2011

KAZAKHSTAN SENT HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO JAPAN

Tokyo, April 21: In accordance with the decision of the Government of Kazakhstan aircrafts of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan has delivered on April 12 and April 18 humanitarian aid to Japan. Kazakhstan sent 33 tons (83 250cans) of steamed beef to earthquake and tsunami victims.

ERZHAN KAZYKHANOV BECOMES NEW KAZAKHSTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER

Astana, April 11: Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a decree appointing Yerzhan Kazykhanov as the nation’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs. On the same day, the Kazakh leader visited the foreign ministry in Astana to personally introduce the man of his choice to the diplomatic staff.

NURSULTAN NAZARBAYEV TAKES OATH OF OFFICE

Astana, April 8: The inauguration of Nursultan Nazarbayev as the re-elected President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, following his victory in the election on April 3, took place in Astana on April 8. Soon after the inauguration, the Government, acting in accordance with the Constitution resigned in full opening for the newly installed President the opportunity to appoint a new team.

PRESIDENT NURSULTAN NAZARBAYEV HAS BEEN RE-ELECTED FOR FIVE MORE YEARS

Astana, April 5: Nursultan Nazarbayev won the presidential election in Kazakhstan on April 3, by receiving 95.55 percent of the general vote, Chairman of Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CIC) Kuandyk Turgankulov announced on April 5.

According to the CEC, Nazarbayev’s three opponents achieved the following results: Gani Kassymov from the Party of Patriots received 1.94 percent of the vote, while Zhambyl Akhmetbekov from the People’s Communist Party and Mels Yeleussizov from the “Tabigat” (Nature) Environmentalist Union received 1.36 percent and 1.15 percent respectively.

URANIUM DEVELOPMENT SET FOR GROWTH ON BACK OF GOOD RESULTS IN 2010

 Astana, February 15: The establishment of a national industrial complex, competitive in both domestic and overseas markets, is the top goal of the Kazakhstan’s national atomic company, Kazatomprom, the country’s operator for production, import and export of uranium, rare metals, nuclear fuel, power plants, special equipment and dual-purpose materials. According to the 2010 company report, production of uranium by all producers in Kazakhstan increased by almost 30 percent, where 17,803 tonnes of uranium have been extracted.

PRESIDENT OF KAZAKHSTAN NURSULTAN NAZARBAYEV REJECTS REFERENDUM

Astana, January 31: President Nursultan Nazarbayev finally rejected the idea of holding a referendum to extend his term of office to 2020 by a national referendum and said that, being faithful to democratic principles, he would submit a bill to the Parliament calling for an early presidential election, almost two years ahead of schedule. 

ASTANA-ALMATY WINTER ASIAD STARTS WITH FABULOUS OPENING CEREMONY

Astana, January 30: The 7th Asian Winter Games, the continent’s largest sports event of this year, was launched with a grandiose opening ceremony in the capital’s flashy  Astana Arena stadium on January 30. The Asian Winter Games will last till February 6, with 69 sets of medals in 11 sports up for grabs. The closing ceremony will take place at the Baluan Sholak Sport Palace in Almaty.

PRESIDENT NAZARBAYEV FOCUSES ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL SECURITY AS MAJOR GOALS UP TO 2020, SAYS FOREIGN POLICY WILL “MEET HOPES” OF ALL PARTNERS

PRESIDENT DELIVERED STATE-OF-THE-NATION ADDRESS, OUTLINING CONCRETE PLANS UP TO 2020

KAZAKHSTAN’S GDP GROWS SEVEN PERCENT IN 2010

Astana, January 12: According to Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Karim Massimov, the preliminary results of 2010 are very optimistic and need to be sustained in future. “Overall, we all did a good job. According to the forecasts, the gross domestic product of our country increased by seven percent last year,” Massimov stated at the governmental session on January 11. Industry output has increased by 10 percent, construction by one percent, trade by 12 percent, transportation by 7.4 percent, communications by five percent.

