contents Project manager AL MAZBEK ATAMBAYEV Denis Tyurin 4 FROM SECURITY TO REGIONAL INTEGRATION Editor in chief Chinara Asanova Tatyana Sinitsyna 5 KYRGYZSTAN, MOUNTAINOUS LAND OF ALA-TOO… Deputy Editor in Chief Kirill Barsky Maxim Krans THE SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION AHEAD OF BISHKEK SUMMIT 8 Chairman of the Editorial Board Kirill Barsky Sultan Zhanaidarov 14 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL OF PUBLIC DIPLOMACY Editorial Board Alexey Vlasov Dmitry Mezentsev Sergey Luzjanin 16 SCO FORUM: CRUCIAL, ESTABLISHED PUBLIC INSTITUTION Alexander Lukin
Irina Dubovitskaya Editor of the English version 20 CENTRAL ASIA: SECURITY THROUGH INTEGRATION Natalia Latysheva
Elpar Salimov Chinese version 22 UZBEKISTAN: WAGING WAR ON ILLEGAL POPPY Center KitaEast Design, layout Mikhail Kirillov 24 SCO READY TO COUNTERACT NEW THREATS Oleg Elkin Technical support Stanislav Maksimov Natalia Maltseva 26 PEACE MISSION AS DEMONSTRATION OF FORCE Worked on the production of Andrei Ilyashenko Anastasia Kirillova 28 RUSSIA – CHINA: stRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP Elena Gagarina Olga Kozlova Valery Aleksandrov Vladimir Gorbanovsky 30 IRAN: NEW PRESIDENT AND NEW POLICY? Nina Dorokhova Juri Tavrovsky Dmitry Kosyrev Recep Tayyip Erdogan Nikolay Horunzhiy EURASIA: RISING SPACE OF NEW WORLD 32 Alexander Knyazev Sultan Zhanaidarov Darya Shcherbatyuk Irina Dubovitskaya 35 DO UKRAINE AND SCO NEED EACH OTHER?
Dmitry Kosyrev 37 IT’S REAL: SCO TO REMAIN ONE-ON-ONE WITH AFGHANISTAN NEXT YEAR
Alexei Fenenko 41 AMERICA’S AFPAK PROJECT: COUNTERBALANCE TO SCO, CSTO
Maksim Krans 43 CLUSTERS OF THE FUTURE
Tatiana Sinitsyna 45 LONELY VIOLIN’S CALL FOR THE ORCHESTRA…
Axe le i Maslov 47 WORLD WELCOMES SCO UNIVERSITY AS NEW EDUCATION EXPERIENCE
Bolot Dzhunusov U sing materials reference to the number 50 CHINGHIZ AITMATOV: «GIVER SHALL NEVER LACK» InfoSCO required. The opinion of the authors of publications do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Tatiana Sinitsyna 53 ASTANA: GENIUS LOCI Address for correspondence: Yekaterina Muromtseva 117218 Moscow, DARLING OF THE SUN BISHKEK 58 street. Krzyzanowski, 7, Bldg. 2 Tel. / Fax: +7 (495) 718-84-11 Jana Novikova www.infoshos.ru 60 VLADIMIR MAYAKOVSKY’S «STARLESS ORDEAL»
Lyubov Slovyakova 62 CYRILLIC ALPHABET, UNFAIRLY UNFAVORED IN POST-SOVIET STATES mediagroup TaaUNti na K INA 64 ARASHAN: NOBLE SON OF POISON
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www.infoshos.ru 3 Frmcuo se rity to regional integration
Almazbek Atambayev, President of Kyrgyzstan
REPUBLIC approach to the problems of security I see one of the Organization’s primary and cooperation; it unites states goals as increasing its economic OF KYRGYZSTAN and nations that have time-tested attractiveness and making its activities friendly and good neighborly relations, practical. An early launch of big joint The Republic of Kyrgyzstan, as and close partnership contacts. This economic projects that are of regional one of the founders of the Shanghai predetermines the success of the SCO’s importance seems especially relevant Cooperation Organization, attaches gradual development, its huge potential today. We hope that Kyrgyzstan’s primary importance to comprehensive for comprehensive development in line presidency in the SCO has allowed cooperation within the SCO. As the with the goals and tasks laid out in the consolidating our joint efforts to achieve presiding country, Kyrgyzstan, together Organization’s founding documents. our common goals in areas ranging with other member states, is taking It is also important to note the open from security problems to regional effort to further strengthen the and non-confrontational nature of its integration. Organization, deepen interaction on activities that denies the bloc approach. regional security and counteraction to The agenda of the Bishkek summit on threats and challenges of the modern It is impossible to ensure security September 13, 2013, inspires optimism world, to intensify trade, economic, and stability in the region without and certainty about the SCO further cultural and humanitarian cooperation. fulfilling tasks of economic development growing as an international regional and improving the population’s living organization of a new format, increasing The attractiveness of the SCO standards. Given the difficult situation the efficiency of its mechanism and is due to the Organization’s broad in the global economy, demand for continuing work on major areas that geographic reach and aggregate interaction in the trade and economic have been annonced recently. demographic potential, comprehensive sphere is growing. In this connection,
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www.infoshos.ru 4 Kyrgyzstan, mountainous land of Ala-Too…
Chinara Asanova For InfoSHOS
What could be easier than to talk about one’s homeland, it may seem… But it is hidden labor of a soul – to find colorful and succinct words that would be worthy of your motherland. Kyrgyzstan is a stunningly beautiful mountainous country. Within it, the western and central ranges of the Tian Shan meet the northern part of the Pamir, and borders with neighboring states go across solemn peaks. The spirit of mountaineers is freedom-loving and full of dignity. Our people are not only proud and free in their mentality, but also wise, kind, hospitable and hard-working.
ROOTS
The roots of Kyrgyz forefathers go for their place under the sun and for a dignified and prosperous life. After back to the ancient strata of civilization. freedom. all, it was God’s will to give us the Credible Chinese chroniclers maintain We are as unique as our beautiful luxurious land lying above the clouds, that the Kyrgyz were first mentioned land. No, we are not perfect and Ala-Too… in records in 201 BC. The history of the our life is so far full of problems and Yes, it is both easy and difficult nation’s establishment and development troubles. But people of Kyrgyzstan to describe one’s home country. You is filled with self-affirmation, struggle believe in their inalienable right for risk being partial. The country can be
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www.infoshos.ru 5 blooming and prosperous or poor and later, but afterwards the Kyrgyz had freedoms, the difficult period of struggling, but it is still the only one and to survive the ruling of the Khanate economic decline, power usurpation by you love it best. You are better aware of Kokand and they chose to join the the first president, people’s protests of its shortcomings than any foreign Russian Empire. that grew into a revolution, expectations expert. You resent certain things in from which never came true either. your people’s reality. But, if necessary, During the Soviet era, our country got you will protect every foot of this land an opportunity for rapid development The second president’s term in office with all your might and shout yourself of industry, agriculture, culture and brought even more poverty, rampant hoarse defending its honor and dignity. education. The population’s literacy was corruption, economic stagnation Thinking about it, is our motherland to 15% in 1926, but reached 82% by 1939. and criminalization of society and blame for any of our troubles? Of course Yet even as part of the Soviet state, the authorities. All these processes together it is not, it is we that have failed to Kyrgyz struggled for preserving their resulted in an almost complete loss of build a dignified and sensible society, to unique traditions, culture and historical all democratic achievements in the determine an efficient way of progress legacy of their ancestors. Many country. on the beautiful and generous land statesmen and educators of Kyrgyzstan given to us by the Creator. lost their lives to Stalin’s repressions. And once again, my freedom-loving people showed their intolerance of Our people are ancient. Credible injustice and lawlessness. Revolutionary Chinese chroniclers maintain that the IN SEARCH protests in April 2010 brought about Kyrgyz were first mentioned in records another change of regime in Kyrgyzstan. in 201 BC. At the end of the 15th century OF TRUE AD, our ancestors ousted Mongols from INDEPENDENCE It took a lot of effort, patience and the territory of Naryn and Kashgar and time to bring the country back to the spent another fifty years deflecting their After the Soviet Union’s breakup, constitutional path. The Kyrgyz society attacks. By the 16th century, the Kyrgyz Kyrgyzstan gained sovereignty. It was wants to live in a prosperous state ethnicity had been formed completely. 1991. But it was still far from true governed by the rule of law, and we are The contemporary borders of our independence. Kyrgyzstan was to live willing to pay for this dream! country were determined two centuries through the euphoria of democratic
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www.infoshos.ru 6 MOUNTAINOUS K YRGYZ PEOPLE HAVE LAND NO RIGHT TO BE POOR
Crossing our country from north Our country has a huge, not yet southwards, you can see winter and realized potential for development summer, spring and autumn, travel of environmentally clean agriculture. through all climatic zones in just two Plenty of warmth, light and water allow or three days. “The mountainous land growing warm-weather crops – grapes, above the clouds,” as it is often called, peaches, apricots, melons and gourds, lies across the mountainous ranges as well as cotton. of the Tian Shan and the Pamir-Altai. Mountains take up more than three Kyrgyzstan’s reserves represent the fourths of the country’s territory. There entire Mendeleev Table, as professional is not a single place that would go down geologists put it. There are huge reserves to the sea level – the country lies at at of coal, lead, molybdenum, wolfram, least 500 m above it, with some peaks quicksilver, rare-earth, non-ferrous and rising several thousands meters high. precious metals. The country also has huge hydropower reserves: they are The grand snowy peaks of Victory, estimated at 142 billion kWh, and only Lenin and Khan Tengri, celebrated by 10% of it is being used. The country has poets, are truly fascinating. Our country discovered oil and natural gas fields, has over 80 inaccessible mountain and its gold deposits could make it a peaks. Mountains, supporting clouds leading global gold producer. and captured by huge glaciers, give birth to springs that gather into gushing Moreover, we have significant streams that in turn form rivers with intellectual riches: educated perfectly clear water. The south of population, a strong class of researchers the country is covered with grand old- and intelligentsia and, of course, a solid growth hazel woods with trees that are cultural foundation. Here it is relevant over a thousand years old. And you can to mention one well-known Kyrgyz name see nature-woven carpets of crimson – Chinghiz Aitmatov, an internationally poppies and tulips on Alpine meadows… recognized literature classic, whose books are published in millions of copies in tens of languages.
Given these starting conditions, the Kyrgyz simply have no right to be poor, as These crystal sources feed mountainous non-freezing Lake Issyk Kul, which is full of clear, slightly salty President Almazbek Atambayev correctly water. Issyk Kul is the invaluable blue gem of the Kyrgyz land, a feature of legends, the love and pride of pointed out. So far, the country hasn’t Kyrgyz people. reached prosperity because it didn’t have effective government that would enjoy people’s trust and a common goal that would consolidate society.
We believe that we will succeed now; we now know that we need to work diligently and purposefully. Then we will be able to live beautifully and worthily, as our magnificent land calls for…
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www.infoshos.ru 7 The Shanghai Cooperation Organization ahead of Bishkek summit: tasks at hand
Kirill Barsky The Russian president’s envoy for SCO affairs Russia’s national coordinator in the SCO Ambassador-at-large
The specifics of the moment for the region are determined by several important factors. This is, first of all, the situation in Afghanistan. After years of foreign military presence in the country, problems have not diminished.
The current situation in the world is the new generation, remain and are SPECIAL not especially optimistic. International even growing stronger, requiring that relations are going through a rough patch the international community take MOMENT caused by consequences of globalization collective action. But it is increasingly The specifics of the moment for on the one hand and more frequent uses difficult to achieve this at the global the region are determined by several of power politics and ignoring of the level. These underlying processes important factors. This is, first of all, basic norms of the international law on increase the growing trend towards the situation in Afghanistan. After the other. regionalization of international life. years of foreign military presence in the country, problems have not Disorganization of global management The economic decline in industrially diminished. objectively comes laden with a developed countries, financial problems dangerous destabilizing charge. But and turbulence on global markets are The territory of Afghanistan still subjective factors are also at play pushing governments towards closer emanates threats of terrorism and here, such as fixation on outdated bloc international cooperation to ensure extremism, different separatist groups approaches, unwillingness to take into sustainable social and economic are active there and drug trafficking account a partner’s interests, use of development. This desire is combined has not decreased. The forthcoming double standards, habitual reliance with regional integration processes that withdrawal of international security on force, excessive national ambitions have become stronger and increasingly forces from Afghanistan, reformatting and ill-considered moves. As a result, require adequate regulation. of the US and NATO military presence new crises keep breaking out one there, accelerated transfer of security after another, and the foundations All this encourages regional functions to the Afghan army and police of established regimes come falling organizations to take more responsibility (which are obviously not ready to take down both in the East and in the West. for developments on their territories. over this overwhelming burden) raise a Meanwhile real security problems, both The Shanghai Cooperation Organization lot of questions in neighboring countries. traditional threats and challenges of is not an exception. They are first of all worried whether
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www.infoshos.ru 8 of information and personnel training. This is understandable: threats of new generation The organization has adopted the Regulations on Political and Diplomatic are becoming increasingly interconnected, feeding Measures and Mechanism of Response each other. Terrorist groups are coalescing with drug to Events Jeopardizing Regional Peace, lords, extremists and misanthropist hackers, financial Security and Stability. This is true. But this is no longer enough, it is necessary swindlers and smugglers, engineers of color revolutions to move forward. and criminals. At the SCO summit in Beijing in June 2012, Russian President Vladimir Putin came up with an initiative to set up Afghanistan would again slide in the in the economy should be on ensuring a universal center for counteracting abyss of power vacuum, civil war, inter- sustainable social and economic threats and challenges to SCO members’ ethnic split and free rein for terrorists development of its member states, first security on the basis of the RATS. The and drug lords. Obviously, Central of all, those in Central Asia. initiative was supported by Russia’s Asian states that border on Afghanistan partners: at its meeting in Tashkent are not excited about this prospect. This is the global and regional on March 29, 2013, the RATS Council Everyone understands that they should background the Shanghai Cooperation endorsed the proposal to submit for be ready for any turn of events. Organization has to operate with. Of the SCO leaders’ consideration a draft course, unexpected developments, decision of the Council of SCO Heads Yet another factor is the consequence new trends and changing conditions of State on working out the concept of of the “Arab spring.” It seems that there can bring necessary adjustments to such a center. are forces in the world that are interested the traditional algorithm. But in the in Arab revolutions not calming down SCO, these adjustments do not change What is a SCO universal center? It but spreading farther eastwards. the fundamentals of the organization’s should be a body to ensure systemic work Clearly, the SCO member states are activities, they allow making its tasks on the entire range of security issues, concerned about developments in more relevant to the present day. including anti-terrorism, anti-drug and neighboring regions – North Africa and anti-crime cooperation between defense the Middle East, they are worried about ministries, international information the ongoing conflict in Syria, alarmed by TASK No.1: SECURITY security. To achieve this, the RATS the prospect of destabilization in other AND STABILITY Executive Committee is supposed to neighboring countries. This to a large receive additional powers. At the same extent explains their desire to use SCO One of the SCO’s key tasks in the time, while the center is being set mechanisms to ensure regional security. current situation is strengthening of up, the RATS will function as usual. mechanisms for security cooperation. There are no plans to dismantle the The third factor is economic Someone may ask: what else needs to existing, carefully built and well-proven development of Central Asian countries be done if the SCO has already shaped constructs: the three-level pyramid of that is becoming a priority. On the an extensive legal framework for anti-drug cooperation, the mechanism one hand, the SCO region has been counteracting terrorism, separatism of interior ministers’ meetings and doing fairly well and its members’ and extremism, drug trafficking, interaction on anti-crime efforts, the performance is quite high. Nevertheless, organized crime, cyber terrorism and SCO working group on international the social and economic situation in cyber crime? The SCO Regional Anti- information security. some countries, first of all in Kyrgyzstan Terrorist Structure has been set up and and Tajikistan, is far from ideal. Their is working actively, with headquarters in The six SCO members agree that economies remain vulnerable due to Tashkent. A system has been established they need coordinated complex effort their structure and the depth of the for regular meetings of heads of to quickly and adequately respond to problems these countries are dealing law enforcement agencies, expert potential emergencies and multiplying with. This is why the SCO’s emphasis meetings, joint operations, exchange problems.
