In this issue:
Kazakh Military Engineers Remove 7,500 Explosive Devices in Iraq
Astana and Washington Move to Strengthen Dialogue on Democracy
Kazakh-American Defense Ties to Expand under New Program
Aktau Caspian Declaration Calls for Cooperation on Ecology, Tougher Regulations
SAY IT IN KAZAKH:
It is nice to meet you. - Ote kuyanyshty sizben tanyskanyma [au-teh kuh-ah-nysh-tyh syz-behn tah-nys-kah-nyh-ma].
Dialogue Soilesu [Soi-leh-su]
Kazakh Military Engineers Remove 7,500 Explosive Devices in Iraq
Military engineers from Kazakhstan, working in eastern Iraq as part of the international division under Polish command, have so far removed and deactivated more than 7,500 explosive devices of different kind, Kazakhstan defense officials said on September 19.
Those devices include anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, rockets of various types and unexploded shells.
Lt. Col. Kairat Smagulov led the group of 27 army engineers as they flew to Kuwait in mid-August, then assembled their equipment and moved into Iraq. They began working on mine removal and providing clear drinking water for the Iraqis on September 5, the Defense Ministry said earlier this month.
This is the first time Kazakhstan's military was sent abroad on such a mission. After September 11th terrorist attacks, Kazakhstan has supported the U.S.-led war on terror and provided assistance in the campaign in Afghanistan. Kazakhstan has condemned the regime of Saddam Hussein and supported the operation to free Iraq.
Astana and Washington Move to Strengthen Dialogue on Democracy
Igor Rogov, deputy chief of staff of the presidential administration of Kazakhstan, said Astana and Washington are seeking to pursue closer dialogue on further democratic reforms in Kazakhstan as he wound up a visit to Washington on September 17.
"The main purpose of our trip is to establish a
productive exchange of opinions with our
partners in the U.S. Administration, Congress,
and to inform Americans about the progress
Kazakhstan has been making in building a
democratic society," Mr. Rogov said at the
Central Asia and Caucasus Institute (CACI)
in Washington on September 17. Mr. Rogov
headed a 7-person delegation of legal
professionals from Kazakhstan. Mr. Rogov,
a former Justice Minister, told CACI about
past reforms and plans for the future. He
has spent years since independence working
on legal reforms.
"Our main priority for the future lies in improving
our legal system through strengthening of
democratic institutions, humanizing our criminal
prosecution system and strengthening the
independence of our judiciary," Mr. Rogov
explained. "It is an area where we welcome the
dialogue with our American colleagues and their
assistance."
Professor S. Frederick Starr, chairman of the CACI institute said what Kazakhstan has done in terms of legal reforms during the short years of independence "deserves our recognition and praise. Of course, a lot remains to be done, but future generations will owe you a debt," he told Mr. Rogov.
The delegation from Kazakhstan included the chairman of Kazakhstan's Senate Legal Reforms Committee Sen. Ermek Zhumabayev, deputy prosecutor general Merei Vaissov, deputy ministers of justice and interior Zhakip Assanov and Ivan Otto, as well as Rosa Kuanyshbayeva, chairwoman of the Lawyers' Union of Kazakhstan. The Union is parallel association to the American Bar Association.
The delegation met with Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, officials at the National Security Council, and the departments of Justice and Homeland Security. The delegation also met with Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS), co-chair of the Silk Road Caucus, and Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA), co-chair of the U.S.-Kazakhstan Interparliamentary Friendship Group. Members of the delegation also met with the American Bar Association, the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute.
Police General Ivan Otto led the delegation as they presented a wreath at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, in Washington, in memory of fallen officers.
Kazakh-American Defense Ties to Expand under New Program
The cooperation between the militaries of Kazakhstan and the United States in fighting terrorism, developing Kazakhstan's peacekeeping forces, its air defense forces and the navy is set to expand significantly in the coming years, the Defense Ministry in Astana announced following the high-level bilateral consultations in Washington last week.
Under a new 5-year cooperation program, signed by the two defense agencies, Kazakhstan and the U.S. will "cooperate in fighting international terrorism, developing peacekeeping forces of Kazakhstan, strengthening the combat capabilities of Air Defense Forces of Kazakhstan, and strengthening the military infrastructure in region adjacent to the Caspian Sea, including the development of the Navy." The two sides will also work together to establish the Military Language Institute in Kazakhstan, the Defense Ministry said.
Gen. Bolat Sembinov, chief of staff of Kazakhstan's defense minister, led the delegation of defense officials for talks with their American counterparts within the Joint Consultative Commission on defense and security. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Mira Ricardel led the U.S. delegation. This is the first time such a document is signed by the two countries.
The Defense Ministry said the volume of cooperation has expanded more than two-fold during the past year and a half under the U.S. programs of Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and International Military Education and Training (IMET).
Under the program, the two militaries will cooperate in establishing anti-terrorist training center, equipping Kazakhstan's mountain battalion with U.S.-made equipment. The militaries agreed on the plans of further developing and equipping Kazakhstan's peacekeeping battalion with modern technical means.
The plan provides for the supplying to Kazakhstan of Huey 2 helicopters, C-130 aircraft and supplying vessels of up to 1,000 tons displacement for Kazakhstan's Navy. The U.S. will continue to supply new Humvees.
Aktau Caspian Declaration Calls for Cooperation on Ecology, Tougher Regulations
More than 160 delegates from five Caspian littoral countries called for more cooperation and agreed to work closely to ensure the unique environment of the Caspian Sea is preserved for future generations. They met for the first Caspian Ecology Conference 2003 in Aktau on the seashore on September 11-12 and adopted the Aktau Caspian Declaration. Kazakhstan's environment protection and energy ministries sponsored the conference.
The delegates from energy and environment ministries of 5 countries, NGOs and businesses working around the Caspian urged the governments of Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan to expedite preparatory work for the framework Caspian Environment Protection convention.
The Caspian Sea is home to both unique flora and living fauna, including caviar-producing sturgeon and one of the largest oil reserves outside the Middle East. Both caviar and oil are usually referred to as "black gold". Earlier this summer, experts of five nations said the convention, in the works for almost a decade now, may be ready for signature later this fall.
The conference also called for the harmonization of the national legislation of Caspian countries and proposed to toughen environment requirements, including through ensuring the "zero discharge" during offshore oil drilling operations.
Speaking at the conference, Environment Minister Aitkul Samakova said Kazakhstan is preparing the environment security conception whose priority is to strengthen the environmental dimension in the economic regulations, legislation and society. The environment protection standards will be included in the industrial development plans. Legislation will be changed to reflect stronger emphasis on protecting the environment. Public and the media will be asked to be more proactive in protecting the environment.
Uzakbai Karabalin, president of Kazmunaigaz national oil and gas company, called upon five nations to develop a single data bank on the effective means of protecting the environment. Russia's President special advisor on the Caspian Viktor Kalyuzhnyi said all countries need to join efforts too.
Things to Watch:
- Local elections for city and regional councils take place September 20
- Congress of World Religions takes place in Astana, September 23-24. Leaders and senior representatives of Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, as well as Taoism, Shinto and other religions are to attend.
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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
