FM Idrissov Says Relations with Traditional Partners Important, New Regions Come in Focus
ASTANA – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov reported on the preliminary results of the Foreign Ministry’s activity in 2013 focusing on relations with key international partners, trade and investment cooperation , the need to develop cooperation with new countries in Latin America and Africa and other topics at the Central Communications Service…
UNDP Project Supports Rural Business in Eastern Kazakhstan
ASTANA – A United Nations Development Programme’s “Wider Europe: Aid for Trade for Central Asia, South Caucasus and the Western CIS” project funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland supports small and medium-sized businesses in the region as a way to support human development. The project, which began in October 2009 and will…
Astana Marks Independence with Speeches, Songs, Celebrations
ASTANA – The Independence Day celebrations in the capital began with an address by President Nursultan Nazarbayev on Dec. 14 and the presentation of state awards to a number of prominent figures in Kazakhstan’s cultural, scientific, health, education, business, military and other spheres for their significant contributions to the socioeconomic and cultural development of the…
Historical Series Bauyrzhan Momyshuly Previews in Astana
Astana – The Keruen Mall cinema hosted a preview of the historical four part movie Bauyrzhan Momyshuly on Dec. 4. It was filmed by renowned Kazakh director Akan Satayev. Aidos Ukibayev, Chairman of the Board of Khabar, and actors who performed the leading roles Yerkebulan Daiyrov (Bauyrzhan Momyshuly) and Assel Sagatova (Zhamal – wife of…
Ambassadors’ Club Showcases Traditional Kazakh Carpets
ASTANA – An exhibition of carpets woven in traditional Kazakh designs was held Nov. 26 at the Rixos Hotel to help showcase Kazakh culture to the diplomatic community. Carpets from the 18th and 19th centuries were presented from the personal collections and antique shop of Berik Alibay. Serik Babirov, owner of a private handmade carpet…
Benefit Poetry Reading Draws Kazakh and US Writers
ASTANA – Host Kanat Omar, a Kazakh poet, read his own original works to art and poetry lovers at the Cablegram benefit poetry reading at the Black Duck restaurant on Nov. 30. The event was the first of its kind in the poetry marathon that has been going on since March. The event was broadcasted…
President Visits New Building of Nazarbayev Centre
ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev visited the new building of the Nazarbayev Centre on Dec. 1, which is the Day of the First President of Kazakhstan. The Nazarbayev Centre is a public multifunctional scientific, analytical, humanitarian and educational institution. During the visit, Nazarbayev familiarised himself with the building and the purpose it serves. He congratulated…
Young Violinist Says Eager to Come to Astana Opera to Perform
ASTANA – Young violinist Yerzhan Kulibayev has already won five prizes in international competitions in Russia, Germany, Portugal and Argentina. The musician, who lives in Spain, spoke to The Astana Times about his work and his philosophy. When did you first realise that you wanted to become a violinist? It’s a funny story: I have…
Astana’s Development Needs Special Attention, Says President
ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev held a meeting on the future of Astana on Nov. 27, noting that a recent visit to Astanagenplan inspired him to think deeper about the city’s future. “The city’s population is increasing and is currently 900,000. We originally planned to achieve this mark between 2020 and 2030. In this regard,…
Astana Opera’s Orchestra Has Great Potential, Says Director
Director Vladimir Kirajiyev of Bulgaria, who works in Austria, visited Astana Opera to see the largest theatre in Central Asia, built in just three years. He spoke with The Astana Times about his impressions. How did you decide to be a director? In my family we had no musicians. My father was an engineer, my…
Project for Preserving Kazakhstan’s Steppe Ecosystem to Complete
ASTANA, Nov. 26 – With more than half a million square kilometres of steppe traversed by important bird and mammal migration routes, Kazakhstan is a globally significant area of biodiversity, and carries a weight of responsibility for its protection. In addition to its other landscapes and native animals, Kazakhstan is the home of 90 percent…
Forest Oasis Awaits Just Outside Astana
The SharZhum Resort Centre in the Akkol district of the Akmola region is only 108 kilometres from Astana, but offers views of a pine forest from every room as well as summer and winter outdoor activities. The forest surrounding the alpine-style resort offers guests opportunities for camping, fishing, mountain biking or just swinging in a…
20th Anniversary of Tenge Celebrated in Almaty
ALMATY – The 20th anniversary of the introduction of Kazakhstan’s national currency was celebrated at an international conference in Almaty attended by Kazakh politicians and representatives of the national and global financial sector. “The introduction of our own currency in 1993 has become the most important factor in the success of Kazakhstan’s financial system,” Kairat…
In U.S., Kazakh Defence Minister Discusses Transition to Professional Army
