Казахстанская правда

Visits in February

Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Omurbek Babanov arrived on a working visit to Kazakhstan yesterday and is meeting with President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Prime Minister Karim Massimov, heads of ministries and agencies. The announcement of this and other foreign policy events was made at the weekly press briefing in the Foreign Ministry.

To tap more potential

At a meeting in the National Academic Library the Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Baghlan Mailybaev discussed with the media and NGO representatives their participation in the outreach on the President's state-of-the-nation Address. The Culture and Information Minister Darkhan Mynbay, senior officials of the Presidential Administration and of the Culture and Information Ministry were present there too.

Kazakhstan’s presidency in CSTO praised

Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Nikolai Bordyuzha praised Kazakhstan's presidency in the CSTO in a videoconference yesterday with Astana, Moscow, Yerevan, Kiev and Chisinau.

Preparations for the IV Religious Congress underway

President Nursultan Nazarbayev received the Senate speaker Kairat Mami yesterday, the President press office informs. The speaker, who also heads the Secretariat of the Congress of World and Traditional Religions’ Leaders briefed on arrangements for the IV Congress on May 30-31 in Astana and the outcome of the recent working group’s meeting, engaged in them.

Raising major issues

President Nursultan Nazarbayev has received former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the President's press service informs.

Importance of the right diagnosing

The government hour in Majilis, chaired by the House vice-speaker Baktykozha Izmukhambetov tallied up the first year of the State Programme for Healthcare Development "Salamatty Kazakstan- 2011-2015".

The main development vector

A nationwide conference the Gumilev Eurasian National University was hosting yesterday, that elaborated on the President's Address "The socio-economic modernization - the main vector of development of Kazakhstan" was attended by Kazakh Secretary of State Mukhtar Kul-Mukhammed, Deputy Head of Presidential Administration Baglan Mailybayev, the Minister of Culture and Information Darkhan Mynbay, other ministers, deputy regional governors, media executives and NGO members.

Arrangements for upcoming visit

In Bishkek, the ambassador of our country Beibit Isabaev met with Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Omurbek Babanov to talk over his upcoming visit to Kazakhstan, development of bilateral trade-economic, water and energy and investment cooperation.

In support of a single-industry town

A MoC in social projects in 2012 was signed between the Kostanai region’s administration and Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC). The document, pursuant to the region’s development was inked by the region’s governor Nuraly Saduakas and the ENRC CEO Felix Vulis. This is a continuation of the long-time partnership tradition.

Constructive and substantive workshop

The Civil Service Agency held a workshop on "Assessing quality of public services provided by central state and local executive bodies," attended by representatives of ministries and departments, local government offices, the Center for state bodies’ performance evaluation under the "Institute of Economic Research."

Contribution to the science

The Central Scientific Library of the Education and Science Ministry held a presentation of a five-volume reference edition “Nursultan Nazarbayev” of “Bibliography of Kazakhstan scientists" series.

New system of payments to be introduced in 2012

Improvement of the quality of public services through the development of “electronic government” is a major trend in socio-economic modernization. In this connection, since 2013 Kazakhstanis will have to get all permits from the government in electronic form. The labor and social protection ministry centers on improving efficiency and quality of services of “electronic government”.

In the spirit of harmony and tolerance

Yesterday Kairat Mami- the Senate speaker and head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions met with the working group of the Secretariat of the Congress, held February 16-17 in Astana. After thanking the participants for their active assistance in promotion of inter-religious dialogue, Kairat Mami said that the last forum of religious leaders, organized on the initiative of the Head of State confirmed the relevance and timeliness of this idea.

Instructions given on priorities in the foreign policy

Yesterday President Nursultan Nazarbayev received Minister of Foreign Affairs Yerzhan Kazykhanov.

On the situation in Mangistau region

Yesterday President Nursultan Nazarbayev received Mangistau region’s governor Baurzhan Mukhamedzhanov, the press service of the President informed.

