A WEEKLY ONLINE PUBLICATION / WWW.MFA.GOV.KZ ISSUE NO. 439 / FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2016

Mazhilis Deputies Vote to Hold Early Parliamentary Elections

EAEU Faces Challenging Year as Kazakhstan Begins Chairmanship

Also In The News

Astana Architecture Intertwines Concepts of the East and West

In Focus:Foreign Policy Priorities

Mazhilis Deputies Vote to Hold Early Parliamentary Elections

Callingastana ASTANA CALLING / ISSUE 439 / 2 Back to Contents

The deputies of the Mazhilis (lower chamber of Parliament) voted Jan. 13 to ask President Nursultan Nazarbayev to dissolve the chamber and set early parliament elections, the chamber’s press service announced.

“Aware of the responsibility, all three party groups in the Mazhilis - Nur Otan, Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan (CPPK) and Ak Zhol - came out with the initiative to issue a decree on the dissolution of the fifth convocation of the Mazhilis and to hold early parliamentary elections,” Deputy of the Mazhilis Nurlan Abdirov said, reading the text of the joint request.

“In order to synchronise our actions during the implementation of reforms at all levels, it is necessary to combine parliamentary elections and elections to local maslikhats,” Deputy Vladislav Kosarev of the CPPK said.

At the meeting, it was noted that the fifth convocation of the Mazhilis passed about 80 laws on each of the five institutional reforms of the President, as well as elaborated roadmaps on their implementation.

“The current Mazhilis fulfilled its historic mission to create the legal framework for the Plan of the Nation. The new economic reality sets new tasks for the country,” Kosarev said.

“For 25 years of independence, after every global crisis, Kazakhstan was becoming stronger. Thanks to President Nursultan Nazarbayev, we have a strategy for dealing with the crisis and a concrete Plan of the Nation. That is why, receiving a new mandate of trust from the voters is important,” added he.

Deputy Azat Peruashev noted that his party of national business Ak Zhol is in favour of early elections.

“Let us ask people which parties they trust. Business wants to work without being distracted by the debates,” he said.

The deputies stressed that the initiative to hold an early election was prompted because of the need to save budgetary funds. Also, they appealed to all the political parties of Kazakhstan, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the public to support them.

According to Kazpravda.kz, Deputy Chairman of the Mazhilis Abay Tasbulatov assumes that the election could be held in late March.

At the plenary session on the same day, the deputies of the Mazhilis approved the appeal to the President and unanimously voted for the initiative. A total of 103 deputies present during the vote voted.

Currently, there are 107 deputies in the lower chamber, of whom 98 are elected by popular vote. Nine members are delegated to the Mazhilis from the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan, a body bringing together representatives of all ethnic groups in the country since 1995.

The previous parliamentary elections took place in January 2012 with seven parties competing for the seats for the five-year term. Three parties cleared the legally defined threshold of 7 percent of the popular vote. Under law, the next election is supposed to take place no later than November 2016 so that by January 2017 a new convocation of the Mazhilis assumes its mandate.

It now remains to be seen if President Nursultan Nazarbayev accepts the legally valid request from the Mazhilis to dismiss the chamber and set the vote early.

“For 25 years of independence, after every global crisis,

Kazakhstan was becoming stronger. Thanks to President

Nursultan Nazarbayev, we have a strategy for dealing

with the crisis and a concrete Plan of the Nation. That is

why, receiving a new mandate of trust from the voters is

important.”

-Deputy Vladislav Kosarev of the CPPK

Kazakh Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) chaired by Kabibulla Zhakupov calls for early election. Photo credit: www.khabar.kz

EAEU Faces Challenging Year as Kazakhstan Begins Chairmanship

Callingastana ASTANA CALLING / ISSUE 439/ 3 Back to Contents

Like any newly-formed organisation, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is facing growing pains which will likely continue as Kazakhstan takes the reins for 2016. Yet at the same time, the first 12 months saw it emerge as a globally-recognised entity which is expected to continue strengthening.

