A bi-weekly online publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan www.mfa.kz Issue # 61 Tuesday,18 May 2010 [PDF]

Saudabayev Says in Kabul Kazakhs Want to Help Bring Peace to Afghanistan

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakhstan's Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev, discussed on May 17 in Kabul initiatives to strengthen Afghanistan's borders with Central Asian states, enhance the country's law enforcement capacities and develop co-operation on combating drug trafficking, as well as how the OSCE could contribute to the efforts of the international community in support of Afghanistan. 

Following meetings with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul, Saudabayev said: "I am here because the OSCE's engagement with Afghanistan is one of the priorities of the Kazakh OSCE Chairmanship. Security in Afghanistan is linked to security in Central Asia and beyond. It is in our common interest to maintain a stable and secure environment in and around this country."

The OSCE is supporting Afghanistan's efforts to better manage its northern borders, develop cross-border co-operation, and strengthen its law-enforcement potential. The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights also provided expertise to support the Afghan presidential election in 2009, as well as the 2004 and 2005 elections.

Following the meeting, the two foreign ministers signed an inter-governmental agreement on cooperation in fighting drug trafficking.

Meeting with the EU Representative, Ambassador Vygaudas Usackas, Saudabayev emphasized the need for international organizations to work closely together and find common approaches to addressing the problems which Afghanistan is facing.

"OSCE participating States are committed to combating terrorism and trafficking in small arms and light weapons, illegal drugs, and human beings. We share a responsibility for helping Afghanistan and its neighbours face these challenges through the coordinated efforts of the international community. This is why the OSCE is working on border security and management, policing and fighting drug trafficking through co-operation between the countries of the region and relevant international actors," Saudabayev said.

Afghanistan, an OSCE Partner for Co-operation since 2003, borders three OSCE participating States. The foreign ministers of the 56 OSCE States agreed in 2007 to intensify OSCE engagement with Afghanistan.

"Kazakhstan will continue to play an active role in furthering the OSCE's contribution to ensuring stability and security in Afghanistan through constructive political dialogue, stimulating cross-border co-operation and trade. The OSCE Summit proposed by Kazakhstan for this year would have Afghanistan as one of its priorities," Saudabayev said.

The Kazakh Foreign Minister earlier visited Kabul in November 2009, when he signed a bilateral agreement on cooperation in the sphere of education. Under that agreement, conceived by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Kazakhstan has agreed to allocate 50 million dollars to educate 1,000 Afghans at its universities during the next several years, starting in 2010. Kazakhstan has so far provided some four million dollars in humanitarian assistance for the construction of roads, a school and a hospital. It has also shipped 3,000 tons of grain a few years ago, and just this spring shipped 6,000 tons of rice to the Afghans.

In Almaty, OSCE MPs Focus on Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Democracy

On May 14 and 15, Kazakhstan’s southern capital of Almaty hosted the Second Trans-Asian Parliamentary Forum, “The OSCE Eurasian Dimension”. This forum is the first major event held in Kazakhstan under the country’s chairmanship in the OSCE, and it brought together members of parliament not only from OSCE member states but also from countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Israel and Qatar. Also participating were representatives of organizations such as the United Nations, the European Union and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.

The forum’s agenda included pressing issues of regional security including Afghanistan, terrorism and disarmament, economic concerns (trade, resource management, environmental issues), and the human dimension (religious tolerance, political development, freedom of the media, drug trafficking, trafficking in human beings and gender equality). There also was a discussion of the situation in Kyrgyzstan and its implications for parliamentary democracy.

Speaking at the opening of the forum, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Secretary of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kanat Saudabayev noted that today the Eurasian dimension is crucial for security and cooperation throughout the OSCE area and beyond. This requires both deep consideration and analysis of the situation in Eurasia, including interests of the OSCE states parties “to the east of Vienna”, as well as the vision of Asian partners in addressing any problems in the agenda of the Organization.

He also stressed Kazakhstan considers this Forum “an important step towards building a truly integrated perception of security in the OSCE area”. 

Since the first days of the chairmanship full cooperation with all OSCE institutions has been achieved and for the first time in the last five years the Organization’s budget was timely adopted, Saudabayev said.

“We attach much attention to preventing the emergence of new dividing lines in the OSCE area, expanding and strengthening of consensus on fundamental issues in development of the Organization”, Saudabayev added.

