Turkic people do not distinguish between Turkish and
Turkic. For most of them, there is only one Turkish people
from Sakha to the Balkans/Europe, who speaks different
dialects of one Turkish Language. The distinction
between Turkish and Turkic is artificial and is a fabrication
of Stalin Era politics of divide et Impera.
"It should be noted that in no Turk dialect is there any
such differentiation as Turkic and Turkish. This
distinction is a new introduction into the politics of
nationalities, and exists in some Western languages as in
Russian ..."
"Only since the soviet language reforms especially of the
1930s, have the dialects been asserted to be individual and
unrelated Central Asian languages" They are, with
exception of Yakut and Chuvash, which are considered as
separate languages in Turkish Language family, mutually
intelligible."
We have insisted long in usage of Turkish instead of Turkic.
But meanwhile we have ascertained that this distinction is
so widespread that to insist only creates confusion. To avoid
confusion and only for this reason we make in our English
contributions the same distinction.
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
In this Edition:
1a. The Fourth Turkish People's Assembly Congress (26-29 August)
1b. 4. Turk halklari Asamblesi 26-29 Agustosta tolaniyor
2a. The First Turkish World Economy Congress will take place during 26-29
August,
2b. 1. Turk Dunyasi Iktisat Kongresi Toplaniyor
3. Chechen Reactions to Dep.Sec.Talbott speech-US-policy-Caucasus&Central
Asia (see TN 26, 24 July 1997)
Special section CASPIAN OIL AND GEOPOLITICS
4. THE CASPIAN SEA: NOBODY SAFE IN THE EYE OF THE STORM (Rossiskaya Gazeta,
19 July 1997)
5. Russia and Turkey clash over control of Bosphorus By Michael Rank (July
25 Reuter)
6. Think tank: 'Turkey could help Israel fight Syria and Iran' (Turkish
daily News, 28 July 1997)
7.WASHINGTON OKAYS TURKEY-TURKMENISTAN GAS PIPELINE VIA IRAN
8. PAKISTAN URGES AZERBAIJAN TO SUPPORT TURKMEN PIPELINE PROJECTS:
9. VOA Interview With Unocal Official in Mazar-e Sharif
10. Central Asia: Analysis From Washington--A Watershed In Central Asia
UIGHURS
11a. SEVEN MORE YOUNG UYGHURS ARE EXECUTED IN GHULJE
11b. GHULJIDA OCUQ SOT
12. World: Analysis From Washington: The Impact Of An Unstable China By
Paul Goble (RFE/RL 18 July 1997)
13. KYRGYZ NEWS - 27, 28 JULY 1997
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
1a. The Fourth Turkish People's Assembly Congress (26-29 August)
The Fourth Turkish People's Assembly Congress will take place during 26-29
August, 1997 in Izmir through the cooperation of the Turkish World Research
Foundation and the municipality of greater Izmir.
In this Congress, the Turkic Republics, Autnomous Turkic Republics; political
parties, establishments, foundations, and organizations that have been
elected by the Turkish peoples will be represented. Through a democratic
election a new head of assembly will be elected.
The Turkish Peoples Assembly is an international organization comprised of
the Turkic Republics, Autonomous Turkic Republics, political parties,
establishments, foundations, and organizations.
There are 39 political parties and organizations influential in various
countries that are members of the Assembly.
----------------------------------------------------------------
1b. 4. Turk halklari Asamblesi 26-29 Agustosta tolaniyor
26 - 29 Agustos 1997 gunleri arasinda Izmir'de Turk
Dunyasi Arastirmalari Vakfi ve Izmir Buyuk Sehir
Belediyesi isbirligi ile 4. TURK HALKLARI ASAMBLESI
KURULTAYI yapilacaktir.
Turk Cumhuriyetleri, Otonom Turk Cumhuriyetleri, ve
Turk Halklarinin secimle isbasina gelmis parti,
dernek, vakif ve teskilatlarinin katilacagi kongrede,
yine demokratik secimle yeni asamble baskani
secilecektir.
Turk Halklari Asamblesi, Turk Cumhuriyetleri,
Otonom Turk Cumhuriyetleri, ve Turk Halklari
arasinda kurulmus bulunan parti, dernek ve
vakiflarin birlesmesiyle kurulan uluslararasi
bir teskilattir. Bu teskilata cesitli ulkelerde
etkinlikte bulunan 39 siyasi parti ve teskilat uyedir.
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
2a. The First Turkish World Economy Congress will take place during 26-29
August,
The First Turkish World Economy Congress will take place during 26-29 August,
1997 in Izmir through the cooperation of the Turkish World Research
Foundation and the municipality of greater Izmir.
There will be 300 participants in this Congress including representatives
from the Republic of Turkey, Northern Cyprus Turkish Republic, Azerbaijan,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tatarstan, Chuvashstan, Bashkortstan,
Hakasya, Saka, Tuva, Crimea, Gagavusia; along with representatives of Turkic
peoples living in Balkaria, Dagestan, Qarachay, Sor, Televud, Macedonia,
Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, former Yugoslavia; as well as representatives of
Turks living in Germany, Holland, and the USA, and representatives of
Melungeons, and the Native Americans.
-------------------------------------------------------
2b. 1. Turk Dunyasi Iktisat Kongresi Toplaniyor
26 - 29 Agustos 1997 gunleri arasinda Turk Dunyasi
Arastirmalari Vakfi ve Izmir Buyuk Sehir Belediye
Baskanliginin ortak duzenlemesi ile 1. TURK DUNYASI
IKTISAT KONGRESI Izmir'de toplanacaktir.
Kongreye Turkiye, Kuzey Kibris Turk Cumhuriyeti,
Azerbaycan, Kazakistan, Kirgizistan, Turkmenistan,
Tataristan, Cuvasistan, Baskurdistan, Hakasya,
Saka, Tuva, Kirim, Gagavuzya, cumhuriyet ve otonom
cumhuriyetleri ile Balkarya, Dagistan, Karacay,
Sor, Teleut, Makedonya, Bulgaristan, Yunanistan,
Romanya, Yugoslavya'dan Turk halklari temsilcileri,
Almanya, Hollanda, ve ABD'de yasayan Turklerin
temsilcileri ile Meluncan ve kizilderili temsilciler
olmak uzere 300'e yakin kisi katilacaktir.
