task is to transform Kyrgyzstan into paradise for investors then people will live well. The main thing now is that clean-up bodies will work and thefts will be brought in prison,” Almazbek Atambayev said finishing visit to Turkey.

Then Almazbek Atambayev reproached with Turkish Airlines for high prices at tickets. He told journalists that it is needed to create a Kyrgyz-Turkish airline. It is easy to guess who will create and head it…

What to do with multivector?

Kyrgyzstan cannot escape multivector. Authorities of the country will shower promises “to be friends”, assure in political sympathy and admire at the experience of a country where they will pay visits.

Atambayev’s schedule for 2012 has trips to Russia, CIS countries and Georgia, and to far-abroad countries as well as attendance of summits of CIS, EurAsEC and CSTO…

Compliment remains the basis for construction “new” (old) relationships with other states (read “partners”). Constituting part of foreign debt formed by foreign investments and laying burden on next generations leaves no another forms of building foreign-policy arc.

So, they have to continue master graceful bows. They will be very useful during a next official visit…

URL:

January 18, 2012
Video: Kyrgyzstan Wins First Pan-Turkic Pop Contest

Move over Eurovision: A 22-year-old from Kyrgyzstan has won Turkish state television’s first-ever “Eurasia Star” pop music competition, held in Istanbul, returning home with $30,000.

After two weeks and six rounds of performances, a unanimous panel of judges, and fans voting by text message, chose Guljigit Kalykov the winner on January 14. Thanks to his victory, the next Eurasia Star contest will be held in Kyrgyzstan.

Singer Gulnur Satylganova, who holds the state-conferred distinction of Popular Performer of the Kyrgyz Republic, said “the victory by our compatriot, particularly in the first year of such a project’s creation, raises the level of Kyrgyzstan’s live musical performance and art in the eyes of the international musical community as a country that can give birth to and nurture stars on an international scale.”

Uzbekistan abstained from the contest, which included most other Turkic-speaking lands, specifically: Azerbaijan (whose capital, Baku, will host Eurovision later this year), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Northern Cyprus, Turkey and Turkmenistan.

In at least one case, Eurasia Star’s selection process faced criticism for being only as democratic as the country in question. A November entry on the blogging platform Neweurasia.net complained that Turkmenistan’s vote lacked transparency because judges were government-appointed artists and text-message voting was tallied by the state-run telecom monopoly, Altyn Asyr: “This was a lost opportunity to experiment with electronic direct democracy. There wasn’t any transparency to this process, i.e., to confirm that our votes were really obeyed — something we’re used to in Turkmenistan,” wrote blogger Annasoltan.

Kyrgyzstan, meanwhile, has had something of a knack for producing pop sensations lately. In November, 21-year-old Atai Omurzakov from Karakol won the Czecho-Slovakia’s Got Talent contest with his “robot dance,” which is well worth watching.

via Kyrgyzstan Wins First Pan-Turkic Pop Contest | EurasiaNet.org.

January 17, 2012
***30-story building built in 15 days*** Construction time lapse *View Fullscreen*

What can you accomplish in 360 hours?
The Chinese sustainable building company, Broad Group, has yet attempted another impossible feat, building a 30-story tall hotel prototype in 360 hours, after building a 15-story building in a week earlier in 2011.

You may ask why in a hurry, and is it safe? The statistics in the video can put you in good faith. Prefabricated modular buildings has many advantages over conventional buildings.

Higher precision in fabrication (+/- 0.2mm).
More coordinated on-site construction management.
Shorter construction time span.
Lower construction waste.
Also many other health and energy features are included in Broad Sustainable Buildings (BSB)

The building was built over last Christmas time and finished before New Years Eve of 2012.

An Introduction to BROAD SUSTAINABLE BUILDING CO., LTD Jan.11, 2012
Established in March, 2009, BROAD SUSTAINABLE BUILDING CO., LTD is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BROAD Group, solely operates the magnitude-9 earthquake resistant, 5x more energy efficient, 20x purer air, 90% factory-built, and 1% construction waste Broad Sustainable Buildings (BSB).
BSB headquarter and its R&D Center are situated in the Xiangyin County of Hunan Province in Southern China, with 80,000sqm workshops, 900 employees in 2011. In 2012 with 220,000sqm workshops, 12,000 employees, and in 2013 with 360,000sqm workshops and 19,000 employees, reaching an annual production and installation capacity of 10 million sqms. BSB’s central goal is:
1. Improving R&D of BSB technologies, setting up supply chains
2. Sell BSBs in compliance with local regulations in the Hunan building market.
3. Transfer BSB technology to 100 partnership enterprise, every Chinese province and distributed evenly in each nation worldwide.
By December, 2011, BSB technology reached finalization, altogether with 12 BSBs built in Changsha, Xiangyin, Shanghai, Zhejiang and Mexico and developed 2 franchise partners in Ningxia and Fujian with identical factory sizes to the Xiangyin BSB Factory. Another 10 Chinese & international potential partners are in negotiation.
BROAD envisions in the near future, there will be one BSB among three buildings worldwide, allowing all men and women to share BSB’s solace. Proving that by responsible use of technology, earth’s environment and human living can be elevated simultaneously.
Lin Gang Industrial Zone, Xiangyin County, Hunan Tel: 86-731-84086266 Email: bsbs@broad.net www.broad.com/bsb

January 11, 2012
Turkey wants more tourism, cultural exchanges with India

New Delhi, Jan 9 (IANS) Stating that India has strong relations with Turkey, Turkish ambassador Burak Akcapar Monday said tourism and cultural exchanges between the two countries need to be boosted.

‘Our countries have had strong bilateral relations for a long time but the tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries needs to be boosted,’ said Akcapar at an event organised by the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) to announce the Indian Travel Congress being held at Istanbul March 11-13.

The year 2011 marked the diamond jubilee of India’s cultural ties with Turkey.

‘Turkey offers many opportunities for the Indian tourist,’ said Akcapar, adding ‘it presents a unique amalgamation of East and the West’.

‘Turkey is an attractive tourist destination which provides everything that Indians look for in an overseas travel experience but it is not very popular here. Our conference will help boost Turkish tourism,’ said TAAI general secretary Sunil Kumar R.

Around 50 tour operators from Turkey and neighbouring countries are expected to attend the conference.

©Indo-Asian News Service

January 10, 2012