The Astana Times of 29 May 2013

Transcription

+200C
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FIC Discusses
Investment
Policy,
Innovative
Development
Wednesday, 29 May 2013
№ 9(30)
www.astanatimes.kz
CSTO Presidents in Bishkek Discuss
Regional Security, Afghanistan
Efforts to
Create UN
Regional
Diplomacy Hub in
Almaty Continue
By Yernat Mukhamadiyev
ASTANA – The 26th plenary
meeting of the Foreign Investors Council took place on May 22 in
the Astana Rixos Hotel under the
chairmanship of President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. The
theme of the meeting was Kazakhstan’s innovative-technological
development up to 2020.
According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, during the meeting the
council’s participants discussed the
implementation of investment policy
to improve the investment climate
in the country and covered issues of
promoting foreign investment in the
development of local content, technology transfer and mastering new
products with high added value.
The meeting also considered a
number of government initiatives
in implementing the Innovative Development Concept up to 2020.
The concept, taking into account
the current challenges, includes
the main areas such as developing
scientific competence, smart technology transfer and forming an innovative environment.
During the meeting, President
Nazarbayev suggested a “Triple
Seven Initiative” to promote the implementation of innovative
projects.
Continued on Page A4
By Nadezhda Khamitova
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Tajikistan focused on ways to im- strengthening its security poten- as well as the common identificaBy George D. Gleboff
prove mutual cooperation in fight- tial, advancing joint operational tion signs, and is meant to act unOn May 28, heads of four Col- ing threats that may appear after and military training of CSTO der the flag of the CSTO.
“The presidents took the decilective Security Treaty Organiza- the withdrawal of the International forces, especially those connected
tion (CSTO) member states met Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) with the Collective Rapid Reac- sions to strengthen the borders of
in Bishkek to discuss regional se- from Afghanistan by the end of tion Force (CRRF). The Collective the CSTO countries in case of riscurity and Afghanistan today and 2014. The presidents covered meas- Rapid Reaction Force is meant as ing threats from Afghanistan and to
post-2014, when the majority of ures to strengthen the Tajik-Afghan a conglomerate of member states’ strengthen military components of
foreign military forces are expect- border, the fight against drug traf- forces to deal with emergencies, the CSTO member states,” CSTO
ed to leave that country.
ficking out of Afghanistan, illegal as well as military aggression, ter- Secretary General Nikolai BordyPresidents Nursultan Nazarbayev migration and extremism.
rorism, organized crime and drug uzha told the press following the
of Kazakhstan, Almazbek AtamHeads of CSTO member states trafficking. It is envisioned as a meeting in Bishkek.
bayev of Kyrgyzstan, Vladimir Putin also discussed further develop- military formation equipped with a
of Russia and Emomali Rakhmon of ment of the CSTO system and single form of military equipment,
Sixth Astana Economic Forum and World
Anti-Crisis Conference Tackle Global
Economic Woes
By Rufiya Ospanova
ASTANA – Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev greeted
several thousands of world leaders,
scholars, economists and leading experts in various fields as he opened the Sixth Astana Economic
Forum (AEF) and the World Anti-
Crisis Conference (WAC) on May 23 in Astana.
The President set the tone for
the forum as he highlighted some
of the economic challenges facing
the world.
“The collapse of the Cypriot financial system made us doubt the
approaching of an era of overall
economic stability (following the global economic crisis). I know there are theories rejecting the relationship of the Cyprus incident
with the global crisis. But this is a
fact,” Nazarbayev said.
He noted that many problems of
the global crisis have not yet been
tackled and so the global economic crisis cannot yet be considered
over. In fact, he told the assembled dignitaries, the crisis has entered a new stage, which will be
accompanied by painful outbreaks
of a number of local financial systems. “I believe this is the first lesson that should be learnt and
taken into account in the formation of a global anti-crisis plan,”
he said. Kazakhstan has successfully implemented its anti-crisis
ASTANA, May 27 – Kazakhstan
is working with the United Nations
on turning Almaty into a UN regional diplomacy hub, the country’s foreign minister announced last week in
Astana drawing enthusiastic support
from a visiting top level UN official.
Speaking at a May 23 press conference during the Sixth Astana
Economic Forum, Kazakhstan’s
Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov noted that the establishment of a
UN regional hub in Almaty is not
an easy process and requires a lot
of time and efforts.
He has also noted that Almaty
has already become an international
center which serves regional needs.
“The facts that more than 16 offices of the UN system organizations are already present in Almaty
and most of them have regional
character are the best proof for
that,” Idrissov stressed adding that the work on the establishment of
such a hub is a “working process.”
He went on to highlight Kazakhstan’s readiness to create all
conditions needed for the work of
international organizations in Almaty, as stated in an earlier meeting between President Nursultan
Nazarbayev and UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon.
Astana Team Captain
Nibali Wins Giro d’Italia
programme, which has helped
preserve jobs and spur positive
economic growth. But that has not
been the case worldwide.
The President noted that one year
ago he proposed a G-Global idea to
positive response. The essence of
G-Global is to propose positive alternatives to the chaotic dynamics
of changing global paradigms as
the world continues to develop.
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By Miras Abykov
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ASTANA - The captain of the
Astana Cycling Team, Italian Vincenzo Nibali won the cycle race
Giro d’Italia on May 26. Nibali took the pink jersey after the eighth stage and never left
it until the finish of the race. In the general classification, Italian beat Colombian Rigoberto Uran
(Sky Team) by four minutes 43 seconds, while he beat Australian
Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) by 5.52 min. On Saturday, May 25,
Nibali won the penultimate stage
of the race, virtually guaranteeing
him the first place.
Super multi-day race “Giro
d’Italia 2013” started in Naples in early May and ended on May 26 in
Brescia. Nearly the entire route of
one of the longest races took place
on the roads of Italy, but two stages crossed into France.
As race leader, 28-year-old Nibali, who was born in Sicily, was
more concerned with staying out
of trouble and making sure he
reached the finish line unscathed to collect his second Grand Tour victory, to add to his win at the 2010
Vuelta a Espana.
“I’m very happy,” he said. “It was a really unique emotion hearing all the fans cheering for me.
I really enjoyed this stage. It was unbelievable seeing all those people along the road. This victory
crowns a life’s dream.”
“I’m very emotional. It is beautiful, the whole team was very
strong and they’ve done a great job
all along. It is a beautiful day for me,” he concluded.
Continued on Page B7
INSIDE
NATION
Civil Aviation Seen Taking Off in Kazakhstan
Conference Brings Global Perspectives on
Modernising Civil Service
Page A2
EURASIA & WORLD
EDITORIAL
OPINIONS
NATION & CAPITAL
International Rescue Training Seminar Held in
Almaty Region
Harnessing Wanderlust to Promote
Kazakhstan, EXPO 2017
Punching within Its Weight,
Responsibly
MAMYTBEKOV: Improving Infrastructure,
Regulation in the Grain Market
NUGERBEKOV: AEF Seeks to Answer Global
Economic Challenges Through Constructive
Dialogue
Alatau Innovation Park
Becomes High Tech Hub
Nine-Year Old Chess Prodigy Wins Fourth
World Championship
Page A3 – A8
Page A6
Page A7
Pages B1-B8
US$1 = 150.94 KZT
1 Euro = 195.35 KZT
1 Rouble = 4.82 KZT
А2
Nation
Conference Brings Law Forces Neutralize Alleged
Global Perspectives Terrorist Group, Prevent
Attack in Astana
on Modernising
Civil Service
By Rufiya Ospanova
ASTANA – On May 22, Astana
witnessed the start of the sixth Astana Economic Forum (AEF), held in the Palace of Independence. One of the first conferences held within the AEF was the Conference on
Modernisation of Civil Service,
which gathered representatives
from various organisations and
state agencies as well as officials to share their experiences and
opinions on the issue. Peer countries’ experiences as well as the
possibilities of applying international approaches in training civil
servants were also reviewed within
the session.
Alikhan Baimenov, chairman
of the Agency for Civil Service
Affairs of Kazakhstan, shared information about the history of the
development of Kazakhstan’s laws
on civil service in his welcoming
speech. He noted that examinations
for entering the civil service have
become tougher and civil servants
of the country have recently demonstrated positive results in their
examinations for approval of their
positions within the state agencies’
system of the country. “A state
needs a strong and solid civil service system to be competitive,” he
noted in his speech. “Kazakhstan
has to move away from the Soviet
civil service system and implement
the best international experiences
with regard to local environment,”
he added. He also noted that Kazakhstan is moving in the right direction in achieving the goal of a
more transparent and competitive
civil service system. Concluding
his speech, he wished the delegates
and speakers of the sixth AEF fruitful work.
When EU Head Representative
to Kazakhstan Aurelia Bouchez
took the floor, she noted that, “The European Union is a strategic partner of Kazakhstan in many sectors,
including civil service. The joint
efforts of the EU and Kazakhstan
are important for achieving the
common goal of sustainable development.”
Sukhvinder Singh Chopra, independent advisor and director of TSTemasek Management Services,
shared the experience of Singapore
in modernising their civil service
system. “We were the country with
almost nothing, we started from
zero. But now we are considered
one of the best developing countries in the world. When we started
changing our system we realised
that, first of all, we need to have a transparent civil service system,
without corruption and with responsible employees working for
the government. For that purpose it
was required to change the mentality of people through training. We
started to considerably change our
system. As Mr. Baimenov noted
earlier, ‘The properly developed
system leads to sustainable development.’
Stephen Emerson Condrey,
President of the American Society
for Public Administration, underlined that Kazakhstan is moving
in the right direction in the sphere
of civil service. “For example, in
America not every person strives
to be employed in a state agency.
The salaries are not high and according to the statistics, we have
about 30 percent lack of employed
civil servants. So the government
wants to elaborate some benefits for civil servants in order to attract
people to the system. In 2017, in the U.S., most of the currently
working civil servants will reach
retirement age. In comparison with the U.S., the civil servants
of Kazakhstan are mostly young
people.”
Kazakhstan’s civil servants receive many benefits: they are provided with housing, they get
quarterly bonuses depending on
their achievements, they attend advanced training courses and more.
In addition, they have transportation from their places of residence
to the offices and back, which is a case in Astana, for example, which
is a significant perk. The government of Kazakhstan tries to improve both living and working
conditions for employees working
in the state system.
Kazakhstan’s Agency for Civil
Service Affairs, the United Nations
Development Programme and the
Academy of State Governance under the President of the Republic
of Kazakhstan organised the conference.
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By Altynai Sultan
ASTANA, May 21 – Recent
court proceedings revealed that
Kazakhstan’s law enforcement
was able to thwart a planned major
terrorist attack on Astana. The plan
came to light during recent court
proceedings against those accused
of planning the attack.
The accused include six suspects
ranging in age from 22 to 52 years
old. They include Ali Sharipov,
Serik Koshalakov, Erzhan Kadirsizov, Agzam Kaskabayev, Syrymbet Zhunusov and Batyrlan
Abdikerov. They are charged under seven articles of the Criminal
Code, including terrorism, propaganda of terrorism or public calls
for carrying out of an act of terrorism, founding, directing a terrorist group and participating in its
activities, preparation of a crime
and attempted crime, theft, theft or
extortion of weapons, ammunition,
explosives and explosive devices,
illegal acquisition or carrying
weapons, explosives and explosive
devices.
“The accused Mr. Koshalakov
arrived in Astana in 2009. Mr.
Koshalakov with his friend Ali
Sharipov began to stick to radical
religious views, calling for a jihad,”
Prosecutor Malika Shashdauletova
said at the first court sitting in her accusatory speech on May 16.
According to Shashdauletova,
these men opened a cafe near one
of Astana’s mosques in Septem-
ber 2012, where they conducted
agitating discussions with clients. After these meetings, they
selected a few individuals they
felt would be willing to fight for fanatical ideas. The plans of the
accused terrorists Koshalakov and
Sharipov, who wanted to see the
creation of an Islamic Caliphate in Kazakhstan, included attacks
against law enforcement personnel to seize weapons and robberies to help fund their organization.
They planned to transfer the funds
to the Caucasus. In addition, they are accused of planning attacks in
public places.
Koshalakov is accused of planning an explosion in the Palace of
Peace and Accord, which was to
be followed by an attack on the
capital department of the National
Security Committee and a terrorist
attack in the Theatre of Opera and
Ballet. The plot allegedly included a plan for a wife of Sharipov to
put on a suicide bomber belt and
explode herself at the theatre’s
opening.
The members of the group are
accused of leasing the premises
in which materials to make improvised explosive devices were
believed to have been kept. Weapons and ammunition, brochures
containing extremist information
and plans for the Peace Palace and
theatre attacks were also found.
Before launching the attacks, the
accused terrorists are believed to
have planned to rob jewellery bou-
tiques in the Capital Bazar on New
Year’s Eve.
The men are accused of studying the operation of the trading
house and the location of surveillance cameras. They are believed
to have purchased the necessary
equipment for the robbery and had
devised a means of escape. Authorities believe that on Dec. 31,
Abdikerov and Sharipov went to
the trading house to commit the
robbery. On Jan. 1, however, Abdikerov was seized by officers of the Department of the National Security Committee.
The other members of the alleged
criminal group were arrested later.
During searches in the storage area
believed to be rented by Sharipov
and Koshalakov, investigators found
ammonium nitrate, hydrogen peroxide, aluminium powder and sugar,
which were sent for expert examination. The examination showed that
these substances are used to make
improvised explosive devices.
Five members of the group have
admitted to partial participation in
certain criminal acts, however, all
of the accused have denied involvement in any terrorist activities. The
group’s alleged leader Serik Koshalakov denies all charges.
By the decision of Meiram
Zhanguttinov, a judge in Astana’s
specialized inter-district court for
criminal cases, the main trial regarding the alleged attack will
from now on be held in Astana behind closed doors.
Civil Aviation Seen Taking Off in Kazakhstan
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By Assem Kazybay
ASTANA – In a recent interview, the chairperson of the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC), which oversees civil aviation in the Commonwealth of Independent States, said Kazakhstan’s civil aviation
has seen strong development since
the country gained independence.
“Kazakhstan has been in the
structure of the Interstate Aviation Committee since its establishment in 1991. President Nursultan
Nazarbayev was one of the initiators
of establishing the organisation. Ob-
viously, many changes have taken
place in the sphere of civil aviation
over the years;; I would even say that aviation itself has changed. Now, we
have modern planes and airports, a
high level of service and flight safety – that is the most important. In my opinion, the infrastructure of civil
aviation in Kazakhstan has been
dynamically developing over recent
years,” Tatyana Anodina, doctor of
engineering, professor, winner of
the E. Warner Award of International Civil Aviation and chairperson of
the Interstate Aviation Committee, said during a recent interview in
which she discussed the prospects
and level of development of aviation
in Kazakhstan.
Dr. Anodina also noted several
issues which it would benefit civil aviation to solve: “It is not a secret that the acceptance rate of airports
has been a problem for aviation
in Kazakhstan, and so it remains.
It slows down the process of development of regional-level and
international-level flights. As far as I know, the government of the country has already set a task to
double the acceptance rates of the
airports of Astana and Almaty over
the course of two years. Besides,
all regional airports are expected
to meet the international standards
(IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations) ISAGO.”
Anodina’s organisation certifies aircraft, airports and air companies; maintains an aviation register
and investigates air transport accidents. It has already investigated 550 air accidents in 76 countries.
“The winds of change have
brought only good and progress
to Kazakhstan when it comes to
aviation,” she continued. “Radical
changes have affected all areas of
the country’s civil aviation. For example, Astana and Almaty airports
were certified by the IAC for all-
weather flights in accordance with the third category of the ICAO [International Civil Aviation Organisation]. Air terminals were built,
service culture improved as well
as navigation and air traffic control facilities were constructed.”
She also underlined that at
present, the government of Kazakhstan is setting even more ambitious goals to equip and certify all
the nation’s airports in accordance
with ICAO standards.
She has also noted the new human capital in the field. “A new generation of aviation professionals has been trained at the National
Academy of Civil Aviation in
Almaty. I know that the government plans to allocate more than
three billion tenge for the training
of specialists in this sphere. The
IAC also contributed to preparing Kazakhstan’s specialists in the
sphere of flight safety within the ICAO-MAC international project, in which the United States, EU
countries, Russia, Kazakhstan and
others are taking part.”
Overall, civil aviation in Kazakhstan has undergone many changes over the past two years, particularly in removing planes that didn’t
meet safety requirements from
operation. Kazakhstan also completed the process of improving
and re-equipping air traffic control centres with modern systems meeting international standards.
“The civil aviation of Kazakhstan
is expected to keep this pace of
development, taking into account
the measures put in place by the
President and the government of
the country for its continuous support,” Dr. Anodina concluded.
DOMESTIC
NEWS IN BRIEF
● The Karaganda and Schuchinsk resort area in the future will
be part of the Astana agglomeration. This was announced at the
IV International Investment Forum Astana Invest 2013 by Kazakhstan Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov.
In this regard, President Nursultan Nazarbayev has urged the government’s foreign partners to invest
more actively in the development
of Kazakhstan’s capital. “The support of specific business initiatives, improvement of the business climate and the expansion of publicprivate partnerships is a priority
for the government. We are open
and willing to consider any business initiatives and proposals from
the business community. We invite
all interested entrepreneurs and investors to interact and cooperate,”
Nazarbayev said.
● On May 22, a decree on creation of National Holding Baiterek
was signed by the President of
Kazakhstan and published on the
official Akorda website. Kuandyk Bishimbayev will head the new
holding. The main mission of the
holding as defined by the President will be providing funding to the
state programme of industrialization. The JSC Baiterek will manage shares and stakes of national
development institutions, national
companies and other legal entities
belonging to the holding by right
of ownership and given to the new
body in trust management. The
President has directed that the legislative basis of the holding be developed by Jan. 1, 2014.
● Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov has instructed the Ministry of
Industry and New Technologies to present to the government by August 1 Kazakhstan’s energy-saving
programme, Energy Saving 2020.
This means having all aspects of
the plan, including financing, ready by then. President Nazarbayev has
called for an annual 10 percent reduction in energy use by 2015 in
both industry and domestic use.
The Prime Minister stressed that
it is vital for both national and regional governments to meet this
target.
● Expedition 35 to the International Space Station (ISS) came to a safe conclusion on May 14 when the three-man crew touched
down in Kazakhstan. The crew –
Commander Chris Hadfield from Canada, and Flight Engineers Tom
Marshburn from the United States
and Roman Romanenko from Russia – had started their voyage from
Kazakhstan 146 days prior, in December, when they took off from
the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
● More than 10,000 children’s holiday camps, which will take care
of about 1.3 million children, will
operate in Kazakhstan this summer,
Minister of Education and Science
Bakhytzhan Zhumagulov said at a
meeting of the government on May
21. “This year 10,487 recreation camps will function in Kazakhstan.
More than 2.1 million children will
attend the holiday camps. Of those,
about 1.3 million children or 58.9
percent will improve their health,”
Zhumagulov stated. According to
the minister, at the beginning of the
summer season, five new health and recreation facilities are expected to open. This year, it is planned
to assist about 450,000 to 680,000 or 65.4 percent of orphans, disabled children and children from
low-income families. In general, according to the minister, 5.5 billion tenge ($36,452,790), which is 2.7 billion ($17,895,006) more than last year will be allocated
from local budgets for the summer
holidays for socially disadvantaged
children and improving conditions
at the camps.
● Kazakhstan has developed a unique method to detect toxic
chemicals in the environment after rocket launches. The scientists
of the Gharysh – Ecology research
centre have created and patented
a unique method of detecting
toxic rocket fuel chemicals in the
environment after the launch of
rockets, Chairman of the National
Space Agency of Kazakhstan Talgat Mussabayev said in an exclusive interview for the website of
the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.
Highly toxic fuels have a negative
effect on the environment in Kazakhstan. According to bilateral
agreements, the Russian side has
pledged to facilitate the phased
reduction of launches of carrier
rockets Proton from the Baikonur
cosmodrome which have adversely
affected the environment.
А3
Eurasia and world
EXTERNAL
NEWS IN BRIEF
● On May 27, Kazakhstan’s foreign minister Erlan Idrissov, defense minister Adilbek Zhaksybekov and Security Council Secretary Kairat Kozhamzharov took
part in the meetings of the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s
(CSTO) statutory bodies – Council of Foreign Ministers, Council of
Defense Ministers and Security
Council Secretaries Committee –
in Bishkek. Participants discussed
topical issues of the current and
future activities of the Organization, including improving coordination of foreign policy, condition
and structure of the system of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization, issues of cooperation in the
fight against terrorism, extremism and cross-border organized crime,
information security and border
security, and others. As a result of
the joint meetings, the participants
have approved and adopted a package of the documents including a
plan for consultations on foreign
policy, security, defenses for the
second half of 2013 and first half of 2014, documents on preparation and conduction of peace-keeping
operations of the CSTO collective
peacekeeping forces. The foreign
ministers of the CSTO member
states signed a joint statement on
major international issues.
● Director of the Institute Gustave Roussy Alexander Eggermont
spoke about his of his participation in the Astana Economic Forum. “This is my sixth visit to
Kazakhstan and I like this country very much. The people and atmosphere are very good here. I am impressed with the Kazakh people. I believe there are great potential for
cooperation in the healthcare for
Kazakhstan and France and for the
Institute Gustave Roussy and the Kazakh Research Institute of Oncology and Radiology in Almaty
in particular,” he said. Alexander
Eggermont complimented professionalism of Kazakhstan cancer
specialists, “We presented a special
training programme for the doctors
from Kazakhstan and I am pleased that the Ministry of Healthcare of
Kazakhstan was interested in it. It will allow training doctors and preparing your trainers,” he said. Besides, it is planned to hold international conferences in Kazakhstan
with the participation of foreign
experts, Kazakhstan doctors and
specialists from the Institute Gustave Roussy.