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
3. Chechen Reactions to Dep.Sec.Talbott speech-US-policy-Caucasus&Central
Asia (see TN 26, 24 July 1997)
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 1997 16:12:50 -0400
From: Mohammad Shashani <mms11@PSU.EDU>
Subject: Re-Dep.Sec.Talbott speech-US-policy-Caucasus&Central Asia
It is amazing to me that even today after the greatest military
defeat of a superpower since world war 2 , at the hands of freedom loving
partisans, and the loss of 100,000 civillian lives and the complete
destruction of the infrastucture of Chechenya,the US state Dept. Deputy
secretary Talbott doesn't think it is worth mentioning in his speech the war
in Chechenya. When discussing turmoil in the Caucasus, he mentions the
conflicts in Nagorno-Karabach and Abkhazia and he doesn't utter a word about
the war in Chechenya. All of us know that the war in Chechenya in terms of
fire power,number of troops,destruction and casualties outweighs the
conflicts in Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabach. During the war Talbott justified
Russia's use of force in Chechenya and still after the war he ignores the
existance of the Chechen Republic. We know that Talbott is the official who
shaped the American government's official position concerning Chechenya and
as long as he is in his position there will be no change in the US policy
toward Chechenya. The policy of appeasing Russia and giving them free hand
in the Caucasus will hurt the interests of the US in the future. Wheather
Talbott likes it or not the Chechen Republic-Ichkeria is for real and sooner
or later will be de-jure recognized by the International community and then
Chechenya will not look favorably at the interests of the US in the
Caucasus. It is very impotant for the US government to recognize the
strategic position of the Chechen Republic-Ichkeria in the Caucasus and its
esteem among the Caucasian republics. Eventhough Ichkeria is not recognized
as a de-jure independant state its President was given a full official
reception as a head of a foreign state by the government of Azerbaijan in a
recent trip. Georgia is intensifying its contacts with Ichkeria and mutual
economic relations are under discussion. There will be no peace and
tranquility in the Caucasus unless the Chechen Republic-Ichkeria is a full
partner in the decision making of the utilization of the natural resources
of the Caucasus for the benifit of all Caucasians. I would advise our US
government to solicit opinions other than Talbott's and start dialogue with
representatives of the Chechen Republic to know their point of view and to
discuss mutual economic relations. If we wait for the Russians to give us
the OK to talk with the Chechens while the Russians are signing numerous
economic agreements, the day will come when the Russians suddenly recognize
the independance of Ichkeria and we will be left out high and dry and it
will take longer time to undue the bitterness of the Chechen people towards
the collusion of the US government with the Russian government during the
war in Chechenya.
Mohammad Shashani
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
Special section CASPIAN OIL AND GEOPOLITICS
4. THE CASPIAN SEA: NOBODY SAFE IN THE EYE OF THE STORM (Rossiskaya Gazeta,
19 July 1997)
Alexei BALIYEV
The cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan in
developing the oil resources in the Caspian Sea has
triggered, for the first time ever, a negative
reaction on the part of a neighbouring country,
Turkmenistan. The republic's foreign ministry has
made a statement to characterise some oil fields
worked by Azerbaijan with Russia's assistance as
falling under Turkmenistan's sovereignty.
The foreign ministry's statement notes that Baku has
ignored Ashkhabad's proposal to clearly delineate the
Turkmen-Azeri border in the Caspian and is continuing to
announce its own ever new sectors of the Caspian that contain
oil and gas.
In this connection, the foreign ministry suggests that the
Russian leadership should interfere into the recent agreement
signed by Russia's LUKOil and Rosneft and Azerbaijan's state
oil company.
The Turkmen reaction is easy to explain: Ashkhabad and
Tehran still believe that the Caspian Sea is a land-locked
water body which is not subject to the norms of international
legislation (international waters, sea shelf, etc.) or
separation into national sectors.
This stance corresponds to the termless Soviet-Iranian
agreements on the status of the Caspian, its resources and
principles of developing them (concluded in 1921 and 1940) and
decisions of the UN committee for the law of the sea.
Admittedly, This used to be Russia's position, too.
But things have got going, the protests of Moscow, Tehran
and Ashkhabad notwithstanding. The appreciable revenues from
the transit of Caspian oil - up to US$ 3 billion a year - are
the main reason why Moscow is ameliorating its formerly tough
stance.
Russia's official agreement to the transit of Caspian oil
exports from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan indicates that Moscow's
vision of the Caspian oil resources is highly pragmatic.
Igor Shabdurasulov, chief of the Russian Cabinet's
department of culture and information, has said that the
government saw no reason to interfere into the "purely
commercial agreement" between Russia and Azerbaijan, but the
"matter would be studied."
Turkmenistan's position rests on two 'whales': first, the
1970 termless Soviet-Iranian agreement on the medial lines in
the Caspian does not provide for the sovereignty of any one
country over the central part of the Caspian - its resources
should be worked jointly by all countries of the region.
Secondly, the inter-Caspian agreements of 1996-97
stipulate that specific national jurisdiction over the part of
the Caspian beyond the 12-mile national zones is to be
harmonised by all littoral states.
Incidentally, Turkmenistan is the only state to have
clearly established such a zone. To quote Turkmenistan's first
deputy foreign minister Kepbanov, Azerbaijan is effectively
ignoring the rights and interests of Turkmenistan in the
Caspian.
Baku disagrees with Ashkhabad: the fields claimed by
Turkmenistan (Serdar, Kaverochkin and 26 Baku Commissars -
which are their official names of the 1970-1980 period that
Ashkhabad is using, while Azerbaijan has renamed them Kyapaz,
Chirag and Azeri) are located outside the Turkmen 12-mile zone.
Baku decided to develop them several years back and Ashkhabad
never protested.
