RECENT CHANGES IN THE KAZAKH-UZBEK RELATIONS: INTERVIEW WITH ERKIN BAYDAROV

Albina Muratbekova

EUCACIS in Brief

No. 6 February 2019

PhD Support Programme The EU, Central Asia and the Caucasus in the International System About EUCACIS “The EU, Central Asia and the Caucasus in the International System” (EUCACIS) is a PhD Support Programme for Postgraduates and Doctoral Researchers in Central Asia and the Southern Caucasus, organized by the Institut für Europäische Politik (IEP) and the Centre international de formation européenne (CIFE). Funded by the Volkswagen Foundation and the programme Erasmus+, it offers scholarships for three years to excellent postgraduates who are working on a doctoral thesis in political science, contemporary history or economics on a topic related to its thematic focus at a university or academy of sciences in the Southern Caucasus or Central Asia (including Afghanistan, the Kashmir region in India and the autonomous region Xinjiang in China). It is the objective of the EUCACIS programme to provide EUCACIS.eu intensive PhD research training for its participants to bring them closer to international standards, to support them until they submit their doctoral theses, and to help them establish their own networks with other young researchers in the target regions and in Europe. This will be achieved through four international conferences, four PhD schools, two research training stays and continuous online coaching.

About IEP Since 1959, the Institut für Europäische Politik (IEP) has been active in the field of European integration as a non-profit organisation. It is one of Germany’s leading research institutes on foreign and European policy. IEP works at the interface of academia, politics, administration, and civic education. In doing so, IEP’s task include scientific analyses of problems surrounding European politics and integration. www.iep-berlin.de

About CIFE The Centre international de formation européenne (CIFE) is a private institution of higher education and research, founded in 1954 with its head office in Nice and branch offices in Berlin, Brussels and Istanbul. It receives special funding in the framework of the Jean Monnet Programme of the European Union. Students from all continents enroll in its programmes and work as senior officials, consultants and academic experts after graduation. www.cife.eu

About the Series EUCACIS in Brief publishes opinion pieces and short articles written by fellows of the EUCACIS PhD Support Programme, alumni of the Master Programme „The European Union and Central Asia in the International System“ (EUCAIS) and other members of the wider EUCACIS network. It aims at making the debates within the network, notably during the EUCACIS conferences and PhD schools, accessible to a wider public. The papers are available on the programme website: www.eucacis.eu About the Author Albina Muratbekova is a doctoral researcher in Oriental Studies at the Institute of Oriental Studies and Al Farabi Kazakh National University. She holds an MSc in Regional Studies from Al Farabi Kazakh National University and a BSc with distinction in Regional Studies from Ablai Khan Kazakh University of International Relations and World Languages. She is a Fellow of the EUCACIS PhD support programme (2017-2019) and works at the Eurasian Research Institute as a Research Fellow. Her research interests include foreign policy of China, China-India relations, and border issues in China-India relations.

Editorial team

Publishers: Prof. Dr Mathias Jopp, Head of International Programmes, IEP PD Dr Matthias Waechter, Director General, CIFE

Editors: Dr Susann Heinecke, Programme Manager EUCACIS, CIFE Janny Schulz, Programme Manager EUCACIS, IEP

Layout: Fabian Weber, IEP

Place of publication: Berlin

ISSN: 2627-7190

Internet: www.eucacis.eu

Email: [email protected]