Dynamic trade

Yesterday Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov met with Thierry Mariani, Minister of State for Transport of France, the PM’s statement in the Facebook reads.

Agreements ready for ratification

The Bureau session in Majilis yesterday, chaired by Nurlan Nigmatulin defined the agenda of the plenary meeting of the House.

Zhanaozen: focus on the future. Construction of new enterprises and development of agriculture and tourism industries will help address the problems of the region

The policy of President Nursultan Nazarbayev pursues the principle of maximizing the opportunities of each region. Construction of factories and infrastructure, development of business and agriculture - all this is aimed at improving the social well-being of citizens and provision them with jobs. The issues of employment are especially relevant for Zhanaozen. The President instructed not only to restore the city, but also to solve urgent problems.

Port of Aktau is gaining pace

Republican state enterprise "Aktau International Commercial Sea Port" (RSE "AICSP") plays an important role in increasing the export-import operations in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Every year the amount of transshipments through the port grows.

Increasing local content

Ministry of Industry and New technologies with the National Agency for the local content development NADLoC held their first dialogue platform "Buy Kazakhstani goods" with the participation of companies comprising the Foreign Investors Council, as well as with domestic producers and subsoil users.

Azamat resumes flights

During RK President’s recent visit to Germany about 50 commercial contracts were signed, opening up huge opportunities for the development of business relations. The only document on civil aviation was signed by the President of JSC “Azamat - Astana Airlines” Nurlan Ahmuhanov and managing director of ManageAir Flugzeuge GmbH Peter Ratgens. The agreement provides for implementation of a Kazakh-German project to set up a base carrier in Kazakhstani capital.

Under state control

By the end of this February JSC “Vostokmashzavod” plans to downsize 306 workers and administrative and managerial staff in the wake of restructuring and optimization of production.

Demand and capacity: recovery in crediting sector makes positive forecast

Demand for credits in the first quarter of this year continues to grow: 60% of banks expect its increase; the rest 40% of the financial institutions predict that is will remain the same. This is one of the conclusions of the National Bank’s analysts made after the traditional quarterly monitoring of the banks.

Exchange rate regime is simplified: the Customs Union’s legislation is being harmonized

On January 28 amendments to the legislation on currency regulation and currency control came into force. The relevant law was signed by the head of state on January 6, 2012. As reported by the National Bank, the document provides for replacing a transaction passport by the procedure of a foreign trade contract’s registration; bringing to conformity with the Treaty on the order of movement of cash and (or) the monetary instruments by individuals across the customs border of the Customs Union of July 5, 2010, as well as clarification of procedures of foreign exchange regulation and simplification of certain types of foreign exchange transactions for the residents. We were asked Aigul Buranbayeva, Deputy Director the NB department of the balance of payments and foreign exchange regulation to comment on these changes.

Forthcoming V Astana Economic Forum will include 27 major events

In keeping with the Presidential Decree, V Astana Economic Forum, scheduled for May 22-24, has been identified as one of the central events of 2012. The Eurasian economic club of scientists - the main organizer of the event, has been conducting the preparatory work since June. Particularly they formed and approved the concept and the draft program, which includes 27 major events.

Industrialization and the Map of innovations. This year six backbone enterprises will be upgraded

The focus of the industrial and innovation policy will be on innovation, local content, energy efficiency, high added value, and the projects on finished products and manufacturing components. These and other priorities for further implementation of the accelerated industrialization in the light of the President's state of the nation address "Socio-economic modernization is the main vector of Kazakhstan’s development" were presented by Minister of Industry and Trade Aset Issekeshev at the Cabinet’s meeting chaired by Prime Minister Karim Masimov.

