In this issue:
New Government's Priorities Lie in Real Economy, New Premier Says...
...And Calls New Cabinet "Symbiosis of Continuity and Young Forces"
President Objects to Several Provisions of Land Code, Setting Stage for New Vote June 20
Israel's Chief Rabbi to Participate in World Religious Forum in Kazakhstan in September
Kazakhstan Sends Another Cadet to West Point
New Government's Priorities Lie in Real Economy, New Premier Says...
The priorities of the new Government lie in developing the economy through the implementation of recently approved long-term economic programs, Daniyal Akhmetov, the country's new Prime Minister announced at the cabinet session on June 17 in Astana.
He singled out those programs as the industrial and innovation program up to the year 2015, the agribusiness development for the next 3 years, the ongoing program of combating poverty, and the program of developing hydrocarbon reserves in the Kazakhstan's sector of the Caspian Sea up to the year 2015.
He warned the ministers against complacency saying that even the 10 percent annual GDP growth for the fourth straight year does not mean that "Kazakhstan has achieved a sustainable level of development".
"The sustainable development can only be achieved when all three components, such as the social, economic and environmental development go together," Akhmetov said.
...And Calls New Cabinet "Symbiosis of Continuity and Young Forces"
Daniyal Akhmetov, who was approved for the appointment as Prime Minister by both houses of Parliament on Friday June 13 and who turned 49 on Sunday, said the new government is "a symbiosis of continuity and young forces, which will allow achieving our goals." He called for a good cooperation with the Parliament, beginning with the adoption of the new Land Code.
His Government was formed late last week and early this week after Imangali Tasmagambetov resigned as Prime Minister on June 11 over the standoff with the Parliament over the Land Code.
Until recently Akhmetov served as akim (governor) of the big industrial Pavlodar region, but previously he was part of the central government, including as first deputy prime minister.
Presenting his candidature to the Parliament on Friday, President Nazarbayev called him "a strong organizer, who knows the real economy well and who has the experience of working in the regions, where the new programs will be implemented". The President said Akhmetov would ensure "pragmatic dimension of the entire government, with a view on delivering concrete results."
Following the reshuffle, the Prime Minister currently has three deputies first deputy Prime Minister Alexander Pavlov, Deputy Prime Minister Sauat Mynbayev and Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister Akhmetzhan Yessimov. The majority of the ministers retained their portfolios in the new government, including Foreign Minister Kassymzhomart Tokaev, Defense Minister Mukhtar Altynbayev, Economy and Budget Planning Minister Kairat Kelimbetov, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Vladimir Shkolnik, Environment Minister Aitkul Samakova and some others.
Several new important appointments were made, however. The 33-year-old Yerbol Dossayev, formerly head of antimonopoly agency became the new minister of finance. 41-year-old Oraz Zhandosov, until recently the presidential assistant and co-chair of the Ak Zhol political party, was named the head of that agency.
Former mayor of Astana Adilbek Dzhaksybekov was named to lead the industry and trade ministry and to oversee the implementation of the ambitious industrial and innovation development program.
Karim Massimov, a deputy prime minister for the past two and a half years and one of the chief proponents of the innovation program, was named assistant to the president on foreign policy, foreign economic relations and domestic economic policies.
Former Prime Minister Tasmagambetov was named the Secretary of State, with responsibilities over certain domestic policy issues.
President Objects to Several Provisions of Land Code, Setting Stage for New Vote June 20
President Nazarbayev sent his objections to eight articles of the hotly debated Land Code on June 13, asking the Parliament to review and amend them.
While the majority of these relate to judicial technicalities, two are of principle nature.
The President proposed to extend the sublease on agricultural lands until only 2005, while the Majilis previously opted for 2007 as the deadline and the previous Government was willing to accept only a one-year extension. President Nazarbayev also proposed to delegate the authority to decide on maximum sizes of land slots an individual or an organization can own in regions to local authorities. The Majilis earlier voted for a 5-percent cap, while the Government was willing to stop at 10 percent.
Deputies reviewed and accepted the objections in the committees. The floor vote of the two houses is expected on June 20.
Israel's Chief Rabbi to Participate in World Religious Forum in Kazakhstan in September
Religious leaders of Judaism intend to participate in the forum of leaders of world's religions to take place in Almaty in September 2003, Israel's chief rabbi Iona Metsger told reporters in Astana on June 16 after his meeting with President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
"We intend to participate in the forum," he said. "Kazakhstan is a country where so many peoples live peacefully with each other, and it is an ideal place for such conferences," he noted.
Earlier in the year and on separate occasions, Pope John Paul II, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexii II of Moscow and the Secretary General of the World Muslim League Al-Turki said they, too, support such a forum in Kazakhstan.
In his remarks to reporters on June 16, Israel's Chief Rabbi also noted that Kazakhstan "is a country that spares no effort in fighting terrorism". "While the majority of extremists present Islam as a kind of movement for terror, Kazakhstan is an excellent example that it is not so," the Chief Rabbi said. He added that earlier in the day he met with Kazakhstan's grand mufti Abdsattar Hajji Derbisali, who "confirmed my suggestion and said that he is against terror and that Islam is a religion that does not propagate terror."
Kazakhstan Sends Another Cadet to West Point
Dias Asanov, a graduating student of Kazakh Judicial and Humanitarian University in Almaty, is going to join his compatriots at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point next year after he received his admittance certificate from the U.S. Ambassador last Friday in Almaty.
"This year the competition was tough," Ambassador Napper said. "Only one person was selected out of 200 contenders," he noted, adding that "Dias and his family should be proud with this achievement."
At West Point, Asanov will join two other Kazakhs, Daniar Uteulin, who has one more year to go, and first ever female cadet from Kazakhstan, Elena Milyuk. According to Kazakh media reports, the two have earned a reputation of keen students, who work hard to learn the intricacies of military science.
"Dias will sign a contract with the [Kazakhstan] Army, then go to West Point for the four years of studies, and then return to serve as an officer," Col. Zholdas Magzumov, head of officers training abroad program at the Defense Ministry, said at the ceremony.
He is expected to begin his service as platoon commander in Kazakhstan's peacekeeping battalion Kazbat, where he will apply his skills in working together with international peacekeepers.
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News Bulletin of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the USA and Canada
(Compiled from own sources and various agencies' reports)
Contact persons: Roman Vassilenko, Aibek Nurbalin
Tel.: (202) 232- 5488 ext. 104, 115, Fax: (202) 232- 5845
