EBRD Supports Legislation on Energy Efficiency in Kyrgyz Republic

4 September 2012: The Kyrgyz Republic Government has approved two new regulations that facilitate energy efficiency of all kinds of buildings. The preparation of the regulations was supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The regulations were approved on 2 August 2012, and they follow the EU Building Directive and set the legal framework to promote energy efficiency in buildings.

The new regulations implement the law on “Energy Performance of Buildings.” The Law was approved by the Kyrgyz Republic parliament in June 2011 and has been in force since 6 February 2012. Preparation of both the regulations and the law was part of a policy dialogue supported by the EBRD Special Shareholder Fund. The regulations provide detailed procedures for implementation and introduce minimum and mandatory energy efficiency requirements. During approval of the new legislation, Kyrgyz authorities requested further support on the harmonization of existing technical standards as well as assistance with capacity building and tools for implementation. The Slovak Trust fund at the EBRD is supporting these activities.

Larisa Manastirli, head of the EBRD office in Bishkek, highlighted that the US$20 million Kyrgyz Republic Sustainable Energy Financing Facility (KyrSEFF) is currently under development, and will aim to provide financing for the energy efficiency of buildings, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and industries. [EBRD Press Release] More

 

Shift in policy?: Army chief to make ‘historic’ Moscow trip

ISLAMABAD: Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani will walk into the corridors of the Kremlin this month, signalling the possibility of a marked shift in Pakistan-Russia ties marred by the Cold War rivalry.

Gen Kayani will become the first Pakistan Army chief to undertake a state visit to Moscow, though former military ruler Gen Parvez Musharraf did visit the Russian capital as the head of state in 2003.

Official sources confirmed to The Express Tribune that Gen Kayani would make the “historic trip” in the second week of September, marking the beginning of a new phase of otherwise troubled ties. He is expected to be given a warm welcome in Moscow, where he is scheduled to meet his Russian counterpart and also President Vladimir Putin, sources added.

Gen Kayani was originally scheduled to visit the former superpower in early August but the trip was delayed due to a series of meetings with US officials as part of rapprochement between Islamabad and Washington.

What does this visit mean?

The army chief’s visit is being seen as a significant development as it comes just weeks before the Russian president undertakes his first-ever visit to Islamabad in early October.

“We have turned a new page in our relationship with Russia. It is a major shift,” said a senior official at the foreign ministry requesting anonymity.

A senior military official added that the two countries would push for greater military-to-military ties during Gen Kayani’s trip. “Ironically, Pakistan and Russia have more points of convergences than Pakistan does with the Americans,” he added.

“You will not see that much bullying of Pakistan. It is going to have a sobering effect on Pak-US relations,” argued Maria.

The two countries are thought to share similar views on the Afghan endgame and have voiced concerns over US military presence in the war-torn country beyond 2014.

“The old Cold War rivals are going to be strategic partners. And this will change the entire strategic map of not only Pakistan but also of Afghanistan and Central Asia,” said defence analyst Maria Sultan. More