14.02.2017-20.02.2017 • No: 103

THE RESULTS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN TURKMENISTAN AND STRATEGIC PRIORITIES On February 12, 2017, the fifth presidential election important role in ensuring the political stability of cial centers; 5) Tourism Sector: a) to accelerate the was held in Turkmenistan. According to the Central the state. Therefore, it is not surprising that a new steps to reach the world standards of tourism and to Election Commission of Turkmenistan, the turnout Constitution of the country was adopted at the restructure the health-sanatorium system, b) to in the election was 97.27% or 3,140,865 of regis- meeting of the Council of Elders on September 14, accelerate the studies on the development of Awaza tered voters. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was 2016. national tourist zone at the Caspian coast, c) to set up reelected as the President for the third time with According to the updated Constitution, the upper age green recreation zones 40-50 km away from the 97.69% (3,068,311) of votes. The presidential limit (seventy years) to be elected President of riverside, d) to build well-developed holiday centers election in Turkmenistan was monitored by a total of Turkmenistan was removed and the presidential term in the Kopetdag, Koitengaz and Sumbara valleys and 3,374 observers from the international and local was extended from 5 to 7 years. Thus, according to in the Amuderya, Karakum and Murgab coasts; 6) organizations. Representatives of international the new Constitution, the President shall be elected Strengthening Internal Politics and Local Govern- organizations such as the Islamic Cooperation directly by the people of Turkmenistan for a period ments: a) to improve the political system of the Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent of 7 years (Article 70). Moreover, every citizen of country and to strengthen the local governments in States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as Turkmenistan, born in Turkmenistan, not younger order to achieve a further democratization process, well as local observers who monitored the election than 40 years, who speaks the national language, has b) to increase the influence and roles of the repre- recognized the presidential election as open, free and been living and working constantly in Turkmenistan sentative bodies of local self-government (Genesh) democratic. for the past 15 years, can be elected as President of in the provinces and districts, villages and towns, c) According to Turkmenistan’s law on the elections, Turkmenistan (Article 69). to provide the necessary facilities for newly estab- candidates for the presidency may be nominated by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov outlined his strategic lished political parties in order to make these parties the political parties and the initiative groups of priorities for the new term in both his electoral to work more efficiently; 7) Developing and Using citizens who registered before the election date statements and official inauguration speech. Accord- New Technologies: a) to train qualified personnel in (Article 44). Candidates from groups of citizens ingly, Berdimuhamedov emphasized that he would the field of modern communication and multimedia must be supported by the signatures of at least give priority to politics based on the creation of technology, b) to ensure the use of new technologies 10,000 voters, with at least 300 signatures collected "Advanced Industrial Society", thereby would aim to to make hydrocarbon resources more efficient in the in each of at least a third of the country’s districts increase the people's welfare and the economic country; 8) Investment in Renewable Energy Re- (Article 46). A total of 9 candidates running for the potential of the country. In this direction, Turkmeni- sources: to invest in the development of solar and presidency were officially registered. There are only stan aims to develop industry, tourism and agricul- wind power, especially in the context of develop- three parties that are permitted to operate legally in ture sectors and new technologies, as well as to ment of green energy in the country. the country. Therefore, Gurbanguli increase investments in the fields of education, The aforementioned policies, which the President of Berdimuhamedov, Bekmyrat Atalyev and science, health and social services, and to strengthen Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov aims Durdygylych Orazov were nominated as candidates local authorities. to achieve in the next seven years, mostly focus on from the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, the Indeed, the key points outlined by Berdimuhamedov the ways to overcome the current problems of the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turk- in his election statements and official speeches in country in both economic (providing additional menistan and the Agrarian Party of Turkmenistan, terms of the state development can be summarized as