He underlined that OSCE Chairmanship has “substantive consultations with all States Parties on such important issues as the Corfu process and the European security architecture, intensifying assistance for Afghanistan, and other issues.

“We are working to make a worthy contribution to the solution of protracted conflicts, especially in the former USSR,” he added.

The importance of regional security was again underlined by Kanat Saudabayev in light of the tragic events in Kyrgyzstan in early April this year which had plunged the country into turmoil, crisis and lawlessness.

This was a serious test for Kazakh Chairmanship and for the OSCE as a whole, Saudabayev said, highlighting the relevance and effectiveness demonstrated by the OSCE. “The international community, with the OSCE playing a major role, has timely applied political action tools to resolve the crisis,” Saudabayev noted.

Kazakhstan’s chairmanship has already involved such important resources as the personal authority of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev who has worked through all days of the crisis to break the standoff in the interests of all the people of Kyrgyzstan.

 The joint efforts of presidents Nursultan Nazarbayev, Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev prevented the escalation of violence and averted a civil war, Saudabayev stressed. 

The OSCE continues to assist Kyrgyzstan in recovering from the crisis. The OSCE reserve fund has allocated 200,000 euros to maintain public order and safety, strengthening the rule of law and democracy.

“Kazakhstan is also providing the necessary humanitarian and economic assistance to our brotherly people on a bilateral basis”, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office stated.

Speaking of the lessons from these events, Saudabayev emphasized that the responsibility for region’s stable development does not lie on an individual state or organization.

“Instability of one state, throwing it on the margins of civilized development, creates a fertile ground for extremism, organized crime, drug trafficking, thereby translating security threats far beyond the area. Therefore in the face of growing challenges and threats to security and prosperity of our nations we need close cooperation and mutual understanding, unity of approach and coordination of all interested states and organizations more than ever”, Saudabayev noted.

Saudabayev also read out the message from President Nursultan Nazarbayev who said: “We regard the OSCE chairmanship as the international community’s recognition of Kazakhstan’s contribution to strengthening regional and global security. We believe Kazakhstan’s practical experience in voluntary and transparent elimination of nuclear and missile capabilities will be useful for the OSCE”.

“In less than two decades, the Kazakh people built a state with a stable political system and an effective market economy, and successfully passed the global crisis. Our model of interethnic and interreligious harmony is Kazakhstan’s real contribution to the humanitarian dimension of the OSCE,” Nazarbayev noted.

Kazakhstan is firmly determined to contribute to the development of the OSCE, promote the effectiveness and the development of a potential of the OSCE as a unique dialogue platform which unites 56 countries on three continents. Located in the heart of Eurasia, Kazakhstan is especially aware of the relevance of such dialogue and believes its OSCE chairmanship will initiate a new stage in relations between the East and the West.

“Therefore, I have put forward an initiative to convene a summit of the OSCE in 2010. We are grateful to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly for its support of this idea. Holding an OSCE summit would be a symbol of rebirth of the "spirit of Helsinki" in new historical conditions,” President Nazarbayev added.

Nazarbayev also noted that the problems of sustainable economic development, poverty, refugees, unemployment and labor migration, terrorism, drug trafficking and other threats are serious challenges for humanity. Fighting these problems requires maximum effort of each state and of such influential organizations as the OSCE, the Kazakh President stressed.

Thirteen Years of Cooperation with the CTBTO

(This article by Kanat Saudabayev, Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State - Minister of Foreign Affairs, first appeared in the CTBTO Spectrum magazine, published in April 2010)

It can definitely be said that, during the 13 years of its existence, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) has brought palpable benefits. This means, in particular, the closure of nuclear test sites. Kazakhstan signed the Treaty in 1996, only a few days after it had been opened for signature, and has remained one of its most steadfast supporters ever since. There is a background to Kazakhstan’s firm devotion to CTBT, which explains why our country could not and cannot act in any other way.

Kazakhstan’s Commitment to a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World

This decision was followed by the voluntary renunciation of the fourth largest nuclear missile arsenal in the world, which Kazakhstan inherited from the Soviet Union. Since independence, Kazakhstan has also eliminated the infrastructure of the old test site and is actively and systematically promoting the principles and ideals of nuclear disarmament and seeking to rid the world of the nuclear threat. Over the last year, Kazakhstan has further demonstrated its commitment to nuclear non-proliferation. In March 2009, Kazakhstan and the countries of Central Asia made a crucial contribution to the implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the CTBT when the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia entered into force. The special feature of this zone is that it lies between two major nuclear powers. The zone could play a significant practical role in preventing the uncontrolled proliferation of nuclear materials and combating nuclear terrorism.