● An EU Project “Civil Service Reform and Modernization of the
Government of Kazakhstan”, 21
May – 1 October 2013, includes
holding of a creativity competition for the best coverage in mass
media of the civil service of Kazakhstan. The competition goal is to
find and reward the best authors of materials substantially contributing to civil service reforming in the
Republic of Kazakhstan. The grand
prize for two winners is getting insight into advanced European experience in the civil service field within a study visit jointly with the
experts of the Academy of Public
Administration and the Agency for
Civil Service Affairs.
● The customs authorities of Kazakhstan and China intend to
develop a strategic plan of cooperation for the period of 2014-2018, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry
reported following the visit of the
delegation of the Customs Control
Committee of Kazakhstan headed
by Chairman Mazhit Yessenbaev
to China. “The purpose of the new
document lies in the creation of
conditions for the development of
legitimate trade. This issue was
discussed at the meeting of the
heads of both customs administrations, Mazhit Yessenbaev and Yu
Guangzhou,” the report said. According to the report, the sides discussed issues related to improving
the exchange of information on the
total volume of export-import operations between Kazakhstan and
China. In addition, an agreement was reached during the visit on
the implementation of the project
for the creation of a “green corridor” for agricultural products between the checkpoints of Bakhty
(Kazakhstan) and Pokitu (PRC) starting in October 2013. This
project will increase the scale of
trade. It means the Chinese side takes responsibility for the quality
of their products, according to the
report. The parties also noted the
successful start of operations of
a new railway border crossing at
Altynkol-Khorgos and expressed
willingness to further improve its
infrastructure.
Sixth AEF and WAC Tackle
Global Economic Woes
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From Page A1
“It is based on the unifying potential of five simple and clear principles: first, evolution and rejection of revolutionary changes in
politics; second, justice, equality
and consensus; third, global tolerance and trust; fourth, global transparency;; fifth, constructive multi-
polarity.”
The President recognized that
a new type of global economy is
emerging and that new principles
of international relations and new
values of public life are being approved. “Therefore, it is important
to find the right solutions to global problems,” the President said as
he concluded his opening remarks
and wished success to the forum
participants and delegates of the
World Anti-Crisis Conference in
their discussions and formations of
solutions to the world’s economic
issues.
Vuk Jeremic, President of the 67th session of the United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA), also gave remarks during the forum’s
opening. “I am happy to be back to what UNESCO has called ‘the city
of peace’ (Astana),” he said. Jeremic underlined that it is important that events such as the forum and the anti-crisis conference
are taking place in Kazakhstan and
noted the role of Almaty in furthering the activities of the United Nations (UN) in Kazakhstan and the region.
“Almaty is uniquely positioned
to play a role as a hub for UN activities in the region,” Jeremic said.
He also stressed the importance of
forming recommendations to address global economic issues that
take into account the specifics of individual nations. “The purpose
of the Sixth Astana Economic Forum is to provide additional tools
for all countries,” he said.
Nikola Gruevski, Prime Minister
of the Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia and Wu Hongbo,
United National Under-SecretaryGeneral for Economic and Social
Affairs also spoke to the gathering. Wu Hongbo read a statement
from UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon.
The President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council
Nestor Osorio also told the participants that “there is a clear need for
greater transparency.”
“Following the Forum about 80
agreements and memoranda for
the amount of $2.7 billion were signed. Innovative technologies were attracted. Nobel laureates and
other experts gave lectures at the
universities,” co-chairperson of the
coordination council of the Eurasian Economic Club of Scientists
Association, member of the Senate
of the Parliament of Kazakhstan
Serik Nogerbekov said at the final press conference. Draft resolution
with recommendations for G-20
was also following the Sixth Astana Economic Forum.
“This draft was actively discussed at G-Global communicative
platform. Today, this draft has been
adopted,” Nogerbekov concluded.
The World Anti-Crisis Conference, held at the initiative of President Nazarbayev and with full support of the UN General Assembly,
is meant to elaborate the Global
Anti-Crisis plan for the UN based
on democratic principles and encompassing the interests of all
countries. The WAC will be dedicated to the problems of the world
financial system, which, since the beginning of the Great Recession, has been experiencing major
changes, the scale of which has not
yet been fully understood. The international community is still trying to rehabilitate financial channels for domestic and international
growth. Discussions about development of economic and financial infrastructure are also part of the
WAC agenda.
CSTO Presidents in Bishkek...
From Page A1
“Assistance will also be offered
to the Afghan authorities in ensuring the stability in the region.”
It was also announced that military forces of CSTO member states
would conduct several peacekeeping exercises in Russia and Belarus
in 2014.
At the initiative of the Kyrgyz
President, the four leaders also discussed an idea to build a RussiaKazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan
railway line, Bordyuzha added.
“This issue does not directly
touch upon the tasks of CSTO but
still the presidents paid attention to
this project. They agreed that they
will instruct their respective agencies to work on economic and fi-
nancial feasibility of this project,”
Bordyuzha explained.
In addition to the four countries whose presidents participated in
the Bishkek meeting, Armenia and
Belarus are also CSTO members
but their presidents did not come
to the Kyrgyz capital. Uzbekistan
has earlier suspended its membership in the CSTO so its president
also did not attend.
A formal summit of heads of CSTO
member states is traditionally held in
Moscow at the end of the year.
From May 28 to 29, Russia’s
President Vladimir Putin is to visit Astana to take part in the sitting of
the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council along with President
Nazarbayev and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko. The
Council is the supreme body of the
Customs Union and the Common
Economic Space of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
The agenda of the meeting includes
further development of integration
and the creation of the Eurasian Economic Union by January 1, 2015.
The event will also focus on the
Customs Union functioning, further
work to launch the Common Economic Space and the codification of international instruments, including
working out a draft agreement on
the Eurasian Economic Union.
After the three-way meeting, the
heads of Belarus, Kazakhstan and
Russia are to meet with the presidents of Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan,
Viktor Yanukovich and Almazbek Atambayev.
International Rescue
Training Seminar
Held in Almaty Region
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EBOHFSPVTTJUVBUJPOT
By Manshuk Bekentayeva
ASTANA – Some of Kazakhstan’s
top emergency responders gathered
in the Almaty region for the May
20-29 18th international emergency
response competition and training
seminar, Kazspas-2013.
The seminar, sponsored by the
Kazakhstan Ministry of Emergency Situations, gathered international and Kazakhstan competitors
for events and training, including a
military triathlon and rescue-dog
handling competitions.
A conference to facilitate an exchange of expertise on the latest
life-saving equipment and rescue
operations techniques, as well as
an exhibition on the latest life-saving equipment was also planned
for the event.
According to Kazakhstan’s
Deputy Minister of the Ministry
of Emergency Situations Valery Petrov, the event cost 11 million
tenge ($72,949), but is necessary to develop the skills of Kazakhstan
rescuers. The deputy minister added that since the beginning of 2013,
the ministry’s rescuers had rescued
more than 4,000 people and evacuated more than 10,000 as a result of
various emergencies.
For the first time, a special group of psychologists of the Ministry of
Emergency Situations took part in
the seminar.
The event annually brings together rescue teams from Kazakhstan, the Commonwealth of Independent States and beyond. This
year, rescuers from the Azerbaijan,
Tajikistan, Belarus, Russia and
Kyrgyzstan participated.
International observers from the National Guard of the state of Arizona, United States, as well as representatives of the European Un-
ion, Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, NATO, the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization
and the International Red Cross took part in Kazspas 2013.
The training area of the Kazakhstan Ministry of Emergency
Situations where the seminar took
place, The Rocky City – Astana, is
the only range in the CIS which has been universally adapted for carrying out all types of rescue efforts.
The range was given the status of a
basic international educational and
training area of the participating
countries of Collective Security
Treaty Organization in 2011.
In the 17-year history of the seminar, more than 20,000 training rescues have been conducted,
including those involving rescue
dogs, divers and rock climbers.
The training rescues have also been
used as an opportunity for Ministry
of Emergency Situations aircraft
pilots to hone their skills.
Some of the rescues and competitions have included natural and
man-made obstacles and specific emergency sceneries of various
kinds. Participants carry out special
tasks, such as searching for victims,
rendering first aid and eliminating technogenic threats connected with
the emission of highly toxic substances. Athletic competitions at
the seminar have also included the
presentation of gymnastic expertise
and cross-country running. Rescuers practice working under extreme
conditions and in difficult climates and have the opportunity to use the
latest engineering and equipment.
The aim of Kazspas is to not only
identify the best teams, but also to
increase the general level of preparedness of emergency personnel
for rapid response to emergency
situations.
Efforts to Create UN Regional Hub in Almaty
From Page A1
“We hope our cooperation will
result in the creation of a UN regional representation office in our country,” the foreign minister told
the press conference adding that
the participation of Kazakhstan’s
delegation in the UN General Assembly in September 2013 will
help promote the case.
Speaking alongside Erlan Idrissov, President of the 67th session of the United Nations General
Assembly Vuk Jeremic offered his views on the matter.
“There is a UN centre in Vienna and there is a UN centre in Bangkok, there is a vast geography between those two places... One actually asks oneself a question as to
where to place another hub? Given
Kazakhstan’s prominence, given
Kazakhstan’s engagement and also
the role it has played in the past
and in the face of the challenges
that the world faces, security ones
like Afghanistan, but also developmental ones, I think it’s not too difficult to make a strong case for a UN activities center being placed
here,” Jeremic said.
Jeremic is an elected official whose job is to chair the proceedings of the UN General Assembly
session during one year. The decision on the establishment of a UN
regional diplomacy hub lies within
the purview of UN offices.
To recall, Kazakhstan has of-
fered to host a UN hub in Almaty
where Central Asian countries can
co-operate on aiding Afghanistan
and promoting regional development and humanitarian assistance
efforts.
At a June 2012 meeting with
head of UN Assistance Mission in
Afghanistan Ján Kubiš, President
Nursultan Nazarbayev proposed to
set up such a hub.
“Kazakhstan is ready to participate in stabilizing Afghanistan
and facilitating peace there,” the
President said without defining the schedule for the completion of the
project.
In October 2012, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov met Babatunde Osotimehin,
Under-Secretary-General of the
United Nations and Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, to discuss
development of the social and
economic sphere in Kazakhstan
and outlook for further cooperation in Central Asia, including in
the context of the Millennium Development Goals for 2015. On that
occasion, Idrissov also underlined Kazakhstan’s initiative to transform Almaty into the sub-regional
hub of multilateral diplomacy with
the opening of a UN Secretariat regional office being conductive for cooperation enhancement.
Kazakh experts believe the setting up of a UN hub in Almaty will
not only help increase the efficien-
cy of activities of all UN system
organisations’ offices located in Almaty, specialized institutions of
the UN, but will also attract international structures to the country,
planning to expand the activity in
the region.
“It [regional hub] will include all those international structures which
are already now (in the region). It is a question of the creation of a hub
to position Almaty as the regional
center of international diplomacy,”
head of the Foreign Policy Center
at the Administration of the President Yerzhan Ashikbayev said at
launch of a book “Kazakhstan in
the International Community” in March 2013.
Earlier, at a June 2011 meeting in
Astana, Kazakhstan’s then Foreign
Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov told
heads of the United Nations agencies’ offices in Kazakhstan that after gaining its independence, Kazakhstan has been vigorously developing fruitful cooperation with
the United Nations. Since February
1992, some 19 specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the
UN system have established their
active presence in Kazakhstan.
Since the early days, there has
been a full-scale cooperation with
all UN institutions.
“Kazakhstan, which has been
playing over the years an ever
more important role as a regional
donor and providing significant assistance to neighbouring countries,
is working on the establishment
of KazAID, Kazakhstan’s international aid agency. The United
Nations Country Office could provide invaluable expertise and
technical assistance in the practical
implementation of that idea,” Kazykhanov underlined then.
“We believe a decision to give
Almaty the status of a UN regional
centre would not only contribute to the fuller implementation
of regional projects that serve to
strengthen cooperation in Central
Asia, but could also provide an
impetus to the process of drawing
next-door countries and regions
into the orbit of development assistance,” Kazykhanov noted.
According to Kazykhanov, who
now serves as Assistant to the President for foreign policy, Kazakhstan,
in turn, is ready to provide active
support to the strengthening of the
regional role of UN offices in Almaty and the expansion of their project activities. For instance, Kazakhstan has
lifted visa requirements for holders
of the UN Laissez-Passers, as well as
extended diplomatic accreditation to
UN staff members. Moreover, work
on renovation of the premises of the
UN Office in Almaty is being carried out, as well as the provision of a new
building to the UN Office in Astana and the provision of a building to the
sub-regional office of UNESCAP in Almaty.
“As the first example of cooperation under the new scheme, we can
refer to a joint programme for the
development of the Semey (Semipalatinsk) region, for which Kazakhstan has allocated some US$10 million in accordance with an
agreement signed last May during
the visit of the UNDP Administrator Helen Clark. Last year [2010], we signed agreements on country
cooperation programmes for 201015 with UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA,” Kazykhanov explained on
that occasion.
Almaty has already established
itself as one of Central Asia’s largest business, tourism and transportation hubs.
“Kazakhstan today has a thriving
economy, governed by consumers,
not plans. With material improvements, the city has also developed
a well-deserved pride and selfconfidence,” said Thomas Mirow, the then-president of the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development at the EBRD annual meeting in Kazakhstan in May 2011.
“We have been developing Almaty as a major business and financial centre, promoting tourism and
services,” President Nazarbayev
told a meeting of investors earlier
this year.
As Kazakhstan’s largest city
and its capital at independence in
1991, it was inevitable that those
policies would transform Almaty
into a major transportation hub and
regional centre for visiting foreign
businessmen and investors.
А4
Economy
FIC Discusses Investment Policy,
Innovative Development
5IFJNQMFNFOUBUJPOPGJOWFTUNFOUQPMJDZJO,B[BLITUBOIBTCFFOEJTDVTTFEBUUIFUIQMFOBSZNFFUJOHPGUIF
'PSFJHO*OWFTUPST$PVODJM
From Page A1
He suggested setting a common
goal of practical implementation
of innovative approaches.
“Kazakhstan will give particular priority to those who establish innovations. I urge you to help our business, education and
science to regroup, and set them
toward innovation. This will allow you to increase the effectiveness of your own production, and
then local content will be completely different, innovative. For
the practical implementation of
these approaches I suggest ... the Triple Seven Initiative, which can be implemented through joint efforts within one year. Number one
is to attract at least seven worldfamous scientists to Kazakhstan.
Number two is to supply seven
Kazakh companies with high-tech
orders. Number three is to sup-
port seven innovative start-ups,”
Nazarbayev said.
The president also suggested a
subject for the next Foreign Investors Council meeting. He believes it is practical to discuss the
participation of foreign investors
in the implementation of Kazakhstan’s second industrial five-
year plan in 2014. The president has instructed the government to
work out the concept by this November and complete development of the programme by next
May. He would like to approve it
after coordinating it with investors at the next Foreign Investors Council meeting in May 2014. “The decision to establish the
council was made 15 years ago. It happened during general consultations with the Cabinet and the
state commission on investments
and management of the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development. The decision
was made to invite executives
of different international companies to take part in the council.
Twenty-five meetings have been
held since then. Our council has
expanded significantly over the
years and I consider it a natural process. It reflects a growing interest in Kazakhstan on the
part of the international business community and the constant
flow of foreign investment,” he
stressed.
This year, the Foreign Investors Council has experienced some
changes in its structure. Sir Suma
Chakrabarti joined the council replacing Mr. Thomas Mirow. Sir
Chakrabarti has headed the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development since July 2012. He
has extensive experience at the
highest political positions of the
United Kingdom and he has also
worked closely with CIS countries.
“I am sure Sir Suma Chakrabarti will make a great contribution to our Council. At the same
time I would like to recall that, at the time, the European Bank
for Reconstruction and Development contributed to the birth and
creation of the Foreign Investors Council in Kazakhstan,” President Nazarbayev said, introducing new participants.
President Nazarbayev also introduced Chairman of the Board
of Directors of JP Morgan Chase
International Dr. Jacob Frenkel and the new CEO of BG Group,
Chris Finlayson.
The Kazakhstan side of the Foreign Investors Council has also changed.
“I would like to introduce to you the new Council members, Prime
Minister Serik Akhmetov, First
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development
Bakytzhan Sagintayev, Minister
of Economy and Budget Planning
Yerbolat Dossayev and Chairman
of the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies Yerlan Khairov,”
Nazarbayev said, introducing the
new Kazakh members.
The president noted a growing
interest of major foreign companies in Kazakhstan, as evidenced
by a high inflow of foreign investments to the country’s economy.
The participants of the 26th plenary meeting of Foreign Investors Council include heads of the biggest foreign companies working
in the country, such as Chairman
and CEO of ConocoPhillips Ryan
Lance, President and CEO of
General Electric Transportation
Lorenzo Simonelli, President of
the European Aeronautic Defence
and Space Company Thomas
Enders, Chairman of Russia’s
Sberbank German Gref, CEO of
Airbus John Leahy and others.
“Kazakhstan will
give particular
priority to those who
establish innovations.
I urge you to help
our business,
education and
science to regroup,
and set them
toward innovation.”
– Nursultan
Nazarbayev
The Foreign Investors Council is a consulting and advisory body
chaired by President Nursultan
Nazarbayev. It was established by the president in 1998 in order to
improve the investment climate
in the country, as well as to step
up interaction between the government and the leading foreign
investors in Kazakhstan.
AEF Seeks Int’l Economic Solutions
By Rufiya Ospanova
ASTANA – The Sixth Astana
Economic Forum (AEF), which began May 22 in Astana, has become a unique platform for international dialogue on pressing
modern issues facing the world.
Experts in various sectors come to
the forum to share their knowledge
and hear the opinions of others on
recent world developments.
This year’s forum started with
panel discussions concerning the
transition to a green civilization,
the role of institutional investors in
promoting green growth and sustainable development, sustainable
development of tourism and the
development of infrastructure.
The press conference “Will
Future Energy Fundamentally
Change Our Lives,” organized
by the National Company Astana
EXPO2017 was also a part of the
discussion on green energy. The
main questions of the conference
included the challenges and opportunities arising from a transition towards a sustainable energy future,
the availability of infrastructure
for a Third Industrial Revolution, environmental aspects of renewable energy sources, particularly
green energy’s potential effects on
society and the transition towards a
green economy.
Other discussions at this year’s
forum included a session on creating integrated solutions to global unemployment. The purpose
of the session was to exchange
international experiences on the
issue and to formulate solutions.
At the session, it was noted that
the global economic crisis has
shown that the underestimation
of the problem of unemployment can lead to an increase in
social unrest, both in individual
countries and in countries linked
by trade and investment agreements. “The main threat to global
stability is an increase of unemployment,” Kazakhstan President
Nursultan Nazarbayev said during an address to the nation earlier this year. Among its numerous
programmes to increase employment, Kazakhstan has also approved a comprehensive plan to
promote employment of persons
older than 50 (50 + Initiative), which will be implemented by
the Ministry of Labour and Social
Protection. The programme aims
to provide more employment opportunities for older people and
includes continuing education,
vocational training and retraining
and job quotas for persons over
55 years of age.
This year, the AEF is also expanding its scope by hosting a
two-day World Anti-Crisis Conference (WAC) dedicated to the creation of a global plan for avoiding
and reducing the strain of present
and future financial crises worldwide. The event, fully supported
by the UN, is jointly organized by
the Government of Kazakhstan
and the Eurasian Economic Club
of Scientists, and divided into six
panel sessions and roundtable discussions. The topics of the WAC
include the political and economic
dimensions of Eurozone unemployment, monetary policy and global
financial stability, global-to-local transitioning of capital markets,
G20 adjustments to the new global
economy and growth restoration in
a fragmented and divergent global
economy.
The plenary session of the AEF
and the WAC on May 23 were attended by President Nazarbayev.
The conference, which gathered
about eight thousand participants
from all over the world, was organized on the initiative of the president and is designed to elaborate
the World Anti-Crisis plan for the
UN based on democratic principles
and encompassing the interests of
all countries and to seek solutions
to avoid and mitigate the effects of
future financial crises.
The focus of another press conference “Entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan: Challenges and Opportunities” organized by the Damu
Fund on May 23examined the role
of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in Kazakhstan and barriers faced by SMEs within an
international context. It allowed for the exchange of international experiences and discussions of optimal
solutions to stimulate the growth
of innovative SMEs in Kazakhstan
and elsewhere.
The signing ceremonies for more
than 40 memoranda and agreements are also to take place during the AEF. State agencies of the
Republic of Kazakhstan, national
holdings and funds are expected to
sign memoranda of understanding,
agreements on cooperation with
international associations and foreign companies from Poland, China, Austria, France and the U.S.,
including agreements related to the
field of innovation and technology. According to the preliminary information, the agreements are estimated to involve projects totaling
$400 million. The so-called dialogue of leaders taking place on May 24 will close the AEF and the WAC, during which leaders of countries,
financial structures, international organizations and Nobel laureates
will summarize the AEF and WAC
activities.
Organizers of the Astana Economic Forum and the World Anti-Crisis Conference include the
Eurasian Economic Club of Scientists, 14 ministries of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the National Bank
of the Republic of Kazakhstan,
Samruk Kazyna National Welfare
Fund, the UN, the World Economic Forum, the World Intellectual Property Organization, the Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee, the Madrid Club, the Russian
Academy of Natural Sciences and
others.
Employment Programme Creates Businesses,
Jobs in Southern Kazakhstan
By Lyubov Dobrota
SHYMKENT – The administration of the South Kazakhstan
region recently evaluated the effectiveness of the pilot Employment 2020 programme launched
in 2011. Deputy Governor of
the South Kazakhstan region Ali
Bektayev has recently visited a
number of enterprises and farms
where regional authorities also
familiarized themselves with the
businesses that have been developed with government support.
In 2013, more than 12.1 billion tenge ($80,196,138) were allocated for Employment 2020 in the
South Kazakhstan region. It is estimated that 25,000 people will be
affected by the programme. The
goals of the programme include
reducing the unemployment rate in
the region to 5.6 percent, limiting
self-employment to 47 percent and lowering the percentage of people
living below subsistence levels to
9.7 percent. The programme also
hopes to reduce youth unemployment to 3.8 percent.
