Sept 23
(Financial Times)
The upheavals of transition from communism have hit women particularly hard, write Stefan Wagstyl and Charles Clover
For Elena Makarova, a Ukrainian gynaecologist, the most striking effect of the political and economic upheaval of the past 10 years is the declining number of her patients. �Everyone can see the effects of the economic situation on women. Women aren�t giving birth,� she says.
Dr Makarova�s conclusions are echoed in a comprehensive report published today by Unicef, the United Nations children�s organisation, which examines the condition of women in the ex-communist states of eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
The authors paint a bleak picture of the lives of women across the region, even in those central European states such as Slovenia and Poland that have made rapid economic progress in the past decade. They say that in many respects, the upheavals of transition from communism have hit women particularly hard. Of the 26m jobs axed in the region since 1989, 14m have been lost by women. Standards of health care have fallen. Kindergarten enrolment has plunged, notably in central Asia. In Kazakhstan, for example, just 12 per cent of pre-school children attend kindergarten compared with 52 per cent before 1990.
After an initial period of euphoria after the collapse of communism, when the young rushed into marriage and parenthood, birth rates have dropped in most countries (see chart). The report says that, while similar changes have happened in the west over a longer period, the suddenness of the shift in the former communist bloc is significant and at least partly due to economic circumstances.
�In many countries, fertility is now at extremely low levels in absolute terms, and if this trend continues, it will have significant social and economic repercussions. It may also reflect the heavy price women and families have paid as they try to support their children despite the economic hardships of the transition.� The report argues that in communist times, women fared reasonably well with good access to education, healthcare and jobs. But the paternalistic communist state failed to change underlying attitudes to gender equality.
After 1989, women suffered, notably with the weakening of the communist child care networks. At the same time, rising crime has hit everyone while new-found freedoms have created other problems, such as a rapid increase in smoking and alcohol consumption among young women.
Reports of domestic violence have also multiplied, say the authors. In Moscow, more than one third of divorced women had been beaten by their husbands. The report says domestic violence is not prohibited by law in Armenia, Croatia or Georgia. Croatia and Ukraine are among seven countries that do not recognise marital rape as a crime. In Slovenia, economically the most advanced post-communist country, domestic violence is not considered criminal in cases of �light� injury, which includes �fractured nose, rib, light contusions and pushed-out teeth�.
However, the picture is not completely grim. In the UN�s international rankings of countries by social development, central European states generally score higher on gender-related issues than on others.
The authors say this reflects the continuing benefit of some aspects of communist rule, notably access to education. This also accounts for another feature of transition - the fact that while overall income inequality has increased throughout the region, inequality between male and female income has stayed constant and are broadly similar to western European levels. Moreover, women are not slow in setting up businesses. A study of nine countries showed a quarter of entrepreneurs were women, a level seen in many developed economies.
The authors conclude that the best way to improve women�s position in the region is for governments to collect more of the tax revenues they are owed and to put a bigger priority in spending on healthcare and education. John Micklewright, Unicef�s head of research, says international organisations can play only a small role, given their limited resources. �This is a wake-up call to the region�s governments to tackle these problems for themselves.� It is not a message that will go down well with Dr Makarova or other women in Kiev. Tonya Mikhailovna, a Russian teacher, does not expect life to improve any time soon because women find it difficult to adjust to change. She says: �Women have more responsibilities, and are less flexible than men.�
On the day of the newspaper�s issue, September 28 the physician Zhavken Takibaev, a man who played a great role in organising the Kazakhstan science, will be 80. Here are the main landmarks of his organisational activity:
1951 � the opening of the Physical-Technical Institute (PTI);
1957 � the Nuclear Physical Institute was opened on the basis of PTI;
1970 � the opening of the Institute of High Energies Physics.
It is necessary to include into this list the station of space rays, the examination-measuring complex HEPI, and the researching nuclear reactor VVP-K. The academician Takibaev played an important role to establish and develop the National Nuclear Centre of RK (was established in 1993). The academician heads the program, �Development of nuclear energy in Kazakhstan�, determines priority directions of the scientific activity of the Centre (The Science of Kazakhstan, #17, September 1999).
Of course, his organisational activity is based on his scientific achievements and recognition by his colleagues. Zhavken Takibaev is a pupil of the outstanding physician-theoretician the academician Igor Yevgenievich Tamm. Among his pupils were the academician Andrei Sakharov (the Nobel laureate), the academician Grigory Marchuk (the former President of the USSR Academy of Sciences), and Ilya Frank (the Nobel laureate).