Kazakhstan Minister of Defence Adilbek Dzhaksybekov met U.S. Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel on Nov. 14 at the Pentagon to discuss military cooperation between the two countries, focusing particularly on the U.S. assistance for Astana’s efforts to build a completely professional army over the next few years. “The United States is a strategic partner for…
Green Economy, EXPO and State Development Programme Discussed at Civil Forum
ASTANA – Leaders of the Civil Alliance of Kazakhstan and officials of the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, among others, discussed the interaction of civil society and the green economy, EXPO 2017 and the State Programme of Accelerated Industrial and Innovative Development at the Nov. 15 session of the sixth Civic Forum in Astana.…
Nazarbayev, Putin Sign Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Alliance in 21st Century
Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed or approved numerous bilateral cooperation agreements during their meeting at the 10th annual Forum of Interregional Cooperation of Kazakhstan and Russia on Nov. 11 in Yekaterinburg. The main document signed by the two leaders is the Treaty on Good-Neighborliness and Alliance in the 21st Century,…
UNDP Support for Kazakhstan Brings Positive Results
ASTANA – Cihan Sultanoglu, Regional Director for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Assistant Secretary General, visited Kazakhstan on Oct. 22-25, on the eve of the organisation’s 20 year anniversary of activity in Kazakhstan. During the visit, Sultanoglu met representatives of Kazakhstan’s government, including…
Eight Drops Fosters Warmth, Creativity in Astana’s Club Scene
ASTANA, Nov. 6 – One of Astana’s most popular entertainment venues, the Eight Drops karaoke club, is also an incubator for the capital’s creative talent and a place to gain experience in creative professions. Galiya Kassymova and Askar Suleymenov, both customers-turned-employees, spoke with The Astana Times about their work at the club. Kassymova started coming…
Issekeshev Analyses First Five Years of Industrial and Innovative Development
ASTANA, Nov. 4 – Innovation is happening in Kazakhstan and productivity in the country’s manufacturing sector has increased two times faster than in Russia’s and five times faster than in Ukraine’s, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and New Technologies Asset Issekeshev wrote in a recently published report summing up the implementation of the…
Ministry of Defence Concludes Contract for Two More C295 Aircraft
ASTANA – The Ministry of Defence of Kazakhstan concluded a contract on Oct. 24 with Airbus for the delivery of two new Airbus Military C295 tactical transport aircraft, as well as spare parts and maintenance services. Minister of Defence Adilbek Dzhaksybekov noted that the signature of the contract for delivery of the aircraft is an…
In Minsk, Nazarbayev Voices Benefits, Drawbacks of Customs Union
President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan voiced concerns about the process of integration at the meetings of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council and the Council of Heads of States of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) during his working visit to Minsk from Oct. 24-25. The president noted the importance of the meeting to jointly address…
Charity Lunch Unites People with Disabilities and Pensioners
ASTANA – A charity lunch for 50 pensioners and people with disabilities from the Yessil district of Astana was organised at the Al-Farabi restaurant on Oct. 17 with the support of Astana’s Rixos President hotel. Fifty residents of the district registered with the Voluntary Association of Disabled People in Yessil District, the Silent World public…
EU, Kazakhstan Cooperation Agreement Negotiations Resume in Astana
ASTANA – The fourth round of two-day negotiations on a new enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the European Union and Kazakhstan started on Oct. 9 in Astana.
The chief negotiators at the meeting were Gunnar Wiegand, director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the European External Action Service (EEAS), and Alexey Volkov, deputy minister of foreign affairs of Kazakhstan and national coordinator for relations with the EU.
“We resumed negotiations on a new enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and had a productive working session today. These negotiations are based on 20 years of mutually beneficial cooperation, respect and trust. We can build on the will of both sides to intensify our cooperation, as expressed by Presidents Barroso and Nazarbayev in June 2013, and re-confirmed two days ago by Minister of Foreign Affairs Idrissov, who called for the soonest possible conclusion of the agreement,” Wiegand said at the meeting.
Local Dancers Perform at Stars of World Ballet for First Time in 20 Years
ASTANA – Leading Astana Opera soloists Madina Basbayeva and Tair Gatauov have returned home after performing at the Stars of World Ballet of the 21st Century gala concert in Paris at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées on Sept. 20-22. They performed two pas-de-deux, one from the famous ballet “La Fille Mal Gardee” to the music of…
Talented Youth Meet at Kazenergy
ASTANA – Kazenergy’s International Youth Forum “Energise your Future”, organized by the Education Programme and the Youth Committee of Kazenergy, part of the annual Eurasian Forum Kazenergy, took place on Oct. 8. The main topics of the forum were the development of large oil and gas projects and staffing issues, young specialists’ careers from the…
