In this issue:
U.S. Lauds Kazakhstan for Actions Against Human Trafficking
Terrorism, Drug Trafficking Priority Targets for Shanghai Group, Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Urges
League of Young Voters to Raise Political Consciousness
SAY IT IN KAZAKH:
Where is...? - ... qaida? (The sentence structure puts interrogatives at the end)
... the hotel? - Konak yui qaida? [Koh-nak oui qai-dah?]
... the restaurant? - Meiramkhana qaida? [May-ram-khana qai-dah?]
U.S. Lauds Kazakhstan for Actions Against Human Trafficking
The White House has notified the U.S. Congress that Kazakhstan made "significant steps to fight trafficking in persons" and given recognition to Astana for its efforts in this area.
In a September 10 statement from the White House press secretary, Kazakhstan was said to "deserve recognition for their quick action to address problems noted in the Department of State's June 2003 Trafficking in Persons Report."
The White House said Kazakhstan "avoided possible sanctions" which might have been imposed had it not taken quick action. The same day the State Department announced that Kazakhstan has been elevated from Tier 3 to Tier 2 which lists countries that take significant efforts to combat human trafficking.
"We believe this decision by the U.S. Administration is one more recognition of the decisive and consistent efforts Kazakhstan is making to further strengthen democracy and the protection of human rights," Kanat Saudabayev, Kazakhstan's Ambassador to the United States, said today.
President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed into law legislation which expands the legal basis for fighting against human trafficking in July 2003. (See Kazakhstan News Bulletin, July 10). Punishment under Kazakh law for human trafficking ranges up to 8 years in prison and the confiscation of property of the convicted criminal. Minister of Justice Onalsyn Zhumabekov was appointed National Coordinator for efforts against human trafficking in August 2003. An interagency task force was created to support these efforts. Thirty-two "crisis centers" for trafficking victims are operational throughout Kazakhstan providing counseling, legal and paramedical assistance, and temporary housing.
Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Greece, Haiti, Suriname, Turkey, and Uzbekistan were also moved to Tier 2.
Terrorism, Drug Trafficking Priority Targets for Shanghai Group, Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Urges
Kassymzhomat Tokaev, Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister, has told the 6-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) that the group should focus its activities on the fight against international terrorism, drug trafficking and other threats against peace, security and stability.
The foreign minister, speaking at the SCO ministerial meeting in Tashkent on September 5, said the newly created anti-terrorist center should become an effective means of coordinating the actions of its members.
The center, called the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), is based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and will be expected to coordinate the efforts of the SCO members."Terrorism turns into something akin to an alternative to civilization," Minister Tokaev said. "It is obvious that terrorism is trans-national. Therefore, the main task for the foreseeable future should be the development and implementation of coordinated measures to suppress the brewing hotbeds of terrorism."
"The struggle against terrorism is a task for special law-enforcement agencies," Minister Tokaev added. "Therefore, it is hardly sensible to hold large military exercises; events of this type can only create the wrong impression abroad about the purposes and tasks of the SCO," he said.
He singled out trade, economic and investment cooperation and activities in the cultural and humanitarian sphere as the two other important areas of operation for the SCO. He said the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, will host the first SCO cultural festival this October.
Kazakhstan believes it is crucial for SCO members "not to isolate ourselves within the borders of our Organization, but to promote wide contacts with other international, regional and sub-regional organizations and countries", the minister said. Recently, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization participated in a meeting of international regional organizations with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
The Shanghai process began in 1996, when Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan joined together to reduce tensions along the former Sino-Soviet border which they all share. In 2001, the process was formalizes as the SCO when it accepted a new member, Uzbekistan, and took on the new tasks of fighting terrorism and promoting economic cooperation.
League of Young Voters to Raise Political Consciousness
The new League of Young Voters, an organization whose main mission is to raise the political consciousness of young voters and encourage their participation in the political process, has opened for business in Kazakhstan.
The League is a creation of the non-governmental public association "Youth Information Service of Kazakhstan" (YISK), according to the report of Kazinform News Agency. This association, partially financed by the U.S.-based National Democratic Institute, is non-partisan.
According to the research done by YISK, one of the reasons for low levels of young voters' turnout at the elections is ignorance of the political process. "Unfortunately, young people do not know the basic procedures and even the date of the election," said Irina Vasilchenko, the coordinator of the new projects for the League. "The League is one of the solutions to the problem," she added.
The League will provide opportunities for the expansion of the political audience to young people and is evidence of the changing political life in Kazakhstan. In 15 cities across the country the League will hold training seminars, publish leaflets and create databases of candidates. Local elections are due September 20 in Kazakhstan.
Things to Watch:
- Caspian Ecology 2003 Conference takes place in Aktau on September 11-12
- Local elections for city and regional councils take place September 20
- World Religious Congress takes place in Astana, September 23-24
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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 person: Roman Vassilenko
Tel.: (202) 232- 5488 ext. 104, Fax: (202) 232- 5845