THE OSCE AND GLOBAL SECURITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY

an opinion by Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan, published in New Europe newspaper on January 9, 2011

 The Astana Summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), held on December 1-2, 2010, was a unique event. The decision to hold it was not easy. The balance of opinions wavered under the weight of opposing arguments until the very last moment.

2010

KAZAKHSTAN FINDS PATH TO UNITED, STRONG, MODERN NATION

Astana, December 20: In the 19 years of its independence, Kazakhstan has accomplished many tasks, including the organisation of the OSCE summit and achieving stable economic growth. At the December 15 commemorative gathering and concert dedicated to the Independence Day, President Nursultan Nazarbayev congratulated the people of Kazakhstan on these achievements.

ASTANA DECLARATION ADOPTED AT OSCE SUMMIT CHARTS WAY FORWARD

Astana, December 3: The first OSCE Summit in 11 years concluded on December 2 with Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev welcoming the work of Heads of State and Government from the 56 OSCE participating States, saying their adoption of the Astana Commemorative Declaration reconfirmed the Organization's comprehensive approach to security based on trust and transparency.

CHAIRMAN OF MAZHILIS URAL MUKHAMEDZHANOV HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS IN JAPAN

Tokyo, November 26: Chairman of the Majilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Ural Mukhamedzhanov visited Japan on November 21-26, 2010. During his visit of Hiroshima city he was awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of the Hiroshima University. The ceremony was held at the Hiroshima University. Before the ceremony Ural Mukhamedzhanov held a meeting with chairman of the council of Hiroshima Prefecture Masao Hayashi, visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. After the ceremony he held a speech at the International Conference Center of Hiroshima. Speaker of the Kazakh Majilis, who was heading a delegation of Kazakhstan to Japan, also met in Tokyo with Takahiro Yokomichi - Chairman of the House of Representatives of the Japanese Parliament, President of the House of Councilors Takeo Nishioka as well as with Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akihiro Ohata, Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Japan Katsuya Okada.

WORLD BANK RANKS KAZAKHSTAN FASTEST IN IMPROVING BUSINESS REGULATIONS

Astana, November 6: Kazakhstan has improved business regulation the most among world’s economies in the past year, according to the eighth annual World Bank report, Doing Business 2011: Making a Difference for Entrepreneurs, released on November 4. Kazakhstan improved conditions for starting a business and refined construction, investor protection, and trade regulations. As a result, it moved up 15 places in the rankings on the ease of doing business, to 59 among 183 countries surveyed.

WINTER ASIAD 2011 IS SET TO LEAVE MEMORABLE LEGACY FOR KAZAKHSTAN

Astana, October 18: The pace of Kazakhstan’s preparations for the 7th Winter Asian Games kicking off on January 30 is constantly increasing. One of the climax points for the opening ceremony will be a lighting of the flame of the Games. As known, it will start its way in Kuwait, the residence of Olympic Committee of Asia, on January 11, and after being delivered to Kazakhstan will be carried through every region of the country until it reaches its destination at the capital’s new sport stadium “Astana-Arena”.

SAUDABAYEV’S VISIT TO NORWAY: NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, OSCE HIGH ON AGENDA

Oslo, October 12: Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev is in Oslo, Norway, for a two-day official visit, where he has participated in the high-level international conference titled “A Nuclear Weapon-Free World: nuclear disarmament strategies, non-proliferation and export control” and is holding meetings with the Scandinavian nation’s Crown Prince Haakon and high-level officials.

OSCE STATES LAUNCH PREPARATIONS FOR SUMMIT WITH REVIEW COMMITMENTS

Astana, October 4: Formal preparations for the first OSCE Summit in 11 years began on September 30 with representatives from OSCE participating States gathering in Warsaw to review how countries are fulfilling the commitments they have undertaken as part of the Organization. The 17-day Review Conference takes place through October and November in Warsaw, Vienna and Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, which holds the 2010 OSCE Chairmanship. The Conference serves to prepare for the OSCE Summit, to be held 1-2 December in Astana.

