ALMATY, Aug 25
(THE GLOBE)
On 10 August the rather well known web-site �Eurasia� published an article claiming that The Australian Government had taken a decision to close its Embassy in Almaty due to fact that Kazakhstan had failed to live up to the expectations of the Australian business community. The style of this article suggested that �Eurasia� had obtained this information from the official statement issued by an Embassy official.
This week we spoke to the Charge d�Affaires of the Australian Embassy in Almaty, Mrs Margaret Newman, concerning the closure of the Australian Embassy and the �Eurasia� article. Mrs Newman told us that the Australian Embassy had never issued a public statement concerning the closure of the Embassy, let alone given any reasons for the Embassy�s closure to �Eurasia�. According to Mrs Newman, an Embassy staff member had sent an e-mail to �Eurasia� asking that the Embassy�s subscription be cancelled due to the closure.
It seems that �Eurasia� then added its own comments to the Embassy�s e-mail in such a way as to produce a false and misleading representation of the Australian position. This has put the Australian Embassy, the Australian Government and Australian businessmen working in Kazakhstan into an awkward situation, and risks damaging the good relations between the two countries.
To make matters worse, other journalists then produced articles on the closure of the Australian Embassy based on the false and misleading information provided by The �Eurasia� web-site. On 19 August 1999, an article in �XXI Vek� cited the �official statement� on the closure of the Embassy, prompting �Golden Eagle Services� to produce a similarly incorrect article.
In case anyone is actually interested in the truth, Mrs Newman told THE GLOBE the decision to close the Australian Embassy in Almaty was made by Australian Government following a review of its network of overseas representations. The decision was based solely on the Australian Government�s assessment of where and how it could best utilise diminishing resources in Australia�s overall national interests. This decision is not a reflection of the value that Australia attaches to maintaining as strong and productive a relationship with Kazakhstan as possible. Nor does it reflect any comments of the Australian business community in Kazakhstan.
Comments by THE GLOBE
Let�s summarise. The Web-site �Eurasia�, �21st century� newspaper and some other editions describe the closing of the Australian Embassy as an expression of resentment of business circles of the green continent caused by the situation in Kazakhstan. They refer to an announcement and quote lines from the same. The Australian Embassy categorically refutes this information and states the following:
1. There was no announcement.
2. No quotations may be done from the non-existing statement.
3. The decision to close the embassy is the result of the total restructurisation of the international economic activity of Australia.
This situation does not surprise us at all. No embassy of any country in the world may afford such statements.
The position of these editions also does not surprise. We are not going to prove, but taking into consideration the tone of these editions, it is absolutely obvious that they belong to Akezhan Kazhegeldin. Mr. Kazhegeldin is ready to apply not only to the methods of �dirty� journalistic, which is brightly illustrated by this event. An uncivilised character of the political game in the country arouses our pity. There are some people who are to share the responsibility with the ex-Prime Minister. There are a lot of examples of this dishonest game. Akezhan Kazhegeldin should personally know better than others, that, in fact, Australian businessmen may be unsatisfied with their business in Kazakhstan. When Mr. Kazhegeldin was the Prime Minister, the Australian company �Telstra�, a pioneer of new technologies in Central Asia was pressed out from the Kazakhstan market in a dishonest and uncivilised way. That time Mr. Kazhegeldin did not demonstrate any heroism and was not an ideal of crystal honesty introducing the order in the country to establish honest interrelations between private local companies, foreign investors and local semi-state companies.
Now, while crossing the Capitol mountains, it seems to me, it is much easier for him to be just.
But there is another interesting circumstance. One western electron weekly edition, which is closely connected with American business circles, practically repeated the same reasons of the closing of the Australian Embassy in the same manner, with the same words, and which is the main thing, in the same spirit. What can be reasons for this?
- Non- professionalism?
- Closeness to Kazhegeldin�s position?
- Hidden resentment of the entire American business community caused by the situation in our country?
It is difficult to say. It is this circumstances that strikes us. We do not know the answer.
Gulbanu ABENOVA
ASTANA, Aug 25
(THE GLOBE)
�The closed joint-stock company �Fund Akmola� has been reorganised into an open joint-stock company �Astana-Finance�. This was announced by the chairman of the Board of the OJSC on August 25 in Astana.
We remind you that �Fund Akmola� was established according to the decree of the Administrative Council of the Akmola special economic zone dated December 18, 1997. In February 1998 the Administrative Council SEC of Astana transferred the right on management SEZ assets (including loaned and other ones) required to finance programs of the Administrative Council to develop the town of Astana.
According to Kintal Islamov, the chairman of the Board of the OJSC �Astana-Finance�, the Share Capital of the OJSC is 5 billion tenge. As on July 1, 1999 the balance currency came to 14600 million tenge, and the private capital was 2308 million tenge. For the period of operations the total amount of allotted credits has come too US$ 89 million.
At the present time the fund has financed the reconstruction of the international airport in Astana, construction of VIP building of the airport, reconstruction of the bank of the river Ishim, construction of shops, cafes, hairdressing salons, etc.
