International Conference

«Conflicts in the Caucasus: History, the Present and Prospects for Resolution»

Baku (Azerbaijan) 22-23 October, 2012 and Tbilisi (Georgia) 25-26 October, 2012

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CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS FOR 2005

Economy

Afghanistan

10 January	—The Afghan presidential administration considers the possibility of an amnesty for those involved in the drug trade.
28 January	—Iran’s Deputy Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian says that the Islamic Republic of Iran is implementing four water resources projects in Afghanistan, to be completed within three years.
29 January	—U.N. representatives declare that unless the Afghan authorities establish control over drug production in the country, international assistance to Afghanistan will have to be reduced.
2 February	—The World Bank publishes a report saying that in the past two years the Afghan economy has grown by 50 percent.
20 February	—Afghanistan’s Water and Energy Minister Mohammad Ismael Khan says that the situation with electricity supply to Kabul has improved.
22 March	—President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan reaffirms his pledge to allocate $100 million for Afghan reconstruction. Out of this amount, a sum of $43.36 has already been utilized in the country.
27 March	—The United Nations issues a special report saying that the Afghan government’s ban on the cultivation of opium poppy has led to a decline in opium production in the country.
29 March	—It is reported that 660 thousand Afghans own mobile phones, that the state has acquired its own Internet domain (af), and that Microsoft Corporation has issued software supporting the Pashto and Dari languages.
1 April	—Iran’s Ministry of Agriculture announces that Tehran has implemented 22 projects to develop farming areas in Afghanistan.
4 April	—An international donor conference opens in Kabul.
5 April	—President Karzai says that food and other humanitarian aid does not reach the addressee.
7 April	—The Asian Development Bank allocates $80 million for key works in rebuilding the Afghan infrastructure.
12 April	—Copper coins of 1, 2 and 5 afghanis are put into circulation.
29 May	—The Ministry of Finance announces the introduction of a new income tax from September 2005.
30 May	—Afghanistan is included in the U.N. Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA).
9 June	—A trade exhibition with the participation of companies from over 30 countries opens in Kabul.
15 June	—Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister K. Tokaev declares Astana’s readiness to invest in the Afghan economy.
21 June	—A donor conference for Afghanistan is held in Britain.
28 June	—The Ministry of Transport launches a project to restore the country’s second largest international airport (in Mazar-i-Sharif).
28 June	—The Asian Development Bank allocates $30 million for the construction of regional airports in the cities of Bamiyan, Chaghcharan, Feyzabad, Farah, Maymana, Qal’eh-ye Now and Zaranj.
30 June	—The authorities in Bagram and Kalakan begin to allocate land plots to returned Afghan refugees.
30 June	—Deputy Commerce Minister Gulyam Nabi Farah reports an increase in the export of Afghan carpets.
5 July	—Mohammad Azim Wardak, in charge of foreign trade at the Ministry of Commerce, reports a 30% increase in the share of Chinese imports (to 25% of Afghanistan’s total imports).
7 July	—The government adopts a law on natural resources, under which private sector investment in the exploration, prospecting and development of mineral deposits and oil and gas fields can reach 100%.
9 August	—Spain allocates 10 million euros to Afghanistan for the construction of water supply systems and roads, and also medical institutions in Badghis Province.
13 August	—About 300 Siemens-made public telephone booths installed by a private Afghan company are put into service in Kabul.
20 September	—The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) publishes a report saying that in 2005 area under poppy cultivation in Afghanistan decreased by 21%, from 131 thousand to 104 thousand hectares.
21 September	—President Karzai issues a decree partially exempting exporters (primarily exporters of carpets and other goods produced in the country) from customs payments for the next three years.
20 October	—Commerce Minister Hedayat Amin-Arsalla calls on the ECO countries to invest in Afghanistan.
9 November	—A new five-star hotel, Serena, opens in Kabul. It is the first hotel built in the capital since the fall of the Taliban regime.
9-10 November	—A seminar of ECO countries on Afghan reconstruction is held in Kabul.
28 November	—The government launches a campaign to privatize state-owned companies.
28 November	—It is announced that specialists from Germany’s Lufthansa are to act as consultants in the reform of Afghanistan’s Ariana Airlines.
29 November	—The authorities declare their intention to transfer the country’s natural resources to private companies through public auctions.
30 November	—Water and Energy Minister Mohammad Ismael Khan says that no more than 6% of the country’s population have access to electricity.
5 December	—Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah speaks of China’s great contribution to the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
7 December	—Representatives of Afghanistan’s Habib Gulzar Non-Alcoholic Beverages Firm report the opening of a new bottling plant in Kabul (jointly with Coca-Cola Company).
8 December	—An exhibition of Iranian producers is inaugurated in Herat, followed by a meeting between Afghan and Iranian businessmen.
9 December	—The first meeting of the Afghan-American business support fund is held in Kabul.
11 December	—Under the national telephone program, another 11 provinces are linked to the integrated digital communications system with the installation of 35 thousand new telephone lines.
18 December	—The Bakhtar vegetable oil plant resumes work in Mazar-i-Sharif. The plant is restarted by a French company which has acquired 60% of its shares.