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www.infoshos.ru 9 This is understandable: threats this, all the more so as Kabul is sincerely The SCO member states want of new generation are becoming interested in cooperation with the SCO. more active mutual support in issues increasingly interconnected, feeding related to protection of sovereignty each other. Terrorist groups are and territorial integrity, security and coalescing with drug lords, extremists stability. The SCO is not alone in trying to and misanthropist hackers, financial AFGAN DRUGS: deflect threats. There are several other swindlers and smugglers, engineers of COMMON ENEMY efficient mechanisms in Eurasia, and color revolutions and criminals. they all have their strengths. This is first The most acute problem for the entire of all the CSTO, which maintains peace On the other hand, past methods are SCO is drugs smuggled from Afghanistan. and security in its area of responsibility not always suitable in today’s situation. It was discussed in detail at a regular and, being a defense alliance, has an For example, it is becoming increasingly meeting of heads of corresponding opportunity to ensure security with obvious that prevention of terrorism SCO agencies in Bishkek. Meticulous military means. Interaction between the and extremism, of radicalization of the analysis of the current situation with SCO and the CSTO has become extremely public mood is the task not only for law drug production in Afghanistan and their relevant. enforcers, but for society in the broadest export to Central Asia, Russia and China meaning of the word. Under current allowed heads of anti-drug agencies to Central Asia has other interesting circumstances, methods of “soft power” reach important agreements on new organizations that could become the are especially relevant: involving public measures for strengthening interaction SCO’s potential partners: the Counter- and non-government organizations, among the six SCO members. They Terrorism Committee of the UN Security religious unions, youth movements, as include improvement of mechanisms Council, the UN Regional Center for well as educational establishments, for cooperation and coordination, Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia mass media and the business community organization of joint operations, (the Shanghai Six has already established in these efforts. including between territorial anti-drug ties with the UN Office on Drug and units in border areas, strengthening of Crime and CARICC, the Central Asian The SCO has set itself the task of the anti-drug potential of Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination intensifying work on regional security. states that are at the fore front of the Center), CICMA, the Eurasian Group The practice of regular consultations struggle with this cunning enemy. on combating money laundering and between deputy foreign ministers financing of terrorism (EAG). Useful of the SCO and observer countries It was said at the meeting that in projects are being implemented by should be continued and expanded, by order to cope with the problem of the OSCE, and it would be helpful to complementing high-level meetings Afghan drug, it was not enough to simply establish cooperation with it, too. with expert meetings, establishing of catch drug mules. It was necessary cooperation on fight against terrorism to consider replacing Afghanistan’s Finally, the SCO is a member of and drugs and on Afghanistan’s affairs established drug economy with a the Istanbul Process for assistance to with the Collective Security Treaty healthy economic model, ousting opium regional security and cooperation in the Organization and other foreign partners. planting with development of normal name of security and stable Afghanistan, agriculture, eliminating incentives for which has received the metaphoric Obviously, the SCO will have to play criminal activities. Efforts to destroy name of the Heart of Asia. The SCO has first fiddle in assisting Afghanistan poppy fields and to find and destroy drug everything necessary to make a real with issues ranging from security and labs are definitely needed, but they contribution to implementing measures national reconciliation to restoration should be complemented with forced of trust developed within the Istanbul of the country’s economy. But it is in industrialization of Afghanistan, upbeat process and simultaneously invite the the organization’s interests to ensure economic construction and resolution region to participate in its struggle that stability and order return to the of social problems. It is a common task against terrorism, drug trafficking and Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as soon for the entire global community, but crime. as possible, that it no longer harbors regional countries, including the SCO The SCO should more actively involve Al Qaeda terrorists and militants. The members, can help Kabul as much as its observers – Afghanistan, India, Afghan authorities need help achieving possible. Pakistan, Iran and Mongolia – in efforts
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www.infoshos.ru 10 of the SCO high-speed data highway, Integration in Eurasia is being developed through the development of geodynamic monitoring Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Union that is technology for forecasting dangerous geological processes on the basis of the being set up, and these organizations should establish International Geodynamic Testing Area partnership relations with the SCO. The SCO, in its in Bishkek, the setup of joint ventures turn, needs to find a unique niche in the processes of for storage, processing and shipment of agricultural products on the basis of the regional economic life. logistics center in Saratov, etc. It might seem that the number of projects on the List is quite modest, but this is just a beginning. The list will be changing all to strengthen security in the region. working to bring business communities the time, with new projects added and These countries have shown interest in of different SCO states closer to each those completed excluded. joint work. The SCO needs to take more other, find their common interests, active steps to respond to this interest. initiate investment projects and assist An increasing number of projects are with their implementation. being implemented on the corporate level as opposed to the inter-government ECONOMIC A remarkable characteristic of the format. Notably, a multimodal logistics COOPERATION: recent time is the emergence of a center is being built in the south of SCO’s SECOND PILLAR significant number of feasible projects the Chelyabinsk region, ideas are being within the SCO. Overall, project considered to build industrial parks Today, economy decides a lot. Hence development seems the most promising manufacturing LED light bulbs in Russia new focuses in the SCO’s activities: area of economic cooperation within the and Kyrgyzstan, to construct small and the Shanghai organization is paying SCO, since the alliance has never set medium-sized hydropower plants in increased attention and applying more itself any integration goals. Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, to set up effort to ensure economic stability and platforms for electronic trade, to found practical cooperation in implementation Integration in Eurasia is being an SCO high-tech center, etc. of mutually beneficial economic developed through the Customs Union projects. and the Eurasian Economic Union that To implement these projects, the is being set up, and these organizations Shanghai Six needs its own sources Cooperation between the SCO should establish partnership relations of financing. It expects to find them economies has been in the organization’s with the SCO. The SCO, in its turn, through the mechanism of financial sight virtually since its foundation needs to find a unique niche in the support to project activities, something in 2001. The program of economic processes of regional economic life. experts are working on at the moment. cooperation between the member At present, they are considering several states was endorsed back in 2003. A lot A new tool has appeared for working concepts: the setup of a special SCO of documents have been signed – inter- in the economic area, and that is the account, a small financial institution government and inter-departmental List of Events for project development. to finance feasibility studies, a big SCO agreements, memorandums, programs It was adopted at the meeting of the development bank that would provide and plans. There are mechanisms of Council of SCO heads of government loans for projects’ implementation and meetings between ministers responsible in Bishkek in December 2012. The list broader use of the opportunities of the for foreign politics and foreign trade, consists of about 30 different projects, SCO Interbank Association. transport, science and research, from road construction to cooperation agriculture, education, healthcare, between individual research centers. Profitability of trade and economic culture, etc. The SCO has set up the They include the pilot project of trade in cooperation to a significant extent Business Council and the Interbank national currencies of the SCO member depends on availability of convenient Association, which are both quite states on the Moscow Exchange without transport communication, optimal successful. Each of these structures is the US dollar’s mediation, the setup routes for cargos and passengers
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www.infoshos.ru 11 that would encourage development center for signal transmission, telecom tended towards trying to understand of business ties and reduce costs. channels support and ground positioning other cultures and traditions, towards Transport is one of the pivotal fasteners of objects. A new promising are of exchanges between the art people. that ensure the region’s unity. A lot is cooperation is youth entrepreneurship. Today, development of humanitarian already being done in this respect. In November 2012, the Altai territory cooperation needs a new level of tasks. At the summit in Bishkek, the parties successfully hosted the International are expected to sign the Agreement Forum on Entrepreneurship and Border Talk should be not of simple on ensuring favorable conditions for Cooperation. It was initiated by the SCO interaction, but of movement towards international car shipments. Youth Council, a dynamic structure that a common educational, cultural, is full of ideas and was founded in 2009 information and intellectual space. This The document will open up a number on President Putin’s initiative. Issues is the way the European Union went, the of important routes for carriers from the discussed at the forum ranged from way ASEAN and multilateral alliances in SCO, including the thoroughfare from innovations and “green economy” to Latin America are going. Countries in the Atlantic (St Petersburg, Russia) to propaganda of good neighborly relations our region have as many reasons to build the Pacific (Lianyungang, China). This, in on the Internet and simplifying of the alliances. turn, will create conditions for creating visa regime for young entrepreneurs and the West Europe – China transport students. corridor. The E-40 highway is being built that will connect Russia, Kazakhstan Russia’s regions and regions of other and Uzbekistan with China. A program SCO members are showing increasing The SCO member is being developed to coordinate road interest in the SCO. This opens great states have numerous development in the SCO. prospects for mounting inter-regional and border cooperation. The Russian initiatives in the cultural Power generation can become a Foreign Ministry has received different and humanitarian promising area of economic cooperation proposals from Bashkiria, the Saratov sphere. Some are being in the SCO. At present, work is being region, the Chelyabinsk region, the Altai implemented, while others completed to launch the Energy Club territory, the Siberian Agreement inter- are at the preparatory of the SCO member states, observers regional union and the Our Home Altai stage. Studies have begun and dialog partners. It is expected to organization. at the SCO Network become an informal club for government University, which unites a officials and also businessmen and A real gold mine is the sphere of total of 69 universities in researchers that are interested in tourism, where the first sprouts of its member states and one energy cooperation in the SCO. multilateral cooperation can already been seen. The Association of Tourist observer state, Belarus. In Significant hopes are vested in Operators of Russia, China, Kazakhstan May, the Russian People’s innovation and high technology. On and Mongolia involved in the Great Tea Friendship University held Kazakhstan’s initiative, SCO experts Way project has been set up. In other another SCO Education are completing work on a draft words, economy is becoming the SCO’s Week titled “Education agreement on cooperation on science second pillar after security. without Borders”, during and technology. One of the latest joint which representatives of achievements of Russia and China that key universities of the has attracted interest of a majority of DIFFERENT CULTURES, SCO University signed an the SCO countries is a project to create BUT COMMON agreement on joint master a mobile satellite communication SPACE system that envisages launch of several programs. artificial satellites and construction of ground infrastructure. The work The SCO is also a huge cultural will give the SCO its own independent realm. Nations in Eurasia have always
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www.infoshos.ru 12 The SCO countries have been of the latter, Mezentsev and the Turkish developing cultural ties for a long time, foreign minister signed a memorandum and they are yielding priceless results on giving Turkey the status of a SCO in form of broader contacts between dialog partner. people, learning about each other and spiritual development. Very interesting Remarkably, not only its closes conferences titled “Dialog of CIS and neighbors in the region, but even SCO languages and cultures in the Azerbaijan, Armenia and Bangladesh 21st centuries” have been organized are showing interest in the SCO; these for several years in the row. Russia countries have applied for an observer’s has proposed holding regular culture status. Some time ago, Ukraine asked festivals of SCO peoples. for the status of a dialog partner. This is a definite recognition of the SCO’s An initiative is being discussed to success, attractiveness of its political establish an inter-civilization dialog philosophy and practical opportunities. between the SCO countries and their At the same time, it is a chance to take closest neighbors: after all, Russia, yet another step towards shaping a new China, Central Asian states, the Middle consortium of countries in Eurasia that Eastern states, India and Mongolia would be united by a common goal – represent a significant part of world ensuring steady peace, security and It is important that civilizations, and cooperation between stability. people should know what them is of utmost importance for Eurasia. There will be obvious dividends the SCO is doing, what from cooperation with the SCO for problems it is dealing with, One area in which the SCO member countries seeking the dialog partner what concerns its member states are already cooperating status: they would receive the Shanghai states, what its place in actively is foreign politics. The current Six’s guaranteed political support, the international power international situation requires get access to additional resources for balance is. Responsibility increasingly close coordination between their economic growth and find reliable for this vests with both the the six countries in international footing for pursuing an independent SCO member states, their organizations and regional affairs. This foreign policy. corresponding agencies is in line with both common interests and state-owned mass and each member’s interests. When Of course, the SCO needs a proactive, countries speak together on the even aggressive information policy media and with the SCO international stage, their voice acquires – a policy that would be politically permanent bodies – the a new volume. coordinated, professionally developed Secretariat and the RATS and equipped with adequate channels Executive Committee. It In the rapidly changing world, for spreading information. For the is unacceptable for the the SCO needs to further pursue its outside world to know about the organization that has external connections… Such contacts SCO, information about it should reason to claim a leading are developing. Notably, SCO Secretary appear in mass media frequently. role in global and regional General Dmitry Mezentsev is very active The organization needs impartial and cooperation to keep a low in this area. In the last six months, he fair coverage. Information about its profile in the information attended the open UN Security Council’s successes and problems should regularly meeting on Afghanistan, the OSCE and systemically reach not only political realm. Security Day in Vienna, and the third scientists and economists, but also ministerial conference of the Istanbul general public in the member states and Process in Alma-Ata. On the sidelines abroad.
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www.infoshos.ru 13 International Summer School of Public Diplomacy opens its doors
Sultan Zhanaidarov
Participants of the First School. Kuskovo, Moscow, july 2013.
government organizations of member Russian president’s administration, the INTERNATIONAL states of the Shanghai Cooperation Russian Foreign Ministry, the Federal SUMMER SCHOOL OF Organization and countries that have Agency for CIS affairs, the Gorchakov PUBLIC DIPLOMACY the status of an SCO observer or dialog Fund for Public Diplomacy Support, the partner. Russian Public Chamber, etc. In the middle of July, the Moscow Humanitarian University held the The event was initiated and arranged The school was designed to improve first study course of the International by the Public Diplomacy Fund and the the competence of NGO leaders in the Summer School of Public Diplomacy. independent organization For Support of sphere of public diplomacy of the SCO It was organized for leaders of non- Civil Society, with assistance from the member states, its observers and dialog
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www.infoshos.ru 14 partners. The area of competence Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, implementing answers to the new threats is first of all related to practical Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, etc). They and challenges for the humankind. After implementation of the principles of attended lectures and participated in the first cycle of studies at the school the “Shanghai spirit” proclaimed in the training exercises, role play, project was over, its students were unanimous: organization’s fundamental documents. presentations and themed roundtable the SCO is a unique association of discussions. The school also organized different civilizations that is based on The school’s main goal is to give a themed excursion, Diplomatic a new model of international relations. its students knowledge and skills Moscow, and different cultural events. Further development of cooperation necessary to carry out the mission At lectures and meetings with experts, within the SCO, its members’ common of a public diplomat in the SCO and different topics were raised, including aspiration towards peace will make the beyond. SCO public diplomats should development of public diplomacy, Shanghai organization a truly strong and
be able to adequately and efficiently Eurasia’s cyber security, the problem of progressive union of civilizations that participate in establishing of close Afghanistan in the context of the SCO’s will be able to come up with positive multilateral contacts between SCO regional security. and feasible initiatives for shaping the countries and peoples, development of future of the humankind. trade, economic, scientific, technical, The emergence of the SCO in humanitarian and cultural cooperation the global political architecture and creation of a stable atmosphere tipped the balance of power on the The school’s main goal is to of sustainable peace and friendship, international stage in favor of peace give its students knowledge common prosperity and harmony in the and cooperation and changed the very region. paradigm of international relations, and skills necessary to carry creating preconditions for making them out the mission of a public The first round of studies at more predictable, streamlined and diplomat in the SCO and the school gathered over 40 stable, which has positively influenced beyond. students from 13 countries (Russia, the process of searching for and
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www.infoshos.ru 15 S mCO Foru : crucial, established public institution
Dmitry Mezentsev SCO Secretary General
The SCO has to a large extent exceeded the expectations of the six countries’ leaders that founded this unique organization, which is already seen as one of the most successful international regional projects of the 21st century.
OVER based on their countries’ reality. They an organization that demonstrates also named specific measures taken unprecedented coalescence of its THE PAST YEARS to achieve their goals in the area of member states’ national interests and The Organization’s itinerary has international cooperation. the interests of the organization in included a lot of important and general. significant events, one of which was The summit endorsed the main definitely the SCO summit in Beijing in directions of the strategy for the I am absolutely positive that 2012, which adopted the Declaration organization’s development, a assessments, proposals, initiatives on Building a Region with Lasting Peace conceptual view of the gradual move and, perhaps, criticisms voiced at the and Common Prosperity, as well as a set forward. At the previous, 7th, SCO Forum forthcoming 8th SCO Forum will become of documents on expanding cooperation it was emphasized several times that a common legacy and will add to the within the organization. the Organization had come a very long organization’s creativity bank. way from the initial concept proposed These documents lay out principled by its founding members in 2001 to The SCO has noted a trend towards opinions of the SCO member states the practical, broad, multilateral and aggravation of such threats as about strengthening of inter-state beneficial cooperation we see today. terrorism, separatism, extremism, relations on conditions of a new, fair The SCO has to a large extent exceeded illegal drug trafficking and trans-border and multi-polar world order, their desire the expectations of the six countries’ crime, as well as problems related to to create a space of indivisible security, leaders that founded this unique destabilization and crime in different readiness to move towards innovative organization, which is already seen as regions of the world. It would seem and sustainable development and one of the most successful international that development of high technology, assist the process of universal progress regional projects of the 21st century, improved comfort and living standards
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www.infoshos.ru 16 of hundreds of millions of people a new type of international security OSCE brought about by implementation of the – information security. Notably, the new technology and new engineering countries are actively working to SECURITY solutions should make the world both a promote rules of behavior in this sphere DAY more convenient place to live in and also within the United Nations. Not long ago, a safer and fairer one. Unfortunately, a delegation of the SCO Secretariat It should be noted that participation this is not what we have been witnessing attended the OSCE Security Day that was in the OSCE Security Day was definitely in the 21st century. This also presents a devoted to the problems of Afghanistan an important step for us, given that we certain set of threats and challenges for and also participated in an open debate do not have formal relations with this the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, at the UN Security Council that was organization and do not always agree which has never forgotten about its chaired by the Russian Federation. with assessments made by the OSCE. fundamental priority – ensuring of regional security.
Given all this, active diplomatic efforts to prevent emergencies and jointly respond to them, with reliance on a common position on regional security, remain a relevant task.
A new version of the Regulations on Political and Diplomatic Measures and Mechanism of Response to Events Jeopardizing Regional Peace, Security and Stability was adopted at the Beijing summit. Also adopted was a program for cooperation between the SCO member states on fight against terrorism, Nevertheless, the Istanbul Process, SCO Summit separatism and extremism for 2013- which is gaining momentum, and the 2015, which significantly expands the acuteness of the Afghan problem have legal framework for the countries’ allowed us to accept this invitation and interaction in the security sphere. The SCO member states to present our point of view in Vienna, are still trying to find an which can be summed up as follows: the Not long ago, Tashkent hosted a adequate response to a Afghan problem cannot be resolved by meeting of the Council of the SCO new type of international linear, simplified means, there can be Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure. security – information no single recipe for it, and there should It showed unity in approaches and definitely be no military solution. security. unconditional confirmation of positions of all the six member states. It is an Using the example of Afghanistan important indicator showing that the and drawing upon the speech by Cheng SCO’s second permanent body, the RATS Guoping, who comprehensively and Executive Committee, has become a very wisely assessed the history, cultural efficient tool for the entire organization traditions and mentalities of our that allows analyzing, forecasting and countries, we also want to say that responding to threats and challenges of neither a unipolar world nor simplified regional security. schemes of resolving complicated conflicts and ways for resolving problems The SCO member states are still that have accumulated over a long time trying to find an adequate response to can be successful. It is important to
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www.infoshos.ru 17 adopt a well-considered, weighted and give the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan gaining momentum and will soon hold consistent approach that will take into the status of an SCO observer is of crucial a conference in Kazakhstan, an active account the opinions of many parties. importance. The SCO gained praise for participant in all SCO processes. The its approaches to the Afghan settlement Foreign Ministries of Kazakhstan and This is the practice adopted by the spelled out in the Beijing Declaration, Afghanistan have undertaken the key Shanghai Cooperation Organization. It which emphasizes that the SCO members functions of organizers and chairmen was discussed at a meeting of the UN advocate building an independent, of the 3rd Conference of the Istanbul Secretary General and the SCO Secretary neutral, peaceful and prosperous state Process in Alma-Ata. General. Mr Ban Ki-moon said he knew in Afghanistan, free of terrorism and the organization well and saw how drug trafficking. At the same time, it The SCO countries are geographically efficiently many of the SCO mechanisms supports the United Nations’ central and historically direct neighbors of functioned. This is the result of our organizing role in coordinating efforts Afghanistan, and this is a crucial factor countries’ joint effort. Mr Ban Ki-moon aimed at the Afghan settlement. that needs to be taken into account when emphasized that he highly appreciated working towards the settlement. The the SCO program designed to fight the As is well known, the International SCO member states advocate broader real threat presented by illegal drug Security Assistance Force is expected interaction within the organization, trafficking and supported the plan for to withdraw from the country by the going practical in cooperation with the the program’s implementation in the end of 2014, leaving Afghanistan’s organization’s observers – Afghanistan, next five years. We heard requests executive authorities fully responsible India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan – and and proposals that will allow bringing for the country’s security problems. The also with its dialog partners – Belarus, Sri new practical content to the earlier threats of terrorism, drug trafficking Lanka and Turkey. It is important for the signed Memorandum between the SCO and transnational organized crime SCO to maintain partnership ties with Secretariat and the UN Secretariat. As coming from this country remain international regional organizations the UN Secretary General said, the SCO serious challenges for all countries in – the United Nations, its specialized is definitely a promising and encouraging the region. One of the crucial tools institutes and organizations, the CIS, international regional organization.The for resolving such conflicts seems Eurasec, ASEAN, etc. decision made at the Beijing summit to to be the Istanbul Process, which is Here, I believe, it is important to take into account the fact that this cooperation should be based on complete agreement about fundamental principles, we should be building relations only with those organizations that have demonstrated an understanding of international processes or global economic trends that coincides with that of the SCO. It is important to position the organization more broadly. It is important to use such contacts to popularize and promote our stands, proposals and initiatives, to present the organization in general.
