To Be or Not to Be...? Someone’s grief, and someone’s drinking party

Traditions of the Kyrgyz people were being formed with the help of economic, trade, domestic and other relations with kindred and other tribes that were closely related to the geography of their ha...

Iran of the 60s: unsuccessful attempt to reform

After the coup of 19 March 1953 in the socio-political history of Iran there were fundamental changes: the powers of parliament were limited and the absolute power of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi was...

Topic: Regional rivalry in the Middle East.

In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran are two countries that claim to leadership in the region. With a powerful resources and political potential these countries are the...

Kazakhstan

New head to be appointed for Kazakh Kashagan project’s operator
17.05.2013
Business & Economics|Cental Asia|Kazakhstan

A new head will be appointed for the North Caspian Productions Operations Company, which is Kazakh Kashagan project's operator, on the eve of oil production start at Kashagan field, Kazinform reported.

The acting managing director of the company Hans Bakker will leave his post on June 1. He will be replaced by the acting deputy managing director of the company, Adian Van Dyke.

Speaking about the Kashagan project, Hans Bakker expressed hope that oil production at Kashagan will start successfully in near future.

Kazakh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia takes up dual role in Bahrain
13.05.2013
Cental Asia|Kazakhstan|Public Policy & Politics

The Kazakh Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is taking up a dual role by being appointed at the same time to the Kingdom of Bahrain. Bakhtiyar Tasymov presented his credentials to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Press Service of the Foreign Ministry reported in its press release.

'During a conversation after the ceremony, Bakhtiyar Tasymov called on the interested parties in Bahrain to actively participate in the international exhibition EXPO-2017 in Astana', the ministry's press release says.

Kazakhstan facilitates visa regime for foreign tourists and entrepreneurs
13.05.2013
Cental Asia|Kazakhstan|Law & Legal Issues

Kazakh Foreign Ministry facilitated visa arrangements for foreign tourists and entrepreneurs, the Ministry reported.

"The new rules for issuing visas are primarily aimed at creating favorable conditions for foreign tourists and entrepreneurs traveling to Kazakhstan," the Ministry said.

The experience of different countries in the area of visa policy was taken into consideration for development of the new visa rules. According to the new rules, Kazakhstan issues two kinds of visa: immigrant and nonimmigrant ones.

Kazakhstan celebrates Defender of the Fatherland Day
07.05.2013
Cental Asia|Culture & Living|Kazakhstan

Defender of the Fatherland Day is celebrated in Kazakhstan today.

In October, 2012, President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed the Law 'On Amendments to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan 'On Holidays in the Republic of Kazakhstan'' introducing a new national holiday, Defender of the Fatherland Day, to be celebrated on May 7. This year, for the first time this day is celebrated as a national holiday.

EDB to provide loan for large-scale wind power plant construction in Kazakhstan
06.05.2013
Cental Asia|Kazakhstan|Science & Technology

The First Wind Power Plant Ltd. (a 100-percent subsidiary of Samruk-Green Energy LLP and the Eurasian Development Bank signed an agreement in the capital of Kazakhstan on a credit line worth 14.2 billion tenge (151.28 tenge = 1 dollar) to finance the turnkey construction of the first large wind power plant (WPP) in Kazakhstan, according to a statement by the First Wind Power Plant Ltd.

According to the statement, the wind plant will be built at the Yereimentau site (Akmola region). Its capacity will total 45 megawatts.

New political party established in Kazakhstan
29.04.2013
Cental Asia|Culture & Living|Kazakhstan

Members of Kazakh Democratic Party Adilet voted for merging with Kazakh Rukhaniyat Party. The party established following the merging was called Birlik (Unity), Novosti-Kazakhstan reported with the reference to the Birlik party's press-service.

Serik Sultangali was unanimously elected as the party's chairman. A. Volkov, T. Sadykhov and B. Boribek were appointed to the posts of Birlik's Deputy Chairmen. Moreover, members of new central and political committees were elected within the party. The new party has 140,000 members.

KazMunaiGas to increase geological work financing in Kazakhstan
29.04.2013
Business & Economics|Cental Asia|Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan's National Company KazMunaiGas is going to increase the financing of geological exploration work to 1.5 trillion tenge ($1 - 151.17 tenge), chairman of the board of JSC National Company KazMunaiGas, Lazzat Kiinov said at a briefing in Astana on Monday.

"We want to bring exploration financing up to 1.5 trillion tenge," Kiinov said.

The head of the company explained that the increase of reserves due to the discovery of new fields will increase the company's value.

Explosion at gas station in Kazakhstan, there are injured
29.04.2013
Cental Asia|Kazakhstan|War & Terrorism

In the Kazakh city of Seven people got injured as a result of an explosion at a gas station in Pavlodar , Kazakhstan, the Emergency Situations Department of Pavlodar province told Trend.

"A 25-liter gas exploded at one of the gas stations. Supposedly the gas tank was in the living room where food was cooked. Another 50-liter gas tank was seized from the scene," press secretary of the Emergency Situations Department of Pavlodar province Azhar Abylgazina said.

According to her, five workers and two passersby were injured. The injuries are not serious.

Kazakh President to visit Croatia
29.04.2013
Cental Asia|Kazakhstan|Public Policy & Politics

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is expected to pay an official visit to Croatia by the end of 2013, Kazinform reported with the reference to Croatian Deputy Foreign and European Affairs Minister Josko Klisovic.

Kliskovic said about the planned visit at the Kazakh-Croatian business forum in Astana on Monday.

"We believe that this visit will strengthen bilateral partnership and cooperation between the two countries at all levels," he said.

Kazakh Foreign Ministry says suspects of Boston Marathon bombings have not lived in Kazakhstan
22.04.2013
Cental Asia|Kazakhstan|Public Policy & Politics

Some media outlets reported that the suspects in arranging bombings in Boston could live in different countries, including Kazakhstan, at different times.

"However, currently, we found no actual evidences to confirm these rumors," Kazakh Foreign Ministry's statement says.

According to the statement, for its part, the Foreign Ministry is ready to provide maximum assistance to American partners.

"Kazakhstan strongly condemns terror acts in any form and expresses its sincere solidarity with the residents of Boston," the statement says.