In this issue:
Pace of Judicial Reform Increases
Kazakhstan Joins International Elections Association
Minorities' Languages Get Stronger Voice in Kazakhstan's Media
FEDEX Touches Down in Kazakhstan
SAY IT IN KAZAKH:
In a restaurant:
Water, please. --- Magan su akelenyz. [Mah-ghan soo ah-kay-lay-NYZ].
Do you have ...? --- Syzde ... barma? [Sehz-DEH BAR-mah] (Noun goes in the middle. See below)
beef --- siyr eti [seh-ir eh-ti]
lamb --- koi eti
chicken --- tauyk
vegetables --- kok-unyz
dessert --- tatti tagham
Pace of Judicial Reform Increases
A draft state program designed to reform the judicial system was approved by the Supreme Judicial Council of Kazakhstan on October 27. It covers the period from 2004 through 2006.
Vladimir Borisov, chairman of the Supreme Court's judicial administration committee, said: "The draft program envisions creation of a jury system, special courts, including tax courts, improving the protection of judges, witnesses, and plaintiffs."
The following day the Supreme Court held a special international conference to discuss the effectiveness of administrative courts, or courts of peace. These courts were established in Kazakhstan within the last 90 days, but even in that short time they have proved their effectiveness. The court in Astana has reviewed more than 6,000 cases, most having to do with administrative offenses, such as traffic violations.
Speaking at the conference, members of Kazakhstan's Parliament and German legal experts said these courts' jurisdiction needs to be expanded to include the claims of a citizen against the government.
Mattias Schtauh, a judge of the Supreme Administrative Court of Germany, said: "One shouldn't limit the administrative courts' jurisdiction to the state's claims against a citizen. The scope needs to be broadened so that citizens have the right to sue the state."
Officials in Kazakhstan seem to agree to such ideas, although several issues need to be resolved in order to expand the role of the administrative courts. Key issues relate to changes in legislation, and court precedents and practices.
Igor Rogov, deputy chief of staff of the President of Kazakhstan, told the conference: "Whether we want it or not, life will make us borrow continental Europe's positive experience. Their administrative courts review not so many administrative offenses as claims of citizens against the state."
Today, there are administrative courts in Astana and Almaty. Their number is expected to increase rapidly as the system spreads nationwide.
Kazakhstan Joins International Elections Association
Ms. Zagipa Baliyeva, Chairwoman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Kazakhstan, participating in the London conference on the Association of Elections Organizers of Central and Eastern European Countries, announced that Kazakhstan's commitment to free and open elections included joining the Association as a full member.
Kazakhstan had been an observer at the Association for a number of years. In May of this year it decided to join the 12-year-old group of more than twenty nations.
The purpose of the London meeting on October 25 was a discussion of the role of the mass media and the development of democracy, and also the impact of electronic voting and polling.
On her return to Kazakhstan, Ms. Balieva said in an interview with Khabar TV, a major issue of the group would be journalistic ethics and the development of common standards for electronic voting. Voting on the web and through cell phones were both demonstrated at the conference.
Minorities' Languages Get Stronger Voice in Kazakhstan's Media
Oleg Ryabchenko, First Deputy Minister of Information of Kazakhstan, said the Government is working to expand the use of minority languages in the national media.
Speaking at the OSCE-sponsored international conference in Austria on October 24, Mr. Ryabchenko who is of Ukrainainan descent, said the government-owned TV station Kazakhstan translates its programs into German (Kazakhstan Im Blikpunct), Uigur (Visal), Korean (Uri Mipdeg). Kazakh radio airs programs in German, Uigur, Ukrainian, Korean, Tatar, Azeri, Dungan and other languages. Uzbek-language television programs, Deutsche Welle (Germany), Polonia (Poland) are broadcast in areas where speakers of these languages are clustered. Privately owned broadcasters are following the government's example.
In all, news media in Kazakhstan is published in 13 languages. The people of more than 100 ethnic groups live in Kazakhstan today, many speaking their own language in addition to the national languages, Kazakh and Russian.
FEDEX Touches Down in Kazakhstan
FEDEX flew its first flight
through Almaty on October
29 as part of the cargo
carrier's trans-Eurasian route
from Hong Kong to Paris.
Ralph Carter, director of the
FEDEX legal department for
Europe, the Middle East and
Africa, said: "Technically,
the Almaty airport suits these
flights very well, and the
services here are on a high
level." He called the new air
route through Kazakhstan a
"modern Silk Route". It links
the West and the East and
will be profitable for
Kazakhstan.
According to Khabar news agency, the Almaty airport was chosen because of its central location and modern services. Airports in neighboring countries were also considered by FEDEX.
The airplane, carrying 286 tons of cargo, reached Almaty in 6 hours on its flight from Hong Kong to Paris. The flight from Almaty to Paris takes another seven hours.
The stopover in Kazakhstan is profitable for FEDEX. FEDEX's flight captain said the flight can be done directly, but that would reduce cargo load.
Alexander Gordeev, First Vice President of the Almaty International Airport said: "In just two years, we have also attracted cargo operations by Royal Dutch KLM and Israel's El-Al."
Things to Watch
- Kazakhstan's Muslim majority began the celebration of Ramadan on Sunday October 26 with fasting and prayers for peace in the world.
- A three-man crew from the
International Space Station returned
safely to Earth, landing in
Kazakhstan on October 28 in a
Russian space capsule, which had
originally been launched from
Baikonur, in Kazakhstan.
- Kazakhstan's linguistic
diversity was celebrated
as President Nursultan
Nazarbayev opened up a
new Uzbek theater in the
south of the country near
Shymkent on October 22.
* * *
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