Employment 2020 also includes
provisions to promote entrepreneurship in rural areas. According
to the programme, 1,000 residents
of the Southern Kazakhstan region this year will receive training
on the basics of business and receive micro loans to launch their
own businesses. Moreover, about
2,066 jobs are expected to be created with the funds allotted for the
infrastructure projects.
Usen Ormanov, a young entrepreneur from the Karasu village
in the Sairam district, began his
career in business two years ago
when he applied for funds under the Employment 2020 pro-
gramme. With initial capital of
three million tenge ($19,883) loaned at 6.5 percent per annum,
he built barns and purchased
horses and sheep.
In 2013, more than
12.1 billion tenge
($80,196,138)
were allocated
for Employment
2020 in the South
Kazakhstan region.
It is estimated that
25,000 people will
be affected by the
programme.
Ormanov’s operation has expanded considerably in the last
two years and now provides sta-
ble paying jobs for two of his fellow villagers. Ormanov’s monthly
loan payment is 16,000-17,000
tenge ($106-$112) with profits reinvested in the business. Ormanov
showed his operation to Bektayev
during Bektayev’s recent trip.
Entrepreneur Vladimir Bobrov, who has experience in the cultivation of mushrooms, has also received an Employment 2020 loan
to help create jobs. He opened
the first free school to train future mushroom growers and plans to
establish an operation for the production of oyster mushrooms.
Bobrov cultivates his mushrooms using cotton husk as substrate, in contrast to straw and
sawdust. Cotton husk contains a
large number of micro-nutrients,
which can later be used as animal
feed and thus eliminate waist.
Bobrov collects four to five harvests of mushrooms per year
and the crop is sold widely in
the markets and shops of his city.
People are increasingly choosing
environmentally friendly products
and oyster mushrooms are popular because they have been grown
without chemical treatment, artificial colours and preservatives. His
enterprise has shown that oyster
mushrooms are a viable business.
The experiences of these rural entrepreneurs can serve as a
model for those who want to open
their own business, but do not
know how to start, Bektayev said
at a recent job fair organized by
the Sairam district akimat (city hall). The state creates favourable conditions, helps entrepreneurs
become experienced in sectors
where there is demand and then
provides the capital to start their
businesses.
BUSINESS
NEWS IN BRIEF
● In Kazakhstan, the prices for industrial products fell 2.3 percent
in April, according to Kazakhstan’s
Statistics Agency. The prices in
the mining industry decreased by
3.2 percent and manufacturing
prices fell 0.6 percent. The prices
for gas condensate decreased by
4.1 percent, oil by 4 percent, liquefied propane and butane by 3.9 percent, natural gas by 2.3 percent,
diesel fuel by 2,2 percent, gasoline by 1.4 percent. The prices for metal ore grew by 7.1 percent, fuel
oil increased by 1.4 percent. The prices for lead and zinc decreased
by 8.2 percent, raw aluminum decreased by 7.1 percent, copper by
3.5 percent, precious metals by 2.5
percent, ferrous metals 1.2 percent.
Ferro-alloys prices were up by 0.9
percent.
● Plans for a solar power station were presented on May 1 in the
Zhanakorgan region of Kyzylorda
oblast, the press-service of the oblast administration said. The power
station with an average annual generation capacity of 65 million kWh
will become the biggest solar plant
in Kazakhstan. The project is estimated at $93.1 million. When the power station reaches its nominal
capacity, its personnel will include
around 50 people, as all the processes will be automated. The investors
(Samruk Kazyna Invest, Odyssey Investment Group and China’s ET Solar Group) will start constructing the station in August this year. According to Kyzylorda oblast Akim
(Governor) Krymbek Kusherbayev, the power station will start producing electricity on Dec. 25 and reach
its nominal capacity in 2014.
● KAZKA, the Kazakhstan Association of Entrepreneurs, and
the Trade Development Council of
Hong Kong have organised a business forum with businessmen from
Hong Kong to Almaty, the association’s press service reported on
May 21. Orientation seminars and
bilateral meetings with the business
communities of both sides were
conducted. In particular, the Chinese representatives shared their experience about business opportunities
and tools of government support,
as well as the tax and legal regimes
in Hong Kong. These activities are
aimed at establishing and developing trade and economic collaboration between Kazakhstan and Hong
Kong. A similar event was held
May 23 in Astana. Within the forum
numerous bilateral meetings took
place, during which the businessmen debated cooperation in the field of construction, the supply of spare
parts, electrical appliances, security
systems, shoes, food and other issues. Chairman of the National Bank
of Kazakhstan Grigoriy Marchenko
in his speech spoke about the history
and current state of the national currency, the post-crisis development
of Kazakhstan and shared shortterm economic forecasts.
● Construction of a joint facility to process uranium by Canada’s Cameco and Kazakhstan’s
KazAtomProm National Nuclear
Company will start in 2018, KazTAG reported, citing Robert Steane, Cameco senior vice president
and chief operating officer as quoted in the company’s statement issued for the 26th sitting of the Foreign Investors Council on May 22. “There is a memorandum signed
with KazAtomProm to transfer the
company’s own technology to construct and operate a highly efficient and environmentally friendly facility that will be processing 6,000
tons of uranium (UO3) a year, relying on the Ulba Metallurgical
Plant [engaged in production of uranium, beryllium and tantalum
products for the needs of the nuclear power industry] based in UstKamenogorsk.“ The actual transfer
of technology will take place upon
the start of construction in 2018.
The facility is to begin uranium
production in 2020.” The feasibility study for the project is to be
launched in 2014. “The Ulba Plant is an ideal place, given its long history of metallurgical production,
infrastructure, technical expertise
[it was established in 1949]”, the statement reads, adding that as
soon as Kazakhstan and Canada
sign a bilateral agreement on the
peaceful use of atomic power, the
transfer of the technology will
expand cooperation between the
two companies.” KazAtomProm,
including its stakes in other companies, produced a total of 11,900
tons of natural uranium in 2012
(over 20 percent of global production). In 2011, the company produced 11,079 tons.
А5
Business
ECONOMY
NEWS IN BRIEF
ASTEX Brings Smart Technologies to Astana
● On May 23, President Nursultan Nazarbayev met with Nobel
Prize winners in economics, physics, and physiology and medicine
at the sixth Astana Economic Forum. The state of the international
financial and economic system and Kazakhstan’s initiatives for developing design solutions for the
world economy to transition to a
path of sustainable development
were discussed at the meeting.
● Kazakhstan plans to reach the
final agreements on its accession to the World Trade Organisation
(WTO) within six months, Vice Minister of Economy and Budget
Planning, Timur Zhaksylykov,
stated during the sixth Astana Economic Forum on May 22. Kazakhstan has already completed bilateral market access negotiations
on goods and services. Bilateral
talks on access to the commodities market have been completed
with 30 countries and on access to
the services market with 15 countries, including the countries of the
EU (the EU acts as one country in the negotiations) and the United States. Kazakhstan is also entering into commitments on ten major
sectors of services, including commercial services, communications,
construction and other engineering
services, distribution services, education services and services related
to leisure activities. Following the
negotiations, there is agreement on
the preservation of local content in
the procurement of works and services, as well as the involvement of
Kazakh personnel in subsoil use
contracts. The second agreement
is on the entry and temporary stay
of foreign workers. Third is on the
access to the information and communication services market.
● The eighth Innovative Congress, “Innovative Development of Kazakhstan – on the way to a
knowledge economy,” took place
within the Sixth Astana Economic
Forum. Congress organisers were
the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Kazakhstan and
the National Agency for Technological Development JSC. The congress brought together about 400 international and Kazakh experts,
government representatives and
local authorities, heads of national
holdings and national companies,
development institutions and research institutes, businesses and
other innovative entrepreneurs. At
the congress, 13 memoranda with
an economic effect of about 20 million euros were signed, including
an agreement on establishing the
Kazakh-American Centre for Technology Transfer, an agreement on
the implementation of technology
for producing rubber from dandelions and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of higher education of engineering
and technical personnel of enterprises of Kazakhstan on the basis
of a special economic zone called
Park of Innovative Technologies.
● According to the Kazakhstan’s
Central Bank Chairman (Governor) Grigoriy Marchenko, a single currency within the Customs Union of Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus may emerge within 10 years’
time, the country’s Prime Minister’s press service reported on May
24. “It took Europe about five decades… It could take us a decade if we build on the Eurozone experience. So far no concrete moves
have been made towards introducing a single currency,” Marchenko
said. According to him, “to run a
single currency, the Customs Union member states should work out
single macroeconomic parameters
similar to those in place within the
EU.”
● On May 23 at the opening
ceremony of the Sixth Astana Economic Forum President Nursultan
Nazarbayev proposed the creation
of a board of trustees for G-Global
following the example of the Club
of Rome and the Club of Madrid.
“A year ago, at the previous Economic Forum, I proposed the idea of G-Global, and I am grateful to all those who positively appreciated
it. The main purpose of G-Global
is to offer a positive alternative to
the chaotic dynamics of the changing global paradigms of global development,” he said. Nazarbayev
expressed his sincere hope that the
number of followers of G-Global
will grow, and suggested for further development the idea of creating the G-Global Board of Trustees. “Within this framework, it is
necessary to carry out funding of
fundamental aspects of research,”
the president said.
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By Galiya Nurzhan
ASTANA – On May 21-22, the
first International Astana Smart Technologies Exhibition and Conference (ASTEX 2013) took place within the framework of the Sixth
Astana Economic Forum (AEF) at the Palace of Peace and Harmony
in Astana.
The event was organised by the
Ministry of Transport and Communications, Zerde National Info-
Communications Holding and the
Info-Communication Technologies Development Fund.
The event was aimed at promoting information and communications technologies (ICT) in the operational processes of enterprises
of priority sectors of economy;
increasing ICT usage by the local population; transferring technologies, knowledge and experience of
major international ICT companies and creating a dialogue platform to
forge partnerships between Kazakh
and foreign ICT companies.
The event brought together
around 50 information technology
experts from all over the world, including government officials, foreign company executives, major
investors, internet business players,
professors and business trainers.
A total of 28 local and foreign
companies participated in the exhibition, including the world’s leading website for selling cars, Cars.
com; a leading U.S. online store,
Newegg.com; a major Swedish
company for mobile apps, software
and online platforms development,
OpenRatio; companies with innovative designs such as Microsoft,
Asus, Logycom, SAP and others
and domestic companies including
mobile operators Kcell, Beeline,
Kazakhtelecom and others.
Speakers included Kazakhstan’s
Transport and Communication
Minister Askar Zhumagaliyev, JSC
National Information Technologies CEO Ruslan Yensebayev, Mail.
Ru Group CIO Aleksandr Gorniy, Transition Economies Unit of the
U.N. Department of Economic
and Social Affairs Chief Alexei
Tikhomirov, Executive Director
of the Centre for Enterprise Architecture in the College of Information Sciences and Technology at
the Pennsylvania State University
Brian Cameron, Europe Microsoft
Corporation Chairman Jan Muehlfeit, IDC Executive Vice President Philippe de Marcillac, the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) Director General Rolet Loretan, Global Industry Council Founder and Chair Stephen
Ibaraki, HP Enterprise Services Central and Eastern Europe Chief
Technologist Werner Dorfmeister,
Professor Emeritus of the Korea
University Ahn Moon Suk, Director of U-City Research and Development Centre of the University of
Suwon Young Im Cho and many others.
As the organisers had hoped,
the ASTEX Exhibition and Conference provided an international
communication platform to share
expertise and discuss the most relevant issues in the industry, and
served not only as a large exhibition pavilion for smart technologies but also as a venue to conclude
memoranda and agreements, make
business connections and establish
long-term partnerships.
Among the issues discussed
were innovative developments and
high-tech solutions in various fields such as e-government, education,
health, e-business, mass media, entertainment, agriculture and transport. The exhibition showcased
more than 100 developments in the
IT industry, global brands’ fresh innovations in smart technologies,
humanoid robots and more. Manu-
facturers from Kazakhstan, Russia
and Belarus exhibited their works.
Asus presented its new PadFone
Infinity at the exhibition. It is a modern LTE-smartphone with a
five-inch display and a metal case, which can be converted into a 10.1inch tablet through its PadFone
Infinity Station. It runs Android 4.1 and features high performance thanks to quad-core processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 600. The
battery life of the smartphone talk
time on 3G is up to 19 hours. The
product will be available in June.
The recommended price for the
complete set is 175,000 tenge.
The conference included four
sessions aimed at improving people’s lives using smart technology
which were named accordingly: Smart Government, Smart Industry, Smart Business and Smart Life.
Each session was divided into several sub-sessions, where the possibilities of ICT were discussed in detail. Presentations, seminars and
workshops by famous Kazakh and
foreign speakers were also submitted at the conference.
At the opening ceremony, First
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development
Bakytzhan Sagintayev pointed out
that today, Kazakhstan is an established and modern state, a responsible partner in the international
arena and a stable area for investment, especially for the development of information and communication technologies.
“Striving to apply the latest technology, we have already achieved
good results. Thus, according to
the U.N. rating “E-government for
the people” in 2012, Kazakhstan
ranked 38th among 190 countries.
According to the Network Readiness Index of the International Telecommunication Union, we took
43rd place. According to the index of e-participation, Kazakhstan and
Singapore shared second place.”
“The number of Internet users in Kazakhstan exceeds 65 percent of
the population,” Sagintayev continued. “The country has implemented standards for third generation
mobile
communication—3G—
and launched a project to create
a fourth-generation network, 4G, which is already being implemented in Astana and Almaty. Complete
coverage is planned for the end of
2017. In addition, we expect to achieve 95 percent coverage of
digital television and radio broadcasting in 2015. Hundred percent
of the population will have access
to satellite and digital broadcasts.”
“A total of 157 services are provided at our e-government portal.
Eighty permits have been automated. Since 2012, all licenses have
been issued in electronic format
only. More than 21 million inquiries have been issued through egovernment in 2012,” First Deputy
Prime Minister Sagintayev said.
He also noted that work with
cloud computing technology is
underway. Experts believe its implementation in the short term will
help increase the efficiency of enterprises and the state as a whole.
In his welcoming speech, Deputy Minister of Transport and
Communications Saken Sarsenov
stressed that e-licensing in Kazakhstan was named the best project
in the E-Business category among
280 projects from 64 countries at the WSIS Project Prizes 2013 international competition in Geneva.
(www.elicense.kz is an electronic system that allows users to obtain
various permits via the Internet). He also discussed the achievements of and prospects for the development of ICT in Kazakhstan and noted that the implementation
of a number of public and industry
programmes has given a powerful
impetus to the development of the
ICT industry. As of last year, revenues have grown to one trillion
tenge in this sector.
Deputy Minister Sarsenov paid
particular attention to the 2020
State Programme for Information Kazakhstan.
In particular, Sarsenov said that
The exhibition
showcased
more than 100
developments in
the IT industry,
global brands’
fresh innovations in
smart technologies,
humanoid robots and
more.
this year all regional centres are
planned to be connected to digital
terrestrial broadcasting, and it is
expected to cover 95 percent of the
population by 2015. Sarsenov also
said that Kazakhstan plans to introduce Big Data technology, allowing the processing and storage of
larger amounts of information. Big
Data is currently one of the most
dynamically developing technologies in the world.
Sarsenov noted that an analysis
conducted by the International Data Corporation shows that the amount
of stored information increases by
40 percent annually. For instance, 2.43 zettabytes (one zettabyte equals one billion gigabytes) of information were generated in 2012.
This is double that of 2010.
Experts believe application of
Big Data technology will help
make the state administration more
efficient. For example, in Vitoria da Conquista, Brazil, school students have microchips using Big
Data technology embedded in their
school uniforms. The microchips
recognise children when they enter schools. Parents will get a text
message if their child is late for
classes.
Deputy Minister of Transport
and Communications Sarsenov said
the Ministry has a goal to introduce
Big Data technology in the country
and make Kazakhstan a country
with a well-developed ICT sector. The Open Data draft portal was
also presented at the exhibition.
The opportunities that the portal
provides were demonstrated using
the prototype portal data.gov.kz
developed by the National Information Technologies JSC.
Kazakhstan is the first Central Asian country to put forward an
Open Government initiative. The
project will be implemented within
the 2020 State Programme for Information Kazakhstan.
The open data portal will provide information about all state
bodies in the country available for
all users of the portal regardless of
their citizenship and location. The
users will be able to generate, edit
and return information to the database as well as unite it with other
data for receiving new information. Based on this information, IT companies will be able to create
interactive applications useful for
people in everyday life.
Speaking at the presentation of
the portal, Chairman of the Board
of National Information Technologies JSC, Ruslan Yensebayev, described one such application called
Government Agencies Navigator.
“The application can help us find the nearest office of an organisation we are looking for if we know its
address, name and our location. For
example, we can find the nearest notary office to attest a document or a school for our children. The
information is already on the portal
so everyone can use it,” he said.
In his presentation at the conference, Dr. Ahn Moon Suk, the
founder of the Korean e-government and Professor Emeritus of the
Korea University, discussed the egovernment of the future. According to him, e-government of the future will offer a set of services for
each citizen.
“E-government is a key tool in
the government of any country.
Successful implementation of egovernment is largely dependent
on information technology in each
country. I can say with confidence that information technology in Kazakhstan is very advanced,” Ahn
Moon Suk said.
He also noted that e-government
in Kazakhstan is focused on its
citizens.
“Kazakhstan is in step with the
times and it will become a leader in
the field of information technology and, particularly, in e-government,
in the future,” he said.
In his turn, Minister of Transport and Communications Askar
Zhumagaliyev spoke about the
development of information and
communication technologies and
stressed the importance of introducing smart technologies in every
area of the modern state’s life.
The most striking trends, development forecasts and future
perspectives in technologies, and
other subjects were also discussed
at the session.
The heads of sector-specific agencies of the Commonwealth of
Independent States countries and CEOs of international trade organisations attended the plenary session
as speakers and the founder of Cars.
com and current CEO of Newegg.
com, Bob Bellack, and the founder of OpenRatio, Rabih Kanaan,
shared their secrets of doing business with Kazakhstan’s people.
Brian Cameron, U.S. Government Advisor for Enterprise Architecture, spoke about the evolution
of public services and e-government. Recognised expert, business
consultant, founder of the international partner and agent chain FantoftProcess Technologies Knut Erik
Spilling spoke about implementing
ICT and business development in the field of oil and energy. The first ASTEX 2013 Award was awarded on the second day,
when memorable prizes went to
Best ASTEX 2013 Blogger and
Startup Project, as well as to the
best Kazakh IT managers in the government and the corporate sector and in small and medium-sized
businesses.
А6
EDITORIAL
Punching within Its
Weight, Responsibly
Kazakhstan is not a very large country. Today’s
world places more value on economic scale, rather
than territorial boundaries or the sheer number of
people. Against the backdrop of neighbouring Russia
and China, this 16 million people landlocked country
could have been lost in the shadows and left on the
sidelines. It could have, but it isn’t, because Kazakhstan does have a particular political “weight” that it
uses to tip the scales in the right direction, with precision accuracy.
The government, under the leadership of President
Nursultan Nazarbayev, makes it a point to put Kazakhstan on the global political map. Carefully, pursuing a policy of multi-vectoralism, the country is treading the world arena without stepping on others’ shoes
and moving along its own path of development.
Since establishing an independent sovereign state
in 1991, President Nazarbayev has put forward initiative after initiative to promote security and foster
regional and global cooperation.
The Commonwealth of Independent States was formed in Almaty in December 1991 during the
crumbling of the Soviet Union, and created a blanket organization for countries that were suddenly cut
off from one another after nearly 70 years of political
unity.
In no way do the people of Kazakhstan want to go back to the system of socialist rule of the past, but
certain elements of the framework certainly helped
in providing Kazakhstan its role on the international
stage. The most recent developments of the Eurasian
Economic Community are specifically aimed at creating a common market of around 200 million people,
and it cannot be ignored or unnoticed. Issues of sovereignty and political decision-making are left to the independent governments but a free flow of goods and services is regulated by a common secretariat.
Apart from the EurAsEC, Kazakhstan is also an
initiator or and active participant in other international organizations. The list includes the Conference
on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, proposed by President Nazarbayev in 1992, the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Asian Cooperation
Dialogue, to name a few. Each with its own mandate
and objectives, these international institutions warrant
Kazakhstan with a platform to deliver its message of
peace and tranquility, mutually beneficial cooperation through dialogue and understanding.
To ensure a peaceful neighborhood, Kazakhstan
also opened its doors to the most recent rounds of
negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 countries in Almaty. The events, dubbed Almaty I and Almaty II, have provided the world with substance that could
have very well prevented further escalation of tensions. Former US ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk, was on American national television saying “I’m afraid that 2013 is going to be a year in which we’re
going to have a military confrontation with Iran.” Thankfully, the sides met at Rixos, Almaty, and hopefully they will continue talking in order to resolve the
situation peacefully.
In the military security area, Kazakhstan has designated an infantry battalion called KAZBAT for
potential deployment in the peacemaking operations
under UN Security Council mandates. KAZBAT became operable as planned and elements of this battalion have effectively served in Iraq for five years and have joined NATO countries in a number of live
exercises. The expansion of this force into a full brigade – KAZBRIG – is a major project aimed to give Kazakhstan the capability to continuously sustain a
battalion-sized contribution.
In 2010, Kazakhstan, along with Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Belarus completed an agreement with
NATO allowing the transportation of non-lethal ISAF cargo to Afghanistan by rail. As of 2012, NATO also
has an agreement with Kazakhstan (as well as with several other Central Asian countries and with Russia) for the redeployment of non-lethal ISAF cargo from Afghanistan. Kazakhstan plays an active role
in both hosting and participating in Partnership for
Peace training and exercises. In consultation with NATO countries, Kazakhstan has established a PfP
regional training centre, and continues to work with
Allies and regional partners within military and language training programmes.