KAZAKHSTAN’S GDP GREW BY 8% IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2010

Astana, August 18: The GDP of the Kazakh economy reached $59.4 billion from January to June 2010, according to the Kazakh Agency for Statistics. This represents an 8% increase, compared to the same period in 2009.

KAZAKHSTAN: FDI GREW BY 3% IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2010

Almaty, August 17: From January to June 2010, net FDI into the Kazakh economy made up $5.109 billion, announced Chairman of the National Bank Grigory Marchenko at a press-conference in Almaty yesterday. This is a 3% increase as compared to the same period in 2009 ($4.974 billion).

PRESIDENT NURSULTAN NAZARBAYEV WELCOMES DECISION TO HOLD OSCE ASTANA SUMMIT IN DECEMBER

Astana, August 6: Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President of Kazakhstan, OSCE Chairmanship in 2010 today welcomed the decision by the OSCE Ministerial Council to hold an OSCE Summit in Astana on 1 and 2 December 2010. The decision, adopted by Foreign Ministers from the 56 OSCE participating States through a silence procedure, which allows them to take decisions without meeting physically, came in the week following the 35th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, which created the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe - the OSCE's predecessor.

STATE SECRETARY – MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS KANAT SAUDABAYEV URGES EXPANDING ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN OSCE AND AFGHANISTAN

Astana, July 20: At the International Conference on Afghanistan, held on July 20 in Kabul, Kazakhstan put forward the strategy prioritizing the rehabilitation and post-conflict restoration of Afghanistan with strengthening the humanitarian component in the assistance from the international community. The visit and participation of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Secretary of State-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kanat Saudabayev of Kazakhstan are viewed as an important step towards development of the Kazakh-Afghan cooperation and promotion of priorities of Kazakhstan’s OSCE Chairmanship.

OSCE SUMMIT IN 2010 TO TAKE PLACE IN ASTANA, INFORMALMINISTERIAL DECIDES

Almaty, July 17: OSCE Foreign Ministers informal meeting in Almaty on July 16-17 reached consensus on holding a summit in Astana this year and reinforcing OSCE assistance to Kyrgyzstan, said the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev.

 “Today we decided that before the end of this year we shall hold a meeting of heads of state and government in Astana,” he told reporters at the news conference concluding the informal meeting of OSCE Foreign Ministers at the Ak Bulak resort outside of Almaty.

ASTANA IS A POWERFUL SYMBOL OF UNITY, DRIVING FORCE FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH

Astana, July 6: In 1994, when President Nursultan Nazarbayev spoke of moving the capital of Kazakhstan to a more central location, many considered it a very unlikely dream. Yet, Astana, a unique capital in the heart of Eurasia and the centre of Central Asia’s largest country, is already celebrating its 12th anniversary on July 6.

HIGH LEVEL OSCE CONFERENCE IN ASTANA SEEKS WAYS TO STRENGTHEN TOLERANCE

Astana, June 29: The High-Level Conference on Tolerance and Non-Discrimination is being hosted by the Kazakh OSCE Chairmanship in the Palace of Peace and Accord (the Pyramid) in Astana on 29-30 June 2010. The conference has brought together senior government officials, politicians and public figures from 56 OSCE participating states aiming to contribute to further strengthening of interaction between different cultures and civilizations, and to implement the related OSCE commitments and values.

CICA ISTANBUL SUMMIT MARKS NEW AGE IN ASIAN SECURITY DIALOGUE

 Istanbul, June 9: The 3rd Summit of the Conference for Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) held in Istanbul on June 8 is a huge step forward for what began as a bold initiative voiced by President Nursultan Nazarbayev at the UN General Assembly in 1992. For the first time, the CICA summit took place outside Kazakhstan, with the presidency in the forum being officially transferred to another member-state, Turkey. The Summit also saw two more states – Iraq and Vietnam - joining a conference as full members, bringing a tally of membership to 22.

