KAZAKHSTAN

KAZAKHSTAN-IN-BRIEF

EURASIAN RAILWAYMEN

TO GATHER IN ASTANA

ASTANA, June 7

The 27-th session of the Rail Ways Cooperation Organization (RWCO) member-states� congress will be held in Kazakhstan - Astana from June 8 to June 11. The RWCO was created in 1959 and from that time it is the unique governing body of European and Asian railway transport.

The organization was designed to strengthen the economic ties between Asia and Europe.

Questions on alternative transport corridors via the territory of Kazakhstan, the expansion of transport opportunities to fulfil international transportation, and the strengthening of the economic interests of the Republic are expected to be discussed.

MEETING BETWEEN

BELARUS AND

KAZAKHSTAN

GOVERNMENT HEADS

MINSK, June 6

Questions on a long-term cooperation programme, and perspectives of further commercial and economic development were discussed during negotiations between the Belarussian representative, Sergei Ling and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nurlan Balgimbayev, who arrived in Minsk for an official visit.

According to S.Ling, Kazakhstan has always been and will be a strategic partner of Belarus. The parties will try to continue this relationship in the future.

It is a pity that the trade turnover between these states has fallen, said N.Balgimbayev at the meeting. The P.M. also added that we have sufficient resources to strengthen economic ties�. 14 joint enterprises are currently working. Kazakhstan is Belarus� fourth largest trade partner. Minsk delivers machine building products, a number of semi-products and consumer goods to Kazakhstan, while Belarus primarily imports agricultural products from Kazakhstan.

RUSSIA AND KAZAKHSTAN

TO CREATE

TRANSNATIONAL

POWER-COAL COMPANY

CATHERINEBURG, June 6

An agreement on the creation of a transnational Russian and Kazakh company was reached during the working trip of the �UPS of Russia� RJV head Anatoliy Chubais, to the Urals. Three federal power stations and 2 Kazakh coal sections will be included in this company.

According to A. Chubais, the question on the creation of such a company had been discussed by the �UPS of Russia� RJV, �Sverdlovenergo� JV, �Chelyabenergo� JV, and the Sverdlovsk regional administration for a long time.

The company will extract 32 tons of coal/year. According to A.Chubais, the protocol and appropriate documents will be signed within a week.

STATEMENT OF

KAZAKHSTAN�S MFA

ASTANA, June 7

Referring to the statements of the leader of the Labour Party of Kurdistan (LPK) leader, Abdullah Ocalan, at the judicial trial held on June 3 about activity of the representatives of this organization in Kazakhstan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that our government has never supported and is not going to support terrorist organizations and separatist activity in its territory.

The statement of Odzhalan is fiction and has no legal bearings. The existence of such representation in our country is anti-constitutional.

The Republic of Kazakhstan, being multinational and democratic state, supports equal rights of all citizens regardless of ethnic membership. Kurdish citizens are an integral part of the Kazakh people and have appropriate constitutional rights.

The Kazakhstani party is sure that the fictions of Ocalan will not harm the friendly relations between Kazakhstan and Turkey.

(KazAAG)

The Transfer of the Administrative Center as a Tool in the Political Game

From the editorial staff:

According to the deputy, whose appeal is given below, the shift of the regional centre from Almaty to Taldykorgan is a matter of the economic appropriateness. However, it is obvious that this problem is politically motivated. Recently Zamanbek Nurkadilov announced to the TV channel Khabar, that no shift was expected.

According to a high-ranking functionary, the regional akim is against of the shift, as there is no stage for his wife (Mr. Nurkadilov�s wife is a famous Kazakhstan singer � editorial staff).

But a recognised political scientist believes the stage is not the point. The matter is that they want to take somebody from the political arena.

We got in touch with the press-service of the Almaty regional akimat, which announced that on June 11, Zamanbek Nurkadilov would hold a press conference regarding the shift. We will obligatorily acquaint you with the further details.

To, Mr. N. A. Nazarbaev, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

APPEAL

Dear President,

Veterans and public figures of the former Taldykorgan region are appealing to you as the leader of the State to move the regional centre of the Almaty region to the town of Taldykorgan. Taldykorgan is situated in the centre of this region and there are all buildings and constructions required for the proper functioning of a regional organisation.

At present, the regional akimat and its services pay about 2.5 billion tenge as office rent, and more than one billion tenge is paid to the Almaty budget as taxes. Taldykorgan region has never required any State subsidies. More than 10 billion tenge obtained from the Dostyk and Horgos customs outposts and from railways was paid to the national budget. About 3 billion tenge was returned to the region as subventions.

The merger of the Taldykorgan region with Almaty caused serious social tension of all the strata of the society. The administration of the Almaty region acted dishonestly while employing the personnel. At present, there are almost no specialists from the Taldykorgan region in the akimat and the regional organisations. After the four districts and the regional administration were liquidated, more than 1000 qualified workers lost their work.

The shift of the regional centre of the Akmola region to Kokshetau was completely approved by the republic�s population. Citizens of the former Taldykorgan region expect you as the leader of the State to take a similar fair decision.

According to the group of delegates from the Almaty regional Maslikhat, on June 8, an extraordinary session will be held, where it is planned to consider the appropriateness of the move of the regional centre to Taldykorgan.

At present, under pressure of the district akims and the regional akim Z.K. Nurkadilov, they are trying to persuade the deputies to shift public opinion against the shift of the regional centre. This work may result in the approval of the corresponding decision of the Maslikhat, despite the wishes of the deputies and citizens of Taldykorgan region.

Dear Nursultan Abishevich, taking into consideration the opinion of the community in Taldykorgan region, the current social-economic problems, and to save stability, your decision to shift the centre of the Almaty region to Taldykorgan and to restore the Taldykorgan region is required.

On behalf of electors of the Taldykorgan election region No. 5,

Kobes Akylbaev,

Deputy of the Mazhilis

Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan

June 2, 1999