AstanaCalling#278

Astana Calling

ISSUE No 278 FRIDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.MFA.KZ A WEEKLY ONLINE PUBLICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

Prince Albert II of Monaco Visits Kazakhstan Highlights Green agenda in address at NU

EXPO

2017 Astana Selection deadline approaches

Prime Minister of Belarus visits Kazakhstan Cooperation agreements to be amended

Minister Addresses Parliamentary Agrarian Committee Draft Agrobusiness 2013-2020 Program under review

Things to Watch

OSCE Human Dimension Meeting in Vienna Focus on Freedom of Assembly and Association

Also in the News

Prince Albert II of Monaco with President Nazarbayev

Prince Albert II of Monaco Visits Kazakhstan During an official visit to Kazakhstan on November 2, Prince Albert II of Monaco attended the opening of an exhibition dedicated to the memory of his mother, Princess Grace of Monaco. He was welcomed by President Nazarbayev, with whom he also met separately to discuss bilateral relations between Monaco and Kazakhstan as well as cooperation on the regional and international levels.

The exhibition, “Epoch of Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco”, was first opened in Monaco in 2008, on the initiative of Prince Albert, before touring many of the major cities of the world including Amsterdam, Moscow, New York, Paris, Rome, Sao Paolo and Tokyo and attracting high levels of attendance in each.

Among the many exhibits documenting the fascinating life of the Hollywood star are her personal jewelry and her correspondence with Prince Rainier and members of various royal families, as well as with Hollywood luminaries such as Alfred Hitchcock, Bing Crosby and Cary Grant.

The artistic and cultural interests of the Princess who became a patron of the arts are evident from her correspondence with Mstislav Rostropovich, Rudolf Nureyev and Mark Chagall. A unique insight into the life of the Princess is also given through her family home movies and other personal artefacts, from her childhood through to her reign as the Princess of Monaco.

Following their meeting, President Nazarbayev and Prince Albert issued a Joint Declaration praising the ongoing dialogue which exists on many levels between Kazakhstan and Monaco, and highlighting areas of common interest between the two.

The leaders pledged to continue working together, within regional and international institutions, to promote global security and stability.

“Whatever solutions we implement to mitigate climate change, they can only be effective if they have world-level ambitions. Consequently, climate change deeply modifies the scale of political action. It can no longer be limited to borders, or even to continents. It must take into account a wider responsibility, both geographical and historical, since it also includes future generations” H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco

Further development of bilateral economic relations was also a focus during the Prince’s visit and an Agreement on Cooperation was signed by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Kazakhstan and the Monaco Economic Development Chamber.

In his address to the students and academics of Nazarbayev University, the Prince chose to focus on climate change and energy, which he described as the major challenge of this new century. In a heartfelt speech, he outlined the very real dangers posed by climate change, which he has studied for over 20 years as a self-described “environmental activist”.

The Prince highlighted three paths of action to combat the negative impact of climate change: firstly, the development of clean, sustainable, alternative energies; secondly, binding international regulations on environmental protection; and thirdly, supporting smaller-scale initiatives and innovative projects at local level.

The Prince Albert II Foundation, established by the Prince in 2006, has donated millions of dollars to support environmental protection, sustainable development, biodiversity, measures to combat climate change and the promotion of renewable energies. The Principality of Monaco is developing a high-performance model combining innovative energies and energy efficiency, with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

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Motorbike expedition leader Dmitry Petrukhin promoting Astana’s EXPO-2017 bid in Cuba

EXPO-2017 Astana Kazakhstan’s vigorous campaign to promote its bid to host EXPO-2017 is in its final phase ahead of the vote by the 156 member states of the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE) in Paris on November 22. The vote will determine which of the two candidate cities – Astana or Belgium’s Liege – will host EXPO-2017.

As with all campaigns, the closing weeks have seen an intensified effort. The Astana EXPO-2017 team, led by national coordinator and MFA Executive Secretary Rapil Zhoshybayev, has continued to promote the “Future Energy” theme of Astana’s bid around the world.

Meanwhile, the President of Kazakhstan’s Geographic Society and of the Bikers’ Association of Kazakhstan, Dmitry Petrukhin, has embarked on a tour of the Caribbean to promote Astana’s bid for EXPO-17. Although temporarily stalled by Hurricane Sandy, the tour will continue to spread the “Future Energy” message right up to the November 22 deadline. The Caribbean tour is the first phase of a campaign to promote Kazakhstan across 35 countries of the Americas over the next nine months.

