RUSSIAN-KAZAKH NEGOTIATIONS ON BAIKONUR STARTED.
RFE/RL correspondents report that Russian delegation led by Vice Premier Iliya Klebanov and Kazakh delegation led by Vice Premier Alexander Pavlov started official talks on Baikonur Space Complex Lease in Baikonur City today, July 29. The Russian-Kazakh agreement on Baikonur leased is being revised due to demands put forward by Astana after the Russian PROTON rocket�s explosion over Central Kazakhstan earlier this month. Meanwhile RFE/RL correspondents quote Russian sources as reporting that representatives of Russian Liberal Democratic Party led by Vladimir Zhirinovsky staged an action of protest in front of the Kazakh Embassy in Moscow this week. The gathered young people had mottoes saying �Baikonur Belongs to Russia�, �Hands off Baikonur!�, etc. Kazakhstan tries to urge Russia to pay off its debts for the Baikonur Lease. Russia has not paid a single cent for the lease since 1994. The annual lease fee due to be paid to Kazakhstan by Russia is $115 million. The issue became more acute after the PROTON�s explosion over Qaraghandy Oblast and ecological damage caused by the blast on July 5. Baikonur Space Complex was built in the end of 60-Es in Central Kazakhstan. After the collapse of the Soviet Union Kazakhstan and Russia agreed that Russia would continue using the spot for fees. Annually dozens of commercial international satellites are being sent to the Earth Orbit from the Kazakh spot. Russia gets about $80-90 million for each launch, Kazakhstan gets nothing except ecological problems. After the last accident happened on July 05, about 40-50 million tons of toxic liquid called Hepthil was spread over the Qarqaraly National park of Kazakhstan. The similar accident in 1989 killed about 1 million species of the unique Kazakh antelope - saygaq.
DEMANDS OF HUNGER STRIKERS IN EKIBASTUZ FULLY SATISFIED. RFE/RL correspondents report that administration of Power station (GRES#2) in Ekibastuz City, Pavlodar Oblast, paid off all its debts to the station�s workers after dozens of them staged a hunger strike which lasted for more than three weeks. The hunger strikers stopped their action of protest, since the overdue salaries, namely 91 million Tenges were fully paid off.
ONE MORE AIDS PATIENT REGISTERED IN PAVLODAR OBLAST. The 14th AIDS patient was officially registered in Pavlodar region of the North Kazakhstan this week. In all, the number of the officially registered AIDS patients in Kazakhstan is over 800. That is the fourth number in the former Soviet Empire, after Russian Federation, Ukraine and Belarus.
RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL FOUND IN A VILLAGE OF WEST KAZAKHSTAN. RFE/RL correspondents quote Kazakh Extraordinary Situations Agency as reporting that 2 kilograms and 100 grams of radioactive material were detected in one of the remote villages of Manghystau Oblast, Western Kazakhstan this week. An ordinary farmer had the stuff in his belongings reportedly. The confiscated dangerous material was brought to Atomic Research Center of Aqtau City. Investigations are underway.
PS. All the news are based upon reports sent by RFE/RL correspondents Sayasat Beyisbay and Toqzhan Sabyrzhan from Almaty.
July 29 (Radio �Liberty�)
Banu MURAT
ASTANA, July 29 (THE GLOBE)
�The new Kazakhstan capital will be constructed of our �brilliant� bricks,� one of the heads of the new brick plant announced to THE GLOBE in Astana.
Chjan Shi Din, the general director of the Chinese International Corporation �Hua Lin� selling constructional materials stated that in some days the constructional materials plant would be put into exploitation. The State Chinese Company is going to invest to the economy of the new Kazakhstan capital. The total value of the investments is US$ 3 million. For the time being, 50% of the amount has been already invested. Technological equipment required for the brick production, needed manufacturing technique has been supplied from China.
According to Mr. Chjan, the documents on construction of the constructional plant were signed in January 1998; today the plant has manufactured first products. The general director of the corporation believes that at present time bricks produced at their plant, which he calls �brilliant� is one of the best ones in Kazakhstan. The manufacturing technology differs from the commonly accepted method. In particular, these bricks are not fired. Bricks consist of sand, cement and other iron-containing substances. Its composition is close to concrete.