“Five-pointer” with plus from Standard & Poor's for corporate governance. This is the starting position of "Kazakhtelecom" in solving the problems of social modernization

About 30,000 people work in the country's largest telecommunications company - JSC "Kazakhtelecom". The operator is present without exaggeration in all corners of the republic, even if there are only a few families in the village. How does the company solve social problems and does the employees’ benefit package meet modern standards? Let's talk about this with the chief director for strategic management of JSC "Kazakhtelecom" Batyr Muhanbetazhiyev.

A good investment area. In the mining town Tekeli new productions and a skiing resort will appear

Local authorities are looking to building of a year-round tourism cluster there. And this is just one of the projects on development of this single-industry town, which is home to less than 30 thousand people.

Exit from the crisis - on the G-Global

G-Global Internet Communication platform, launched this January on N.Nazarbayev’s initiative, unites more than half a million Internet users from 128 countries to discuss strategies of recovery from the global financial crisis.

...Plus transfer of high technologies

France is the fifth in the volume investor in Kazakh economy. European companies intend to maintain the pace of cooperation, as it was stated at the meeting of the Kazakh-French Business Council (KFDC) that discussed an outlook for domestic production and transfer of foreign technologies.

The costs will be repaid a hundredfold

“KazAgroFinance” prepared a good gift for Kyzylorda rice farmers. This year, the Institute of AIC Development introduced in the Aral Sea area a new lease program, which makes available amelioration equipment for agricultural enterprises.

Keeping pace with achievements

Machinery manufacturing of the country is gaining momentum. Last year was successful for the industry: production volume amounted to KZT 500 billion (by almost 33% higher than in the previous year). And if we compare the outcomes with the year 2000, the growth is obvious –by 11 times; then the amount in engineering was 45.8 billion tenge. These figures were voiced at the board’s meeting of the “Union of Kazakhstani Mechanic Engineering" yesterday.

How to manage water resources

The second phase of the project to manage the transborder rivers in Central Asia will be implemented with additional funding from the European Union, said the head of the project, implemented by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Volker Frobart during a presentation organized for the staff of the Committee on Water Resources of the Agriculture Ministry by the Academy of Public Administration under the President jointly with the representation of the European Union in Kazakhstan.

A new breakthrough in new industrialization. 130 large projects will be commissioned by the end of 2012

The industrialization in our country is gaining pace: in the last 2-3 years a large number of objects were put into operation. But the problem is deeper - to change the structure of the economy. Its solution is unthinkable at the expense of budgetary resources alone, and no country can do this. Therefore the law enforcement bodies are working to provide clearer property rights.

Wikipedia in the Kazakh language

WikiBilim public fund with the assistance from the education and science ministry arranged a workshop-presentation of Creative Commons licenses at RK National Library as part of their promotion project overseen by Prime Minister Karim Masimov.

Saved from inundation

Last Sunday some districts of southern Kazakhstan were inundated. Abrupt warming, rain and intense snow melting resulted in flows, which the frozen ground could not soak up. Urgent action to divert water and relocate people helped to avoid casualties and destruction.

In the zone of high turbulence. The Greeks and EU campaign: no solutions are expected in near future

When economic arguments and recipes are exhausted a fatalistic expression is heard: "Better a terrible end than terror without end." Today it is often said by the experts about Greece. On the one hand, the Greeks can no longer live as they did in the EU before, but on the other – they do not want to leave the EU. According to media reports, 70% of Greeks would like to stay in the EU and the euro area, but they do not want to put up with the unacceptable, in their opinion, conditions for obtaining 130 billion euros of financial aid.

Expert opinions

Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister: - None of the reasons for the current financial turmoil has been resolved. The crisis of 2008 enters a new stage and reveals new depth of the problem. But the world will never be the same again. The question is the end of five-century domination of the Western states. The center is shifting from the West to Asia-Pacific region, new centers of economic growth emerge and Russia should be among them.

The number of criminal cases exceeds dozens

RK courts have sentenced 18 persons as a result of investigation into 3 criminal cases on M. Ablyazov’s embezzlement of BTA assets.

