AstanaCalling #301

ASTANA CALLING

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Kazakhstan

Central Communications Service for the President of Kazakhstan

A WEEKLY ONLINE PUBLICATION / WWW.MFA.GOV.KZ ISSUE NO 301 / FRIDAY, 26 APRIL 2013

President Nazarbayev Chairs 20th Session of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan “One People – One Country – One Fate”

Economy of Kazakhstan Grows in Q1 2013 Prime Minister warns against complacency

Almaty Hosts Istanbul Process Meeting on Afghanistan Need to promote economic and social rehabilitation

News from the Government in Brief

Astana Hosts Eurasian Media Forum Discusses top issues on international agenda

Also in the News

President Nazarbayev addresses the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan

President Nazarbayev Chairs 20th Session of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan On April 24 President Nursultan Nazarbayev chaired the 20th session of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan.

The Assembly is a living example of the ethnic diversity and tolerance of the people of Kazakhstan. It was created by President Nazarbayev on March 1 1995 to bring together in harmony and mutual understanding the different ethnic, religious, social and cultural groups which exist in Kazakhstan. A session is held at least once a year.

The Assembly serves a very practical purpose. Nine seats in the parliament of Kazakhstan, the Majilis, are elected from the Assembly. The Assembly takes a keen interest in the country’s educational policy; 88 secondary schools carry out their teaching in the languages of Kazakhstan’s ethnic minorities. 195 centers have been opened to provide teaching about the customs of Kazakhstan’s many different peoples and also their languages. There are theatres and media operating in a variety of languages, many of them supported by the state budget.

Opening the session, President Nazarbayev spoke of Kazakhstan as a territory which is free of ethnic conflicts. He said that the reason economic and socio-political reforms had been carried out successfully was because of the peace and harmony which exists between the different ethnic groups. And he praised the members of the Assembly for this, describing it as, “the main result” of their work together.

The President singled out for praise the Kazakh people. He called them, “the powerful historical core” which formed the foundation for all the ethnic and social groups in the country. But at the same time, this brings with it a responsibility for the Kazakh people of today. “Modern Kazakhs, following in the traditions of their ancestors, must show the example of unity, tolerance and patriotism, selfless service to the state and society,” said the President.

President Nazarbayev went on to say that the unity of the Kazakh people themselves must be strengthened; Kazakh customs and traditions must be observed and respected; and that the main factor which can cement the people together is the Kazakh language, as the official language of the state.

A crucial role in holding society together in a spirit of tolerance and respect must be played by the intelligentsia. It is the intelligentsia, upholding the language, the traditions and the values of the Kazakh people, who can lead the spiritual process of uniting society.

The President acknowledged that a crucial factor also in establishing the right atmosphere for unity in society is the improvement in the socio-economic situation in the country. “It is clear to everyone,” the President said, “that a policy of peace and agreement has a direct economic effect. Internal stability strengthens the trust of investors and the development of economic cooperation.”

And while the President stressed that Kazakhstan is a secular state, he also acknowledged that it is vital that the state, society and different religions work together. Kazakhstan supports the traditional religions, but is opposed to all forms of extremism.

“The Assembly must genuinely be an institution which is for all citizens, above politics and brings together all the peoples of our country. I can only stress that the Assembly’s mission in the 21st century is not getting narrower, but, on the contrary, is growing ever wider.”

President Nazarbayev ASTANA CALLING / ISSUE 301 / 2

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Delegations from over 50 countries attended the Almaty conference on Afghanistan

Almaty Hosts Istanbul Process Meeting on Afghanistan Almaty was the venue for this week’s foreign ministers’ meeting devoted to the future of Afghanistan, “The Istanbul Process: New Agenda for Regional Cooperation in the Heart of Asia”. This was the third meeting of ministers under the Istanbul Process, a platform for dialogue and cooperation created in November 2011 following a meeting of ministers from Afghanistan’s neighboring countries to contribute to peace, stability and development in Afghanistan. A second ministerial conference was held in Kabul in June 2012.

