KING OF QATAR PAID AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO ASTANA. Astana , last night King of Qatar, Sheykh Khammad Bin Khalifa Attani arrived to the Kazakh capital with official visit. He was met at the Astana airport by the Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. They reportedly held tet-a-tet talks, at which they discussed the future perspectives of the bilateral cooperation of the two countries. The main issue discussed at the meeting was about the work of the joint Kazakh-Qatar Economic Commission. RFE/RL correspondents report that due to the sudden weather change, Qatari top officials shortened their visit�s term. Moreover, it had been expected that 9 official documents would be signed. But in fact only two documents, namely agreement on the further diplomatic relations signed by the Qatari and Kazakh Foreign Ministers and joint economic communiqu_ signed by King Sheykh Khammad Bin Khalifa Attani and President Nuirsultan Nazarbayev were adopted. Press conference was not held either.
PRESIDENT NURSULTAN NAZARBAYEV TO LEAVE FOR WASHINGTON DC TODAY. Astana, quote Kazakh Presidential Press Secretary Asylbek Bisenbayev as reporting that Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is scheduled to leave for Washington DC today, April 22. He is going to take part in official marking of NATO�s 50-th Anniversary. Beyond that Kazakh President plans to hold talks with IMF and EBRD officials, as well as with US State Secretary Madeleine Albright. Kazakh leader is also expected to be given a floor at the US Congress, Carnegy Hall. Meetings with top officials of the US Oil Giants Chevron and AEC are also planned reportedly.
KAZAKH COMMUNISTS HELD PRESS CONFERENCE IN ALMATY. In the former capital of Kazakhstan Serikbolsyn Abdildin - leader of the Kazakh Communist Party held a press conference at the Scientists House of Almaty today. He told RFE/RL correspondents that the Communists of Kazakhstan marked Vladimir Lenin�s birthday by putting flowers to his monument situated in Ibray Altynsarin�s park. Mr. Abdildin also said that the Communist Party was going to take part in the Parliamentary elections scheduled for December this year, adding though he did not believe that the elections would be held in a real free and democratic atmosphere.
KAZAKH PREMIER�S DAUGHTER MARRIED MILITARY PROCURATOR�S SON. Almaty, daughter of the Kazakh Prime Minister Nulran Balghymbayev married son of Kazkah Military Procurator Zharmakhan Tuyaqbayev. Russian TV star Valdis Pelsh and the famous Kazakh Actor Nurlan Onerbayev were reporetdly invited to the wedding party for entertaining the guests. Fireworks and other luxurious moments of the wedding were broadcast by the KHABAR TV Agency.
Today in �The Regent Ankara/Almaty� hotel a ceremony was held marking the handover of the general manager`s post from Hakan Ozalpay to Timur Ilgaz.
(RFE/RL)
Rashid DYUSEMBAEV
ALMATY, April 21
(THE GLOBE)
Against the background of the Caspian sensation of the recent years, the next conference regarding Caspian and Central Asian oil and gas transportation problems, to be held soon in Paris, may not seem unusual.
But the program of this forum appears to be interesting as a large part of the conference is devoted to Iran and Kazakhstan. The rest Caspian countries are to play the third roles.
It is remarkable because unlike other conferences, at this one Kazakhstani speakers will concentrate upon the transportation routes of Kazakh oil to Asian markets, mainly to Iran and China.
�We were invited to the conference to discuss our variants of supplying of the raw hydrocarbon materials to Asia,� the vice-president �Kaztransoil� said in his interview to THE GLOBE. Kairgeldy Kabyldin noted that being a rapidly developing region, Asia is of great interest to Kazakhstan. That is why, while prospecting drilling is being prepared at Caspian shelf, now is the time to work out the potential routes. Hence, one of the major aims of our participation in the conference is to estimate the Iranian position and their offers.
What is striking is, that everything happens under the strengthening of economic relations between Astana and Teheran.
Moreover, according to an authoritative expert, such an event may be considered as an attempt to establish an Asian-European council at the Caspian Sea to counterbalance to domination of the USA and Turkey.
On the other hand, taking into consideration the preparation of the exploratory drilling, the conference will work out the Iranian variant to transport anticipated big volumes of Caspian oil.
Mr. Kabyldin emphasized at the same time that such a forum does not commit to anything, as no decisions are to be taken there.
The vice-president of the company said, that the Iranian pipeline is the most expedient from the economic point of view, and it would be correct to research the complete technical feasibility of this route. This is being conducted in the frame of Ankara declaration on the Chinese direction and on the project Baku-Dzeikhan.
OSCE Centre Almaty
ALMATY, April 22
(Specialy for THE GLOBE)
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Centre in Almaty officially opened in January 1999, pursuant to a decision taken by the Permanent Council of the OSCE in June 1998. As defined by the Permanent Council, the mandate of the OSCE Centre in Almaty encompasses the following tasks: 1) promote the implementation of OSCE principles and commitments as well as the co-operation of the Republic of Kazakhstan within the OSCE framework with special emphasis on the regional context, in all OSCE dimensions, including the economic, environmental, human, and political aspects of security and stability; 2) facilitate contacts and information exchange with the Chairman-in-Office, other OSCE institutions, and other OSCE participating states as well as co-operation with international organizations and institutions; 3) establish and maintain contacts with local authorities, universities, research institutions, and non-governmental organizations; and 4) assist in arranging OSCE regional events and visits to Kazakhstan by OSCE delegations. The Centre�s presence in Kazakhstan is regulated by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Government of Kazakstan and the OSCE in December 1998.