The academician Takibaev is a talented teacher, who played a significant role in preparation of physicians in Kazakhstan.
I am his neighbour; our families are on friendly terms. When you talk with him, you forget about his age: his thoughts are accurate, he is active and has young eyes. He is one of the most interesting persons, whom I met during my life.
Of course, I, as a former physician-theoretician, am especially interested in his narration about great scientists, with whom he worked, associated and on whose books I gnawed the granite of the science. But unexpectedly, behind specific stories you see human things: his father was repressed in 1930-s, young Zhavken left Kazakhstan to avoid the hammer, studied at the university in Tashkent and suddenly� along with other best students of the country he was received in the Kremlin and saw Stalin at a distance of ten metres, right two months before the war began. Later in Tashkent he was about to be seized by the State Security Committee, when he told his friends about Stalin in details. His narration about the appearance of the father of peoples differed from permitted canons.
Then there was Moscow, physics, ideas and colleagues, and the Teacher. Then there was Kazakhstan, the science, the start of the organising activity, association with party�s chiefs. He speaks of Dinmuhammed Kunaev very warmly. Then his foreign tours started. In England he became a friend of the famous physician Rudolf Paierls (I read a book about quantum mechanics by Paierls, once in the end of 1980-s this patriarch of physics gave lectures at the workshop at Physical-Mathematical faculty in Petersburg.) Paierls� wife is from the Soviet Union. It happened that her sister was exiled to Almaty. The Paierls asked to turn over a parcel to Almaty. CNS watched Takibaev, and after he returned from England he had to write a report. Though they permitted to give the parcel. The Almaty sister cried�
He has a lot of stories, as he is 80 years old. I understand that my interlocutor and neighbour is the best representative of the intelligentsia of this country. This is what I am thinking about: there are transitional periods, speeding up and abrupt changes in history of every country. In our country the new elite (bankers, functionaries, businessmen) are appearing� Will they succeed the experience of the old guard? Will they wish to do this? Will they be able to do this? It seems that in our history the connection of times was cut short many times.
Zhavken Takibaev takes his wisdom from the time. He managed to succeed this connection of the times: he started in Tashkent, then he was assisted by the old Russian intelligentsia, then Kuanysh Satpaev, a prominent Kazakh, Kazakhstan scientist played a significant role in his life.
By the way, it is interesting that they were introduced to each other in Moscow by another great physician, the academician Sergei Vavilov, the President of the Academy of Sciences of USSR. So, the time is intersects the fate of Zhavken Takibaev. He is eighty. It seems to me that he is happy. His younger son is a little over 20. The younger Takibaev is also a physician, he will soon return from Japan having completed the study. Will he become a real physician or deal with business? what the time will advise him?
His father Zhavken Takibaev managed to hear the TIME.
Zhake! On behalf of all my family I wish you be happy at you wonderful home in our fine village of Alatau.
P.S. The academician Takibaev rejected from solemn events devoted to his jubilee. It seems he is going to give lectures only at his university.
Nurlan Ablyazov
ASTANA, Sept 24 (THE GLOBE)
�The present Russian government will not have a monopoly on struggle against terrorism. If any other person comes, any other President to keep the power, he is to settle this problem principally � to annihilate terrorism!� the chairman of the government of Russian Federation announced on September 24 in Astana.
Economic problems were declared as main ones to be discussed during the visit of the chairman of the Russian government Vladimir Putin to Kazakhstan. But due to the last events in Chechnya political issues became prevalent, including the main one � to opposite the terrorism.
The Russian Prime Minister had repeatedly to comment the situation in Chechnya and strikes of the Russian aviation on the capital of this republic. Obviously, this just irritated Mr. Putin as at last he announced: �We will persecute terrorists everywhere: if they are in an airport � in the airport, if they are in a toilet � we will torment them there. That�s all, the question is over.� After these words journalists did not ask any questions on this theme. The position of the Russian government regarding this problem consists of the two moments: it is necessary to annihilate terrorists who are waging an unannounced war against Russia and are going to break off regions rich in natural reserves; and to avoid mistakes of the past during the wide-scale campaign in Chechnya.
