MOLOTOV COCKTAIL GRENADE BLAST IN OFFICE OF A CANDIDATE TO THE KAZAKH PARLIAMENT.
Correspondents of RFE/RL report from Almaty that a Molotov cocktail grenade was thrown in the office of Daulet Qazybekov - a candidate to the Kazakh Parliament�s Lower Chamber - Mazhilis yesterday at 5:00 AM. No casualties are reported. The premises of the office were destroyed significantly. Daulet Qazybekov told correspondents of RFE/RL that the hand made grenade might have been thrown by supporters of his rivals. The elections to Mazhilis are scheduled for October 10. Mr. Qazybekov is registered to the elections as a candidate from electoral district called Promyshlennaya, in the former Kazakh capital. There have been 109 cases of the law violence registered officially at the Kazakh Central Election Commission since the beginning of the pre-elections campaign reportedly.
21 VEK NEWSPAPER AGAIN FACES PROBLEMS.
Correspondents of RFE/RL report from the former Kazakh capital that an independent newspaper called 21 Vek (21 Century) started facing problems similar to those faced by the newspaper last year. Several policemen entered the office of the newspaper on Monday, October 4, and started listing the newspaper�s property, explaining that action by the decision of Almaty City Court. It also turned out that the newspaper�s bank account in Almaty�s Nurbank was frozen. Leader of the policemen group, Aidyn Qaydarov told the editors of the newspaper that the investigations around the newspaper�s tax payment activities were underway. But the newspaper�s staff told correspondents of RFE/RL that the action was an attempt to �warn� Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper - Bigeldy Gabdullin, who had been registered as a candidate to the Kazakh Parliament�s Lower Chamber (Mazhilis).
EDITOR OF ONE MORE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER COMPLAINS.
Sharip Quraqpayev - Editor-In-Chief of DAT newspaper told correspondents of RFE/RL that he was facing many problems with the state run TV channels and radio stations as a candidate to the Kazakh Parliament. According to Mr. Quraqpayev, the main TV channel of Kazakhstan, called Khabar and run by Darigha Nazarbayeva, daughter of the Kazakh President, allocated �very bad time� for his 15 minutes speech on the eve of the Parliamentary elections.
AGRARIAN PARTY HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE.
Leaders and activists of the Kazakh Agrarian party held press conference today, October 5, at which they told journalists about their intention to widen the number of its members in the nearest future. They also said that the Agrarian Party was not supporting either the Kazakh government nor the opposition, adding that the party �tries to stay aloof from any sort of scandals�. There are about 30 thousand of the Agrarian Party members currently. According to the party�s leaders about 44 per cent of all the voters in the Kazakh villages and farms would support them in the Parliamentary elections. Agrarian Party leaders think that about 12 million tons of wheat will be harvested in the Kazakh fields this year. They announced that one of the main goals of the Party was to adopt a law according to which the land in Kazakhstan would never be sold.
A KAZAKH POLITICIAN CRITICIZES THE PARLIAMENT.
A Kazakh politician, Khasen Qozhakhmet, known as a leader of Azat movement, held press conference yesterday, October 3, where he said that he was not going to take part in the Parliamentary elections, since, as he said, �in the current circumstances the Parliament has no significant role in the social life of Kazakhstan�. He announced about his intention to continue his political activities after the elections adding that a new party called Otanshyldar (Fatherland Lovers) would be led by him. The Otanshyldar party was announced as established earlier in January this year.
(RFE/RL)
Beibars BATYRKHANOV, Michail SERGEEV
ALMATY, Oct 5
(THE GLOBE)
�At the present time the proposal on transit transportation of Uzbek cotton to be delivered to Europe, via the port of Aktau, are being considered. For the time being cotton is transported through Turkmenistan,� the official representative of the seaport of Aktau announced to THE GLOBE on Tuesday.
According to Bolat Zhansugurov, Tashkent had to make this step due to the present tension between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as due to the visa system and high transportation charges.
He said that �Kazakhstan Temir Zholy� had given 50% railway tariff discount to the Uzbeks. Besides, the port plans to attract cargo streams, which at the present time are going via Astrakhan, as transportation through Kazakhstan, will be much cheaper.
