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Text of report by the Kazakh news agency Interfax-Kazakhstan on 12th October Astana, 12th October: The new government of Kazakhstan will have to work "in conditions of tough financial restrictions", Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Kasymzhomart Tokayev said at a joint meeting of the houses of parliament on Tuesday [12th October]. He does not consider the situation in the economy hopeless . The government, he said, would "strive to improve the situation". The government in future "intends to pay greater attention to economic stability by gradually cutting down the budget deficit", Tokayev noted. The prime minister asked deputies to adopt the draft budget for 2000 with amendments made to the social bloc in the second reading. "This is an optimal financial document at this stage", he said. Tokayev said that the government intended "to tightly work" with parliament, to ensure economic freedom for entrepreneurs, to continue efforts in supporting small and medium-sized businesses, and also to gradually reduce the tax commitments for Kazakh producers. Tokayev considers the government must be engaged "in policy rather than intrigue, and carry out a political dialogue with parties and public movements". The government's activity must be more "clear and transparent", he stressed. The government needs, Tokayev considers, to carry out a more balanced personnel policy, to attract more experienced specialists and not to forget about new specialists. The government also intends to give more independence to the Regions. He said that the government would pay attention to the development of agriculture, industry, health and education. "It is impossible to be hasty" about the introduction of private ownership of land, the prime minister said. "If the people are not ready to accept private ownership, then it is impossible to introduce it", Tokayev stressed, answering a deputy's question. Tokayev said that "it was possible to think about the amnesty of capital exported abroad" at one time. At the same time, he considers, "it is necessary to consult with public and international organizations on this issue". Answering parliamentarians' questions, Tokayev also said that he himself was against the sale of part of Kazakhstan's stake in the Tengizchevroil joint venture, however "it is necessary to consult and work with the president of Kazakshtan" on this issue. Tokayev is a professional diplomat. He was born in Almaty on 17th May 1953. He graduated from the MSIIR [Moscow State Institute of International Relations] and the diplomacy academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. He worked in structures of the Foreign Ministry of the USSR, and from 1994 until his appointment as prime minister today, he occupied the post of foreign minister of Kazakhstan, and recently combined it with the post of deputy prime minister in the government of the former prime minister Nurlan Balgymbayev. Source: Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency, Almaty, in Russian 0625 gmt 12 Oct 99 BBC Mon CAU 121099/ |