As no kilns are used, hence, bricks produced by �Hua Lin� are ecologically pure, Mr. Chjan affirms. One more peculiar characteristic of their goods is frost-resistance. Bricks produced according to this technology, is used in China and other regions with severe frosts, hot rainy climate. �This is exactly what Astana needs,� he assures. Thanks to its hardness, this �brilliant� brick is recommended for usage while constructing high buildings.
As far as a colour is concerned, you may choose any (red, grey, yellow, etc.) the manufacturing technology allows to use stable pigments. �We hope that bricks of our plant will be used for further construction of Astana, as this material complies with modern standards,� the Chinese businessman stated.
At present time, the plant consisting of two shops may manufacture 6 thousand brick/hour, 50 thousand/ day, and, hence, 1 million 500 units per month.
According to the general director, the corporation, which established the plant in the new Kazakhstan capital, used advantages of geographical location of the town and location of natural resources. The main raw material is sand, available nearby the plant. For the time being cement is being supplied from China.
Chjan Shi Din stated that for the last five years the company had established a wide trade and manufacturing network in many CIS countries, in particular in Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. �But the main manufacturing volume is concentrated in Astana,� he emphasised. The general director said that 38 workers, including 20 local ones work at the plant now. �If we will widen our manufacturing, we will create more working places for the local population,� he stated.
�The Kazakhstan government is rendering different support to �Hua Lin�, as the first company manufacturing constructional materials in Kazakhstan,� the general director announced. In addition he said that the company is released from customs duties and transportation charges.
The Chinese government also supports the company. Recently one of the first leaders of the Chinese autonomic region Askar Kerimbai visited the plant. The leader emphasised the necessity of the contribution of Chinese companies to the further development of the new republican capital.
Life is a big journey, and in this journey we go through many situations. Situations like happiness, sadness, grief e.t.c. and sometimes some situations are so special and so close to us that they occupy a permanent place in our small heart.
I have been brougtht up in a country with one of the most ancient civilizations. A country where till today there is a respect for relations, emotions e.t.c. ,and that was all for me.I thought that only my place is the best, my people are the best till an incident in Kazakhstan changed my whole concept.
I had finished my language course in july 96,and after that I got a chance to go to the different parts of kazakhstan, as an official interpreter with an Indian firm. On my way back I decided to come back alone in order to closely see and feel this new country. My journey started from Tashkent to Chimkent.
I took a taxi for 30 dollars from Tashkent to Chimkent railway station. On the way I came very close to the taxi driver. He was very fond of Indians and Indian films. He tried his best but I was not able to catch the last train to Almaty. As it was alredy night there was no bus execpt early morning. He had to go back to Tashkent but he didnot leave me as I was totally new to the city. It was very strange for me , a stranger but now closest to me. After some time the bus for Almaty came. To my surprise the man didnot take the money which I owed him and said that I was like his son. I took the bus and said good bye to him. He bought me fruits for the way. A stranger that too from a different country but the closest to me. Our relations was of humanity and without any defenation because there are some relations in this world which are yet to be defined.
Being the foreginer and the smallest passenger I was being noticed by every one. I was very happy and was planning to write to my parents and my friends about this whole episode
Suddenly there was a huge noise and shaking. At first I could not understand any thing then I thought that the bus must have fallen from the bridge. As it was already dark in the night and the light of the bus had gone off making it darkest of all. There were huge cries of pain and agony.
�So ,this is my end ?�,this very thought of death
frightened me.In a span of time many thoughts came up to my mind. The thought of my parents ,friends,even enemies and the stranger the taxi driver. At this moment he was closest to me.
The help came quickly.Local people and doctors were trying their best . I
learned that the driver had lost control and hit the tree. No body was seriously injured. I was treated very hospitably by the locals. To my very surprise I saw the same taxi driver there. He had gone for some repair work in the taxi and came to know about the accident and rushed to the spot. Seeing him was one of the happiest moment of my life. Then he took me back to Almaty on his taxi. On the way I saw the sunrise which I had not seen for years. In today�s hard, fast and materialistic life we hardly get time and think about all this. At last I was back to Almaty. I was at loss of words to say my thanks to the taxi driver.On my request he only took a packet of Indian tea,which his mother was very fond off.