At the present time the staff of the OSCE Centre in Almaty actively are engaged in the implementation of six concrete projects outlined in an additional MOU between the Government of Kazakhstan and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). These projects primarily concern so-called �basket three� of the OSCE commitments- those which relate to the human dimension and human rights. For example, one project, currently in the early stages of implementation, proposes to promote voter education and awareness through the production of a series of short TV �spots� which will be shown across the country during the period preceding the fall parliamentary elections. Another initiative will bring together women, both from government and non-governmental organizations, for a seminar on �Women in Politics.� The participants will receive training on elections, political parties, campaigning, and on how to overcome barriers limiting their participation in politics. In turn these woman will be expected to conduct additional workshops and seminars in order to disseminate their knowledge. The OSCE Centre in Almaty also intends to implement projects on international election standards, civil society, and human rights.
In its brief few months of operation, the Centre has organized visits to Kazakhstan by such important OSCE personalities as the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Mrs. Helle Degn, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Mr. Max van der Stoel, and the OSCE Representative on the Freedom of the Media Mr. Freimut Duve. They all met with a variety of governmental and non-governmental actors in order to discuss in detail the current political, economic, and social situation in Kazakhstan. These visits plus those planned in May by Mr. Gerard Stoudmann, the Director of ODIHR, and in June or July by the presiding Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, the Norwegian Foreign Minister Mr. Knut Vollebaek, indicate the importance of Kazakhstan and Central Asia within the framework of the OSCE.
The Centre welcomes and encourages public discussion about the role and effectiveness of the OSCE in Kazakhstan. In turn the Centre wishes to take this opportunity to emphasize that the OSCE as an organization acts on the basis of consensus and at the behest of its 54 member-states, one of which since 1992 has been Kazakhstan. It is the overriding goal of the OSCE Centre in Almaty to help bring Kazakhstan into the mainstream of the OSCE through an ongoing intensified dialogue with the Government of Kazakhstan and its citizens.
Gulbanu ABENOVA
ALMATY, April 22
(THE GLOBE)
�If the existing system is saved, and it acts as it has been acting all the time, the communists will not be able to get any mandate. All the mandates will be received by the party at power�, the Kazakhstan communists� leader announced in Almaty on April 22.
Serikbolsyn Abdildin believes no democratic changes can be expected in our country, as everything will be the same. Almost right after Nursultan Nazarbaev�s speech at the joint conference of the Parliament Houses concerning the issue: �Democracy is our choice. Democracy is our fate,� the Prime Minister submitted to the Parliament a bill of the constitutional law of the Republic of Kazakhstan �About supplementation and changes to the Decree of the president of RK�, having the force of a constitutional law.
�Having analyzed this documents, we have grounds to declare that if such a law is approved by the Parliament, there will be no reasons for people to take part in the next �plays�. People should choose another way to change the today�s hopeless situation, based upon article 3 of the Constitution of RK. As a rule, people are forced to take radical measures by the power itself,� Mr. Abdildin remarked.
As far as preparation of the Communist party for the coming Parliament election is concerned, according to their leader, they have started this preparation from March 1998. Though they were forced to break the schedule due to the presidential election. According to Abildin, �everything depends on who will conduct the election and whether the akims will be pressured again.� During the parliament election the communists are going to apply to the positive experience in the presidential election. That means �to count on their own feet and to reach everybody�s ears�.
Serikbolsyn Abdildin is not going to be a candidate at the parliament election.
The communist leader is ready to stand only for the president�s post. Though, in Abildin�s opinion, if the law and the election system are not changed, it will be useless to struggle. One or two representatives of the opposition party will not be able to change anything.
Gulbanu ABENOVA
ALMATY, April 22 (THE GLOBE)
�The two types of management, Kazakhstan and Canadian clashed here,� the ex-vice-president of �Hurricane Kumkol Munai� stated on April 21 in Almaty.
As it had been informed before, on April 17 �Hurricane Kumkol Munai� and the Pavlodar oil-processing plant concluded some agreements for the realization, transportation and sale of oil, as well as an agreement for oil processing.
2 days later after this information was published, THE GLOBE received a press release from the head quarters of �Hurricane Hydrocarbons Ltd.� stating that this information was untrue. The company had not entered an agreement for processing and marketing with �POPP-CCL�.
Olga Elefteriadi, the ex-vice-president of HKM said that she had been dismissed on the same day. The reason for her dismissal was not officially announced.
Ms Elefteriadi believes her fate has nothing to do with the signed agreement with POPP. �I could sign such documents connected with sale of oil and oil products, only due to the power of attorney given to me on March 2, 1998. It was signed by the first vice-president�, she said.
According to Olga Elefteriadi, the managerial team of the company is often changed. In her opinion, the company is practically ruled by a single person, Robert Kaplan. According to Mrs. Elefteriadi, his name is not of a significant authority either in the international oil industry or in the sphere of industrial top-management.
The former vice-president thinks that Kazakhstan management should take part in work of �Hurricane Hydrocarbons�, as Kumkol is the only deposit in Kazakhstan which at present is in the Canadian company�s reserves.
Mrs. Elefteriadi believes her dismissal contradicts Kazakhstani legislation currently in force, and she has the right to lodge a complain according to the order provided by the law.
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