Republic of Armenia

11 January	—The Republic of Armenia and the World Bank sign a Dutch grant agreement (4,760 million euros) connected with the poverty reduction assistance credit.
15 January	—The government of Great Britain and the government of Armenia discuss a proposal for repayment of 10% of the debt (about $20 million) owed to the International Development Partnership.
23 March	—The Armenian-American Commission for Economic Cooperation signs an action program designed to improve fiscal administration, strengthen the banking system, fight corruption, enhance business activity and strengthen cooperation in a number of other areas.
April	—The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Armenia sign an agreement on the construction of a 141 km gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia. The cost of the project is about $150 million, and its construction is to be completed in January 2007.
7 April	—Within the framework of bilateral cooperation, the governments of Armenia and Germany sign two agreements: on a nature protection program and a program to promote renewable energy. Under the first program, Armenia is to receive 2.2 million euros (at the initial stage), and under the second, a soft loan (6 million euros) and a grant (1.5 million euros).
2 May	—Erevan hosts the 10th meeting of the Armenian-American working group on economic cooperation.
5-6 June	—The 7th meeting of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) Board of Governors and a Black Sea Business Day are held in Erevan.
July	—Viva Cell starts working in the country as a second mobile operator, ending the monopoly in this area that has existed since 1998.
1 July	—The National Assembly adopts a Law on Currency Regulation and Currency Control.
1 July	—The Central Bank starts implementing a system designed to guarantee personal deposits.
1 July	—The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development becomes the holder of 25% + 1 share of ArmEconomBank.
20 July	—Armenian Finance Minister Vardan Khachatrian and Roger Robinson, World Bank country manager for Armenia, sign a new $20 million credit program for the development of rural enterprise and small-scale commercial agriculture (RESCAD) in Armenia, approved by the World Bank Board of Directors on 7 July.
20 July	—Armenia and the World Bank sign a $15 million Urban Heating Project (UHP) for Armenia, approved by the World Bank Board of Directors on 12 July.
20 July	—The head of Armenia’s State Tax Service and the head of the Armenian Office of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) sign a memorandum of understanding on the tax administration reform being implemented in the republic.
September	—With the consent of the Armenian government, RAO UES of Russia acquires the Armenian Electric Network closed joint-stock company.
11 November	—The National Assembly adopts a package of laws on mandatory payments.
December	—Based on the results of an international tender, the Erevan Vodokanal closed joint-stock company passes from EL. Utilite (Italy) to General Deso (France), which has pledged to invest $22.2 million in the Erevan water-supply and sewerage system over the next 10 years.
13 December	—For the first time in the 10-year history of the government bond market in Armenia, the Ministry of Finance and Economy issues government coupon bonds with a maturity period of 15 years (distribution volume— AMD 1,160 billion, average yield—8.82%).
16 December	—The Millennium Challenge Account informs the Armenian authorities that the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has approved a five-year compact with Armenia worth $235.65 million.