We say that informal contacts with the OSCE, the European Union and other partners are ongoing. There shouldn’t be any rush here, but working contacts, checks of each other’s positions are definitely needed and important, as they help to shape the organization’s Dmitry Mezentsev and Xi Jinping
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www.infoshos.ru 18 image, let the global community learn Today, we can note and welcome about our organization and allow using the serious attention paid to economic these platforms in the interests of cooperation, as well as cooperation in strengthening the Shanghai Cooperation research and engineering, innovation, Organization’s international authority. culture, tourism and healthcare, including for ensuring sanitary well- Work is under way to coordinate the being in the SCO. necessary legal and financial documents The concept of the SCO University is and administrative conditions for being implemented consistently, the expanding the organization. Let me SCO Youth Council is very enterprising, emphasize: the expansion terms are worthy proposals have been made by always adopted by heads of state on a the Business Council and the Interbank political science and on a solid expert consensus basis and the process should Association, which plays an important base. not be artificially rushed. On the other part in development of the potential for hand, it should not be stalled for no economic cooperation. It is necessary This is my request to the Forum’s good reason. to further mount interaction between participants, even though it is not a these important institutions of the formal one; the Forum is definitely our The organization takes significant organization, as well as interactive work friend that helps us to see and shape a efforts to create favorable conditions with the SCO’s permanent bodies. future model that will allow us to avoid for investment and boosting technical potential stumbles and, perhaps, even and economic cooperation in the SCO, At the same time, there is a gap mistakes, in our practical work. including in non-commodities sectors, between the results and possibilities of dealing with goods smuggling and the Business Council and the Interbank protection of intellectual property. Association, these very important Practical measures are taken to develop institutions of the SCO. I believe that it multilateral cooperation in the financial is worth noting the initiative that was and economic sphere. SCO heads of voiced at the St Petersburg summit in government have two times returned 2011 and at the Bishkek summit in 2012 to an important and comprehensive about setting up a permanent SCO United document, the Program of Multilateral Business Cooperation Center that could We expect this Economic Cooperation and plans for its function as a non-profit partnership. SCO Forum to give us implementation. interesting proposals Everything that will be said, all with regards to the We have heard justified criticism significant proposals will provide grounds organization’s further from our leaders, but also instructions for analysis, for making proposals development and hope to ensure that work to carry out to parties, for new initiatives and, to continue contacts with multilateral projects (involving not perhaps, for a report to heads of state influential scientists, just two or three, but five or six ahead of the forthcoming SCO summit parties) should become more loaded in Bishkek. We speak of the Forum as political scientists, and substantial so that the SCO is able of an established institution, indicator analysts and diplomats to show the world not only its proven of mature non-government connections that have gathered here unique schemes of interaction, but also within the SCO. and that are taking part similarly unique schemes of economic in the work of other and financial cooperation. In this At the same time, we have an discussion platforms. regard, it is important that experts have opportunity to address the Forum’s visibly intensified their work to develop leaders, researchers and the Forum’s efficient financial mechanisms, the SCO organizers asking for serious expert Special Account Development Fund and research, because this dynamically the SCO Development Bank. developing organization needs to rely on
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www.infoshos.ru 19 Cnte ral Asia: security through integration
Irina Dubovitskaya Staff correspondent for InfoSHOS, Tajikistan
Given the ongoing crises in the international financial and economic system, integration processes acquire even greater relevance and importance.
GEOPOLITICAL DYNAMICS IN CENTRAL EURASIA IN THE XXI CENTURY
In April 2013, the Russian-Tajik (Slavic) University in Dushanbe hosted an international conference titled Central Eurasia’s Geopolitical Dynamics in Early 21st Century: Problems of Integration, Security, Interaction between Civilizations. It was initiated and organized by the University’s Center of Geopolitical Studies and the International Eurasian Movement (Moscow).
The pool of participants was varied: the event was attended by ambassadors of Russia, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan, representatives of diplomatic missions of Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
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www.infoshos.ru 20 Turkey and China, representatives of Saifullo Safarov, deputy head of the Along with direct positive results several international organizations and Center of Strategic Studies under the from the Customs Union and the NGOs, analysts, political scientists and president of Tajikistan, devoted his Single Economic Space, the general economists from Tajikistan, Russia, speech to The Geopolitical Situation investment climate in the member China and Afghanistan, representatives in Central Asia after 2014: Myths and states has improved, they have created of the peacekeeping troops, Tajikistan’s Plausible Developments; he emphasized more comfortable conditions for doing National Security Committee and that it was necessary for political business, including small and medium- teachers and students of Tajik scientists to understand ways to sized businesses, and created new jobs, universities. overcome disintegration of Central Asian Kabayev said. countries. “The Americans believe that During the conference, the Russia and China currently dominate participants listened to over 30 research the region’s geopolitical landscape,” reports dealing with the military and he said. “The US views itself as a too political situation in the Greater Middle distant, but inevitable partner of Central East and economic and cultural problems Asia.” Safarov described the US policy in “The Russian party of Central Asian countries. Significant the region as “steadily chaotic.” views Eurasian economic attention was paid to forecasts of integration as a definite regional developments after the ISAF withdrawal from Afghanistan. priority of its work in PROSPECTS the CIS. Promotion of
In his report, Interaction of the OF EURASIAN integration processes Republic of Tajikistan and CSTO INTEGRATION within the trio does not Member States to Ensure Security in mean that it is trying to Central Eurasia in the Period of Major Analyzing the current situation and distance itself from other Threats’ Transformation, Lieutenant prospects of Eurasian integration from countries. On the contrary, General Ramil Nodirov, Chief of the the global point of view, Dmitry Kabayev, the Eurasian project was General Staff of the Tajik Armed Forces, counselor of the Russian embassy initially conceived as a emphasized that the Collective Security to Tajikistan, said that economic structure open for other Treaty Organization was ready for any integration in Eurasia was a logical states, first of all members development in the region after the process in the global historical context. of Eurasec and the CIS,” he ISAF withdrawal from Afghanistan. In the time of globalization and growing said. “We sincerely want Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Tajikistan competition, the entire world is seeing our closest neighbors not to Agybai Smagulov also shared his a steady trend towards emergence and face the difficult artificial opinion on the issue. He pointed to the strengthening of regional economic importance of implementing transport unions. choice between “western” projects. and “eastern” ways of Given the ongoing crises in the development, but to be able Today, the most promising projects international financial and economic to participate in integration for the region include construction system, integration processes acquire processes across entire of the railways Turugundi-Chabakhar even greater relevance and importance, Eurasia.” and Kunduz-Shibirgan, with further so Eurasian integration has been and extensions to Iran and Pakistan. The still is Russia’s strategic choice, Kabayev region’s countries should not wait for emphasized. A priority for the country, foreign investment to cover the entire he said, was development within the project, he said, it would be more Customs Union and the Single Economic productive to draw from their own Space of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. budgets allocated for development of These three countries have become the national railways. core of Eurasian integration, he added.
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www.infoshos.ru 21 Uzbekistan: waging war on illegal poppy
Elpar Salimov
BU RNING EVIL
Thanks to coordinated In the last 19 years, Uzbekistan government, the National Security efforts of the Uzbek law has burned 50 metric tons of drug Service and other related agencies substances. It is a common practice in destroyed another lot of drugs enforcement structures, the country that drugs used as physical confiscated during their fight against a huge number of drug- evidence in courts are destroyed in drug trafficking. The burning took place related crimes are prevented fire after a ruling comes into force. in the presence of representatives of the every year. At the end of July 2013, ahead of the United Nations, government, public and International Day against Drug Abuse international organizations, diplomats and Illicit Trafficking (celebrated on July and mass media. A total of 1,537 26), another 1.5 metric tons of heroin, kilograms of drugs was burned, including opium, cannabis, marijuana and other 198.2 kg of heroin, 760 kg of opium, 411 harmful substances that destroy people kg of marijuana, 140.7 kg of cannabis, physically and mentally were burned in 27 kg of dried poppy heads, about 20,000 furnaces. hemp bushes and a significant amount of psychotropic substances. Every year, This evil-fighting act took place at drug addiction causes death of hundreds a plant in the Sergeliisky district of of thousands of people in the world. Tashkent. Instructed by the Uzbek In most cases, drug addicts are also
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www.infoshos.ru 22 carriers of contagious diseases. Under for Fight against Illicit Trafficking 2012, servicemen of the National the influence of deathly poison, they in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Security Council and border guards often become criminals. Uzbekistan Substances and Precursors. In Tashkent, detained a certain Dzhalilov in the makes a significant contribution to fight there is a regional mission of the UN Urgutsky district, the Samarkand region, against drug trafficking. Since the first Office on Drugs and Crime in Central when he was trying to smuggle over 41 years of its independence, the country Asia. Uzbekistan also interacts with kg of opium. In August 2012, servicemen has been conducting targeted measures the Organization for Security and were examining driver Baratov’s at the government level to fight drug Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the personal car in the Surkhandarya trafficking, shut off smuggling channels, World Customs Organization, Interpol region and found a cache inside a gas destroy crops of narcotic plants, prevent and other influential international tank that contained 18.9 kg of heroin spread of drug addiction and develop structures. and 29.3 kg of opium. Those detained inter-departmental interaction and in 2012 included 136 foreign citizens international cooperation on the issue. from Central Asia and the CIS, and also In February 1995, Uzbekistan joined Europeans; they aggregately carried the UN Conventions on Narcotic Drugs, AFGAN 109.5 kg of drugs, 1,948 psychotropic 1961, on Psychotropic Substances. 1971. pills and 120 liters of precursors. and against Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic DRUGS Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Azizbek Erkabayev, head of the 1988. In 1999, the country adopted a The main factor that affects the drug international department of the law on narcotic drugs and psychotropic situation in Uzbekistan is the proximity National Information Center for Drug substances. of Afghanistan, which remains the Control under the Uzbek government, world’s biggest drug producer. Areas said an extensive public campaign had Drug transit via Uzbekistan has under opium poppy in Afghanistan are been launched to prevent crimes related declined recently. This has been growing; in 2012, they reached 154,000 to use of drugs. achieved with the efforts of the Uzbek hectares, up 23,000 hectares from 2011. State Commission for Drug Control and its executive body, the National Afghan drugs come to Uzbekistan from Information Center for Drug Control Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and also directly under Uzbek government, as well as across the border river of Amudarya. with intense work of law enforcement Smugglers employ most cunning ways structures and other competent of hiding them: among fruit and ministries and agencies. Large-scale vegetables, in caches made in vehicles, preventive efforts have been launched in articles of daily use, etc. Thanks as part of the Program of Comprehensive to coordinated efforts of the Uzbek Measures to Prevent Drug Addiction and law enforcement structures, notably, Trafficking for 2011-2015. the Interior Ministry, the National Security Service, the Border Troops of Significant attention is paid to the National Security Council and the international cooperation, too. Uzbek State Customs Committee, a Uzbekistan is member of the Shanghai huge number of drug-related crimes are Cooperation Organization, whose prevented every year. goals include fight against illegal drug trafficking. The country is an active Participants of the June drug burning member of the Central Asian Regional were shown videos of arrests of drug Information Coordination Center criminals. In a joint operation in April
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www.infoshos.ru 23 S CO ready to counteract new threats
Mikhail Kirillov
The danger of information wars grows steadily with every year, so adoption of a universal document on cyber threats by the global community couldn’t be timelier.
Современный мир вступил в эпоху междуна- родной дезинтеграции и быстро движется от так и не сложившегося однополярного мира в сторону мира бесполярного, где власть распре- делена по многочисленным, более или менее
Even atравным the early друг stage другу of its центрам. were signed to create a legal framework of the six countries’ law enforcement existence, the SCO focused on main for cooperation in different security bodies, which has helped to prevent threats toКак security долго – будетterrorism, доминировать spheres. Programs эта forтенденция, counteracting hundreds of terrorist attacks and disarm separatism сказатьand extremism. трудно. So it Но was то, terrorism,что бесполярный separatism and мир extremism не- thousands of terrorists. quite natural when the Regional Anti- are reviewed once in three years. Most Terrorist Structureустойчив (RATS) — was вполне set up in очевидно,importantly, и theseрано agreements или позд have- As time went by, new threats to Tashkent inно, 2004. но Numerous ему на documents смену придетbeen transformed новое in биполярное practical activities security emerged, and the SCO focused или многоцентричное мироустройство.
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www.infoshos.ru 24 on them. These are drug trafficking, coordinate their action and provide information sphere, in order to make money laundering, organized mutual support in this sphere. The their conduct more constructive and international crime, cyber terrorism, agreement is not limited only to the SCO responsible, as well as to encourage cyber crime, etc. It became obvious member states and can be joined by any cooperation in counteraction of threats that all threats to security in the region other country. and difficulties, while at the same time are interrelated. helping to protect human rights and The agreement has now come into fundamental freedoms. President Vladimir Putin has come force, and SCO experts have began up with an initiative to transform the practical work to implement all of its All governments were asked to make existing SCO regional structure for aspects. The expert group met in Beijing political commitments to jointly combat fighting terrorism (which has proved in May, and the results of this meeting criminal and terrorist activities with the efficient) into a universal center for were quite substantial. But a lot remains help of information and communication fighting terrorist threats in the SCO. to be done to protect the SCO member technology (ICT): in the name of We see this future center as a full- states from different cyber threats. guaranteeing human rights and freedoms fledged mechanism of coordinated and in the information space and not using streamlined cooperation between the ICT and other similar technology for SCO members to counteract any threats The issue of information purposes of aggression and adversary to security and stability. security worries the activities or as an information weapon. entire world and is There are many other aspects: it is, Security of information and broadly discussed by for example, necessary to ensure that cyberspace is a serious challenge for different international management of the international web the entire international community, for organizations. BRICS and space is transparent; obviously, spread every nation and also for the business the SCO are also working on of information that encourages terrorism community. The SCO member states the issue, and their stands and extremism, destroys social stability were among the first to notice the are fairly close. There and belittles other countries’ cultural problem. are, however, countries values should be limited by joint effort, and it is necessary to cooperate in and organizations that The SCO set up an expert group on counteracting criminal and terrorist have their own view of the information security back in 2006. It activities that use ICT, and so on. problem. came to the conclusion that the world needs a comprehensive approach to Representatives of the SCO member the problem, since global and national states at the United Nations have asked security of the cyberspace is threatened In order to work out a single approach the UN Secretary General to publish the not only by terrorism and crime, but also to this complicated issue, the UN Rules and Norms as an official document by the possibility of using information General Assembly has decided to set up a of the 66th session of the UN General and communication technology for government expert group, which will for Assembly. We believe that the document military purposes. the first time meet in New York in August. can later be elaborated to receive the As a contribution to the forthcoming status of a General Assembly resolution Using this approach, experts have meeting, the SCO has already shared or a convention on international security drafted an inter-government agreement its view of the problem with other UN that has a legally binding force. The for the SCO countries on cooperation member states. In April 2011, the six SCO document will include provisions on use on international information security. member states released the advisory of information technology for military It defines threats to information Code of Conduct for Governments in purpose and on counteraction of security and lays out principles, areas, the Sphere of International Information terrorism and crime in the information forms and mechanisms of cooperation, Security. Its goal is to define the rights sphere. including how the member states should and liabilities of governments in the
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www.infoshos.ru 25 Peeac Mission as Demonstration of Force
Stanislav Maksimov Political commentator
Сooperation between the two countries’ armed forces is not limited to demonstration of power. The Russian and Chinese military meet in other formats, too, discussing possibilities for coordinating efforts in very different areas.
PEACE Asian and Russian military studies from very different areas. This has started MISSION – 2013 China’s Academy of Military Science, as some Western experts talking about how saying. “But it is seldom that countries we may be witnessing the emergence organize two exercises during a month.” of a new military alliance that could The joint Russian-Chinese anti- Indeed, it can be suggested that this stand up to the United States’ steadily terrorist exercise Peace Mission 2013 was not a coincidence. It should be growing geopolitical ambitions in Asia. was held at the Chebarkul testing area recalled that Russia and China have in the Chelyabinsk region and attracted been holding such exercises since 2003. These ambitions are obvious. In attention of many foreign military Bilateral and multilateral interaction in 2001, the Barack Obama administration analysts. the sphere has been conducted in form declared a new foreign political of general maneuvers under code names doctrine, Turn towards Asia. It essentially All the more so, as it was not this Union 2003, Peace Mission 2005, Peace implies shifting of Washington’s focus year’s first big maneuver of the two Mission 2007, Peace Mission 2009, Peace from Europe and the Middle East to countries’ armed forces: less than a Shield 2009, Peace Mission 2010, Marine Asia Pacific. Moreover, at the Asia month before the exercise in the Urals, Interaction 2012 and Peace Mission Security Conference, which took place Russia and China had held a large- 2012. Moreover, cooperation between in Singapore in June 2013, US Secretary scale marine exercise near Vladivostok, the two countries’ armed forces is not of Defense Chuck Hagel said the White which involved over 4,000 servicemen limited to demonstration of power and House intended to redeploy 60% of its from both parties. “The scale of the ability to interact on testing grounds. marine and air forces currently stationed exercise does not exceed that of the The Russian and Chinese military often abroad to Asia Pacific before 2020. previous ones,” the Xinhua news agency meet in other formats, too, discussing Obviously, neither Moscow nor Beijing is quoted Li Shuyin, an expert on Central possibilities for coordinating efforts in satisfied with this geopolitical situation,
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www.infoshos.ru 26 to put it mildly. This is especially true Afghanistan. “If Americans and NATO are an external all-out terrorist attack. for China, which has recently had leaving Afghanistan, it will be first of The legend of the exercise is quite territorial disputes with its neighbors all our headache, but it will also touch transparent for those in the know. – the Philippines, Japan and Vietnam. upon China. Afghanistan, Pakistan, the A country code-named A (could it be Clearly, an opportunity to flex muscles Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region – Afghanistan?) is in a crisis: extremists in the region comes in quite handy. All they are all close. It is unclear what have destabilized the situation and the more so, as it is done together with will happen there after the troops’ are threatening neighboring countries another neighbor, Russia. withdrawal.” code-named R and C (this could be any of the region’s countries). On the It is handy for Russia, too: relations Moscow and Beijing are perfectly SCO’s request, the United Nations has between Moscow and Washington are aware of this danger. It is no coincidence allowed bringing troops to A to destroy not progressing too well – there are that President Vladimir Putin asked the the militants. As a result, says Ramil disagreements on missile defense government in May to minimize potential Gilyazov, head of combat training of the deployment in European countries threats from Afghanistan after the ISAF Central Military District, “Russian and bordering on Russia, complete withdrawal. “International terrorist and Chinese troops eliminated the enemy incompatibility of positions on numerous radical groups do not conceal their plans after a combat shakedown.” international problems, including Iran to export instability and will definitely and Syria, and finally, the high-profile attempt to move their disrupting Snowden case, which has made the activities to neighboring countries,” White House announce a “pause in the he said. “These developments imply reset,” which can last many years. It serious risks for us, too: growing So, both Russian and was also necessary to once again remind drug trafficking, trans-border crime, Chinese experts believe Tokyo about our stand with regard to unmanaged flows of refugees and that the rehearsal of a the southern Kuril Islands… immigrants, fundamentalism.” potential response to an unfavorable development As to the Russian-Chinese maneuver The Chinese leaders are also alarmed of the military and political in Chebarkul, the two countries pursued by the threat of “three evils” – the situation in Central Asia a different strategic goal. In 2014, the Chinese define them as terrorism, was successful. Now it is International Security Assistance Force extremism and separatism. That is, the important to nail down this led by NATO, and actually by the US, threat that is potentially and really achievement. To ensure will be withdrawn from Afghanistan. carried by the Taliban. China’s new that Russia and China The danger is obvious: Muslim president Xi Jinping has repeatedly are ready for any quite fundamentalists will definitely attempt spoken about it. “Bilateral military predictable emergencies to not only overthrow the incumbent cooperation is an objective need given that may occur in the authorities in Kabul, but also spread the terrorist threat Beijing and Moscow region, even if not as their influence to neighboring countries, are encountering,” said Wang Xinjun, ф participants of a new first of all Central Asian states and the researcher with the Chinese Academy military alliance, but as Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region of of Military Science, in a commentary members of the Shanghai China, where separatist moods are published by Renmin Ribao. Cooperation Organization fairly strong. Viktor Litovkin, editor of and, most importantly, Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozrenie, At the latest joint military exercise as strategic partners that says that both Russia and China have in the Chelyabinsk region – which have common geopolitical their unstable regions, but first of all, involved over 1,500 officers and soldiers interests in Eurasia. Moscow and Beijing are getting ready and about 250 vehicles – Russian and for the ISAF’s final withdrawal from Chinese units practiced counteracting
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www.infoshos.ru 27 Ru ssia – China: STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
Andrei Ilyashenko Political commentator
In order to preserve the dynamics of strategic partnership it was necessary to focus on priority areas. One of them, which is in our people’s vital interests, is development of economic relations.