revenue to the public budget) and security issues. It respectively. The other 6 candidates were nominated follows: 1) Industry Sector: a) to give support to the is well known that due to changing conditions in by the initiative groups of citizens: 1) Deputy Head industry sector by providing extra incentives, b) to international gas market and other economic and of Mary province, Jumanazar Annayev; 2) Director prioritize the exploitation of hydrocarbon resources financial problems, Russia has stopped buying of Seydi Oil Refinery, Ramazan Durdiyev; 3) in the country; 2) Agriculture Sector: a) to increase Turkmen natural gas since January 2016. Moreover, Deputy Head of Dashoguz district, Meretdurdy the competitiveness of the agricultural commodities Turkmenistan has limited natural gas supplies to Iran Gurbanov; 4) Head of the Economic and Develop- giving priority to their exports to the world markets, since January 2017 due to unpaid debts. Such a ment Department of the Akhal province, Serdar b) to continue the implementation of the National situation causes China to become the primary Jelilov; 5) Chief Executive of the “Garabogazsulfat” Rural Development Program and to establish a importer of the Turkmen natural gas. It also led to Association of the “Turkmenhimiya”State Concern, hydraulic irrigation system that will allow to in- further reduction in gas revenues. Turkmenistan is Suleimannepes Nurnepesov; 6) Deputy Chairman of crease the efficient use of water in the villages, c) to willing to increase the energy security by actively the State Association of Food Industry of Turkmeni- increase the number of areas in which halophyte is supporting the projects such as TAPI and Trans- stan, Maksat Annanepesov. The candidates nominat- cultivated by creating new settlements around the Caspian Natural Gas Pipeline, which envisage ed by the groups of citizens could receive only Turkmen lake, 3) Science and Education: a) to natural gas exports to India and the EU respectively. 2.31% (72,554) of votes in total. Maksat provide young people with better quality of educa- In this regard, taking into account the struggle Annanepesov received the most votes among tion, b) to attach importance to space researches by between the regional powers, Turkmenistan will try independent candidates, namely, 1.02%. establishing research centers and providing these to use different policy options in order to launch In recent years, as a result of the negative effects of centers with the necessary technical equipment; 4) these two projects in the long term. In these circum- the global crisis and low oil prices on most of the Health and Social Service Activities: a) to boost the stances, it is strategically important to ensure energy world countries, also on Turkmenistan, the economic social security benefits with necessary legal ar- security in these routes. Therefore, Turkmenistan has slowdown started to affect the economy of Turkmen- rangements, b) to increase the number of health identified the security and stability in the country istan. Since no additional income was provided to centers, health promotion centers and hospitals and its immediate surroundings as fundamental the public budget, the government had to cut some of within the scope of the Health State Program, c) to strategic priority. Indeed, the President of Turkmeni- the social privileges (free use of electricity, natural give importance to lighting in provinces and districts stan, in election statements, emphasized that by gas, water, etc.). Moreover, according to the World and improving infrastructure facilities, especially increasing cooperation with international organiza- Bank, Turkmenistan's GDP growth rate reduced to roads, d) to make restructural arrangements in the tions and modernization of the Armed Forces 6.5% in 2015 compared to 10.30% in 2014. Howev- settlements in the country in order to meet the basic through the purchase of new weapons from foreign er, existing socio-economic problems in the country needs of the people living in these settlements, e) to countries, Ashgabat would strengthen the fight were not negatively reflected in the results of the increase the incomes of the people and to provide against challenges such as terrorism, radicalism, presidential election. The main reason for maintain- new job opportunities, f) to increase pensions, cross-border organized criminal groups, illegal drug ing the stable political regime in the country is the employee salaries, scholarships and other social trafficking and corruption which are important presence of strong state institutions. Taking into benefits offered to the public, g) to increase the threats both for Turkmenistan and the whole region. account the Turkmen people’s loyalty to the national quality of family services, h) to establish recreation traditions, it becomes obvious that the Council of zones that will meet the needs of a population every Elders is among the key institutions that play an 40-50 km along the main roads between the provin-