Turkmenistan rejects the argument: both Ashkhabad and
Tehran believe that the Caspian and its resources should obtain
a new status and clear inter-Caspian borders should be drawn
first. National jurisdiction can then be announced to open the
doors to the region for foreign companies and transnational
consortiums.
Thus, Iran's foreign ministry has repeatedly warned that
it disagreed with the "interventionist presence in the Caspian
of high-handed foreign powers."
Passions are flying high not only in the
Moscow-Baku-Ashkhabad triangle: other countries are emulating
the example of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan and introducing
200-mile economic zones. As a result, several zones are
overlapping, but the disputed sectors contain appreciable
proven oil and gas resources. Azerbaijan alone is trying to
usurp them - only to fuel political tensions in the region.
These contradictions explain why the organisation of the
Caspian states, initiated by Iran in 1993, is still on the
blueprint stage.
In other words, the littoral states cannot do without a
harmonised status of the Caspian and clear-cut inter-Caspian
borders, or the Caspian may turn into an analogue of the
Persian Gulf or the South China Sea, i.e. another hot spot of
the planet and in direct proximity of Russia, into the bargain.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 19 July. In full.)
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
5. Russia and Turkey clash over control of Bosphorus By Michael Rank (July
25 Reuter)
Russia and Turkey clash over control of Bosphorus
By Michael Rank =20
LONDON, July 25 (Reuter) - Russia and Turkey are locked
in a bitter dispute over control of the Bosphorus Strait in the latest twist
to a centuries-old quarrel that has become increasingly acrimonious because
of an expected surge in oil exports from Central Asia.=20
Russia complains that Turkey is illegally interfering with shipping in=
the
strait, probably the narrowest major sea route in the world and one of the
most dangerous.=20
"Turkey certainly has a legitimate problem," said a member of the Russian
delegation at recent talks on the Bosphorus in London.=20
He acknowledged that the number of vessels passing through the Bosphorus=
has
soared since it was declared an international waterway in 1936, and that new
rules needed to be agreed to guarantee safety.=20
"But Turkey tackles this problem illegally...They have adopted a=
fanatical
nationalist approach that assumes that if countries like Turkey go it alone
they can unilaterally impose their own rules," said the Russian official,=
who
asked not to be identified.=20
The struggle for control of the Bosphorus is not just about oil or=
shipping
regulations.=20
It has raged for hundreds of years and has religious and cultural=
overtones
in that Turkey is Moslem and Russia is Orthodox Christian. But it is also
geopolitical as Russia has always wanted access to a southern warm water=
port
when the Baltic is blocked by winter ice.=20
Shipping in the Bosphorus is governed by the 1936 Montreux Convention,=
which
states that "in time of peace, merchant vessels shall enjoy complete freedom
of transit and navigation in the Strait, by day and by night, under any flag
with any cargo, without any formalities..."=20
But Turkish officials say this does not mean they have no power to=
control
traffic in the Bosphorus, Dardanelles and Sea of Marmara.=20
They say that although they are open to international shipping under the
Montreux Convention, they are nevertheless under Turkish sovereignty and=
that
Turkey is therefore entitled to issue and enforce regulations aimed at
enhancing safety.=20
The officials say the huge numbers of vessels using the Bosphorus pose a
serious danger to the 12 million residents of Istanbul, the city which
straddles the strait. They note that there have been several disastrous=
fires
and explosions aboard ships in the strait in recent years.=20
"Freedom of passage does not mean uncontrolled passage,"=20
said Mithat Rende, Turkish representative at the London-based=
International
Maritime Organization (IMO) which hosted the recent talks on the Bosphorus.=
=20
Rende said Russia's stress on free navigation "would only serve the
acceleration of traffic, not the enhancement of safety" in the Bosphorus.=20
Russia wants traffic to be temporarily suspended only in case of an=
emergency
or force majeure, and for vessels over 340 metres long to be advised to
navigate the straits in daylight, while Turkey wants this to apply to ships
that are over 200 metres long.=20
The Bosphorus is only 700 metres wide at its narrowest point, and there=
have
been frequent accidents. The most serious in recent years occurred in 1994
when the tanker Nassia was in collision with another vessel. Thirty seamen
were killed and 20,000 tonnes of oil were spilled.=20
According to Turkish figures, almost 50,000 vessels last year passed=
through
the strait, which has four blind curves and is subject to violent current=
and
counter-currents.
About 12 tankers pass through each day, each one a potential fire risk.=
In
addition, large numbers of ferries and smaller craft crisscross the strait,
posing a further threat to safety.
The number of tankers will soar when vast oil resources in Kazakhstan and
Azerbaijan come on stream if the Bosphorus is the main export route.=20
Russia wants much of this oil to reach the West by tanker from the Black=
Sea
port of Novorossiisk, passing through the Bosphorus on its way to Western
markets.
But Turkey wants a pipeline to be built from Baku in Azerbaijan to the
Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, thus bypassing the congested=
Bosphorus.
Turkey says this would be much safer and would reduce pollution, but=
Russian
and Western officials note that Turkey would also benefit from dues paid for
the transit of oil across its territory.=20
Turkey says Ceyhan can handle more than 120 million tonnes of oil per=
year,
four times the capacity of Novorossiisk. It also says the Mediterranean port
is open 365 days a year, unlike Novorossiisk which is often closed by=
storms.
Analysts say there would have to be diversity of export routes once the
expected Central Asian oil boom starts, in order to guarantee a stable flow.=
=20
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the Caucasus, through which=
much
of the oil is likely to flow, is highly volatile and there have been a=
number
of wars in the region in recent years. In addition, Kurds are fighting for
self-rule in southeast Turkey.
Turkey says the number of accidents in the Bosphorus has plummeted since=
it
introduced new rules recommending that large vessels over 90,000 gross=
tonnes
take a pilot on board and that the strait be closed to other transit traffic
when such ships pass through.
However, some Western lawyers are critical of Turkey for acting=
unilaterally
and for rejecting an IMO report on safety last week. Rende said the report
"doesn't deal proportionately with safety" and puts too much stress on
speeding up traffic.