MULTI – first thing Vladimir Putin did after his key interests, including ensuring of inauguration last summer. In his turn, their sovereignty, territorial integrity FORMAT Xi Jinping came to Moscow immediately and security.” Developing this idea, the after his endorsement as China’s Chinese leader said in his speech in front The new Chinese leader’s visit to president. of students of the Moscow State Institute Moscow in spring showed that Russia and of International Relations, “China and China are becoming very close allies. Yet Mutual recognition of crucial Russia need to mount their strategic this alliance is unlikely to get a formal importance of bilateral relations is interaction on the international stage.” recognition: the parties prefer subtler, obvious. Their nature is proven at the When visiting the Russian Defense multilateral formats. very least by the following paragraph Ministry and an operative command from the joint statement after the talks unit, he was even more specific, “My Despite an extensive list of economic that took place in Moscow on March 22- visit to the Russian military agency agreements, the visit was rather 24, “The parties will decisively support shows that the two countries’ military, political. A visit to Beijing was the each other on issues touching upon their political and strategic relations will be
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www.infoshos.ru 28 growing stronger. So will cooperation China is Russia’s biggest trade partner technical cooperation, hydrocarbon between the Armed Forces of China and already. In 2012, its share in Russia’s trade and investment in Siberia are also Russia.” foreign trade was 10.5%, China’s direct in fact political projects, and not only investment in the Russian economy because of their scale. They are creating Apparently, Beijing is seriously grew by over 50% to $4.4 billion, while or, rather, reinforcing the safety net concerned with the fact that Russia’s investment in China exceeded for political cooperation, which, for Washington, in line with its doctrine $1 billion. The two countries expect example, Russian-American relations released a year ago, immediately their mutual trade turnover to exceed lack. However, Deputy Defense Minister began reinforcing its presence in Asia $100 billion by 2015 and to reach $150 Anatoly Antonov emphasized, “Our Pacific. America’s return to the region billion by 2020. These thresholds will friendship with China is not aimed has coincided with drastic escalation of be achieved with the help of over 30 against anyone, it aims at improving territorial disputes between China and agreements in different spheres that regional cooperation, interaction, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam and were signed during the Chinese leader’s stability and global security.” Brunei and, logically, with more active visit to Moscow. discussions of the Chinese threat, which A formalized union with China is not a is seen as not only military, but also The first document to be signed priority for Russia. It is not that Moscow economic, environmental and resource- was a memorandum on encouraging fears a response from abroad. Moscow, related… In such circumstances, China investment in infrastructure projects according to the Concept of Russia’s needs if not an ally, than at least a like- in the Far East. The most important foreign policy, which was adopted a minded partner. agreements cover an increase of Russian month ago, is positive that the essence hydrocarbons supply to China and of international processes is linked to a Russia obviously fits this role. Strictly construction of new pipeline offshoots polycentric international system. speaking, Russia also has military southwards. and strategic interests in enhancing There is no place for bilateral relations with China, first of all in the Besides, the long-awaited unions and axes of the 20th century. It area of missile defense. At Xi Jinping’s memorandum on gas supply to China requires collective leadership from the meeting with Russian Defense Minister was signed on the sidelines of the world’s leading countries. This, first of Sergei Shoigu, the parties “noted their summit. The talks progressed with all, implies the activities of informal common concern about the missile difficulty and took almost ten years, structures without charters and defense issue. They decided that it was because the parties were unable to permanent bodies, almost clubs, like necessary to continue the dialog on agree on a gas price formula. “The G20, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, the subject,” Deputy Minister Anatoly signed document lays the foundation for South Africa), G8, etc. Antonov told journalists. a 30-year contract for gas supply from Russia to China,” said Gazprom’s CEO Nevertheless, Moscow seems intent Alexei Miller. on keeping a balance between political interaction in the world and economic Finally, China and Russia signed ties in bilateral relations. Opening talks agreements on supply of 24 Su-35 Symbolically, after the talks in the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin fighters and joint construction of four in Moscow, the Russian and emphasized that in order to preserve Lada class diesel submarines for China, Chinese leaders went to a BRICS the dynamics of strategic partnership the central Chinese television reported. summit in South Africa. it was «necessary to focus on priority “It became China’s first purchase of areas. One of them, which is in our important armament systems from people’s vital interests, is development Russia in the last ten years,” the of economic relations.” report said. Obviously, this military and
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www.infoshos.ru 29 Iar n: new president and new policy?
Valery Aleksandrov
For the first time since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the office has been confidently taken by a politician who is close to the reformist circles. An important factor in his victory was consolidation of all forces interested in the change.
Hassan Rouhani, 64, has become The winner was also supported by Iran’s 7th elected president. For the Iran’s former presidents Khatami and Hassa n ROUHani first time since the Islamic Revolution Rafsanjani. Their votes tripped all pre- PRESIDENT OF of 1979, the office has been confidently election estimates. Rouhani’s victory IRAN taken by a politician who is close was flawless: his closest rival, Tehran to the reformist circles. Apparently, mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf Rouhani’s win was to a large extent received three times less votes. caused by people’s dissatisfaction with the country’s economic and political But who is Hassan Rouhani? He difficulties. Economy-wise, these are graduated from two universities, the inflation, growing prices and deficit University of Tehran and the Glasgow of different goods. Politically, people Caledonian University, is a doctor of are definitely depressed by Iran’s philosophy and commands five foreign international isolation that increased languages – Arab, English, French, under Ahmadinejad and by constant German and Russian. Importantly, being expectation of war caused by the a secular person and having received nuclear problem and confrontation with secular education, Rouhani is at the the United States. The society is tired of same time a Mujtahid, representative of all this, and Iranians voted for a change the supreme category of Muslim clerics. they expect from Rouhani’s presidency. He received religious education in Qom, the intellectual center of Iran’s Shiites. An important factor in his victory was He was one of the closest people of consolidation of all forces interested ayatollah Khomeini, was the first to call in the change, in review of the state him Imam and accompanied the leader policy. For example, presidential of the Iranian revolution when, after the candidate, reformist Mohammad Reza toppling of the shah, he returned from Aref withdrew in favor of Rouhani. Paris to Tehran in revolutionary 1979.
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www.infoshos.ru 30 During the Iranian-Iraqi war, Rouhani There is no reason to doubt the sincerity enrichment program. Nevertheless, held leading posts in the military of these words, and therefore we can there is reason for cautious optimism command. For two decades, he was expect a progress in the talks on the and a desired compromise can still be a Majlis deputy and in 1992-2000, its Iranian nuclear problem, even if not a found. deputy speaker. quick one.
As head of the Supreme National It can also be said with a significant Security Council (he held the position degree of certainty that the threat in 1989-2005), Rouhani was the chief of a US-Iranian military conflict, so Moscow, as Tehran’s negotiator on the Iranian nuclear feasible and expected not so long ago, partner that helps the problem; he has the reputation of a has somewhat subsided. For how long? country to develop the flexible diplomat and smart politician. This will to a large extent depend on peaceful nuclear sector He enjoys support of the country’s the success of the talks on the nuclear and other spheres and supreme clergy and ran for presidency problem and on who gets the upper consistently opposes use from the political religious organization hand in the United States, Obama’s of force for resolving Combatant Clergy Association. peace party (with regard to Iran) or the Iranian problem, the war party of Republican hawks, welcomed the results of It would be wrong to expect people who were in power under Bush the presidential election revolutionary reforms from him, but Sr. and Bush Jr. After Rouhani’s election, in Iran with satisfaction. he is certain to introduce significant Washington has already said it is ready President Vladimir Putin adjustments to Iran’s foreign policy. for direct talks on the nuclear problem congratulated Hassan with the new Iranian authorities. Rouhani on his victory and Understanding the need to end Iran’s Rouhani responded that “Tehran is said he was positive that political isolation, Rouhani is trying to willing to make its nuclear program “Rouhani’s activities as find compromises with the West, to end more transparent and intends to work president will promote the sanctions regime that prevents the in constructive interaction with the rest prosperity of friendly Iran country’s normal development. Ahead of the world.” However, emphasizing his and further strengthen of the election, he said, “My goal is to readiness to cooperate with the IAEA, Russian-Iranian relations.” restore the economy, ensure morality the new president made it clear that his and interact with the rest of the world.” country would not give up the uranium
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www.infoshos.ru 31 E urasia: rising space of new world
Recep Tayyip Erdogan Prime minister of Turkey
First of all, it is necessary to get rid of uncertainty on the Eurasian territory, to bring dialog between countries and nations to a higher level. If there is no peace and wellbeing in Eurasia, it will be extremely difficult to achieve peace and wellbeing in the rest of the world.
Eurasia – is the biggest center of global politics that to a large extent defines it.
This territory shapes important trade Eurasia holds a central position, with and cultural activities of the entire its continental basins, economies and world, a significant share of global cultures in all their variety closely energy is produced and transported interacting and complementing each here. other. This situation gives Eurasia very broad advantages and opportunities. Eurasia, which is crucially important for global politics and economics, as well This territory is characterized by high as for Turkey’s foreign policy, spreads mobility, which allows it to play a leading in the center of the earth, embracing part in the process of ensuring universal the historical and cultural areas of “the peace, stability and prosperity. And golden vein of humankind.” while the new world is being shaped, it is necessary to look at Eurasia with new In the dynamic international eyes. developments since the end of the Cold war until now, the geopolitical depth First of all, it is necessary to get rid and strategic importance of Eurasia of uncertainty on the Eurasian territory, has been felt increasingly strong. to bring dialog between countries and
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www.infoshos.ru 32 nations to a higher level. If there is no in international politics, the importance railway and the Marmaray project peace and wellbeing in Eurasia, it will of Central Asia as an inner part of Asia is completed, this will to a certain be extremely difficult to achieve peace Pacific has become increasingly obvious extent ensure unity of Eurasia. Trains and wellbeing in the rest of the world. in the last ten years. This peculiarity, from Urumqi and Islamabad will arrive on the one hand, puts Central Asia to Europe without interruption. All The end of the Cold war generated alongside such economically developed Eurasian countries are our brothers and the phenomenon of interdependence countries as China, Japan and South friends, and also countries with a huge on the global scale, and the foundation Korea (ASEAN), and on the other, allows strategic potential for cooperation. for development, stability and peace it to serve as a bridge between Europe In this connection, we attach great on the geopolitical scale can be a and Asia. We believe that a repeated importance to the Shanghai Cooperation common economic space. Today, no meeting of two Eurasian centers Organization. The SCO unites six member closed, isolated country has a chance through Central Asia will result in a states; geographically, it takes up three of survival. We need an even greater great recovery of global politics and fifths of Eurasian territory; one fourth integration and closer interaction. economics. of the planet’s population lives there.
We would like the political dialog in Eurasia to be conducted at the highest possible level, economic and cultural integration to develop. We would like long-time and permanent mechanisms to shape. We would like to bring relations in Eurasia out of the routine state, limited by bilateral contacts between countries, and to create a space of new, global relations. We are watching with satisfaction how political will is growing in this context. Turkey is setting itself the goal of contributing to this process with the help of fast developing relations with Russia, China, Central Asian states, Iran, India and Pakistan in every sphere.
We attach special importance to the We are positive that the creation of The SCO, together with its observers creation of a common economic and a transport corridor with the help of air and dialog partners, represents one cultural space in Eurasia. We view this transport, railways and roads, similar half of the planet’s population. This as a preliminary condition for achieving to the establishment of economic and organization has become institutional in peace and stability on the Eurasian political relations with the help of the terms of regional security and economic expanses. We attach crucial importance Silk Way in the past, will again connect cooperation, it also plays an important to integration in this economic and the eastern and western ends of Eurasia. role in terms of Eurasian integration. cultural space of Central Asian states that do not have access to sea. Within this framework, we are Turkey enjoys close relations with taking great effort to implement the Eurasian countries, with which it is Alongside the development of the “middle corridor” project. When the linked by time-tested historical and Asian Pacific region and its central role construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars cultural ties. Our country, which lies
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www.infoshos.ru 33 at the confluence of three continents, setup of institutional mechanisms of the SCO has taken upon itself an has a special geostrategic position and interaction together with organizations important role in counteraction to a multidimensional foreign policy. Due of regional cooperation. With this terrorism, separatism, drug trafficking, to its geopolitical situation, Turkey also understanding, Turkey has become a SCO human trafficking, border security, acts as a bridge that connects the West dialog partner. We wish to develop our illegal immigration and proliferation of and the East in international politics. contacts with the SCO, with members weapons of mass destruction. In terms of In this context, Turkey has been a NATO of which we are connected by close entire Eurasia, the SCO has become one member since 1952 and continues talks relations and which works in the region of the leading regional organizations. with the European Union about its full that is of interest for us. membership, but on the other hand, it chairs the Conference on Interaction Relations that we will be developing and Confidence-Building Measures in with the SCO will contribute to Asia (CICA). In 2014, Turkey will be improving the efficiency and multi- replaced as CICA president by China, vector nature of our foreign policy which is a SCO member. and will also allow watching changes
We believe that cooperation that is being developed within the SCO will make an important contribution to security, stability and economic wellbeing of Eurasia. As a SCO dialog partner, we will actively assist the Organization in moving towards this important goal.
In our multi-vector foreign policy, we within the organization, exchange of view Eurasia as a region of interest for us information between states that are its and pay special attention to sustaining members. So we have for the first time peace, quiet and stability in the region. found ourselves on the same regional As in the past, Turkey will welcome and platform, under the same roof with accept initiatives for cooperation in Russia and China. politics, economy, security and culture. In reality, our view of issues of As Eurasia’s authority is growing in the regional stability and security coincides globalization process and in compliance with that of the SCO member states. with the strategy of development of In the region that requires permanent and close cooperation in this strengthening of regional, institutional region, we pay special attention to the and active mechanism of cooperation,
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www.infoshos.ru 34 D e o Ukrain and SCO need each other?
Darya Shcherbatyuk Taras Shevchenko National University in Lugansk
Ukraine’s intention to interact with the SCO and participate in Eurasian integration is a logical process. The status of an SCO observer would allow Ukraine to both strengthen and expand its international ties and acquire strong allies.
EASTERN can improve the country’s opportunities. and agricultural potential, but also Given the SCO’s development pace, its because of the geopolitical one. Lying VECTOR resources, territorial and demographic on traditional transit ways, on the potential and growing authority on the border between the East and the West, In recent years, the Ukrainian foreign international political stage, it can be Europe and Asia, Ukraine has access to policy, in addition to its attempts for said with certainty that it will have a other continents via the Black Sea. integration with the European Union, significant influence on international has also developed an eastern vector, relations. Ukraine’s intention to interact At present, when Eurasian integration which can be seen in growing bilateral with the SCO and participate in Eurasian has become an obvious phenomenon cooperation with China and aspiration integration is a logical process. The in international relations, Ukraine is to get the status of an SCO observer. status of an SCO observer would allow becoming a transit power, which can These trends are encouraged by the Ukraine to both strengthen and expand bring it serious benefits. Moreover, current political situation, which has its international ties and acquire strong it could become a country that opened for Ukraine prospects of eastern allies. The SCO is a generally recognized geographically connects the SCO to cooperation. Strengthening of this vector international organization; cooperation Europe. The SCO is currently working on in the country’s foreign policy testifies with it is prestigious for any state. For building a system of collective security to the expansion of its geopolitical the SCO, partnership with Ukraine is in Eurasia. Participation in such projects horizon and its greater importance on also beneficial, because the country is would give Ukraine an opportunity to the international political stage, which interesting not only due to its industrial be involved in military research and
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www.infoshos.ru 35 exercises and, more importantly, would Kiev. This will allow Ukraine to not only states and support from Russia and guarantee its entry to the Eurasian conduct a dialog with the SCO member China. In recent years, Ukraine has collective security system. The basic states, but also turn a new page in its been successfully cooperating with principles of the organization, namely, relations with Asian countries. The China, which has invested billions in the parity of all of its member states, potential is definitely huge. Vitaly Kulik, Ukrainian economy. This cooperation the consensual principle of decision- head of the Center for Civil Society allows hoping that China will support making, combination of respect to Studies, says that some Central Asian Ukraine’s accession to the SCO. various traditions and cultures with countries need to have a strong partner a clear organizational structure and outside the SCO, but among former The SCO is important for Ukraine also cooperation in numerous aspects, are Soviet republics. Ukraine, in its turn, is because it is interested in establishing also attractive for Ukraine. It is the de- interested in Central Asia, first of all, as cooperation with all countries in the ideologized platform for cooperation a source of energy resources. region. This will create a possibility that allows the SCO to position itself as a for lobbying Ukrainian interests. China new type of organization that conforms “The Shanghai project for Ukraine” is continues discussing the initiative of to the principles of multi-polar world being broadly discussed in the country. restoring the Great Silk Way on a new and pluralism. This dialog is currently very important level, and it could go across Ukraine as for Ukraine, because it is looking for well. So it is very important for Ukraine Inna Bogoslovskaya, a well-known its place and role in global integration to obtain the status of an observer at the Ukrainian politician and entrepreneur, processes. A state can become an large international organization. The says that Ukraine needs to take into active player on the international SCO is a promising development, which, account the factor of the SCO, the stage only if it participates not only unfortunately, has been neglected organization that will pre-determine in European, but also in inter-regional by Ukrainian politicians. Meanwhile, global processes in the next one unions, one of which is the SCO. Eduard partnership with the SCO member states hundred years. The SCO unites over 3 Prutnik, chairman of the board of the would be beneficial for Ukraine, because billion of people, it comprises some of United World International Foundation, it provides an opportunity to develop the world’s fastest growing economies, says, “Ukraine’s development can be economic cooperation, to interact and Kiev needs to remember it. Besides, successful only if it actively participates with the member states in the security there are four nuclear powers among not only in European integration sphere, to receive huge investment, to the participants of the SCO process. processes, but also in Eurasia’s trans- claim new markets and to participate regional integration processes like the more actively in Asia’s politics and Attractive prospects of cooperation SCO.” economy. between Ukraine and the SCO have been discussed since 2005. Now, however, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister the first steps have been taken towards Viktor Maiko believes that Ukraine and interaction between the partners. In the SCO demonstrate similar approaches 2010, the Ukrainian government set up to regional security, drafting and an inter-departmental working group implementation of measures to Obtaining of the on cooperation with the SCO. On August counteract terrorism, separatism and observer’s status would give 25, 2012, at a meeting with Russian extremism, illegal migration, drug and Ukraine an opportunity to President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, weapons trafficking and other types keep its finger on the pulse Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich of transnational criminal activities. of integration processes said that Ukraine wanted to get the In order to get an observer’s status, in Asia and would improve status of an observer of the Shanghai Ukraine needs to submit an application its political image on the Cooperation Organization and hoped for to the SCO Secretariat and follow a international stage. Russia’s support. In autumn 2012, the certain procedure. Besides, it needs a SCO Business Club opened a mission in dialog with the Organization’s member
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www.infoshos.ru 36 It ’s real: SCO to remain one-on-one with Afghanistan next year
Dmitry Kosyrev Political commentator RIA Novosti
The country’s President Khamid Karzai, who began his career in the simple role of a US minion, is no longer one. In recent years, he has acted with increasing independence, notably, developing relations with China. Under Barack Obama, America has fallen out of love with Karzai.
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www.infoshos.ru 37 In 2014, Afghanistan and the entire Central Asian region will become different, left without the US and NATO military presence. Central Asians, Russia and China will have to deal with Afghanistan-related problems on their own.