KAZAKHSTAN CREATES FAVOURABLE INVESTMENT CLIMATE

Almaty, June 4: Cosponsored by Kazakhstan’s Foreign Investors Council and the International Herald Tribune the 4th Kazakhstan Investment Summit, which took place on June 3-4 in Almaty, provided an excellent opportunity for top policy makers and global business leaders to take stock of the status and prospects of Kazakhstan’s economy. The almost universal verdict: the country weathered the economic crisis well and, despite challenges, is again becoming a very attractive magnet for international investment.

STATEMENT OF KAZAKHSTAN'S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Astana, May 19: Taking into account the difficult socio-economic situation in Kyrgyzstan and numerous appeals of citizens of the friendly country, President of Kazakhstan gave instruction to the Government to remove temporary restrictions on the Kazakh-Kyrgyz state border entry points: "Kordai", "Sypatay batyr", "Aisha Bibi" on May 20, 2010.

OSCE MPs FOCUS ON AFGHANISTAN, KYRGYZSTAN AND DEMOCRACY

Almaty, May 18: On May 14 and 15 Kazakhstan’s southern capital of Almaty hosted the Second Trans-Asian Parliamentary Forum, “The OSCE Eurasian Dimension”. This forum is the first major event held in Kazakhstan under the country’s chairmanship in the OSCE, and it brought together members of parliament not only from OSCE member states but also from countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Israel and Qatar.

ARAL SEA RECOVERY: NORTH ARAL GROWS BY TWENTY PERCENT

Astana, April 27: Aral Sea, one of the world’s most shocking environmental disasters of all times, despite being so intensely altered, shows some signs of recovery, Pat Walters of National Geographic magazine reported. The story, published on April 2, 2010 is part of a special series that explores the global water crisis and says with help from the Kazakh government, the World Bank, and scientists, the Aral’s northern part has started to make a recovery. Fish, sea birds and reptiles have begun to repopulate the Aral Sea and surrounding area.

NEW PLAN FOR ACCELERATED INDUSTRIALIZATION OF KAZAKHSTAN'S ECONOMY

Astana, April 26: For several years now, Kazakhstan has been trying to develop non-oil sectors as it builds a more diversified and stable economy. The recent global financial and economic crisis has only strengthened Astana’s resolve to have a strong and varied economic base, one that would be characterized by new technologies and industries.

KAZAKHSTAN BRINGS AVIATION LEGISLATION IN LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

Astana, April 21: The Majilis (the lower house of Kazakh Parliament) last week adopted a bill “On the use of airspace of the Republic of Kazakhstan and operation of aviation” in its first reading, which, once approved into the law, would strengthen state control over flight safety.

PRESIDENTS NAZARBAYEV AND OBAMA MEET IN WASHINGTON, D.C. TO DISCUSS KAZAKH-U.S. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

Washington, April 12: Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev and U.S. President Barack Obama met on April 11 in Washington, DC ahead of the Global Nuclear Security Summit. The two Presidents have had a comprehensive exchange on global security, including nonproliferation and stabilization in Afghanistan, democratic development, economic ties and investment opportunities, energy partnership, and Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

IN KAZAKHSTAN, UN CHIEF URGES GLOBAL NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

Semey, April 6: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made a strong call for the world to make meaningful progress towards nuclear disarmament today as he visited the former Soviet nuclear weapons test site in eastern Kazakhstan. “Kazakhstan has shown extraordinary leadership in nuclear disarmament. In 1991, President Nazarbayev made a courageous decision to shut down the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site and renounce nuclear weapons. That was a visionary step… a true declaration of independence. ,” Ban Ki-moon said at visit the former test site where the Soviet Union conducted more than 450 nuclear tests with radiation affecting the lives of 1.5 million people in Kazakhstan. “I urge leaders of all countries, especially nuclear weapon states, to follow Kazakhstan’s example. For inspiration they should look to Kazakhstan’s example,” he added.

