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Eurasian Maneuvers for Japan, China, Russia and America
The war on terror has forced compromises on foreign policy differences among Japan, China, Russia and the United States. But underlying tensions make the prospects of continued close cooperation uncertain at best. The first breakthrough occurred between Japan and China. For decades the Chinese have demanded that Japan apologize for its actions in World War II. The Sept. 11 terrorist attack gave the Japanese prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi a face-saving way of visiting China in early October to apologize.
With the worldwide revulsion against terrorism, he was able to circumvent Japan's most nationalistic elements, who have long opposed any official apology. .In return, President Jiang Zemin has not publicly objected to Tokyo's plan to deploy the forces, including naval ships, to the Indian Ocean to provide noncombat support for the U.S.-led campaign in Afghanistan. Before Sept. 11 it was politically impossible for any Chinese leader not to object strenuously to such a visible military role for Japan.
Other breakthroughs affected Russia and the United States, which has long opposed Moscow's war in Chechnya. With all eyes on the war in Afghanistan, Vladimir Putin has a virtually free hand to conduct a harsh military campaign in Chechnya, as well as to apply greater diplomatic pressure on neighboring Georgia to promote Russian interests. The U.S. military presence in Central Asia is fortifying Russia's strategic rear in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and helping to counterbalance China's growing influence in Central Asia. Beijing had tried to institutionalize this influence through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a group comprising China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
And although Mr. Putin promised Mr. Jiang as recently as July not to scrap the ABM Treaty, the terrorist attack has led to an apparent agreement between Moscow and Washington to discuss altering it. .The terrorists who attacked the United States did not foresee that they would be catalysts for these watershed events.
Virtually the whole of Eurasia is now in flux. In the midst of this fluidity, however, are new causes for concern.
China has reportedly put its northern fleet on high alert to safeguard against any Japanese naval movement. With American troops in South Korea and Japan, U.S. access to new naval facilities in Singapore that can accommodate aircraft carriers, and now a U.S. military presence in Uzbekistan, China may feel that it is encircled by American bases. A long-term U.S. campaign in Afghanistan could interfere with Beijing's recent efforts to dominate Central Asia diplomatically and economically. Beijing cannot help but worry about what will happen if the anti-terror war drags on and U.S. troops stay in Central Asia. Moscow is concerned about a potential increase in U.S. economic influence in Central Asia. It has focused on retaining authority over Chechnya and Georgia because any oil pipelines linking the Caspian oil fields and European markets would probably traverse them. To maintain veto power over the flow of Caspian oil, Moscow wants the pipelines to flow only through territories under its influence. Russian officials have stressed that U.S. cooperation with Central Asian states should be limited to the anti-terror campaign, so as not to undermine Russia's traditional sphere of influence in Central Asia.
Tokyo, Beijing, Moscow and Washington have temporarily joined forces to fight terrorism. For the moment, the Eurasian chessboard has changed almost beyond recognition. But these countries' long-term goals for Eurasia differ. Japan seized the opportunity to establish a growing international role for its military, but in the future Tokyo undoubtedly will choose to use its navy independently. China abhors Muslim extremism in Xinjiang, but Beijing is uneasy about any continued deployment of U.S. troops along its western borders. And Moscow remains concerned about losing its economic sphere of interest in Central Asia.
For continued Japanese, Chinese and Russian participation in the anti-terror coalition, these competing interests will have to be balanced. The writers are associate professors at the U.S. Naval War College. They contributed this comment to the International Herald Tribune.
Foreign companies should not make maps of Azerbaijan
“The leadership of the State Committee of Azerbaijan on Land and Mapping (SCLM) has addressed the Cabinet of Ministries of the republic and Ministry of National Security with a request to commence investigation on the facts regarding the various maps of Azerbaijan spread by foreign companies”. Chairman of the State Committee, Garib Mamedov, stated it.
According to him, topographic and other researches, and mapping based on their results is always considered as strategic information and state secret. It means that a special department (in this case - the State Committee on Land and Mapping) must be involved in making some kinds of maps with permission of some administrations, explained G. Mamedov. It is necessary to develop mechanism in which it would be possible to submit licenses for mapping by private companies”,- he concluded.
A bank of microfinancing to be opened in Baku
“Azerbaijan bank of microfinancing (ABM) aimed at granting credits to small and medium business will be opened in Baku in the first quarter of 2002”,- informed head of the National Bank of Azerbaijan Elman Rustamov.
The founders are the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the German Kreditanstalt mex Wiederaufbau, the Black Sea Bank for Trade and Development, and the International Financial Corporation.
Capital fund of the bank will constitute 25,68 mln Euro. Equity: EBRD - 25%, MFC - 25%, BSTD - 20% and Kreditanstalt mex Wiederaufbau - 25%. And the rest 5% remain still free. E.Rustamov said it was supposed that the 5% would be granted to one of Azeri banks. However, none was interested in such proposal., and that is why the free 5% will be likely distributed between ABM founders.
Foreign capital share in Azerbaijani banks may be increased up to 50%
Share of foreign capital in the capital fund of all banks in Azerbaijan will likely be increased up to 50%. It was informed by head of the National Bank of Azerbaijan Elman Rustamov.
According to him, for the present time, share of the foreign capital in the capital fund of Azeri banks in total makes up 30%. Actually, in the country there are banks with 100% of foreign capital, but in the aggregate, this limit doesn’t exceed 30%. The foreign capital restriction policy in the bank sphere of Azerbaijan was mainly dictated by the interests of its development. But one of the Wold Bank’s conditions for crediting structural reforms in Azerbaijan is increasing of foreign capital equity in bank sphere of the country. Now, the National bank conducts negotiations on this matter with the World Bank, said E.Rustamov.
National Bank head:
Most financial operations in Azerbaijan realized by the way of bypassing banks
“Many financial operations in the country are realized without bank’s involvement. Besides, in Azerbaijan there is a problem of dollarization of the economy”,- stated head of the National Bank of Azerbaijan Elman Rustamov.
According to him, in 2002 the National bank plans to get down to resolve this problem. “We are aware that such measures could result in negative consequences. For instance, appearance of “black market”, underground along with official rate of dollar. Thus, some forthcoming bans must be well thought, and also there must be developed protective measures against these negative phenomena”,- marked head of the National bank.
E.Rustamov also informed that the structure of the national bank and taxes ministry of Azerbaijan today is enough developed that allow to successfully overcome difficulties.
National Bank of Azerbaijan plans to give wages and pay allowances by means of plastic cards
“The National Bank of Azerbaijan plans to organize giving money to the population by means of plastic cards. All the staff of the National Bank has already such system of getting wages”,- informed head of the National Bank of Azerbaijan Elman Rustamov.
According to him, in Azerbaijan there are many groups of population to be able to use such system. They are personnel of state institutions, pensioners and depositors. Such system will be applied not only in the capital, but also in other regions of the country. At the same time, E.Rustamov denied the rumors that absolutely all companies in the country will go to such system of labor payment from 1 January 2002. “We cannot force anyone to use credit cards”,- he said.
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