In April 2009, President Nazarbayev announced Kazakhstan’s readiness to consider the possibility of the deployment on our territory of an international nuclear fuel bank, controlled by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the establishment of which could be a decisive step towards strengthening the non-proliferation regime.

Most recently in December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 29 August the International Day against Nuclear Tests, which was an initiative of Kazakhstan. The date has a deep symbolic significance. It was on that day in 1949 that the first nuclear weapons test was carried out at the Semipalatinsk site and also on that day in 1991 that the site was closed down forever. Our hope is that on this day, activities will take place all over the world to remind the international community of the terrible consequences of nuclear testing and calling on it not to allow any resumption of nuclear tests in the future.

Political and Technical Support for the CTBT

Since it opened for signature, the CTBT has enjoyed strong support, both politically and practically, from Kazakhstan, which considers it one of the key instruments in the area of international security. We confirm the value of participation in the Treaty and are ready to provide assistance to other countries with those basic aspects of the work of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), from which we ourselves have gained invaluable experience.

Five monitoring stations, certified in accordance with all the CTBTO’s technical requirements, have been established in the territory of Kazakhstan, and are operational under the International Monitoring System. Data are transmitted directly to the International Data Centre and to the newly established Kazakhstan National Data Centre. Moreover, in support of the Treaty and under an agreement with the United States, two seismic arrays have been set up in western and southern Kazakhstan. An additional eight stations have been restored and modernized and are now operational, including the unique large-aperture seismic array in Borovoe, central Kazakhstan.

The monitoring system set up in Kazakhstan in support of the CTBT made a significant contribution in identifying and assessing the nuclear tests carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in 2006 and 2009, as well as for both regional and long-range natural and man-made events.

In cooperation with the CTBTO, four field experiments for on-site inspections have also been carried out in Kazakhstan: in 1999, 2002, 2005 and 2008. Kazakhstan made the territory of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site available for this purpose since it has retained numerous special features from its history of nuclear tests, which have contributed to the success of the exercises.

Largest On-Site Inspection Exercise Ever Conducted by the CTBTO

Of particular importance was the large-scale Integrated Field Experiment 2008 - IFE08 - conducted at the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site in 2008. IFE08 was a huge logistical undertaking involving the transportation of 200 participants, including 47 inspectors and almost 50 tonnes of equipment, from Vienna to Kazakhstan. It produced unprecedented results. For the international community, it was a unique opportunity to try out, on a multilateral basis, most of the main elements of the inspection system within a short space of time, under real conditions. Kazakhstan also gained considerable experience, which will be used in conducting further field exercises and resolving problems relating to the assessment of the safety of the Semipalatinsk site.

The implementation of CTBTO projects provides an opportunity to use the infrastructure of the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site to promote international peace and security. The Semipalatinsk site is becoming increasingly popular with observers from various countries since it offers them the opportunity to participate in or attend experiments and programmes carried out at the site. It is our hope that this cooperation with the CTBTO will continue through the development of a methodology for on-site inspections and research into inspection equipment. The CTBTO can and must improve the effectiveness of its operations still further.

We have helped promote the Treaty through five international conferences entitled “Monitoring of nuclear tests and their consequences”. These conferences, which have taken place in central Kazakhstan, have been instrumental in providing scientists and specialists from various countries and international organizations with the opportunity to further the interests of the CTBT by discussing, on an operational and systematic basis, current technical and scientific problems relating to the monitoring of nuclear tests.

Promoting CTBT Universality

We, for our part, are also prepared to work intensively to promote the Treaty’s entry into force as quickly as possible. A key issue for the viability of the IMS is to make the Treaty truly universal. Together, we must persuade the nine countries that have either not signed at all or have not ratified the Treaty, and without whose participation it is not fully effective, to do so. Against that background, the endeavours of the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, to give new impetus to the process and submit the Treaty to the Senate for ratification provide a good example for others. We hope that this step will meet with success in the near future.