A chance to change life for better. The state program “Employment 2020” gave jobs to 41 Shakhtinsk residents

Vadim Votintsev, a town’s resident, believes that every person can make a difference. He was born and grew up in a miners’ town, where men return home with eyes “made up” with coal and where snow does not stay white for long. He knows every house and street in it and is well aware that the well-being of each of its family depends on effectiveness of the industry giving jobs to the bulk of its residents.

Invaluable help

The National Coordinating Centre for neonatal surgery under the National Research Center for motherhood and childhood and the healthcare ministry’s hematology service tallies up its first year.

The Achilles heel of the healthcare system

Almaty Branch of Nur Otan Party held a regular meeting of its Public Council. High on the agenda was combating corruption in the city healthcare system. The meeting was attended by MP Murat Abenov, representatives of public funds, non-governmental organizations, committees for financial control, monitoring of medical and pharmaceutical activities, Almaty department for combating economic crime.

Disturbances from “austerities": trends in the Eurozone cause acute anxiety of experts

The "wounds" of economic "disease" in the Eurozone have been more clearly revealed. The analysts’ assumptions about first wave of crisis and its impacts remain reasoning. And the governments meanwhile have to make a decision to reduce the most sensitive - social side of the budget. And this leads, as we see, to unrest among the population. Thus in Greece the spending cuts by more than 320 million euros led to mass strikes, riots and arsons. The protests in other EU countries, maybe not so destructive, are still numerous.

The Commission made a report

To fully tap the remedial potential- was the main idea of the enlarged meeting of the Commission on Human Rights under the President yesterday. The meeting tried the observance of labor legislation, labor protection and employment, heard the special commission's draft report "On the situation in the rights of repatriates, stateless persons and refugees in the Republic of Kazakhstan," the commission’s plans for the current year and the past year’s performance report.

A thief must be behind the bars

Mukhtar Ablyazov, accused of embezzling at least $5 billion from BTA, has been sentenced to 22 months in jail in Britain for contempt of court.

It could not have been otherwise

The internal troops command is putting forward a contract service Sgt Vitaly Elisov for a state award for courage and heroism in rescuing people from fire.

Jury’s jubilee

The Institute of jury trial in Kazakhstan is five years old - a landmark on the national judiciary bodies’ record, marked by a press conference at the Supreme Court yesterday, tallying up the results.

Rights of patients in priority

A regular meeting of the healthcare ministry’s Public Council for Protection of Patients’ Rights was held in Astana chaired by the minister Salidat Kairbekova and attended by representatives of non-governmental organizations, who talked over issues related to joint responsibility of citizens for their health and ways to enhance the NGO movement under state program “Salamatty Kazakstan” in 2011-2015.

Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools: a special mission of accumulating and spreading the best education practices

Two educational models are being realized in intellectual schools. The first is an experimental integrated program of mathematics and sciences, which, after testing by intellectual schools, will be recommended for employment by secondary education facilities in the country. The project was developed in conjunction with the International Examinations Board of the University of Cambridge.

Workers with engineering training. Pavlodar vocational schools are training new-level blue collars

Reforming in education is among the tasks set in the President’s State-of-the-Nation Address, specifically applying modern strategies in learning, developing vocational schools’ network, scaling up the teaching quality.

Social Modernization: ten important things

The new President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s state-of-the-nation Address covers all the life areas, meting out ten priority directions, the Government, the state and citizens are to focus on. The first unit in it lists employment measures in order to improve material standing of every Kazakhstan family. They comprise development of an effective system of young people’s training with subsequent employment, promotion of rural business, labor mobility, priority job-placement in economically promising regions and districts.

Umurzak Shanov’s world

Sculptor Umurzak Shanov is popular. His works are shown at Kazakhstani museums and are in private collections overseas. His first solo exhibition was held at the Kasteev State Museum of Art in 1997. A graduate of the Surikov Moscow Art Institute, member of the Union of Artists of Kazakhstan and USSR, he took part in many republican, all-union and international exhibitions.

