Official Statements:

US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SUPPORTS KAZAKH INITIATIVE

Astana, 14 August 2009: On July 30 the United States House of Representatives officially supported the Congress of Leaders of World & Traditional Religions for calling upon all nations to live in peace and mutual understanding.

The House commended Kazakhstan and the Congress founder President Nursultan Nazarbayev for establishing the discussion structure in 2003.

The House agreed that such a Congress – involving religious leaders from the majority of religious denominations - can be a decisive factor in maintaining peace and security in the planet.

Specifically, the 435-member House…

1. Commended the Congress of Leaders of World & Traditional Religions for calling upon all nations to live in peace and mutual understanding;

2. Supports freedom of religion and conscience throughout the world as a fundamental human right and as a source of stability for all countries;

3. Recognizes Kazakhstan for initiating the Congress and for having been selected by the Secretariat to host the 2nd and 3rd Congress.

The Congress of Leaders of World & Traditional Religions is based on the premise that religion can be an important arbiter for resolving political differences and conflicts and that the Congress itself can advance tolerance, development and security.

Within its remit, the Congress regularly holds forums that address religious freedom, inter-religious dialogue, and the role of religious leaders in strengthening global security.

Representing more than 26 nations, including Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Armenia, South Korea, China, India, Thailand, the United States, Switzerland, France, Japan, and the Holy See, all major religions -  including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Shinto, and Taoism - were represented at the most recent Congress held in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana on July 1st and 2nd 2009.

A group of US congressmen - headed by Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner - visited Astana on August 8... Inter-parliamentary co-operation, expansion of trade and economic relations, and provision of global energy security were discussed with senior Kazakh officials including Prime Minister Karim Massimov.

KAZAKHSTAN FOCUSES ON OSCE CHAIRMANSHIP 2010

Astana, August 12: Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev held a key meeting on the nation’s preparations for the OSCE chairmanship in 2010 on August 8th.

In a speech President Nazarbayev emphasized that the chairmanship is of great importance. “We are the first nation in the CIS, Central Asia and the entire Asian continent – with a predominantly Muslim population – to chair this respected European organization… I regard the OSCE chairmanship as a strategic national project, a major milestone since independence…”

“The decision of the OSCE member states to approve Kazakhstan’s candidacy was very well-grounded: our nation is the most stable in the region; we have avoided interethnic and interfaith conflicts. Kazakhstan is a predictable partner… the nation is a part of all regional safety structures…but pursues a foreign policy of its own to protect national interests”.

Kazakhstan’s chairmanship will take course against the continuing global economic crisis, growing tensions, threats of energy and food crises, and escalating threat of proliferation and growing uncertainty on many issues concerning the international community - including issues that fall into the OSCE area of responsibility. “Therefore,” said President Nazarbayev, “we need to perform the mission honorably - being fully aware of our responsibility”.

The President said that during the chairmanship Kazakhstan will emphasize the issue of reducing weapons of mass destruction, tackle environmental issues, address the provision of energy and food security - as well as strengthen inter-ethnic and inter-faith accord.

Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister, Marat Tazhin said at the meeting that preparations for the OSCE chairmanship are the utmost priority of his ministry. “It will be a serious test” he said. “Kazakhstan is a pioneer among all ex-Soviet states and our chairmanship is a unique precedent… The nation will chair the Organization in a tough period. The global economic crisis and growing tensions in the international arena, energy and food deficits, the problem of non-proliferation… these challenges demand very balanced policies.”

Under the directorship of Foreign Minister Tazhin, President Nazarbayev has established a State Committee to coordinate all Kazakhstan’ preparations for the OSCE chair.

KAZAKHSTAN: BANKING SECTOR RECOVERS

Astana, August 17: At a press briefing last Wednesday (August 12th) Gregoriy Marchenko, Head of Kazakhstan’s Central Bank, announced that the external debts of the Kazakh banking sector have strongly decreased in the first half of 2009 - from USD 46 billion as of December 31st 2008 to USD 32 billion as of June 30th 2009.

BTA and Alliance Bank account for 40% of this last figure. These two banks are currently implementing a debt restructuring scheme that should help decrease the overall debt figure even more.