I was in Almaty and could really feel the change inside me. Now I was in view that no country or relegion is good or bad but it�s the people who are good or bad. Our lives are very small because no body knows what will happen tomorrow.That is why we should live our lives to the fullest and happily
,but if the self destruction of the humans by the humans in the name of relegion, country e.t.c. continues then the day is not far when the super computers can predict the format of earth after twenty years but no body can predict that after twenty years where the humans will be ?.
Himanshu SHEKHAR
ALMATY, 29 JULY
On August 2 to 20 the third International Summer University of Soros-Kazakhstan Fund (Kazakhstan and Central Asia in the transitional period; Research methods in social sciences; Demography (theory and researches); Social ecology; Evaluation of the influence on the environment) will be held in Almaty. One hundred-fifty young scientists and teachers from different universities of Central Asian republics, Transcaucasus and Mongolia will take part in the work of the University as hearers.
The objective of the Summer University is to acquaintance hearers with the latest theories and conceptions, methodology, trends of the development of scientific knowledge, international research practice, and western school teaching methods. Programs have been worked out for each direction of the Summer University in accordance with modern trends.
According to the program of the Summer University, hearers will have the unique chance to visit classes of leading specialists from Kazakhstan, central Asia, USA, Western Europe and Russia and to take part in discussions devoted to urgent problems of humanitarian education, social reforming of transitional countries and perspective of �an open society� in Central Asian region. Hearers will also be able to establish direct scientific contacts with representatives of foreign research centres.
Famous foreign scientists such as Laurie Richlin, G. Gleason, E. Bellinjger, Norman Lee, Tomas Kucera, Zdenek Pavlik and Cynthia Buckley have been invited to the Summer University as lecturers.
Russian science will be represented by leading professors, such as L. Kosova, S. Zhukov, G. Tatarova, V.V. Naumkin, .S.A. Panarin, S.I. Pirozhkov, A. Vishnevsky, E.V. Girusov, K.S. Losev and R. Mnatsakanyan.
The Summer University will be opened on August 2 at 9 a.m. at the sanatorium �Kargalinsky�.
THE GLOBE will keep you informed and will publish interviews with the Summer University�s lecturers.
ALMATY, July 28
(THE GLOBE)
�By their decision the General Prosecutor and the chairman of the Commission on struggle against corruption referred themselves to a category of people who do not observe any laws and court sentences,� Alexander Peregerin, the former functionary of the President�s administration announced on Wednesday in Almaty.
On July 23, according to Mr. Peregerin, the Commission on struggle against corruption headed by Oralbai Abdykarimov, in its final document publicly confirmed �a lie� of Mr. Hitrin.
The sport palace �Oktyabrsky� is one of 204 objects in Karaganda, for which illegal privatisation the General Office of Public Prosecutor blames Vitaly Roze and the former akim of Karaganda region Pyotr Nefedov.
According to the version of the General Office of Public Prosecutor, the privatisation schemes of state objects worked during the akim Nefedov�s period, contradict to the law.
Vitaly Roze announced that �on one hand, we especially ask you to pay attention to the statement of Hitrin that the actions of Mr. Nefedov and Mr. Roze are not a crime�, and to the �recommendation� of the Commission on struggle against corruption �to lay a criminal case� on the fact of �a illegal receipt of the credit by the JSC �Algabas�.
According to Mr. Roze, this �double wording� is an open warning about possible consequences for these persons, if they continue their �trials to protect their good name and business reputation.�
The announcement stipulates that if dishonest functionaries are kept in the high ranks, this will be destructive for the republic, i.e. for us also, as for any citizen of the country.
�We cam affirm that Mazhit Yesenbaev, the akim of Karaganda region and the regional Prosecutor Mr. Umbetaliev were the direct customers of this farce,� the former functionary of the President�s administration stated.
�We ask the press to take all possible measures to impede any pressure on the court while considering our case against the General Office of Public Prosecutor and Mr. Hitrin,� he appealed to the press.
An independent politologist told to THE GLOBE that recently Karaganda was a polygon for the fight of financial-industrial groups. In this situation �an apple of discord� was the state property which had been transferred to a private ownership during the period of the akim Pyotr Nefedov.
According to the politologist, the process of property redistribution has started in Kazakhstan. The fact that these events were developed in Karaganda was caused by significant resources available in the region and by people who managed �to privatise� these resources.
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