"Turkey's concern is understandable...A recipe for disaster is very=
clearly
there," said Joe Atkinson, a partner in the marine casualty department of
London law firm Sinclair, Roche & Temperley.=20
"But Turkey wants to impose its own solution and the international=
shipping community is very fearful,"
"Turkey was a little unreasonable in rejecting out of hand the IMO
proposals," added Atkinson, who has long experience of problems in the
Bosphorus.
"Turkey is absolutely right in that this is a big issue and the current
convention is not adequate for today's shipping,"
said Edmund Herzig, senior research fellow on the Caucasus and Caspian=
region at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London.
"My feeling is that...there is quite a lot of brinkmanship going on.
"Neither side is necessarily as extreme or inflexible as it seems."
Herzig noted that if and when Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan start pumping=
large
amounts of oil to the West, this would lead to an economic boom in the=
region
that would result in greatly increased imports as well as exports --
potentially further increasing pressure on the Bosphorus.
Herzig said the conflict was unlikely to be resolved until a decision was
reached on the route of the main pipeline to carry Central Asian oil.
"Both Russia and Turkey want to keep the issue alive before a decision is
taken," he added.
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
6. Think tank: 'Turkey could help Israel fight Syria and Iran'
Mentions Israeli air strikes deep into Iran and Syria
Ugur Akinci
Washington - Turkish Daily News
A military strategic analysis issued by the Washington Institute for Near
East Policy detailed the possible repercussions of the military cooperation
agreement signed between Turkey and Israel in February and August 1996. The
possibilities mentioned are not the kind that will gladden many hearts in
Tehran and Damascus.
The Policy Watch paper on Turkish-Israeli Military Cooperation penned by
military analyst Michael Eisenstadt said Turkish cooperation may enable
Israeli jets to launch strikes against Iranian nonconventional targets near
Tehran, as well as create serious difficulties for Syria on land, sea and
air in case of a war over the Golan Heights.
Dimensions of cooperation
Eisenstadt said the Turkish-Israeli military cooperation agreement,
although its exact contents are still a secret, consisted of "protocols
regarding officer exchanges, visits by military delegations, naval port
calls, access to training areas, joint air and naval training, cooperation
in the areas of counter-terrorism and border security, and defense
industrial cooperation. In addition, Israel and Turkey are believed to have
strengthened longstanding intelligence ties."
Striking Iran
After mentioning the frequently reported Israeli-Turkish cooperation on
upgrading Turkish Phantom F-4s and Popeye missiles, etc., Eisenstadt
explained the ways in which Turkey may be helping the Israeli Air Force get
ready for deep strikes into Iran:
"The air force training exchange agreement calls for Israeli aircraft to
train in Turkey four times a year. During the first visit, in April of last
year, eight Israeli F-16 fighters spent a week at Akinci air base near
Ankara. Such visits are mutually beneficial. They enable the Israelis to
gain experience flying long-range missions over mountainous areas (a skill
that would be necessary for missions over Iran), and provide greater
opportunities for overland training than are available in a small country
like Israel. This enables pilots to refine their competitive skills, since
it is much harder for pilots to visually identify enemy aircraft over land
than over water.
"Israel has reportedly established intelligence listening posts [along
the Turkish-Iran border], and Turkish cooperation would greatly facilitate
Israeli air strikes on Iran's nonconventional weapons infrastructure, much
of which is located near Tehran. (Israeli aircraft could stage from and/or
refuel over Turkey, greatly increasing their striking range)," Eisenstadt
said.
Intelligence links
Israel and Turkey were also previously reported to share intelligence
data concerning their mutual adversaries, like Syria. "Israel is also
reportedly helping Turkey to secure its border against Kurdish PKK
[Kurdistan Workers' Party] terrorists operating from bases in Syria, Iraq,
and Iran, drawing on its own experience in securing its border against
terrorists in South Lebanon."
Hitting Syria
The paper said Syria has much to consider now in case of a future war.
"Though neither agreement signed thus far is believed to contain
provisions for joint contingency planning or war-fighting, the possibility
that Turkey could assist Israel in wartime is a complicating factor Syria
has to consider. In the future, President Assad will have to face the
possibility of fighting Israel in the Bekaa and/or the Golan, while looking
over his shoulder toward Turkey."
Turkey does not have to participate in a war to help Israel. The two or
three divisions located near Homs and Aleppo that are earmarked to
reinforce the Bekaa and Golan in wartime, Eisenstadt said. Just by tying up
those Syrian troops in north, like it did Iraqi troops during Gulf War,
Turkey can again help Israel, Eisenstadt said.
Air help
Turkey could also help the Israeli Air Force in war against
Syria:
"In the air, Turkey could allow damaged Israeli aircraft to land at
Turkish air bases and permit Israeli combat search-and-rescue crews trained
to snatch downed pilots to operate from its soil. This would allow the
Israeli Air Force to be more aggressive and take greater risks when
attacking targets in northern Syria."
"It could likewise allow Israeli attack helicopters, aircraft, and
commandos hunting Syrian Scud Missile launchers in northern and central
Syria to operate from Turkish staging areas, and it could allow Israel to
use the series of air bases that run parallel to its border with Syria for
combat missions, raising the possibility of attacks against Syria by way of
its 'weak underbelly.' This could compel Syria to reorganize its air
defenses -- oriented primarily to deal with Israeli threats from the
southwest or west -- to enhance coverage of the north of the country.
Thickening air defense coverage in the north will mean thinning coverage of
the center and southwest of the country."
"For its part, Turkey might exploit the opportunity offered by a war to
launch air strikes on PKK targets in Syria," he added.
Not realistic now
The Washington institute analysis concluded that such scenarios, although
not realistic currently, still will have a psychological impact on the
adversaries in the region. Turkey could still help Israel through passive
support and intelligence sharing, and providing refuge for damaged Israeli
aircraft and warships, for example.