Kazakhstan is a strong proponent of initiatives designed to rid the world of nuclear weapons and in June 2009, President Nazarbayev spoke out in favour of drawing up a new universal treaty on general horizontal and vertical non-proliferation of nuclear weapons involving both nuclear and non-nuclear States.

We welcome the global summit on nuclear security to be held in Washington in April 2010. We hope that participating countries like Kazakhstan will have the opportunity to discuss many questions on the international agenda on non-proliferation and take practical steps towards our common goal – the creation of a world free from nuclear weapons.

This year, Kazakhstan is chairing the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). In that capacity, too, we are determined to do everything in our power to ensure the practical implementation of the commitments made by OSCE on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, set out in the Ministerial Declaration on Non-Proliferation adopted in Athens in 2009.

As a country that has itself suffered the horrors of nuclear tests, closed the world’s second biggest nuclear test site and voluntarily renounced the world’s fourth largest nuclear arsenal, Kazakhstan has the full moral right to  seek  more decisive action  on  disarmament  and  a  fundamental  strengthening  of the non-proliferation regime. And it is our belief that the most effective action would be the speedy entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

Government Supports SMEs, Exporters by Subsidizing Banks’ Interest Rates

As Kazakh economy is gradually moving to a phase of post-crisis development, the nation’s government has recently launched a new program "2020 Business Road Map”.  Under this program, on May 14 in Astana Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, "Damu" Entrepreneurship Development Fund, the Financier’s Association, second-tier banks and Akimats of all regions of Kazakhstan signed the “Agreement on cooperation in subsidizing interest rates on enterprises’ loans” and the “Agreement on state’s loan guarantee”, which aim at interest rate subsidies and state guarantees on loans for the country’s small and medium-sized businesses.

  Minister of Economic Development and Trade Zhanar Aitzhanova noted that these documents “are intended to ensure equal treatment for all participants in the program, as well as transparency in making decision on providing state support”.

 From now on an enterprise that meets the program’s requirements may receive new forms of state support. In 2010 at fee rate of 12% an enterprise will pay 5% of it while the state compensates the remaining 7%. Exporters will get a solid support with state subsidizing interest rates, as they would get 8% of its fee rate subsidized by the state.

Considering that the average market rate today amounts to 14%, the President of the Financier’s Association of Kazakhstan Serik Akhanov assured that "for the first time in the post-soviet space an enterprise gets loans at such low percentage”. In his turn Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Karym Massimov was pleased to note that there are few countries in the world indeed that have such a low fee rate”.

Regarding the money for implementing the program "2020 Business Road Map” this year, according to Aitzhanova, the national budget has already allocated 30 billion tenge. Of these funds 12 billion tenge are allocated for backing new business initiatives, 16 billion tenge are aimed to improve the business sector, and 2 billion tenge are to encourage export-oriented industries.

The program’s key executors are the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Regional Coordinating Councils, local executive bodies, the "Damu" Entrepreneurship Development Fund and the second-tier banks.

In conclusion Prime-Minister Massimov stressed: "I think economic development now largely depends on our well-coordinated work. We have money in the bank, we have the borrowers, and the interest rate is now 7%. That is to say, all favorable conditions are created and now all is in business’ hands".

The program "2020 Business Road Map” is approved by Government Resolution of April 13, 2010 on the initiative of the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.

This program is aimed at accelerating the industrialization of the country, ensuring sustained and balanced growth of regional entrepreneurship in the non-oil sectors of the economy, as well as maintaining and creating new permanent jobs. The agro-industry, industrial production, construction materials production, light industry and technical services in mining, metallurgy, activities in health service and education are priority sectors for program’s potential participants.

Kazakh OSCE Chairmanship Seeks to Internationalize Restoring Aral Sea

A two-day roundtable discussion on environmental security threats to the Aral Sea basin, co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana and the Kazakh branch of the International Foundation for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), started today in Kyzylorda, in southern Kazakhstan. 

The participants will discuss how to develop existing and proposed national and international initiatives to address water and environmental security challenges in the Kazakhstani part of the Aral Sea and Syrdariya water system basin.

"The drying up of the Aral Sea has consequences not just for local families and towns here, but for all Kazakhstan and indeed the entire Central Asian region," said Ambassador Alexandre Keltchewsky, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. "It is critical to have the active engagement of the international community to better co-ordinate and facilitate efforts to address this serious environmental threat."

