Kazakh President Unveils Plans of Constitutional Reforms
ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev gave a special televised address Jan. 25 to the nation on the redistribution of powers among governmental bodies which would involve, among other steps, amending the country’s Constitution. A special working group had been created by the President’s decree in December 2016, which carried out a thorough work on…
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan to Reopen Section of M-39 Highway in February
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have reached an agreement to reopen Highway M-39 in February. The highway has been closed for 10 years. “After commissioning, the new road will reduce the distance [needed to be travelled from Tashkent to Samarkand] by 65 kilometres. This will contribute to further strengthening of relations between the two countries…
Kazakhstan Provides Additional Humanitarian Aid to Syria
ASTANA – Kazakhstan sent about 500 tonnes of humanitarian aid on Jan. 6 to the people of Syria in the form of food, including flour, canned meat, rice, pasta and tea. Russian Ministry of Defense rendered its assistance in delivering the aid, which was brought by Kuznetsov dry-cargo ship to Tartus Port Jan. 5. The unloading…
Bad Weather, Highway Closures Cause Rail Travel Spike During New Year’s Holiday
ASTANA – Bad weather and the closure of major highways during the peak New Year’s holiday caused a surge in rail travel. More than a million passengers were carried on the nation’s railway systems during the New Year holidays, including 100,000 passengers traveling from Astana. Six additional passenger trains were put into service and more…
Kazakh President Introduces New Foreign Minister, Sets Priorities for 2017
ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev introduced Dec. 30 newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Kairat Abdrakhmanov to the senior staff of the ministry. The head of state also announced the upcoming appointment of Erlan Idrissov as Kazakh ambassador to the United Kingdom and thanked him for his work as foreign minister over the…
Kazakh President Appoints New Foreign Minister, Minister of National Economy
ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev appointed on Dec. 28 Kairat Abdrakhmanov the country’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs and Timur Suleimenov the new Minister of National Economy, according to a release from the President’s press service. Abdrakhmanov, who had been serving as Permanent Representative to the United Nations, replaces Erlan Idrissov who is to…
EAEU Adapts Regulations toward a Single Customs Code
ASTANA – Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states signed a new Customs Code Dec. 26, laying the groundwork for a single EAEU customs code. The new code will replace regulations adopted in 2009 and was signed following a Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (SEEC) meeting in St. Petersburg attended by the presidents of Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan,…
Iran, Kazakhstan to Enhance Cooperation; Ink Agreements on Health, Shipping, Travel, Labour and Trade
ASTANA – President of Iran Hassan Rouhani paid an official visit to Kazakhstan on Dec. 22 which saw the signing of several bilateral agreements after his talks with President Nursultan Nazarbayev focusing on investment, trade, economic, transit, transport and agricultural sectors. During the visit, the two sides signed government to government agreements on cooperation in…
Kazakh President Sums Up Achievements of 25 Years, Sets New Goals
ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev congratulated the people of Kazakhstan Dec. 15 during a ceremonial meeting on the national holiday marking the nation’s 25th anniversary of independence. “Dear compatriots! Let me congratulate you with the great holiday and achievement of our country, the 25th anniversary of independence! On December 16, 1991, we declared our independence.…
