11 October 2002
KAZAKH PRESIDENT MARKS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN TILL 2030
Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbaev held talks on 11 October with a group of economists and industrialists who helped prepare the 35-year program for the country's development known as "Kazakhstan-2030." When the controversial program was adopted on October 11 1997, its authors incurred criticism from the opposition for its "ambiguity" and lack of concrete plans. Some criticis compared the program with Soviet-era Communist Party industrial and economic plans.
Among those who met with Nazarbaev on 11 October was the coordinator of UN's office in Kazakhstan, Fikret Akchura. He told journalists after his talks with Nazarbaev that he has been living in Kazakhstan for one and half year and that he does not need to read any books about Kazakhstan's industrial and economic achievements. He added that Kazakhstan's achievements are very obvious, especially to people who have travelled to neighboring Central Asian states.
Birzhan Kanishev of the Presidential Office told RFE/RL that a special 10-year program within the "Kazakhstan-2030" program will be unveiled soon. That program will outline strategies for Kazakhstan's industrial development until 2013. According to Kanishev, a new investment fund will be established soon.
KAZAKH PARLIAMENT DISCUSSES LANGUAGES USE IN ADVERTISING
The Mazhilis -- the lower chamber of Kazakhstan's parliament -- discussed a draft law on what language should be used in advertisements, but failed to reach any concrete decision. Some deputies argued that advertisements should be in Kazakh only, while others proposed that the Kazakh language should not dominate in advertising since it is not as frequently used as Russian. Other deputies said advertisements in other foreign languages, such as English and German, should be permitted as well. Discussions are expected to continue.
KAZAKH PRESIDENTIAL DECREES ON NEW APPOINTMENTS
President Nazarbaev signed Decrees on 11 October naming Andar Shoqpytov Kazakhstan's Ambassador to the Azerbaijan Republic and appointing the Chairman of the Culture Committee of the Ministry of Culture, Information and Social Concord, Bekbolat Tleukhan, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information and Social Concord.
EU'S TACIS PROGRAM ON CONTROL OVER NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGIES AT ULBA METALLURGIC PLANT DISCUSSED
Representatives of the Ulba Metallurgic Plant in Oskemen, East Kazakhstan, and of the International Agency on Nuclear Energy Control held a press conference in Almaty on 11 October at which they told journalists that the European Union's TACIS program on Nuclear Technologies Control is being implemented at Oskemen's Ulba Metallurgic Plant. The plant traditionally produces dry fuel for nuclear reactors, beryllium and other products. In September 1991 an explosion at the plant caused a leakage of beryllium waste into the atmosphere.
It was reported at the press conference that the program on nuclear waste control will prevent such accidents at the plant in future. It was also reported that a new depot for the storage of nuclear waste that conforms to international safety standards is being built in the region. It is expected that Kazakhstan will agree to import nuclear wastes from abroad for long-term storage in future. Parliament is currently discussing the legislative base for doing so.
KAZAKH REPATRIATE FAMILIES GET NEW HOMES IN ALMATY AREA
About 190 new family homes are expected to be built on the outskirts of Almaty by the summer of 2003. Construction began about a year ago. Because the weather is deteriorating, a dozen Kazakh families repatriated from China and Mongolia moved into their new homes, even though electricity and water supplies have not yet been provided to the district. They say that it is better to have a roof over their heads than to continue living in camps and hostels. Kazakhstan has been encouraging ethnic Kazakhs living abroad to return to Kazakhstan since 1991.