The UN system has 15 bodies working in Kazakhstan including International Labour Organization (ILO), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Volunteers (UNV), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
(UN Women), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), and the World Health Organization (WHO)
Foreign diplomatic missions in Kazakhstan will
know that the country is seeking international support
for the establishment of a UN regional diplomacy hub
in Almaty and aims to become a non-permanent UN
Security Council member. On January 18, the President addressed international ambassadors posted in
Kazakhstan with a plea. “We will help eliminate even
the slightest manifestations of a conflict in the region, develop integration and build up pragmatic economic
cooperation with all our partners. I kindly ask you to bring to your governments’ notice that Kazakhstan
aspires to become the pillar of stability and cooperation between the nations. This is the idea behind Kazakhstan’s wish to join the UN Security Council as
its non-permanent member,” Nursultan Nazarbayev
stated then.
In all, Kazakhstan is becoming a noticeable player on the world arena. With its economy growing 5-6
percent annually even during the times of global
financial turmoil and uncertainty and against the backdrop of the world’s rather sluggish economic
growth overall, Kazakhstan has been gradually turning into an economic bedrock in the critical region
of Central Asia. In the future, Kazakhstan plans to once again take center stage by showing its vision
of the future, of an economy not based on crude oil
and mineral exports, but on alternative and more environmentally friendly sources of energy, at the specialized EXPO 2017 in Astana. Not bad for a new
kid on the block.
Continued Growth and
Cooperation in the Oil
and Gas Sector
By Bolat Akchulakov
The domestic oil sector has
played a key role in the establishment of independent Kazakhstan.
After independence, the oil and gas
industry received a powerful impetus for development in the form of
large-scale exploration and production work launched in the country’s
Caspian Sea sector. Previously explored fields of oil and gas are also being developed.
Kazakhstan is among the top 15
countries in the world in proven
oil reserves and possesses 3.3 percent of the world’s hydrocarbon reserves. The lion’s share of this black
gold is concentrated in the Tengiz, Kashagan and Korolevskoye
fields, which have been developed or are being prepared for development, and the oil and gas deposits
of Karachaganak, Zhanazhol and
Urikhtau.
The oil industry provides more
than a quarter of Kazakhstan’s industrial output, more than a third of
its taxes and half of its export earnings. For two decades, the country
has seen growth in the production of
liquid hydrocarbons: in 2012, about 80 million tons were produced, exceeding by more than three times
the level of production in 1991.
Today, the oil and gas industry
aims for further growth. If in 2013 we expect to produce 82 million
tons of crude oil and condensate,
by 2020 this figure could reach 130 million tons. It should be noted that achieving this output largely
depends on the implementation of
projects in the Kazakhstan sector of
the Caspian Sea.
Kazakhstan has three oil refineries (in Atyrau, Pavlodar and Shymkent cities), the total annual processing capacity of which
is about 15 million tons. In 2012, these enterprises processed 14.2 million tons of crude oil, 103.6 percent of the previous year’s production. This year’s planned volume is
14.4 million tons.
However, even when fully loaded, the existing refineries are only capable of satisfying the domestic
market’s needs for AI-80 gasoline and diesel fuel. Their capacities
are insufficient for the production of high-octane gasoline, and we
have to import 30-40 percent of the domestic demand for AI-92, AI-95 and AI-98 gasoline.
In order to ensure a fuel supply that meets international standards of
environmental protection, the government has adopted a programme
of modernisation for all three domestic refineries. The upgrades and renovations will increase the
volume of petrochemicals by increasing the depth of oil refining and will also raise the production
of light petroleum products and
improve their quality up to Euro-4 and Euro-5 standards. Working at
full capacity, the plants will process 18 million tons of petrochemicals per year, fully covering the
needs of the domestic market for
these products. The projects will be
implemented from 2011-2016. The
branch programme for the oil and
gas sector’s development provides
for the construction of another refinery after 2020. In view of the predicted increase in oil production in the country, the
expansion and diversification of oil and gas transport infrastructure will
be of great importance in the near
future. Kazakhstan will need a stable supply of oil for export as well
as for use in domestic refineries via the domestic oil pipeline system.
During the years of independence, we have built about 6,000
kilometres of oil pipelines. Today,
the main active export destinations
are the oil pipelines Atyrau-Samara, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) pipeline, the Atasu-
Alashankou pipeline and the port
of Aktau. The volume of exports
of crude oil and gas condensate
in 2012 amounted to 68.6 million
tons. The largest importers of Kazakh oil are China, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Romania
and Canada.
One of the major ongoing projects
is the expansion of the CPC pipeline, which will increase the pipeline’s capacity from the current
28.2 million to 67 million tons per
year, of which Kazakhstan’s oil will
account for 52.5 million tons. The
project, being implemented in three
phases, is expected to be completed
by 2015.
Another ongoing project is the
expansion of the Kazakhstan-China
pipeline, the first phase of which (Atasu-Alashankou) was put into operation in 2008 with a capacity of
10 million tons per year. The second
phase involves the expansion of its
capacity to 20 million tons. According to preliminary estimates, the
project is expected to be realised
over the period from 2012 to 2017.
A medium-term project, the Kazakhstan Caspian Transportation
System (KCRS), consists of two segments, the Yeskene-Kuryk pipeline and the Trans-Caspian System/
Project (TCS). The latter includes an oil terminal on the Kazakh coast,
tankers and ships, an oil discharge
terminal on the Azerbaijani coast
and connecting facilities to the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
The
capacity and
stages
of development of the system will
be determined based on the volume
of oil production at the Kashagan
field (phases two and three). It is assumed that at the initial stage, it
will be 23 million tons per year and
at a later stage it may increase to
35-56 million tons per year.
Improving the legislation in the oil and gas industry is an ongoing process. The law “On state regulation of
production and turnover of petroleum
products” allows the use of retail and
wholesale price regulation for petroleum products, the establishment of
qualification requirements for access to the market of wholesale distribution of petroleum products and the
introduction of a new mechanism for
regulating production and trafficking of petroleum products, thereby
boosting the economy.
The head of state has also signed
the law “On the main pipeline,”
which is intended to provide for the
efficient, reliable and safe operation of the pipeline; strengthen the economic, energy and environmental
security of the country and establish
the state’s pre-emptive right to participate in projects of newly created
pipelines, as well as improve legislation in this area. The document was
designed to strengthen the economic
and energy security of the country
by regulating relations regarding the
main pipeline, which is of strategic
importance to the economy.
The governments of Kazakhstan
and the Russian Federation signed
an agreement on trade and economic cooperation in the field of oil and petroleum products in Kazakhstan
on December 9, 2010, in Moscow,
within the framework of the Common Economic Space. This document, ratified by Kazakhstan on April 3, defines the framework of trade and economic cooperation
between the two countries regarding the formation of common markets for crude oil and petroleum
products and the conditions for
the supply of petroleum products
to Kazakhstan to meet domestic
requirements, all in volumes approved by the parties in accordance
with indicative balances.
Also, the Kazakh side carries out
the oncoming supply of Kazakh oil
to the Russian Federation. In turn, the supply of oil products in Kazakhstan from Russia will be in the
amounts approved in accordance
with the indicative oil balance.
The author is Vice Minister of Oil
and Gas of Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan – EU Strategic Partnership: Evolution and State of Play
By Yerkin Akhinzhanov
The European Union is one of
our key political and economic
partners. It is therefore a strategic priority of our foreign policy to
deepen and expand our cooperation. This message has been articulated in the recent presidential address to the people of Kazakhstan
which sets a new course for political development and socio – economic modernization of the country for the period until 2050.
This year Astana and Brussels
celebrate the twentieth anniversary since the establishment of
diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and the European Union.
(February 2). Just a few days before the important date, Minister
of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov visited Brussels to discuss the results of political interaction and
identify promising areas of cooperation with the leadership of the
European Union.
Our countries have gone a long
way towards dynamic and mature
partnership characterized by high
level of political activity, close
interaction on the international
arena and effective economic cooperation. Today Kazakhstan and
the EU regard each other as stable
and predictable partners. We have
a common approach to majority of
key issues of regional and international politics. In fact, Astana and Brussels have established a close
dialogue both under the auspices
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of international organizations and
European institutions.
A solid foundation for further
development of bilateral cooperation has been laid down thanks to
the joint efforts in realization of
the Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement between Kazakhstan
and the European Union, Kazakhstan’s State Programme ‘Path
to Europe’ and the EU Strategy for
Central Asia.
Against this background, it is
important to underline the overall
intensity of political contacts and
trustworthy dialogue at the highest
level. For instance, the official visit of President Nursultan Nazarbayev
to Brussels in 2010 gave a strong
impetus to the development of Kazakh – European dialogue.
The current state of play and
prospects for bilateral cooperation
have been positively evaluated
during the meeting of President
Nursultan Nazarbayev with the
President of the European Council
Herman Van Rompuy and the President of the European Commission
Jose Manuel Barroso.
Regular contacts are also maintained at the level of the foreign
ministries. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy Catherine Ashton
visited Astana in November 2012.
President of the European Commission Barroso is planning to visit
Kazakhstan in early June.
A network of bilateral structures
is functioning effectively. Each year
we organize Kazakhstan – EU sectoral dialogues on justice, freedom
and security, human rights, trade,
investment, transport, energy and
environment. We cooperate actively with the European Parliament.
Beyond doubt, economic cooperation underpins the strategic
nature of Kazakhstan – EU partnership. The European Union has
firmly occupied the position of Kazakhstan’s leading trade and investment partner, surpassing Russia and China. Last year, bilateral
trade turnover amounted to $54 billion. The EU accounts for 49 per cent of our total trade and 45 percent of accumulated FDI in our economy. The gross inflow of direct investment from the European
Union to the Kazakhstan economy
for the period between 1993 to
2012 has accounted for US $70 billion (out of US $160 billion of all attracted investment). The decision of the European Commission to
terminate its anti – dumping inves-
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tigation against yellow phosphorus originating in Kazakhstan will
contribute to further development
of trade relations between Kazakh
enterprises and EU member states.
In general, this decision has solidified our view and demonstrated the necessity to receive the market
economy status as soon as possible.
One of our major strategic objectives is to advance the current
format of the energy dialogue that
has been boosted during the visit
of the EU Energy Commissioner
Günther Oettinger to Kazakhstan
in 2011. We plan to supplement
our dialogue by cooperation in the
following industry areas - oil and
gas projects, energy efficiency and energy saving, widespread use of
renewable energy sources and nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,
development of electricity and
clean energy technologies.
Despite the crucial role of energy
and transportation issues in the context of our economic cooperation,
Kazakhstan will not limit itself by
these industries. Today our country
sets before itself strategic goals for
development. In this vein, Kazakhstan welcomes the EU member
states taking part in the State Programme of Accelerated Industrial and Innovative Development. We are looking forward to developing a full-scale cooperation with
the European Investment Bank. The agreement with this institution
was signed in 2010.
We pay special attention to visa
facilitation issue. We have been receiving positive signals from Brussels with regard to a mutual facilitation of visa regime and hope to
launch negotiations on a relevant
bilateral agreement. We believe
that freedom of movement is one
of the key elements of enhanced
partnership and cooperation.
In recent years, strengthening the regional component has become a distinct feature of Kazakh
– European cooperation. Kazakhstan has been actively involved
in drafting a new EU Strategy for
Central Asia. We have suggested
taking into account both regional
and country-specific approaches as well as harmonizing national
priorities for Central Asian countries. The EU – Central Asia Ministerial Meetings have become a
good tradition. In November 2012, the sixth Ministerial Meeting took
place in Bishkek.
Kazakhstan supports further
implementation of ‘the EU and
Central Asia: Strategy for a new Partnership’. We believe that the
Strategy is an essential and timely
document that seeks to provide stability not only in Central Asia but
on the whole Eurasian continent.
A new Enhanced Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement is a key
agenda item of our bilateral cooperation.
Kazakhstan considers the signing of a new comprehensive agreement with the EU as a great chance
to legalize a new level of engage-
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ment between the parties and provide a sound legal basis for further
development of the cooperation
potential.
Currently, there are many areas
where there is a clear common interest of our countries in continuing cooperation, not only in the
economic and trade partnership but
also in the struggle against contemporary threats and challenges, as
well as in promoting international
security and stability.
The main purpose of the new
agreement is to define the concept of ‘advanced partnership’ and to
create effective tools for its implementation.
Three rounds of official negotiations on the Agreement have already taken place. We are preparing
for the fourth round of negotiations
to be held in Brussels this year.
The content of the future Kazakhstan-EU agreement is considered with regard to the prospects
of Kazakhstan’s accession to the
WTO and the developments taking
place in the Customs Union and
the Common Economic Space.
To unlock the full potential for
cooperation between Kazakhstan
and the European Union, we need
to make new steps based on a constructive dialogue, mutual respect
and recognition of existence of diverse ways of development.
The author is Director of Europe
Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.
The Astana Times is registered by the Ministry of Communications and
Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the registration number
N 11208-G of 1 November 2010.
The newspaper is typed and made into pages at the computer centre of “Kazakhstanskaya Pravda”. Published biweekly, the size
of 8 pages.
Order: 609
А7
Improving Infrastructure, Regulation in the Grain Market
By Asylzhan Mamytbekov
The regulation of the grain market will mean the transition of the
industry to a new stage of development and the need to confront new
internal and external challenges.
The production of grain is today
the most important segment of the
agricultural sector, and competent
state regulation of grain production
at low crop diversification is essential. The measures taken by the
Ministry of Agriculture are based
on market principles.
The grain industry has accumulated contradictions and complexities on issues of lending, subsidies,
storage, transportation, sales and
the formation of reserves. These
are infrastructure problems that are
costly in terms of time and finance and may even impact the food security of the country. In addition, the volatility of the grain market
strongly influences the social status of villagers.
The institutional foundations
of the grain industry were laid in
2001. The law “On grain” provided
clear legal regulation of the grain
market’s participants. At that time
the law represented a significant change, one which stopped the chaos and anarchy at grain reception
centres and elevators and formed a
civilised market for grain.
For the first time in the post-
Soviet space, Kazakhstan created
the institute of grain receipts. This
order of non-equity security confirmed the ownership of grain and could act as a collateral obligation.
In addition, grain receipts obliged grain to be shipped at the first request of its owner. Grain was sold
through endorsement. In general, between 2002-2012, second-tier
banks granted loans on the basis
of grain receipts totalling 838 billion tenge (5.6 billion dollars) on pledges totalling 45 million tons of grain.
Later, various forms of state production and sale of grain were introduced. Subsidies, grants and the
Three Years of Village Programme stimulated the growth of grain production. However, not every year
was profitable. There were years of crop failure and losses for farmers,
and with the levelling of large declines in income in 2004 it was decided to introduce crop insurance.
New financial institutions such as rural credit unions, mutual insur-
ance companies and leasing lending began to appear in tandem with
the new insurance.
Drastic changes in the protection
of the domestic market were made
after the ban on grain exports in
2008. The consequences of the ban
were so negative that it was necessary to form a system to stabilise
the market with the creation of stabilisation funds and the transfer of
functions to level market spikes to
the National Food Corporation.
Problems of scarcity, problems
of excess
All together, an acceptable legal
environment, measures of state
support to the industry, and, of
course, favourable climatic conditions helped increase the amount
of grain harvested. From 2008 to
2012, grain production averaged
17.7 million tons, 2.2 million tons
– 14 percent – higher than in the previous five-year period (2003-
2007). Since 2007, Kazakhstan has been a world leader in flour exports and is among the world’s top ten
exporters of wheat.
Meanwhile, the absence of direct
access to the sea and the deeply
landlocked locations of much of
the country’s farmland are proving
to be barriers to increasing production volumes much more. The
grain terminal at the port of Aktau
on the Caspian Sea can handle 700
tons of grain a year. About five million tons were sent to the markets
of Central Asia. This is a quickly
growing market, but it is still limited. There is a Chinese market of
enormous potential, but as of now
the volumes delivered to it are not
very significant. The increase in wheat production, therefore, has
become excess.
The record-breaking harvest of
2011 highlighted another problem which had been discussed
frequently but never resolved: the lack of grain reception centres and
facilities for drying and storing
grain. The shortage of grain carriers and the complex relationship
with the operators of the cargo fleet continue to be major limiting factors.
A series of measures neutralised the effect of these factors and
helped sell the harvest. First was
the allocation of funds from the
national budget to subsidise transportation costs to the ports of the
Azov-Black Sea basin, the Baltic
concluded with the associations of
poultry and pig husbandry for the
supply of 312 tons of coarse grain
at a fixed price. The financial institutions of KazAgro prolonged
commitments for loans at the total
sum of 24.7 billion tenge for agricultural producers whose crops
were affected by drought.
Taking into account the abolition of subsidised transport costs
for grain exports (from August 1, 2012), it is clear that regulation of the grain market in Kazakhstan
was achieved without imposing
restrictions on the export of grain,
as happened in neighbouring countries (Russia imposed a ban on export of grain, Ukraine set quotas).
Sea and China. This allowed more
than five million tons of grain worth 25.1 billion tenge (167.0 million dollars) to be shipped for export in the 2011-2012 market year.
In addition, the JSC National Food Corporation helped unload
elevators in the north, transferring
about one million tons of grain
from northern grain-enterprises to
less-loaded grain centres in other
regions. In order to prevent a collapse in prices, the Food Corporation purchased about 5.1 million
tons of wheat at the price of production, withdrawing it from the
market. Re-equipped open wagons
and cars were used to transport the
grain. In the end, a record level of grain exports was reached: 12.8 million tons, including flour in the accepted equivalent.
Meanwhile, even in lean years
there are problems. Last year the
crop was two times lower than the
year before because of drought.
The gross grain harvest was 12.9
million tons compared to 27 million tons in the previous year. However, the carry-over remained high,
which allowed the internal market
to determine the export potential of
7.8 million tons.
To provide the regions with food
grains and to stabilise the price of
flour and bread, the Ministry of Agriculture, regional administrations
and municipalities of Astana and
Almaty and JSC NMH KazAgro’s
ALE Union of Grain Processors of
Kazakhstan concluded memoranda
for the supply of 1.3 million tons of
wheat at the price of 28.000 tenge
per ton.
In addition, memoranda were Infrastructure increases
With the growth of wheat production, its carry-over balance increases annually, putting pressure on the
domestic market and blocking the
acceptance of new grain. But there
are positive signs of a resolution of
this problem. In the past year, several Arab countries have proposed
the creation of a fund of mutual
food assistance under the auspices
of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. This would form a strategic grain reserve in the amount
of up to two million tons of grain
in Kazakhstan. But the implementation of this initiative requires increasing capacities for storage and
transfer, which is reflected in the new programme for the development of the agro-industrial complex, Agribusiness in 2020.
Currently, there are grain terminals in the ports of Aktau, Baku
and Amir Abad (Iran). In order to increase grain exports to the countries of Central Asia, Afghanistan
and Iran, we put into operation an elevator complex with a mill
at Beineu station in Mangistau region. Recently the construction of
a new railway line, Uzen-Kyzyl
Kiya-Gorgan, which connects Kazakhstan and Iran, as well as the Zhetygen–Khorgos line connecting
Kazakhstan with China was completed. China is of special interest
not only as a promising direction
for grain export, but also as a transit country for the transportation of
our products to Southeast Asia.
To promote grain exports, terminals on the border of China and
Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and
Iran are planned, which would remove the problem of different
railway gauges and the problem
of packing grain in bags, which in
turn will reduce the selling price of
grain and increase its competitiveness in foreign markets.
The Agribusiness 2020 Programme provides for the construction of 3.5 million tons of grain
storage tanks, as well as increasing
handling capacity at the port of Aktau. In order to increase grain exports to Baku and Poti, Kazakhstan
will need to use a ferry service and
purchase five ferries for further transport to foreign markets of one
million tons of grain. The construction of elevators on export routes
will be carried out with the participation of subsidiaries of KazAgro.
Over the past three years, grain
storage capacities for 1.4 million tons have been commissioned, including for 0.5 million tons at the
expense of KazAgro.
Kazakhstan also
developed and
then ensured the
adoption of technical
regulations on
grain security,
which will ensure
the free movement
of grain in the
Customs Union and
simplify procedures
for confirming
compliance.
Amend and update laws
Grain producers have repeatedly requested revisions to the law
“On mandatory insurance in crop
farming,” which has been in effect
since 2004. Farmers are not satisfied with the target system—the cost recovery instead of lost profits – nor with its execution. Insurance companies are not interested
in this kind of activity, despite the
fact that the state reimburses them
for half of their payments to policyholders. In 2012, insurance covered 13.9 million hectares or 74.2 percent of the 18.8 million hectares
of crops to be insured. Now a new
bill is being drafted to improve the
mechanisms of crop insurance (reinsurance mechanisms, establishing fixed-tariffs mutual insurance companies and other changes).
Another bill already under consideration in the Mazhilis aims to
fill gaps in the regulation of the grain market. The draft law “On
amendments to some legislative
acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan
on regulation of the grain market”
provides a number of conceptual
amendments, including the introduction of compulsory insurance
of civil liability of grain reception
centres to the holders of warehouse
receipts, improving mechanisms
for the interim management of elevators and strengthening state control over the storage of raw grain.
In addition, it is planned to introduce electronic grain receipts,
mandatory registration in a single database and parallel circulation (in the first stage) of paper and electronic grain receipts. As
a result, elevators will give grain
receipts only within the limits of
their technical capacity.
Kazakhstan also developed and
then ensured the adoption of technical regulations on grain security,
which will ensure the free movement of grain in the Customs Union and simplify procedures for
confirming compliance.
Prevent dumping prices
At the enlarged session of the
government held on January 23,
President Nazarbayev instructed
the government to study the issue
of creating a single grain holding.
This initiative will be implemented
through the voluntary union of the
grain market’s participants in a consortium grounded by JSC National
Food Corporation, which already
has terminals and elevators. Creating a holding company will consolidate all grain producers in a consortium whose task is to sell their
common product at a profit. The participants of the consortium at
the same time will retain their legal
independence. Small- and mediumsized grain producers of this association will benefit significantly, in particular through guaranteed sales
of autumn grain at market prices
and a share of export earnings.