Hashtag: #EUCACIS

published in February 2019 4 EUCACIS in Brief No. 6 - Recent changes in the Kazakh-Uzbek relations: Interview with Erkin Baydarov principles and priority directions inthepolitical, directions andpriority principles Strategic Partnership (2013),whichsecure basic the Treaty ofEternal Friendship (1998),andthe areas ofcooperation. The mainagreements are 200 signed bilateral agreements that cover various a solidcontractual basis. There are more than growth.for further and economic cooperation, and hasthepotential by strengthening andenhancingpolitical, trade of renaissance. That mutual interaction is featured the two fraternal nations aperiod isexperiencing could besuggested that thecooperation between development ofdifferent spheres.Moreover, it relationship that gave astrong impetusto the Mirziyoyevand Shavkat establishedaclose Uzbekistan. The Presidents NursultanNazarbayev and page ofinteraction between Kazakhstan and trade relations openedafundamentally new to aqualitatively newlevel. Political, economic, relations have 2018,theKazakh-Uzbek spring moved in Mirziyoyev Shavkat to Kazakhstan Uzbekistan EB: Since thefirstofficialvisitof President of of cooperation? Could you themaindirections pleasespecify moved to anew stageofdevelopment. leadership, relations Kazakh-Uzbek have ofthe Uzbek to 1. Due the new policy Kazakhstan andUzbekistan. Kazakhstan political, economic andcultural tiesbetween this interview, DrBaydarov evaluates thecurrent social philosophy andcultural anthropology. In philosophy, ofIslamandKazakh politics, history in Central Asia, philosophy andsociologyofethno- andCentral Asia, integrationKazakhstan processes researchHis interests includepoliticsof ofOrientalStudies inAlmaty,Institute Kazakhstan. explored. meaningofthosechangeswillbe the practical relations,and development ofKazakh-Uzbek toDue therelevance oftheregional integration bilateral cooperation inawiderange offields. leaders encouraged to deepen and enhance increased. The policiespursuedby thecurrent relations significantly dynamics ofKazakh-Uzbek in December 2016, in Uzbekistan presidency Noteworthy, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan haveNoteworthy, andUzbekistan Kazakhstan Since thebeginning Mirziyoyev´s ofShavkat Dr. Baydarov Erkin isaseniorresearcher at the

and Uzbekistan agreedand Uzbekistan to hold the First order Kazakhstan to discuss such opportunities, communications, or the oil and gas industry. In industry, engineering, construction, transport expand inareas likeagriculture, light andheavy addition, thecooperationIn hasthepotential to including metalrolling, ferroalloys, timber, etc. the range suppliedto ofproducts Uzbekistan, expanded return Kazakhstan In Kazakhstan. products, buildingmaterials, glass, etc. to andlight industry made textiles, electrical trucks, buses, agricultural machinery, ready- exists. Particularly, carsand exports Uzbekistan USD 3.2billion. Thus, thepotential for growth around USD2.5billion,in2015itexceeded to in 2012thetotal amount ofbilateral trade was trade hasslightly increased. For instance, while to mention thatis worth thetotal amount of did notchangethissituation. it Nevertheless, on theCreation ofaFree Trade Zone (2008) level for numerous reasons. Even theAgreement 27 years ofindependence were at arelatively low these goals. itbecamerealisticgoods for to achieve export, had expanded the list of allowedUzbekistan by 2020, they aim to achieve USD 5 billion. As the trade turnover to USD3billionin2018,while USD 2billion,bothsidessetanewgoalto bring in 2017thetrade turnover amounted around improvement of economic cooperation of2017andshowsin thesameperiod the more than$2billion,whichis40%higher of mutualtrade for ninemonths of2018was 2017-2019. as theStrategy for Economic Cooperation for strengthening goodneighbourliness, aswell and deepening the strategic partnership further 2017, bothsidessigned theJoint Declaration on Mirziyoyev´sShavkat visitto Astana inMarch cooperation. Also, Uzbek during president andotherareas ofbilateralmilitary-technical water-energy, ecological, cultural-humanitarian, transport-communication, trade-economic, shymkent-17470. Accessed 20November 2018. all/first-interregional-forum-kazakhstan-uzbekistan-held-in- Shymkent. Retreived from https://primeminister.kz/en/news/ 1 First heldin Interregional Forum Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan However, commercial relations thepast during From theeconomic perspective, thevolume 1 . While

EUCACIS in Brief No. 6 - Recent changes in the Kazakh-Uzbek relations: Interview with Erkin Baydarov 5 Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan call Central Uzbekistankey partners is one of the of

