Kazakhstan Sweep 100714

Kazakhstan Sweep 100714

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  Two Kyrgyz citizens have been killed and a Kazakh border guard has been seriously injured as a result of an armed incident on the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border, a deputy head of the Kazakh National Security Committee's border service, Amangeldy Abylkanov, has said on July 14.
  
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  According to Kyrgyz AKIpress news agency on July 14, Kyrgyz Interim President Roza Otunbayeva has met a Kazakh delegation headed by First Deputy Prime Minister Umirzak Shukeyev, who has arrived under Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev's personal order. During the meeting, the sides discussed activities of the group [set up by Kazakhstan for Kyrgyzstan's economic recovery] and issues being planned to be considered, the interim government's press service said.
  
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  Total external debt of Kazakhstan for I quarter of 2010 has decreased by $1 billion and amounted, as of March 31, 2010, $110.7 billion, the Kazakhstan Today reports citing the National Bank of Kazakhstan on July 14.
  
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  Kazakhstan and the USA intend to step up cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy, US deputy assistant secretary for international nuclear policy and cooperation, Ed McGinnis, said at a briefing today, the Kazakhstan Today news agency's correspondent has reported on July 14.
  
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  Owners of tobacco farms in Kazakhstan are cheating and exploiting migrant workers, a new report by a human rights group alleges. Human Rights Watch released a 115-page report on July 14 documenting a litany of alleged abuses including failing to pay regular wages, requiring excessively long work hours, confiscating passports and failing to provide written contracts.
  
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  Aim-listed Frontier Mining announced on July 14 that it had graduated from explorer to producer at its Koskuduk project in Kazakhstan reported Mining Weekly.
  
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  Responsibility of designers and construction organizations in Kazakhstan will be toughened, the chairman of the Construction and Housing and Communal Services Agency, Serik Nokin, informed during the expanded government session, Kazakhstan Today reported on July 14.
  
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  The government of Kazakhstan has confirmed the program of modernization and construction of the new pharmaceutical enterprises. The members of the Cabinet of Ministers voted for this government's order during the expanded government session, Kazakhstan Today reported on July 14.
  
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  Border traffic at the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border will return to normal on 20 July, said the Deputy Head of the Kazakh National Security Committee’s (NSC) border service Amangeldy Abylkanov on July 14.
  
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  The Minister of Transport and Communications of Kazakhstan, Abelgazi Kusainov, discussed with the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Kazakhstan, Magtymguly Akmyradov, the terms of realizing the civil-engineering construction of the railroad Uzen - frontier with Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan Today reported on July 14 citing the minister's press service.
  
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  Presentation of the first group of rolling stocks manufactured by the South Korean Company Hyundai for the underground of Almaty took place today in the electro-depot Almatymetrokurylys, Kazakhstan Today reported on July 14.
  
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  The Specialized Inter-district Criminal Court of Astana considered an appeal by the former head of the National Atomic Company Kazatomprom Mukhtar Jakishev leaving the sentence unchanged, Jakishev’s lawyer Nurlan Beisekeyev said on July 14.
  

Two die, one injured in armed incident on Kazakh-Kyrgyz border
Text of report by privately-owned Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency

Astana, 14 July: Two Kyrgyz citizens have been killed and a Kazakh border guard has been seriously injured as a result of an armed incident on the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border, a deputy head of the Kazakh National Security Committee's border service, Amangeldy Abylkanov, has said.

"On 13 July between 1600 and 1700 [local time, 1000 and 1100 gmt], on a section of the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border, a border detachment of the Saty border post has come across a group of Kyrgyz citizens who had illegally crossed the state border and were driving a horse herd through mountain paths. The trespassers put up armed resistance when an attempt was made to stop them, and they attacked the border detachment first," he said at a news briefing in Astana today.

According to him, two Kyrgyz citizens died and a Kazakh border guard was seriously injured as a result of the incident.

Source: Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency, Almaty, in Russian 0659 gmt 14 Jul 10

BBC Mon Alert CAU 140710 oh/dia

Kyrgyz leader, Kazakh deputy premier discuss recovery of Kyrgyz economy
Text of report by privately-owned Kyrgyz AKIpress news agency website

Kyrgyz Interim President Roza Otunbayeva has met a Kazakh delegation headed by First Deputy Prime Minister Umirzak Shukeyev, who has arrived under Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev's personal order.

During the meeting, the sides discussed activities of the group [set up by Kazakhstan for Kyrgyzstan's economic recovery] and issues being planned to be considered, the interim government's press service said.

At the same time, the issues of restoration of Osh city's socioeconomic infrastructure and assessments of the countries humanitarian needs mentioned as priority fields of providing aid to Kyrgyzstan at this stage.

It was noted that during two days, the working group with representatives from Kyrgyz ministries and state bodies would discuss bilateral cooperation and providing Kazakh aid. As part of the current visit, it is also planned to visit Osh [southern Kyrgyz city].