The new formation will contribute
to the public policy of diversifying
crop production, including through
the funding of sowing and harvesting, as well as the guaranteed purchase of manufactured products.
The author is the Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan.
AEF Seeks to Answer Global Understanding Kazakhstan’s
Economic Challenges Through Resources Is Key to
Constructive Dialogue
Development
By Serik Nugerbekov
The main objective of the World
Anti-Crisis Conference was to
develop proposals for all areas of
UN’s anti-crisis plan. This document is intended to offer the world
a way of maintaining a sustainable
and balanced growth.
The basic idea of the conference
was to elaborate further incentives
for the development of international cooperation, trade and investment, which will provide global and national financial stability through open, integrated, transparent, predictable and responsible
management of systemic risks.
Indeed, the current state of the world economy is vulnerable. According to a well-known economist
Nouriel Roubini, the cumulative
problems of the developed countries, in particular, the financial problems of the U.S. and Europe,
stagnation in Japan, with 30%
probability may turn into a “perfect storm,” the full force of which
will fall on the global economy.
Thus, according to official data of EU Statistical Office, the unemployment rate in the euro zone has
already reached the absolute maximum of 12% in the period from
1995. Moreover, the youth unemployment rate reached 23.5% in the
EU and 23.9% in the euro area.
In parallel, the U.S. economy is adapting to the effects of budget sequestration. Definitely, this measure may hinder the process of
economic recovery.
In Japan, the budget deficit and country debt remain at a high level
against the background of slower
growth. The Bank of Japan is taking firm measures to control the rate of inflation in order to overcome deflation.
Head of the IMF Christine Lagarde at the Davos Forum 2013
expressed opinion that the tools
of central banks to overcome the
crisis are limited, and they need a
comprehensive approach to solving the debt problem. Most speakers at Davos agreed that the specific of the financial crisis is still too complex in structure and its
regulation requires more advanced
tools. Moreover, among experts
there was no unity on the definition of the scope of this regulation
and the possibility of its effective
implementation in the modern
world.
Undoubtedly, the situation in
the world economy will have an
impact on the dynamics of Kazakhstan’s development. According
to expert opinions, in 2013, Kazakhstan’s economy will keep moderate growth at the level of 5.25.4%. In these circumstances, the World Anti-Crisis Conference held
within the frames of the Sixth Astana Economic Forum was of great
importance. The agenda of the
event attended by many experts,
Nobel Prize winners, included not
only the problems of reforming the
global economy and financial sys-
tem, but also topical issues of innovative development, nuclear and
environmental safety, ethnic and
religious tolerance, and other geopolitical issues of our time.
The global conference has
strengthened the position of developing countries in the process of
the global discussion and decisionmaking. As noted by scholars and
practitioners, the change of key
concepts is the change of traditional views on the problem and the
choice of a new system of “focal
axes.”
Changes in the global economy
are significant. We are witnessing an active movement to a new phase
of development, where the accent
is shifting from the West crisis to
the growing economies that have
sustained potential of positive development.
According to IMF forecasts, the rates of economic growth in developing countries by 2016 will
be twice higher than in developed
countries. In this situation, the current positioning of the growing
economies requires rethinking. And
the participants of the conference
reviewed the concept, definition and directions of the assessment
of international economic trends
related to the growing importance
of emerging nations in the global
development.
Thus, Astana has once again
brought together the efforts of all
nations of the world for a systemic
search of answers to the challenges
of the global economy which will
have profound structural and longterm consequences.
The author is the member of the
Senate of Kazakhstan and co-chair
of the Eurasian Economic Club of
Scientists Association.
By Galina Baymakhanova
The economic development of
many nations has hinged on their
geology. Mineral resources often
determine the course of history
and shape the political map of the
world, and many hot spots are in
areas of competition for energy reserves.
The resurgence
of the study of
geology, along with
all other branches
of knowledge and
production related to
the natural resource
industry, will provide
stability and help
Kazakhstan tackle
global and regional
challenges and risks.
However, ours is the information
age, and the importance of intangible assets and processes has increased significantly. Today priorities have changed and knowledge,
technology and technical expertise
are in demand as much as natural resources. Strong, competitive
states in the information age must
have knowledge-intensive production accompanied by excellent
management as a key component
of their economies.
Kazakhstan has an enviable resource base, but is also facing global environmental and economic
challenges. Scientific knowledge and the predictions we can make allows us to be proactive in averting
or preparing for catastrophes. The
directions of our strategic research
will determine Kazakhstan’s posi-
tion in the modern world, and this
process begins with convincing the
state of its necessity.
Urbanisation; developing industrial zones and agricultural
production; building engineering
structures, water mains, oil and
gas pipelines, roads, railways and
mines;; establishing landfills and industrial waste sites and determining the depths of mineral deposits: all of these require high-quality
information, analysis and scientific advice on the regional development of the country. A thorough
ecological-geological study combined with an expert economic assessment should become the basis
for the assessment and zoning of
the territory of Kazakhstan on resource, geodynamic, geochemical
and geophysical factors.
The new environmental perspective demands the revaluation of
our resource base in terms of the
security and safe living conditions
for individuals and the population
as a whole. The conservation of
nature and biodiversity is the main
principle of this process.
Today, unfortunately, geology as
a science is remembered only for
its role in attracting foreign investors and its sometimes dramatic
failures. This attitude will only
lead to more failures. The concept
the geology department adopted
in 2012 will remain a concept as
long as the geological committee remains a Cinderella within
the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, a stereotypical poor
stepchild without rights or status
but with many responsibilities that
it is unable to perform. The transformation of the committee into
an independent ministry with the
corresponding authority would
solve all the issues related to the
study and monitoring of the state
of mineral resources, exploration
and prospects for expanding the
mineral base of the country.
Problems in the industry, including a lack of professional staff and
equipment for geological mapping,
prospecting, and laboratory work
as well as a learning gap when it
comes to modern techniques and
technologies, are growing like a
snowball. Meanwhile, new approaches and initiatives in the
field of geology, rational and comprehensive utilisation of mineral
resources and the introduction of
good practices of subsoil use are
in great demand in the country. It seems that in the near future there
will be no one to deal with these
problems, since it takes 10 years at
a minimum to prepare reasonably
qualified professionals. The resurgence of the study
of geology, along with all other
branches of knowledge and production related to the natural resource
industry, will provide stability and
help Kazakhstan tackle global and
regional challenges and risks.
The author is the Deputy of the
Mazhilis of Parliament of Kazakhstan.
А8
EXPO 2017
Harnessing Wanderlust to Promote Kazakhstan, EXPO 2017
By Anel Adilbayeva
by me. At present, at this higher
level, I receive assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That
has helped me to work more efficiently.
ASTANA – Dmitry Petrukhin,
Kazakhstan’s modern nomad and
head of the Geographical Society
of Kazakhstan, has ridden his bike
across the world. Now he is going
to host other international wanderers as Ambassador of EXPO 2017.
Recently, Petrukhin visited the
United States to promote the international exhibition. The Astana
Times interviewed the famous
traveller about issues he faced during the trip and asked what foreigners know about Kazakhstan
and what they think of EXPO 2017
in Astana.
How did you start to travel and
why?
Because of my dreams… I dreamed and brought it into life.
It is definitely hard to take a break from work, family and trouble. But
once you open your eyes you will
see that the day has come and it is
time to go.
Do you meet travellers like you
from other countries?
There are freestyle bikers who
travel but not on a global scale.
They go for long distances, but nobody has circled the earth except
me. It may seem romantic, but in reality you always need money.
You must be able to pay for your
hobby. I sold my house and my car and went on my first tour around the world. My wife and children,
carrying on the business, helped
me. The larger and longer tours require more money. Gasoline, food,
tolls and customs fees; you should
also add traffic congestion, breaks and meetings. My goal is not to
just whirl across continents and set
speed records.
Have you thought about travelling within Kazakhstan?
Oh, I have travelled the length and breadth of Kazakhstan [smiles]. And then rushed on and on.
How do you communicate with
local people in other countries?
By gestures, by facial expressions and kindness in the eyes.
This is the first step;; then you start to get used to and remember basic
and the most necessary words.
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UIFXPSME
Do you think you are helping
promote Kazakhstan on the world
stage?
This is my mission, the meaning
of my life and I actively work for the benefit of my country ...Our president, Nursultan
Nazarbayev, announced preparations for the national project
EXPO 2017, highlighting the
significance of the participation of each citizen of Kazakhstan. In response to this, as president of
the Geographical Society of Kazakhstan, I started my next world tour last autumn. It’s no coincidence that we began the journey
in South America. These countries
had not strongly supported us and
we came to them on the eve of
voting, we held a press conference
saturated with demonstration materials under the slogan “There is
a country – Kazakhstan!,” to maximise their acquaintance with our
culture and people and, finally, to link our states with strong bonds
of friendship. When our team arrived in the Caribbean Islands, we met with diplomats and heads of
chambers of commerce and increased our chances for victory.
The whole world voted. And As-
tana became the capital of the International Exhibition EXPO 2017.
And what happens now? Five million visitors and boundless opportunities for economic and business
development are coming. Fighting
for it and travelling thousands of
miles to personally gather the support of distant countries was totally
worth it.
The fact is that the scales of
my projects have changed now,
and importance of this is hard to
overestimate. There was a time,
when I started as individual, that I could simply conquer the country on a motorcycle. But my next
trip to Asia became a serious diplomatic mission;; I went across all Asian states, met with diplomats
and chairmen of sport committees
and invited them to visit the Winter Asian Games, which were held
in our country in 2011 for the first time.
Today, EXPO and Universiade
are on an even higher level. You
can already see the results and you
will continue to see them in the future.
What do you think Kazakhstan
should do to help ordinary people,
not politicians, businesspeople
and diplomats, get to know our
country?
We need to develop tourism, to
create and produce new cultural
values, organise festivals and inter-
national cultural mass events. And
it must be instilled from childhood.
That is exactly why we have created a new project, the children’s
Internet portal “The Young Travellers’ Club,” with international children and the Geographical Society.
Its main purpose is to encourage friendships across cultures.
What do people around the
world know about Kazakhstan’s
hosting of EXPO 2017 and the expo in general?
They definitely do [know about it]; EXPO is an event of global
impact. Astana awaits five million visitors in 2017. And now we do
not have the right to rest, we must
prepare for EXPO 2017 and Universiade 2017. That’s why I came back to Kazakhstan, being aware of
the incompleteness of my mission.
We managed to identify major opportunities to improve the process
of preparation for the most important events for our republic, EXPO
2017 and Universiade 2017. And
my “mototrip” around the world
continues as a public relations
campaign and a global colourful
demonstration of Kazakhstan’s
achievements in the international
arena and the culture and history
of the Kazakh people. Campaigns
like this can have very positive results and create new admirers of
our country. Our diplomatic alliances confirm that Kazakhstan is a worthy member of the world community, and now we plan to meet
with other governments and reflect on the expo’s theme, the global issue of “Future Energy.”
Who sponsors you?
As I say, my first trip was funded Spain and Portugal to
International Exhibitions
Assist Kazakhstan in 2017 Bureau Discusses 2017
Arrangements
Preparations
ASTANA – During the official visits of Kazakhstan’s Foreign
Minister Erlan Idrissov to Spain on May 13 and Portugal on May 1516, discussions about preparations
for the upcoming EXPO 2017, in
addition to other topics, were on
the agenda.
During his visit to Spain, Foreign Minister Idrissov met with King Juan Carlos I, Senate President Pio Garcia-Escudero Marquez, Chairman of the Congress of
Deputies Jesús Posada, Minister of
Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
José Manuel García-Margallo and
the heads of leading Spanish companies.
Senate President Garcia-Escudero Marquez noted that Spain pays
special attention to trade and business cooperation with Kazakhstan,
stressing that the upcoming EXPO
2017 in Astana should give a new
impetus to Kazakh-Spanish economic cooperation. Spain hosted
the expos in Seville in 1992 and
in Zaragoza in 2008. Local companies from the two cities are willing to share their experiences with
Astana as it prepares for its duties
as host.
In Spain, the foreign minister also discussed EXPO 2017 with
Executive Director of the U.N.
World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Zoltan Somogyi.
During his visit to Portugal,
Foreign Minister Idrissov held a meeting with President of Portugal
Aníbal Cavaco Silva, Chairwoman
of the Assembly (Parliament) Maria Estevesh, Minister of Foreign Affairs Paulo Portash and representatives of the leading business structures of Portugal. Portugal sees
Kazakhstan as the largest player in
its region and intends to develop
economic cooperation, particularly
in the spheres of oil and gas, the
electronic industry and agriculture.
Cultural partnerships were also
discussed, namely the possibility
of Kazakhstan’s artists holding exhibits and concerts. The simplification of the visa regime for citizens
of Kazakhstan was also a subject.
The foreign minister called on the
Portuguese side for assistance in
this matter on a bilateral basis and
within the framework of multilateral negotiations with the countries
of the Schengen zone.
Foreign Minister Idrissov visited the former expo village, Nations
Park, in Lisbon, where the 1998
World Exhibition was held. Its motto was “The Ocean Heritage
for the Future,” which resonates
with the motto of EXPO 2017,
“Future Energy.”
Local companies
from the two cities [
Seville and Zaragoza]
are willing to share
their experiences
with Astana as it
prepares for its
duties as host.
The World Exhibition in Lisbon
was timed to the 500th anniversary
of Vasco da Gama’s discovery of a sea route to India. Over 132 days, 11 million people attended the
event. The Portuguese managed
to retain the relevance of the expo
village after the exhibition: the main pavilion devoted to the ocean
became an oceanarium; a central
entrance to the town turned into a
supermarket.
To handle the inflow of tourists,
one of the longest bridges in Europe, a new subway line and extra
buses and taxies were added.
At present, the former expo zone
is a modern district of the city with
a population exceeding 20,000
people. The zone has a five kilometre territory and covers 50 hectares
in the eastern part of Lisbon on the
bank of the river Tagus.
Lisbon’s experience will be useful in constructing EXPO 2017 in
Kazakhstan, as the future use of the
EXPO 2017 pavilions of the exhibition should be considered today.
The Portuguese side enthusiastically accepted Kazakhstan’s proposal to cooperate and exchange
experiences in the preparation and
holding of EXPO 2017 in Astana.
Astana and the theme of Future
Energy were chosen for EXPO
2017 over its main competitor,
the Belgian city of Liege last year.
Kazakh authorities expect that the
exhibition in Astana will be visited
by five million people. President Nursultan Nazarbayev has declared
2017 the year of EXPO and a year
of Chinese tourism in Kazakhstan.
By Anel Adilbayeva
On May 7, an Executive Committee meeting was held at the
headquarters of the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE) in Paris, which included discussions
on Kazakhstan’s preparations for
EXPO 2017.
Kazakhstan was represented by
Commissioner of the International Specialized Exhibition EXPO
2017 and Executive Secretary of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Rapil Zhoshybayev, Minister of
Environmental Protection Nurlan
Kapparov, Chairman of the Board
of the National Company Astana
EXPO 2017 Talgat Yermegiyaev
and Ambassador to France Nurlan
Danenov.
At the meeting, Zhoshybayev
discussed the EXPO 2017 preparation process and shared information on the work that has
been conducted over the last five months. He also discussed the for-
mation of the National Company
Astana EXPO 2017.
“We hope that holding EXPO
2017 in Astana will accelerate
the deepening of the international dialogue and development of
joint solutions to the international
community’s most pressing challenges,” Zhoshybayev said. Future Energy has been chosen as a
theme for the EXPO 2017 exhibition.
The Kazakh officials also presented to the members of the
Executive Committee a draft of
the land plot allocated for EXPO
2017 and a preliminary master
plan of EXPO 2017, including
the pavilions plan and plans for
the use of buildings and materials
created for the EXPO following
the event.
Other issues were also included
in the agenda of the meeting of
the Executive Committee of the
BIE. Reports on the preparatory process of EXPO 2015 in Milan, a
horticultural exhibition in 2016 in
Antalya, Turkey and the results of
the report of the Expert Committee on visits to countries seeking
to host EXPO 2020 were presented at the meeting. Five countries
are seeking to host EXPO 2020,
including Turkey (Izmir), Thailand (Ayutthaya), Russia (Yekaterinburg), UAE (Dubai), and Brazil (Sao Paolo). Astana was elected as the EXPO
2017 International Specialized Exhibition host on Nov.22, 2012
at the 152nd General Assembly of
the International Exposition Bureau.
According to previous EXPO
statistics, Astana’s EXPO is likely
to attract 100 states and participants, including 10 leading international organizations and two
to three million visitors during
its three-month run from June to
September 2017.
B
Nation & Capital
143,000 Students Graduate from
Secondary Schools
Page B4
Photo Exhibit Showcases Creativity
of Children with Disabilities
Page B5
Vienna Festival Celebrates
Kazakhstan’s Culture
5IFQSPHSBNNFPGUIF%BZTPG$VMUVSFJODMVEFEBHBMBDPODFSUPGCFTUBSUJTUTPG
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The opening of the Days of
Culture of Kazakhstan in Vienna, Austria, one of the first European countries to recognise Kazakhstan’s independence, took place
on May 20th. The two countries
mark the 21st anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations
this year.
Presidents Nursultan Nazarbayev
of Kazakhstan and Heinz Fischer of
Austria agreed that their countries
would take turns hosting cultural
days during the official visit of the Kazakh president to Austria last autumn.
On the eve of the concert, members of the official delegation and representatives of the Kazakh media
attended a festival of hunting with
birds of prey at the historic Rosenburg Renaissance Castle. Event organisers highlighted falconry’s origins in Eurasia and Kazakhstan.
“The homeland of falconry is
Central Asia, which includes Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is the only
country in the world whose national
flag depicts a golden eagle – a symbol of our country, of our nation
and a symbol of our freedom. For
Kazakhs, hunting with birds is not
just hunting, but a kind of national
art. Therefore, it has been preserved
up to now,” said Minister of Culture
and Information Mukhtar Kul-Muhammed
The event was opened by Minister Kul-Muhammed, who in his
welcoming address noted that today Kazakhstan is known in many
countries, including Austria, as a vibrant country with great economic,
intellectual and creative potential.
Nine-Year Old Chess Prodigy Wins
Fourth World Championship
Page B7
Newborn International Couple
Thrives in Astana
By Gulyaim Tulesheva
ASTANA – Recently, another
international couple decided to
officially register their personal relations in the city hall of Astana.
Gaukhar Orakbayeva, originally
from Taraz and Joe Scott from a
small town near Manchester in
England met at work, realized
they had been made for one another and decided to never break
up.
“We are both working at the capital’s Haileybury school, I am a doctor, and Joe is a teacher of elementary grade,” Gaukhar Orakbayeva
recounts the origins of their love
story.
Today she is Mrs. Scott but in
2001 she arrived in Astana from
Taraz seeking to enter a medical
college. At that time, she could
not even fathom her future husband will be from an English town
near Manchester, who did not even
know about Kazakhstan before
coming here.
“I saw Joe for the first time back in September 2011, when he just
came to our school, and we conducted a medical inspection,” she
said. “Then I made an eye contact with him, and the first “spark” between us ran at that time. It is hard to say what in Joe has attracted my
attention, probably, it was his calm
character and a particular English
charm…”
Their love story was like a good
movie about a mutual love. Once
at a gala evening organized by the
school, they finally have a chance to talk. Later, their preferences in
music led them to the school choir
for adults.
Singing for Joe and Gaukhar has
become a real hobby to which they
Capital Hosts Week of African
Culture
By Julia Rutz
ASTANA – On May 25, the Week
of African culture was launched in
Astana. The celebrations were dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the
African Union.
The first day of the celebrations
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took place at Radisson Hotel. Egyptian Ambassador Mrs. Nabila Ibrahim Salama Farhana, the Charge
d’Affaires of the Embassy of Libya
Abdalkrim A. K. Alsuwadi, South
African Ambassador Shirish M. Soni
and the Radisson General Manager
Jasper Francl opened the celebrations. Guests were entertained by an
Egyptian dancer, who performed national men’s dance with skirts called
Tannouri and by an African master
jumbo player. Apart from that, the
best garments from African designers
were presented in the frames of the
African Fashion Show. At the end, a
children’s ensemble in colourful national outfits performed the energetic Waka-Waka dance with the spouse
of South African Ambassador Mrs.
Ruwaida Soni who inspired many
guests to get up from their chairs and
start learning the moves.
The Day of Africa was continued
at the Khan Shatyr shopping mall
the next day as a flash mob event for all the shoppers at the mall. It extended the culture to local population and spread the positive vibe
with the same programme.
ASTANA – Dagmar Schreiber, a
native of Germany, arrived in Kazakhstan for the first time in the early 1990s, fell in love with the
country at first sight and decided to dedicate the rest of her professional
life to it.
During numerous far-reaching
trips, she became aware of its potential for tourism and has devoted
the past 20 years of her life to revealing the country at its best as a
fascinating and rewarding destination.
She has written the unique 568page volume “Kazakhstan – Nomadic Routes from Caspian to
Altai,” which has already become
one of the most significant English-
language works about Kazakhstan.
Dagmar Schreiber explained the
reasons for her move to Kazakhstan
and shared her vision for ecotourism development in the country in
an exclusive interview with The
Astana Times.
"NCBTTBEPS4IJSJTI4POJ
Both events were celebrated on a
high level and let the guests experience and discover the exotic African culture.
Each year African countries
celebrate this day with great
hope, believing that African continent will rise and finally overcome the poverty, the spread of
diseases, and the peace would be
established on the continent. This
year the Embassies of Egypt,
Libya and South Africa hosted
the two day celebration in order
to promote the African culture in
Kazakhstan and make this event
memorable.
act to your decision?” this reporter
asked.
National Track and Field
Athletes Get Ready for
New Season
ASTANA – The national track
and field team of Kazakhstan took part in the first international competitions in a new season. In his interview to The Astana Times,
head coach of the national team
Vyacheslav Sokirko shared how the country’s athletes feel before entering the next Olympic cycle.