EB: Kazakhstan has a special that in the region policy agenda. On the in our foreign place and stability nations peace brotherly of these Therefore, region. of the depends development of trade, the development above, as I mentioned well as cooperation, investment and economic and as a unified vision on the key international Uzbekistan region. the for crucial is issues regional of supports initiatives the global and regional peace, for initiatives Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan’s well are and prosperity of the region stability, Uzbekistan’s the world. all over recognised support seen during was the Summit of the EXPO- the Organization, Shanghai Cooperation of Summit of the Organization the First 2017, Technology and Science in Cooperation Islamic chairmanship in the and Kazakhstan’s in Astana, UN Security in January Council 2018. climate and has already shown a wide positive positive wide a shown already has and climate community. business the foreign from response a new Uzbekistan introduce plans to Further, investment land for providing for mechanism That activities1st October onwards. from 2018 the long-term increase mechanism is expected to sale land substantially, non-agricultural lease for the auction permanent through to with the right the construction of real for of land ownership stability. business the guarantee and estate will further the stimulate new preferences The strengthen and attractiondirectof investments consistency in the the of confidence investor policy state direction, in this which also provides of opportunitiesnew development the for business cooperation. Kazakhstan’s globalisation of the new 2: In the context shift, what and changing power trend the regional expect from should we Kazakh-Uzbek cooperation? Asian states to engage in constructive dialogue in constructive engage to states Asian consideration mutual confidence, strengthen to water and energy effective ensure of interests, approaches, common conservation, find call to improving aimed at and initiatives new ideas, If and mechanisms of interaction. all the formats cross-border to switch countries Asian Central , and a and , 2 One of the key issues in economic One of the key issues in economic For the Kazakh business community, the KazakhFor business community,

In May 2018, the First Kazakh-UzbekIn 2018, the First May Business led to those discussions have Furthermore,

manufactory for the production of gas stoves manufactory the production of gas stoves for has been launched in the South of Kazakhstan. volume with an investment A bitumen plant of USD 8.6 million is under construction in the other and several in Shymkent, industrial zone initiated. projects were joint 2 Region in South2 Region Kazakhstan. Council meeting and the Joint Business Joint meeting and the Council further city were held in Shymkent Forum of mutual the potential discuss to platforms than more During these events, cooperation. were both countries from 300 entrepreneurs issues of business spheres, discussing the pilot launch joint to including the proposal projects on industry of enterprises, cooperation outcome, an production. As cluster and through with a total signed were agreements eight 62 million. of USD amount Investment projects. joint new launch of the already capital are projectsUzbek with region Turkistan the in implemented Interregional Forum “Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan” Interregional “Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan” Forum of Forum Economic the Regional and in Astana, Tashkent. in countries Asian Central interaction is the provision of reciprocal tariff tariff of reciprocal is the provision interaction routes. transit the in non-tariffand preferences Kazakhstan from routes various to Transit Uzbekistan through or from countries Asian Uzbekistan Russia via Kazakhstan to is another in increase A significant advantage. existing Kazakhstan between cooperation transit and the launch of to Uzbekistan is expected related projects that communication new international with other regions. Asia will connect Central the signal should be the new reform of should be the new reform the signal foreign of the inflow Uzbekistan increase to and social economy the country’s capital into Cardinal for Measures “On Decree The sphere. in the Climate of the Investment Improvement 2018, in August signed Republic of Uzbekistan”, the investment is an important improve to step 6 EUCACIS in Brief No. 6 - Recent changes in the Kazakh-Uzbek relations: Interview with Erkin Baydarov measures to counter terrorism effectively. itself and take all directed against Kazakhstan asactions directed againstUzbekistan actions would takeany mentioned that Kazakhstan region. President Nursultan Nazarbayev once set agoodtrend for othercountries inthe borderregistration could oftheKazakh-Uzbek completion ofdemarcation andthefinallegal about 4%ofthetotal length. To accelerate the ofthe border,on somesections occupying to isexpected settle.Uzbekistan Issuesremained and of thestate border between Kazakhstan in theregion ofCentral Asia. creation ofastablesystem ofcollective security the Central Asian Economic Area; andfinally, the ofintegrationprojects withintheframework of at theborders; theimplementation ofthe the elimination oftensions conflicts andarmed region; to resist thecapability regional conflicts; inthe ofthepoliticalstability the preservation countries share fundamental long-term interests: issupposedto beevenUzbekistan closer. Both and the cooperation between Kazakhstan cooperation, urge to believe that inthefuture security, stability, anddiversification ofbilateral region that bothstates have incommon, suchas international cooperation inCentral Asia. The of aspects which isoneofthemost important the Astana-Tashkent axis a political duumvirate, Therefore, Iwould prefer to calltheformation of contradictions between states.leads to certain prefers bilateral cooperation that sometimes with itsneighbours, while Tashkent traditionally endeavours to create integration structures no otheroption,even thoughAstana always task for bothAstana and Tashkent. There is EB: Developing bilateral cooperation isahuge relations? in thedevelopment ofKazakh-Uzbek your3: In view, what istherole ofAstana wider cooperation intheregion. breakthrough that would lay thefoundation for and water-energy cooperation, itwould bea