Azerbaijan Republic

3 January	—A Central Credit Register is created at the National Bank of Azerbaijan.
7 February	—The country’s president signs a decree on the redenomination of the national currency (manat) from 1 January, 2006.
8-9 February	—The working group on the project for the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku Rail Corridor holds its first meeting, and the coordinating commission for the North-South international transportation corridor, its second meeting.
25 February	—An Azerbaijani-Italian business forum takes place in Rome.
1 March	—Allowances to low-income categories of the population are raised.
4 March	—Azerbaijan starts exporting crude oil from the Central Azeri field.
12 March	—The government reschedules Georgia’s debt to Azerbaijan a second time.
31 March	—The Azerbaijani-Turkish Association of Businessmen initiates the establishment of a Union of Eurasian Businessmen.
27 April	—Azerbaijan and Georgia sign a memorandum of cooperation on securities.
4 May	—Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran sign an agreement (under the North-South project) on the construction of the Qazvin-Rasht-Anzali-Astara railway.
25 May	—Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia sign an agreement on the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku Rail Corridor.
23 June	—The EU-Azerbaijan Cooperation Committee meets in Baku.
23-24 June and 30 June-1 July	—Business forums with representatives of France and Kazakhstan, respectively, are held in Baku.
5 July	—The National Bank takes a decision to double (from 1 January, 2006) the requirements on the minimum authorized capital of new banks.
6 July	—Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan sign a protocol on expanding economic cooperation.
14 July	—Baku hosts a regular meeting of the GUAM steering committee for the trade and transport facilitation project.
29 July	—The first million barrels of Azerbaijani oil is pumped into the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
16 August	—The State Oil Company signs another contract with RAFI OIL EfZeI(United Arab Emirates).
19 August	—The International Bank of Azerbaijan signs an agreement with a number of Western banks on raising a $56 million syndicated loan.
1 September	—The country’s government increases the allowances paid out in place of the abolished benefits for public utility, transport and other services.
6 September	—Legislative amendments reducing the time for state registration of enterprises from 40 to 5 days enter into force.
17 September	—A State Committee on Management of State Property is set up in the country.
1 October	—The government raises the minimum wage by 20%; the NBA discount rate is increased once again (to 9% per annum).
8 October	—A declaration on the establishment of a Union of Eurasian Businessmen is signed in Baku.
26 October	—The Employment Strategy for 2006-2015 is approved.
27 October	—A state commission is established for indexing deposits with the U.S.S.R. Sberbank made by the republic’s citizens prior to 1992.
18 November	—The 2006 State Budget is approved.
22 November	—A World Bank mission on agricultural development credit begins its work.
1 December	—An IMF mission on accelerating the development of the non-oil sector begins its work.
22 December	—A Mortgage Fund is set up at the National Bank of Azerbaijan.

Georgia

1 January	—The new Tax Code and the Law on Amnesty and Legalization of Undeclared Tax Liabilities and Property enter into force.
1 January	—Pensions are doubled to 28 lari (about $15.5).
18 January	—One of the largest Russian banks acquires a controlling interest in the United Bank of Georgia.
24 January	—Freight carriers from Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kazakhstan sign a protocol on increasing freight transportation through the Aktau port.
24 January	—Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and Evraz Group SA President Alexander Abramov sign a memorandum on the terms of sale of JSC Chiatura Manganese and JSC Vartsikhe Hydropower Complex.
27 January	—Armstrong Holding ASP is declared the winner of a privatization tender for the Georgia Shipping Company.
1 February	—An arbitration board for resolving tax disputes is set up at the Ministry of Finance.
8 February	—By decision of the Supreme Court, the controlling stake in the Rustavi Steel Factory is returned to the state.
1 March	—Tobacco products are banned for sale in merchandise markets.
23 March	—A ferry crossing is opened between the Georgian port of Poti and the Russian post of Kavkaz.
23 March	—Armstrong Holding ASP refuses to take part in the privatization of the Georgia Shipping Company; the company is acquired (for $93 million) by Britain’s Marine Capital.
25 March	—Parliament adopts a Law on the Property of Local Self-Government Units.
26 April	—Parliament makes amendments to the Tax Code regarding the resolution of tax disputes in private arbitration.
16 May	—Georgia signs a contract with a consortium of companies (A&J, GTS and Celebi) for the construction of a new air terminal in Tbilisi.
25 May	—At a meeting in Baku, representatives of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey sign a declaration on the project for the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railroad.
3 June	—Georgia is ranked third in Forbes magazine’s Employee Happiness Index.
3 June	—Parliament adopts a Law on Free Trade and Competition.
21 June	—Evraz Group SA, one of the largest integrated mining and metallurgical groups operating in Russia, announces its withdrawal from the deal to acquire Georgia’s JSC Chiatura Manganese and JSC Vartsikhe Hydropower Complex.
24 June	—Parliament adopts a Law on Licenses and Permits, which abolishes most licenses and permits.
1 July	—Under the Tax Code, VAT is reduced from 20% to 18%.
10 August	—Azerbaijan oil carried by the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline crosses the Georgian border.
1 September	—Amendments to the Enterprise Law under which all business registration procedures are to be performed by a single agency—the Tax Inspectorate—enter into force.
12 October	—The presidents of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey take part in a ceremony to open the Georgian section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline.
2 November	—The Ministry of Economic Development declares Britain’s Stanton Equities Corporation (a subsidiary of Russia’s Industrial Investors group) the winner of an international privatization tender for a 97.25% stake in the JSC Madneuli mining and processing company and a 50% stake in the Trans Georgian Resource Ltd mineral prospecting and exploration company.
6 December	—Georgia is assigned “B+” long-term and “B” short-term sovereign credit ratings by Standard & Poor’s rating agency.
23 December	—Parliament approves the 2006 state budget.