The positive impression of EAEU’s inaugural year was expressed in a New Year’s message by outgoing Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) Chairman Viktor Khristenko. His comments were published on the EEC website.

“The first year of the fully-functioning EAEU has completed. At the same time, we completed the first four-year management cycle of the EEC, the first supranational body in the Eurasian space. In 2016, the second composition of the EEC board will begin its work,” he said, referring to the upcoming change of EEC leadership and his replacement with a representative from Armenia.

Based on an idea expressed more than two decades ago by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the treaty establishing the EAEU was signed May 29, 2014 by the leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia and came into force Jan. 1, 2015. The organisation has subsequently expanded to include Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.

Despite its short history, the EAEU has become a full-fledged subject of the international arena, maintaining relations with traditional trading partners and forming its own trade and economic relations with leading and promising economic centres such as China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Vietnam and Latin America countries. The union also launched a single market for services, while the single market for drugs and medical devices will occur this year and the launch of a common energy market and common oil and gas market are on the horizon.

Khristenko added the EAEU, which has no political component, has made excellent strides in the economic, trade and technical regulation, customs administration and competitive policy spheres. The actions served to accelerate the alliance’s integration on the Customs Union stage.

“The EAEU signifies the transition to a single market with free movement of goods, services, capital and labour and formation and implementation of approved policies in key sectors such as transport, industry, energy, and agriculture, as well as coordination of macroeconomic policies and ensuring equal rights in the field of

Chair of the Eurasian Economic Commission Viktor Khristenko

labour migration for citizens of the union,” he said. “I am convinced that the essential element of our long-term strategy of economic cooperation should be the direct dialogue between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the European Commission.”

Last year may have had not so perfect conditions for launching the organisation, according to a recent editorial in “The Astana Times.” Weakening global growth and falling oil prices meant difficulties for the countries involved and increased international tensions fuelled suspicions among some about a possible trade block.

As Kazakhstan assumes the chair, however, there are already hopeful signs for the organisation and its outward relations. The EAEU market has increased to 182 million consumers, a size which has attracted the attention of other countries, and free trade agreements have been inked or are under discussion with various Asian, Middle Eastern and Latin American nations.

“These relations show that those who feared the EAEU would look inwards rather than be open to the world have been proved wrong,” noted the editorial. This continued approach has been underlined by Kazakhstan’s accession to the WTO in 2015.

As it strengthens these links, the EAEU must also foster cooperation with similar trading blocs. Like the phrase “no man is an island,” no nation, despite its size or wealth, can thrive on its own in the current international economy. Global prosperity depends not only on how effectively these blocs operate individually, but how they work together.

“This is why the EAEU has made improving cooperation with the European Union a top priority. Putting in place the right foundation for this dialogue will be high on the agenda for Kazakhstan’s chairmanship over the next year,” noted the newspaper.

“The first year of the fully-functioning EAEU has completed. At the same time, we completed the first four-year management cycle of the EEC, the first supranational body in the Eurasian space. In 2016, the second composition of the EEC board

will begin its work.”

- Chairman Viktor Khristenko.

Astana Architecture Intertwines Concepts of the East and West

Callingastana ASTANA CALLING / ISSUE 439/ 4 Back to Contents

Astana, situated on the Yessil River in northern Kazakhstan, has had various names and functions since its founding in 1830. Established as a defensive fortification, it went through several evolutions before being named the country’s capital in 1997.

Like other national headquarters such as Brasilia (Brazil), Canberra (Australia) and Washington, D.C. (United States), Astana is a planned city and new developments are under consideration, said Vitaliy Siletskiy, head of the city’s architecture and city building management, in a recent interview with The Astana Times. Public, residential, social and cultural objects, public purpose mini-areas and the new Green Square and public centre, as well as forming a classic model of a polycentric city, are all on the drawing board.

“Cultural singularity, ideas of East and West, harmoniously intertwine in the capital city’s architecture. The conceptual basis of the general plan can be described with one word – harmony,” he said. “The harmony is in the development of nature and city, in the compound of innovations and traditions, human relationships and the city environment, technology and people.”