More than 50 delegations from participating states, supporting countries and heads of international organizations, attended the Almaty Conference. Participants supported the plans of the regional countries to cooperate on Afghanistan and confirmed their willingness to expand and deepen regional cooperation.

The participants adopted a final declaration pledging support for Afghanistan in its efforts to engage in the economic and political life of the region. The Conference participants highlighted the importance of this integration in the context of the withdrawal of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from Afghanistan. They also adopted specific action plans for each of the six packages of confidence-building measures of the Istanbul Process.

The Process brings together 15 member states: Afghanistan and its direct and near neighbors: Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, UAE and Uzbekistan. They are joined by a number of other countries – Australia, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States – and 12 international organizations, including the United Nations (UN).

The Process has six areas of priority focus: Emergency situations; Anti-terrorism; Counter-narcotics; Trade, commercial & investment opportunities; Regional infrastructure; and Education. The first of these is co-chaired by Kazakhstan and Pakistan, and Kazakhstan takes part in each of the other groups, except anti-terrorism.

In an article published on the eve of the conference by cnn.com, Foreign Minister Idrissov said that Kazakhstan believes that the Istanbul Process is a valuable initiative that will take on increased relevance in the coming years. And he refuted the view frequently expressed that chaos and violence inevitably await Afghanistan after the withdrawal of foreign troops. Mr Idrissov said that Kazakhstan is, “optimistic that with the right level of assistance from its friends and neighbors and through the creation of a peaceful environment in its immediate neighborhood, Afghanistan can overcome its historical isolation and take its rightful place in the ‘Heart of Asia’”.

Kazakhstan has been developing close relations with Afghanistan in recent years. In recognition of the fact that Afghanistan is over 70% rural, Kazakhstan is helping to develop agriculture in the country by training Afghan agricultural specialists and providing large volumes of seed. Education and infrastructure projects in Afghanistan are also a priority for Kazakhstan. As part of a USD 50 million program Kazakhstan is providing professional training for 1,000 Afghan students in its higher education institutions in areas ranging from engineering to medicine. And Kazakhstan has recently financed the repair of a 77km road in the north of Afghanistan, at a cost of USD 1.65 million.

As the Foreign Minister concluded, “As Afghanistan’s government takes over responsibility for the country’s security its relations with neighboring countries are already taking on increased prominence. As neighbors, we must live up to our responsibilities and make the most of this opportunity.”

“There are no magic solutions to Afghanistan’s problems and we must accept the fact that only Afghans can decide the country’s way forward. The international community should limit its efforts to promoting the social and economic rehabilitation of Afghanistan and stay out of politics.”

Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov ASTANA CALLING / ISSUE 301 / 3

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Prime Minister Akhmetov and the government at this week’s meeting on the economy

Economy of Kazakhstan Grows in Q1 2013 The government of Kazakhstan met this week to assess the state of the country’s economy in the first quarter of 2013. As the Prime Minister, Serik Akhmetov, summed up, the overall picture is positive, indicating that the government’s target of a 6% growth in the economy for the year is realistic. But Mr Akhmetov warned against complacency, pointing out that continued growth would depend on external as well as internal factors.

The key speech at the government meeting was given by the Minister of Economy and Budget Planning, Yerbolat Dossayev. Mr Dossayev gave a detailed address, covering virtually every aspect of the economy. Starting with the macro-economic picture, the Minister pointed out that as of April 1 2013 government reserves stood at USD 73 billion, a growth of 5.2% since the start of the year.

With a few regional fluctuations, the overall level of inflation over the period in question was within acceptable levels. The figure of 0.2% for March compared favorably with March 2012 (0.3%). And even though the quarterly figure for inflation of 1.9% was 0.8% higher than the corresponding period last year, this can be accounted for by a 4% increase in domestic service charges. However, food prices had risen by half a percentage point less than last year.