Republic of Kazakhstan

1 January	—In accordance with the Law on Mandatory Social Insurance, a mandatory social insurance system whose main purpose is partial compensation of income lost as a result of exposure to social risks (disability, loss of job or breadwinner) is introduced in the republic.
31 January	—President Nazarbaev takes part in the work of a national conference on the agroindustrial complex (Astana).
8 April	—A conference entitled “Industrial Innovation Development Strategy: Peopleware for the IT Industry” is held for the first time on the initiative of private business with the participation of representatives of the state, educational institutions and NGOs.
25 April	—The government approves a program for the creation and development of a national innovation system in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2005-2015, which provides for two main vectors: first, the creation and development of an appropriate infrastructure and, second, the development of an effective system of relations between the agents of innovative activity.
12 May	—A Model for the Development of Regional Technology Parks is approved in the republic.
16 May	—Parliament passes a Law on Amendments and Addenda to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the State Budget for 2005.
May	—Amendments and addenda to the Law on Investment designed to simplify the procedure for granting preferences to private investors implementing investment projects enter into force. Parliament passes a Law on Amendments and Addenda to Some RK Legislative Acts Concerning Investment, which provides for an easing of the conditions for granting customs privileges in the import of equipment and components for the implementation of investment projects.
6-10 June	—A delegation from the republic takes part in a meeting of the Working Party on Kazakhstan’s WTO accession, in plurilateral negotiations on agriculture, and in a regular round of bilateral negotiations with member countries of the Working Party on market access for goods and services (Geneva).
28 June	—Parliament passes a Law on State Allowances to Families with Dependent Children.
June	—Parliament passes a Law on Amendments and Addenda to the RK Law on Measures to Protect the Domestic Market in the Import of Goods.
29 August	—Kazakhstan representatives hold a working meeting with experts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea, at which the parties discuss the renewed proposals for access to the Kazakhstan services market (Seoul).
17 September	—The government adopts a decision on amendments and addenda to Government Decision No. 436 of 8 May, 2003, On Some Matters Relating to the Implementation of the RK Law on Investment.
29 September	—The head of state signs a Law on Amendments and Addenda to the RK Law on Transport (to enter into force on 1 January, 2006).
30 September	—A Protocol on Amendments and Addenda to the Free Trade Agreement between the Governments of Kazakhstan and Georgia is ratified.
3 October	—During President Nazarbaev’s official visit to Georgia, the parties sign a number of bilateral documents, including an agreement between the governments of the two states on mutual visits by citizens, a program of trade and economic cooperation for 2006-2010, and a program of trade, economic, scientific, technical and humanitarian cooperation between Kazakhstan’s Mangistau Region and Georgia’s Ajarian Autonomous Republic.
11 October	—President Nazarbaev takes part in the work of an international conference entitled “Kazakhstan-2030 Strategy in Action.”
11 October	—A limited partnership called Information Technology Park Management Company is set up in the republic.
28 October	—President Nazarbaev takes part in the work of a congress of Kazakhstan businessmen.
13-18 December	—A Kazakhstan delegation takes part in the 6th Ministerial Conference of the WTO in Hong Kong.
15 December	—The Atasu-Alashankou pipeline is opened at an official ceremony.