AR T OF READING especially prominent there after foreign SCENARIOS troops’ withdrawal. BETWEEN THE LINES OF THE FUTURE
In the next paragraph, the ministers Reading between the lines of express their “deep concern with the Assessing the situation in Afghanistan, diplomatic documents is a difficult situation developing in the Middle East which will now be responsible for its task, but it is not impossible. Let’s look and in North Africa.” Why this situation own security, is extremely difficult. at the statement from the meeting of and not, say, the financial crisis? Because the Council of Foreign Ministers of the the toppling of secular and civilized The best known assessments are those Shanghai Cooperation Organization that regimes, even if corrupted ones, in the that have been given by the United States took place in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, Middle East, which have been mainly in recent years. They boil down to a on July 13, 2013. The Council is usually replaced with Jihadist forces, is the simple formula: the country’s President busy with elaborating the final scenario scenario that should not take place in Khamid Karzai, who began his career of the forthcoming SCO summit and Afghanistan in 2014 or later, but it well in the simple role of a US minion, is no general parameters of its main political may. Unless it is prevented. longer one. In recent years, he has acted statements. This is called “approving with increasing independence, notably, key documents in principle.” At the Then they become more specific: developing relations with China. Under summit, there may be arguments about “Heads of delegations noted that Barack Obama, America has fallen out of some individual theses, but this is rare. development of the situation in the love with Karzai. Instead, it has begun Islamic Republic of Afghanistan would talks with the still unconquered Taliban. This is a common international affect peace and stability in the region.” Naturally, Karzai and his circle are practice: leaders come to such meetings And “the SCO advocates establishment watching this diplomacy with horror and already knowing who is going to say of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as hatred, but it forces him to become an what. Instead, they may focus on some an international, peaceful, neutral and even more independent figure. Anyway, future problems on which they may prosperous state, free of terrorism and US assessments of the situation could be improvise as much as they want. drug trafficking.” summed up as follows: Karzai and the Taliban are caught in a shaky balance – In fact, the statement from this It so happens that new ideas on thanks to a certain extent to the US and Council meeting is full of Afghanistan- economic cooperation between the SCO NATO troops – and they can be forced to related issues, both directly and member states have taken shape for maintain peace. indirectly. Its informative part starts this year’s summit, even though they with the following, “Tasks of efficient have been discussed for a long time. And this is how Doctor Richard Weitz, joint counteraction to global threats Nevertheless, the real prospect of the an American researcher who writes for and challenges are coming to the fore.” organization becoming the main, if not the bulletin of the US Central Asia- What are these threats and challenges? only, force in the world able to have at Caucasus Institute (which is overall fairly Those that are present in Afghanistan, least some impact on developments in neutral), sees the situation. He says that like terrorism and drugs, or will become Afghanistan, is coming to the fore. chances for a peace agreement between
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www.infoshos.ru 38 Karzai and the Taliban have grown. LOOKING find money to invest in it. Games around But this is an objective assessment. In THROUGH A PIPE pipelines bound to Europe show how reality, the Taliban still refuses to deal important it is where gas comes from and directly with the government and does where it goes, who receives it and who is not recognize it. The latter’s conditions As is well known, international left behind. There are known arguments for achieving an agreement – recognizing diplomacy can be viewed as about who will get Turkmen gas, up to the Karzai government as legitimate and development of relations between attempts to prove that China and Russia severing all ties with terrorists of the Al suppliers and buyers of hydrocarbons, are competing for Central Asian gas (in Qaeda type – can hardly be considered and this view will clarify a lot. Similarly reality, they are negotiating). But let’s feasible. helpful is the assessment from the point look at the essence of the TAPI project. of view of military relations and arms It will eliminate sources of hostility Consequently, chances that Western sales and many other special angles. within Afghanistan, reduce animosity governments will sign any agreement Anyway, several pipeline projects have between India and Pakistan (the long- with the Taliban are also very small: played a special role in all Afghanistan- time patron of the Taliban). This is a after all, they have actually lost the war, related events for the last twenty years project that requires regional stability. not least because players like Turkey or so. Some of them are considered to This means that it is beneficial for the and Saudi Arabia are also involved in be among the key reasons of wars and SCO members, too. And they will have to peacekeeping efforts – each in their other events in the country. take it into account in their diplomacy. own interests – and this makes the And this is just one example of how Taliban too optimistic. However, Karzai One of them is TAPI, a 1,700-km gas politics in the region and at its borders has significant support from northern pipeline that goes from Turkmenistan is acquiring absolutely new qualities tribes, notably, Tajiks, Uzbeks and to Afghanistan to Pakistan and on to with the withdrawal of the Americans Hazara tribes, and there are fears that India. Indian Gulshan Sachdeva, author and Europeans. Such developments the president will after all manage to of a short article on the subject (in the can even change the very concept of come to terms with his own tribesmen, same bulletin), writes: all preliminary the SCO, a group of countries that Pashtuns in the south (and this is where work is completed, prices of gas and borders on Afghanistan in the north. the Taliban comes from), so certain its transit have been agreed upon. The The price of instability in this country maneuvers are undertaken. project is obviously beneficial for all of is unacceptably huge for the SCO. On its participants and will give a powerful the contrary, its stability may mean impetus to economic development of new approaches to regional politics and The conclusion is that the all the four countries. The only thing more cooperation with the countries process will take a lot of time and that still needs to be done is to ensure that border on Afghanistan in the south. will definitely not be over before stability of Afghanistan, the key transit This is the task for the organization for foreign troops’ withdrawal. area. The peculiarity of the situation is the next several years. Moreover, it will not necessarily that TAPI has little bearing on the US or end peacefully. the European Union. Even its financing NO WEST, has so far been provided by the Asian But the SCO member states will have Development Bank and later India will JUST EAST to join it, not in the least because the US and Europeans will not be able to It is no secret that the unstable influence the outcome of the inter- The author concludes that the Afghanistan and America’s special role tribal conflict between Afghanistan’s project should be launched after there, with the war launched in 2001, north and south that began decades foreign troops’ withdrawal from was the cement that initially shaped ago. This creates a vacuum of regional Afghanistan. the SCO in its current form. It should be influence that can and should be filled. remembered that the general structure
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www.infoshos.ru 39 The price of instability in each other and – even more proactively Security Treaty Organization. It was this country is unacceptably – with the United States and with after this event that Kyrgyzstan made numerous regional neighbors. It is the the final decision to shut down the US huge for the SCO. On the United States that can rather be called military base Manas on its territory, to contrary, its stability may an anti-Chinese country, since it keeps restructure and improve management mean new approaches alive the talk of China being America’s of Russia’s military presence in the to regional politics and new global rival after the Soviet Union. country in the future and to consider Even the situation of 2001-2002 was Kyrgyzstan’s accession to the Customs more cooperation with the not about “fighting America”, it was Union of Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus. countries that border on about ensuring one’s independence Afghanistan in the south. in one’s own region. The experience It is not so widely known that on June This is the task for the of war in Indo-China, later confirmed 13-14, during Kazakh President Nursultan organization for the next in Afghanistan, showed that the US, Nazarbayev’s visit to Tashkent, he and his with their numerous military bases Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov signed several years. and serious scale of war, would try to an agreement on strategic partnership. create pro-American regimes in Central It has eased tension in one of the more Asia. This way, they would weaken the unpleasant regional episodes related to of the regional alliance of Russia, China, influence of both Russia and China. rivalry that weakens all Central Asian Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and countries. These diplomatic episodes – later – Uzbekistan developed from But Central Asian countries were also do not seem to have a bearing on the a prototype of the SCO at a meeting threatened with domestic disturbances. SCO, but they do. As regards the CSTO, of foreign ministers in Beijing in early So the SCO ideology was not about it is already clear that at the summit 2002. Then it became clear that the “ousting” the US from the region, but in Bishkek a lot will be said about the US powerful military presence in the about remaining the architect of its six countries being unable and unwilling region was serious and for the long fortune despite America’s powerful to cope with the burden of Afghanistan haul and this reality should be dealt presence in the region. Honestly, a that is going to fall on them. with together. Does this mean that the success of the US war against the Taliban SCO is an anti-American organization, would be beneficial for Afghanistan’s The SCO is an example of open busy only with ousting the US from neighbors, and this is the reason for regionalism, with a maximum emphasis Central Asia, something it has often numerous cases when the SCO countries on cooperation with the United Nations been accused of? Remarkably, the SCO (Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Uzbekistan) and other regional organization does not have a single openly anti- cooperated with America. Anyway, (including the CSTO). And even with the American state among its ranks. All of this page is turned over. A new one United States and its allies. Of course, its members are trying to balance their is beginning. Here we need to recall the US and Europe have yet to choose foreign policy between the West and the Vladimir Putin’s visit to Kyrgyzstan on a new policy in the region after the East, and even the South. Russia and May 28-29, 2013, where he attended current one is over. And the SCO will China are establishing cooperation with the informal summit of the Collective either accept this future policy or not; before that, it will have to adjust to the new reality of becoming the leader in the region. This is a huge burden for the countries’ budgets and increased responsibility for their security. But if they had behaved differently in 2002 and had not set up the SCO, their situation today would be far worse.
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www.infoshos.ru 40 Amei r ca’s AfPak project: counterbalance to SCO, CSTO
Alexei Fenenko Senior research fellow, the Institute of International Security Studies The Russian Academy of Sciences
The Americans fear that after the withdrawal of the NATO main body, the leading role in the region will belong to China, perhaps, together with Russia. Therefore, the US AfPak project serves as a counterbalance to the influence of the SCO and the CSTO.
the leading role in the region will go experts use it to describe Afghanistan AFPAK over to China and Russia. AfPak is a and Pakistan as a single battle theater PROJECT counterbalance to the influence of the within the NATO anti-terrorist operation. Shanghai Cooperation Organization This popularization of AfPak as a notion America’s AfPak project sees and the Collective Security Treaty is not accidental. Apparently, the White Afghanistan and Pakistan as a single Organization. In the middle of 2013, US House is considering a scenario of battle theater within the NATO’s anti- journalists revived the term AfPak. The ending the Afghan war by signing double terrorist operation. Washington fears Barack Obama administration prefers agreements with both Afghanistan and that after the NATO troops’ withdrawal not to use it officially yet. However, US Pakistan.
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www.infoshos.ru 41 Islamabad has been involved in of a four-party agreement between the status of Federally Administered the Afghan conflict since 1979 when Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Tribal Areas. Islamabad suspects that the Soviet troops were brought Uzbekistan failed. The US wants to use representatives of the Areas will require in Afghanistan. Still, the view of Pakistan as a territory for withdrawing more autonomy under the pretext of Afghanistan and Pakistan as a single NATO troops from Afghanistan. AfPak discussions. India does not accept military and political space developed Washington fears that Islamabad may the term for different reasons. Delhi under George W. Bush. In autumn 2011, start independent talks with a certain does not recognize Pakistan in its present the White House feared that unrest in segment of the Taliban. The situation borders, maintaining that Islamabad has Pakistani cities would prevent it from is complicated by America’s intention occupied part of the state of Jammu and using the country as a base for its to contact the Taliban on its own. This Kashmir. Introduction of the term AfPak operations against the Taliban. Since intention was proved by a visit of US will mean that the US and Afghanistan spring 2004, the Pentagon helped Pervez diplomat James Dobbins to the recently indirectly recognize Pakistan’s current Musharraf’s government to conduct opened Qatari office of the Taliban borders, India believes. military operations in the northeastern movement on June 21. province of Waziristan, where the Yet for the Obama administration, Taliban members from Afghanistan However, the new wave of Americans’ the AfPak project remains the best had created their “quasi-state.” On interest in AfPak has displeased option of regional policy. The Democrats September 27, 2006, the presidents Pakistan. First of all, Islamabad fears are trying to build a regional security of the United States, Afghanistan and that establishment of the notion of system on the basis of an agreement Pakistan held a summit in an attempt AfPak will legitimize NATO’s military between Afghanistan and Pakistan. to settle border disputes between operations on the Pakistani territory. At The Americans fear that after the Afghanistan and Pakistan. The White present, the alliance attacks the Taliban withdrawal of the NATO main body, the House also acted as a mediator in the on the Afghan-Pakistani border as part of leading role in the region will belong to Afghan-Pakistani military conflict in May its assistance to Pakistan. Within AfPak, China, perhaps, together with Russia. 2007. the alliance will be able to conduct such Therefore, the US AfPak project serves operations without Islamabad’s request. as a counterbalance to the influence of The emergence of the term AfPak was the SCO and the CSTO. the result of this process. It is believed Second, the use of the term may to be created by the outstanding US create difficulties on the Afghan- diplomat Richard Holbrooke. In spring Pakistani border. At present, it goes 2009, American analysts began using the along the Durand Line of 1893. This word AfPak to analyze military operations line is recognized by Islamabad, but is in Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, disputed by all Afghan leaders. America as an “emergency this approach caused resentment of stabilizer” would be acceptable Islamabad and Delhi. On January 24, Third, for the last twelve years, for both Pakistan and India. 2009, the Indian government announced US experts have often described However, America as the “setter its rejection of the term. In June 2009, Afghanistan and Pakistan as “failed of rules of the game” makes the notion was criticized by Pakistan’s states.” With regard to Pakistan, both countries wary. So to move ex president Pervez Musharraf. The this meant doubt in the ability of its on with their AfPak project, objections of the two adversaries made government to keep control over its the Obama administration will the US adjust its stand. On January 21, nuclear sites. The Pakistani leaders fear have to find an acceptable 2010, Holbrooke announced that the that introduction of the term AfPak will compromise with both India and Obama administration decided not to use legitimize discussions about Afghanistan Pakistan. Otherwise, Islamabad the term AfPak. A new wave of interest and Pakistan being equally “failed and Delhi will stay away from in AfPak came to the United States at states.” the Afghanistan settlement, the end of 2012 – beginning of 2013. US which will hardly be beneficial experts’ return to it was caused by three Fourth, the Pakistani government for the United States. circumstances. In autumn 2012, talks has certain concerns with regard to the within the Dushanbe Four on signing “tribal areas.” In 1970, they received
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www.infoshos.ru 42 CESLUST R OF THE FUTURE
Maksim Krans Political commentator
The document underlines that responses to global challenges should be searched for in high- tech material production, where financial institutions are not a self-sufficing factor, but a tool ensuring development.
THE 14th states’ intellectual, technological Petrochemical Clusters’ Development: and investment resources on priority Experience of SCO Member States. The INTERNATIONAL FORUM areas of innovative development. The topic could seem quite enigmatic for HIGH TECHNOLOGY document underlines that responses to those not in the know. First of all, what OF THE 21st CENTURY global challenges should be searched exactly is a cluster? The notion was put for in high-tech material production, into use by Harvard Professor Michael In April 2013, Expo Center in Moscow where financial institutions are not a Porter, one of the most respected hosted the 14th international forum self-sufficing factor, but a tool ensuring authors of the concept of strategy High Technology of the 21st Century. Its development. In this connection, of competitiveness. In his book On goal was to promote competitive Russian the forum’s participants supported Competition, he defines clusters as an technology on the market, to reduce practical steps towards setting up organizational form for consolidation the gap between ideas, design and the organizational structure of the of efforts of interested parties aimed production of innovative products. For Center of High Technology and launch at achieving competitive advantages, the first time, the forum was held with of several innovative pilot projects, under conditions of postindustrial participation of the Business Council of attracting investment from the SCO economic development. In other words, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, structures. Intensified work in these it is when efforts of several enterprises which organized a conference titled High areas will allow creating grounds for specializing in a certain sector and Technology: Strategy of Cooperation in successful development of a regional geographically localized are united to the SCO. market of science-driven products carry out an innovative program. and, eventually, ensure technological Participants of the conference independence of the SCO countries. Today, cluster technology or, rather, adopted a statement that acknowledges The forum’s program also included a psychology dominates strategic the need to concentrate the SCO member conference titled Prospects of Russian programs of many states that think of
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www.infoshos.ru 43 their future. It is especially true for chain, from processing of commodities to performance in recent years, its huge those that have so far lived on their manufacturing of finished products. This gold and foreign currency reserves oil and gas reserves. Of course, smaller would maximize the economic effect. and the stabilization fund have been countries can continue striving on rent Cluster development of the oil and made possible thanks to hydrocarbon from development of their natural gas industry, the scientist said, should exports, which account for half of riches for some more time. But not become a powerful driver of Russia’s budget revenues. Long-term programs great powers that expect to remain economic growth, an engine moving of economic and social development, such in the future. The need to set up its economy along the innovative rail. which are currently drafted to 2030, are petrochemical clusters in Russia has Vladimir Feigin, head of the Institute also to a large extent based on them. If been discussed since the 1990s. But for Energy and Finance, elaborated we don’t have the energy trump card, all specific steps in this direction were this idea in his speech. Russia has these achievements and ambitious plans taken only last year, when a list of huge hydrocarbon reserves, but global will be threatened. To say nothing about innovative territorial clusters of the competition in the sphere is growing advance payments we bravely give out petrochemical industry was endorsed and is escalated by active development to our foreign partners. This is why it in different regions of the country in of shale gas fields by the United States, is vitally important to not just produce compliance with the prime minister’s he said. So there is a danger that there as much hydrocarbons as possible, but instruction. Initially, these regions will be a surplus of commodities on to organize a full processing cycle from were Tatarstan, Bashkiria and Nizhni the global market. Setup of clusters commodities to finished products in Novgorod; later, clusters can be set will allow using these excesses to our country, and this was mentioned by up in the Irkutsk region, the Stavropol manufacture finished products needed many of the speakers. territory and the Primorye territory. by consumers, both domestic and foreign ones. Clusters are a new method Apparently, to implement this of economic organization for our The final resolution of ambitious program it is necessary to country, Feigin emphasized. They can the conference Prospects of Russian Petrochemical Clusters’ study other countries’ experience drastically spur development of oil and Development: Experience of setting up such clusters. This was gas refining. This task should actively of SCO Member States asks the goal of the Moscow conference. involve government agencies and the the governments of the SCO It was attended by representatives business community, including small and members, notably, China, India of government agencies responsible medium-sized businesses. It should be and Iran, which have experience for the program’s implementation, of said that both the cabinet and agencies of setting up such clusters, the SCO Business Council and Business responsible for the industry’s planning to consider participation of Club, public organizations, business are perfectly aware of it. A year ago, the their national companies in community and research centers Russian Energy Ministry endorsed a plan development of such production from Russia and other SCO member for the sector’s development to 2030, chains in Russia and to share states. Greeting participants of the which initiated the setup of six inter- their experience of encouraging conference High Technology: Strategy regional petrochemical clusters – West investment in development and of Cooperation in the SCO, Igor Yurgens, Siberian, Volga, Caspian, Northwestern, setup of new petrochemical facilities, reducing obstacles chairman of the board of the Institute East Siberian and Far Eastern. for entering markets of the of Contemporary Development, said Yevgenia Pilipenko, head of corporate SCO member states and third that two years before a number of development projects with Sibur countries. It was generally research institutes had meticulously Holding, said that “the cluster approach agreed that such steps will allow studied the possibilities and prospects revitalizes our sector, which in this case Russia to make its economic for petrochemical clusters in the not only supplies raw materials to the system competitive on global country. The conclusion was unanimous: domestic and foreign markets, but uses markets and to move forward, this principle of production location them to manufacture finished products. to a society oriented towards would minimize logistic, manufacturing, This approach significantly improves state-of-the-art economic infrastructure and other costs and allow its competitiveness in the world.” It is models. organizing cooperation along the entire no secret that Russia’s high economic
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www.infoshos.ru 44 Lone ly violin’s call for the orchestra…
Tatiana Sinitsyna Editor-in-chief, the InfoSHOS web portal
The unique project of the SCO needs comprehensive media service. The Organization can no longer do with a schematic genre piece presented to the world.