GLOBAL PEACE AND NUCLEAR SECURITY

By Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Astana, April 2: In one month, the anniversary of the end of World War II will be marked. There are millions in the world who took part in the fighting in the middle of last century. The difference between history and modernity, though, is that, as Walter Mondale wittily said, “there would be no veterans of World War III.”                                         

VISIT OF KAZAKHSTAN'S STATE SECRETARY - MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS KANAT SAUDABAYEV TO JAPAN ADVANCED POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC TIES

Tokyo, March 25: Secretary of State – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev visited Tokyo on March 23-25 for top-level meetings with Japanese officials focused on promoting political dialogue and expanding partnership in peaceful nuclear energy development.

KAZAKHSTAN OPENS ITS HONORARY CONSULATE IN HOKKAIDO

Sapporo, March 6: On March 5, 2010 an Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Sapporo, Hokkaido was opened. The opening ceremony of the second Honorary consulate of Kazakhstan in Japan was attended by His Excellency the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Japan, Mr. Akylbek A. Kamaldinov, and official representatives of Hokkaido.

STATE SECRETARY – FOREIGN MINISTER KANAT SAUDABAYEV SPEAKS ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN GENEVA

Astana, March 5: Kazakhstan's Secretary of State - Minister of Foreign Affairs Kanat Saudabayev told the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Navi Pillay that Kazakhstan is committed to promoting further democracy and human rights both domestically and internationally.

FROM CUSTOMS UNION TO ECONOMIC ONE

By First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nurtay Abykayev

Astana, March 4: The beginning of the new year and new decade was marked by the event, which gave start to the formation of a new configuration of economic and political environment as the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), as well as other integration associations. Since January 1, 2010, the Custom Union of three countries - Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia has entered into the phase of real functioning.

KAZAKHSTAN AND JAPAN SIGNED AN AGREEMENT TO COOPERATE IN THE PEACEFUL USES OF NUCLEAR POWER

Tokyo, March 2: The agreement between the Government of Kazakhstan and the Government of Japan for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy was signed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Japan Akylbek Kamaldinov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Katsuya Okada.

KAZAKHSTAN'S STATE SECRETARY - MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS KANAT SAUDABAYEV VISITS CHINA

Bejing, February 23: Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State – Minister of Foreign Affairs Kanat Saudabayev today met his Chinese counterpart Yang Jeichi in Beijing, as they pledged to work harder to build on the agreements reached by the two heads of state.

$1 BILLION TO DIVERSIFY KAZAKH ECONOMY

Astana, February 22: The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD) is supporting the Kazakh government’s economic diversification programme by investing up to around $1 billion in projects to be identified in collaboration with the Kazakh Ministry of Industry & Trade and the Kazakh National Wealth Fund ‘Samruk-Kazyna’.

THE OSCE CHAIRPERSON-IN-OFFICE, KAZAKHSTAN'S SECRETARY OF STATE AND FOREIGN MINISTER, KANAT SAUDABAYEV’S VISIT TO THE USA: AN OSCE SUMMIT AND REHABILITATION OF AFGHANISTAN HIGH ON AGENDA

Washington, February 4: In his speech at the US Congress Kanat Saudabayev presented the fundamental approaches of Astana for the chairmanship of the OSCE, stressing the desire to strengthen the organization's firm commitment to its fundamental principles and values.

ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

NURSULTAN NAZARBAYEV

TO THE PEOPLE OF KAZAKHSTAN

A New Decade, a New Economic Growth,

and New Opportunities for Kazakhstan

                                           Astana, January 29 

KAZAKHSTAN STRESSES HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS IN AFGHAN REHABILITATION

London, January 28: Kazakhstan will play an active role in furthering OSCE initiatives to strengthen Afghanistan’s borders, develop cooperation and enhance law enforcement activities, said the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev, at the international London Conference on Afghanistan today.

KAZAKHSTAN CONSOLIDATES ROLE AS WORLD’S LARGEST EXPORTER OF WHEAT FLOUR

Astana, January 25: Kazakhstan has been the world’s largest exporter of flour for the third consecutive year, with its share in the world market growing to 18 percent in 2009.