Kyrgyz Republic

15 February	—President Askar Akaev signs a Law On the Budget of the Kyrgyz Republic for 2005.
1 April	—The government adopts a decision On Reviewing Excise Tax Rates for Some Kinds of Excisable Goods, which raises excise taxes on hard drinks, beer and other commodity groups.
2 April	—The president signs a decree On Raising the Insurance Part of Pensions in 2005, which provides for a differentiated increase it the insurance part of pensions from 1 May, 2005 (by an average of 30%).
28 April	—The president signs a decree On Wage Rises for Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which provides for a 50% increase from 1 May, 2005.
1 June	—The president signs a decree On Wage Rises for Workers in Education and Health Care of the Kyrgyz Republic, under which their wages (excluding higher education institutions) are to go up by 50% from 1 May, 2005.
22 June	—The Cabinet of Ministers adopts a decision On Amendments to KR Government Decision No. 430 of 23 June, 1997, On Measures to Step Up the Fight Against Illegal Exports and Sales of Tobacco Products.
4-5 September	—President Kurmanbek Bakiev pays a working visit to the Russian Federation, during which the parties reach an agreement on matters of economic and military cooperation.
27 September	—A Kyrgyz delegation takes part in a meeting of the EurAsEC Interstate Council at the level of heads of state (Dushanbe).
29 September	—Prime Minister Felix Kulov pays a working visit to Kazakhstan, during which agreements are reached with Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Danial Akhmetov on matters of labor migration and customs policy.
13-18 December	—A Kyrgyz delegation takes part in the 6th WTO Ministerial Conference, which deals with matters of abolishing farm subsidies and reducing tariffs on producer goods (Hong Kong).

Republic of Tajikistan

1 January	—Two new codes—the Tax Code and the Customs Code—enter into force.
1 January	—Minimum capital requirements for commercial banks, credit unions and microfinance institutions are raised.
12 January	—At a meeting in Dushanbe, Iran, Tajikistan and Russia sign a protocol of intentions on completing the construction of two hydropower plants, Sangtuda-1 and Sangtuda-2.
March	—The IMF Executive Board completes the fourth review of Tajikistan’s economic reform program under the IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF).
4 March	—President Emomali Rakhmonov signs a decree approving a strategy for settling farmers’ debts developed by the government and the National Bank.
29 March	—A Tajik-Turkish business forum is held in Dushanbe.
31 March	—A World Bank report on Tajikistan’s public expenditure and institutional framework is presented in Dushanbe.
12 April	—The Asian Development Bank (ADB) office in Dushanbe holds a press conference to announce the approval of a new three-year strategy backed by loans in the amount of $120 million.
18-29 April	—A Tajik government delegation takes part in the second meeting of the working party on Tajikistan’s WTO accession in Geneva.
May	—The National Bank lowers the required reserve ratio for commercial banks from 18% to 15%.
May	—The Ministry of Finance issues short-term treasury bills (with a maturity of 28 days).
20 May	—The 4th business forum of the Central Asian Cooperation Organization (CACO) is held in Dushanbe.
11 June	—The energy ministers of Tajikistan and Iran meeting in Tehran sign a memorandum of understanding on the construction of the Sangtuda-2 Hydropower Plant.
16-17 June	—An international banking conference organized by the government and the National Bank under the auspices of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is held in Dushanbe.
26 June	—U.N. Millennium Project Director Jeffrey Sachs and Queen Noor of Jordan on behalf of the United Nations and President Rakhmonov of Tajikistan sign a memorandum of cooperation in drafting a National Development Strategy for 2006-2015.
28 June	—The 8th session of the Intergovernmental Russian-Tajik Commission on International Cooperation is held in Dushanbe.
29-30 June	—The participants in a workshop organized in Dushanbe by the World Bank Institute and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) discuss problems of improving the investment climate.
July	—The World Bank approves a new strategy of assistance to Tajikistan for 2006-2009 and allocates $120 million for this purpose.
9 July	—President Rakhmonov signs a decree establishing a coordinating council to elaborate the National Development Strategy for 2006-2008.
7-14 September	—An IMF mission approves the fifth review under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility and makes the next disbursement to Tajikistan in the amount of $14.3 million.
27 September	—Dushanbe hosts a meeting of CACO and EurAsEC heads of state.
12 December	—The country’s parliament passes the 2006 State Budget Law.
12 December	—Under the Millennium Project initiated by the United Nations, the government of Tajikistan presents a draft of its National Development Strategy at the U.N. headquarters in New York.
19 December	—Within the framework of the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative, the IMF Executive Board includes Tajikistan among 19 countries eligible for cancellation of debt owed to the IMF, enabling the republic to reduce its external debt burden by another $99 million.
20 December	—The 5th session of the Tajik-Turkish Commission on Economic Cooperation meets in Dushanbe to discuss the issue of opening regular flights by Turkish airlines via the Dushanbe airport, the construction of new Turkish hotels in Tajikistan, and other matters.

