News Roundup - November 29, 2007

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty: Key OSCE gathering set for U.S.-Russia clash over democracy

Russia and the United States look set to clash over human rights and democracy this week when OSCE foreign ministers meet in Spain to assess competing visions for the future of the world’s largest regional security organization…

Eurasia Insight: Hare Krishna community faces uncertain future

A year after authorities precipitously demolished their dwellings, members of Kazakhstan’s Hare Krishna community still find themselves in legal limbo. The Krishnas insist they are victims of religious persecution, while authorities characterize the case as a property-rights matter…

Oil & Gas Journal: Kazakhstan, Eni JV near Kashagan tax agreement

Kazakhstan’s Deputy Finance Minister Daulet Yergozhin said the ministry is moving forward with tax checks into the Eni SPA-led Agip KCO consortium just days ahead of a Nov. 30 deadline for a deal between the consortium and the government on the Kashagan oil field…

Eurasian Home Analytical Resource: New personnel for the new economy: Kazakhstan’s experience

At the Second Forum of Intellectuals of the CIS countries, which was held in November 2007 in Astana, I was moderating the panel on the youth’s access to education, culture, etc. On the second day of the Forum, Head of the Russian State Committee for Youth Vasily Yakemenko arrived in Astana to take part in the event…

Wall Street Journal: Cnooc to target Caspian Sea area but avoid Russia

Chinese offshore-oil producer Cnooc Ltd. wants to buy assets in the prolific oil-producing region of the Caspian Sea but isn’t interested in Russia because the risks are too high, a senior company official said…

NASDAQ: Aureos Capital raises $50 mln from first closing of Central Asia fund

Aureos Capital said Wednesday that Aureos Central Asia Fund or ACAsF has raised US$50 million at its first fund closing. The fund is an initiative of Aureos Capital…

AltAssets: Aureos Central Asia Fund holds first closing on $50m

The Aureos Central Asia Fund has held a first closing on $50m. The fund is expected to raise $100m by June 2008. It will seek to invest between $2m and $10m in businesses in Kazakhstan and also in Azerbaijan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Georgia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan…

Gazeta.KZ: RK Foreign Affairs Minister to participate in OSCE Ministerial Council

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the republic of Kazakhstan, Marat Tazhin, will take part in OSCE Ministerial Council which will be held on November 29 - 30 in Madrid (Spain), as reported in the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the republic of Kazakhstan…

Kazinform: KPO announced completion of two infrastructure projects in Uralsk

Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. (KPO) announced the successful completion of two large infrastructure projects totalling $5.45 million in the West Kazakhstan Oblast (WKO). The therapeutic department of the WKO Oblast hospital along with the Youth Sports School stadium have undergone complete refurbishments…

Ferghana.ru: Beijing is quite generous to Central Asian countries

China is out to reequip the Turkmen army. The Tajik Defense Ministry expects military hardware, equipment, and uniforms for soldiers and officers from China within the framework of the state credit ($3 million) next year, a source in the government of Turkmenistan said…

Hindustan Times: ‘Disco Dancer’ Mithun still a favourite in Kazakhstan

Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy, aaja, aaja, the song from Mithun Chakraborty’s 1982 blockbuster Disco Dancer is a favourite with Marina Maximova and many others from her country, Kazakhstan. But current heartthrob Shah Rukh Khan is unknown there…