A bi-weekly online publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan www.mfa.kz Issue # 212 Friday, 6 January 2012 [PDF]

Titanium Plant to Increase Output by 20% in 2012

The Ust-Kamenogrosk plant sets up JV with France, goes ahead with construction of a new plant with South Korea

Constitutional Body Rules Majilis Election Cannot Take Place in Emergency

Council Chair Rogov said Law on Emergency prevents holding plebiscites

OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Misson Publishes 2^nd Interim Report

The EOM finds ‘no impediments to parties’ campaigns

Parliamentary Election Campaign Coverage

Titanium Plant to Increase Output by 20% in 2012

Despite the current shortage of raw materials on the global markets, a titanium-magnesium plant in Ust-Kamenogorsk (“Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium-Magnesium Plant” JSC) in the east of Kazakhstan has set out to achieve a 20 percent increase in its output by the end of the year 2012, the president of the company Bagdat Shayakhmetov said in an interview with the Kazinform news agency.

This year Kazakhstan is completing the implementation of the State Programme on the Development of Titanium-Magnesium Industry launched in the early years of independence.

A little less than two decades ago the young state faced the challenge of restoring its marketing outlets and raw materials market. This task implied creation of its own commodity base and efficient production of titanium slag, modernization of metallurgy processing to ensure the entire processing procedure and manufacturing of a value-added and more marketable product. Priorities also included manufacturing and certification of products in line with accepted international standards, and reduction of human impact on the environment. All tasks required the organisation of several processing stages of higher value added production.

Today the country has managed to create its mineral and raw material base of the titanium industry, although the issue concerning deficit in raw materials still remains open.

In October 2010, as a part of the Industrialization Map of Kazakhstan a new production of titanium ingots and alloys was launched with the production capacity amounting to 11,000 tons of double-melted ingots a year.

Kazakhstan signed an agreement with France on the establishment of a joint venture to produce rods, forgings and other products for the aerospace industry.

Another result of the State Programme aiming to develop the country’s titanium industry was the construction of a new plant producing titanium slabs by using electron beam melting in cooperation with South Korea. The construction of a new manufacturing plant with the production capacity of 5,000 tons per year started last year. The construction works over another joint plant are due to start in late 2013.

Throughout all these years, despite the global economic crisis, the leadership of the Ust-Kamenogorsk plant worked steadily to implement the targeted programme of industry development, which allowed achieving real results today.

In Bagdat Shayakhmetov’s words, a 20 percent increase in production will allow to raise the salaries of employees by almost 30 percent.

“Our positive indices of development were largely influenced by the production of ingots. However, that doesn’t stop us. We are moving forward, producing rods, forgings and finished products made from titanium, which are mainly designed for the new A-350 aircrafts of the Airbus company,” he said.

At the moment, Kazakhstan supplies of nearly 80 percent of titanium needed on the global markets of the aerospace sector which defines the plant’s focus on this particular area. “We want to have all our products, including bars and forgings, made at the joint venture in France certified, and then to do the same with those businesses producing finished goods out of these materials,” Shayakhmetov said.

According to the company president, the new plant being constructed in cooperation with the South Korean partners will allow Kazakhstan to use an electron-beam furnace for the first time. The plant will be producing slabs that will immediately go on sale without forging.

“The new 2012 year seems to be rather challenging. Everyone is apprehensive of a new wave of global economic crisis. This also has to do with a significant deficit in raw materials on the global markets. But we are planning to increase our output by 20 percent and raise salaries of our employees, and I hope all our plans for the year will be fulfilled,” Bagdat Shayakhmetov said.

Constitutional Body Rules Majilis Election Cannot Take Place in Emergency

The Constitutional Council has ruled that the voting for the Majilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan will now not take place in Zhanaozen, a town rocked by violent riots on December 16, 2011, the 20^th anniversary of the country’s independence.

The Council was answering the question from the Central Election Commission on the possibility of voting during the state of emergency.

“The CEC sent a question about the possibility of holding elections in the town of Zhanaozen, Mangistau region, which is under the state of emergency. The Constitutional Council has answered this question: elections cannot be held in Zhanaozen in the period of the state of emergency,” Chairman of the Council Igor Rogov said.

“The free declaration of will of citizens in elections as a constitutional value can be objectively formed, properly expressed and realised only in an environment of stable public security and legal order,” Rogov added.

“The Constitutional Council is guided by the Law “On State of Emergency,” which prohibits the holding of elections in conditions and areas under the state of emergency,” he added.

The CC decision states that the Central Election Commission shall take the necessary measures within its competence to implement the requirements of Kazakhstan’s Constitution and legislation.