�Thus we will increase the volume of railway freightage and the passing capacity of the port,� the representative emphasised.
According to Mr. Zhansugurov, by today the loan for the reconstruction of the port has been utilised and the project has been completely realised. At the present time the modernised port is capable to accept any cargo (the projected capacity of the port is 2 million tons of dry cargo and 8 million tons of oil).
In comparison with the previous period, the capacity of dry cargo has more than doubled plus assortment of cargo with which the port can work has been significantly widened. The Aktau seaport, he emphasised, was already receiving dividends. The first credit line in the amount of about US$ 8 million has been repaid, but interests on the credit are still being paid.
We remind you that a credit agreement for the amount of US$ 74 million was signed by the Kazakhstan government and EBRD. This credit was supposed to finance the reconstruction of the seaport. According to the agreement, the port was to be completely modernised, including to raise moorage, to reconstruct warehouses and to finance the supply of new equipment. The break-even point of the project is 14 years.
�Now the main task of our enterprise is to achieve projected capacity. An active marketing work is being executed in the port to do this,� the representative of the port of Aktau added.
Today the port mainly works with dry cargo, in particular with Karagandy metal to be delivered to Iran. The JV �TengizChevrOil� annually sends 2 million tons of oil by the route �Trassika� (Aktau-Baku-Batumi-Europe).
�Recently the volume of oil of �Mangistaumunaigas�, which we also transport reduced, as Russia had increased the export quote for Kazakhstan oil,� Mr. Zhansugurov stated.
It is known that the tariffs of oil transportation through pipelines are significantly lower than by sea. Despite this in this year �Mangistaumunaigas� has sent about 700 thousand tons of crude oil through the port.
OKIOC spokesman:
�I am glad that KIOGE exhibition annually attracts a lot of participants. As far as the consortium�s operations are concerned, I would like to mention that drilling works are successful and are being done according to the prescribed schedule. But the information about the stage of drilling is confidential, as this is commercially sensitive information.
It is just a supposition that the well may be �dry�. Before the drilling is completed and the analysis is conducted, nobody can seriously affirm what the real oil reserves are. OKIOC is not involved into the speculative business. Before the analysis is conducted we cannot comments the situation.
Basing on the previous researches, our experts also believe in 20% probability of the success (this is usual figure in the world). As far as the latest information regarding the leakage of toxic substances to the Caspian Sea by OKIOC is concerned, I will repeat words of the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources: when the special commission considered this issue, the pollution did not exceed the standard.�
Alexander Berestov, Marketing Manager
JSC �Privod� (Russia):
�The annual exhibition KIOGE gives good results to our company, which supplies oil-dumping engines to Kazakhstan. Recently we began to co-operate more with your country. I think, this is connected with the fact that the oil and gas sector is actively developing in Kazakhstan. Beside Kazakhstan we also co-operate with almost all CIS countries, as well as with India and China.
During the soviet period the infrastructure was created in many oilfields and equipment was delivered to Kazakhstan. At the present time the equipment is to be replaced with the new one.
Now the company along with one of the Russian dump plants delivers engines to the national company �Kaztransoil�.�
Anatoly Dolgopolov, the head of the department,
JSC �Montazhengineering� (Kazakhstan):
�In our opinion, at the present exhibition the increased demand for the products oriented to the oil and gas complex is being observed. Recently the interest to the local producer began to grow.
We are the only company in RK, which produces the equipment processing of small oil volumes. According to the strategy of the development of the oil industry, now the development of the oil machine-building industry is of a decisive importance.
However, there are a lot of foreign competitors in the Kazakhstan market. Nevertheless, there is a demand for our equipment, as the Kazakhstan products also may be competitive.�
Orhan Duran, the President of TEPCO LLC.
Principally, this exhibition does not differ much from the previous ones, though the number of participating companies has increased significantly. We are glad, as this is a lucky opportunity to get acquaintance with specialist, investors and to represent oneself as an investor. As far as oil and gas production is concerned, Kazakhstan is one of the most promising regions in Central Asia. Our company is prospecting the western Kazakhstan and is going soon to drill the first well, according to the undertaken obligations. We do not face any peculiar difficulties in you country, because we closely co-operate with the governmental organisations and representatives of the government are included in managing board.