A healer of human souls

An event in commemoration of outstanding writer, playwright, literary critic and physician Zein Shashkin (1912-1966) timed to his centennial was held at RK President’s Cultural Center. It was attended by his widow Mariam and daughter Gulzhan.

Swan Lake for students

The Year of Culture started in Almaty with a ballet staged at the U. Dzholdasbekov Students Palace of Al-Farabi KazNU.

Creator of good fairy tales

“From zero to infinity” is a possible title of an exhibition of well-known Kazakhstani artist, Yuri Zobak, which opened at the gallery in the Maurice Simashko Jewish community library.

Declaration of love from the screen. A movie “Astana is my heart” is released early March

The film project was conceived by Russian directors Yegor Konchalovsky and Alexei Golubev and shot in collaboration with Kazakhstani filmmakers.

At one with nature

Ermahan Begenov’s solo exhibition “At one with the native nature” is hosted by RK First President’s Museum. 45 works of the artist painted in the past 20 years are put on a show.

Diplomats and museologists

The Russian Federation celebrated the Day of Diplomatic Service for the tenth time. On the eve of the holiday the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to RK, Mikhail Bocharnikov invited journalists from Kazakhstani mass-media to tour the Museum of history and traditions of the Russian Embassy in Kazakhstan. It opened in Astana in 2004.

Academic Concert

State Chamber Orchestra “Academy of Soloists” gave a concert at the Organ Hall of the Kazakh National University of Arts in Astana.

Sounds of dombra in distant Niigata

A Semey resident Adlet Seisen, a financier who used to work at main offices of Kazakhstan’s largest banks, is a student again.

A new page in study of Genghis Khan History

Recently the book by Anatoly Olovintsev “Turks or Mongols? Genghis Khan Epoch” was presented at the meeting of the Royal Club of Astana. The book submitted to the approval of readers did not leave them indifferent, because the author's conclusions are the result of tireless work on study of Genghis Khan's biography, the fruit of hours, days and months spent in the archives, and long traveling in many little-known towns and settlements of Eurasian space.

She “sang” the candidate thesis on one breath

Tolkyn Zabirova is the only candidate of art history among domestic singers. Very soon she intends to publish a monograph on the results of defended in 2010 dissertation devoted to the vocal art.

An artifact from school museum

Unique archaeological find of a rural schoolgirl can shed light on the mysteries of antiquity.

Time of Dickens

On 7 February the world marked the bicentenary of Charles Dickens. During international readership marathon that lasted 24 hours excerpts from 24 of his works were read in 24 countries. Lovers of Dickens live in Australia and Argentina, Russia and Kazakhstan, China, Iraq, Syria, Japan, Pakistan...

Our festival in Hollywood

The second festival of Kazakh cinema and culture in Hollywood will be held on 1-7 July at the Directors Guild of America.

Another… New Year

The Embassy of China arranged a performance at K.Baiseitova National Opera and Ballet Theatre to mark the Chinese New Year recently celebrated in the Middle Kingdom.

Books and miniatures

Almaty is hosting two exhibitions devoted to 34th anniversary of Iran’s independence: books on and posters of “Modern Iran” are on show at RK National Library and “Art and Culture of Iran” – at T.Zhurgenov Kazakh National Arts Academy.

Our culture in Russian media

Russian musical information newspaper “Playing from the beginning. Da capo al fine” declared 2012 the Year of Kazakhstan. According to its official representative in RK Aiymzhan Gilmanova, thereby the edition shows its attitude to the first CIS subscribers. Aktobe residents subscribed to the paper in 2010, and Almaty musicians in 2011. This year, the newspaper was included in the KazPost subscription catalog and is now available to all citizens of Kazakhstan.

Awarding of best athletes and sports journalists

The tallies of two traditional national competitions for 2011 were announced in Almaty. Awards were given to the best athletes and S. Berdikulov’s prize to best sports journalists.