On January 6, the CEC made a decision to cancel the election of deputies of the Majilis of Kazakhstan’s Parliament in Zhanaozen. In addition, it decided to hold the election of deputies of the town’s maslikhat (local representative body) and deputies of the Mangistau regional maslikhat, elected by districts formed in Zhanaozen, once the state of emergency in the town is removed.

“Earlier, we stated that the elections in Zhanaozen would be held on January 15, since according to the Presidential Decree the state of emergency was introduced till January 5, 2012. There would have been enough time to organize and hold elections on time, while parties and candidates would have had the opportunity to run their campaign from January 5 to 13. However, due to the extension of the emergency rule, we applied for clarification,” the commission said, in explaining its earlier comments.

OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Misson Publishes 2^nd Interim Report

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Election Observation Mission (OSCE/ODIHR EOM) has published its 2^nd interim report on campaigning, election administration and political environment ahead of the 15 January early parliamentary elections.

The report covers the period from December 22, 2011 until January 4, 2012 summing up the activities of all the stakeholders of the forthcoming election: the Central Election Commission (CEC), the Prosecutor General’s office, the political parties, the media, the observers and the civil society.

The report shows the election campaign is running smoothly, but certain mistakes and shortcomings did occur.

The  report says the campaign for the elections is underway, but the winter weather conditions, festivities to mark the 20^th anniversary of national independence as well as New Year’s celebrations have limited the time and public attention devoted to the campaign. Thus far, the campaign has been muted and has been overshadowed from the outset by the outbreak of violence in the city of Zhanaozen.

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM is said to have received no reports of major impediments to parties’ campaigns. The report states Nur Otan’s campaign has been, by far, the most visible. The campaigns of three other parties (Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan, Ak Zhol, and Adilet) are also evident, but to a lesser extent, while those of the remaining three are much less pronounced. The campaign is said to be mainly conducted through the use of billboards, banners, posters, and leaflets with New Year wishes, as well as through the media and small-scale meetings with voters.

According to the report, the CEC continued its electoral preparations, meeting the legal deadlines. The CEC has been generally co-operative towards the OSCE/ODIHR EOM and forthcoming with information, and the CEC sessions are reported to be open to observers and the media. The report further states, that in a few instances, however, the CEC is said to have taken decisions before the respective session and before a vote by CEC members.

According to the report, a number of political parties have been unable to compete in the elections because the Ministry of Justice refused to register them or suspended their registration. The report also noted the deregistration of the Rukhaniyat party on December 28, which will thus not be able to further contest the elections.

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM’s media monitoring has shown a significant amount of time has been allocated to coverage, especially on state-owned television stations, of Kazakhstan’s achievements in the 20 years since independence, which has de facto provided the ruling Nur Otan party with an informational advantage. Apart from election campaign coverage within newscasts, the EOM’s media monitoring shows a lack of election-related current affairs programs, including interviews and debates, on the monitored broadcasts.

OSCE/ODIHR EOM also highlighted that for the first time, a code of ethics on the coverage of the election campaign was signed on 5 December by representatives of 40 media outlets, at the initiative of the “Club of Editors-in-Chief”. Among other elements, the Code includes an obligation to follow the law, to provide for objective, impartial and fair campaign coverage of all parties contesting the election and to clearly distinguish between institutional and campaign coverage of public officials.

According to the OSCE/ODIHR report, complaints regarding electoral issues were addressed mainly to the CEC and the Prosecutor General’s office. There were very few complaints or appeals to courts; all were dismissed on jurisdictional grounds. Few of the election-related complaints received by the CEC are said to be reviewed in open sessions. Many responses by the CEC and prosecutors’ offices to complaints from political parties and civil society are reported to be mere re-statements of legal provisions.

During the reporting period, the OSCE/ODIHR EOM continued its regular activities. Mission members met with senior state officials, representatives of political parties, representatives of the judiciary, election administration, media and civil society. The Head of Mission visited the Mangistau region to assess the current situation with regard to the electoral process and in terms of the potential deployment of long-term observers (LTOs) and short-term observers (STOs) to the region.

The OSCE/ODIHR Mission is to complete its work on January 27, 2012. Over the entire period of work the Mission publishes four reports: 1^st interim report (2-3 weeks before the Election Day); 2^nd interim report; a preliminary statement on the outcome of the election (the day after the election), and the final report (in 2-3 months after the election).

Parliamentary Election Campaign Coverage

A total of 77.5% of respondents in Kazakhstan will vote in the parliamentary election on January 15, according to a survey conducted by the Institute of Social and Political Studies (ISPS). This is a rise from 67.2% since the start of the campaign.

