In this issue:
Kazakhstan Contingent Destroys 2.7 Million Explosives in Iraq, Replacement Troops Arrive
Election Excitement Builds as September 19 Approaches
President Urges Democratic, Transparent and Fair Elections, As Registration of Candidates Opens Election Campaign
Kazakhstan’s Math Whizzes Victorious in Greece
Say it in Kazakh:
Ballot --- Bulleten
To vote --- Dauys beru
Are you going to vote? --- Syz dauys beresiz-ba?
Kazakhstan Contingent Destroys 2.7 Million Explosives in Iraq, Replacement Troops Arrive
Kazakhstan replaced its contingent of army engineers in Iraq with the same number of fresh troops last week. This is the third group of 27 engineers from Kazakhstan’s Kazbat peacekeeping battalion the country has sent to Iraq since the summer of 2003.
Army General Mukhtar Altynbayev, the Defense Minister, welcomed the returning troops at the Almaty airport on July 17, saying the rotation was done quietly in light of the security situation in Iraq.
On July 19, the Defense Ministry issued a press release saying Kazakhstan’s army engineers have destroyed 2.7 million explosives in Iraq. That number is almost double that of March 2004, when the count of destroyed explosives stood at 1.5 million.
In TV interviews given on arrival, returning troops told stories which partially explain the rapidly growing number of destroyed explosives, and told the story of how they lived and worked in Iraq.
Darkhan Nurdaulet-uly, an army engineer, said: “When locals would find an ammunition dump somewhere, they would come to us, both adults and kids, and then help us in its destruction.”
Soldiers said they were treated well by Iraqis. Kazakhstan is one of the few Muslim-majority countries and one of the few from the region to send troops to help in the coalition’s efforts to create a better life for the Iraqis.
Artur Nasifullin, chief of a de-mining group within the Kazakhstan contingent, said: “People welcomed us in places where we worked, such as Al Kut and Suera. When we would drive by on the roads, the Iraqis would see us and say “oh, Kazakhstan!” and wave their hands and meet us warmly.”
The Defense Ministry also announced its senior inspection team visited Iraq last week to check conditions. Deputy Defense Minister Major General Bulat Sembinov led the team as it discussed the security of the Kazakhstan’s contingent and the definition of its legal status in light of political changes in Iraq with coalition commanders.
The ministry said, following the inspection, the security of Kazakhstan’s contingent will be strengthened.
Election Excitement Builds as September 19 Approaches
Several political parties have joined forces in two separate blocs in recent days, as two more parties held their conventions to flesh out party programs ahead of the September election.
A few weeks ago the Agrarian and Civic parties announced they had agreed to jointly contest the election. The Agrarian party mostly represents people in rural communities, while the Civic party is believed to be largely the party of workers of industrial enterprises. Both share a pro-business stance.
Three other parties – Ak Zhol (Bright Path), the Communists and the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan – announced on July 21 that they also had gathered together in a bloc to also provide mutual support in the run up to the election. These groups position themselves as opposition parties. The memorandum they signed notes the parties have common views on the need for constitutional reform and the establishment of a presidential-parliamentary republic, strengthening the role of Parliament, expanding the number of deputies in the Majilis and ensuring the freedom of speech.
Also on July 21, the Asar (All Together) party held its convention in Almaty to approve the political platform in preparation of the election. Dariga Nazarbayeva, the party’s leader, said Asar positions itself as a popular party and believes it is time to significantly raise financing of the social security system, and increase teacher salaries. She said the party’s recent widespread opinion poll “Wish to your country!” has led to the expansion of party membership to 200,000 people and the creation of a truly popular program for the party.
The Otan party, which is headed by President Nursultan Nazarbayev and holds the largest number of seats in Parliament, held its own convention in Astana on July 19. The party based its platform on the broad support of ongoing political and economic reforms. Zharmakhan Tuyakbai, the party’s deputy chairman and Speaker of the Majilis, said Otan can and should use its broad base in local assemblies to promote the party agenda.
President Urges Democratic, Transparent and Fair Elections,
As Registration of Candidates Opens Election Campaign
President Nursultan Nazarbayev has urged oblast akims, or provincial governors, to ensure democratic, transparent and fair elections for Parliament in September.
The President was speaking to the akims in Almaty on July 20 at a meeting which also focused on the results of economic development in the country during the first six months of the year. He said Kazakhstan’s economy grew around 9 percent compared to the same period of 2003.
The election on September 19 will be for the Majilis, the lower house of the national Parliament. The Majilis’ term is five years. The Majilis has 77 majilismen, 67 of whom are elected in single constituencies and 10 are apportioned to political parties based on their percentage of the national vote. The election will be held under the new election law, which introduced major reforms.
One of the reforms was to change the way the election commissions are organized. While in the past they were set up by local executives and were not sufficiently independent, they are now selected by local assemblies among candidates from political parties to ensure their objectivity. There are twelve political parties competing for seats.
It is still the job of local governments to ensure all the necessary conditions exist for people to exercise their right to a free vote, hence the call from the President. There are 14 oblasts (provinces) in Kazakhstan, and two cities with special status, the current of Astana and the former capital of Almaty.
President Nazarbayev also met editors and reporters of major news media from across Kazakhstan on July 21 and said “the election campaign needs to be transparent.” The President urged the news media to “objectively” cover the unfolding election campaign.
In a related development, the Central Election Commission announced it began registering candidates for the election on July 18. The registration process will continue until August 9.
Zagipa Baliyeva, chairwoman of the commission, said they are also conducting special training sessions for officials of local commissions, political party members and representatives of NGOs to help ensure smooth voting.
Ms. Baliyeva noted “these training sessions are meant to explain the [new] law to make sure everybody observes it.”
Kazakhstan’s Math Whizzes Victorious in Greece
A team of students from Kazakhstan returned home victorious from the International Mathematics Olympics in Greece with two golds as proof of their prowess.
Andrei Kim, a 9th grader from Taldykorgan won a gold medal, becoming the youngest gold medal winner for Kazakhstan ever. The other gold went to Kuat Esenov, an 11th grader from Pavlodar.
The teenager from Pavlodar will soon be listed in the Guinness book of records as the holder of the most gold medals from the international math Olympics.
Students from 186 countries competed.
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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