A fly-over excursion by airplane to the banks of the Northern Aral Sea and the outfall of the Syrdariya river has also been arranged for participants to further raise international awareness of the seriousness of this man-made disaster.

More than 70 representatives from embassies in Kazakhstan, international organizations, local and national government authorities and non-governmental organizations are taking part in the event. International and local experts will present findings from projects in the area and discuss efforts to stabilize the environmental situation and improve the socio-economic condition of the local population.

The OSCE Centre and IFAS Kazakhstan will also present a proposed OSCE extra-budgetary project to implement the integrated water resources management concept in Kazakhstan's Aral Sea basin. The draft project emphasizes practical national steps and the strengthening of institutions and monitoring to protect the population of the Aral Sea basin from the negative effects of depletion and pollution.

"Despite the measures being taken in the process of project implementation for the Aral Sea Basin, a range of imminent problems remain an obstacle to socio-economic development in the region," said Rzakyl Nurtayev, Deputy Governor of Kyzylorda Oblast. "Today, the main priorities are water quality, health and employment of the population, and protection of the environment.

"I hope that this event will serve as an impetus for further co-operation and engagement of the international community in the solution of key socio-economic and environmental issues in the Aral Sea Basin."

The event was organized following last year's call from Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev for greater OSCE involvement in addressing environmental and water security in the Aral Sea region - a priority of Kazakhstan's 2010 OSCE Chairmanship. A memorandum of understanding with IFAS Kazakhstan on contributing to the IFAS Third Aral Sea Basin Program for 2011-2015, was signed last November.

Unity through Diversity: Kazakh Experience

Kazakhstan, a country of more than 130 ethnic groups and 40 religions, since its first days of independence has recognized the value of maintaining harmony for it succeed as an independent nation and has worked hard to preserve it.

Notwithstanding some minor incidents between people of different ethnic background during the 18 years of independence, Kazakhstan has by and large managed to achieve peace and harmony, earning accolades from authorities such as the late Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, among many others.

In 2007, speaking at the United Nations, President Nursultan Nazarbayev has called on the international community to proclaim 2010 as the International year of Rapprochement of Cultures, and the UN General Assembly later voted to approve this initiative.

 On 12 May, 2010, a forum dedicated to this year took place at the UN headquarters in New York. A representative Kazakh delegation took part, led by Deputy Minister of Culture Gaziz Telebayev, Director of International Center of Cultures and Religions, Professor Aidar Abuov and officials from the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan.

The forum, held as a panel discussion and organized by the UN under Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s chairmanship, focused on challenges in promoting closer interaction and dialogue among different cultures. For Kazakhstan, it also provided a chance to familiarize the global community with its successful experience in promoting such objectives. 

Speaking at the conference, Gaziz Telebayev stressed that due to its history, current demographic and migration dynamics, Kazakhstan became one of the most multiethnic and multi-confessional states. Today, the country has all the required economic and political premises, mechanisms and instruments for maintaining the intercultural dialogue.

Under the leadership of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan has managed to create its own model of interethnic and inter-religious tolerance, the legal frameworks of which are provided by the country’s Constitution. This has  secured legislative fundamentals of the state policy in the sphere of interethnic relations, and equal rights for all citizens. 

Telebayev also reminded the participants on presentation of the 4^th and 5^th joint reports on Kazakhstan’s implementation the UN International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination, which took place from  February 26 till March 1, 2010 in Geneva.

In addition, on March 16, at the 13^th session of the UN Council on Human Rights in Geneva an independent UN expert Guy McDougal made a report in the form of interactive dialogue. As a result, the parties concluded Kazakhstan has made significant progress in developing interethnic relations and providing efficient mechanisms for ensuring intercultural and interconfessional accord in the country.

He also told the participants of the forum in New York that the young independent state, having established the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan as a state institution of national policy, uniting more than 130 ethnicities and integrating over 800 ethnic and cultural organizations, seeks from the outset to build a modern secular state, committed to peace, tolerance and constructive dialogue.

Representation and political realization of Kazakh ethnicities’ interests are ensured at the highest governmental level. The interests of ethnic groups are ensured through the guaranteed representation of the Assembly in the country’s parliament.