The OJSC is planning to realise the following projects: the construction of multi-purpose business centre �Astana-City�, construction of trade centre �Astana-Walk� and the cinema (which has been already started). It is also projected to erect the VIP-town, i.e. cottages, which are to comply with the European standard of life.
According to Alexander Firsov, the deputy chairman of the Board, the value of the project �Astana-City�, the total territory of which is 210000 sq. m., is US$ 350 million. As far as the VIP town is concerned, in this year 25 cottages have been completed according to the project of hypothecation credits. That means that to purchase a cottage the fund will allot loans in the amount of 70% of the cottage. It is also planned to build ordinary houses and houses of improved layout. This houses will not be expensive, Mr. Islamov believes, as it will cost US$ 350 to 400 per square metre.
�We may form a demand for loans for construction and purchase of a house. For a year and a half the number of the Astana population has increased by 50000, and I think that this figure will continue to grow,� Mr. Islamov states.
The chairman of the Board said that according to the government�s decree dated February 24, 1999, the state guarantees limit for foreign non-state loans has been determined in the amount of US$ 40 million. US$ 8 million has been already utilised for the commercial centre, the rest US$ 32 million are intended to the project �City-Palace�. �We are construction using not only foreign loans, but also at the internal money of the fund �Astana-Finance�, allotted by the Administrative Council, Mr. Islamov emphasised.
As far as the reason for reorganisation of the closed JSC into the open one, Mr. Islamov said that this was done to realise projects in the town not only at the expense of the Administrative Council, but to attract additional means. Now not only the Administrative Council may be the shareholder, but any company or physical person, who wishes to purchase shares of �Astana-Finance�.
The Fund is also going to contribute to the development of the industry in the new capital. One hundred-twenty million tenge has been allotted for this purpose. In particular, they will finance the manufacturing of finishing construction materials, the project of packing and peeling of sunflower seeds, nuts, as well as the production of concentrates, on the basis of which construction materials will be manufactured.
Beibars BATYRKHANOV
ALMATY, Aug 25
(THE GLOBE)
�Recently issues of sexual education and reproductive health have become very urgent in the Central Asian region. In connection to this the project �Sexwise� has been prepared,� the head of the representative office of the International Federation of Family Planning announced on Wednesday in Almaty.
According to Alfia Shamsutdinova, the main objective of the project is to provide radio-audience and readers with information on reproductive and sexual health, to heighten the responsibility for sexual behaviour and to help people to find additional information about this theme. One of the advantages of the project is that programs and booklets will be published in Kazakh. This project is a mutual educational work of the world-wide BBC service and the Kazakhstan Medical-Educational Association (KMEA) dealing with problems of reproductive rights of the youth,� Mrs. Shamsutdinova stated.
�According to this project, 5-minutes radio programs will be broadcast from London at the BBC�s short wave (frequancy SW 17740) at 8 p.m. in working days from August 31 to December twice in a week,� the President of �Shahar� radio, one of the participants of the project, said.
Nurbergen Makhambetov emphasised that themes for the first programs will touch such issues as how to avoid undesirable pregnancy, at what age it is possible to start a sexual activity, etc. the programs will be presented in a free and easy way.
Hotline telephones in the republican towns will be given in the end of every program. According to the founders of the project, this will allow the audience to get in touch and to receive detailed information. Common people will have a chance to share their personal experience and statements with others.
According to KMEA, the number of teenagers who had venereal diseases is annually increasing.
Participants of the press conference believe that this project will help young people to avoid many sexual problems.
ALMATY, Aug 25
(THE GLOBE)
�Today the German community of Kazakhstan celebrates two important events, the 10th anniversary of the German public movement and the 5th jubilee of the German House,� the chairman of the German Council of Kazakhstan announced on Thursday in Almaty.
We remind you, that in 1989 the process of national self-consciousness of different peoples, including Germans living in Kazakhstan. �Rebirth� societies and German Culture centres were established everywhere thanks to the efforts of enthusiasts. One of self-organisation institutions of Kazakhstan Germans was the German House, which co-ordinates the work on rebirth of German language and culture, national traditions. It also settles economic and social problems. The German House in Almaty was the first one established in the post-soviet space, and this was a significant event not only for Kazakhstan Germans, but also for Germans of all CIS countries. On August 25, 1994 the House was officially opened.
According to Alexander Dederer, one of the leading directions of the German Council is rebirth of German language. To achieve this, children�s Sundays schools, German classes and groups in secondary schools and kindergartens and German courses for grown-ups have been established.
�Germany renders a priceless help to realise different projects,� Mr. Dederer emphasised. It is, first of all, free help, products and other parcels from the German Red Cross.
Despite all measures taken by the German Council to support Germans living in Kazakhstan, the emigration is not reducing. In connection with this, the chairman of the German Council said: �we are ready to support any constructive proposals and programs to strengthen position of Germans living in Kazakhstan, which has become their Motherland.�
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