Since the first poll, the ratings of some parties have grown. 80.9% are ready to vote for Nur Otan (in the first poll it was 80.5 per cent). Ak Zhol party gained 7.5% (initially, this figure was 7%), the ASDP has 4.1% of answers (increased by 1.7%), CPPK - 3.9% (previously – 2%). The ratings of Adilet (1.2%), the Patriots Party (0.7%), and Aul Party (0.4%) remained unchanged.

In addition, the ISPS predicts the rating of the Rukhaniyat party (0.1 percent) deregistered on Dec.28 will be redistributed among other parties and join those who have not decided who to vote for (the latter constituted 1.2%).

The survey involved 2,000 people (46.4% - men, 53.6% - women) in the age group ranging from 18 years to 61 years and older.

The Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan has accredited 369 more observers from four international organizations and thirteen foreign countries, Kuandyk Turgankulov, head of the Commission, said on Jan.6.

“To date, we have accredited 695 international observers upon the recommendation of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry,” Turgankulov said at the meeting.

292 of these observers represent the OSCE/ODIHR, 257 – the CIS Observer Mission, 11 observers are from the SCO Observer Mission, nine are from the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, four from the OIC, 10 from the TURKPA, and 112 observers are from 29 foreign countries.

The accreditation of observers from foreign states and international organizations will continue until January 9, 2012.

The CEC excluded 18 candidates to the Majilis from the previously registered party lists because of false information submitted in their declarations of income.

“Under paragraph 2 of article 89 of the Election Law a candidate to the Majilis and his wife (husband) must submit a declaration of income and property to the tax authorities at the place of residence before the registration. The reliability of information contained in them is verified by tax authorities within fifteen days from the date of registration of the party list,” Turgankulov said at a meeting on Friday.

CEC chairman explained that in accordance with tax secrets the amount of incomes can not be made public. “But I can tell you that those are very impressive sums of money, several tens of millions of tenge and tens of thousands of dollars. There are also cases where real estate, apartments, land, cars and shares in companies and enterprises were not reflected in the declarations,” Turgankulov noted at a briefing after the CEC meeting.

A famous singer Nurlan Abdullin and a pianist Zhaniya Aubakirova of the Nur Otan party were among those who gave false information about their income and assets.

The CEC decided to issue an additional number of ballots for elections to the Majilis and maslikhats. “The additional number of ballots to be manufactured and delivered to the polls, including a reserve of 1 percent of the total number of voters, for the early elections of deputies of Majilis will amount to 24,358 units, and for the regular elections of deputies of maslikhats to 48,716 pieces,” Turgankulov said at a meeting on Jan. 6.

In addition, the CEC approved the text of the ballot for the early elections of Majilis deputies elected by the Assembly of Peoples of Kazakhstan. These bulletins will be produced centrally and will constitute 394 pieces (including a reserve of one percent).

Candidates from ASDP refused to participate in early elections to the maslikhats on Jan.6. “We urge the political leadership of the All-National Social Democratic Party and the Party members to refuse to participate in early elections to the Majilis and maslikhats,” the 28 candidates of the ASDP to maslikhats of all levels said in a statement.

On Jan.6, the Saryarka District Civil Court of Astana started action proceedings initiated by the Rukhaniyat Party against the Central Election Commission, which had deregistered the party. Before the trial, Rukhaniyat wants the court to put on hold the CEC decision to cancel the registration of the Rukhaniyat party list and delete it from the ballots. In its lawsuit the Rukhaniyat party requests the court to declare illegal and cancel the decision of the CEC.

On Jan.5, Prosecutor General Askhat Daulbayev met with the head of the CIS Observation Mission Evgeniy Sloboda. Daulbayev presented a report on the status of the legitimacy of the electoral process, and informed Sloboda about the work conducted by the prosecution authorities to ensure legality during the electoral period, including the review of appeals on violations of election law and the measures taken to address them.

Daulbayev also spoke about the main activities of the prosecution authorities in Kazakhstan to ensure law and order and answered questions about the measures taken to stabilize the situation in Zhanaozen.

On Jan.5, activists of Kazakh youth organizations organized a flash mob on the streets of major cities to support the upcoming elections. Young people urged everyone to come to the election on January 15.

The first colourful flyers were handed to the residents of Karaganda. Early in the morning, the city’s students divided into three mobile teams and went to the busiest routes of public transport. Students created festive bustles at bus stops, in buses and trolleybuses, and gave out campaign materials to the passengers. Then the teams reunited on one of the retailing spots in the centre of Karaganda. They summed up the results of the flash mob campaign and agreed to meet at the voting stations on Election Day on January 15.

In Pavlodar, students and young workers took to the streets in special scarves depicting a big blue tick – a symbol of the election. Young people were handing out special campaign leaflets on main streets and in public transport, particularly appealing to those who recently turned 18 and are about to make their first real choice in an election.