There are 88 Uzbek, Tajik, Uighur, and Ukrainian schools in Kazakhstan. In 108 schools languages of 22 ethnic groups are taught as independent subjects, 195 specialized linguistic centers have been opened in the country providing an opportunity to study almost 30 languages.

Apart from the Kazakh and Russian theatres, Uzbek, Uighur, Korean and German theatres are operating across the country, the last three being unique theatres of the kind in the entire CIS region. More than 35 newspapers and magazines are published in eleven languages, and four national newspapers are published with the government’s assistance. Seven languages are used in broadcasting TV and radio programs.

The forum participants were particularly interested in Kazakhstan’s achievements in the sphere of interconfessional dialogue. On January 1, 1990, a total of 670 religious organizations worked in the country, while in the year 2010 their number has grown to 4,427. Leaders and representatives of local religious communities regularly meet at various conferences, forums, meetings, and “round tables” organized by state agencies and non-governmental organizations in Kazakhstan.

Gaziz Telebayev pointed out this year Kazakhstan has successfully started its work as chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and is actively preparing for the chairmanship in the Organization of Islamic Conference in 2011.

 Kazakhstan has worked out a “Concept for preparation and organization of the International Year of Rapprochement of Cultures” and has drawn up a specific schedule of events for 2010 aimed at realization of the document’s initiatives. The UN forum participants were invited to the international conference “Intercultural relations in Kazakhstan in the context of globalization”, to be held on June 7 and 8, 2010.

After the report by Telebayev, the delegates marked a Kazakhstan’s role in developing inter-religious dialogue on a global scale, noting that an important evidence of that are regular meetings of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, where the number of participants keeps growing.

While in 2003 the first Congress gathered 17 delegations, the last summer Congress involved 77 delegations from 35 countries across the world, along with representatives of prestigious international organizations such as the UN, OSCE, UNESCO and OIC.   

At the event in New York, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spoke well of Kazakhstan and its people, and told about the constructive programs worked out by the country for ensuring peace and accord in a multinational and multi-confessional state. He shared his impressions on the Palace of Peace and Harmony, a unique building which hosts the Congresses of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions take place and houses an International Centre of Cultures and Religions.

Ban Ki-moon underscored the importance of studying the Kazakh experience by the international community, particularly in the spheres of conflict and violence prevention, strengthening intercultural and interconfessional dialogue. 

In New York, Kazakhstan’s delegation also met th UN Deputy Secretary General on economic and social affairs Sha Zukang. They discussed ways to strengthen tolerance and intercultural cooperation at regional and global scales as well as Kazakhstan’s intentions as an OSCE chair to enhance the dialogue between the West and the Muslim East. They also focused on Kazakhstan’s participation in the Alliance of Civilizations, operating under the UN auspices.

In an interview with UN Radio later, Kazakh delegates said stronger global cooperation on issues of tolerance, interreligious and interethnic accord is need as a way to counteract international terrorism, religious extremism and xenophobia.

Astana Welcomes United Buddy Bears

People of Astana and officials came together bright Saturday afternoon in the city centre of Astana to welcome “United Buddy Bears”, an exhibition under open sky, made possible as part of the Year of Germany in Kazakhstan.

The 125 funnily painted bears from different countries, holding their arms together up in the air in a message of peace and tolerance delighted the visitors of all ages.

Rainer Schalegetter, the German Ambassador to Kazakhstan, spoke at the ceremony, also complete with performances of Kazakh national music and dances, and said, “United Buddy Bears stand peacefully next to each other and call for tolerance, mutual understanding between peoples, cultures and religions. There is a huge army of supporters of Buddy Bears in the world. I hope there will now be supporters in Kazakhstan.”

Each handcrafted bear represents a country member of the United Nations, and is decorated individually by the artist of the host state. The “Kazakhstan” bear was painted by Leyla Mahat, a famous painter. Since the first exhibition in 2002, more than 20 million people worldwide had the opportunity to admire the “Buddy Bears”.

The Buddy Bears in Astana will also be there to witness the celebration of the Day of the Capital on July 6.

Vino Is Back! Make No Mistake about It

 Alexander Vinokourov, Kazakhstan’s most successful racer, silver Olympic medalist, winner of Vuelta-2006 and other numerous prestigious cycling races has come back into the racing from a two year suspension. And come back he did, in style.

