European Commission Proposes Simplified EU Entry for Foreign Students
ASTANA – The European Commission proposes to simplify the procedure of entry to the European Union (EU) for students and young researchers from non-EU countries. The European Commission considers it necessary to improve the application of the existing EU Visa Code. Annually, more than 200,000 students and academics from non-EU countries come to the EU…
Inter-Parliamentary Union to Focus on Nuclear Disarmament
The Inter-Parliamentary Union is going to focus on global nuclear disarmament at its next assembly in 2014. The decision was taken when nearly 1,000 parliamentarians from 150 countries met at the IPU’s 128th Assembly in Quito, Ecuador from March 22 to March 27. They approved a recommendation of the IPU Standing Committee on Peace and…
Country and People Share Same Destiny
ASTANA – “Motherland is not an empty word for me,” said Serik Rustambekov, chairperson of the Board of the Union of Architects of Astana, Honoured Architect of Kazakhstan and academician. “Whether we want it to be or not, our destiny is closely linked to the destiny of the country. Of course, there are failures, but…
Nation and People Share the Same Destiny
ASTANA – “Motherland is not an empty word for me,” said Serik Rustambekov, chairperson of the Board of the Union of Architects of Astana, Honoured Architect of Kazakhstan and academician. “Whether we want it to be or not, our destiny is closely linked to the destiny of the country. Of course, there are failures, but…
Government Launches Major Civil Service Reform
ASTANA – Astana has hosted two high-level meetings to launch a wide-ranging programme of civil service reform in Kazakhstan. On March 15, Alikhan Baimenov, the chairman of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs (ACSA) and John Berry, the director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in Astana. The…
UN to Launch Human Rights Project in Central Asia
ASTANA – A new project, “Human Rights Protection in Central Asia,” has been launched by the Central Asia Regional Office of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR). The project is financed by the European Union and will cover Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Its aim is to strengthen the promotion…
EXPO Complex May Become Cultural Centre
ASTANA – Public hearing took place in Korme exhibition centre on March 19 regarding the use of EXPO 2017 objects after the exhibition. The hearing held in the form of the dialogue, where the participants discussed the opportunities for development of tourism, involvement of Kazakhstan population in preparations to the EXPO 2017, development of alternative…
New Light Show Illuminates Popular Monuments
ASTANA – The city of Astana on March 20 launched a unique light show that will run daily at 9 pm through April 1 in the square near the Baiterek Monument and at Lovers’ Park. It is the first time any such lighting display was shown publicly in Kazakhstan. The city akimat (government) prepared the…
Forum Showcasing People Success Stories Tours Country
ASTANA – A unique forum, “My Destiny is My Country’s Destiny,” kicked off its nationwide tour on Feb. 14 in Yereimentau and Feb. 18 in Korgalzhyno districts in the Akmola oblast. On Feb. 27, the forum took place in the Issatai district of the Atyrau oblast. And on March 1, other forums in Taldykorgan city,…
New Law to Boost Defence Lawyers’ Rights
ASTANA – On Feb. 28, a round table on enhancing the role of defence lawyers in protecting constitutional rights and freedoms in criminal proceedings took place here. The gathering discussed the ongoing reform of the Criminal Procedure Code and launched work on drafting new laws to protect and strengthen the procedural rights of defence lawyers.…
PM Supports Multiple Legal Reform Efforts
ASTANA – Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov has given the green light to an ambitious programme of law reforms this year. The prime minister participated in a planning conference at the Justice Ministry where Justice Minister Berik Imashev outlined plans for legal reforms in 2013. Imashev said the Justice Ministry was preparing 12 new laws and…
New Border Law Passed to Boost Security
ASTANA – The government of Kazakhstan has introduced a new border security law for the first time in 20 years. It came into force on January 16. The new law is designed to combat a wide range of threats to national security and the daily wellbeing of the people of Kazakhstan that have emerged in…
Astana Condemns North Korean Nuclear Test
ASTANA – Kazakhstan, which experienced firsthand the devastating effects of nuclear weapons testing under the Soviet Union, has joined other nations in condemning the latest underground nuclear test conducted Tuesday by North Korea. On Tuesday morning, Kazakhstan’s National Data Centre, a part of a global system for monitoring nuclear tests, recorded seismic disturbances caused by…