Similar flash mobs were held in Astana and Aktobe.

On January 4, Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov met Miklos Haraszti, Head of Election Observation Mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR EOM). Kazykhanov expressed his gratitude for the rapid deployment of the observation mission, which he said “confirmed the professionalism of the ODIHR and its employees”. According to him, “over a long period of cooperation on amending the electoral legislation, Kazakhstan has managed to create an electoral system that meets the basic principles of electoral law set forth in the Copenhagen Document and the Constitution of Kazakhstan”. Over 60% of the recommendations previously proposed by the ODIHR have been incorporated into the electoral legislation of Kazakhstan. The minister stressed the importance of balanced and objective assessment of the election by the ODIHR and other observation missions which, in his view, would help promote further democratic development in Kazakhstan

The exit poll on the elections to the Majilis of the Kazakh Parliament will be conducted with the use of alternative ballot boxes that will allow voters to give honest answers.

The survey will be conducted by a public fund, the Strategy Center for Social and Political Studies throughout the country. Voters will be interviewed at 200 voting stations. It is planned to involve 450 interviewers, with 2-3 persons per station. That is, about 25-30 thousand voters will take part in the poll. Voting stations will be selected randomly.

To comply with the Law “On Elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan”, the interviewers of the public fund will ask voters at the exit of voting stations.

The head of the public fund says the exit poll is meant to ensure the transparency of the electoral process and its accountability to the society.

The project of the survey is funded by the Information and Analytical Centre for the Study of Socio-Political Processes in the post-Soviet Space of the Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Political preferences of the members of some parties have changed during the campaign. Several members of the ASDP announced their resignation from the party.
Their views were outlined in the message to the media that was spread at a press conference in Almaty. In particular, they said they were disappointed by the policy of the party leadership. They marked their dissatisfaction by the “leaderism” and the indifference of some leaders of the ASDP towards the needs of ordinary party members. Four people, namely Nurlan Ayshimbayev, Marat Rgaliyev, Nurlan Chudabayev and Yermek Murzakhmetov, have left ASDP and applied to join the Ak Zhol Democratic Party.

Also in the News:

·         President Nursultan Nazarbayev has received a telegramme of congratulations from President of the People’s Republic of China Hu Jintao on the occasion of the 20^th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and China, kazinform reported on January 4. “20 years ago the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and China opened a new page of friendly relations between the two nations. Over 20 years the countries have been enjoying a positive trend of rapid development of the bilateral ties. The parties achieved high level of mutual confidence supporting each other in the most important issues of mutual concern,” the message read.

·         Belarus has completed its chairmanship of the Organization of Collective Security Treaty Organization and transferred this function to Kazakhstan on January 4. Kazakhstan’s priorities as CSTO Chair include the protection of information space of the CSTO member states, development of Collective Rapid Reaction Force, collective defence of the airspace of the Central Asian region, formation of anti-drug strategy of the CSTO, development of the training site of the Ministry of Emergencies of Kazakhstan “Astana, the Rock City”.

·         Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolit of Astana and Kazakhstan Alexander has congratulated Orthodox Christians on Christmas, kazinform reported on January 5. “I wish the people of Kazakhstan good health, God’s help in good works and peaceable initiatives in 2012. I heartily congratulate everyone on the holiday of peace and God’s love – Christmas,” the message reads.

·         “Turkey Open Air Museum” Summit has taken place in Hotel Sheraton, Ankara with the support of Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Commission of UNESCO in Turkey, International organization TURKSOI and city administration of Ankara, kazinform reported on January 4. Representatives of the Ministries of Culture and Tourism of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Tatarstan (the Russian Federation) took part in this event. The exhibition of culture and tourism took place with stands from Kazakhstan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Tatarstan.

·         Kazakhstan ranked 101^st in terms of the number of Facebook users, with 362,560 people registered in the social network, tengrinews reported on January 5. Over the past six months, the number of FB users has grown by 96,520, enabling Kazakhstan to remain the unparalleled leader among Central Asia states. The ranking is led by the USA with over 157 million users, followed by Indonesia and Mexico. The least number are registered in Aland Islands, Vatican and Samoa.

Things to Watch:

·         The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Kazakhstan in association with the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) will inaugurate the opening of the “EXPOxEXPO” itinerant exhibition in Astana on January 11. The exposition will showcase a collection of rare exhibits created since the beginning of 19^th century until present day from the archives of the BIE.

·         Kazakhstan will host the Four Countries Boxing Tournament in Almaty on February 14-18, 2012. Boxers from France, India and Russia will compete in the Championship along with Kazakhstan fighters.

ASTANA CALLING is a bi-weekly online publication of

the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Please send your requests and questions to pressa@mfa.kz