According to tradition, our team
started the season with three Grand
Prix Asia. Two of them were in
Thailand (Bangkok and Chonburi), while the third took place in the
capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo. In
short, we reported the results: three
gold medals for the first two stages, and two more in the final. We were impressed by the triple jump of
the athlete from Pavlodar Roman
Valiyev, who won with a result of
17 meters 10 centimeters. This is a very good start of the season.
Things to Watch
in June
Kazakh Musical Drama Theatre named after K. Kuanyshbaev
June 6 at 18.30 June 7 at 18.30
June 9 at 18.30 Comedy “Kyzdar-ai” (Girls) by K.Shangytbaev, K. Bayseytov
Drama “Kyz Zhibek”
by E. Brusilovski
Comedy “Қymbatty Pamella” (Dear Pamella) by John Patrick
Russian Drama Theatre named after Maxim Gorky
May 31 at 19.00
June 1 at 18.00
June 2 at 18.00 Comedy “Tot, major and others”
by Erken
Musical comedy “Hanuma”
by A.Tsagareli
Ironical drama “Valentine’s Day”
by I. Vyrypayev
Café Chekhov (Shopping Centre Sary-Arka)
June 4 at 20.00 Poetry Reading
Concert Hall of Eurasian National University
When did you come to Kazakhstan for the first time? What was the reason for your move to
the country?
My first visit to Kazakhstan was in December 1994 under the World Bank project Living Standard Measurement Survey (LSMS - Kazakhstan). Prior to 2008, I regularly came to Kazakhstan, three to
eight times each year, under various
projects, at first in sociology, then in market research and consulting,
and from 2003 in tourism.
dedicated themselves completely.
“And when did you realize that
you cannot live without each other? And how did your parents re-
By Yuriy Lifintsev
German Writer Has Tough, Yet Wise Words of
Love for Kazakhstan’s Tourist Future
By Galiya Nurzhan
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CPSEFST
May 31 at 19.00
Mamma Mia! Musical
Tilep Kobyz Palace
June 8 at 18.00 Gala – concert “Kok Turikter” (Blue Turks)
The Astana Metropolitan Circus
From June 1 to 16
African elephants and other exotic animals
The Palace of Peace and Accord
May 30 at 19.00
%BHNBS4DISFJCFS
Uzbek singer Sevara Nazarkhan
B2
People
Young Farmer Learns His Trade by Hard Work, Builds
His Future on Land
By Lyudmila Korina
WESTERN KAZAKHSTAN –
The completion of the sowing season for young farmer Alexander
Krasnikov does not mean the time
has come for a holiday or a break.
He is convinced that any day of the
field season feeds a year.
“When I was given this land to rent, first I had to uproot vegetation. Not all of it. But I divided it wisely, so that the tree belt remained,” Krasnikov said.
Despite his youth, he has already
proven that it is ‘wise’ work that
makes agricultural business profitable. He decided to do crop farming because since childhood he has
believed that outside leisure is the
best. And he decided that land is the
most suitable place for a job. He inherited farm-like attitude to it from
his grandfather, Alexander Fokin
who always took Alexander junior
for fishing, and into the fields.
“He was a brigadier of the advanced tractor brigade. But he
worked on an old tractor,” the
grandson recalled. “He taught me
that the longer the equipment is in
operation, the better it gets. The only
thing is that it should be treated as a
living being and you need to understand and feel it.”
The Michurino village near the
Ural River where Krasnikov lives
and works is indeed special. Its outskirts practically reach the city
of Uralsk. In fact this is the Uralsk area, but with a rural way of life.
In Soviet times, there was a central farm with a telling name, “Fruit and
Vegetable.” Local plantations and gardens were famous for their harvest. The village even had its own
wine shop. Huge areas were occupied by greenhouses. Perhaps that is
why the consequences of the crisis
times in the 1990s were particularly
noticeable here.
“It’s a shame that having fertile land, we still buy imported fruits
and vegetables,” Alexander says.
“Now the task is very right – not
just produce enough products, but
also increase the export potential of
the agricultural sector. We should
clearly see the perspective and work
for growth at the national scale, and
of each separate sector.”
His path to the profession was difficult. Almost every boy has a childhood dream. A lot of boys in Uralsk
dream of the sea. The city has a factory that in the Soviet times produced
torpedoes and other naval weapons,
and now it is constructing ships and
boats for duty in the Caspian Sea.
After the ninth grade, Krasnikov
entered the College of Shipbuilding. But his mother missed her son
and persuaded him to come back.
So, he became a student of the financial and economic college. But
still he had a feeling that he is able
to do more. So he managed at the
time to attend courses for an operator and programmer. By that time,
he made a choice of his future vocation, to do farming. In his last year of college, he entered the mechanical faculty of the West Kazakhstan
Agricultural University. It was difficult to study simultaneously in two educational institutions, but it was
not new. He had developed ability
to manage time.
He bought his first tractor for the money he got as the wedding gifts.
But it was only enough for an old
T-40. “I had to remember the grandfather’s recipe, lying in the simple
rule – one needs to use his hands to
handle the equipment. His knowledge of mechanics was useful,”
Krasnikov said.
“I chose potatoes because it is called ‘second bread’ – the winwin crop. Any sort called by sellers ‘local’ on the market is of great
demand. That is quite understandable. Potatoes imported from the far
lying southern areas do not match
the taste of the Ural potatoes,” Krasnikov said.
After a few years of trials and
errors, he managed to increase his
yields. Last year, some fields gave almost 140 quintals per hectare, which is a good result for the Ural
region. There were also areas where
yields reached 160 quintals. But this
is not the limit.
“The folk wisdom ‘you reap as
you sow’ is true. I went to the farm “Solana agro” in Samara region to
get seeds for the current sowing
season. I have sown early potato of ‘Leonie’ sort, which matures in less
than two months, and ‘Arosa’ sort,
which ripens longer, but is wonderfully kept until the next spring. I germinated and warmed seeds. As they
say, I literally ‘nursed’ each tuber,” Krasnikov explained.
He believes that it is possible to
bring the harvest to up to 350 quintals. But the main goal for him is the
prestige of the firm, providing impeccable quality.
He invests all income he receives
in purchasing new equipment. He
cannot afford new, modern and expensive equipment. But there are no
hopeless situations.
For several years, the weather
has not been quite good for the local farmers. Many of them had to
write off their grain fields. In order to pay off loans they had to sell agricultural equipment at bargain prices.
This way, he bought a truck, another
tractor, irrigation sprinkler, seeders, cultivators, harrows, mowers.
He bought a pumping station; put a
pipeline to the river.
A loan he obtained under the
Employment 2020 programme
was quite useful. This year, it was
the first time he sowed the seeds. But so far, it is only barley, which
is the most unpretentious in local
conditions. Adhering to the rule, he
bought seeds only of the first reproduction. He hoped that keeping to
agricultural techniques he will not
lose the harvest.
“In our risky area of agriculture ‘all National Forum
Showcases Contributing
Members of Society
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IPMETBTQFFDIBUUIFGPSVNJO"MNBUZPO.BZ
By Rinat Dussumov
ALMATY – On May 20, Almaty welcomed the participants
of a city forum held within the
National Forum “My Country’s
Destiny is My Destiny.”
Participants and guests of the
city forum were invited to attend a
photo exhibition dedicated to the
social and economic development
of the city and the achievements
of its residents.
Famous Almaty residents, who
have contributed to the development of the state and the city
were invited to take part in the
opening ceremony. Among the
speakers of the forum were honourable residents of the region,
such as Kazakhstannnyn Enbek
Eri (Kazakhstan’s Labour Hero in Kazakh), head of gymnasium No 159 Ayagul Mirazova, boxer
and Sydney Olympics champion
Yermakhan Ibraimov, President of “Erke – Nur” company, Farida
Markhamitkyzy, member of Central Committee of Kazakhstan’s
Patriot Party member and member
of Coordinating Council of “Nevada – Semey” Iinternational Fund Guldana Nurpeisova, founder of
“Men omirdi suyemin” (“I love life” in Kazakh) Meruert Suleimenova, the second year student
of Almaty Technology University
and Chairman of the “Zhastar” debate club Vladimir Seselkin. “We are proud of our city, which
is called the cradle of Kazakhstan’s
independence. Today, we have
every opportunity and positive
conditions, such as social consent,
accessibility of work and labour
and a clear vision of success perspective to bring our plans into reality. The most significant fact for us is that the young generation will
continue all this large-scale work
and will greatly contribute to the
strengthening of the state and the
prosperity of our motherland,” said
Almaty Deputy Mayor, Zauresh
Amanzholova as she welcomed the
participants of the forum.
Forum speakers also emphasized the importance of loving
one’s country and the role of the
love to the motherland in their addresses, bringing to the agenda the
necessity to maintain and develop
peace and consent in the country.
Speakers called on the forum’s
participants to be patriotic not
only in words but by actions.
The forum ended with a concert by singers, such as “Tengri”,
“Izumrud”, and “ST Bbrother.” shared their art. In line with tradition, the concert’s last song was
Kazakhstan’s popular folk anthem
was “Atameken” performed by its
author, Yeskendir Khassangaliyev
and his son Birzhan.
The first “My Country’s Destiny is My Destiny!” national forum was held in Astana on the eve
of the Day of the Capital in July
2012. The initiator and organiser
of the event was the Nazarbayev
Center, a multifunctional scientific, analytical, humanitarian and educational state institution. The
Astana national forum attracted
wide publicity and it was decided
that it would be held in all regions
of the country annually.
The goal of the forum is to identify and showcase the success stories of people across the country
who have made a worthy contribution to the establishment and
ongoing development of their region and independent Kazakhstan
in general.
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eggs should not be put in one bas- equipment malfunction or break- drive motorcycles. In the fifth grade, ket,’” he said. “In grain production, down, it is impossible to entrap him Alexander first studied special broafter two or three lean years, you give on a flow rate of fuel. He believes it chures and books and then asked his
it up for lost, the economy is bank- is time to establish a youth brigade. mother to buy... a goat. At the time,
rupt. Once sowing is over, I trans- And it’s not easy.
he did not have good health. Either
fer all equipment to the grasslands.
As a rule, youth wants everything the age of transition, or the healing
Fodder is the top selling-item in the and at once. The city is nearby, and goat’s milk helped, but ailments and
suburbs with the cost of one car- it is not easy to get quick money in illnesses retreated.
riage reaching 30,000 tenge. Another the village. But, the future in the ag“Not only means should be indream is to revive horticulture.”
ricultural sector is still for the youth. vested in the land, but the soul
Krasnikov became friends with In Kazakhstan, unprecedented state as well,” Krasnikov says. “You
an experienced gardener, candidate support has been offered to agri- should think not only of yourself.
of agricultural sciences Yuri Gre- culture in recent years. This is what I intend to run in the next elecbenyuk. He is already retired, but Krasnikov told the district youth fo- tions for our regional maslikhat
the soul of a veteran hurts seeing rum. He has many friends in Russia, to represent the interests of youth
that the famous Ural apples have which is not far from Uralsk. They there. Youth has enough problems.
disappeared from the shelves. They invite him to move over and prom- For example, affordable housing
were so famous that in tsarist times ise to help at first. But he knows for is built mostly in the city. But the
the carts with these apples were sent sure that there is no greater joy than village needs no less than the city
to St. Petersburg. Krasnikov is going to have the right to say “where I was does, and perhaps even more. If a to start plowing five hectares in the born, there I was useful.”
young person has the opportunity
autumn, then to prepare the ground
He also considers his mother Vera to settle down to have a family and
for a year and only after that to lay a Krasnikova his top assistant and ad- ‘grow roots’ in his native village,
young orchard.
viser. According to her, Alexander he will not leave it.”
He has several seasonal workers. was right to choose his profession.
“And I will certainly get another After the first five years of work, Since childhood he had a special ‘in- higher education degree in agronohe has founded a school of disci- stinct’. Teenagers have various hob- my. After all, there is no such thing
pleship. Now he can cope with any bies and tastes. Some get dogs, some as too much knowledge,” he says.
Culture
B3
Vienna Festival Celebrates
Kazakhstan’s Culture
From Page B1
Kul-Muhammed noted that during its years of independence,
Kazakhstan has progressed along
a path of prosperity under the
guidance of President Nursultan
Nazarbayev. According to many
European politicians, Kazakhstan
is a regional anchor of stability, a
leader in political and economic
development and an example of
peaceful and harmonious co-existence of members of numerous
nationalities and religions. Kazakhstan was the first former Soviet state to chair the Vienna-based OSCE [the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe]
and is the EU’s leading partner in
Central Asia. Kazakhstan is Austria’s third-largest trading partner
among the CIS States, after Russia and Ukraine. The progressive and
steady development of its society
is Kazakhstan’s main policy priority, as detailed in the Kazakhstan
2050 strategy.
The minister also noted the importance of holding such events in
the context of the multicultural and
international dialogue between the
West and the East.
As part of the culture days, a
concert by musical masters of Kazakhstan was held in one of the
best concert halls in the world,
Konzerthaus, the Great Hall of Vienna. The concert was attended by
Austrian politicians, the diplomatic
corps, representatives of cultural,
academic and business circles as
well as the media and the international community.
The Kazakh State Kurmangazy
Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments; an ensemble of dombra
players; honoured art workers of
120th Anniversary of First
Kazakh Painter Marked
in Almaty
By Yelena Brusilovskaya
ALMATY – In many ways, Latifa Khodzhikova is a symbolic figure in the Kazakh art. And not just because
she was the first female Kazakh professional scene painter, a great expert
of national costumes and ornamental
art of the Kazakhs, a skilled worker
who created fancy yurts and handmade carpets, which were applauded
by connoisseurs of art at exhibitions
in London, Paris, Moscow and Los
Angeles.
She was also the founder of the
whole dynasty of artists. She passed
on her talent and love for creativity
to her four sons, whose works are
included in the exhibition of the anniversary exhibition which opened in
Almaty in May.
Few people knew this remarkable
detail that her elder brother Serali
Lapin graduated from the law faculty of St. Petersburg University,
where he studied along with Alexander Kerensky, the future head of the
Provisional Revolutionary Government.
Before the 1917 revolution, Serali Lapin opened a law office in St. Petersburg, where Lenin’s older
brother Alexander Ulyanov worked
for some time. Serali Lapin later became interested in science, studying
ancient inscriptions of Registan in
Samarkand, and published the first Turkish dictionary. In 1919, he died under unknown circumstances.
Serali Lapin played a fateful role
in his sister’s life, introducing her to
his friend, a young teacher KongyrKhoja Khodzhikov, with whom
he translated many rare books and
oriental manuscripts into Kazakh.
Latifa and Kongyr-Khoja fell in love
with each other, but they had been
betrothed since childhood for others,
and they were forced to flee the Perovskiy County.
At first, the young couple lived in poverty, but for Latifa Khodzhikova’s skilled hands, they would have
had it very badly. She wove carpets
skilfully, sewed, and made patterns
from embroidery. She also enjoyed
motherhood; sons were born one after another...
In 1921, the Khodzhikovs moved to Tashkent, where Latifa Khodzhikova’s path to professional theatrical
art had started. Latifa Khodzhikova
not only designed the scene and
sewed costumes for “Birzhan and
Sara” play, but she also performed
the role of Sara’s mother. She had a
beautiful voice, knew many Kazakh
songs and later she sang to composers. For instance, Eugeniy Brusilovsky used her tunes while writing
“Kyz Zhibek”, “Er Targyn” operas
Kazakhstan Alan Buribaev, Azamat Zheltyrguzov, Aigul Niyazova,
Bibigul Zhanuzak, Nurlan Bekmukhambetov, Talgat Mussabayev,
Gulziya Stambekova, Amir Tebenikhin and Sundet Baigozhin; winners of national and international
competitions Bibigul Sauytova,
Zhaksygeldy Mayasarov, Meir
Bayneshov, Erbolat Akhmediarov,
Armand Zhudebaev, Nurzhan
Bazhekenov, Edil Khussainov, Ardak Itekeeva, Naryn Kazhgaliyev, Saltanat Akhmetova, Erzhan Kulibayev, Baurzhan Anderzhan, Aizada Kaponova and others performed
at the Konzerthaus.
The hall, with a capacity of up
to 2,000 people, was completely
filled, and the audience expressed its gratitude through massive applause for the performances of traditional Kazakh as well as European pieces performed on traditional
instruments.
The Austrian public also had an
opportunity to visit exhibits dedicated to the countries of Central
Asia, including Kazakhstan, and to
learn about the political, economic
and cultural life of the country in a
relaxed and festive atmosphere.
Cultural events in Austria were
organised with the support of the
Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, the Embassy
of Kazakhstan in Austria, the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria and
the Austrian-Kazakh Society.
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National Commission for
UNESCO and ISESCO Reviews
2012, Prepares for 2013
By Natalia Kurpyakova
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and Latifa Khodzhikova participated wrote in her memoirs, she visited
as costume designer in their direc- Kazakhstan because of the poems by
tion.
Zhambyl and the ornamental works
Since the mid-1920s the by Latifa Khodjikova.
Khodzhikovs moved to Kzylorda,
“Latifa-apa treated Maria Lizogoub
where the first Kazakh professional as her daughter,” Saule Khodjikova
theatre opened at that time. Latifa recounted, “because she only had
designed costumes for theatrical sons and she used to say, ‘Maria, be
productions of those years for such my daughter’. Maria Lizogoub often
plays as “Baybishe-tokal”, “Altyn visited her at home and inconspicuSahina”, “Enlik-Kebek”, “Karakoz” ously drew when Latifa was carried
and others.
away by her work singing to herself
From morning to night, Latifa’s at the same time. I remembered how Singer sewing machine was knock- once as a child I started dancing as ing at the house, which also found she sang. And that inspired her to
a place in the exhibition. Saule paint a new work, ‘Grandmother and
Khodzhikova said this sewing ma- Granddaughter’.”
chine was 150 years old. More
Latifa Khodzhikova became the
than once, it had saved the family protagonist of a documentary film, from poverty and hunger, as Latifa “Folk Crafts of Kazakhs”, shot back
worked not only for the theatre, but in 1957 by director Abdullah Karalso sewed for all her numerous sakbayev on the script written of her
relatives. In her skilled hands, face- son Kulakhmet. This film was recogless fabric came alive, turning into nized as one of the best at the interbeautiful costumes.
national exhibition “EXPO 1967” in
Latifa Khodzhikova did not per- Montreal.
ceive her hard work as a tedious
Latifa Khodzhikova passed away
craft. She made everything with love, in 1960. Thanks to the efforts of her
remaining a welcoming hostess. The son Kulakhmet and others the art
Khodzhikovs’ house was always full section at the Union of Artists of Kawith guests: it was here that ideas zakhstan began its work. Later, Kulafor new plays were born, people that khmet facilitated the creation of the
were close in spirit met, folk songs museum of arts and crafts, the main
were heard, turning a modest meal exhibits of which are the pride of the
into amateurish theatricals.
country’s main museum.
The current exhibition features a
“If you want to know what was painting by the famous painter Maria special in the character of this amazLizogoub, where Latifa-apa is shown ing woman, I would say it was her in the process of constructing a yurt. boundless sense of freedom and
It was designated for demonstration love for art, her country and people,
for the Decade of Kazakh Art in which, in spite of everything, she reMoscow in 1958.
tained until the end of her days,” Saul
As Maria Lizogoub, a Ukranian, Khodzhikov emphasized.
ASTANA – On May 17, the
Kazakhstan National Commission for UNESCO and ISESCO tallied up its work in 2012 and
identified priorities for the current year at a meeting chaired by
Head of the National Commission Imangali Tasmagambetov. Tasmagambetov named the international forum dedicated to the
Decade of the Rapprochement
of Cultures that will assemble
U.N. and UNESCO leadership,
prominent politicians, scientists
and artists and the international
forum in conjunction with the official launch of the world’s first comprehensive web portal of the
Silk Road as centrepiece events
which are to be this year’s priorities.
At the meeting, presentations
were made by Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to
UNESCO Olzhas Suleimenov,
Culture and Information Minister Mukhtar Kul-Muhammed, Environment Minister Nurlan Kapparov, Director of the UNESCO
Cluster Office in Almaty Sergey Lazarev and others.
Permanent
Representative
Suleimenov congratulated everyone on the start of the decade
of cultural rapprochement (2013-
22) initiated by Kazakhstan and approved by the 67th session of
the U.N. General Assembly.
One of the most significant events of Kazakhstan and
UNESCO’s cooperation was the
official visit of UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova to Kazakhstan. She took part in an expanded meeting of the National
Commission, coinciding with the
20th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s
membership in UNESCO, during
which an agreement was signed
between Kazakhstan’s government and UNESCO for the establishment of the Almaty regional glaciological centre under
the auspices of the international
organisation. Last year, Kazakhstan’s National Committee for
Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) was established. Among the priority tasks of the
committee are identifying and
documenting the intangible cultural heritage of Kazakhstan.
Minister Kul-Muhammed said
that systematic work should be
carried out on the preparation
and submission to UNESCO of
national and multinational nominations for inscription on the list
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of the intangible cultural heritage sphere National Committee Roof humanity and the list of intan- man Yaschenko characterised the
gible cultural heritage in urgent inclusion of the Korgalzhyn State
need of protection.
Nature Reserve in the UNESCO
Kazakhstan intends to join the Biosphere Reserve nomination as
multinational applications of a landmark. Cross-border nomiNauryz and falconry and Kyr- nation of Western Tien Shan is
gyzstan’s application for entering under preparation and includes
aitys and yurt on the UNESCO eight protected areas in Kazalist. Kazakhstan’s own applica- khstan (Aksu-Zhabagly and Kations for the karazhorga national ratau reserves and three sections
dance and orteke traditional pup- of Sairam-Ugam National Park) petry have been sent to the or- as well as areas in Kyrgyzstan
ganisation.
and Uzbekistan. The Altai crossHonorary Director of the Mar- border reserve is in the process of
gulan Institute of Archaeology being created jointly with RusKarl Baipakov said that in Febru- sia.
ary 2013, papers for the cross-borThe work of Kazakhstan’s Nader nomination of “Monuments tional Federation of UNESCO
of the Silk Road: The initial seg- Clubs was presented by its chairment and routes of the Tien Shan man, vice-minister of oil and gas
corridor” were presented to the Bulat Akchulakov.