Mr. Marchenko did not detail the proportion of the next expected shrinking of external debt. He denied that debt restructuring schemes frighten away investors - as direct foreign investments have maintained a high level with USD 4.6 billion for the first half of 2009 after a record level for the last half of 2008 (in spite of the global crisis).

In addition, the Head of the Kazakh Central Bank announced that the net international reserves of the Bank (in current prices) grew by 7.2% in July 2009 to reach USD 19.9 billion, while the nation’s overall international reserves - including the National Oil Fund - reached USD 42.5 billion in July.

AGRICULTURE IN KAZAKHSTAN – VERY GOOD NEWS

Astana, August 17th: After becoming the world’s No. 1 grain exporter last year, Kazakhstan announces another record crop this year.

In 2008 Kazakh producers harvested 15.6 million tons of crops. Arman Yevniyev, Vice-Minister of Agriculture, has announced that this year’s crops “will exceed the previous year’s by 15 to 20%.”

These figures confirm the regular increase in grain production in Kazakhstan due to massive investments and the Government’s willingness to make the country a top player on the global grain market.

To achieve this impressive growth in grain production and the corresponding exports, the Government allocated funds from the Samruk-Kazyna Fund via the national agricultural holding KazAgro. Producers received USD 330 million in loans and benefited from the provision of cheap oil and lubrications from the Government. As a result, output per hectare has strongly increased.

Over the last five years the acreage under crops in Kazakhstan was expanded by 3.63 million hectares, while so far this year the area under crops has been expanded by another 1.65 million hectares.

In parallel to this very positive announcement, Vice-Minister Yevniyev said that Kazakhstan supports the creation of a joint grain pool with Russia and Ukraine: “These three countries are responsible for about 20 – 27% of global export with an aggregate volume of 30 million tons of grain. Add a possibility to jointly set prices and to unite the countries’ infrastructure – sea port terminals, sea grain tankers, railways – and we will get a very powerful synergy effect.”

100 NEW SCHOOLS / 100 NEW HOSPITALS FOR KAZAKHSTAN

Astana, 14 August 2009: Last year Kazakhstan launched its ‘100 Schools / 100 Hospitals’ programme to further improve the country’s education and medical facilities.

According to Kazakhstan’s Minister of Education, Zhanseit Tuimenbayev, 106 schools (rather than 100) are now being constructed under the programme. 48 schools have already been commissioned.

Another 22 schools will be commissioned by September 1, 2009 and an additional 36 schools will be commissioned by the end of the year - including two prestigious ‘Presidential’ schools – schools for top students with an elaborated curriculum with an accent on mathematics - in Semei and Kokshetau.

Over 700 schools across the country will be equipped with the very latest technology to teach chemistry, physics and biology. Today, there are 7620 state-owned and 115 private schools in Kazakhstan.

Last year seven state-of-the-art medical facilities were launched under the same ambitious programme.  According to Healthcare Minister, Zhaksylyk Doskaliev, an additional 17 medical facilities will be commissioned before the end of this year – while the remaining 76 facilities will be operational between 2010 and 2012.

57% INCREASE ON URANIUM PRODUCTION IN KAZAKHSTAN

Astana, August 13th: Uranium production in Kazakhstan in the first half of 2009 (H1) totaled over 6000 tons - 57% up on the same period in 2008, announced the KazAtomProm National Nuclear Company in a statement today.  

“The number of customers of Kazakhstan’s uranium remained the same: none of the partners have asked to decrease the volume of uranium supplied or revise partnership programmes” said the statement.

The Company’s investment rates are not slowing down; capital investments for H1 totaled KZT 33.4 billion, which is 92% of the capital investments posted for H1 2008”.

In the period under review KazAtomProm continued to develop new mines.

For example, pilot mining has started at Akbastau and Baiken, Khorsan-1 and Irkol mines have been put into operation, works are under way to increase production at Yuzhnyi Inkai – and a refinery is under construction at Karatau.

Work is also under way to construct two vitriol plants: a USD 216 million plant in Kzylorda oblast (capable of producing 500,000 tons per annum) to reach projected capacity in 2012 and a KZT 8.8 billion plant in Stepnogorsk (capable of producing 180,000 tons per annum) to be functioning in 2010.