INFOSHOS.RU Day after day we provide information Structurally, InfoSHOS is a division coverage of the SCO, describing its daily of Inforos. But what is this company? routine, key events and the process of It was set up at the beginning of the its establishment on the international 21st century by young graduates of For half of its life, the Shanghai political stage in different genres. The the Moscow State University and is the Cooperation Organization has been portal works to popularize the SCO’s product of the innovation boom, which covered by the Russian web portal values and ideas and, of course, talks created a high demand for intellectual InfoSHOS, which is focused on the about countries that are its members. products and services in Russia. Organization’s activities. So far, it is the world’s only media structure devoted Who gave us this task? How did the In 2007, Russian President Vladimir to the Shanghai Six. The sum of values portal come to be? The initiative did not Putin asked the company as the owner declared in the SCO Charter initially come from the Kremlin, but from the of the InfoSHOS portal to provide defined the general tone, style format depth of civil society. It was born and information coverage of Russia’s and paradigm of the portal. The portal developed within the Inforos company, presidency in the SCO in 2008-2009. has three language versions (Russian, in the collective mind of its energetic InfoSHOS then received the Kremlin’s English and Chinese), which are being creative team, which seized the day and special gratitude for its work. When the consistently developed. I believe it understood the historical importance SCO celebrated its 10th anniversary, the would be fair to describe InfoSHOS as of the emergence of the new type of portal was awarded with an anniversary the SCO’s interactive PR tool. international alliance which the SCO is. medal.
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www.infoshos.ru 45 However, it is necessary to admit It will not be an exaggeration to say be transformed in the energy of that, despite all its activity, InfoSHOS is that the InfoSHOS portal has played successful movement, establishment a separate phenomenon, a lonely violin. a significant role in popularizing the on the international stage. But who will Overall, information coverage that the SCO’s image, consistently covering the tell the world all this unless the SCO sets SCO receives cannot be considered full, Organization’s activities. The meaningful up a contemporary, highly professional because there is no proper PR system. goal of the project is to shape an integral system of PR coverage? Today, the Indeed, at its early stages, the SCO had image of the Shanghai Cooperation SCO needs not just an information other things than PR to worry about – the Organization as a progressive and and analytical format, but assertive Organization focused on counteracting dynamic international organization, propaganda of its ideology. terrorist and separatist activity in to demonstrate its peaceful nature, the region. Information reached the fundamental principles and ideology. Understanding the need to boost global community sporadically, and The portal covers cooperation between the SCO’s information system, we are the atmosphere of obscurity shrouded the SCO member states on ensuring contributing to the process. Based on the SCO in a veil of myths. The West peace and stability in Central Asia, the portal’s best web publications, we was positive that the East had created counteraction to terrorism, extremism, have begun publishing a contemporary a new, alarming military union. “An separatism, cyber terrorism and illicit glossy magazine of the same name, obscure, dangerous unit,” “a sectarian drug and weapons trafficking. InfoSHOS, a new issue of which you are union,” “a mix of the Russian bear with now holding. the Chinese dragon,” etc. – this rhetoric The portal has run articles by SCO is still in use. And this is logical: as we secretaries general, heads of the Successfully developing, we do not all know, myths are born when there is RATS, ambassadors from different SCO get selfishly isolated in our activities lack of information. member states to Russia, as well as by and as experienced professionals, we scientists and political analysts from help to develop a network of websites Developing, the unique project felt the Organization’s member states. devoted to the SCO. Notably, the the need for media service only in the The InfoSHOS also focuses on covering company’s creative team set up and has fifth year of its existence. Information economic, scientific and educational for several years supported a portal of issues were among priorities at the aspects of cooperation, interaction in the SCO Youth Council and a website of meeting in Shanghai in 2006. But where such sectors as energy, transport and the SCO Business Council; as a friendly to start? An official SCO website was communication, projects in the social act and support to the activities of the set up under the SCO Secretariat with and humanitarian spheres. A special SCO Forum, we have initiated a special headquarters in Beijing to report on the place in the website’s activities belongs web portal for this structure. Organization’s events. But there was to coverage of the SCO Business Council still no live creative body. Meanwhile, and the Organization’s other business the SCO needed not only an information institutions. platform, but also a platform for As InfoSHOS’s editor-in- confessions – it wanted to talk about The website’s potential as an open chief, I invite everyone who itself, to promote its values and to be discussion platform allows gathering understood correctly. various opinions on the essence of “the works for the Shanghai idea new type of international relations” and to cooperate creatively Shaping of a correct positive image is prospects of their further development, with our portal, I call for a natural and crucial thing. But today, which may give rise to new ideas and beneficial interaction in the SCO can no longer do with a sketchy provide an additional impetus to the the interests of the SCO’s genre piece presented to the world. ideology of the Shanghai partnership. wellbeing and prosperity. The Organization is still little known in the world, wary attitudes towards it In the 12 years since its foundation, For partnership conforming persist, and its opponents are active. In the SCO has created too much to with the SCO’s values – these circumstances, it should be ready allow anyone to disavow or overthrow productive, civil, mutually to preempt the moves of its critics, its achievements. The political will, interesting and awakening to create a certain methodology for significant intellectual, material and passionate forces for the protecting its values and to adequately other resources invested by the SCO promote its image, activities and member states in the Organization’s sake of human unity. achievements. infrastructure and development should
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www.infoshos.ru 46 We orld w lcomes SCO university as new education experience
Alexei Maslov PhD, head of Oriental studies, the Higher School of Economics national research university
The SCO University is definitely one of the most successful and promising projects of humanitarian cooperation that are being implemented in the SCO. Even though the university is at the pilot launch stage, over one hundred students from Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are getting master’s degrees at each other’s universities.
SCO UNIVERSITY– by Russian and Chinese educational and online lectures, while other establishments, but all of them boiled universities were recipients of this A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT down to the same scheme: setting up an knowledge. This is, for example, how OF HUMANITARIAN SCO University on the basis of an existing universities of the British Commonwealth COOPERATION university that would invite students function; this is how universities within from the region. But this model did not the EduNet network in APEC support make sense, since the main goal was to each other. Several years ago, few people exchange experience and knowledge believed that this initiative would between the region’s leading research But in case with the SCO University, develop so rapidly, as there had been and educational establishments. it was necessary to set up a network of no experience of setting up such equal universities that would exchange universities. But coordinated effort has Consequently, it was necessary to look students and teachers and, most allowed launching the project. for new approaches, but the task was importantly, their best experience and complicated by a number of factors. knowledge. All these requirements were Discussions of the SCO University setup First of all, even though national taken into account in the Concept of began with an initiative that was voiced universities and education bodies were the SCO University that was drafted by Russian President Vladimir Putin at willing to develop such a project, Asia by Russian experts and was repeatedly the SCO summit in Bishkek in 2007. It Pacific did not have experience of discussed at meetings of the permanent suggested creating an SCO University as setting up similar universities. working group on SCO education. The a network of existing universities. concept was adopted at the meeting There had been network university of SCO education ministers in Astana, It should be said that the idea of projects, but all of them followed the Kazakhstan, on October 24, 2008; an SCO university in some or other same model – a university or a group its new version was adopted at the form has been “in the air” for a long of universities acted as a “knowledge meeting of SCO education ministers in time; different proposals were made donor”, providing curriculums, teachers Novosibirsk on September 23, 2010.
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www.infoshos.ru 47 S CO Head universities teach coordinated to be. In November 2011, Moscow hosted programs, and their methodology was the 4th Education Week for SCO member UNIVERSITY taken into account when setting up states that was attended by heads of CONCEPT the SCO University. It was important SCO education bodies, representatives not to bring everything to a common of SCO observers and dialog partners, The concept envisages that the denominator, robbing national schools as well as heads of basic universities SCO university functions as a network of their characteristic features, but of the SCO University. As a result, the of leading universities in the SCO to creatively interweave the existing University Charter was signed, which member states that act as head (basic) and tested programs. To do so, expert spelled out the rights and obligations universities. groups were set up at the national level of its participants, mechanisms of to discuss and propose programs that inter-university exchange within the Each of them offers its best curriculums were later coordinated by international created format and other aspects of that best present the university’s expert groups. This method is unique for the university’s functioning. The study research schools and teachers. Initially, a network university. process on master’s programs at the each country selected several such SCO University was launched in the pilot universities that suggested their own format at the beginning of 2010. In 2010- curriculums. UNIVERSITY 2011, Russian universities admitted BIRTHDAY 81 students, and 101 students were At first it was proposed to offer studies admitted in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, in five areas: energy, regional studies, The memorandum on cooperation Kyrgyzstan and China. Then the process environment, information technology between universities of Kazakhstan, started gaining momentum. and nanotechnology. This choice meets China, Russia and Tajikistan on the the demand for education of national setup of the University of the Shanghai At the meeting of SCO education professionals that would be able to work Cooperation Organization was signed ministers in Bishkek in 2011, a set of even on international projects within on April 26, 2010, in Moscow by 53 fundamental documents was adopted the SCO. Later, the range was expanded universities from the SCO member that actually completed shaping of by adding economics and pedagogy. states. This was how the university came the SCO University as a full-fledged
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www.infoshos.ru 48 educational establishment. First of all, compliance with the concept, these the ministers endorsed the provisions bodies are being set up in a dialog with on the Council of the SCOU rectors, all parties to the project. In 2012, the the university’s representative and setup of main administrative bodies of coordinating body. They also endorsed the University was formalized. the provisions on the board of trustees that is comprised from leading public Many aspects have to be adjusted figures and businessmen of the SCO as the project develops. To do so, the member states, those committed to activities of universities that have development of education and science joined the SCOU and their curriculums and to humanitarian values. The board are monitored regularly. This allows of trustees has four representatives flexibly responding to certain from each SCO member state whose excesses that inevitably emerge when universities are part of the SCOU. The implementing a flagship project. The board first of all ensures shaping of the system of permanent monitoring and university’s positive image both in the feedback is one of the most efficient member states and in the international tools for the University’s development. educational community. It also attracts Remarkably, several monitoring business structures for joint training Apart from it, students also receive a centers have been set up in the region. of professionals and assistance in national diploma of higher education. Russia has founded the Center of SCO employment of graduates. It promotes University Studies with support from the SCO University’s interests in To streamline master’s programs, the the Education and Science Ministry. different international, government and Provisions on preparation and defense There is a similar center in China. non-government structures, foundations of a master’s thesis within the network and organizations. University of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization were adopted. It allowed Today, the SCO University setting common criteria for assessing UNIVERSITY faces a number of goals, the quality of master’s theses, including the launch of CERTIFICATE requirements for knowledge level and master’s programs, of research components and the term for coordinated postgraduate At the meeting in Bishkek, the writing theses. ministers also endorsed the unified form studies, of joint research of certificate issued to students upon The SCO University is gradually projects, and many others. graduation from the SCO University. unfolding its management system. In While developing the SCOU, member universities are learning to work in a multilateral format, when it is necessary to take into account the opinion of all participants. Universities from SCO observers and dialog partners already want to join the project. As to the University’s reception in the world, educational communities of different countries definitely welcome the new study experience initiated by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
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www.infoshos.ru 49 Chinghiz Aitmatov: “Giver Shall Never Lack”
Bolot Dzhunusov Kyrgyzstan’s ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Russia
Wealth and dialog between different cultures on the planet form a buffer against terrorism, conflicts between civilizations and denominations. Variety of cultures is not an abyss that divides people, but a field for interaction and finding common points.
December 2013 will mark the 85th anniversary since the birth of Chinghiz Aitmatov, a literary classic, wise man and thinker, public figure and diplomat, the great son of the Kyrgyz people. Kyrgyzstan, Russia, all post-Soviet republics and many other countries will celebrate the anniversary on a grand scale.
IS CHINGHIZ AITMATOV values, to restore native languages and about a deathly downfall, loss of moral native cultures. The world listens to the and ethical values, everything that has A KYRGYZ, SOVIET OR words of such grand figures, to renowned until now contained the destructive RUSSIAN WRITER? literary figures like Aitmatov, to moral power of the humankind. The downfall is lessons he taught us, his compatriots, in drug addiction, people’s degradation, and his readers in different countries. their cruelty towards nature and other Today it is impossible to answer people, their lack of belief and fear of the question, “Is Chinghiz Aitmatov a Aitmatov’s works raise acute terror. Like a great prophet, Aitmatov Kyrgyz, Soviet or Russian writer?” But it philosophic, ethical and social problems anticipated and foresaw a lot. can be said with certainty that Aitmatov of the present day. His prose combines is a Eurasian genius and an international psychological analysis with elements of Will people preserve the traditions classic, who brought priceless riches folklore and mythology. With a great and spiritual values of their ancestors, of Spirit and Word to the treasury of artistic power, it shows collisions related will they preserve their unique land?.. civilizations, which allowed the world to acceptance or rejection of universal We can say with certainty that, as the to discover our motherland, Kyrgyzstan. and national cultural values. philosopher and writer, he made us see the world differently. He allowed all Aitmatov was the first to start speaking His last works create a sense of people in the 20th century to discover about the need to preserve cultural catastrophe. The Scaffold is a novel the nomadic world view with its
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www.infoshos.ru 50 pantheism and worship of ancestors and self identification and shaping of its restrictions. When new tasks came from their wisdom. ideology. All kinds of traditional crafts Bishkek or were initiated by the embassy, and people’s pedagogic have recently like the conference on electricity “The meaning and importance of seen a revival. They receive significant exports from Central Asia to South Asia, cultural heritage,” Aitmatov wrote, attention as cultural values. New works Aitmatov directly participated in their “is in that heritage of a nation being appear that are related to mythology implementation. spread generously, shared with others, and rituals, being spiritual art in the embracing the values of other people’s broad meaning of the world, with For many years, Aitmatov was cultures and therefore encouraging the spirituality understood as a high moral obsessed with a project to develop process of spiritual interference. This is goal, “the long road to Mecca.” This is horse breeding in Kyrgyzstan to export the case when the giver does not lose, first of all the essence of the literary the wonderful Kyrgyz horses. To achieve but gains, does not lack, but gets richer.” and journalistic prose of our great this, he obtained an animal exports Wealth and dialog between different contemporary and compatriot, our certificate from the European Union for cultures on the planet form a buffer colleague diplomat, Chinghiz Aitmatov. the Issyk-Kul region, the only one issued against terrorism, conflicts between It is in the aspiration to find an internal for the CIS. Promoting the horse breeding civilizations and denominations. Variety connection between the contrasts in project, he was in regular contact with of cultures is not an abyss that divides our life, “the world’s harmony,” to French businessmen who were willing to people, but a field for interaction and determine the purely moral as opposed attract significant direct investment in finding common points. to military road to the future (the soft the sphere, which would have created power approach) is the meaning of man’s the necessary infrastructure and jobs For thousands of years, Kyrgyz people cultural and humanitarian activities. in one of Kyrgyzstan’s most beautiful have been able to maintain an adequate And this is also Aitmatov’s spiritual will. areas, Lake Issyk-Kul. Aitmatov could and beneficial dialog with all nations and talk about this project in great detail civilizations of Eurasia thanks to their Speaking of Aitmatov as a diplomat, and with great pleasure. It should culture dating back to the dawn of times. employees of the Kyrgyzstan embassy in be remembered that, when young, Aitmatov’s legacy teaches us: culture Belgium say that serving as the Soviet the future writer had studied at an cannot live on a single tradition, it is Union’s ambassador extraordinary and agricultural institute. preserved by new generations that join plenipotentiary to Luxembourg and then, society in new historical circumstances. after Kyrgyzstan gained independence, Unfortunately, bureaucracy and Yet another wisdom the writer armed us the Kyrgyzstan ambassador political developments in Kyrgyzstan with is that the feeling of belonging to extraordinary and plenipotentiary did not let the project to go through. one’s family, religion and nation should to the Benelux countries and France Aitmatov was very upset about it. “I am be expanded to include your planet. and its permanent representative to so positive that the project would bring Violence, vulgarity, drug addiction, NATO, permanent representative to a lot to Kyrgyzstan,” he said. “I can say he says, should be counteracted with the European Community and other as an expert, as an animal technician, the ethical potential of all traditions, international organizations with that a horse is of great value for a cultures and religions. Politicians that accreditation in Brussels, Paris and Kyrgyz, we have been good at it since understand the importance of culture the Hague, he was very simple, had ancient times.” in today’s world have every chance of huge credibility, was very attentive to being remembered with gratitude. And the embassy’s employees and eager to Attaching special importance to this is also a lesson taught by Aitmatov. help his country as much as he could. the personality and works of Chinghiz Of course, his global recognition as a Aitmatov, the Kyrgyzstan Embassy in In the global community, our writer helped him in his diplomatic Russia, with support from the Kyrgyzstan mountainous country can stand apart career. It is said that Ambassador Ministry of Culture, Information and from others only with its unique, Chinghiz Aitmatov was once put last on Tourism and from the Russian Culture authentic culture. Both the government the list for a presentation of credentials Ministry, together with the All-Russian and people of art recognize that ceremony because the King of Belgium State Foreign Literature Rudomino culture can first of all help the nation’s wanted to talk to him without any time Library, the Moscow State Linguistic
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www.infoshos.ru 51 University, the Russian People’s launch the campaign “Chinghiz Aitmatov University, which elected Aitmatov is Friendship University, which elected to Russian Libraries”. Around the same honorary professor in 1979, will hold Aitmatov its honorary professor in time in October, a big delegation from an international research conference, 1979, the plenipotentiary mission of Moscow and Bishkek – on the initiative Aitmatov Readings, together with the the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia and of the Kyrgyzstan Embassy in Russia and embassy. Other events will also be held other Russian government agencies, is with financial support from Tatarstan’s in connection to the anniversary. We organizing a number of events devoted plenipotentiary mission – will attend are extremely happy that in December, to the 85th anniversary since the events in Kazan. The guests will visit Moscow’s public libraries will organize great writer’s birth in Moscow, Kazan, a Book Fair at the National Library of literary evenings, readers’ conferences, Voronezh, Rostov-on-Don and other Tatarstan, a photo exhibition at the video presentations, literary and music Russian cities. Palace of People’s Friendship exhibition meetings and other events devoted to
The celebrations will start on October center, attend the opening of Days of the anniversary of Aitmatov, a globally 24 at the Rudomino Library, which Cinema at the Mir cinema and a research renowned writer and our compatriot, will gather the two countries’ culture conference that will take place at one of the pride of the Kyrgyz people. ministers, prominent political and Kazan’s universities and will also go to public figures, representatives of the the home village of the writer’s mother. literary and cinema circles, the writer’s Similar events will be held colleagues and relatives, students On October 28, 2013, the Moscow not only in Kyrgyzstan and and representatives of the Kyrgyz State Linguistic University will host Russia, but also in other CIS diaspora. The itinerary includes a news a research literary conference titled countries. Notably, Kazakhstan conference, screening of a documentary Aitmatov’s Universe, which will be and Azerbaijan will celebrate about Chinghiz Aitmatov’s work, opening attended by renowned Aitmatov experts, the writer’s anniversary at the of a photo exhibition, demonstration of including Abdyldazhan Akmataliyev, who state level. All this will be a the writer’s books published in numerous for a long time headed the Institute tribute to Chinghiz Aitmatov, languages, opening of Days of Cinema at of Kyrgyz Language and Literature who came into this world to the Rudomino Library with screening of and prepared an 8-volume collection brighten it with his wise words a feature film after an Aitmatov work of Aitmatov’s works for publication in and to support humankind in its and presentation of an anniversary Russian. On December 12, on Aitmatov’s eternal pursuit of morality. edition of his select works, which will birthday, the People’s Friendship
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www.infoshos.ru 52 Astana: genius loci
Tatiana Sinitsyna
Urban miracle: Kazakhstan’s capital city turns 15
Both creators were unbelievably brave. Both President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who conceived this city, and the Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, who agreed to take up the improbable project. But there was one thing they disagreed about: the former believed in the new city, the latter didn’t.