The concept of priority district construction, in addition to designing and building specific objects, has been completed. Public and residential complexes, cultural, educational and health facilities, parks and squares to be built east of Millennium Alley will be complimented by unique objects such as a new railway station and Etnoaul (“ethnic village”), a cultural and tourist complex.

While developing as a modern megalopolis with two centres, Astana is retaining its charm. Old Square, the old town, and the left bank along Nurly Zhol (formerly Water Green) Boulevard, are offset by the tall buildings along Orynbor Avenue, one of two entrances from the airport.

“The classic model of a polycentric city is gradually forming. Polycentricism is not only a device of the city; it is how the human community is constructed. The new centres are viable only if they are functional and linked between each other,” said Siletskiy.

Emerging as the model of a megacity with a unified socio-economic and cultural centre, however, may eventually cease to be a draw. Based on that possibility, public centres will be established in every planning area. Each “a city within a city” will provide workplaces, cultural recreation, shopping areas, parks, active leisure and transportation links with the rest of Astana, said Siletskiy.

Much of the capital’s development is centred on the campus for EXPO 2017. The entranceway will feature the Abu Dhabi Plaza multifunctional complex, Kazakh and Russian drama theatres and a trade and logistics centre accessed by the new railway station. The international exposition and its theme of future energy will be highlighted by the Green Square project initiated by President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Planners looking towards Astana’s future are at the same time mindful of its past. The main avenue will be a broad parade route capped by a Triumphal Arch dedicated to Kazakh independence. A stele-shaped monument fashioned with 25 edges, each representing one of the milestones reached by the nation since declaring its sovereignty in 1991, will be installed this year, city administration reported last December.

The memorial design, one of 66 submitted to the national contest, is the creation of winner Yedil Alimbekov, of Almaty. The pillar will be sent to the State Commission on Monuments, where the final location will be determined.

“The universal and international form of strict geometric vertical was used as a stylistic solution of the object. A light silver colour of the suggested material, which is titanium, meets futuristic skylines and is interpreted as a further movement of the country along the path of creation. The monument, moving up to the sky, marks our best aspirations and spiritual impulses. The future of the world is the pinnacle of the creative spirit. Twenty-five facets represent 25 years of independence, 25 important events in the history of modern Kazakhstan,” according to the description of the project.

Like other national headquarters such as Brasilia (Brazil), Canberra (Australia) and Washington,

D.C. (United States), Astana is a planned city and new developments are under consideration, said

Vitaliy Siletskiy, head of the city’s architecture and city building management. Public, residential, social and cultural objects, public purpose mini-areas and the new Green Square and public centre, as well as

forming a classic model of a polycentric city, are all on the drawing board.

Astana’s architecture reflects Western and Eastern influences

In Focus:Foreign Policy PrioritiesStrengthening UN & Int’l Security

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev held a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko Jan.12. The Presidents exchanged opinions on the current situation in Southeastern Ukraine. Nazarbayev called for a compromise in resolving the conflict and relieving the tension between Ukraine and Russia.

They also discussed important issues and prospects of bilateral cooperation in using new alternative trade channels.Poroshenko thanked Nazarbayev for the warm welcome and negotiations that were held during his official visit to Kazakhstan last October. (akorda.kz)

Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Yerzhan Ashikbayev visited New York On January 11-13. The goal of the visit was to promote international initiatives of President Nursultan Nazarbayev and the nation’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2017–2018. For this reason, Ashikbayev held a brief for the ambassadors of the member countries of African Group, as well as for the group of countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Read the full text at: http://mfa.gov.kz/index.php/en/last-news/5654-international-initiatives-by-nazarbayev-discussed-at-high-level-meetings-in-new-york

Hosting Astana Expo 2017

As a part of the preparations for International Exhibition EXPO 2017 in Astana, the capital city administration’s Office for Languages Development organised English courses for healthcare workers where now 260 people are enrolled. The programme started in April 2015.