Written by Aidarbek Amirbek, Eurasian Research Institute, Kazakhstan

Politics, Foreign Affairs and Security ceasefire regime in Syria. It was also amounted to $2.3 billion in 2016, The President of Turkmenistan, stated that joint Russia-Turkey-Iran while the trade turnover with Geor- Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who group on ceasefire monitoring in gia amounted to almost $395 million. Syria would include the UN experts. Turkey became Azerbaijan’s main was re-elected for the third term with 97.69% in February elections, signed Economy, Finance and Energy trade partner and Georgia ranked the

the Resolution on Dissolution of the 12th in 2016. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry The foreign trade turnover of Tajiki- Government. The members of the of Energy, the possibility of transit Government were instructed to carry stan reduced by 17% ($51.6 million) of the Kazakh oil through the Aktau year-on-year in January 2017 out their duties until the adoption of port via Azerbaijan in the future will new composition of the Cabinet of amounting to about $252.3 million. depend on its economic feasibility. It Thus, the trade balance of Tajikistan Ministers. was also reported that in 2016, the was negative amounting to $117 mil- During his official visit to Dushanbe, Kazakh oil was not exported via Ba- lion in January 2017. The main trade the Deputy Prime Minister of Tur- ku. Kazakhstan had previously partners of Tajikistan in January key, Tugrul Turkes, and the Presi- transported oil by the Baku-Tbilisi- were Russia ($67 million), Kazakh- dent of Tajikistan, Emomali Ceyhan pipeline, as well as by rail Rahmon, discussed the developments from Baku to the Black Sea ports of stan (more than $61 million) and and prospects of bilateral collabora- Georgia. China ($40 million). tion between the two countries in the The Ministry of Oil of Iran reported The Ministry of Economy of Ka- fields of economy, trade, science and that the country has doubled its natu- zakhstan reported that the country’s culture. The sides also exchanged ral gas output capacity since 2005 to trade turnover with the countries of views on expansion of bilateral co- about 284 billion cubic meters in the Eurasian Economic Union operation in the fight against interna- 2016, 97% of which is methane and (EAEU) in 2016 decreased by 16.8% tional terrorism and extremism and the remainder is ethane, propane, bu- in comparison with 2015. In 2016, other transnational crimes. tane. the trade turnover of Kazakhstan During his official visit to Belgium, Belarus’s Bel Oil has bought 80,000 with the EAEU countries amounted the President of Kyrgyzstan, tons of Iranian Light and Heavy to $13.583 billion. The Kazakhstani Almazbek Atambayev, and the King crude oil from National Iranian Oil exports and imports comprised Philippe of Belgium discussed issues Company (NIOC) for loading in $3.917 billion and $9.665 billion re- about bilateral cooperation, including spectively. February 2017. NIOC allocated strengthening the trade relations. 80,000 tons of oil to Bel Oil’s sub- Society and Culture Moreover, on the sidelines of his of- sidiary in Poland, namely, Bel Oil ficial trip to Brussels, the Head of The President of Uzbekistan, Polska. It was the first time Belarus Kyrgyzstan met the European Com- Shavkat Mirziyoyev, signed a de- bought Iranian crude oil. Looking for mission President, Jean-Claude cree, according to which the Ministry alternative crude oil supplies after Juncker, and the High Representative of Culture and Sports of Uzbekistan Russia's cut Urals exports to Belarus, of the Union for Foreign Affairs and was reorganized into two separate Minsk imported a total of 560,000 Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, bodies: the Ministry of Culture and tons of sweet Azeri Light and CPC to discuss issues on deepening trade- the State Committee on Physical Blend crude oil via the port of Odes- economic and cultural-humanitarian Culture and Sports. The decree also sa supplied by Azerbaijan’s SOCAR cooperation with the EU. envisages the creation of the non- in 2016. During his official visit to Dushanbe, budgetary fund on development of the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, The Kazakhstani state-owned energy culture and art. company KazMunaiGas Exploration Salahuddin Rabbani, and his Tajik According to the Kyrgyz Foreign Production reported that its revenues counterpart, Sirodjiddin Aslov, dis- Minister, Erlan Abdyldayev, starting in 2016 grew by 37% year-on-year cussed the security issues focusing from May 1, 2017, the OSCE Centre and amounted to 727 billion tenge on strengthening bilateral coopera- in Bishkek will be working as the ($2.128 billion). It was also noted tion on fight against terrorism, ex- OSCE program office in Kyrgyzstan. that the increase was largely the re- tremism and illicit drug trafficking. The Centre's mandate was changed sult of the switch to the processing The Russian Chief of the General in accordance with a decision of the scheme and 54% increase in the av- Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, and Permanent Council of OSCE, ap- erage tenge-US dollar exchange rate, the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair- proved by all members of the organi- which was partially offset by 17% man, Gen. Joseph Dunford, held a zation. Brent price decrease. meeting in Baku. The parties out- During the meeting with the Heads During the 5th Turkey-Azerbaijan- lined vectors of joint work aimed at of the Organization of Islamic Coop- Georgia Business Forum held in Is- easing tensions and preventing mili- eration (OIC) member-states diplo- tanbul, the Turkish Deputy Economy tary incidents. The sides also ex- matic missions, accredited in Ka- Minister, Fatih Metin, announced changed views on the current state of zakhstan, the Deputy Minister for that Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan the Russia-US relations, international Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, plan to increase the volume of mutu- security situation in Europe, the Akylbek Kamaldinov, discussed the al trade up to $20 billion. It was also Middle East, North Africa and other preparation process of the 1st OIC important regions of the world. noted that the trade turnover among Summit on Science and Technology, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia to- During the second round of Astana which will be held in September taled $4.2 billion in 2016. For in- talks, Russia, Iran and Turkey decid- 2017 in Astana. ed to create a Joint Group as part of a stance, according to the Azerbaijan’s trilateral mechanism to observe and State Customs Committee, the coun- ensure full compliance with the try’s trade turnover with Turkey

Prepared by Lidiya Parkhomchik, Hayal Ayca Simsek, Zhulduz Baizakova.