Ancient Romans believed that there circumstances together and, finally, for its unique architecture and gained is no place without a “genie,” a kind joined the passionate will of a leader a reputation of one the world’s most protective spirit that decides the fate with the delicate world of inspired exquisite capital cities, received of each square foot of land. muses whose mother is believed to be prestigious medals and the status of architecture. This is how the unique a World Heritage City from UNESCO. Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital city, city, whose real-life appearance We should not forget about the state has definitely emerged from the makes one’s heart flutter, came to functions and the role Astana plays as benevolence of its genius loci. It was be. The state-of-the-art megalopolis the essence of the nation’s spirit, the it who drew the capital to the shores has turned 15. Just 15! When you political, scientific and cultural center of the solemn Yesil, the epicenter look at this urban development, you of the dynamically developing Kazakh of Eurasia, sent the energy of the can hardly believe your eyes. Astana state. idea into the universe, skillfully put has won numerous international prizes
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www.infoshos.ru 53 TENGRISTS DON’T GIVE UP
...Of God’s largesse, the Kazakhs received the steppe, harsh and endless. Nomads gratefully fell in love with their solemn land in the center of Asia, the tilting yard of winds. Their wise men found a formula for harmonious coexistence with the nature, and the people became one with the endless expanses. “Flying” on their strong horses, the Kazakhs didn’t know then the Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, country, where the biggest transport that their hooves were drumming on a who agreed to take up the improbable routes connecting Europe and Asia meet “treasure chest…” project. But there was one thing they and where there was enough space for disagreed about: the former believed in architects to implement their plans. The Kazakh gave their land the energy the new city, the latter didn’t. The society quietly grumbled, confused of numerous generations, their toil, by the president’s odd decision, and dreams, joy and grief. They conceived Then why did he participate in the viewed his initiative as an ambitious the wisdom of their ancestors’ Tengrist competition of designs for the future whim, untimely and dubious. Why would mind, which worshipped life as an city? Most probably, the architect was you need to spend billions on switching absolute blessing and didn’t allow led by his professional intuition, which capitals, when society is demoralized spirits to sink. This way, with rises and appreciated the daring task. The goal and everything is in ruins? At first, only downfalls, they lived for many centuries. was to create a unique city with a the president’s power allowed him to On the brink of the new millennium, the Eurasian look in the steppe, a symbol, move forward, but soon a creative team life of the Great Kazakh Steppe did a an argument, a spiritual backbone for of supporters emerged that were willing tight turn, having changed drastically. the young sovereign state, its unique to do their best to implement the Astana It was necessary to survive in the moon face. project. landscape of the collapsed Soviet power, and the Kazakhs had a stroke of luck It is also possible that the Master The leader imagined the future of at this dramatic turn of history. They suddenly heard his swan song and got the new capital city in great detail, were saved not only by their Tengrist caught in its magic… Astana was to understanding its meaning – geopolitical, philosophy, but also by the fact that the become the final chord in the genius’s practical, humanitarian and moral. nation was led by a charismatic leader brilliant architectural symphony, the last Later, recalling how the historical with extensive political experience and beat of his unbelievable imagination’s decision about the new capital was immense intuition, a person who knew wing. made and implemented in his book The where to lead his people and what Kazakh Way, Nazarbayev explained that exactly to do. Nursultan Nazarbayev felt Anyway, the political will, economic the issue of moving the capital was not the coming Kazakh luck and strained all opportunities and architectural accidental. Even though Kazakhstan, his will and character to take advantage temperament came together at a separated from the Soviet parent state, of it. historical moment and under lucky was in ruins, the treasury empty and circumstances. But of course, the the population beyond poor, the head of process was initiated by the one who the newborn state understood that his COREAT RS saw the features of this city in his mind. people, shocked and demoralized by the loss of the traditional reference point in …Both creators were unbelievably Initially, Nazarbayev was lonely in life, needed a new prospect, moving the brave. Both President Nursultan his dream of a new capital he decided “hands of their mind clock forward to a Nazarbayev, who conceived this city, and to build in the northern part of the new sovereign time.” To do this, it was
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www.infoshos.ru 54 an SCO summit, I saw the same beautiful young lady, but this time in exquisitely colored silk…
…President Nazarbayev announced his authoritarian decision to build the new capital at the end of 1997, as a New Year gift for his nation. Work began immediately. The biggest support to the initiative came from young people who flooded the shores of the Yesil. It was necessary to prepare the left shore for development, and this area was necessary to “shake” people, to “air intellect and free use of space. Almost wild, swampy and virtually primeval. their minds.” Otherwise, there could be all global experience, both positive and The battle of architects was grand. A no breakthrough into the future. In his negative, was taken into account when total of 47 creative teams competed other book, In the Heart of Eurasia, the creating Astana. for the right to design the city and president wrote the following dramatic came up with lots of innovative ideas. lines, “Leaning towards the necessity of Some believe that Astana is somewhat An international jury made a difficult moving the capital, I understood that eclectic: architects of different styles choice and settled on three proposals, I was putting everything at stake – my and from different countries – Germany, from Russia, Kazakhstan and Japan. political career and maybe even life. Of Britain, Bulgaria, Switzerland and some These were presented to Nazarbayev, course, I don’t mean the tragedy of real oriental states – contributed to its look. and he chose the project designed by loss of life, but rather a philosophic one, A mix of oriental and Western design the outstanding Japanese architect the failure to fulfill my life obligation was inevitable – the city declared itself Kisho Kurokawa. to society.” So he gave all his personal as a Eurasian one, so it needed its own treasures to the new capital. unique face. On the other hand, even Well-known Kazakh architect Amanzhol eclectic can be harmonious. The main Chikanayev, who also participated in thing in architecture is proportion and this competition of giants together ONE OF ASTANA’S unity of composition. with Italian master Frederico Marconi, 47 LOOKS acknowledged in a conversation with journalists that Kurokawa’s project was The classic ensemble of nine The mythical poplar tree, truly the most outstanding. His design ancient muses does not include a Baiterek, originates from included truly revolutionary urban ideas Muse of Architecture; nevertheless, of the 21st century based on the belief architecture is traditionally considered the Kazakh’s cosmogony: it that Astana should not repeat solutions the mother of all arts. It must have is a tree of life growing in tested in other countries and cities and blessed this city; otherwise, you cannot the center of the world, its should be absolutely unique. explain the harmony that connects such roots go down to the heart unexpected ideas of different architects Kurokawa is one of the founders of the who participated in its creation and who of the earth and its crown Metabolist Movement in architecture still continue sculpting its face. touches the sky. and, of course, he saw the future city through the prism of abstract symbiosis. The ultramodern architecture of the The language of metabolism implies young Kazakh capital combines different …I have seen Astana both in winter and incompleteness and understatement. styles. The Western one definitely in summer. In February, there was snow All this envisages openness of buildings’ prevails, but Asian motives are gently on the ground and the sparkling capital structure for the dialog with the city woven into it. The key targets are looked like a charming young woman in environment, its changing architectural, environmental friendliness, technology, a white mink fur coat. In June, during cultural and technological face. A lot
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www.infoshos.ru 55 of air, exquisite green landscaping, Other projects are no less fantastic. mosques and churches. And there was fountains and fountainlets that ionize For example, Forster suggested covering also the recognizable look of Moscow’s the environment, alleys and parks – an entire housing development with Stalin-era high-rise buildings, a housing everything for the sophisticated taste, a glass roof that would be lifted in development in the Russian style. for capricious humans. summer, while in winter it would create a comfortable climate for the …The place for Astana was not The Kurokawa project included several residents. He designed the grand Khan chosen accidentally. It was well loved fixed points. They were to be created by Shatyry shopping and entertainment by ancestors very long ago, a proof internationally renowned architects who center on the Millenium Alley, which of which is the ancient settlement of were given the opportunity to express has everything a person may ever need Bozok found in the center of Astana. In themselves walking a fine line. under its 100-meter-high dome. the past, the famous Silk Way passed near this area. One of Astana’s avenues The snow-white radial ensemble of is called Syganak, commemorating a the presidential culture center, the BAITEREK CONNECTS town that stood here in ancient times. circus building in form of a flying saucer, EARTH AND SPACE the grand Ak-Orda, the presidential Artifacts found in burial mounds in residence that is bigger than the The Greate Kazakh Steppe opened the steppe date back to different times White House in Washington, the Nur- up under the unbelievable pressure – from the Bronze Age to early Middle Astana mosque, unexpected in its of human labor and creative passion. Ages (the 7th and 8th centuries) to the solutions and surprisingly harmonious… In 2002, Norman Foster created the era of the Kazakh Khanate (the 15th- True masterpieces of architecture inimitable Baiterek, a symbol of 16th centuries). are the Kazakhstan cinema hall with Kazakhstan’s sovereignty and renewal. a changeable interior configuration, The look of this grand monument designed by Italian Manfredi Nicoletti, is connected to national history. WISE MAN the Singing Fountains Alley and the The mythical poplar tree, Baiterek, AND HIS CHANCE Oceanarium, one of the world’s best. originates from the Kazakh’s cosmogony: it is a tree of life growing in the center History is made by passionate actors. Materialized ideas of different of the world, its roots go down to the I like this thought of Lev Gumilev, an architects have become Astana’s brands. heart of the earth and its crown touches outstanding Russian ethnologist, “the But special recognition has been given to the sky. In the branches of the sacred last child of the Silver Century”, the Englishman Norman Foster, the master poplar, the mythical bird Samruk, the son of the great Russian poets Anna of high tech. He designed the pyramid of ancestor of the Kazakhs, lays golden Akhmatova and Nikolai Gumilev. Lev the Palace of Peace and Concord, which eggs… Obviously, the thought to create Gumilev gave all the energy of his mind hosts many big international Eurasian an architectural incarnation of Baiterek and the passion of his heart to studying events. in the center of the capital city could historical relations between the be born only “within the nation.” continent’s nomads and settled peoples, Foster’s pyramid also accommodates Symbolically, Baiterek is the center of which gave birth to the Eurasian idea. the Culture Museum, the University of the world; geographically, it is the exact Gumilev’s name is broadly known is Civilizations and an opera theater with center of Eurasia. I enjoyed a bird’s eye Kazakhstan, and the Eurasian National 1,500 seats. This grandeur is held by view of the city from the 105-meter University in Astana is named after him. four strong pillars, symbolical “hands height of its shining steel body. The In the past, the Kazakhs were ruled of peace.” The panoramic elevator city lay open, emanating strong young by khans, a horse’s saddle was their allows a visitor to admire the beauty energy, giving a feeling of unbelievable throne and a white nomadic yurt their of green terraces, Astana’s hanging beauty and serious promise. From residence. These were smart people, gardens, and the play of light coming Baiterek, the building of the Nazarbayev who worked a lot on creation of the state from its dome. “Everything in the world University looked like a landed airliner; and its ethical code. They managed to is afraid of time, and only time is afraid I could see the pagoda-like roofs of the preserve their ethnicity, to lead their of pyramids…” Pekin Palace hotel and shining domes of people through historical dangers. The
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www.infoshos.ru 56 art of the latter was demonstrated by But Astana is now moving towards the dream city will cost almost $2 billion; Nursultan Nazarbayev during the period 1-million threshold in seven-league it will become an international model of gaining independence. strides. It is general practice in the of eco design, since it will function on world to review cities’ master plans solar power. every five years to see if they fit the new KUROSAWA’S reality, trends and financial situation. The steppe is an empire of winds. To MISTAKE This is needed to avoid stagnation. protect Astana from them, over 50,000 Astana’s master plan is also reviewed hectares of forest has been planted A creator kissed by God, Kisho regularly and creatively; Kurosawa’s around the city, with wedges of it Kurokawa gave Astana, his last mistakes have been corrected. The cutting into the urban landscape. When symphony, everything his mature talent streets are being broadened, optimal the trees grow bigger, winds will get has accumulated. He dreamed to live logistics is being ensured to avoid traffic lost in their thick crowns that will break long enough to see the city in all its jams, these clots that paralyze a city’s their brazen flight. beauty. But his life ended before that. living organism. Underground railway? Astana quickly and by large exceeded No, it won’t be built; instead, there all forecasts included in its master plan. will be light-rail, high-speed trams. But DAWN ABOVE Well, even great architects can make Amonzhul Chikanayev asks not to blame GREAT STEPPE mistakes… Kurokawa, since adjustment is a natural process. He recalls that all of the great …The heavy reddish-golden moon was Kurokawa did not believe in the architect’s main ideas, his theory of looking down from the blue pre-dawn city he was building and openly abstract symbiosis were implemented sky, shining on the sweetly sleeping acknowledged this. Intuition and and are being developed. In compliance beauty of Astana. We were going to the foresight failed the master. He did not with initial city-planning testaments, airport, across the city, from the left sense the prospects and attractiveness Astana’s architecture is focused on shore to the right. The live view of the of the project and underestimated environment, being in gracious harmony wonderful, daring, miraculous creation, the financial possibilities that were with the nature. Its main goal is plenty young and ambitious, couldn’t fail to available. However, he was viewing the of comfort, shaded alleys, fountains, impress. Tens of thousands of builders city in the dark – the country’s economy quiet and peace. Now the city is getting are still working in the city around the had not risen yet (the treasure chest ready to implement another of Foster’s clock: after all, Astana is so young! was opened later). Based on the gross grand ideas, the Abu Dhabi Plaza center. And it is with great astonishment that regional product, Kurokawa believed It will be a city within the city with the Yesil, which carries its waters to that the city population would be an 88-storey building, the highest in the Irtysh and on to the Ob and the small and the streets did not need to Central Asia, hotels, a traditional Kazakh world ocean, looks at the fantastic be broad. He did not expect the city bazaar and a huge conservatory the size transformation of its shores… to have more than 600,000 residents. of a football field. The creation of this
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www.infoshos.ru 57 Bis hKEK: darling of the sun
Yekaterina Muromtseva
From the historical Kyrgyzstan is believed to have three perspective, the city is miracles: Issyk-Kul, Manas and Chinghiz young – it is 136 years Aitmatov. The first is an amazing lake in the old, but the place where it mountains, non-freezing and full of crystal stands is ancient and full of clear water. The second is an ancient epic, legends. the eternal muse of the Kyrgyz people. One of them says that The third is their great compatriot, the a wonderful hero called nation’s spiritual tuning fork. All three have Pishpek, or Bishkek, lived miraculously come together in Bishkek, the there long ago. capital of Kyrgyzstan.
But there are other interpretations extremely hard-working and talented. is its wonderful green attire. For the of the word “bishkek.” It also means The world discovered Bishkek, the number of parks, shadowed boulevards, a churn for whipping kumis. It is a heart and soul of Kyrgyzstan, through trees and flowers Bishkek still remains traditional national tool, always kept Chinghiz Aitmatov’s books. The city is the leader among other Central Asian impeccably clean, almost sacred, since situated in the middle of the Chuyskaya capitals. It has 20 national parks, 4 it is used to prepare the healing and valley, at the foot of the white Ala- artificial water bodies, 10 theaters, 5 delicious drink made of mare’s milk. At Too mountains, 750 meters above the open-air memorial museums. There is the same time, historians maintain that sea level. It is the country’s political, a unique oak park, where it is always “bishkek” also means the front part of economic, scientific and cultural center, cool and where tame squirrels are the beautiful Baitik mountain, which its main transport hub. The city is coming down to passers-by looking for symbolizes happiness. beautiful already because it is different a treat. It is also an open-air sculpture from any other city. Its features, museum. Made of stone, metal and Anyway, coming to this blessed and miraculously combining architectural wood, sculptures are situated alone unique city is always pleasant. First of styles of many eras, have remained and in groups along the park’s alleys or all, this is an amazing natural tanning unique. simply under trees. parlor, where you can enjoy the sun 322 days a year. Another inalienable brand Bishkek was designed and planned The doors to Bishkek are opened by of the Kyrgyz capital and the country in so that all streets are laid only along the legendary hero Manas, the main general is fantastic hospitality. Anyone meridians and parallels, like in New character of the Kyrgyz epic – the city’s who comes to this land with peace York, so it is impossible to get lost. Green international airport is named after him. will be surrounded with warmth and boulevards and parks, broad squares, Bishkek was the home of the famous respect, treated to food and drink. The grave residential districts... One of writer Chinghiz Aitmatov. In a country Kyrgyz are kind, trusting and tolerant, the city’s remarkable characteristics house on the shore of Lake Issyk-Kul,
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www.infoshos.ru 58 he created his immortal masterpieces conclusion that his winter residence that have been translated into forty should be situated in the Tian Shan languages. Issyk-Kul is a non-freezing and not in Lapland. This was a joke, mountainous lake, the second biggest in of course, but Bishkek took it seriously the world after Titicaca, and it is the and now Kyrgyzstan also has Peak Santa gem of Kyrgyzstan’s nature. It became Klaus. widely known even during the writer’s The central square in the city is also life and now, after his death, has named Ala-Too. Surrounded with white become a destination for international marble palaces and numerous fountains, cultural pilgrimage. it is one of the most beautiful places in Bishkek. Here you will find the historical Yet even if a traveler is in a great museum and the local “White House,” hurry to reach Issyk-Kul, he cannot but where the president and his team work. go through Bishkek. Looking southwards In the center of the square, there from any point in the city, one can see is a grand statue called Erkindik, or the snowy tops of the Great Kyrgyz Freedom. In the ancient Oak Park, an Range, which is part of the Tian Shan eternal fire commemorates heroes of system. The Kyrgyz call this range Ala- the past, warriors that died in the Great Too, which means “spotty mountains.” Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Covered with fir and juniper forests, they are really spotty. In the winter, Despite urbanization, the city’s 135- their snow-covered slopes are freckled year history is still reflected on its with numerous skiers and snowboarders. streets. You can find a mud dwelling After all, there are over 20 skiing bases from the early 20th century alongside of a good international level, with lifts, an 18-story skyscraper. But there are in the city’s vicinity. The relatively small fewer and fewer such “patriarchs” left: territory of Kyrgyzstan has everything: Bishkek with its 1-million population is fertile valleys, Alpine meadows, snowy growing and changing fast. mountains with the famous 7,000-meter high peaks – Peak Pobeda and Khan “…If a man cannot imagine himself in Tengri. secrete as a god fighting for others, as you would have to fight for people, then In an hour’s drive from Bishkek, in the You, God, would also cease to exist. And upper part of the extremely beautiful I don’t want You to disappear without Ala-Archinskoye gorge, there is an a trace. That is all I’m sad about…” international Alpine camp that gathers Perhaps, this quote from Aitmatov can athletes from many countries during best describe the current mood in the the season. The names of the peaks – Kyrgyz society. The country is going back Korona (4,860m), Komsomolets (4,526 to its ancestors’ values, but at the same m), Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky (4,875 m), time is aspiring to live in the present day. Svobodnaya Koreya (4,740 m) – reflect Aitmatov is buried in the south of the the area’s history and to a certain Kyrgyz capital. Here, his favorite city extent the world’s geography. spreads before the eyes. Like the great writer, the city has seen high rises and There is a curious episode Bishkek is difficult times of disappointment. And proud of. About three years ago, some both had enough wisdom and courage Swedish mathematicians were studying to accept the reality with dignity and Santa Klaus’s movements around the to continue their way in the hope of a world for fun’s sake and came to the better tomorrow.