Source: AKIpress news agency website, Bishkek, in Russian 1023 gmt 14 Jul 10

BBC Mon CAU 140710 ak/ar

Total external debt of Kazakhstan for I quarter decreased by $1 billion
14.07.2010

http://www.kt.kz/?lang=eng&uin=1133435284&chapter=1153521507

Almaty. July 14. Kazakhstan Today - Total external debt of Kazakhstan for I quarter of 2010 has decreased by $1 billion and amounted, as of March 31, 2010, $110.7 billion, the agency reports citing the National Bank of Kazakhstan.

According to the chairman of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, Grigory Marchenko, debt of banks decreased by $3.9 billion, having increased in other sectors by 2.5 billion.

Kazakhstan, USA sign deal on nuclear cooperation
Excerpt from report by privately-owned Kazakhstan Today news agency website

Astana, 14 July: Kazakhstan and the USA intend to step up cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy, US deputy assistant secretary for international nuclear policy and cooperation, Ed McGinnis, said at a briefing today, the Kazakhstan Today news agency's correspondent has reported.

"We have signed a document for peaceful use of nuclear energy with a special pleasure. The document entitled `Technical Conditions' is for a working subgroup, and the first session of the expert working group will be held tomorrow. We have also discussed all-round cooperation in ensuring security, safety and peaceful use of nuclear energy," McGinnis said.

"At present, we are at the initial stage. Our experts are working out optimal ways of further cooperation," McGinnis enlarged.

According to information of the US embassy's press service, "US deputy assistant secretary for global nuclear policy and cooperation, Ed McGinnis, and the first deputy minister of industry and new technologies, Albert Rau, signed an agreement on strengthening cooperation between Kazakhstan and the USA in the field of nuclear energy in Astana on 13 July".

[Passage omitted: the document was signed as part of an agreement signed between relevant ministries of both sides in 2009]

"In the field of nuclear energy, the USA and Kazakhstan are planning to exchange experience between state laboratories and scientific organizations, which will help enhance safety and secure development of the commercial nuclear sector of Kazakhstan," the press service said.

[Passage omitted: the USA is in favour of peaceful use of nuclear energy in the world]

Source: Kazakhstan Today news agency website, Almaty, in Russian 1227 gmt 14 Jul 10

BBC Mon CAU 140710 ad/ar

Report: Migrants exploited in Kazakhstan
Published: July 14, 2010 at 11:30 AM
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/International/2010/07/14/Report-Migrants-exploited-in-Kazakhstan/UPI-61821279121448/

ALMATY, Kazakhstan, July 14 (UPI) -- Owners of tobacco farms in Kazakhstan are cheating and exploiting migrant workers, a new report by a human rights group alleges.

Human Rights Watch released a 115-page report Wednesday documenting a litany of alleged abuses including failing to pay regular wages, requiring excessively long work hours, confiscating passports and failing to provide written contracts.

The group says the farmers frequently use child labor with children as young as 10-years-old working in the fields.

"Many of these tobacco workers -- adults and children alike -- come to Kazakhstan and found themselves in virtual bondage," says senior researcher Jane Buchanan.

Buchanan says the government of Kazakhstan clearly needs to do much more to protect tobacco workers along with Philip Morris Kazakhstan, the firm that purchases tobacco from the farmers.

Experts estimate that Kazakhstan hosts from 300,000 to 1 million migrant workers each year, the vast majority coming from countries in the former Soviet Union.

Frontier’s Koskuduk mine starts producing gold
14th July 2010   Updated 1 hour 20 minutes ago
http://www.miningweekly.com/article/frontiers-koskuduk-mine-starts-producing-gold-2010-07-14

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) - Aim-listed Frontier Mining announced on Wednesday that it had graduated from explorer to producer at its Koskuduk project in Kazakhstan.

The company reported that it had shipped dore containing 289 ounces gold and 1 890 oz silver to Switzerland. The shipment consisted of 113 oz gold and 341 oz silver from Koskuduk ore, with the balance being from Naimanjal stockpiles.

Frontier CEO Erlan Sagadiev said that building a plant and achieving gold production within six months, during one of the harshest winters in recent times, was an exceptional performance by the Frontier team at Koskuduk. "It also reinforces the company's decision to reevaluate its strategy and shift its focus from Naimanjal to Koskuduk."

Frontier recently acquired a 50% stake in the Benkala copper mine in Kazaksthan.

Responsibility of designers and construction organizations in Kazakhstan to be toughened
13:46     14.07.2010
http://www.kt.kz/?lang=eng&uin=1133435548&chapter=1153521492

Astana. July 14. Kazakhstan Today - Responsibility of designers and construction organizations in Kazakhstan will be toughened. The chairman of the Construction and Housing and Communal Services Agency, Serik Nokin, informed during the expanded government session, the agency reports.

"12 thousand licenses for carrying out of design works have been issued in Kazakhstan. I can name not more than 50 enterprises, which specialize on designing of water supply objects and have good industrial base and qualified experts," S. Nokin informed.