"[Current] political realities rule out Israeli aircraft and warships
operating from Turkish territory in wartime. Turkey would gain little by
openly supporting the Israeli war effort, which would make Turkey a target
for Syrian retribution (i.e. more terrorism) and Arab political censure.
Turkey is, therefore, more likely to quietly render assistance to the
Israeli war effort, providing intelligence, missile early-warning data, and
refuge for damaged Israeli aircraft or warships. In this way, it will help
Israel punish a troublesome neighbor and gain the good will of Israeli
political and military leaders without incurring major risks."
"To the degree that this enhances Israeli (and Turkish) deterrence, it
will have a tangible impact on the balance of forces in the region, even if
current political and military realities preclude a formal alliance between
the two countries," the analysis concluded.
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
7.WASHINGTON OKAYS TURKEY-TURKMENISTAN GAS PIPELINE VIA IRAN
The US administration reportedly will not move to block
construction of a natural gas pipeline between Turkey and
Turkmenistan via Iran. Spokeswoman for the US National Security
Council, Anne Luzzatto, said: "The White House does not believe
that the construction of a natural gas pipeline between
Turkey-Turkmenistan via Iran will violate the ILSA (Iran Libya
Sanctions Act)". Although the pipeline will serve Iranian
interests on a minimal level, basically it is for the marketing
of Central Asian energy resources, Luzzatto explained. /Hurriyet/
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
8. PAKISTAN URGES AZERBAIJAN TO SUPPORT TURKMEN PIPELINE PROJECTS:
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Gauhar Ayub Khan urged Azerbaijani President
Heidar Aliyev to support efforts to construct pipelines from Turkmenistan to
Pakistan during an official visit last week, Interfax reports. "An oil and
gas pipeline running through Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan will
give Azerbaijani resources the shortest access to the external market," Ayub
Khan said. The Pakistani official noted that the U.S. oil company Unocal has
developed a plan to build crude oil and natural gas links along the same
route from eastern Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistani oil
terminals on the Indian Ocean and added that Russian, Tajik and Uzbek
officials have also expressed interest in the pipelines. The lines will be
able to transport 48 million metric tons of oil and 4.8 billion cubic meters
of gas per year, he said. Aliyev said his government was ready to discuss
prospects for broadening cooperation with Pakistan, but Interfax did not
reveal whether he made any specific response to the pipeline proposal. (With
report from Interfax; first printed in New Europe, p. 42, Jul 27-Aug 2 '97.)
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
9. VOA Interview With Unocal Official in Mazar-e Sharif
VOA AFGHAN OIL (L ONLY)
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER DATELINE=MAZAR-I-SHARIF
INTRO: BEHIND THE SCENES OF AFGHANISTAN'S ONGOING CIVIL CONFLICT ENERGY
COMPANIES ARE TRYING TO BROKER A DEAL TO BUILD OIL AND GAS PIPELINES
ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AMERICAN FIRM UNOCAL AND THE SAUDI ARABIAN
DELTA OIL COMPANY ARE TALKING WITH THE COUNTRY'S WARRING FACTIONS, AS SARAH
HORNER REPORTS FROM MAZAR-I-SHARIF.
TEXT: THE VAST UNTAPPED OIL AND GAS RESERVES OF CENTRAL ASIA COULD BECOME A
MAJOR SUPPLIER OF FUEL FOR THE WORLD IN THE NEXT CENTURY. ENERGY-HUNGRY
COUNTRIES IN SOUTH AND EAST ASIA AND IN THE WEST ARE LOOKING EAGERLY TOWARD
FORMER SOVIET-BLOC STATES, SUCH AS TURKMENISTAN.
TURKMENISTAN SITS ON THE WORLD'S THIRD LARGEST GAS RESERVES AND AN
ESTIMATED SIX
BILLION BARRELS OF OIL. THE ONLY PROBLEM HAS BEEN FINDING A WAY TO GET THE
FUEL OUT OF THE LAND-LOCKED COUNTRY.
SEVERAL POSSIBLE ROUTES HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED FOR PIPELINES. ONE OF THE MOST
FAVORED IS FROM THE SOUTH OF TURKMENISTAN THROUGH WESTERN AFGHANISTAN AND
INTO
PAKISTAN. BUT THERE IS ONCE DIFFICULTY WITH THIS PLAN: THE ONGOING CIVIL
WAR
IN AFGHANISTAN.
STILL THIS HASN'T STOPPED OIL AND GAS COMPANIES FROM TRYING TO BROKER A DEAL
WITH WHICHEVER WARRING FACTION THEY THINK HAS THE UPPER HAND.
THE ARGENTINIAN FIRM BRIDAS AND A CONSORTIUM OF THE AMERICAN COMPANY UNOCAL
AND
THE SAUDI ARABIAN DELTA OIL ARE THE MAIN PLAYERS IN A RACE TO SIGN A DEAL.
UNOCAL AND DELTA VISITED MEMBERS OF THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE IN MAZAR-I-SHARIF ON
TUESDAY. ON WEDNESDAY, THEY CROSSED THE FRONTLINES TO HOLD TALKS WITH THE
TALEBAN IN THE SOUTHERN CITY OF KANDAHAR.
THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS MEDIA REPORTS SUGGESTING THAT UNOCAL AND DELTA FAVOR
THE TALEBAN. ONE REASON FOR THE REPORTS IS A STATEMENT BY A VICE
PRESIDENT OF
UNOCAL WHO SAID THE FALL THE THE AFGHAN CAPITAL KABUL TO THE TALEBAN LAST
SEPTEMBER "WAS GOOD FOR US." BUT ANOTHER VICE PRESIDENT OF UNOCAL, MARTY
MILLER, TOLD VOA TUESDAY THAT THE PHRASE HAD BEEN HORRIBLY MISQUOTED.
MR. MILLER SAID HIS COMPANY FAVORS WHATEVER IS GOOD FOR PEACE AND STABILITY IN
AFGHANISTAN, AND HE SAYS UNOCAL HAS NO POLITICAL FAVORITES. HE DENIED THE
CURRENT VISIT BY AROUND A DOZEN EXECUTIVES HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE
PRESENT
MILITARY SITUATION.