World Heritage Centre. The nomAn international UNESCO
ination includes 22 monuments conference took place in 2012 to
in China, three in Kyrgyzstan and mark the 20th anniversary of the
eight in Kazakhstan, including Almaty Declaration promoting
Kiyalyk, Talgar and Karamengen independent and pluralistic mein the Almaty region and Aktobe, dia in Asia. The Fifth Conference
Akyrtas, Kulan, Ornek and Kos- of ISESCO Environment Ministobe in the Zhambyl region.
ters also took place last year and
Chairman of the Committee resulted in a decision to open an
for Science of the Ministry of ISESCO Regional Office in AlEducation and Science of Kaza- maty.
khstan Nurlan Ybyrayym emphaUNESCO
recommendations
sised Kazakhstan’s participation regarding the Haji Ahmed Yasin educational programmes and savi mausoleum were also among
cooperation with UNESCO. He topics covered at the meeting,
also mentioned the sensational and the hundredth anniversaries
discovery of two medieval treas- of the births of film producer ures in Sairam in the South Kaza- and actor Shacken Aymanov and
khstan region made by the Mar- writer Ilyas Yesenberlin are on gulan Institute of Archaeology the list of the memorable dates to
expedition.
be marked on UNESCO’s 2014-
Chairman of the Man and Bio- 2015 calendar.
B4
Country
Alatau Innovation Park Becomes High Tech Hub
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By Aigul Turysbekova
ALMATY – The Park of Innovative Technologies (PIT) located in a special economic zone in the village of Alatau near Almaty is experiencing rapid growth.
The park’s general director Nurlan Kopbosynov said its success
was related to its convenient location only 30 minutes’ drive from
Almaty, the country’s largest business and commercial centre.
“In 2006, there were 28 companies in our innovation park. Today,
the number has grown to 167,” he
said. “This breakthrough has been
achieved thanks to the personal
attention of President Nursultan
Nazarbayev who is also the chairman
of the board of trustees. He made
sure the park received the necessary
state support of innovation grants and
funding to start new businesses.”
The park has two manufacturing
complexes to make new high tech
products. A subsidiary of Kazakht-
elecom is building a new IT centre there. The Oil and Gas Institute, Kazakh-British Technical University, International University of Information Technologies have also started to build new research
facilities there.
“One domestic firm is ready to transfer its factory manufacturing
fibre lines from Singapore to our park and global companies like LG
are planning to move their production here,” Kopbosynov said.
The PIT operates as a special economic zone, where companies are
exempt from corporate and property taxes. However, they continue
to pay the individual corporate tax,
social security tax and value added
tax (VAT). In 2012, the companies in the park generated 800 million
tenge ($5.30 million) in taxes for the national budget. The state budget has already received more than
two billion tenge ($13.24 million) in taxes from companies operating
in the park since it was opened.
The PIT is planning to create new design bureaus to promote
new engineering ideas. The government has approved innovation
grants for the bureaus to be provided on a competitive basis. Engineers working at the park on a trial
grant programme in 2012 equipped
the entire complex with a new independent energy-efficient lighting system which they now plan to
market commercially.
The Special Economic Zone has
negotiated memoranda of cooperation with all national technical
universities in Almaty to find new ideas from students and young scientists. In 2012, this led to three new patent applications from the
International Institute of Information Technologies.
The Damu National Agency for
Technological Development Fund
and the national science fund both
provide financial support for new projects at the park.
The park is focusing on devel-
oping new green, or sustainable,
technologies for the EXPO 2017
global exposition in Astana. The
construction of the second phase
of the Park is planned for the near
future, and, according to designers,
these buildings will have the elements of “smart home” and “green”
technologies. The village of Alatau
will also soon be supplied with gas,
which in turn will significantly reduce energy costs for producers.
The Ministry of Industry and New Technologies is drafting new legislation to allow the park to rapidly
expand. In 2012, the park employed 100 people at an average salary of
100,000 tenge ($660) per month. After its expansion, it is projected
to generate 12,000 new jobs.
Nurlan Zhanibekov is the director of ELTEXALAU, which makes
telecommunication devices. He
told The Astana Times that domestically-produced products in this
area are comparable to European
and Chinese ones.
“Unfortunately, support for domestic producers is often limited
to presentations, exhibitions, and
summary reports. But this field requires the study of procurement plans of national companies, analysis of entrepreneurs’
proposals on cooperation and
approving contracts to support
them,” Zhanibekov said, “If we want to expand our domestic production of high tech products, it
will be necessary to take firmer actions.”
Zhanibekov said he had studied
the example of South Korea, which
he visited this year, in encouraging its high tech and innovative
industries. The Seoul government
ensures the success of high tech
companies by placing regular major orders with them and establishing attractive terms of investment
for them, he said.
“I wonder what prevents the representatives of our national companies from demonstrating their pa-
triotism and buying from domestic
suppliers?” he asked.
The innovation park at Alatau
was founded by the Institute of Nuclear Physics. INP Deputy Director for Research and Methodology,
Professor Nasurlla Burtebayev said
the institute, which was founded in
the Soviet era half a century ago
had played a significant role in creating the tradition of high research
and development there.
“There is still that scientific atmosphere and aura, for which the
town has always been famous,” he
said. The creation of the innovation park breathed new life into it.
Therefore, it is advisable to keep
the status of a scientific centre for the village.”
Today the Institute of Nuclear Physics is still operating at Alatau
and employs about 300 scientists.
Some of the country’s leading
technical universities are planning
to launch expansion programmes
there
143,000 Students Graduate from Secondary Schools
By Marina Parkhomenko,
Chingiz Tashenov,
Sergey Gorbunov
The last bell has sounded for
143,000 graduates of secondary schools in the country at the end of
May. The last bell is a traditional
ceremony in the schools of postSoviet countries. The celebration
is carried out just after all the studies are finished, but before the final exams. The date usually falls on
May 25.
This is an exciting day in all
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meanings – 11 years of hard but
interesting study are behind, and
student years are coming soon.
But now, the students have to grow
up, passing a serious final examination and choosing a profession.
In addition to traditional school assemblies, excursions around the
school, concerts and various campaigns the graduates saw plenty of
entertainment.
ASTANA – Three areas around
the city were provided to 3,686
graduates: the area in the square in front of the Ministry of Finance,
the Orbit micro district and the
area at the fountain in the Park of
Lovers. Girls and boys remembered the songs of their childhood,
danced waltz, wrote wishes to each
other, took photos. Graduates who
could be easily recognized by the
ceremonial dresses and blue ribbons, and happy smiles, filled the city park with its entertainments
and river boats that rolled them
with the breeze on the Ishim river. The Triumph ball took place in the
Palace of Schoolchildren for winners of international and national
competitions, their talented mentors, who won 122 medals for their
city in different countries and on
different continents. Girls in the
snow-white dresses danced with
gallant cavaliers at their first ball.
AKMOLA REGION – Concert programmes were prepared, performances were made by the best
students, certificates and letters of appreciation were given to outstanding children and, of course,
memorable gifts for graduates were
given throughout the region on this
memorable day. The last bell is not
just a holiday, it also the beginning
of a difficult and responsible examination time. This year, the region gave knowledge to children in
more than 650 schools of various
forms of study, 4,634 graduates will receive the first ‘start’ in independent living, including 3,969 boys
and girls who were registered for
passing the Unified National Testing (UNT), representing 78.5% of the total number of graduates. 208
pupils are claiming ‘Altyn Belgi’
(golden medal upon graduation of school), and 90 are seeking certificates with distinction, which they
need to support by excellent grades
at the exams.
PAVLODAR REGION – Yerlan Aryn, Akim of the Pavlodar region,
came to congratulate the graduates
of lyceum No. 10 for gifted children
named after Abay with the last bell.
He was not alone, he came with
Nobel Prize laureate in Economics
Finn Kydland from the U.S., who
arrived in the region in order to read
lectures for students and teachers of
S. Toraigyrov Pavlodar State University. 88,786 students completed
their education in the institutions
of the region. Among them, 9,768
students (11%) graduated with honors, and 31,972 (36%) with good and excellent marks. The number
of applicants for the Certificate of Secondary Education ‘Altyn Belgi’
this year makes 186 pupils, and 82
pupils got certificates with distinction. Congratulating the graduates, the Akim noted that each of
the graduates will have to make a
responsible step – to choose future
profession and to determine future
way of living. The state, teachers
and parents have done everything
to ensure that the younger generation has grown up competent and
competitive.
The holiday has finished, and ahead a serious examination will
be held. A total of 99,815 graduates
across the country have applied to
participate in the UNT, which will
be held from June 1 to 15. A total
of 4,678 students claim to receive ‘Altyn Belgi.’
society
B5
Photo Exhibit Showcases
Creativity of Children with
Disabilities
Eleven-Millionth Ethnic
Kazakh Born, Population
Pushes 17 Million
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height was 52 centimetres. He garten are planned for construction
By Lyubov Dobrota
is now a healthy baby, the fourth in the village to provide preschool
SOUTH KAZAKHSTAN – child of 34-year-old Malik Bad- education to 66 percent of the vilEleven-millionth Kazakh, Mukhtar ambayev and 29-year-old Shol- lage’s children.
In 2012, 3,044 babies were born Abdrakhim, was born in December pan Kudirbekova. Malik is inin Ushbulak village in southern volved in agriculture and his in the rural district where the vilKazakhstan. Abdrakhim was cho- wife is an English teacher at a lage is located, which was 1.3 persen among all the children born on local school. They also have a cent more than in 2011.
nine-year-old daughter and two
The head of the Kazygurt rural
Dec. 28, 2012.
In April 2013, Kazakhstan’s sons of five and three years old. district Bolat Kystauov visited
statistics agency announced there The youngest ones will soon go Ushbulak village to congratulate
the family and brought a gift for
were now more than 11 million to kindergarten.
A new kindergarten for 60 chil- Mukhtar’s parents. And Askar
ethnic Kazakhs among the almost
17 million people living in the dren, financed by the local admin- Myrzakhmetov, the Akim (Goveristration, is being constructed in nor) of South Kazakhstan region, country now.
Mukhtar Abdrakhim’s birth their village. In total, two public presented the young boy with a
weight was 3.25 kilograms and preschools and one private kinder- race horse.
ASTANA – On May 22, the photo exhibition Moment of Happiness
opened at the Khan Shatyr mall as
part of the Zhuldyzay (“star” in Kazakh) Festival for Children with Disabilities.
“Each of us has a place in our
heart for children who need our attention and support. Their happy
faces, emotions and feelings are
in truth priceless. Moments of real
happiness in the photos were available to all residents and guests of
Astana. All had a unique opportunity to see the young talent from all
over the country in this exhibition.
Talented children sing, dance, play
musical instruments… they are talented flowers of life,” said the organisers of the festival.
The annual Zhuldyzay festival is held under the patronage
of a corporate charity fund the
main purpose of which is to provide financial assistance to children with disabilities as well as
promote their social adaptation.
Established in 2005, the festival
aims to alert the public to the
problems with the social, professional and vocational rehabilitation of children with disabilities.
The festival also provides participants with an opportunity to
express themselves creatively
and demonstrate their talents to
an audience as well as a chance
at companionship with their contemporaries.
Prior to the event in Astana,
elimination rounds were held in 16
cities across Kazakhstan. Individuals and creative teams from boarding schools competed in choreography, instrumental performances,
singing, painting and chess.
Drawings, stuffed toys and
stained-glass artwork were exhibited in applications. Of the 4,558 children who took part in the first round, the works of 300 reached
the final festival. The performances of children from all rounds
of the competition were captured
by photographers.
“The event we organised on May
22 was dedicated to the opening
of the eighth national Zhuldyzay
festival. In the exhibit, we tried to introduce photos of participants
from all over the country. A major concert will draw a line under
this year’s festival on June 1 at the
Palace of Peace and Accord, and
will be held with the support of
Kazakhstan’s biggest celebrities,”
Senior Specialist at the Zhuldyzay
Corporate Fund Saule Syzdykova
said.
“I have been working with the Zhuldyzay fund for many years.
Together we organised this exhibition and carried out master
classes with children in Astana
and elsewhere. I am very glad that this initiative found support and
developed into such a beautiful
project. And if I personally can
help, I just do it. As for the competition – to be honest, I prefer to work with children instead of
judging, because I want to award all of them for their desire to create, for their will to live, for the
tears of happiness they give us.
These children are much stronger
than we healthy adults are. I want them to be happy,” said Kazakh
artist, honorary member of the
Academy of Fine Arts of Prague
and Laureate of the European Art
Union Leyla Makhat.
The purpose of the Zhuldyzay
festival is to change attitudes toward people with limited opportunities and to show how creativity can help them rise above their
physical problems.
Newborn International Couple
Thrives in Astana
From Page B1
Joe’s parents respected the
choice of their son and, when acquainted with his choice, treated
her like their daughter.
Mrs Scott – Orakbayeva cannot
forget those dizzying romantic moments in the recreation park in Astana, when Joe offered his hand and
heart and as a sign of love presented the engagement ring. Then they
decided their wedding should take
place on the first day of spring.
Their wedding was a great example of an international fest, with
songs, toasts and congratulations
in Kazakh, Russian and, of course,
English.
Joe’s parents arrived from Britain with his grandmother and
grandfather, who are 84 and 86 years old, to share the happiness of
their grandson.
“Joe and I would like to continue education to become more qualified,” Mrs Scott – Orakbayeva says. “It is not so common nowadays to meet a young man, a primary school teacher working with
children of 5-6 years. Joe is one of
those few.”
Both husband and wife clearly
state that their family is the one
based on mutual respect. They
emphasize that whenever you understand, respect views of your
partner, his or her preferences and
tastes, there is peace and harmony
in the family.
Joe Scott likes Kazakh traditional cuisine, especially beshbarmak,
horse meat, plov, and manty. His
wife does not let him forget about
traditional Yorkshire pudding and
English roast beef, though. Everything his wife cooks is delicious,
he says.
“Gaukhar Orakbayeva and Joe
Scott complement one another,
they are a very nice, cute couple,
and I want to wish them love and happiness,” the head of the registrar office at Astana’s Yessil department of justice Bakhytzhamal
Bazarbayeva said.
B6
Tourism
German Writer Has Tough, Yet Wise Words of
Love for Kazakhstan’s Tourist Future
From Page B1
East Kazakhstan region with the
Altai Expeditions firm with interesting tours and elsewhere.
Recently we discussed a proposal to carry out an experiment: to encourage hunting farms that
are working in strict accordance
with the legislation and quotas, to
help them to expand the season;
that is, to send ecotourists to the
hunting houses in spring and summer so that they could increase the
number of tourists and offer rangers work as tour guides. That is, we
are slowly expanding the range of
ecotourism activities.
The main reason to move to Kazakhstan was my work at the Kazakhstan Tourist Association (KTA) since 2008 under the agreement on
technical cooperation between Kazakhstan and Germany. The Centre of International Migration and Development (CIM) finances my work under this programme.
How did you perceive the country and people of Kazakhstan?
What changes have occurred in
Kazakhstan since your first visit?
My perception is changing. Not
only is the country constantly
changing, I am also changing like any other human being, and so is
my own point of view. The more
actively a person is involved in the
life of a society, the more intense
his perception becomes.
At first, I perceived the country as incredibly large, boundless and mysterious. However, a strong sense of
collapse was literally in everything.
I was shocked by the abrupt changes that had taken place in society since
I returned to the motherland in 1987, after studying in the Soviet Union.
The economy and social life were
paralysed. People were losing their
skills. Moral norms of Soviet times
fell before my eyes. I just felt sorry for the people. At that time, in the
general poverty, the polarisation of
the society was not so much evident
as nowadays, although the foundations were created at that time.
However, it was not noticeable for
an outsider. I was impressed by the people’s resistance and calmness.
Although the life of many people
was obviously hard, they were kind
and hospitable to foreigners. This
impression is still very strong, as if
there is a pattern: the more humble a person lives, the more responsive
he is in how he treats people… This
about Kazakhstan.
Changes in the country? In some places they are very significant, in other places it seems there are
almost none. Of course, today life
has changed in the major cities.
There is a full abundance of the attributes of a modern country – for
those who have money. Business
travellers who come for a few days
and stay at one of the expensive
hotels of Almaty or Astana, dine at
Farhi or Del Papa restaurants, see
chicly dressed young people and
these expensive SUVs, say that they are surprised by the wealth
of the country. However, if I go by public transport in the neighbourhoods or accompany tourists in the
hinterland to the natural gems, it
seems to me that there is no positive change or just a little. Most
of the people in remote areas are
still living in poverty, so they are
striving to move to the city. However, here, they have no prospects
as well, alas. I am outraged that on the outskirts of large cities there is
the growing phenomenon that in
the third world is called favelas,
with the manifestations of social
tension. The fact that the Ministry of Regional Development was
formed and that President Nursultan Nazarbayev talks about the
need to adjust the excessive social
inequality is only logical against
this background. The country’s average indicators say little about the
true welfare of all its citizens.
What is the main idea and objective of your guide to Kazakhstan?
I just want to share my stunning impressions of Kazakhstan. I want more people to became aware of
this amazingly diverse country
with beautiful nature and friendly
people. It would be nice to develop tourism in the country, and through
it to create jobs, exactly in the areas of relatively unspoilt nature. I mean the remote areas from which
people are leaving now because of
futility.
When and why did you decide
to start working as a tourism freelancer?
I decided to start working as a tourism freelancer after I finished the first edition of my book in 2003. At that time, after numerous
trips and hikes around the country,
I realised that there was something to show, and I was right. In 2003, I had only a dozen tourists, and 200
tourists three years later and more
each year. Then I realised it was the perfect combination: to make my hobby – to travel, to communicate, to write – the content of my
work.
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the wrong way. They organise day
Now you are working at the trips and picnics with fires. Often, Ecotourism Information and Re- their fishing or hunting is illegal. It source Centre in Almaty. Could brings a lot of harm to nature and
you tell us briefly about the activi- is most likely the anti-ecotourism.
ties of this organisation and its ob- The ecotourism that we want to develop assumes that campers should
jectives and goals for the future?
The Ecotourism Information and realise that their children deserve
Resource Centre was established in to enjoy the same beautiful, clean
2005 on the initiative of the Kaza- and pristine areas, too.
At the same time, we realise that
khstan Tourist Association (KTA). This was a courageous and vision- people, especially when they are on
ary step. My colleagues had realised vacation, do not like to be taught.
before the others that ecotourism is Therefore, we have to create the
the kind of tourism in Kazakhstan preconditions of unconstrained, inthat is the most promising due to teresting, diverse, but at the same
natural circumstances and in view time responsible recreation. It is a of global trends. They have made question of political will.
Ecotourism is well developed in
considerable efforts and gathered
Kazakhstan
where small and mediresources for the idea to be implemented. International sponsors um-sized businesses with initiative
such as the UNDP [United Nations and professionalism have set up
Development Programme], the projects, often without any governVSO and Exxon Mobile rendered ment support. Such examples are in
Aksu-Zhabagly, Lenger and Kasassistance at the early stages.
The most important goal is to kasu in the South Kazakhstan recreate a nationwide network of pri- gion,, where there are private guest
vate rural guesthouses in the areas houses with interesting tourist ofwhere the natural conditions are ferings; the Trekking Club camp
ideal for ecotourism – near nation- in Turgen gorge in the Almaty
al parks and other protected areas. region; Pelican base on Alakol;
This combination of community- the yurt camp of the Central Asia
based tourism and ecotourism is Birding Company; the offerings of
being implemented successfully Zhibek Zholy and Asia Discovery
tourist companies in the Almaty
around the world.
Placement is a key factor in the region; Nomadic and Zere Tour
development of tourism products. travel agencies in the Karaganda
and Aktobe regions; in the Akmola
To build hotels in areas of pristine
region, guest houses in Korgalzhyn
nature is the first step towards its and the Druzhba cultural and tourdestruction. We do not want it. ist complex in Balkashino; in the
However, using people’s houses,
which exist already, as placements
– we can kill two birds with one
stone: the tourists have a place to live and the people have an opportunity to earn money. Of course, it
will not happen spontaneously, it is
necessary to prepare and organise
everything; that is, to persuade, to
educate owners of houses, to equip
these houses for the needs of tourists, to assist in the development
of tourism products, to advertise
houses and tours and to send tourists there. That is what we are doing now.
In the future, I would like to see a successful system of ecotourism
like in Germany and the United
States, where the carrier of ecotourism is the National Parks Service with its highly developed system of environmental protection,
tourism and educational work.
Could you share your opinion
about the development of ecotourism in Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan has huge natural
potential for the development of
ecotourism. However, there is still
much work to be done in this field.
Ecotourism, if we understand it
correctly as responsible tourism
in nature, which unites both the
interests of campers and the local
population and does not destroy
either the nature or culture of the
region, is still underdeveloped in
the country.
Tourists, campers or travellers
think only of their own recreation.
Many people perceive ecotourism
What is necessary for Kazakhstan to increase the number of
ecotourists coming here?
First of all is to change the attitude of many of its citizens to nature. I have recently returned from a botanical tour around the Almaty
and East Kazakhstan region. We
were in very remote areas to find rare plants that are not available in
Europe, especially wild tulips and
other bulbous plants. We found
them all. At the same time, we
found tons of garbage in the most
remote areas. It is sad. Walking in nature, the soul sings of these spacious landscapes, the spring bloom
and the singing of birds – and suddenly you are facing a mountain of
cans and bottles, partially broken,
plastic bags, paper. People ride
their SUVs unceremoniously on untouched meadows, even in the
national parks. They throw large
bouquets of Red Book plants,
wash cars in pristine mountain
rivers, probably; they just do not
know that the engine oil is killing
all the fish downstream. They burn the steppe when thousands of birds
are nesting in the grass and bushes,
cut down trees, although less than
one percent of the country’s area is
covered by forest.
