In this issue:
Kazakhstan, A World Model for Nuclear Disarmament, Sen. Nunn Says
Kazakhstan to Reduce Taxes in 2004, Seeks More Foreign Investment in High Tech
SAY IT IN KAZAKH:
Friendship Dostyk
It's snowing -- Kar zhauyptyr [Kar zha-oo-uptir]
Careful, don't slip -- Abailanyz, kuap kalmanyz [Abai-la-nyz kuap kahl-man- iz]
Kazakhstan, A World Model for Nuclear Disarmament, Sen. Nunn Says
Senator Sam Nunn, co-chairman of Nuclear Threat Initiative and formerly chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the world would be wise to follow Kazakhstan's model of disarmament, and rid itself of nuclear arms.
on October 20, after Kazakhstan's
Ambassador Kanat Saudabayev
presented him with the nation's
highest award to foreigners for his
contribution in helping Kazakhstan
rid itself of the nuclear weapons
left behind by the Soviets at
independence.
Ambassador Saudabayev, as he
presented the award, the Order of
Dostyk (Friendship), said: "The
world has yet to fully comprehend
the outstanding leadership of
Senators Sam Nunn and Richard
Lugar. But their names are already
inscribed in the history of Kazakhstan in golden letters."
The Nunn-Lugar Act, cosponsored by the two senators was designed to provide U.S. financial assistance for identification, destruction and disposal of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons in the former Soviet Union.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan held the world's fourth-largest nuclear arsenal, exceeding the combined destructive power of Great Britain, France and China. It chose to get rid of 1,216 nuclear warheads and nuclear weapons for heavy bombers with a capacity of 1 megaton TNT each. Kazakhstan also shut down one of the world's largest test sites at Semipalatinsk where Soviets had conducted almost 500 nuclear test explosions.
Ambassador Saudabayev added: "Today there is no single piece of nuclear weapons in Kazakhstan, the infrastructure of the test site has been demolished. This has become possible due to the close cooperation between our two nations during the past decade under the Nunn-Lugar Program."
Under the program, the U.S. has provided about 200 million dollars in assistance to help Kazakhstan destroy the weapons and infrastructure it inherited from the Soviet Union.This also included the world's largest anthrax production and weaponization facility at Stepnogorsk. In August 2003, President Nazarbayev awarded the Order of Dostyk to Senators Sam Nunn and Richard Lugar for their efforts to make the world safer.
In accepting the award after the symposium, The weapons of Mass Destruction Threat to the American Homeland, Sen. Nunn said the world would be wise to follow Kazakhstan's model. "That experience is very relevant today," he said. He added, the experience of Kazakhstan's cooperation with the United States should be held up as an example for other countries.
Former Chairman Nunn continued, "Einstein said: "The release of atom power has changed everything except our way of thinking." Kazakhstan and its President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, have shown the world the thinking can be changed."
Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), speaking at the symposium, said the model set by Senators Nunn and Lugar as they established the program in the early 1990's is worthy of replication and application in solving similar problems in today's world.
Amb. Saudabayev noted: "We strongly urge the world to follow our example and to engage in further reduction and elimination of nuclear arsenals and other weapons of mass destruction, to prevent terrorists from using them." He noted Kazakhstan's practical experience gave it the moral right to make such a call on the international community. Continuing, he said, "That is the reason why Kazakhstan is a strong partner of the United States and the international coalition in the fight against terrorism. We provide assistance to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and have supported the freeing of Iraq from Saddam Hussein's regime. Today our troops take part in the postwar restoration of Iraq."
Kazakhstan to Reduce Taxes in 2004, Seeks More Foreign Investment in High Tech
President Nursultan Nazarbayev told a gathering of foreign diplomats income and corporate taxes will be reduced as of January 1, 2004 and made a call for more foreign investment in high tech.
He delivered wide ranging remarks to the group of foreign ambassadors in Astana on October 21. The President said the Government will respect all the previously signed contracts with foreign investors, but when it comes to new contracts, particularly in the energy sector, it will be looking for more local input in foreign investors' proposals.
The President said: "We seek a broader participation of foreign companies in industrial projects, and we aim to redirect the flow of foreign capital from the raw materials sector to processing industries, high tech and agriculture." Financial bodies established recently in Kazakhstan, such as the Development Bank and an export guarantee agency will also be participating in the projects, sharing the risks and profits.
Energy still remains the priority sector for investment, and within the next 15 years an estimated investment of 200 billion dollars is predicted. "From now on, when awarding new contracts the priority will be given to those that offer the most content for Kazakhstan, including new technologies, active participation in social projects and use of services from our companies," the President said.
Things to Watch
- Kazakhstan celebrates the Republic Day, the 13th anniversary of the Declaration of Sovereignty (1990) on October 25.
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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