Minister of Economy and Budget Planning, Yerbolat Dossayev

Mr Dossayev also emphasized that the state of the economy in Kazakhstan is dependent not only on what the country itself can achieve. The global economic situation remains uncertain. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has already revised downwards its forecast for global GDP this year, from a growth of 3.5% to 3.3%, just point one of a percentage point above last year’s figure of 3.2%. And, the Minister warned, this exposes the economy of Kazakhstan to external risks.

He identified three in particular. The US economy is forecast to grow by just 1.9% this year, a fall from last year’s already low figure of 2.2%. As the US is the largest economy in the world, this is bound to have a knock-on effect globally. In Europe, the recent banking crisis in Cyprus has shown the financial instability of the European Union; a further shrinkage of the economy is expected this year. The situation in the US and Europe is already having an effect on China, the world’s second largest economy. Last year’s figure for growth of 7.8% was the lowest annual figure in China since 1999; this year’s forecast is only slightly higher, at 8%.

But while the government cannot ignore these external risks, and the potential effect they could have on exports from Kazakhstan, within the country the majority of indicators point towards continued growth. The “Business Road-Map 2020” program has already encompassed 30,000 entrepreneurs, and the positive effect is being shown by the saving of 136,000 existing jobs and the creation of 34,000 new jobs.

Demand for consumer goods has seen a healthy rise of 12.5% since the start of the year. Over KZT 86 billion has been invested in housing construction since the start of the year, an increase of 6.7% on 2012. People’s real incomes have grown in the first two months of this year by 2.6%, and unemployment in March stood at 5.3% of the working population.

With an adjustment for seasonal factors, Mr Dossayev concluded, the government expects growth for the year to reach 6.8%, which would be significantly higher than the 6% forecast.

“I am instructing the Ministry of the Economy together with the other relevant state bodies to monitor closely the economic situation, both globally and domestically, and, if necessary, as part of the government’s economic plan which has already been adopted, to work out additional proposals to respond appropriately.”

Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov

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President Nazarbayev welcomes delegate to the Eurasian Media Forum in Astana

Astana Hosts Eurasian Media Forum Over 400 journalists, writers and others involved in the promotion of the concept of Eurasia gathered in Astana this week for the annual meeting of the Eurasian Media Forum. Among the topics for discussion were regional security after the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan in 2014; the situation in the Middle East; and EXPO-2017 in Astana.

The Eurasian Media Forum was born out of the horrific events of 9/11, the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. The Forum was initiated by the Kazakhstan National Khabar News Agency to define the strategic role of Eurasia in world affairs. It was officially registered as a non-political, non-profit, non-governmental organization — the Eurasian Media Forum Foundation — in Almaty in September 2001. In 2002 the Foundation opened its Representative Office in Moscow for better interaction with the Russian and CIS media communities and also established a London-based working group.

The Forum facilitates the professional development of the Eurasian media and promotes international public understanding of Eurasian issues. It does this by analyzing the current state of regional media and its development; by discussing current issues affecting the development of the Eurasian media market; by providing a platform for discussion on the role and place of the Eurasian continent in the global development and peace building processes; and by creating opportunities for building new partnerships and developing innovative cooperation models.

The first Conference was held in Almaty in April 2002, since when the Forum has become an established and authoritative voice on Eurasian issues. From 2002 to 2010 the Forum was held in Almaty, and in 2012 the venue moved to Astana. The Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Media Forum is Dr Dariga Nazarbayeva.

After the welcoming speeches by President Nazarbayev and Dr Nazarbayeva, the first session of this year’s Forum looked at the question of regional security after the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan in 2014. This was a particularly relevant subject, given the ministerial talks of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan, which were also taking place in Kazakhstan this week.

Emphasizing the global significance of the Eurasia Region, the Conference went on to discuss the volatile situation in the Middle East; and ended the first day with a session on EXPO-2017 in Astana and Kazakhstan’s prospects for creating a “green” economy.

