In this issue:
Kazakhstan Aids Katrina Victims
Nazarbayev Meets Clinton in Almaty
Presidential Election Set for December 4
MIT-Supported Innovation Contest Opens in Kazakhstan
Disaster --- Kuireu
Assistance --- Zhardem
Innovation --- Innovatsia
Contest --- Baikau
Kazakhstan Aids Katrina Victims
President Nursultan Nazarbayev said September 6 Kazakhstan is sending assistance to the United States to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina and cope with its aftermath.
Speaking in Almaty, President Nazarbayev said Kazakhstan will donate to a fund led by former U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton designed to help people affected by the hurricane.
“This is a sign that the Kazakh people do not stand on the sidelines when even such a great power faces disaster,” President Nazarbayev said.
Nazarbayev Meets Clinton in Almaty
President Nursultan Nazarbayev met former
U.S. President Bill Clinton in Almaty
September 6 and discussed aid for the
victims of Hurricane Katrina, fighting
HIV/AIDS, and political and economic
developments in Kazakhstan.
At the end of the meetings in Almaty,
President Clinton and Kazakhstan’s
Minister of Healthcare Yerbolat Dossayev
signed an agreement admitting Kazakhstan
into the Clinton Foundation’s HIV/AIDS
Initiative Procurement Consortium. This will
give Kazakhstan access to cheaper drugs
for people infected with HIV/AIDS, a
discount of 50 to 90 percent. Forty-nine
countries are currently part of the consortium.
Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Disarmament Relevant
At the news conference, the former U.S. President praised Kazakhstan’s denuclearization saying he was “especially grateful to Nursultan Nazarbayev for nuclear disarmament.” He believes this was “a difficult decision” which helped pave the way for denuclearization of other countries of the former Soviet Union and is still important today. “given the new wave of terrorism and our understanding that terrorists have fewer chances to get nuclear weapons.” “Only now do we understand how wise that [denuclearization] decision was,” he said.
At independence in 1991, Kazakhstan inherited more than a thousand nuclear warheads, as well as intercontinental missiles and other means of delivery.
Discussions Focus on Political, Economic Reforms
This was the eighth meeting between Nazarbayev and Clinton in as many years. Their first meeting in 1994 produced the bilateral Democratic Partnership Charter and a strong commitment to nuclear disarmament and wide ranging economic cooperation between the countries.
Speaking at a news conference, Clinton said he was “very pleased to witness economic progress in Kazakhstan.” He added, “I am glad that as U.S. President I helped economic reforms in your country, and today we see the results of those reforms.”
Kazakhstan has seen an annual 10 percent GDP growth on average since 2000 and is among the most dynamically developing countries in the world.
Clinton commended President Nazarbayev’s commitment to “opening up the social and political life of your country.” Referring to the Kazakh leader’s statement earlier this month on his commitment to ensure “free, fair and transparent” presidential election, Clinton said, “It’s important that you made these statements before the election at the end of this year and I believe it will be quite influential in what I hope will be a successful bid to be the leader of the OSCE in 2009. I think it’s time for that to happen, it’s an important step, and I’m glad you’re willing to undertake it.”
Kazakhstan is seeking the rotating chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2009. The decision will need to be made by the 55-member organization, which includes the U.S., by December 2006.
At the news conference, Clinton noted: “My wife visited your country when I was President and told me a lot about the visit.” The then First Lady Hillary Clinton visited Kazakhstan in 1996.
President Clinton said: “I have always wanted to visit Kazakhstan. I am grateful to Kazakhstan for its readiness to help the United States.”
While in Almaty, Clinton also met representatives of the Kazakh opposition.
Presidential Election Set for December 4
The Majilis, lower chamber of the Parliament, has called the next presidential election for December 4, 2005, officially announcing the start of the election race.
“The decision was made by a unanimous vote,” Majilis Chairman Ural Mukhamedzhanov said on September 7, referring to “yes” votes from all 67 members of the Majilis.
Nomination of candidates will take place during the first month of the three months long election campaign. The campaign itself will have to conclude one day before the election.
The incumbent President Nursultan Nazarbayev, and Zharmakhan Tuyakbai, an opposition leader, have already announced they will run for the presidency. The presidential term is seven years.
Speaking at the opening of the Parliament’s fall session earlier this month, President Nazarbayev declared he “will do everything needed to make sure the upcoming election are absolutely free, fair and transparent, and its result does not leave even a hint of doubt with both the people of Kazakhstan and the international community.”
Kazakhstan has already announced it will welcome foreign observers to the election, including observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
MIT-Supported Innovation Contest Opens in Kazakhstan
Gosman Amrin, Chairman of Kazakhstan’s National Innovation Fund, announced on September 6 the start of NIF $50K, a national innovation contest for business plans, held jointly with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with the goal of promoting new innovative industries in Kazakhstan.
The main aim of the contest is to give opportunities to students and young scientists to commercialize their ideas. Ten best business ideas will be selected first, and then their authors will need to draw business plans to commercialize them. The winner will get 50 thousand U.S. dollars as prize money and an opportunity to implement their idea in so called business incubators. The contest’s final is due on November 16.
Similar contests, stimulating innovative activities among students, are already held in 49 countries of the world. The organizers of the contest in Kazakhstan hope the new event will become an annual one.
Mr. Amrin is part of the Kazakhstan’s Government delegation for the upcoming investment conference on Kazakhstan due to take place in San Diego, CA, September 8-9, 2005.
Things to Watch:
- Major Kazakhstan investment conference in San Diego, CA, on September 8-9. For more information please click here).
- The second Civil Forum will take place in Astana on September 12, with the goal of finding new ways to expand the role of the civil society, represented by some 5,000 nongovernmental organizations, in Kazakhstan.
- The annual Kazakhstan International Oil and Gas Exhibition (KIOGE) will take place in Almaty October 4-7, 2005.
________________________________________________________________________________
News Bulletin of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the USA and Canada
(Compiled from own sources and agency reports)
Contact person: Roman Vassilenko
1401 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20036
Tel.: 202 232 5488, ext. 104, Fax: 202 232 5845