Within the last few weeks, he snatched a sensational victory at Giro del Trentino and Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2010 races. These days, Kazakhstan’s best racer surprised everyone in the cycling world even more as he wears the famous Maglia Rosa (Pink Jersey), leading Giro d’Italia general standings after eight stages (with the total of 21). In his interview to the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper last week, Alexander Vinokourov told about his long-awaited return to the sports and shared his plans for the future.

After Vinokourov was banned for two years for blood doping during the 2007 Tour de France , he said he would return to cycling. In August 2009, Vinokourov was riding on the professional level again, rejoining Astana and taking victory in the world’s most prestigious and difficult races.

Liege-Bastogne-Liege, often called La Doyenne (“the oldest” in French), is one of the five “monuments” of the European professional road cycling calendar, and one of 24 races where points can be gained towards the UCI World Ranking. Top-rank racers from across the world seek for the victory in Liege-Bastogne-Liege route. That is why Vinokurov’s breakthrough this year became a demonstration of his true strength and racing talent.

“Of course, this victory was very important for me, as I repeatedly claimed I was going to come back and prove that I don’t need doping to win. These two victories made me the happiest man, and justified my decision to take up racing again,” Vinokourov said.

“To win the world’s top races like Liege-Bastogne-Liege, one needs a harmonious combination of personal talent and perfect performance of the whole team, as a single cycler will never succeed in a race of this kind. I am very grateful to my team, family and friends for their support. Each of them made his own small but significant contribution into my victories”.

Alberto Contador, a Spanish professional road cyclist and a two time winner of Tour de France, greatly helped him during the last race in Belgium.

“It was impressive, it was the result of team work and I’m very happy that Vino won, it’s as if I had won,” Contador said after congratulating his teammate on the finish line in Ans.

Contador paid tribute to Astana’s team work, noting that it was a complete effort: “We had two good chances of winning, and when Vino went ahead it was clear to me: I had to do what Saxo Bank did with Andy Schleck last year. The result was perfect.  I saw that Vino was very strong and was very touched listening to how they cheered him on the radio. When I heard that he had won, I was very happy.”

Alexander Vinokourov notes his good physical form has been mastered during the previous races. The results speak for themselves now.

“I was rather well prepared for Giro d’Italia. It will not be easy to compete for the top position, but I think a place on the podium is an achievable task. In this race I will make every effort to win the prologue and hold the leading position at least during several days,” Vino said

In general, the atmosphere and relations between the colleagues in Astana team remain friendly and warm. Today, each of the team members is preparing for the upcoming grand races.

“I will make every endeavour to participate in Tour de France and will be very happy if I manage to do it. Maybe I will go after a prize in the Giro d’Italia’s general classification. I have strongly missed this amazing racing atmosphere,” Vinokourov confessed.

“I wouldn’t like to jump ahead of myself. That remains to be seen soon. But I can say for sure that today I feel much healthier and better motivated than ever. This is my second youth time”.

Also in the news:

·                     Bulat Utemuratov, newly-appointed Special Representative of the President of Kazakhstan on cooperation with Kyrgyzstan, held talks with Roza Otunbayeva, Chairperson of the Kyrgyz Interim Government, in Bishkek on May 15. The sides exchanged views on the most pressing issues of bilateral collaboration and seeking their joint solutions. In particular they discussed mechanisms of regulating the flow of Kyrgyz labor migrants into Kazakhstan, and gradual return to earlier levels of trade and economy relations by opening transportation of petroleum and other commodities via the border between two countries.

·                     Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s Executive Secretary Rapil Zhoshybayev paid working visits to Portugal and Malta on May 14-17. In Lisbon, he discussed issues of collaboration within OSCE, preparing agreements on visa-free regime for holders of Kazakh diplomatic visas and on double taxation avoidance, cooperation in trade, economy, culture, science, and technology. The issues of bilateral and multilateral interaction between Kazakhstan and Malta were discussed in Valetta. The Maltese side informed that it introduced a visa-free regime for holders of Kazakh diplomatic passports, and Zhoshybayev stated Astana would do a reciprocal favor soon. Both sides agreed appointing a Kazakh Honorary Consul in Malta can boost development of bilateral ties in economy and culture.