�I and absolutely confident that this is not a civil war, but this is the war against Russia declared by the international terrorism to break off the country and to tear away the territory rich, first of all, in natural resources,� he said and refuted the rumour about the wide-scale operation, as had been conducted in 1994 to 1996. �We are not planning any wide-scale operations, we are planning to defend the population from bands, foreign mercenaries and terrorists. How this will be done, you will know soon. But there will be nothing similar to the events happened several years ago during the sadly known so-called Chechen campaign,� Vladimir Putin stated.
The head of the Russian government considers any actions against terrorists justified: �all countries understand that if now we do not cut aggressors and terrorists� head off, then the situation will be worse.�
Mr. Putin believes that in Kyrgyzstan there are also international terrorists. �A group which came to Kyrgyzstan is also of a foreign origin.� According to Mr. Putin, all terrorists are being directed, financed and prepared from abroad. Then they are sent to Russia and other CIS countries.
In Mr. Putin�s opinion, the unanimity of opinions regarding terrorism of his CIS colleagues is evident. No agreement is required for mutual actions, as �we are united with the agreement on collective security and now is the best time when we can fill it with a real content,� the Russian PM resumed.
The two-language opposition newspaper �SolDat� which has fast become popular faces difficulties with publication and has to be published abroad. In addition, the whole circulation of the newspaper has been arrested by the Customs. The analyst from �SolDat� believes that this is profitable for the authorities, as the information of that issue will soon become obsolete and will not be urgent. Read the interview of the main analyst of the newspaper �SolDat� to the journalist of the Kazakh Service of Radio �Liberty� (KSRL).
According to persons issued the document, the temporary prohibition on the export of fuel is supposed to help us to store fuel for the winter. However, according to some specialists, the prohibition may negatively influence the production volume and result in the growth of prices.
OKIOC consortium conducts drilling works in the Kazakhstan part of the northern Caspian shelf. In the beginning of September KSRL sounded the information regarding the pollution of the sea caused by the drilling. The Atyrau regional ecological department introduced the limits on drilling works by OKIOC, which was soon abandoned. What is the opinion of representatives of the consortium?
We propose the Readers materials of the Kazakh Service of Radio �Liberty� of the last week.
For whom the delay of the information is profitable?
As it has been mentioned before, in this week the Kazakhstan Customs arrested the next issue of the opposition newspaper �SolDat�. The newspaper deserved popularity in the society recently faced difficulties with, for example, publication of the newspaper in the republic.
Due to some reasons the newspaper had to be printed in Russia, in the town of Rubtsovsk, and then is brought to the republic. Though many Almaty publishing houses have no work, they reject to print the newspaper. The ninth issue of the newspaper was confiscated by the Customs. In connection with this, the main analyst of the newspaper Marat Kabanbai told to the KSRL:
�At the border on Semipalatinsk region the newspaper was arrested by the regional Customs. Before we had no problems regarding transportation, as we have the agreement. But, despite this, we were told that the regional Customs department was to check. Why? They are not censors. On the way the vehicle with the newspaper was also stopped by the State Auto Inspection. They accused the driver of infringement of traffic rules.
In the result, due to unknown reasons the vehicle with the newspaper had an accident, and newspapers were scattered. Customs personnel gathered the newspapers and having read it, they arrested the newspaper.
I think, everything is natural. The first reason is the coming Parliamentary election. In this issue we wrote that the tax policy of Semipalatinsk did not allow the pre-election headquarter of opposition parties to work.
We also published materials about the illegal arrest of Kazhegeldin in details. Besides, we published programs and portraits of some opposition candidates, e.g. Gaziz Aldamzharov. Possibly, this was the last drop.
We would like to publish our newspaper here in Kazakhstan, but publishing houses where we applied to, rejected. At first we concluded the contract with the publishing house �Dauir� for 2 months, but when it was just 2 weeks before the contract was expired, they cancelled the contract. We had neither paper nor paint, as according to the temporary stoppage of state editions many publishing houses had to go on a limitless vacation.
Then the editorial staff appealed to other 12 publishing houses in the city, including both private and state ones, but all of them rejected to print the newspaper. Probably, they were instructed not to publish our newspaper. Then we agreed with the publishing house in Rubtsovsk in Russia, and registered all required documents. These documents have stamps of both the Customs and the tax policy, but despite this we had this accident. The circulation of the newspaper started from 15 thousand, then it was rapidly increasing up to 20 000. When we issued the third issue, the tax policy misappropriated remaining newspapers from our distributors.
