26 August 1999
ETHNIC UYGHURS OF KAZAKHSTAN ON "SHANGHAI FIVE" SUMMIT.
The Association of Uyghur Organizations in Kazakhstan held a gathering in Almaty on August 25 at which a statement was addressed to leaders participating in the summit of the "Shanghai Five" states (China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan ) in Bishkek the same day. The summit agenda included the borders between the former Soviet states and China, regional security and stability, as well as joint efforts against Islamic extremism and separatism. The ethnic Uyghurs of Kazakhstan said in their statement that "the struggle of the Uyghurs in Eastern Turkistan (Xin Jiang province, Western China) has nothing to do with Islamic fundamentalism or extremism, that struggle can be defined as one for national liberation."
SOME SEPARATE MEETINGS HELD DURING SUMMIT IN BISHKEK.
According to the Kazakh Presidential press service, Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev held separate talks with his Chinese, Kyrgyz and Russian counterparts during his stay in Bishkek on August 24-25. The main issues discussed with Russian President Yeltsin were expanding the economic and trade partnership between Astana and Moscow, and joint activities in extracting and exporting oil. Nazarbayev reportedly stressed the importance of reaching a legal definition of the status of the Caspian Sea, saying that the matter must be solved as soon as possible.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS UNDERWAY.
Of a total of 34 applications received by 25 August to register as a candidate for the elections to the Senate, the lower house of the Kazakh Parliament, the Central Electoral Commission has registered 27, RFE/RL correspondents report. The number of candidates registered for the Mazhilis, the Lower House, is reported as 107, of whom 66 candidates are independent candidates. They will take part in the election at one-mandate electoral districts. Only the Democratic Azamat (Citizen) party registered its candidates to Mazhilis on a party list. The applications of other parties are reportedly being examined.
SHANGHAI FIVE SUMMIT IN BISHKEK CONTINUES.
The presidents of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan held a summit in the Kyrgyz capital on August 25. Presidents Jiang Zemin, Nursultan Nazarbayev, Askar Akayev, Boris Yeltsin and Emomali Rakhmonov arrived there on 24 August. The main issue discussed at the summit was the demarcation of the former Soviet�Chinese border and reducing the number of troops stationed along it. Regional security and stability, as well as threat of radical Islamic forces in the region, were also reportedly discussed. The five countries are known as "Shanghai Five" states, having signed border agreements in Shanghai in 1996 and then in Moscow a couple of years ago.
ONE MORE POLITICAL PARTY HELD ITS SESSION ON THE EVE OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS.
The Civil Party of Kazakhstan held a session on August 22 in Aqtobe, North West Kazakhstan, and decided to put forward nine candidates for the party list seats for the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of Kazakhstan's Parliament. 35 more candidates of the Civil Party will take part in the elections to the Lower Chamber in single-mandate electoral districts. The First Secretary of the Civil Party, Azat Peruashev, and his deputy, Duysenbay Duysenov, will not run in the elections. The Civil Party of Kazakhstan is known as a pro-Nazarbayev party supported by the Eurasia Financial Group, which owns the Kazakh�Chrome industrial giant and Sokolov Sarbay Iron Ore Developing Facility.
DEPUTY CHIEF OF QYZYL ORDA CUSTOMS COMMITTEE SHOT DEAD.
Sayasat Turyshev, the Deputy Chief of the Customs Committee in Qyzyl Orda, was shot dead on 23 August by unknown killers. Two suspects from Almaty have arrested on suspicion of committing the murder. Sayasat Turyshev used to be Chief of Dostyq - Druzhba Railway Station in Almaty Oblast before being appointed as Deputy Chief of the Customs Committee in Qyzyl Orda Oblast. Investigations are underway.
AUTHOR OF ORDALY ZHYLAN BOOK ON TRIAL.
Temirtas Tleulesov, the author of "Ordaly Zhylan," intends to take part in Parliamentary elections of Kazakhstan as a candidate, but he has not been registered yet. In his book, he wrote about cases of corruption and bribery among members of the administrative boards of the city of Shymkent and South Kazakhstan Oblast. One of the persons who feature in his book, former Chief of the South Kazakhstan Customs Committee Zhumashaliyev, took Tleulesov to court, accusing him of "publishing lies about him". The court case was due to begin on 24 August but was postponed until September 13 because some witnesses failed to appear.
RUSSIA AND KAZAKHSTAN TO DISCUSS PROTON ROCKETS LAUNCH ON AUGUST 31.
On August 31, Kazakh and Russian officials are scheduled to end their evaluation of the consequences of the explosion of a Russian Proton rocket over the Kazakh territory on July 5. A Kazakh delegation led by Kazakh Vice Premier Alexander Pavlov, and consisting of Vladimir Shkolnik � Kazakh Minister of Science, Serikbek Daukeyev � Kazakh Minister of Ecology, as well as other officials, will be in Moscow to discuss the issue. Kazakhstan demands that Russia pay off all its debts for the lease of Baikonur space research complex in Central Kazakhstan and cover all the expenses for liquidation of the consequences of the Proton rocket explosion. The total damage is estimated 38 million Tenges to be paid to local residents and an additional 20 million Tenges for the work on improving the ecological situation in Qaraghandy Oblast in central Kazakhstan. ($1 equals 133 Tenges currently)