Last year, the Astana Akimat (administration) jointly with National Company Astana EXPO 2017 developed a plan of measures to ensure medical care for guests and participants of the exhibition.

Administration of the company determined that seven posts of primary medical care provision and one medical ambulance station will be based on the territory of the exhibition complex: four first aid stations with the area of 20m², three first aid stations with the area of 30m² and one ambulance with the area of 78 m². One doctor and a medical nurse will provide medical care at the each first aid station.

Also, during EXPO 2017, primary health care organisations of the city will organise around-the-clock posts of healthcare workers in the locations where guests stay. In emergency cases, the patients will be taken to the hospitals of the city. Each hospital will be provided with additional beds in the amount of 30-50 units. (astana.gov.kz)

Callingastana ASTANA CALLING / ISSUE 439/ 5 Back to Contents

Welcoming Investment

Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Germany Bolat Nussupov met with Ambassador Andreas Peschke, federal foreign office director for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia. The parties focused on preliminary the results of bilateral and multilateral cooperation and discussed prospects for 2016 in the context of increasing trade-economic relations.

Nussupov informed his counterpart, among other issues, about the results of the recent visit of European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini to Astana, the signing of the a new Kazakhstan-EU agreement on enhanced partnership and cooperation (EPCA).

Peschke welcomed the signing of the EPCA and expressed confidence that the document will bring cooperation to a brand new level in all important areas of bilateral relations.

Following the meeting, Nussupov negotiated with Dorsch Gruppe CEO Jürgen Röder about attracting investments to Kazakhstan’s economy. Röder noted investment attractiveness of the country and said that he is going to visit Astana in January in order to hold talks on participation of Dorsch Gruppe in big investment projects.

Dorsch Gruppe Holding is one of the leading engineering companies of Germany. It has branches in more than 40 countries of the world and employs 2,000 people. The volume of the services rendered by the holding was estimated last year at 2,600,000 euro. The holding specialises in providing services in engineering, construction of hydro-technical utilities, on-the-ground construction and water supply, among others. (mfa.gov.kz)

Also In The News...

• President sends condolences to Turkey and GermanyNursultan Nazarbayev sent a letter of condolence to President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the terror act in Istanbul. The Kazakh leader stressed it was with deep sorrow he heard the news about the tragedy. “Today, terrorism poses a great threat to the humanity. However, we can defeat it by uniting our efforts. In turn, Kazakhstan is ready to continue close cooperation with Turkey in the sphere of fighting modern threats in order to ensure peace and stability in our countries,” the message reads. Nazarbayev expressed the condolences on behalf of all the people of Kazakhstan and personally to the families of the people who were killed in the terrorist act and wished speedy recovery those who were injured. A letter of similar content was sent to Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel in connection with death of German citizens in the terror act in Istanbul. (akorda.kz)

• Public employee code of ethics takes effectOn Jan. 1, the code of ethics for public employees signed by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev on Dec. 29 became effective. Along with the code, an ethics commissioner will be introduced as an additional duty in almost all state bodies. Previously known as the code of honour, the new document aims to strengthen society’s confidence in public authorities, form a strong culture of mutual relations in civil service and prevent unethical behaviour of civil servants. It establishes basic requirements for the moral and ethical image of civil servants, as well as basic standards of behaviour. The ethics commissioner will be introduced into the central executive bodies and state bodies and be directly subordinate and accountable to the President (with the exception of law enforcement and special state agencies) and akims (governors) of regions, cities and the capital. (astanatimes.com)

• Thousands of new housing units expected in AstanaThis year, within the implementation of the Programme of Regional Development until 2020, construction of eight multi-apartment residential buildings with a total area of 96.55 thousand square metres with 1,758 apartments will be continued in Astana. (astana.gov.kz)