If we want people to love and respect nature and ecotourism to
become a normal phenomenon, we
must eradicate the apathy and consumerist attitude that most people
have about nature. Environmental
education begins in childhood. For
example, I became an ecotourist unwittingly thanks to my parents, who
showed me large and small beauties
during our walks and hikes, as well
as during our numerous school trips
and multi-day trips to children’s
holiday homes and youth hotels,
where very skilful eco-educational
work is carried out.
I am convinced that the number of foreign ecotourists will increase
if it is seen around the whole country that the nature is respected and
considered as a major, renewable
resource for tourism.
Are you developing any ecotourism projects in Kazakhstan now?
Yes, we would like to expand the
chain of guesthouses in promising areas such as Mangystau and
the Almaty region. We would like
to contribute to the improvement
of the national parks and to make
them real centres of ecotourism.
We would like to develop various
tour programmes with our partners
in the regions, and then create an
interactive site for booking trips to
rural guesthouse as a package with
these tours. This project has been
very successful for many years in
Belarus.
At present, we cannot implement
it because of the lack of human and
financial resources. Nevertheless, we hope all of our plans will be
implemented. Our centre has been
functioning since 2005, and since
then has been working exclusively
thanks to sponsorship money, small
funds from KTA and the enthusiasm of staff and partners in the
regions. Some support was given
by the Akmola and Almaty oblast
administrations.
The projects we want to implement require public support, and
not just in financial terms. The projects need legal, administrative
and structural frameworks, environmental education and upbringing.
What problems exist today for
Kazakhstan’s image as a tourist
destination?
If your newspaper came out as a multi-volume edition, it would be
possible to recount all of them...
Fewer words, more deeds. The image cannot be better than the real
situation. If domestic tourism and nature conservation in Kazakhstan
receive another rating, if the infrastructure and services for its own
population are at the proper level,
if the prices are close to the level
of service or the service rises to the
level of prices, if the fight against corruption is successful, then the
country’s image as a tourist destination will improve. In this case, solving visa and other administrative issues will remain a mere formality.
Could you share your opinion
on what Kazakhstan can offer European tourists? What places are
of great interest to Europeans in
Kazakhstan?
Let’s try to start from the demand
that already exists in the country
today. Europeans are coming here
because of the places which are not
available in their countries. They
include the spacious Sary Arka
steppes, where you can drive tens
and even hundreds of kilometres
without seeing either the city or its
wires, but instead numerous herds
of horses, silver waves of grasses,
quaint mountain oases such as
Karkaraly, Ulytau, Bayanaul or
Kyzylarai, lakes with flamingos and pelicans and hundreds of other
bird species and, if you are very
lucky, a saiga antelope herd. Dozens of species of wild tulips in the
steppes and in the mountains of Karatau, Tien Shan, Dzhungar Alatau
and Altai as well as the other wild
plants that are cultured in Europe,
but here they just grow in nature!
Peonies, irises, watersheds, violets,
Eremurus, mallow, saxifrage and
many things. This year, after heavy
winter rainfall, they are growing
particularly quickly. My tourists
were thrilled! The lunar landscapes
of Mangishlak (Mangystau) with their chinks of white and pink limestone, necropoli, which from a distance look like a mirage, with the
mysterious underground mosques,
where, once, the masters of Sufism lived and taught. The majestic alpine ridges of the Tien Shan,
Dzhungar Alatau and Altai where
many peaks are still nameless.
They are great places for grand
hiking or horse trekking-tours,
and rafting on the picturesque and
abounding mountain rivers. However, now it is very difficult, as the most beautiful routes are not available for foreign tourists since they
are located in the hunting grounds
or, worse yet, in the border zone,
so they first have to solve many administrative issues. If we created a chain of equipped ecological trails
and alpine huts here, I am sure the people of Kazakhstan and foreigners would be happy to use them.
National parks and reserves such
as the Aksu-Zhabagly reserve and
Tengiz reserve, Korgalzhyn lakes
and national parks such as Karkaraly, Charyn, Altyn Emel and Kolsai. The entire site of the Silk Road
in Kazakhstan, numerous ancient
towns still awaiting their second
opening through excavations, like
Koyalyk, Talhiz, Taraz and towns
in the Kyzylorda region, as well as
the other historical sites of Scythian
and Turkic period. Baikonur, if the
administrative barriers to visit it are
removed. The boomtown, the city
of EXPO 2017 – Astana. And the
metropolis at the foot of the mountains of Almaty, if the problems of
traffic jam and smog in this unique city are solved. Places of power, as
in the Altai or Mangishlak, where
even without a shaman a person
can feel that he or she is receiving
nature’s energy.
Places of Soviet heritage such as
Karaganda, Zhezkazgan, Balkhash,
Semei, the polygon... Health tourism in Alakol and the hot springs is
also not hopeless.
Besides these places to see, there
are a lot of events and customs that
can be developed as tourist highlights: Horse games, music and other cultural festivals, the caravan
along the Silk Road, the newly established sports competitions such
as steppe cycling rallies and more.
I also want to add that this cannot be implemented without any human factor. All these masterpieces
should be presented by professionals who can not only explain these
places and events in clear language,
but literally shine with the love of
their motherland and are able to
share their enthusiasm with visitors.
We need tourism education and
schools for guides and experts now
so that we have time before EXPO
2017 to train a sufficient number of qualified professionals.
B7
Sports
Astana Team Captain Nibali Wins Giro d’Italia
From Page A1
General Manager of the Presidential Professional Sport Club Astana
Aidar Makhmetov congratulated
the people of Kazakhstan people in
his Twitter post: “I congratulate all the people in Kazakhstan with the
great victory of the Astana cycling
team captain Vincenzo Nibali,” he wrote.
Rob Hayles, Former GB cyclist,
BBC Sport commentator said, “As
for Nibali, what more is there to
say? He was just better than everyone here.”
The final stage of Giro d’Italia was won by British Mark Cavendish of “Omega Pharma-Quick
Step”. Behind came two Italians Sacha Modolo from “Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox” and Elia Viviani from “Cannondale Pro Cycling”.
To recall, on May 18, Vincenzo Nibali finished in seventh place and 54 seconds behind the leader before the last day of rest in the
Giro d’Italia. The winner of that stage of the
super-cycle, multi-day race Giro
d’Italia was Italian Giovanni Viskonti from the Movistar Team, who pulled away from the group
long before the final denouement. Still Astana team was in complete
control of what is happening with
the general group and did not allow any of Nibali contenders for
the general classification lower the gap with their captain. The Italian himself attacked only 2.5 miles before the finish line, coming to the line in the seventh place.
The most difficult challenge during the race was the cold, but fortunately, the roads were dry, no rain
or snow.
Nibali covered the 149-kilometre distance from Cesana-Torinese
to Col du Galibier in four hours,
40 minutes and 52 seconds. Colombian Carlos Betancourt of
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Ag2r followed Visconti across the finish followed by German Pole Przemyslaw from team LampreMerida. Six days remain in this
year’s Giro d’Italia, which finishes in Brescia on May 26.
The route of the 2013 Giro
d’Italia has been officially presented in Milan, with race organisers
balancing the traditionally mountainous route with 88.9 km of time
trials, in a clear attempt to attract
big-name stage racers such as Bradley Wiggins, Ryder Hesjedal and
Vincenzo Nibali. This year’s Giro d’Italia was set to be one of the best ever editions of the
Corsa Rosa, promising three weeks
of great racing with the Italian countryside as a stunning backdrop.
Race organisers have managed
to attract the best ever teams for
the 96th edition of the Giro d’Italia, with a star-studded start list including overall contenders, many of the
world’s best sprinters and a host of
riders chasing stage victories and
glory during the three weeks of
racing.
The 96th edition of the Corsa
Rosa covered 3,405 km, starting in Naples with a 156 km road race
stage on Saturday May 4 and ending on Sunday May 26 in Brescia,
with a final road stage and five laps of a city centre circuit. The average
stage distance was down to 162.2
km a day.
The route was balanced with seven mountain finishes but also a 17.4 km team time trial on the island of
Ischia on stage 2, a 55.5 km individual time trial from Gabicce Mare
to Saltara on stage 8 and a 19.4 km mountain time trial on stage 18.
National Track and Nine-Year Old Chess Prodigy Wins Fourth
Field Athletes
World Championship
Get Ready for
New Season
By Miras Abykov
From Page B1
You are not the only one who was
impressed by such a result. First of
all, Valiyev became one of the ten best athletes in the world of a new
season, secondly, he reached the
World Cup standards, which will
take place in Moscow in August
this year. For the national team of
Kazakhstan it was the tenth license
to the FIFA World Cup. As of now, we traveled to South East Asia.
Olga Bludova executed the eleventh standard in a 200 meter run in
Almaty. And this is only the beginning of the season as all important
competitions are still ahead.
Do you have now the whole new
national team? Do you want to
single out someone from the athletes?
Yes, I took many young athletes. And they, of course, all are so enthusiastic: “Let’s win! Let’s beat them all!” I am very happy to have Ivan Ivanov from the Almaty region on our team. It was necessary for me that he has a chance to learn how to
put the shot in the worthy company,
because he already has no competitors at home. Anton Bodnar is in a
good shape as well, he jumped in
height at 2 meters 21 centimeters,
although the young Shymkent athlete has problems because of the
illness of his coach and because of
lack of good place for trainings. Anton impressed all experts: he is tall, light, bouncy, agile. Such sportsmen
become good athletes.
Dmitriy Korobeynikov showed his
actual result. For many athletes mentioned above, especially, for Julia Rakhmanova who improved the results
from one start to another, these competitions were debuts on the international scene. Starting from fourth
place, Julia won silver twice. Liliya
Bazyaruk (Nizamova) used to run the 400 meters, and now she decided to try 800 meters. The girl has a good
motivation and is hard-working. We’ll
see what results she will achieve.
Artem Kosinov is an experienced
Olympian who participated in Olympic Games in London, hopefully he will perform a standard for
the World Cup. He has everything
to achieve that. Vitaliy Tsykunov jumped to a height of 2 meters 18
centimeters. Considering that he
had an injury during last year and
did not train, his result can be considered as a good one.
Very interesting was the competition between women in the 100 meters with barriers. Apart from our
three athletes – Anastasia Pilipenko,
Natalia Ivoninskaya and Anastasia Soprunova – one of the strongest
Asian runners from Indonesia participated in the competition. Four of
them competed for the medals.
Our readers are eager to find out more about other leaders of
the Kazakhstan team who did not
compete in the Grand Prix. For
example, Olympic champion Olga
Rypakova, Dmitry Karpov in decathlon, high jumper Marina Aitova...
Rypakova misses this season.
She is having a rest now, and since
autumn she will begin the preparation for the competition. According to plans of her trainer, she will
appear at her best at Asian games
2014 in South Korea.
Dmitry Karpov is feeling all
right, and preparing for a large
tournament in Kladno (Czech Republic). Then he will take part in the Asian championship, then in
the World Cup.
Marina Aitova won the bronze registering 1 meter 92 centimeters in her
jump. She is preparing for the upcoming competitions. High jumper
Sergey Zasimovich is now suffering
from an old injury, so he is recovering. I think he will be ready before the beginning of the tournament,
dedicated to Guzman Kosanov.
You have already mentioned
that as of today the Kazakhstan
athletes have 11 licenses for the
competitions of 2013 – the World Cup in Moscow. Can you name
these athletes?
These are walkers Ayman and
Sholpan Kozhakhmetovs, Galina
Kichigina, George Sheyko and Vitaly Anichkin, all-rounders Dmitry
and Irina Karpova, marathoner Mikhail Krasilov, Marina Aitova,
Roman Valiyev and Olga Bludova.
ASTANA – Nine-year-old Astana chess player Bibisara Assaubayeva recently won her fourth
World Chess Championship in
her category at the game’s world
championships held in Greece
May 6 to 15.
Assaubayeva was one of 52 participants from Kazakhstan, but the only
one to win her category, gaining 8.5
points out of nine. Since 2011, she
has won three world championships
in Poland, Brazil and Romania.
Assaubayeva played her first game at the age of four. At the age
of six, she won her first city championship. Now she is nine and
plays chess six hours per day. She
has been known to beat her opponents in 15 moves.
“In 2008, I saw how Kirsan Ilyumzhinov awarded Alexandra Kosteniuk when she became the world
champion. She was presented with
a crown. I wanted that crown. I want to win the world championship in the UAE among 10-yearold girls. And in the future, I want to win the women’s championship,” Assaubayeva said.
Assaubayeva has been training
in Astana since 2010 with her personal coach Azamat Aubakirov.
“We have been working together
since October 2010,” said Aubakirov. “Since the very beginning, the
process was very active and the
results appeared automatically. Bibisara plays for six hours per day,
which is amazing for a child. For
me it’s a pleasure to work with
her.”
Chess is not the only passion of
the young talent. She is also engaged in artistic gymnastics and
was twice named her city’s champion. She also studies foreign languages, likes to read and gets good
grades in school.
“I have three children and consider it necessary to invest in the
children. It seems to me, that by learning and self-development children become more responsible and
multi- talented and the family becomes stronger,” said Assaubayeva’s mother Liana Tazharikova.
Assaubayeva has already started
preparing for the next World Cup
in the United Arab Emirates and
hopes to bring home a fifth championship.
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B8
Capital
Youth Theatre Presents Broadway’s “Sylvia”
By Rinat Dussumov
ASTANA – In late May, the Attraction youth theatre successfully presented a new production: the unforgettable romantic comedy “Sylvia” based on a Broadway
playwright of Albert Gurney.
Well-known American playwright Albert Ramsdell Gurney,
author of 25 plays and three novels,
was born on November 1, 1930.
He studied at the Yale School of
Drama and graduated in Cambridge. He wrote scripts of different shows, musicals libretto. His
first plays, staged 35 years ago on Broadway, brought him fame and
worldwide recognition.
In the 1970s, he was named the most promising playwright of
America, and confirmed it in subsequent decades.
Gurney is inclined to the literary game, to paradoxes. He pleases
the audience by eccentricity of the
characters of his heroes, witty plot
twists, eccentric, exaggerated theatricality.
In the centre of the romantic comedy “Sylvia”, which was once
included in the prestigious anthology “The Best American Play of
the Year”, there is a tough love triangle, its two sides is a prosperous
married couple. Greg and Kate are
in their forties, their children have
grown up and live separately. They
lead a measured and monotonous
life that is about work, weekend
with friends, traveling. An anxiety has settled in the heart of Greg,
there is no more harmony and confidence. He gravitates to nature, he wants freedom, vibrant sincere
feelings. And today he has listened
to the inner voice for the first time in many years, he has left a hateful
job in broad daylight, quarrelled
with the chief, wandered through
the park and brought home Sylvia
- a charming, naughty, sexy and
leggy young creature. Kate has
immediately felt it as a threat to
family happiness. Trying to protect
her home, she declares war on the
unexpected rival.
The unusual situation is the fact
that the flighty creature is a four-
legged, ordinary dog. In the park a cute watchdog snuggled up to
Greg, on its collar there was a tag
with her name Sylvia meaning a
forest nymph. He liked a charming,
shameless, bold, arrogant dog at
once. Her devotion to a new owner, whom it had chosen itself, was
boundless. Sylvia infects Greg with
its spontaneous freedom. Care of
her, her dog interests, night walks
help him re-experience the joy, the
fullness of feeling, the taste of life.
Kate strongly opposes Sylvia, believing the time of the dogs in their
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life has passed. She returned to
her teacher’s profession, obsessed
with the idea of introducing Shakespeare in the schools programme,
and she cannot understand her hus-
Police Fight Domestic
Violence
band’s new affection, the changes
taking place in his soul. Greg’s obsession for the dog caused Kate to
seek help of a psychoanalyst.
Thus, Sylvia brought discord
Astana Runners Festival
Celebrates Olympic Spirit
By Anel Adilbayeva
ASTANA – On May 18, Astana
residents with citizens in cities
around the world joined celebrations of Olympic Run Day. The
event, held near the Baiterek Tower, was the first of its kind to be held in the streets of Astana’s Left
Bank.
Olympic Run Day, organized by
local government officials and Kazakhstan’s National Olympic Committee, attracted more than 2,000 runners,
who were offered the opportunity to
participate in two races of different
distances. Participants who ran the
800-metre race began in front of the
Keruen shopping mall, while runners
in the 2,400-metre race stared from the Khan Shatyr shopping center.
Both races finished in the square in front of the Baiterek Tower.
Students of secondary and sports
schools were the first to start. In the 800 metres, Azhar Kyrykbay from
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By Anel Adilbayeva
ASTANA – A campaign against
domestic violence, “Women Are
the Foundation of the Family and
the Nation,” took place in Astana
from May 13-23. The campaign is
an attempt to guide public opinion
regarding domestic violence, raise
awareness about efforts to prevent
domestic violence and raise women’s general legal literacy.
As part of the campaign, police
officers from the Astana city department of internal affairs (police), nongovernmental organisations and governmental agencies
conducted educational lectures,
conferences and seminars with students from local universities, companies and enterprises of different
types. Volunteers and inspectors distributed brochures, booklets and
leaflets with detailed explanations of the law on the prevention of domestic violence.
“The right of any human being
to live free and be protected from
any acts of violence is developed
and implemented in every civilized
country and is the basis of the law
on human rights. This right is equal
both for men and women. So, violence against women in the modern world is an unacceptable social
phenomenon, it brings suffering to
women, causes physical and psychological damage,” Senior police
officer, major Svetlana Imambayeva said to The Astana Times.
“The aggravating problems of
family relationship, frequent acts of
offence committed against women
and children, when men abuse su-
periority over women and children
during conflicts and disputable situation require new approach to this
issue,” she continued.
“The main weapons in this fight against violence is to solve fundamental socio-economic problems,
raise living standards and spiritual
culture of people, providing social
and legal protection. Every woman
should know that her children and
herself have rights, they should not
tolerate violence and be able to get
necessary support from the state.
The aim of this campaign is to
raise the legal literacy and to draw
public attention to the problem,”
she concluded.
Women are encouraged to turn
to representatives of law enforcement with various family and life
problems. Some recent examples
are encouraging police officers to continue along this path of offering
counsel.
The Saryarka district police department had received a complaint
from a woman named Aigul about
her husband. He had been insulting her, lashing out and not coming
home. Aigul and her two children
had sometimes had to seek shelter
with friends and relatives. Initially, it had been decided to bring Aigul’s
case against her husband to court,
but the couple instead chose to try
to cooperate to resolve their dispute.
Aigul was given an order of protection against her husband, who was
registered in the police database.
According to Aigul, her family has
now been restored and she is very
grateful to the police officers who assisted them. On the advice of
the police inspector, Aigul and her
husband are taking psychological
rehabilitation courses through the
Korgau public fund.
Domestic violence is a profound
violation, coming as it does from
someone who is supposed to be a
supporter and protector; someone
with whom victims are linked by
ties of marriage, common housing,
property and livelihood and someone upon whom victims may be financially and morally dependent.
Domestic violence, in addition
to injuring an individual, also destroys families, often leading to
divorce, the loss of parental rights,
and increases in juvenile crime,
suicide and murder. Victims are often women, children and the
elderly. According to sociological
research, jealousy, alcoholism and
property disputes are often triggers
of domestic violence.
Following the decisions and
instructions of the head of state,
internal affairs departments are
tasked with eliminating violence
and discrimination against women
in Kazakhstan. Any act of violence
against women is a crime and
should be punishable under the
law. Since the beginning of 2013,
245 domestic violence offenders have been subjected to administrative liability in Astana and 1,793
orders of protection have been issued.
Astana residents seeking additional information and advice
from specialists are encouraged to
contact the department of internal
affairs at 71-60-63, 71-62-46, 54-
76-03, 37-37-16.
into the ordinary life of the married couple, the successful 22year marriage. However, she only
showed the family disaster that had
brewed up.
“Sylvia” is a comedy about love
and dislike, funny and a little sad,
touching lyrical story about how to
protect the soul from the pragmatism
of the civilized world, how to keep the
communication between loved ones.
The leading roles are played
by Tatyana Lipina as Sylvia and
Ilyas Danyarov as Greg, who are well-known and well-loved by the
regulars of the theatre. Yana Semeshkina made a successful debut playing Kate. Almas Esmyrza
played a doggie person, Julia Zimodra (Yekaterina Alekseyenko) played a girlfriend of Kate Phillies, Diaz Ahmetbekov played
psychoanalyst Leslie. Flawless
acting of young amateur actors, of
course, brought the Attraction theatre to a new level, more mature,
making people think about being.
It is a pity that not all, who wished, could see “Sylvia”. The
work of Attraction does not have
anything by way of a permanent
repertoire and a new play has been
shown only three times.
However, the Attraction will
present the musical “Mamma
Mia!” based on the songs of the
legendary group ABBA presented
soon for the residents and visitors
of the capital. On May 31, everyone, who wishes, will have one
chance to see, to hear, and to exclaim “Mamma Mia!”
Republican sports boarding school
and Temirkhan Zhamantaev from
school No 24 were the first to cross the finish line in their categories.
College students also raced the
800-metre distance with Juliana
Shannikova finishing first among girls and Vladimir Baranovsky winning among college men.
The 2,400-metre race included only a single group start. More than
700 runners started the 2,400-metre race and the first to finish was Almas Alpysbayev from Humanitarian College. Among women, local athlete
Ulbolsyn Dzhupaeva was the winner.
The Olympic motto, “The most
important thing is not to win but
to take part!” is also the slogan for
Olympic Run Day, and, therefore,
each participant received a certificate of participation. Prizes were
also awarded to the eldest and the
youngest participants. Sixty-five-
year-old Ameulsin Mirosinasenko
participated in the 2,400-metre race and proved sports can be enjoyed by all ages. This was also
confirmed by four-year-old runner Umar Khamidolla and three-yearold Talgatbek Khamza who were
willing to stand up at the start along
with the adult participants.
This celebration of the Olympic
spirit was a colourful and memorable event, and proved that the athletic drive is alive and well in Astana.

The Astana Times of 29 May 2013

Transcription

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