THE TALEBAN, WHO CONTROL TWO-THIRDS OF AFGHANISTAN, INCLUDING THE AREA THROUGH
WHICH THE PROPOSED PIPELINE WOULD GO, ARE UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE NORTHERN
ALLIANCE. THE ALLIANCE IS CAPITALIZING ON THE TALEBAN'S MAJOR DEFEAT TWO
MONTHS AGO, WHEN A POPULAR UPRISING ENDED THE THE TALEBAN'S BRIEF CONTROL OF
MAZAR-I-SHARIF. SINCE THEN THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE HAS PUSHED BACK AND IS NOW
APPROACHING KABUL.
SUCH FLUIDITY IN AFGHANISTAN'S POLITICAL AND MILITARY SITUATION KEEPS THE OIL
COMPANIES ON THEIR TOES (ALWAYS ON THE ALERT).
WHATEVER HAPPENS, THEY WANT TO BE SURE THAT THEY ARE ON THE WINNING SIDE.
(SIGNED)
NEB/SH/KL-T/KL
23-Jul-97 9:24 AM EDT (1324 UTC) NNNN
Source: Voice of America .
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
10. Central Asia: Analysis From Washington--A Watershed In Central Asia
By Paul Goble
Washington, 25 July 1997 (RFE/RL) - A meeting of the leaders of Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan intended to highlight Central Asian unity has
called attention to an issue -- access to water -- likely to increasingly
divide them in the future.
Presidents Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, Askar Akayev of Kyrgyzstan,
and Islom Karimov of Uzbekistan met in the Kyrgyz city of Cholpon-Ata
yesterday and today to promote integration among their countries and to
push for a settlement in Afghanistan.
The three leaders of the Central Asian Union established in 1994 discussed
expanding economic cooperation and the creation of an interparliamentary
body.
They talked about the progress of the Central Asian peacekeeping battalion
established under the auspices of NATO's Partnership for Peace. And they
reiterated their interest in finding a peaceful resolution of the conflict
in Afghanistan.
In all three cases, these Central Asian leaders sought to emphasize the
amount of accord among them, even as their meeting inevitably called
attention to the fact that the region's two other countries, Turkmenistan
and Tajikistan, were not represented.
But even within this summit's limited circle, there are serious
disagreements. And none is more serious in terms of what it portends for
the future than the emerging conflict between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan
over the region's limited water resources.
Earlier this year, Tashkent unilaterally reduced the flow of water from
Uzbekistan to southern Kazakhstan by 70 percent, a reduction that Kazakh
officials say could ruin more than 100,000 hectares of land.
Following talks between the two governments, Uzbekistan agreed to restore
some of the flow. But residents of southern Kazakhstan argue that this is
not enough. And this week, they staged a demonstration near the Uzbek border.
Gaining access to water has always been a problem in Central Asia. And that
problem has only intensified as the growing populations of the countries
there put additional pressure on the limited water supply.
Indeed, the Soviet leadership used competition for water among the Central
Asian republics as a means of control. It routinely sought to play off the
water surplus republics of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan against the others who
did not have enough.
But in order to promote economic development, the Soviet government imposed
a water-sharing agreement on the five Central Asian republics. That accord
specified just how much water would go from one to another.
Even after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the five countries in this
region maintained that agreement because they recognized that fighting over
this resource could tear the region apart and allow one or another outside
power to exploit these divisions for its own ends.
But the civil war in Tajikistan and continuing population growth throughout
the region now have combined to call into question the earlier set of
arrangements.
And consequently, both Uzbekistan's decision to reduce the flow of water to
Kazakhstan and the Kazakh reaction to that decision should come as no
surprise.
Even now, the conflicts over water in the region are relatively minor. But
that is likely to change rapidly over the next few years.
On the one hand, rapidly expanding populations will inevitably lead some
governments to seek to keep whatever water they have or to somehow get more
from their neighbors.
And on the other hand, ever more people and politicians are likely to focus
on water questions because of such high visibility events as the
disappearance of the region's Aral Sea.
If the countries of Central Asia can cooperate on this issue, they may find
it necessary to increase the level of integration among themselves on other
issues as well.
But if they find themselves unable to cooperate on water, they may find it
increasingly difficult to agree on anything else. In that event, disputes
over water could easily overshadow all the other disputes that currently
wrack this region.
25-07-97
Special Report
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
11.a SEVEN MORE YOUNG UYGHURS ARE EXECUTED IN GHULJE
Eastern Turkistan Information Center, 7/27/97
[ETIC, 7/27/97] On July 22, 1997, the Chinese authorities conducted an
open trial and convicted to death 7 young Uyghurs, and gave life and
long term sentences to 20 more people in connections to the Uyghur
youth demonstration in Ghulje city on February 5-6 this year. Among
the death convicts is 22 years old Gappar Talat. The sentenced were
executed the same day at the outskirts of Ghulje. Their bodies were
not released to parents, and were buried at Apar place of Ghulje's
Chapchal county.
On the day of trial, the Ghulje city was completely sealed by the
military prohibiting all in and out traffic. Work at all businesses,
schools and markets was cancelled. [Burkut]
11.b GHULJIDA OCUQ SOT
Sherqiy Turkistan Axbaret Merkizi, 1997-8-27
[ShTAM] 22 Iyul kuni, Xitay jallatliri, bu yil 2 ayning 5 de, Ghuljida
bolghan qanliq weqege munasiwetlik Ghappar Telet qatarliq 7 Uygur
mujahid yashlirimizni olum jazasigha hokum qildi. 20 neper mujahid
muddetssiz we muddetlik kesildi. Olum jazaliri shu kuni ijra qilindi,
we bu ballarning jesetliri ata-anilirigha qayturulmay, Ghulja Capcal
nahiyisining Apar degen yerige depne qilindi.
22 Iyul kuni putun Ghulja sheherdiki idare, jemiyet, soda we sanaet
orunliri ishtin toxtulup, Ghulja sheherige putun kirip-ciqishlar meni
qilindi.