Besides, theprocedure ofdelimitation Meanwhile, national interests inthe development. intheregionstability andfor itspeaceful is theirshared responsibility for and security Astana and Tashkent shouldnotforget about that continue. aspects One of theimportant Asia, aswell asthestrugglefor resources, will aware that thegeopoliticalgamesinCentral Tajikistan. Astana Both and Tashkent are well of unitingwithKyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and political blocinCentral Asia whichiscapable laying thefoundation ofapossiblemilitary- sphere. shows that It Astana and Tashkent are 27 years of bilateral relations in the military the firstsuchdocument concluded inalmost is education. It combat training andofmilitary ofjoint operationalemphasizes activities and was signed between bothcountries which cooperation plan 2018,amilitary agenda. In many issuesontheinternational andregional positions of the two countries coincide on cooperation isstrengtheningmilitary the fast. with eachothervery in border regions allows to establishcontacts business. Without interference, external working which creates favourable conditions for Central Asia isalready aimingat thisdirection, of theAssociation ofHeadsBorder Regions of conference ontheestablishment inSamarkand statement in2017at the international and multilateral relations. Mirziyoyev’s Shavkat in Central Asia to achieve ofbilateral thestability implementing anumberofintegration projects -intensify in their jointUzbekistan efforts largest and states intheregion -Kazakhstan itseemsadvisablethat the two thisaspect, In needsto beincluded.academic connection component,and humanitarian acreative and economic cooperation cultural andarich relations. additionto afruitfulpoliticaland In deepens theentire range ofKazakh-Uzbek Central Asia require that Astana expands and national, regional in and international security countries.the neighbouring butalsofor andUzbekistan only for Kazakhstan not mostly creates Opportunities opportunities. emergence ofsuchan “axis” isnotathreat, but The fact that notonlyeconomicThe butalso fact The complex contemporary challengesto