·                     The OSCE Human Dimension Seminar on guaranteeing judicial independence and public access to justice is taking place on May 17-19, 2010. More than 150 representatives from governments, international organizations and civil society have gathered in Warsaw for the three-day meeting organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The Kazakh delegation involves representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Supreme Court and Prosecutor General’s Office. Addressing the Seminar, the representative of Kazakhstan’s OSCE Chairmanship Ambassador Madina Jarbussynova said no state can function without an independent judiciary: “Only an independent judicial system can serve as a neutral arbitrator in disputes between a person and the state, and respect for the principle of rule of law prevents courts from being tools of oppression”. The Seminar working sessions focused more on bodies responsible for protecting the independence of the judiciary, the selection of judges and their accountability, as well as public access to justice.

·                     Minister of Defence Adilbek Dzhaksybekov took part in the 8^th International Special Operations Forces Exhibition (SOFEX) 2010 in Amman in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan last Friday. The exhibition hosts 108 official delegations, high-ranking military officers, ministers of defence, diplomats and officials from across the globe. King Abdullah of Jordan inaugurated the show, which gathered 349 world-renowned exhibitors in the fields of defence, homeland security and counterterrorism. During the visit, Adilbek Dzhaksybekov held talks with King of Jordan Abdullah II and Prime-Minister – Minister of Defence Samir Rifai.

·                     JCS “Kazatomprom” National Atomic Company has arranged a five-year placement of US$ 500 million Eurobond sales with a coupon rate of 6.25%, which is the best index in the history of Eurobonds issue among the world’s emerging markets. Investor’s demand for the bonds has amounted to $ 4.3 billion, eight times exceeding the supply rate. The results of the company’s debut Eurobond placement indicates the high authority and trust enjoyed nowadays by Kazakh economy in the world, and implies the dynamics of Kazatomprom’s evolvement corresponds to the global atomic development trends.

·                     Alikhan Smailov, Director of the Kazakh Statistics Bureau, said on Monday the country’s GDP in the first quarter 2010 has increased by 7.1 percent and reached almost 881.6 billion tenge. The nation’s commodity output accounted for 41.1 percent, with the service output amounting to 55.8 percent of the total GDP, Smailov noted. According to the previous government forecasts, the country’s GDP growth rate is expected to reach 2 percent in 2010. Some experts and government officials, however, believe Kazakhstan’s real GDP growth this year is likely to exceed the predictions.

Things to watch:

·                     President of Turkey Abdullah Gul will pay an official visit to Kazakhstan on May 23-26.  In the frameworks of the visit, Abdullah Gul will discuss the key aspects of bilateral cooperation on the international arena with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Chairmen of Senate and Majilis Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev and Ural Mukhamedzhanov. A number of bilateral agreements are to be signed following the meeting. The Turkish President is also expected to visit the city of Turkestan and address the professors and students of the International Kazakh-Turkish University named after Khoja Akhmet Yassawi.

·                     Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov is to pay an official visit to the Republic of Belarus on May 19-20, 2010. During the visit, Prime Minister Massimov will meet his counterpart Sergei Sidorsky, and will take part in a Kazakh-Belarusian Business Forum. In it, representatives of business circles of the two states will discuss a number of economic projects, initiated by Belarus and included into the Intensified Industrialization Program of Kazakhstan, covering the issues of bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, economy, mechanic engineering, energy, agro-industry and space.

·                     A regular meeting of the Heads of CIS Governments will be held in St. Petersburg on May 21, 2010. Prime Minister Karim Massimov will represent the Kazakh side at the meeting. The Heads of CIS Governments will discuss 19 major aspects of the agenda, including the schedule of top priority activities aimed at realization of the Concept on Energy Cooperation, the Interstate Radio-Navigation Program until 2012, and some others. The Agreement on cooperation in establishment, work and development of the international information and market centers for promotion of goods and services to the national markets, along with the Protocol on building the common electro energy market, is to be signed following the results of the meeting.

·                     The specialized 12^th Kazakhstan International Exhibition on Construction AstanaBuild-2010 will be held in Astana on 19-21 of May. More than 100 companies from 15 countries including Belarus, Germany, India, Spain, Kazakhstan, China, Lithuania, the UAE, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Finland and Sweden will take part in this exhibition.

·                     From May 19-21, the KazAtomExpo 2010 exhibition will take place in Astana. It will represent the latest global developments in nuclear energy and industry. The event will bring together leading international and local companies, equipment manufacturers and materials for nuclear and electrical industries.

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