Olum jazasi berilgenlerdin Ghappar Telet 22 yash, 1974-9-11 kuni
tughulghan. Buningdin bashqa olum jazasi bilen jazalanghan we qolgha
elinghanlarning isim-pamiliya we terjime haliler xeqqide yeqinda
melumat berimiz. [Burkut]
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
12. World: Analysis From Washington: The Impact Of An Unstable China
By Paul Goble
Washington, 18 July 1997 (RFE/RL) - Since the collapse of the Soviet Union,
Beijing has been worried about the possible impact on China of instability
in Russia and the newly independent states of Central Asia.
Now, ethnic assertiveness in Xinjiang, protests by Chinese workers
displaced as a result of economic reforms, and a series of natural
disasters in China have given those states a reason to be concerned about
instability in their giant Asian neighbor.
There are good reasons to think that these fears may be overblown. But the
eerie parallels between what happened in the USSR a decade ago and what is
happening in China today are likely to affect the foreign and domestic
policies of these countries.
First of all, like the Soviet authorities, the Chinese government faces a
mounting tide of ethnic assertiveness, but in contrast to the USSR, the
Chinese authorities have to cope with a situation in which only four
percent of their population is non-Han Chinese.
Over the last year, Uighur nationalists in Xinjiang have stepped up their
campaign for autonomy and independence. Clashes between the Muslim Uighurs
and the Chinese authorities have reportedly resulted in numerous deaths,
and Chinese officials have executed several Uighur activists for seeking to
split off the region from China.
That conditions in Xinjiang may now be getting worse is suggested by a
Chinese newspaper report a week ago that the local Communist Party chief
there had called for an expanded campaign against Uighur separatism.
Wang Lequan said that the authorities must step up their propaganda
offensive but also not be afraid to use force against the Uighurs. "We must
soberly realize that enemy activities are still very serious," Wang said.
And consequently, he said, the Chinese must "increase the force of our
attacks" against them.
Such a combination of propaganda and force is unlikely to give Beijing a
final victory over the independent-minded Uighurs. But it may allow the
Chinese government to contain the relatively small Uighur nation in the
future in much the same way as such measures have worked in the past.
Second, like the Soviet authorities, Beijing must contend with the working
class protests against the displacement of workers as the result of
economic reforms. But unlike the USSR, China has maintained tight control
of the media thus limiting the impact of any protests and has shown itself
far from squeamish about using force against any protesters.
This week, reports reached the West that hundreds if not thousands of
workers in China's southwestern province of Sichuan had marched to protest
the closing of the silk factory in which they worked. Reports that the
demonstration had resulted in violence and that the authorities had ordered
local hospitals not to treat the victims could not be independently
confirmed and were denied by Beijing.
Despite these denials, there has been an increasing drumbeat of labor
unrest in China as the shift toward a market economy in some industries has
led to the closing or downsizing of unprofitable plants. And the Beijing
government has repeatedly indicated that finding new jobs for those
displaced is one of its major goals.
But again, Chinese control of the media and willingness to use force
suggests that Beijing may be more effective at least for a time in
containing labor discontent than was the Soviet government under Mikhail
Gorbachev.
And third, like the Soviet authorities, the Chinese government now faces a
series of natural disasters with potential political implications. But
unlike the Soviet government, Beijing has not tried to deny the existence
of these problems but rather sought to involve the population in overcoming
them.
On Thursday, Chinese Vice Premier Jiang Chunyun publicly warned local
officials that they must prepare for what he told the Xinhua Daily might be
"a year of disasters" because of the droughts and floods that now threaten
crops in much of the country.
To the extent that these natural disasters lead to food shortages, they
could produce a political crisis in the country. But Beijing's effort to
get out in front on such issues, acknowledging the problems in advance,
stand in sharp contrast to Gorbachev's pattern of denying or downplaying
disasters until others forced him to speak out.
But even if China's problems do not point to the kind of breakdown that
overtook the Soviet Union, these indications of instability there will
affect the thinking of leaders in the Russian Federation and the countries
of Central Asia.
On the one hand, they are likely to be even more cautious in their dealings
with China and China's regions lest they be accused of being provocative.
Most Central Asian countries, for example, have already indicated that they
will not serve as bases for Uighur national movement.
But on the other, these countries are likely to view the Chinese
government's use of media control and force against opposition as possibly
instructive for themselves. The decision of the relatively open Kyrgyz
government to arrest several outspoken journalists is one indication that
the successful use of such techniques by the Chinese may encourage others.
The possibility of instability in China will cast a powerful shadow over
the region as a whole even if Beijing for the time being is capable of
containing it.
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
13. KYRGYZ NEWS - 27 JULY 19976
1. Kyrgyz governmental delegation, led by Prime minister Apas Joumagulov, will
visit the Philippines on 28 July - 2 August, government press service
announced in Bishkek on 26 July. Joumagulov will hold negotiations with the
leaders of the Asian Bank for Reconstructions and Developments in Manila on
the Bank's $50-million loan to Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyzstan is a member of the ABRD-program on reconstruction of the
enterprises and introducing the corporative management.
2. President press service announced in Bishkek on 26 July that President
Askar Akayev had signed a decree, appointing:
- Rustambek Isayev as Military Procurator of Kyrgyzstan and Deputy Procurator
General of the country,
- Japar Mukashev as a Procurator of the Issyk-Kul region,
- Israil Altynbayev as a Procurator of the Osh region.
3. Tursunbek Akunov, chairman of the Human Rights Movement of Kyrgyzstan, told
our correspondent in Bishkek on 26 July, that Jumagazy Usupov, chairman of the
Ashar Movement; Ulukman Uzel, chairman of the Turkistan society in the
Netherlands, an he, Akunov, visited Leilek district of the Osh region on 24-25
July and met with Topchubek Turgunaliyev, an opposition leader. According to
Akunov, Turgunalieyv's health is satisfactory, but he needs qualified medical
treatment.