"We consider increase of qualification requirements and strengthening of responsibility of designers and design organizations as our priorities," he informed.

Program of modernization and construction of pharmaceutical enterprises confirmed
11:12     14.07.2010
http://www.kt.kz/?lang=eng&uin=1133435548&chapter=1153521479

фото с сайта www.fotorix.ruAstana. July 14. Kazakhstan Today - The government of Kazakhstan has confirmed the program of modernization and construction of the new pharmaceutical enterprises. The members of the Cabinet of Ministers voted for this government's order during the expanded government session, the agency reports.

"The pharmaceutical industry development program for 2010 - 2014 has been created according to the plan of measures for realization of the forced industrially-innovative development program," Vice Minister of Industry and New Technologies, Albert Rau, informed.

He reminded, "As of today, seven leading enterprises in the country produce 90 % of all medical products, thus, import of pharmaceutical production amounts to 67 % in natural expression and about 90 % - in monetary terms."

"The purpose of the program is provision of the home market with 50 % of medical products due to domestic production by 2014."

Kazakh terminates high-security patrol at Kazakh-Kyrgyz border on 20 July - NSC
Astana. July 14.
http://www.interfax.kz/?lang=eng&int_id=10&news_id=3613

Interfax-Kazakhstan – Border traffic at the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border will return to normal on 20 July, said the Deputy Head of the Kazakh National Security Committee’s (NSC) border service Amangeldy Abylkanov.

“We have started the transition on 8 July and expect to complete it on 20 July,” he told Astana press-briefing on Wednesday.

Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan coordinated completion of railroad Uzen - frontier with Turkmenistan
14:03     14.07.2010
http://www.kt.kz/?lang=eng&uin=1133435534&chapter=1153521495

Astana. July 14. Kazakhstan Today - The Minister of Transport and Communications of Kazakhstan, Abelgazi Kusainov, discussed with the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Kazakhstan, Magtymguly Akmyradov, the terms of realization of the civil-engineering construction of the railroad Uzen - frontier with Turkmenistan, the agency reports citing the minister's press service.

According to the Turkmen party, now Turkmenistan has practically finished construction of its site of the railroad.

Total extent of the railroad Uzen (Kazakhstan) - Kyzylkaya - Bereket - Etrek (Turkmenistan) - Gorgan (Iran) is 677 kilometers, extent of the Kazakhstan site - 146 kilometers. The forecasted volume of transportations in the first year of operation - 9.6 million tons. The governments of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran have accepted obligations to simultaneously complete construction and commissioning of the railway in December, 2011.

First electric trains for city underground presented in Almaty
17:13     14.07.2010
http://www.kt.kz/?lang=eng&uin=1133435211&chapter=1153521514

Almaty. July 14. Kazakhstan Today - Presentation of the first group of rolling stocks manufactured by the South Korean Company Hyundai for the underground of Almaty took place today in the electrodepot Almatymetrokurylys, the agency reports.

Akim of Almaty, Ahmetzhan Esimov, at the presentation, said that the presentation of the first four rolling stocks is a very important stage for commissioning of Almaty underground.

"All works of underground construction have been done according to the confirmed schedule." "We are confident that the Almaty underground will be commissioned next year to the 20th anniversary of independence of our country. We are at the presentation of the first four trains, which will serve our townspeople. Each train has four carriages, that is 16 carriages."

According to the plan, 28 carriages will be purchased for the underground, which will cost about $86 million. "We have already received 16 carriages and we will receive 12 more carriages in August.

Astana court rejects Jakishev’s appeal
Astana. July 14.
http://www.interfax.kz/?lang=eng&int_id=10&news_id=3612

Interfax-Kazakhstan – The Specialized Inter-district Criminal Court of Astana considered an appeal by the former head of the National Atomic Company Kazatomprom Mukhtar Jakishev leaving the sentence unchanged, Jakishev’s lawyer Nurlan Beisekeyev said on Wednesday.

“The court upheld the verdict. All our reasoning and complaints were dismissed, the sentence was left unchanged,” he told reporters after the court hearing.

“We don’t know the grounds and reasons (for the court’s decision – IF-K). The court only announced the ruling,” Beisekeyev added.

According to the lawyer, he filed several appeals to call additional witnesses, hold expert investigations and questioned the results of the Finance Ministry’s audits.

“We were hoping that the Astana court would understand that the court of original jurisdiction allowed some serious violations of the criminal procedure law,” Beisekeyev noted.

The lawyer intends to appeal to the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan and European courts.

The court did not introduce any changes in the sentence of Jakishev’s former driver Talgat Kystaubayev.

As previously reported, on March 12 the Astana court found Mukhtar Dzhakishev guilty of misappropriation and bribery and sentenced him to 14 years in prison. The court also sentenced Dzhakishev's bodyguard, Talgat Kystaubayev, to five years in prison and stripped him of his military rank of major.

The investigation into the uranium case was launched in March last year on charges of embezzlement brought against Kazatomprom top managers. The case provoked a massive public response.