Turkmenistan

1 January	—Public sector wages, pensions and student grants are raised by 50%. According to President Niyazov, the average wage in the republic at the beginning of the year is 2.25 million manats ($90 at the market exchange rate).
14 February	—A new cement plant with a total cost of $160 million and a capacity of 1 million tons of cement per year is opened in the vicinity of Kelyata (70 km from Ashghabad). The plant was built by Turkey’s Gap Inshaat company.
15 April	—President Niyazov meets Alexey Miller, the head of Gazprom. The parties reach an agreement to resume gas supplies to Russia.
21 May	—The president dismisses Elly Kurbanmuradov, deputy prime minister in charge of the fuel and energy sector, “for serious dereliction of duty and abuse of public authority for personal gain.”
23 May	—Agricultural producers start harvesting wheat. The plan is to gather 3.1 million tons, or 300,000 tons more than a year ago (as shown above, this target was not achieved).
26 May	—The president opens two textile mills: in Vekilbazar (in the south of the republic) and Khalach (in the east).
30 May	—The government authorizes two consulting firms, DeGolyer & MacNaughton (U.S.) and Gaffney, Cline & Associates Ltd (Britain), to audit the country’s oil and gas reserves.
24 June	—Ashghabad and Kiev conclude an agreement on payment for Turkmen gas supplies in the second half of 2005 and in 2006 for the amount of about $2 billion. Ukraine is to pay $44 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas at the Turkmen-Uzbek border only in foreign currency (without barter).
28 June	—Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (MTS), a telecoms operator in Russia and the CIS, announces the acquisition of a 51% stake in Barash Communications Technologies Inc. (BCTI), an American company with a branch operating in Turkmenistan. The transaction amount is $28.05 million. In addition, MTS pledges to buy out the remaining 49% of the company’s shares within eight months (given compliance with certain conditions).
1 July	—Turkmenobahyzmat, an association providing technical services for agriculture, signs a contract with the Minsk Tractor Plant for the acquisition of 500 tractors and 500 plows for a total of about $19 million.
11 July	—The National Institute of State Statistics and Information reports that wheat in the amount of 3 million tons has been delivered to procurement stations (a record figure for the republic).
30 August	—A new medium-range Boeing 717, the second airplane purchased by Turkmenistan Airlines during the year, arrives in Ashghabad.
14 September	—A gas compressor station is put into service in the Korpezhe field in western Turkmenistan, which will make it possible to increase gas supplies to Iran.
11 October	—Around 30 construction projects worth a total of $250 million are commissioned on the eve of Turkmenistan’s Independence Day (27 October).
12 October	—President Niyazov demands that Ukraine pay its gas debts by the end of the year.
1 November	—Russia’s Mobile TeleSystems announces that it has acquired the remaining 49% stake in the U.S. Barash Communications Technologies Inc., the leading mobile phone operator in Turkmenistan.
18 November	—President Niyazov announces that the export price for Turkmen gas is to be raised to $60 per 1,000 cubic meters.
7 December	—The Law on Hydrocarbon Resources is adopted in a new wording, which limits the powers of the country’s oil and gas concerns. From now on, the use of hydrocarbon resources and performance of oil operations are subject to the direct control of President Niyazov.
15 December	—The president abolishes Turkmenneftegaz, the state corporation engaged in purchase and sale of oil, natural gas and their products. Turkmengaz, the state-run gas concern, is appointed as its successor in the implementation of contracts and agreements for the export of natural gas, and the Turkmenbashi Oil Refinery Complex, in the export of oil products and liquefied gas.
19 December	—President Niyazov approves the Law on the 2006 State Budget, with revenues and expenditures projected at TMM 81.3 trillion.