David Slocombe, Senior Economic Analyst of �AMERADA HESS� (Great Britain):
This exhibition is distinguished with its bright stands. A lot of companies are presented at the exhibition. There are many visitors. Unfortunately, there are few specialists among them. In my opinion Kazakhstan should pay more attention to the export, as almost all enterprises investing to your country, face difficulties connected with this problem. I believe that the world�s oil prices will not fall lower than by US$ 10 and will be about US$ 15.
In the last week the Day of the Aged Person was held in Kazakhstan. Recently, on September 30 there was the next action, where Almaty pensioners took part. Old people, many of whom are reduced to desperation with their difficult financial condition, expressed their resentment with the government�s actions. Small pensions do not allow pensioners to have a proper food, as most part of the pension is spent to pay municipal services. In the result to live (or it is better say � to survive) they have a small amount, which just allows to maintain vital capacity of their organisms. Judge yourself: if, for example, a lonely pensioner has to pay 2500 tenge for flat, and his pension is 3000 tenge, what can he buy for the balance amount?
It is noteworthy that this action was held at the eve of the election. Pensioners still have a chance to change something, voting for persons whom they consider the most worthy. It is important to make a correct choice.
Today THE GLOBE proposes to the Reader the material of the Kazakh Service of Radio �Liberty�, which is devoted to the action of pensioners of the former capital.
Rain is not a hindrance for pensioners.
The next action at the eve of the election
On 30th day of each month Kazakhstan pensioners come to the square and express their resentment with the government. This has become a tradition. Similar actions also took place on September 30.
According to �Pokolenye� movement, this time political actions were also held in Uralsk. Of course, the biggest action was held in Almaty. That day it was raining, but despite this, pensioners of the southern capital gathered in front of the building of the city Akimat. The rain did not decrease the number of pensioners, who came to the republican square.
The city administration also decided not to break their habit. Students and pupils also gathered at the square, as they were being prepared for the coming Day of the City. Aloud music muffled pensioners� voices. By the way, 13 years ago the Kazakhstan youth�s blood was shed in the same place, and that time also there was music, which muffled everything around.
Wet students soon went home. When music was switched off, old people managed to say what they wanted.
The Peculiarity of the action on September 30 was that it was that it was held at the eve of the election to the Mazhilis and Maslikhats. Hence many candidates spoke before pensioners. They were mainly representatives of the opposition forces.
Lira Baiseitova, the chairman of �Republic 2000� party, again said that until the authorities in the country were not changed, the life would not improve. A person, who introduced himself as Amantai-kazhi assured the audience that he would be able to overcome both corruption and Mafia.
When it was time for pensioners to speak, of course, they told about difficulties of their life.
- I call pensioners to vote for persons who will not deceive aged people�s hopes, the chairman of �Pokolenye� Irina Savostina said. This election may become the last one for pensioners of the country. If we do not promote persons who really care of pensioners to the Parliament, pensioners may lose the last slice of bread. It seems that our government does not need old people.
- People have been reduced to the extremity. Kazakhstan is not a kingdom of a separate person, Seidakhmet Kuttykadam, the chairman of �Orleu� movement announced to �Azattyk� radio. Satisfied people do not understand a hungry man. To introduce economic reforms the political reform is necessary. But in Kazakhstan human rights are being infringed everywhere.
In autumn, obviously, the political-economic situation in the country has worsened. From day to day the inflation grows, which devours small salaries and pensions. For example, 5 years ago the pension of 3000 tenge was equal to US$ 50. Today it comes to only US$ 20. Recently dollar daily grows by 1 to 2 tenge; prices oil products have increased by 50%. We should soon expect also a gradual growth of prices of food and other consumable products.
Taking into consideration the public opinion, we may say that Mr. Kazhegeldin is guilty of mistakes of Balgimbaev�s government. What can the people, who have been reduced to desperation, do? Under such conditions, undoubtedly, different political forces may influence common people.
2.10.99
All Over the Globe is published by IPA House.
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