FOREIGN MINISTER KANAT SAUDABAYEV SPECIFIES CHAIRMANSHIP PRIORITIES  

Vienna, January 14: OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev, speaking to the ambassadors from 56 participating States of the OSCE after the video address from the President, specified Kazakhstan’s priorities for its Chairmanship.

PRESIDENT OF KAZAKHSTAN

NURSULTAN NAZARBAYEV

CALLS FOR OSCE SUMMIT

Address by the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev to the OSCE Permanent Council

Vienna, January 14: In an unprecedented video address to the OSCE Permanent Council delivered in Vienna on January 14, President Nursultan Nazarbayev outlined his vision for Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship agenda and called for a summit of this unique organization facing a decisive moment in its history.

KAZAKHSTAN GETS CLOSER TO EUROPE,

ONE MAGAZINE AT A TIME

 January 12: “Kazakhstan, Europe’s future?” That is the question journalists of the French magazine L’Essentiel des Relations Internationales ask in their January-February issue dedicated to Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in the OSCE. As one reads through the issue, one might as well conclude that the future is now.

KAZAKHSTAN ASSUMES OSCE CHAIRMANSHIP,

WILL LAY OUT AGENDA NEXT WEEK

Astana, January 5: On January 1, 2010 Kazakhstan became the twentieth state chairing the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe since the establishment of the Chairman-in-Office position in 1991.

2009

WITH ECONOMY STABILIZED, OSCE AND CUSTOMS UNION LOOM FOR 2010

Astana, December 29: President Nursultan Nazarbayev last week held a final press conference of the year stressing that its most important result was Kazakhstan’s ability to avert recession.

KAZAKHSTAN AT HELM OF OSCE

INTERVIEW WITH KANAT SAUDABAYEV,

SECRETARY OF STATE  – MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

New Europe - December 14, 2009

KAZAKHSTAN OPENS HONORARY CONSULATE

OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN IN OSAKA

Osaka, December 4: Kazakhstan has opened an Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Osaka, Kansai region. The opening ceremony for the new consulate was attended by His Excellency the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Japan, Mr. Akylbek A. Kamaldinov, and government representatives from Kazakhstan and Japan.

CONVENTION BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN AND JAPAN FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION WILL APPLY FROM JANUARY 1, 2010

President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev on November 30, 2009 signed the Law "On ratification of the Convention between the Republic of Kazakhstan and Japan for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income".

OSCE MEMBER STATES AGREE TO CONSIDER A SUMMIT DURING KAZAKHSTAN’S CHAIRMANSHIP IN 2010

Athens, December 2: At the 17th OSCE Ministerial Council in Athens yesterday, OSCE member States expressed their willingness to consider an OSCE summit next year during Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in the organization at the 17th Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the OSCE in Athens on December 1-2, 2009.

KAZAKHSTAN TO SPEND $50 MILLION EDUCATING AFGHANS

Astana, November 24: Kazakhstan will spend 50 million dollars over the next five years to educate 1,000 Afghans under an agreement between the two countries signed on November 22 in Kabul. Kanat Saudabayev, Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Afghanistan to sign the agreement with Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Spanta. Mr Saudabayev also met President Hamid Karzai and the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Kai Eide.

MAJOR RED CROSS FORUM IN ASTANA

Astana, November 10: Yesterday, an international Forum dedicated to humanitarian norms and current global challenges opened in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The Forum is organized by the Regional Office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Central Asia (ICRC) in cooperation with the Eurasian National University (named after historian and ethnologist Lev Gumilev).

UN GA FIRST COMMITTEE ADOPTS RESOLUTION

PROCLAIMING AUGUST 29 INTERNATIONAL DAY

AGAINST NUCLEAR TESTS

Astana, November 1: On October 30, 2009, the First Committee of the UN General Assembly (which oversees disarmament and security issues) approved a resolution put forward by Kazakhstan proclaiming August 29 ‘International Day against Nuclear Tests.’