Known as Kazakhstan’s “goodwill ambassador”, Mr Petrukhin, along with his team, organized a car and motorcycle tour across some 40 countries of Asia and the Middle East from 2008 to 2011 to promote the 2011 Winter Asian Games. The promotional tour contributed to a record number of participating countries in the Games, which were successfully held in Kazakhstan.

The Astana EXPO-2017 campaign received a morale boost last month when, on October 18, the Kazakh film “Astana Expo 2017: The Great Expectation of Kazakhstan” won second prize – a silver dolphin award – in the “Corporate Films” category of the prestigious, international, annual Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards. The film was commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Kazakhstan to promote Astana’s bid to host EXPO-2017.

“Today the world needs new, environmentally safe, pathways for development. Kazakhstan has already set its course towards a “Green Economy”. We consider that a discussion about future energy is one of the most universal discussions of our time, which is precisely why we have chosen a central theme for EXPO-2017 that concerns millions of people” Minister for Economic Integration Zhanar Aitzhanova

As part of the final phase of the campaign, Minister for Economic Integration, Zhanar Aitzhanova and the Chairman of the Committee on Trade of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Aidar Kazybaev, held a series of bilateral meetings in Geneva on October 11 to promote Astana’s bid with United Nations Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of Finland, Norway, Mauritius and Uruguay. Mr Kazybaev also made an official visit to Bangkok from October 2-4, to promote Kazakhstan’s bid.

Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Madina Abylkasymova attended the International Participants Meeting of EXPO Milan 2015 held from September 10-12 in Milan, Italy. The meeting was attended by representatives of 100 countries and included plenary sessions convened around the theme of EXPO 2015 “Feeding the Planet: Energy for Life,” as well as working sessions on technical aspects of participation in the forthcoming event.

The chosen theme of “Future Energy” reflects Kazakhstan’s commitment to build an economy based on sustainable energy policies and to promote international alternative energy solutions through its proposed “Green Bridge Partnership”. By hosting EXPO-2017, Astana can be a showcase for demonstrating the latest global developments in these areas and become a hub for developing alternative energy solutions across Central Asia.

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Agriculture Minister Asylzhan Mamytbekov

Minister Addresses Parliamentary Agrarian Committee In a meeting with the Agrarian Committee of the Majilis (Parliament) on November 1 in Astana, Agriculture Minister Asylzhan Mamytbekov outlined planned subsidies for farming investment, private sector investment targets and draft laws on genetically modified farm products and the upgrading of Kazakhstan’s pasture lands.

The draft Agrobusiness Development Program for 2013-2020, aimed at maximizing the potential of Kazakhstan’s agroindustrial sector, includes Government investment of up to three trillion tenge (USD 20 billion), with the aim of attracting a further 10 trillion tenge (USD 66 billion) investment from the private sector.

Approximately 30 per cent of Government investment will take the form of subsidies to help Kazakh farmers upgrade their lands and production facilities. While such investment subsidies are a new departure in Kazakhstan, Governments of Western European and CIS countries routinely use them as a tool to support their agricultural sectors: for example, the Bashkir Republic in Russia subsidizes up to 50 per cent of the cost of opening a new milk farm.

The new subsidies are an essential support to Kazakhstani farmers engaged in sophisticated production such as milk farming, who would find it impossible to compete with foreign producers without such support, said the Minister. In southern Kazakhstan, subsidies will enable farmers to improve lands and introduce much-needed drip irrigation systems.

The head of the Land Resources Management Agency, Kadyrkhan Otarov, told the Committee that only a small proportion of Kazakhstan’s pasture lands are served by water distribution systems and, of those, only 15 per cent are in good working order. Subsidies will help pay for the upgrading of existing irrigation systems and the construction of new engineering facilities to raise and use high quality ground water across the vast pasture lands of Kazakhstan.

Mr Otarov updated the Committee on the drafting of a new law relating to pasture lands, and a number of pilot projects and credit programs to develop the pasture land infrastructure, which are being designed in conjunction with KazAgro National.

On the subject of genetically engineered crops, Minister Mamytbekov stressed that Kazakhstan will not allow the genetic modification of crops for human or animal consumption. The absence of genetic engineering has enabled Kazakhstani farmers to sell their products to European markets and the draft law on government regulation of genetic engineering will preserve the high quality and genetic purity of Kazakhstani agricultural products.

Kazakhstan is a significant producer and exporter of high-quality wheat. Average annual production is about 13 million tons.