Since that day many distributors do not buy the newspaper, as if the tax police again takes it away, they will lose their own money. You know, who sells newspapers. They are pensioners, who sit the whole day to earn their money. For example, 1000 tenge paid to buy a newspaper is a great amount, and they do not want to lose it again. That is why it is very difficult to distribute the newspaper. Now many our readers cannot find the newspaper.
The Customs has not grounded this arrest at all. They say �we will check�, but we have not received any reply. When they return the newspaper, the information will become obsolete and lose its urgency. That is why the time plays an important role in this case. The newspaper will not be urgent. This is what the authorities need. Of course, they will return the newspaper in some time the, saying that everything is okay. But, in my opinion, this is an approximate scenario.�
Prohibition on the export of fuel may decrease the production volumes
As a counterbalance to the official prognosis regarding difficult winter, the autumn in this year is expected productive. In this week the government issues a decree, according to which the temporary prohibition on the export of fuel was introduced. According to persons who approved this document, this measure is supposed to assist to gather the harvest and to store fuel for the heating season.
However, specialists of the oil-processing industry have a different opinion. According to them, the internal purchasing capacity is very low. That is why we should not lose potential foreign consumers of oil products. We have three oil-processing plants, including two private ones.
The decree of the government completely contradicts to the market economic system. Having no chance to realise their products, businessmen may reduce their production volumes, this will directly result in the next raise of petrol prices. Who may gain profit from this decree � the population, taking care of whose requirements the government issued this decree or the government? � analysts ask.
Manufacturing waste products or domestic rubbish?
In September one the community could not miss significant event of the oil life. This was a case against some infringements while conducting the drilling works in the Kazakhstan part of the northern Caspian shelf. KSRL announced on September 11, the OKIOC consortium, which conducts the drilling works, having broken its promise, polluted the Caspian Sea. Manufacturing toxic waste products were drained to the sea and did a harm to the environment. This was announced in details by the Atyrau correspondent of KSRL.
The Atyrau regional ecological department, restricted the drilling works by OKIOC. But the Minister of Ecology abandoned this resolution. Unsatisfied with this abandonment, ecological fighters expressed their protest. To receive information of this extraordinary event we called to the regional ecological department. The chief ecologist of the region Marat Abdrakhmanov said the following: �Indeed, OKIOC has completely admitted its infringement. After the information about restriction on OKIOC�s works introduced on September 9, published by �21st century� newspaper, representatives of the Ecological Ministry arrived to Atyrau. Then the decision of the ecological department was evaluated as the right one. On September 18 the Ministry abandoned the order, and maximum admissible pollution standards have not been determined yet, this causes all contradictions and disputes.�
May ecologists see with their own eyes how the drilling works are being conducted? The Atyrau ecologist said that they �have an agreement with the company (every Monday and Wednesday they submit us an analysis of waste products thrown into the sea. On other days we go and check at the site. We also have the right to come to the wells and check on any day of the week. This is a significant achievement for us, as before this extraordinary event we did not have this opportunity.�
To clarify another opinion we got in touch with the company. The manager of OKIOC evaluated the happened event in the following way: �There was neither infringement nor pollution, but Kazakhstan is not ready for such a big volume of drilling works. Many people misinterpret the republican laws and supervising organisations use this for their own purpose. Of course, all these misinterpretations will arouse in the beginning of the works , while drilling the first well. Then everything will be settled. When the second well is drilled, there will be no contradictions at all. Kazakhstan is not America. We do not have a federal republic. The law is to be single for everybody. We do not have a separate law for the Atyrau region. Liquid substances thrown into the sea are not manufacturing waste products, but domestic rubbish.�
In this case we have a reasonable question: why toxic chemical substances have been found in the domestic rubbish?
�In Atyrau, and in the entire republic the laboratory equipment has become obsolete. This equipment does not comply with the world�s standard. In one of the independent laboratories in Almaty we checked the analysis, conducted by the Atyrau ecological department. Then the analysis showed that the composition of toxic substances was 17 times less,� the representative of the company, a famous oil industry worker Kenzhebek Ibrashev stated. Probably, he as a citizen of Kazakhstan do not care of the ecological situation in the country.
THE GLOBE basing on materials of Radio �Liberty�
September 20 to 27
(Translated from Kazakh by THE GLOBE)
All Over the Globe is published by IPA House.
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