Jumpy Akito and reactive Mikko

When in early February in the Italian Val di Fiemme at the eighth stage of Nordic Combined World Cup a Japanese Akito Watabe was three seconds ahead of a Norwegian Mikko Kokslien, it was a surprise for many, although after ski jumping Watabe was the first and Kokslien only 14th.

Looking forward to “SuperMedeu”

Sparkling ice, mountain sun in a fabulously beautiful gorge, the feeling of flying ever sought by a man - all this is a high-altitude skating rink Medeu. Last year, the “record factory” and favorite holiday destination of Almaty residents turned 60. Its artificial ice is 40 this year.

Decades of successful development

In early February the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan marked its 22nd birthday. Timed to it was a press conferences held in the lobby of RK National Olympic Committee, which brought together sports journalists.

The bank of good deeds

A soccer ball autographed by the UK footballers was set for a charity online auction in Almaty. The starting price was three thousand dollars, but the ball was sold twice as much. The auction was arranged to raise funds for treatment of children with cerebral palsy under a program “Bank of good deeds”.

This is the bandy we like!

Kazakhstan’s bandy team is the third time holder of bronze medals at a world championship. The semifinal match of our team against future world champion – the Swedes – at Almaty’s high-altitude skating rink Medeu was attended by President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Bandy rages at Medeu

This is the only right verb to describe the 32nd bandy world championship ongoing in Almaty. The results shown on the first day prove it.

“Bronze Bedouins” from Kazakhstan

Arthur Ardavichus, Alexey Kuzmich and Nurlan Turlybaev from “Astana” crew created a sensation at the Dakar rally raid, having won the third place in the trucks’ race.

South American "bronze"

A legendary cross country rally "Dakar" that will go down in history as the first tournament, where the Kazakh club "Astana" entered the top three winners in the overall standings, completed.

Convincing victory

The “Astana Arlans” had a convincing revenge upon “Los Angeles matadors” for the defeat two months ago. The match was held within the World Series of Boxing (WSB). After this victory Kazakhstani athletes anchored on the second place.

New Year "marathon"

On December 31- January 1 midnight Almaty held the 23rd New Year run "Densaulyқ-2012" dedicated to 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan Independence and in memory of a Kazakh hero Karasai Batyr.

Yuri Tskhai: integrated efforts underlie success

In 2011, a pre-Olympic year, Kazakhstan Boxing Federation’s agenda was as never before busy - Asian Championship, World Championship tournaments for adults and juniors, the Boxing Federation’s Cup... A vice-president of the Boxing Federation, Senator Yuri Tskhai asserts that the country’s most popular sport is developing the right way.

Appropriate steps being taken

As the official representative of the Prosecutor General's Office Nurdaulet Suindikov said yesterday at a briefing, in criminal cases on the riots in Zhanaozen the investigative task group had detained 20 people, 18 of which were taken into custody on the court sanction.

Kazakhstani star on the world horizon

11-year-old chess player Zhansaya Abdumalik won the fourth gold medal at the world championship in Brazil.

Dallman hits a record

The captain of "Barys" Kevin Dallman, who hit the record of famous Vyacheslav Fetisov, and became the most productive defender of the League, continues to surprise the fans. In the home match with Yekaterinburg "Motorist", he made four passes thereby setting up a new achievement of the League: the star hockeyist – a legionary of Kazakhstan's club was the first among the players of defense to score 100 passes in the regular season.

“Gaudeamus igitur” will resound in Almaty!

Good news has come from Brussels headquartering the International University Sports Federation (FISU) - Almaty will host the 28th World Winter Universiade in 2017.

Gold “hero”. Ilya Ilyin is back in his hometown with another gold medal

Kyzylorda met Ilya Ilyin warmly. Its most renowned athlete is now a three-time world champion in weightlifting.