• Secretary of State, Astana OSCE Chief discuss international issuesSecretary of State of the Republic of Kazakhstan Gulshara Abdykalikova met with Head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Programme Office in Astana Natalia Zarudna who completed her diplomatic mission in the country Jan. 11. During the meeting in the Akorda Presidential Residence, the sides touched upon a wide range of issues related to the state and prospects of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the OSCE and exchanged their views on regional and international agenda. Abdykalikova especially stressed that Kazakhstan and the OSCE have a rich history of cooperation that includes Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in 2010 and the adoption of the Astana Declaration. Thanks to its chairmanship, Kazakhstan managed to establish itself as an active and effective partner ready to develop further cooperation with the OSCE on an equal basis. Abdykalikova thanked Zarudna for strengthening dialogue and mutual understanding between Kazakhstan and the OSCE during her tenure and wished her well-being and success in the future. (inform.kz)

• Astana City Administration examines 2016 prioritiesOn Jan. 11, Akim (Mayor) of Astana Adilbek Dzhaksybekov chaired the first meeting of the city administration to define the key areas of focus in 2016. At the meeting, Dzhaksybekov stressed that the administration’s work will be based on the five institutional reforms put forward by President Nursultan Nazarbayev last year. From now on, all employees of the city administration will be governed by the new laws on civil service and anti-corruption, as well as the new code of ethics that became effective on Jan. 1. The new local police service, which numbers nearly 1,500 police officers, was established on Jan. 1 in Astana and will be headed by Colonel Bakhytzhan Malybayev. (inform.kz)

• Kazakhstan gains nine Summer Olympic bids so farAs of today, athletes of the capital have won nine bids to participate in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. They include two boxing bids from Vassiliy Levit and the captain of the national team in boxing, Daniyar Yeleussinov, one bid in athletics from Florida Menyanova and one bid in modern pentathlon from Yelena Potapenko. Three athletes have won in rowing and

canoeing: Inna Klinova, Zoya Ananchenko and Oleg Tokarnitskiy. Doszhan Kartikov and Almat Kebispayev managed to win two bids in Greco-Roman wrestling. The main sports event of the four-year period, the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, will be held from Aug. 5 to Aug. 21. Today, there are 25 enterprises with 76 developing sports that are functioning under the authority of Astana Office of Physical Culture and Sports. The total number of athletes is 13,753. The number of athletes has doubled over the past five years. Licensed competitions are continued, and the coaches are confident that there will be more athletes from Astana in the ranks of the national Olympic team of Kazakhstan. (astana.gov.kz)

• Central Asia’s largest martial arts academy opens in AstanaQazaq Batyry, Central Asia’s largest martial arts academy, which includes 10 training groups, opened in Astana. “Our [Academy] offers a variety of the most popular martial arts,” said Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Federation of Kazakhstan Aidar Makhmetov. “We have established an all-purpose academy – that’s what makes us special. There is no need to look for an ‘octagon’ or a boxing ring, no need to feel torn apart. We have punching bags, Cross Fit gear all under one roof. In due time, the academy will become the centre of trainings for professional fighters in order to take part in big competitions of national and international scope. We want to bring up Kazakh champions, batyrs so they would represent our country with dignity. At the same time, we will also set up favourable terms to train youth.” The academy offers training in martial arts, such as grappling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, mixed martial arts (MMA), Thai boxing, judo, karate, Cross Fit and yoga and, as the main feature of the 850-square-metre facility, it offers a professional octagon ring for hosting MMA fights.“We ordered the mats for our octagon and the ring from Europe,” said President of the Academy Kanat Alin. “We are planning to host master classes with world-class fighters.” The academy plans to introduce yearly and monthly fees starting between 20,000-25,000 tenge (US$59-$72) for adults, depending on the range of services and 18,000 tenge (US$52) for children. The academy’s capacity is 900 pupils per month, operating hours from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. (astanatimes.com)

ASTANA CALLING A WEEKLY ONLINE PUBLICATION / WWW.MFA.GOV.KZ

Please send comments and questions to pressa@mfa.kz

Callingastana ASTANA CALLING / ISSUE 439/ 6 Back to Contents