Between two and eight million tons is exported annually, mainly to Europe (including Russia and Ukraine), North Africa, Central Asia and Afghanistan. Kazakhstan also produces around two million tons of barley, and a small amount of oats, corn, and rice.

Like Russia, Kazakhstan was also affected by drought this year that reduced the grain harvest. However, thanks to carryover stocks, exports are still expected to be around eight million tonnes in the marketing year to June 30 2013.

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Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich with Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov

Prime Minister of Belarus visits Kazakhstan On November 9-10 the Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus, Mikhail Myasnikovich, paid his first official visit to Kazakhstan. He met with Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov to discuss bilateral cooperation and trade development and the meeting concluded with a commitment by the two sides to amend existing cooperation agreements between them in the areas of tax compliance and the forestry sector.

Relations between Belarus and Kazakhstan have gone from strength to strength in recent years. In his greeting to President Nazarbayev in September, to mark the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko described the countries as “strategic partners and allies”. He drew parallels between the experiences of the two nations in establishing statehood, strengthening sovereignty and improving the living standards of their citizens. Praising the strong bilateral cooperation that exists on many fronts, President Lukashenko expressed the hope that it will develop further within the framework of the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space.

The Eurasian Customs Union set up in 2007 between Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia has gained considerable traction over the last two years. The introduction of a common customs territory in 2010 and the elimination of internal physical borders in 2011 were followed in January 2012 by the launch of the Single Economic Space. In July 2012 the Eurasian Economic Commission took over as the coordinating institution with responsibility for achieving the agreed objective of a Eurasian Economic Union (ECU) by January 1 2015. The ECU now has a solid institutional framework, a proven commitment to implementation and a system of rules harmonized with international norms and the WTO regime.

Total trade turnover between Belarus and Kazakhstan amounted to USD 769 million in 2011 and in the first six months of 2012 trade reached USD 479 million, an increase of 116% on the comparable 2011 period. Exports from Kazakhstan to Belarus are primarily in crude aluminium, copper scrap, trucks, oil products, electric accumulators, phosphor salt and wheat; major exports from Belarus to Kazakhstan include threshing equipment, frozen beef products, milk whey, tractors and specialpurpose vehicles. The geographic location of the two countries positions each as an important trade gateway for the other, with Belarus offering a route to Europe for Kazakhstan, while Kazakhstan provides Belarus with access to the markets of China and Southeast Asia.

Investment by Belarusian companies in Kazakhstan is also on the increase. Twelve joint assembly plants use Belarusian mechanical engineering to produce agricultural machinery in Kazakhstan, while a further 13 joint projects are being implemented, seven of them with support from Kazakhstan’s state development programs. In 2011 investment inflows to Kazakhstan from Belarus amounted to USD 73m.

A number of other meetings were also held during the visit of Prime Minister Myasnikovich and his accompanying delegation, including the ninth session of the Kazakh-Belarusian intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation, the second session of the Kazakh-Belarusian business forum and the first meeting of the Business Council on cooperation between the Chambers of Commerce of the two countries.

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A delegation from Kazakhstan took part in this week’s Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting held at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna

OSCE Human Dimension Meeting in Vienna On November 8-9 in Vienna, the OSCE held a Supplementary OSCE Human Dimension Meeting (HDM) on Freedom of Assembly and Association. The meeting was organized by the Irish Chairmanship and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

Kazakhstan was represented at the meeting by a delegation led by Ambassador-at-large Usen Suleyman. The HDM provided a forum for the exchange of views on how the full implementation of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association can be advanced and protected, in order to encourage inclusive and diverse democratic societies.

The challenges faced by OSCE participating States were identified, and delegates discussed how these can be effectively overcome, so that the freedom of peaceful assembly and association can be fully implemented in line with OSCE commitments.

The meeting also discussed the very rare circumstances in which these rights may be restricted, in accordance with the relevant international standards and commitments.

Discussions also addressed how the OSCE, its institutions and field operations can better help OSCE participating States to meet their obligations in this area. The influence of new technologies on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association was a subject of particular consideration.

The OSCE’s comprehensive view of security encompasses three “dimensions”: the politico-military; the economic and environmental; and the human. OSCE activities cover all three of these areas, from “hard” security issues such as conflict prevention to fostering economic development, ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources, and promoting the full respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The Helsinki Final Act of 1975 sets out as one of the guiding principles of the OSCE the “respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief”. For the first time, human-rights principles were included as an explicit and integral element of a regional security framework.