The second day of the two-day event began with a discussion of the Eurasian Economic Union, asking what lessons this union -which should emerge in 2015 from the current Customs Union between Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus - can learn from the recent financial crisis in the European Union. The session on information security and the impact of the media and social networks on global politics, underlined how far the Forum has come since it was founded; such a subject would not have been on the agenda in 2002. The Conference ended by looking ahead to the continuing role of the media in the 21st century.

“It is evident to me that the processes ongoing in our industry desperately need definition, research and conceptualization. This is where the Eurasian Media Forum should play a role as an authoritative and time-tested international platform for dialogue.”

Dr Dariga Nazarbayeva

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News from the Government in Brief Kazakhstan marks out tourism zones The government has revealed plans to help the development of tourism in Kazakhstan. The country is divided into “cluster zones”, ten based on regions and two on the cities of Astana and Almaty. In Astana and its surrounding area, city tourism will be developed, driven by the preparations for EXPO-2017. City tourism is also important in Almaty, but, with the inclusion of Almaty Region, too, the area will be developed as a ski resort.

In the Eastern Kazakhstan Region the focus will be on eco-tourism, especially as this region takes in the mountains of the western Altai. In parts of South Kazakhstan, Kyzylorda and Zhambyl Regions, cultural tourism will be key. On the shores of the Caspian Sea, notably in Kenderli in Mangistau Region, it is planned to attract tourists to the beaches.

As a crucial part of the planning, instructions have been passed to the Ministry of Transport and Communications to include these improvements for tourism in their program for the development of transport infrastructure up to the year 2020, which is already being planned in the Ministry. (primeminister.kz)

Funding the tourism boom The Kazakhstan Institute for the Development of Industry, which has been looking into the growth of tourism in Kazakhstan, has produced its findings on the funding of the program to develop tourism in the country. The current estimate of cost is USD 10 billion. So when putting tourism into the plans for infrastructure development it is important to note that projects of national significance, such as major road corridors or airports, are not included under “tourism”; but roads which link tourist sites to main roads are included.

Clear guidelines are being given as to how this should be funded. It is proposed that 18% of the investment should come from Public-Private Partnerships (PPP); 13% from the government, through the National Company for the Development of Tourism.

And 55% of the total investment – around USD 6 billion – is expected to come from private investors. By 2020, should all go according to plan, tourism should contribute USD 7 billion to Kazakhstan’s GDP, up from the present USD 2.4 billion. If these estimates are correct, 270,000 people can expect to be employed in the tourist industry. (primeminister.kz)

Prime Minister welcomes Assistant Secretary of State, Robert Blake The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Serik Akhmetov, held a meeting this week with the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Robert Blake. They discussed the development of relations between the two countries, particularly cooperation on trade and investment. Mr Akhmetov noted that since 1993 the US has brought USD 24 billion of direct investment to Kazakhstan, and that over 300 Kazakhstan-US joint ventures have been created. The Prime Minister said that there was great potential for still wider, mutually-beneficial, cooperation.

Mr Blake agreed with the Prime Minister, commenting that Kazakhstan and the US have excellent possibilities for deepening various aspects of their bilateral relationship. In particular, Mr Blake spoke about developing links in the scientific and technological fields, humanitarian partnership and technology transfer. (primeminister.kz)

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Prime Minister meets competing architects for EXPO-2017 design Architects who are hoping to design the complex for the international exhibition EXPO-2017 met the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Serik Akhmetov, this week. As Mr Akhmetov noted, the project has been the focus of huge interest, both within Kazakhstan and around the world. His observation was confirmed by the attendance at the meeting. As well as architects from Kazakhstan, there were representatives from China, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the USA. Mr Akhmetov stressed the importance of the task. “Working out the architectural design of the EXPO-2017 territory is a crucial part of the preparations for the exhibition itself.� The Prime Minister assured his audience that every stage of the competition to design the EXPO-2017 complex would be carried out in a transparent and open way. (primeminister.kz)

President Nazarbayev speaks to President Putin On April 23, President Nazarbayev spoke by telephone to the Russian President, Vladimir Putin. The two leaders discussed developments in the Eurasian region in the wake of the agreements reached at their meeting in Moscow in December 2012.