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www.infoshos.ru 59 Val dimir Mayakovsky’s “starless ordeal”
Jana Novikova
VLADIMIR MAYAKOVSKY
In his young years, which coincided with and that sometimes even bit as venomous the period of revolutions, Mayakovsky, snakes. the passionate herald of new ideals, called for consigning Pushkin, Tolstoy, …Vladimir Mayakovsky was born on Dostoyevsky and other masters of Russian July 19, 1893, in a blessed area of literature to the dustbin of history. He Georgia, the village of Bagdadi, the believed that the new life should create Kutaisi province, to a family of senior everything, including literature, anew. forester Vladimir Mayakovsky. “My father is a nobleman, the skin on my hands is He thought that only Nikolai Gogol thin…,” Mayakovsky wrote in the poem was worth the revolutionary time. But “About This.” The position of senior the brilliant master of mockery, Gogol forester was an important one. Thanks played a cruel trick on his follower from to it, the impoverished noble family was beyond the veil. At the end of the 20th fairly well off, raising their daughters century, Mayakovsky was on the brink of and son in the spirit of their class and in being thrown away from Russian poetry; Russian cultural traditions. at least, he was almost forgotten and no longer appreciated. However, giving The future poet studied at the up Mayakovsky’s poetic heritage would Kutaisi gymnasium when his father died mean robbing Russian poetry and our own suddenly and absurdly, of a prick of a Throughout the Soviet souls. needle he used to stitch up business files. Blood contamination killed him almost era, Mayakovsky was Discussing Mayakovsky’s poetic mission instantly. Having lost their breadwinner, presented as a “herald and his extremely complicated personality the family moved down in the society. of revolution,” while his is like touching upon the Universe. In 1906, 13-year-old Vladimir and his Perhaps, it is from its deepest depth that mother moved to Moscow, where his precious lyrical verses and the finger of God reaches out from time sister Lyudmila was studying applied art high notes of “civil lyrics,” to time (and not too frequently!) and at the Strogonavskoye vocational school. puts its mark on an infant’s forehead. so appreciated in Russian Vladimir Mayakovsky was given the gift of Their life in Moscow was difficult, poetry, were ignored. a unique verse technique, the ability to full of labor and deprivation. In order hear and understand the melody of the to make both ends meet, Mayakovsky’s world around him in overtones not heard mother rented out rooms and desperately by others and to express the nature of fought for survival. To support his family, things and feelings in metaphors that Vladimir painted pictures and made caused either admiration, falling as pyrogravures for sale. He was unable to golden grains on the soil of one’s soul, or complete studies at the gymnasium as indignation with their openly rough style, there wasn’t money to pay for it. The big
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www.infoshos.ru 60 city caught him in the net of revolutionary notes of “civil lyrics,” so appreciated things,” he shot himself. He didn’t live activities that resulted in his arrest; he in Russian poetry, were ignored. But if to be 37. spent 11 months in the Butyrskaya prison you put aside everything he wrote under and was discharged due to his being the euphoria of revolutionary pressure Communist Party bureaucrats, exposed underage. The young prisoner solaced and romantic and Utopian ideas about in the poet’s play The Bathhouse, sighed himself by writing poems, which were building a society of “supreme justice” with relief. The Stalin era did not then taken away by prison wardens. But and “absolute happiness,” can you not need “passionate heralds.” Perhaps, it was this first notebook of poems that see an inspired lyricist? Does the tragic Mayakovsky’s suicide saved him from Mayakovsky saw as the start of his poetic poem About This, in which Mayakovsky repressions that were gaining momentum. career. showed the lyrical hero’s struggle for the perfect, reciprocated love, without Many believe that the reason for his Youth maximalism, captivated with which there is no life, not demonstrate suicide was unhappy love. This version ideas of changing the world, did not the lyrical side of his unique talent? of his death was promoted by his “fatal” tamper his strong desire to study art Aren’t the famous lines from his Listen! lover Lilya Brik, who lived almost 90 and crafts, to which he felt a strong poem a true gem of lyricism? years and often mystified his image. Yet inclination. Mayakovsky was admitted to it would be too shallow for Mayakovsky the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture “Listen, to “shoot himself because of a woman”… and Architecture and was considered a if stars are lit, promising student, but his true calling, it means - there is someone Reassessing the Soviet legacy, our the poetic one, was manifesting itself who needs it. democratic society still cannot forgive with increasing power. At the school, It means it is essential the poet for his enthusiastic praising of Mayakovsky met David Burlyuk, the that every evening the revolution. The list of complaints futurist poet, who saw “a poet genius” at least one star should ascend against Mayakovsky includes his famous in his young friend. It is easy to tempt a over the crest of the building.” propagandist poems – Vladimir Ilyich young, easily carried away soul: Vladimir In this poem, the poet seems Lenin, 150,000,000, Good! But it would be joined a community of futurists, who to swear that he would fair to recall another poem, Bad!, which openly denied any past art and were not “stand that starless ordeal.” equally passionately opposed its antipode searching for new forms. and, obviously, was not published – it Vladimir Mayakovsky’s poetry swept was found in the poet’s archives. This The first poems by 19-year-old across the early 20th-century Russia unknown poem is a witness of the deep Mayakovsky, Night and Morning, were as a lightning ball, conquering human internal drama that was tearing apart published in the futurist anthology A Slap imagination with its power, shaking its Mayakovsky’s soul at the end of his life in the Face of Public Taste. At the age emotional world. The poet’s temperament and was caused by his disappointment in of 20, he published his first collection of matched the spirit of revolutionary life, ideals he had so passionately dressed in poems with the laconic name Me, as if and his popularity was absolute. He knew the precious garments of his talent. announcing his arrival in the poetic world. fame and envy, merciless criticism of The turbulence of the October revolution fellow poets and the cunning affection of of 1917, which ended monarchy in the authorities. And he always remained Russia, was enthusiastically welcomed by true to himself. 24-year-old Mayakovsky, who saw himself as a “drummer-boy of the revolution.” Mayakovsky was a dandy, he wore In his poem Left March, he addresses expensive suits by Parisian couturiers, …It appears that his masses from a platform. In the fist years owned a car, often travelled abroad, poetry is justified by stars after the revolution, Mayakovsky worked drank good wines, “ate pineapples” that are lit because “there actively at the Russian State Telegraph and “chewed grouses,” for which he is someone who needs Agency (ROSTA), composing propagandist reproached bourgeoisie in his poems. poems and painting posters after current He sincerely worked for the revolution, it”. Who knows, perhaps, events. He also wrote big poems. believed that its purifying power was one of them was lit by able to take away everything negative Mayakovsky’s passionate, Throughout the Soviet era, Mayakovsky from the Russian life and make people exuberant soul. was presented as a “herald of revolution,” happy. When he realized he was deeply while his precious lyrical verses and high mistaken and “sang about the wrong
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www.infoshos.ru 61 Cyrilli c alphabet: unfairly unfavored in post-Soviet states
Lyubov Slovyakova
The great contribution of works encoded in Cyrillic to the treasury of civilization is undeniable. And this grand creative process is ongoing.
The thirty-three letters of the Cyrillic man’s purpose and beauty of the living was once and forever brilliantly achieved alphabet were given to the Slavs by world. The great contribution of works by Pushkin, Gogol, Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy philosopher brothers Cyril and Methodius encoded in Cyrillic to the treasury of and Bunin… We are now talking about the at the beginning of the last millennium. civilization is undeniable. And this grand post-Soviet fate of the Russian language, With the help of these linguistic notes, creative process is ongoing. about the Cyrillic alphabet, ungratefully Russians, in creative cooperation with persecuted and unfairly unfavored. other peoples of Russia, have created But the question now is not about the great symphonies of spirit and thought, greatness and importance of the Russian But first I would like to recall a recent expressed their understanding of life, language. It doesn’t need PR; this goal and pleasant episode, when I was
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www.infoshos.ru 62 fascinated by the crystal clear Russian language” out of their territory, citing and first of all Russian. However, Russia’s speech of a young Tajik girl, Sakhnoz the need for national self-identification years-long humanitarian mission, the Benazir. True gems of my native language via cultural self-awareness and ancestors’ strength of its spirit and deeds ensured were falling down from her lips. Hardly legacy. But how can you oust a free bird a certain durability of its influence and, believing my ears, I went in a kind of from its natural habitat? as Dostoyevsky put it, “excited curiosity blessed stupor. It is not often today that in blood,” – towards new standards you can enjoy the impeccable language The Russian language doesn’t expect of life, unknown strata of knowledge, of a young person, especially a non- other nations to prefer it to their mother possibilities of progress. Russia’s long native speaker. It was with amazement tongue. It is just a tool that serves presence created a taste for the Russian and joy that I realized that more than two people’s communication needs. And, speech. decades after the Soviet Union’s breakup of course, it is also a golden key to the there is a girl living in Tajikistan who treasure chest of knowledge, because However, life goes on, and change of commands Russian as a noble student of in more than one thousand years of generations may prove a serious test the Smolny Institute for young ladies. its existence the Cyrillic alphabet has for the Russian language in post-Soviet encoded such a huge amount of cultural republics. The process of ousting the It was at an SCO youth forum, and values, scientific thoughts and all kinds Russian language is ongoing. Concern Sakhnoz was addressing the audience in of information that no national language about their own ethnic and cultural Russian because the majority of people can possibly create anything comparable sovereignty makes power elites resort there understood it. Listening to the in the foreseeable future. to every measure to strengthen national exquisite sounds of the Russian speech languages in their states. coming from the lips of the young Tajik …I was flying from Bishkek, and a girl, I understood that our language would pleasant young man sitting next to me, So far, persecutions of the Russian live on the expanses of the former great dressed to the nines, turned out to be a language are prevented by visa- power for a long time to come, because philologist. We started talking and I was free travels, close economic ties and there were people who understood the surprised to find out that he hadn’t read administrative pragmatism, for which range of its possibilities and its “tender Dante’s Divine Comedy. “This book has the best language policy is the one that taste,” as Bella Akhmadulina wrote. not been translated into our language,” doesn’t require too much additional And also because its role as a tool of he excused himself. “But there are investment. These objective factors give international communication in post- great Russian translations,” I said and us hope that every CIS member state may Soviet countries is virtually monopolistic. recommended reading it, adding that a remain bilingual. Still, analysts forecast humanitarian scholar cannot do without that the Russian language may fully lose Of course, Russian has now found knowledge of cultural foundations. “I’m its dominating position in the CIS within a serious rival in English, which is afraid I wont’ understand it correctly the next two decades. increasingly becoming a global language. in Russian,” the young man said. “I It is being introduced in the lives of young know only spoken Russian.” “And there sovereign states very actively and with a is also Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, and political bias. Still, you will agree with Cervantes’s Don Quixote, which are not me that it is difficult to imagine a Kazakh translated in Kyrgyz yet, and this is not Yet the Russian language will and Uzbek or a Kyrgyz and Tajik speaking easy to do,” I added oil to the fire… In not be the one to suffer; it will to each other in English… response, I got a polite, smiling, oriental always remain the member of silence. And I recalled how the great the global languages club, which Remarkably, the Russian language has Chinghiz Aitmatov had once said in an comprises merely six languages demonstrated greater resilience in post- interview, “The small stream of my whose influence on the global Soviet countries than it was expected Kyrgyz language joined the great river civilization has been recognized in the early 1990s. The majority of of the Russian language and the latter as biggest. But I am sorry for population of the new states that brought my word to the world ocean.” those who thoughtlessly reject emerged after the Soviet Union’s breakup Russian, robbing themselves. (about 70%) still commands it fairly well. Unfortunately, people seldom listen Meanwhile, socially, the The Russian language remains a powerful to wise men… In the early 1990s, it language serves a human society brace in the construct of relations seemed that the centrifugal force of the that there is, and there is Russia is building with young post-Soviet Soviet Union’s breakup, the nationalist nothing to do about it. republics. The high and mighty are taking euphoria encouraged by local elites significant effort to oust the “imperial would soon destroy everything Soviet,
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www.infoshos.ru 63 A rashan: noble son of poison
Tatiana Kunina
Story Poisons and Antidotes has a personal flavor, hence its magic. The researcher worked on it not only driven by a strong scientific passion, but also tempted by a secret from his outstanding life.
WH AT A LIFE! WHAT DEEDS!
Arstanbek Altymyshev’s legacy offering to fate. But no one knew about Altymyshev’s famous creation, at a includes his unique books – treatises this till the academician’s death hour. Duty Free. The curative drink is created of a talented professional who with primeval mountainous herbs and worked at the confluence of biology, Poisons and Antidotes has a personal endemic plants of the Issyk-Kul region medicine and chemistry, specializing in flavor, hence its magic. The researcher that have a pronounced biostimulating pharmaceutical and toxicological studies worked on it not only driven by a strong effect. of physiologically active substances, both scientific passion, but also tempted by a natural and synthetic ones. secret from his outstanding life, reliving A happy, life-giving union of highland in his mind an almost unbelievable herbs, the setting of a purest gem, Lake Almost all of his works have been episode from this youth. It was that Issyk-Kul! The scientist embodied the translated into European languages: Tea, adventure that influenced his scientific blessing of this natural wonder in the Coffee and Balms; Kharu-fot (Longevity); choice and determined his professional formula of Arashan. The balm’s creator Natural Healing Means; Essays on Mumijo; interests. discovered the floristic mysteries of his Poisons and Antidotes. The latter land little by little. Extracts of unique appeared not only from the researcher’s …Leaving Bishkek, I bought an elegant ingredients are combined to create a interest in the subject, but was his bottle of the Arashan balm, academician wonderful aroma, and the balm is a trove
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www.infoshos.ru 64 What a life! What deeds! with honorary diplomas at international and offered a study trip all the way to fairs in Poznan and Damask, with gold Latin America. There, in a town lost in This is what comes to medals of international fairs in Leipzig the Chilean rainforest, a former sponsor mind when you hear about and Moscow; the balm is patented in of Hitler’s military industry – one of the improbable fate of many countries. those who after the war had changed his BUT WHAT WAS THE face, his continent and his masters – had academician Arstanbek built a gigantic serpentarium where he SECRET KEPT BY Altymyshev, the creator was believed to have gathered reptiles ARSTANBEK from all over the world. And not only of powerful adaptogenes, ALTYMYSHEV? them, but also insects, poisonous fishes, the famous researcher of exotic mushrooms and plants. And all this dangerous force of nature was used to mumijo, academician of the It was something he could not tell produce poisons. On an industrial scale! Kyrgyz National Academy everyone. But if you know that your days of Sciences and laureate are numbered and a deathly secret is Altymyshev was asked to engage in gnawing at your soul, a secret you have scientific and industrial espionage. of the State Prize. “Life been hiding all your life, how strong is Naturally, it would be done in the name of outstanding people” the desire to let it out! For people, of supreme goals. To say that the young for chronicles.… All the more so as the researcher was shocked is to say nothing. – these words by Alexei remoteness of the deed is giving you a He hesitated, refused, but was pressured Gorky perfectly fit late free hand. and persuaded…
Altymyshev’s brilliant life, And then he called someone he trusted. He began to study Spanish. It was easy, who perpetuated his name The dying scientist revealed his secret to because the language is based on Latin, with his deeds. his colleague, Alexander Zelinchenko. which he had studied at the medical Our life journeys crossed on the shore institute and continued to improve of Issyk-Kul, where an SCO international throughout his life – a pharmacologist conference took place, and Alexander cannot do without it. Soon Altymyshev shared with me the story he had heard could speak and even write fairly decent of components that are good for human from Arstanbek Altymyshev. Spanish. His departure was postponed body. It was academician Altymyshev several times. Finally, he was invited who was the first in the Soviet Union to “It was in the 1970s. The world to the Soviet Academy of Sciences, theoretically justify and introduce to was suffocating from terror. Basques, allegedly, for a conference. practical healthcare use of healing balms, Red brigades, the IRA, Palestinians… which represented natural complexes Alongside usual explosions and shootings, There he was told that everything was of biologically active substances they began actively using poisons for ready. The legend made Kyrgyz Altymyshev that were selectively received from individual killings. A prick of umbrella a Japanese! But the one born and living far environmentally clean raw materials and in the crowd, and it’s done. But death from his historical motherland. Luckily, had curative effect. did not come at once, only in a day or he had a corresponding appearance. It two, and no trace of poison was left in was suggested that Spanish would be Not long ago, the Kyrgyz balm Arashan the body. Obviously, the poison was not enough for the “Japanese” in the strange was presented at the international fair created by amateurs. country, since he had mastered it well by All-Russian Brand (3rd Millennium) and that time. But, to be on the safe side, was awarded a Gold Sign. This was not its Once, the young and promising Kyrgyz he intensively studied Japanese for six first award. Before, it had been awarded pharmacologist was invited to Moscow months, and also not without success.
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www.infoshos.ru 65 He departed from Amsterdam and met a courier. He submitted his report decision is made.” Without returning to arrived at the destination (in Chile) in and received money – the contract with his house, Altymyshev ran through the a day. It felt awful: it was 40 degrees the serpentarium implied covering his jungle to the nearest village. There he below zero in Moscow when he left, and own expenses. Everything progressed hired a boat and found himself far from here in the tropics it was 30 above zero. as planned. He even invented a new the serpentarium, in a town where there And he was scared, after all. But he was cholagogic medication with a Polish was a Soviet consulate. He was knocking met nicely, driven 60 miles and settled colleague. on the gate, but they didn’t let him at a luxurious house among virgin forests. …But then a military coup began in: Who are you? What serpentarium? He was astounded at how sensibly and in Chile. The news found Altymyshev Desperate, Altymyshev began cursing, conveniently everything was organized experimenting at the lab. His brief from and this immediately proved his story – no here, far from civilization, and how well Moscow did not have provisions for such Japanese could master exclusive Russian the labs were equipped. Life was full of a scenario. He went to meet the courier, curses that well! When the situation was comfort, void of any everyday problems, but didn’t get any instructions. Absent- cleared, the secret agent was given a one on one with his favorite cause -- what minded like any scientist, he did not pay ticket to Havana where he was to board else could a scientist dream of? much attention to the news of the junta a flight for Moscow. But the plane had coming to power and enthusiastically a stopover in Lima, the capital of Peru. continued his research. Meanwhile, the There, the police entered the airplane, He was given a lab and generals were playing the master in the looking for a “Russian professor.” personnel and he immersed country and initiating mass repressions. Looking as a “descendant of Samurais”, himself into work. He had As it turned out later, they came to Altymyshev didn’t catch their attention… free access to the entire power not without finances of the He was lucky! serpentarium and studied serpentarium’s owner, a former Nazi. its inhabitants. It seemed to IN HAVANA, have all poisonous monsters Several days passed. Altymyshev was alone, concentrating on a retort, when A CAR WAS WAITING created by nature. He saw FOR HIM AT THE the coral snake, the green the door creaked. Not a professional in the cloak and dagger games, he involuntarily mamba, the Egyptian cobra AIRPORT... shuddered when he heard Helen speaking and the black widow. And broken Russian. “Don’t be surprised. My That was his breathtaking adventure. he didn’t just see them, father was Ukrainian and fled to America Had he not found himself in a bind, had but also worked with in the 1920s. Now listen: leave as soon as he not come in contact with the hellish these extremely poisonous you can. There is a secret rule: anyone poison factory, perhaps he wouldn’t have reptiles. who surrenders a Communist to the written his Poisons and Antidotes and authorities in this poor country will get created the wonderful Arashan balm, a color TV set; for two Communists, they which can be seen as a noble descendant There was a middle-aged woman with give a car. A Bolshevik from Russia would of poison. the Polish name Helen living in a cottage make one unbelievingly rich. I am leaving nearby. Charming, well-groomed and now, but here is something for you…” And well-dressed, with a nice haircut and she disappeared. figure, she looked attractive for her age. Arstanbek would exchange a couple of She left an envelop with some money words with her from time to time. and a copy of a fax message with all details about the Japanese employee – who and On weekends, he went - as he was where from he was. It was suggested ordered to - to a town nearby where he that the owner watch him until “the final
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