Since the Helsinki Act, the participating states of the OSCE – now 56 in number – have adopted a series of politically binding commitments on what has become known as the “human dimension” of the OSCE’s comprehensive security concept, covering activities related to human rights and democracy.

Annual HDM meetings and Supplementary HDM meetings on specific topics monitor progress on human dimension issues and challenges in these areas across the OSCE membership.

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Also in The News…

• On November 7, President Nazarbayev sent a telegram to congratulate Barack Obama on his election victory saying that further dialogue with the newly elected US president will serve to strengthen the Kazakhstan-US strategic partnership. He also noted that he shares the US president’s views on the development of a nuclear-free world and Kazakhstan’s concrete actions in support of this aim. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs press service) • Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent for ratification by the State Duma the protocol on changes to the 1992 Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan. The term of the Treaty ended on October 10 2012 but the two sides agreed to extend it and update a number of articles. The protocol was signed by President Putin and President Nazarbayev in June 2012. (Interfax) • Kazakhstan’s statistics agency reports that Kazakhstan’s population has grown 1.1% in 2012 to reach 16.857 million. Astana’s population has grown since the beginning of the year by 27,500 and stood at 770,400 on October 1. At the same time, the population of Almaty has grown by a further 16,400 top reach 1.47 million. (KazTAG) • According to preliminary National Bank estimates, the current account balance from January to September had a surplus of USD 10.2 billion, 8.6% down on the same period in 2011. The trade surplus fell 5% to USD 35.5 billion. The net outflow of direct investments overseas was USD 1.8 billion. Foreign direct investment was USD9.4 billion against USD 12.5 billion for the first nine months of 2011. (KazTAG) • On November 7, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the City of Almaty signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the development of a new light rail system in the centre of Kazakhstan’s biggest city. The agreement envisages a project with an estimated cost of US$ 300 million. It will cover construction of about 14 kilometers of light rail tracks to replace the existing tram route and will also finance new rolling stock and equipment. (Interfax-Kazakhstan, EBRD press service) • The international investment forum “Taraz-Invest-2012” began on November 8. It is an annual event aimed at attracting investment into the Zhambilskaya Region in the south of Kazakhstan. Discussions at the forum focused on improving the investment climate in the Region and mechanisms for stimulating investment. (Interfax-Kazakhstan) • Kazakhstan’s Supreme Court has created a single telephone contact number to receive and process citizens’ enquiries related to the judicial process. The new contact center began operations on November 1. It provides information on how to appeal against judicial acts and how to file complaints against judges and court employees and other issues handled by regional courts.

(KazTAG) • Representatives of Kazakhstan’s “round the world expedition” led by Dmitry Petrukhin took part in this week’s 30th Havana International Trade Fair at Expocuba. They were welcomed at the event by Cuba’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz. They provided information to visitors about Kazakhstan and its EXPO-2017 bid. Petrukhin is leading a motorbike expedition to 35 to promote Kazakhstan and its EXPO-2017 bid and is currently visiting a number of Caribbean countries. (Interfax-Kazakhstan/Tengri News)

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• Champion boxer Serik Sapiyev earned about USD 1 million as a result of his Olympic gold medal, the Vice President of Kazakhstan’s Federation of Boxing, Yuri Tskhay, told a press conference on November 6. Apart from prize money worth USD 250,000, together with other Olympic gold medallists he has received accommodation worth USD 450,000 at the special request of the President.

• At last week’s Modern Pentathlon Asian Championships in Taipei, Kazakhstan won gold in the women’s team relay. Arina Dzhienbalanova, Kseniya Aleksandrova and Darya Khalzova scored a total of 5420 points. In the women’s individual final, Arina Dzhienbalanova, won silver.

• Seven-year old Alua Nogaybayeva won second prize in the young international pianists competition held in Lonigo (Italy) from October 22 to November 6 under the aegis of the international association “Art and Education in the XXI Century”.

Alua is in the first grade at the Bayseitova music school in Almaty. She was the only participant from Kazakhstan and the youngest competitor overall. This was her second international competition. She played works by Barkauscas, Khamidi, Debussy, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky.

Things to Watch…

• Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov will make a working visit to Russia on November 12.

• Foreign Minister Idrissov will take part in the 39th Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Djibouti, November 15-16.

ASTANA CALLING is a weekly online publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Please send your requests and questions to pressa@mfa.kz

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