Earrly this year, Turgunaliyev, chairman of the Erkin Kyrgyzstan party, was
accused of abuse of power when he was a dean of the University of Humanities
in 1994, and sentensed to 4 years of colony serving last February. Supreme
Court decided to sent him to the colony near the capital, Bishkek, and he
spent few weeks there. But the Interior ministry sent him to the remote Leilek
district, on the border with Tajikistan, in March. He spent about a month in
the local hospital, in the village, recently. Turgunaliyev has a high blood
pressure and nephritis.
Opposition says the trial against him was politically motivated.
4. State Social Fund announced in Bishkek on 26 July that Government owes
citizens 26.2 million som (about $1.5 million) on back wages. Government owed
56.2 million in the same period of 1996.
5. Official from the Muftiyat, Muslim Board of Kyrgyzstan, told our
correspondent in Bishkek on 26 July that a special commission on translating
Koran into Kyrgyz had been formed. Muftiy Absatar-Agy Majitov is a chairman of
the commission.
Muslim leaders of Kyrgyzstan have declared several times before that the
translation, made by poet Ernis Tursunov, had a lot of serious mistakes.
6. Official from the governmental commission on religious affairs told our
correspondent in Bishkek on 26 July that the commission had finished to
register Christian orthodox churches in the country. 40 churches had been
registered in Kyrgyzstan.
Now, the commission will register muslim mosques. Their number is expected to
be more than 1,000. 186 religious organizations have been registered by the
commission in the country.
7. Nina Mironova, leader of the Association of ethnic Belarus of Kyrgyzstan,
told our correspondent in Bishkek on 26 July that about 4,000 Belarus live in
Kyrgyzstan now. There were 11,000 ethnic Belarus in the country in 1991.
KYRGYZ NEWS - 28 JULY 1997
1. Borubek Ashirov, chairman of the executive committee of the Inter-State
Council of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, held a news conference in
Bishkek on 28 July. According to Ashitov, the meeting between the presidents
of the three state, held in Cholpon-Ata on 24-25 July, was very fruitful.
The presidents had agreed to form international consortiums on thrifty using
of the natural resources of the region. This task is entrusted to the
governments of the 3 states and should be emplemented by next persidents'
meeting. No information of the date of the next meeting was given. Nursultan
Nazarbayev, Islam Karimov and Askar Akayeb had agreed to form
Inter-Parliamenrtarian Council, too.
Also, Kazakh and Uzbek presidents supported the Kyrgyz president's idea on
holding an international conference on Afghanistan in Bishkek.
2. Government press service announced in Bishkek today that Kyrgyz delegation,
led by Prime minister Apas Joumagulov, departed to Manila, the Philippines,
today. Joumagulov will hold negotiations with the government of the
Philippines on technical cooperation and will sign an agreement with the
authorities of the Asian Bank for Recunstruction and Development on the
$50-million loan to Kyrgyzstan. Negotiations on it have been held for 3 last
years. This loan will be used for the ABRD-program on reconstruction of the
enterprises and introducing the corporative management.
3. President press service announced in Bishkek today that President Akayev
will hold a meeting of the Security Council tomorrow, on 29 July. 3 main
questions will be considered:
- Economical security of the country,
- Ecological security,
- Visa regime.
President press service refused to give detailed information, but mentioned
that behaviour of some top officials would be considered too, in frame of the
economical security.
4. President press service announced in Bishkek today that President Akayev
had signed a decree on holding a general census of the population of the
country in 1999. State secretary, Ishenbai Abdurazakov, is appointed as a
chairman of the commission. Governors of all 6 regions of the country and some
ministers will be members. Deputy chairman of the National Statistical Board,
Birjan Chukin is appointed as an executive secretary of the commission.
According to the president press service, 75 million som (about $4.5 million)
will be sent for carrying the census out, one third of the sum will be given
by the U.N.
Population of the country is 4.6 million now.
5. Official from the president administration, Marat Sultanov, told our
correspondent in Bishkek today that a law draft on amnesty had been passed
through juridical department of the administration. Now, president Akayev can
sign it to the law, but the administration wants to make little amendments to
it.
The draft passed in the both Houses of the Parliament las month and according
to it, all journalists, accused of defamation and convicted, should be
pardoned.
6. Official from the Ministry of extraordinary situations told our
correspondent in Bishkek today that member of the Legislative Assembly of the
Parliament, Viktor Grinko, was drowned in the Son-Kul lake on 27 July. 3 more
people, including his wife, were drowned together with him. 6 people were in
the boat when it turnrd out and sank. Two people were rescued. Bodies of
Viktor Grinko and his driver, Joumatayev, had not been found yet.
Lake of Son-Kul is situated among mountains on the altitude of 3,300 mtres.
7. Klara Ajibekova, deputy chairwoman of the Kyrgyz communist party, told our
correspondent in Bishkek today that Kyrgyz delegation will take part in the
congress of the communist parties and patriotic movements of the former USSR,
to be held in Moscow on 2-3 August. Two main topics will be considered at the
congress: preparations to the celebration of the 80th annivercary of the
October revolution and to the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the USSR.
She said also, that a new draft of the union treaty would be considered.
8. Nurbubu Ashimbayeva, spokeswoman for the ministry of education, science and
culture, told our correspondent in Bishkek today, that representatives of the
Saudi Arabian king, Fahd, had given to the Kyrgyz ministry the
200,000-dollar-worth collection of books. The gift was given to minister Askar
Kakeev by Abaat Mohammad and Hamit Askar. Books are on Arabian literature,
language, history and islam.
************************************************
Mehmet Tutuncu
(SOTA) Research centre for Turkestan, Azerbaijan, Crimea, Caucasus and Siberia
P.o. box 9642
2003 LP Haarlem
The Netherlands
e-mail: <mtutuncu@turkiye.net> or <sota@euronet.nl>
Turkish World Home Page:<http://www.turkiye.net/sota/sota.html>
Crimean Tatars Home-Page: <http://www.euronet.nl/users/sota/krimtatar.html>
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