KAZAKHSTAN COMMITTED TO OSCE STANDARDS,

SENATE SPEAKER SAYS

Astana, October 30: Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, Speaker of Kazakhstan's Senate, shared his views on Astana's commitments to agreements within the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe during his meeting with a group of ambassadors to the OSCE from several countries.

KAZAKHSTAN AND JAPAN STRENGTHEN THEIR ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Astana, October 22: The 10th Joint Session of the Kazakhstan-Japan and Japan-Kazakhstan Committees for Economic Cooperation was held in Astana on October 22, 2009.

SPEECH BY SECRETARY OF STATE - MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN, MR. KANAT SAUDABAYEV AT THE PREPARATORY CONFERENCE TO THE XV SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE PEOPLE OF KAZAKHSTAN

Astana, October 20, 2009

KAZAKHSTAN’S PRESIDENT URGES “INNOVATIVE REVOLUTION”

Astana, October 15: President Nursultan Nazarbayev congratulated the Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi (one of the greatest scientists and philosophers of the Islamic world) on its 75th anniversary and delivered a lecture to students and professors.

KAZAKHSTAN JOINS CLUB OF COUNTRIES WITH HIGH HDI

Astana, October 14: Kazakhstan has joined the club of countries with a High Human Development Index (HDI) says a report published by the United Nations Development Programme on October 5th.With an HDI of 0,804, Kazakhstan is placed 82nd out of the 182 countries ranked. Kazakhstan’s HDI grew steadily during the last 14 years at an average of 0.2% per annum.                                       

KAZAKHSTAN: RECORD GRAIN HARVEST

Astana, October 13:  Kazakhstan has reported a record grain harvest this year. 22 million tons were collected – making 2009 the second best harvest in the last five years (in 2007, 22.3 million tons of grain were collected). This year also saw the planted area under grain crops in Kazakhstan increase to 17.2 million hectares (14.7 million hectares under wheat) - 1 million hectares more than last year.              

KAZAKHSTAN ANNOUNCES ESTIMATED OIL PRODUCTION OUTPUT FOR 2009

Astana, October 7: This year Kazakhstan expects oil production output to increase by five million tons against 2008. The announcement was made by the country’s Vice Minister of Energy & Mineral Resources Lyazzat Kiinov at the opening of the KIOGE-2009 International Oil & Gas Exhibition in Almaty.

KAZAKHSTAN'S RICH TOURISM POTENTIAL TO BE DEVELOPED

Astana, October 6: President Nursultan Nazarbayev touted Kazakhstan’s potential as a tourist destination in a speech at the opening ceremony yesterday (Oct. 5) of the 18th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Astana.

KAZAKHSTAN, AZERBAIJAN SIGN ACCORDS THAT WILL IMPACT ON EUROPE

Astana, October 5:  President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met in Baku on October 2 and agreed to expand bilateral relations in ways that may have an important impact on European and world energy supplies.

KAZAKHSTAN'S SECRETARY OF STATE - MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE 64TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

New York, September 25: Secretary of State – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev made a statement at the general debate of the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

KAZAKHSTAN'S SECRETARY OF STATE - MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AT THE CONFERENCE ON FACILITATING THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE  NUCLEAR-TEST-BAN TREATY

New York, September 24: Secretary of State - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev made a statement at the Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (Article XIV).

IV EURASIAN ENERGY FORUM OPENS IN ASTANA

Astana, September 24: At the opening of the IV Eurasian Energy Forum in Astana today, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Karim Massimov highlighted the successes of Kazakhstan in the oil and gas sector and emphasized that Kazakhstan had proved itself a reliable supplier of hydrocarbons to global markets.

KAZAKHSTAN'S PRESIDENT CALLS FOR A FAIR & DEMOCRATIC WORLD CURRENCY

Astana, September 23: In a communiqué titled ‘The Audacity of Responsibility’ released today President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev outlines his vision for a fair and more democratic world currency. The President’s blueprint is aimed squarely at the participants of this week’s G20 Summit in Pittsburgh.

NEWSLETTERS ARCHIVE