Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
www.innercitypress.com/un1cenasia033009.html
UNITED NATIONS, March 30 -- The five Central Asian nations' Ambassadors to the UN presented a united front on Monday, announcing a Nuclear-Free Zone and taking questions from the Press. This open session had some irony, since Reporters Without Border has decried trends of violence against journalists, most recently in the Kyrgrz Republic, where Syrgak Abdyldaev of "Reporter-Bishkek" was the victim of an organized stabbing earlier this month.
Inner City Press asked about his case, and about the murder of journalist Alisher Saipov in 2007 in Osh, a Kyrgyz city from which others fleeing Uzbekistan are deported or, in this case, killed.
Kyrgyz Ambassador Nurbek Jeenbaev told Inner City Press he would have no comment, the case is still under investigation and each case stands alone, there is no trend. Video here, from Minute 35:33.
Uzbek Ambassador Murad Askarov did not answer the question when Inner City Press asked it, but rather, later in the press conference, told Inner City Press “you have been asking a lot of questions,” and suggested headlines about the positive nuclear free zone or even an Uzbek transfer station connected to South Korea, “for investors.” Video here, from Minute 44:47.
Inner City Press also asked about a dispute about the countries about hydro-electric dams, and whether environmental impact studies should be required. Tajikistan says no, its Deputy energy minister Pulod Muhiddinov said: "Tajikistan will finish building the Rogun [hydroelectric dam and reservoir] no matter who opposes it." Reportedly, in January the Uzbeks halted the transit of Turkmen electricity to Tajikistan, via their national grid. Video here, from minute 39:19.
But as Monday's joint press conference, Kyrgyz Ambassador Nurbek Jeenbaev told Inner City Press that the countries' presidents met in Bishkek last year and “discussed the questions raised by you” and that everything is fine. If you say so...
On nuclear weapons themselves, Inner City Press asked for comment on North Korea's plans for early April -- Inner City Press is told by a Security Council source to expect launch this Saturday at midnight, and an emergency Council meeting Sunday at noon -- and Kazakh Ambassador Byrganym Aitimova said the comment is clear like Kazakhstan, reject nuclear weapons. Video here, from Minute 42:06. Every country is free, though, she said...