EUCACIS in Brief No. 6 - Recent changes in the Kazakh-Uzbek relations: Interview with Erkin Baydarov 7 Moreover, the further of the expansion Moreover, “Year Itduring worthis the that mention to in of Kazakhstan” “Year Discussing the Kazakhstan theatrical groups of musical and Uzbekistan.demonstrate filmmakers from Uzbek of screenings competitive at films their feature in held festivals Kazakhstan.film partnership and research universities between also issues were These is advisable. institutes the Institute 2018 at discussed in mid-August of History of of Sciences of the Academy “Prospects Table Uzbekistanduring Roundthe of Kazakh-Uzbek the development for scientific mobility academic Systematizing cooperation.” can be an opportunity cooperation. for for 10 000 grants allocate decision to The Kazakh to students the admission of Uzbek start. to a good case was universities Graduates in the obtain higher education will be able to humanitarianand medical technical, economic, of 30 Kazakh any at spheres universities, basis. academies on a preferential and institutes diplomas of recognizing In addition, the process In this is under realization. of higher education opinion, the issue of opening in my context, Kazakh-Uzbek and Uzbek-Kazakh (in Shymkent) Jizzakh) or is relevant. Tashkent (in universities and development technological Investments, of the quality of human the improvement be beneficial to appears in the region resources all parties. for in Kazakhstan, a Kazakh initiative of Uzbekistan” of both of visa regimes on mutual recognition (‘Silk countries third from tourists for countries solution of this issue will The is important. visa’) the crossing countries of foreign citizens allow Kazakh-Uzbek along sites visit tourist to border (Samarkand, Silk Road Bukhara, routes the Great Turkistan, That etc.). will Shymkent, Taraz, Sairam, further opportunities mutual tourist promote number of an increasing to and contribute region. in our tourists foreign that Uzbekistan, should also mention we of the Resolutionthe March of the President the wide study and “On Republic of Uzbekistan heritage of the great of the creative propaganda Kazakh Kunanbayev” poet and thinker Abai . 3 . The “Year of Uzbekistan” in Kazakhstanin Uzbekistan” of “Year The . 4 Moreover, ethnic minorities in each of the Moreover, These events should become a promise of a promise should become events These fraternal the two between rapprochement further to nations deepen their friendship of “Year the of announcement The relations. Kazakhstanin reflects genuinely the Uzbekistan” our between character relations of fraternal back in a glorious It common peoples. is rooted history and rich spiritual heritage both nations. of in Kazakhstan began of Uzbekistan” “Year The with a symbolic act in which Shavkat Mirziyoyev the Dostyk of the First Order awarded was degree 3 As of interviewing time, October 2018, were organised cultural cultural organised of interviewing October3 As 2018, were time, particularlyevents, concerts and performances in Saryagash, Taraz films in of feature days and Shymkent, Kyzylorda Turkistan, clothing and women’s of the Uzbek an exhibition and Shymkent, applied art of Kazakhstan and a kurultai of scientists in Astana and Uzbekistan in Almaty city. is a of Friendship) (the Order degree 4 Dostyk of the First Order of the Republic of Kazakhstan, individuals to award state awarded in society and civil consensus of international the promotion for between friendship and cooperation of peace, and the promotion peoples. Within the framework of the “Year of “Year the of framework the Within EB: in the 200 events than more Uzbekistan”, and and cultural tourism, of economy, sphere in Kazakhstan planned were humanitarian area 4: 2018 was the “Year of Uzbekistan” in of Uzbekistan” “Year the was 4: 2018 “Year Kazakhstan, 2019 will be and the Uzbekistan.in In your Kazakhstan” of contribute will these events how opinion, ties in the of cultural the development to region? should not just become a symbol of Kazakh-should not just become but friendship and good-neighbourliness, Uzbek to strengthening contribution also a significant the partnership and civilizational and cultural and Cultural of the whole region. rapprochement an important play to urged humanitarian ties are here. role their in culture of spheres various use republics art instance, universal its with For life. daily more be could communication of language dialogue between activelythe cultural used in of Artisans Fair Asian Central The the nations. collaboration. exemplified masters with Uzbek ArtAlmaty galleries in Astana, and museums of works and other cities scheduled exhibitions to tours were There artists. famous Uzbek by 8 EUCACIS in Brief No. 6 - Recent changes in the Kazakh-Uzbek relations: Interview with Erkin Baydarov Uzbekistan willbeheldat ahighlevel.Uzbekistan is apledgethat the “Year ofKazakhstan” in poetandthinkerinUzbekistan great Kazakh broadly study and promote of the the heritage including Uzbeks. thisregard, In thedecisionto butalsoofall only ofKazakhs Turkic people, development ofthespiritual not the history in anindeliblemark (March 13,2013).Abai left