Republic of Uzbekistan

28 January	—At a joint session of the Oliy Majlis Senate and Legislative Chamber, President Karimov outlines the priorities of economic reforms for the year.
3 February	—An expert group meets to discuss the recommendations set forth in a report of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) entitled “The Business Environment in Uzbekistan as Seen by Small and Medium Enterprises” (based on the results for 2003) and draws up an action plan for their implementation.
7 February	—At a meeting with government members, President Karimov formulates the basic requirements and principles of the Cabinet’s work to implement the declared priorities.
18 February	—The Cabinet discusses the results of the country’s socioeconomic development in 2004.
12 March	—The government, the Central Bank and a mission of the International Monetary Fund issue a press release, in which the IMF mission notes, in particular, that the country’s overall economic indicators for 2004 were very good and makes a number of recommendations for a further deepening of the reform process.
24 March	—President Karimov issues a decree On Deepening the Economic Reforms and Accelerating the Development of the Building Materials Industry.
4-6 April	—President Karimov pays a state visit to India.
4-6 April	— The Asian Development Bank (ADB) releases a report entitled Asian Development Outlook, which says that the government’s firm economic policy has led to further macroeconomic adjustment in the republic, but notes that progress in the field of structural reforms has been uneven.
10 May	—At President Karimov’s invitation, President Roh Moo Hyun of the Republic of Korea visits Uzbekistan. An Uzbek-Korean business forum is held within the framework of the visit.
14 June	—President Karimov issues two decrees, On Measures to Improve the System of Legal Protection for Business Entities and On Measures to Accelerate the Implementation of Priorities in the Deepening of Market Reforms and Further Liberalization of the Economy.
18 July	—Madam Wu Yi, Vice Premier of the PRC State Council, pays a working visit to Uzbekistan. As a result of her talks with President Islam Karimov, Prime Minister Shavkat Mirzieev and First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov, the parties sign 12 documents for the amount of $150 million.
26 August	—President Karimov takes part in the Kazan summit of CIS countries.
21 September	—President Karimov signs a decision On a Reduction in the Number and Simplification of Authorization Procedures for Business Activity.
26 September	—President Karimov receives the chairman of the board of the Russian company Gazprom. During the meeting, there is an exchange of views on matters of developing and implementing new projects.
2-4 October	—President Karimov pays a state visit to Malaysia, which results in the issue of a joint statement and the signing of a number of intergovernmental agreements on bilateral economic cooperation. An Uzbek-Malaysian business forum takes place within the framework of the visit.
10-11 October	—The 8th session of the Russian-Uzbek Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation sums up the results of interaction between the ministries, agencies, regions and business entities of Russia and Uzbekistan over the past year and discusses plans of joint work for 2006.
9-10 November	—ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda visits Uzbekistan as part of his official mission to the countries of Central Asia. During meetings with government representatives, he discusses ADB assistance programs and the importance of regional cooperation for the further development of the Central Asian countries and for poverty reduction.
14-15 November	—President Karimov pays an official visit to Russia. Based on the results of his talks with Vladimir Putin, the two presidents sign a treaty of alliance between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation. An agreement is also signed between the chambers of commerce and industry of the two states.
12-14 December	—During a visit to Moscow, a delegation of Uzbekistan’s State Property Committee headed by its Chairman Mahmudjon Askarov meets with senior executives of major Russian companies. At this meeting, Mr Askarov sets forth Uzbekistan’s strategy of interaction with Russian investors, according to which, based on the treaty of alliance between the two states, priority in privatization projects in Uzbekistan is to be given to Russian investors operating in the respective areas.