From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Thu Mar 22 2001 - 09:42:36 EST
KAZAKHSTAN DAILY NEWS
1. KAZAKHSTAN MARKS NAURYZ HOLIDAY TODAY.
Correspondents of RFE/RL report that today, March 22, is an official holiday of
Nauryz in Kazakhstan. Special events, concerts, meetings and other mass
gathering devoted to the holiday are being held in all the cities and towns of
the country. Victor Khrapunov - Mayor of Almaty , greeted citizens of the
former Kazakh capital and congratulated them with Nauryz. Kazakh President
Nursultan Nazarbayev took part in celebrations of Nauryz held in Astana - the
capital.
2. ISSUE OF THE NEW KAZAKH ANTHEM TO BE RAISED IN THE PARLIAMENT AGAIN.
Valerian Zemliyanov - a member of the Kazakh Parliament's Lower Chamber
(Mazhilis), told correspondents of RFE/RL that he had put forward a proposal to
add the old song called "Mening Qazaqstanym" (My Kazakhstan) as an alternative
to the song "Elim Mening" (My Nation) proposed by some members of Mazhilis as
the possible new anthem of the country. Kazakh Parliament is going to resume
discussions of the issue next month. The words of "Elim Mening" song were
presumably written by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Deputy Zemliyanov
says that some of his colleagues in the Kazakh Parliament were trying to prove
their loyalty to Kazakh President by supporting the song allegedly written by
Kazakh leader, as the appropriate variant of Kazakhstan's new national anthem.
3. KAZAKH PARLIAMENT APPROVED DRAFT LAW ON MASS MEDIA YESTERDAY.
Correspondents of RFE/RL report that Kazakh Parliament Lower Chamber (Mazhilis)
approved draft law on mass media that would introduce possible fees and fines
for newspaper, Internet, radio and television journalists who use "non-proved or
false" information. The new law has to be approved by Parliament's Upper Chamber
(Senate). Internet web sites will be defined as part of the mass media due to
the new law.
Also the new law will reduce the re-transmission of foreign TV and radio
programs in Kazakhstan to 50 percent from January, 2002, and to 20 percent from
January 2003. Kazakh Minister of Information, Culture and Social Concord
Altynbek Sarsenbayev said the amendments would help to get rid of the domination
of Russian programs on Kazakh networks. Meanwhile U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan
Richard Jones expressed his concerns over the decision of Mazhilis to approve
the amendments to the law on mass media.
Some experts in Kazakhstan consider the approved draft law as an attempt to curb
Internet and take the remnants of the free mass media in the country under
strict control. Speaking with journalists last Friday, Kazakh President
Nursultan Nazarbayev used words, uttered by Russian President Vladimir Putin
earlier last year. He said that Kazakhstan had to do its best in order to
protect its, as he said "informational security".
4. KAZAKH PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER ANNOUNCED ABOUT HER DECISION TO QUIT THE
POSITION OF KHABAR NEWS AGENCY'S PRESIDENT.
At special ceremony devoted to the opening of Khabar News Agency's new Bureau in
Astana - the capital yesterday, Darigha Nazarbayeva - the eldest daughter of
President Nursultan Nazarbayev, announced about her decision to leave the
position of the Khabar's President. Darigha Nazarbayeva founded Khabar News
Agency in early 1990-Es. The Agency turned into the most powerful and prosperous
media-holding of the country, controlling almost all the information networks of
Kazakhstan. President Nazarbayev and his daughter were often criticized in
Western and local press for their attempts to take all the information networks
of the country under their control through Khabar Agency. But Darigha's father
- Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who also took part in the ceremony of
opening of Khabar's Bureau in Astana, told journalists that "his daughter's
decision to quit the business was not politically motivated", adding that "all
of his children are the ordinary citizens of Kazakhstan having the same rights
and obligations as any of the Kazakhstan citizens has".
5. FORMER WORKER OF SHYMKENT PHOSPHORUS PRODUCING PLANT IS ON HUNGER STRIKE.
Saylaubay Qaiupov - a former worker of Shymkent Phosphorus Producing Plant, has
been on hunger strike since March 15 reportedly. Mr. Qaiupov is striking in
front of the building of South Kazakhstan Oblast's administration in Shymkent
City. He demands Shymkent Phosphorus Producing Plant to pay his overdue social
allowances off. (About 2.5 million Tenges). $1 equals 146 Tenges currently.
The Phosphorus Producing Plant has stopped its operations a couple of years ago
due to its bankruptcy.
6. MONUMENT OF ABLAY-KHAN OPENED IN AQSU TOWN, SOUTH KAZAKHSTAN.
New monument of Ablay-Khan was opened in Aqsu Town of Sayram Region, South
Kazakhstan, on the eve of Nauryz Holiday. Ablay-Khan (1721-1781) is one of the
most prominent Kazakh khans who had managed to unite the main three alliances of
Kazakh tribes in the 18th century in order to protect the Kazakh territories
from Chinese and Russian invaders. About 1.5 million Tenges were spent for the
new monument's raising. $1 equals 146 Tenges currently. Sculptors Dauren
Aldekov and Nasyr Rustemov created the monument reportedly.
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