They considered also the agenda for the forthcoming summit meetings of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to be held in Bishkek; and the meeting of the Higher Eurasian Economic Council, planned for the end of May in Astana. (akorda.kz)

Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov met with his counterpart Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich in Minsk this week

Visits from and to Belarus President Nazarbayev met the Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, Anatoly Rubinov, in Astana this week. The President noted that such meetings serve to bring even closer together the two countries, which already enjoy very close relations in every aspect. Mr Rubinov went on to meet the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kairat Mami. The strong relations between Kazakhstan and Belarus were discussed and an Agreement was signed on cooperation between the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus. Under the terms of the Agreement, a Commission will be set up on cooperation between the two upper houses. (akorda.kz) Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov, visited Belarus for talks with the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, and Prime Minister, Mikhail Myasnikovich. Wide-ranging discussions covered in particular the trade relationship between the two countries and investment opportunities. (primeminister.kz)

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Also in The News…

• Eni expects the massive Kashagan oil field to start output around the middle of the year, said Claudio Descalzi, the head of exploration and production at Italy’s biggest energy company by market value, on Wednesday. The Kashagan facilities “will be ready to receive first oil by June” and production is expected to start “in those weeks,” Descalzi said. Eni forecasts the company’s daily output from Kashagan this year will average between 10,000 and 15,000 barrels. (Dow Jones) • The Senate of Kazakhstan’s parliament, at a plenary session on April 25, approved in the second and final reading a draft law “On making amendments and addenda to certain legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on issues of the law enforcement service”. The document is considered adopted by the entire parliament and will now be sent as a law to the head of state for signing. The amendments give legislative reinforcement to the procedure for candidates for service in the law enforcement agencies going through a compulsory polygraph test. (Interfax-Kazakhstan) • A memorandum was signed this week between the Center for International Programs of Kazakhstan and the Department of Health and Social Security of Gyeonggi Province in South Korea. The memorandum is aimed at strengthening cooperation in health matters between Kazakhstan and South Korea, including educational exchanges. Currently 26 post-graduate students from Kazakhstan are studying in South Korea as part of the “Bolashak” international educational program. (zakon.kz) • The Procurator-General of Kazahstan, Askhat Daulbayev, has visited Switzerland for discussions with his Swiss counterparts on law enforcement procedures. As well as informing his hosts on progress in Kazakhstan on law enforcement issues, Mr Daulbayev discussed Kazakhstan’s possible accession to the four fundamental conventions of the Council of Europe on criminal proceedings. (zakon.kz) • An international forum was held this week in Kurchatov on the topic of single-industry cities. Under the title, “SingleIndustry Cities: the Way Ahead”, experts from Kazakhstan, Germany and Russia came together to share their experiences and discuss the development of cities based on a single industry. (inform.kz) • Representatives of different religions from a number of countries met together in Astana this week. They had come together for the conference, “Kazakhstan, Our Common Home”. It was remarked at the conference how Kazakhstan is marked out for its tolerance and respect for all faiths and beliefs. (bnews.kz) • The second Almaty Marathon takes place on Sunday April 28. Thousands of runners from Kazakhstan and abroad are expected to take part in the event. There will be four distances run: children between the ages of ten and 14 will run two kilometers; and adults can choose to run nine kilometers, a 21km half-marathon, or the full 42km marathon. (tengrinews.kz) • Kevin Seeldraeyers, riding for the Astana Pro Team, was lying in second place after the 4th stage of the Tour of Turkey 2013 cycling race. The race covers 1204km, and is due to finish in Istanbul on Sunday April 28. (inform.kz, steephill.tv) • The Kazakhstan National Young Figure Skating Championships took place from April 23-25 in Karaganda. Over 150 youngsters took part, from Almaty, Astana, Kokshetau, Pavlodar, Satpaev, Shymkent and Karaganda itself. (inform.kz)

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