According to the statement released today, KazAtomProm’s priority is to build a vertically-integrated company to process all stages of the nuclear cycle and produce products with high value added.  The Company is carrying out a technical-and-economic assessment of a joint Kazakh-Canadian project to produce uranium hexafluoride within the framework of the Ulba Konversiya joint venture (KazAtomProm will own 51% and Cameco 49%).

Works continue on transferring nuclear production technology to feed French-designed reactors from AREVA; founding documents to establish a joint venture should be signed during the visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Kazakhstan in October.

In addition, KazAtomProm is to have its fuel pellets certified for reactors in Japan, the USA and China. This will enable the company to expand its presence in the global fuel market.  

Another strategic direction for KazAtomProm is laying foundations for a nuclear industry in Kazakhstan. Currently Kazakhstan and Russia are preparing to sign an agreement to construct a reactor plant in Aktau. The Company plans to construct a VBER-300 reactor system in Kazakh territory and to start exports of such power-generating units to other countries.  Kazakhstan is also carrying out a feasibility study to launch a joint project with China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group (CGNPG) to construct nuclear plants in China.

KazAtomProm is the national operator of the Republic of Kazakhstan, for import and export of uranium, rare metals, nuclear fuel for power plants, special equipment and dual-purpose materials.  100% of the Company’s stock is held by the Government under the National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna.

KAZAKHSTAN & JAPAN: ‘AGAINST NUCLEAR ARMS’ AT UN HQ

Astana, August 12:  A major exhibition entitled ‘Against Nuclear Arms’ opened Monday, August 10th at the United Nations HQ in New York as a testament to the victims of nuclear testing in Kazakhstan and the atomic bombings in Japan during World War II.

The devastation caused by the dropping of bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is well-known, but the world is less aware of what transpired in the steppes of Kazakhstan during the Soviet era.

Nearly 500 nuclear and thermonuclear tests were carried out in Semipalatinsk from 1949 to 1989, bringing grave impact on the health of 1,5 million people. A large part of ‘Against Nuclear Arms’ tells of the medical, social and environmental consequences of these experiments on the population, flora and fauna of the region.

"This exhibition shows the true dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction, and presents undisputable evidence of the horrors and consequences of nuclear devastation" said Kazakhstan's Ambassador to the UN, Byrganym Aitimova, at the show’s opening. "I would like to encourage you to look closely at the pictures… [to look] into the eyes of the victims and hear the outcry of our people scarred with years of suffering" continued Ms Aitimova.

The exhibition also presents the peaceful policy of Kazakhstan and Japan, as well as the countries’ contribution to the processes of disarmament and non-proliferation.

A Message of the Secretary of State of Kazakhstan H.E. Mr. Kanat Saudabayev, sent especially on the occasion of the Exhibition, was announced at the Opening ceremony:

“On August 29, 1991, Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev took a wise and courageous decision to shut down the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site permanently. A year and a half later an independent Kazakhstan renounced the world’s fourth largest nuclear and missile arsenal. By these steps Kazakhstan has charted a way towards a nuclear weapon-free world. Today, against the backdrop of new unprecedented global security challenges, Kazakhstan’s example is especially relevant.”

“We hope” said Ambassador Aitimova, “that with the momentum harnessed for the upcoming UN Disarmament Week, the Secretary-General’s ‘WMD - We Must Disarm’ campaign leading to this year’s International Day of Peace on 21 September, and the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, a proposal made [by President Nazarbayev] to mark a day in the calendar as the International Day for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons will be supported by the UN Member States during the 64th General Assembly Session.”

‘AGAINST NUCLEAR ARMS’ is presented by the permanent missions of Kazakhstan and Japan and will be on display at the UN building until September 30th. Organized into three sections -- ‘The Untold Story of Semipalatinsk Polygon’, ‘Hope of Hiroshima and Nagasaki’ and a collaboration between artists Masaru Tanaka and Betsie Miller-Kusz) -- the exhibition includes a presentation of the work of HICARE, the Hiroshima International Council for Health Care of the Radiation-Exposed, founded after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.