LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Kazakhstan: Government
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George Soros, the financier promoting "open societies," provoked a heated debate by saying that Kazakhstan was facing the harsh choice of either pursuing its authoritarian course or taking the road toward genuine democracy. According to Soros, rampant corruption, restrictions on civil liberties, and the draconian laws on non-governmental organizations and extremism currently being debated in parliament signal Kazakhstan's retreat to "Uzbek-style" authoritarian methods of securing public order. He said it would be more judicious for Kazakhstan, in order to avoid the Uzbek path to bloodshed, to evenly distribute public wealth among the population, including profits from the oil business (Delovaya nedelya, June 17). The criticism from Soros came as a surprise, as the business conference was expected to focus on global investment opportunities in Kazakhstan. But due to a combination of adverse circumstances, it coincided with the parliamentary debate over the draft law that makes it mandatory for non-profit and international organizations to notify the authorities about planned public events, conferences, and rallies 10 days in advance. Additionally, the draft law insists that representatives of local governments and law-enforcement authorities must be present at events held by non-profit organizations. Just before the international business conference opened, legislator Tokhtar Nurakhmetov called on Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Tokayev to address the problem of non-profit organizations "funded by the U.S. Embassy and OSCE" interfering in Kazakhstan's internal affairs (Yegemen Qazaqstan, June 16). It is obvious to everyone what political factions stand behind Nurakhmetov, whose name had hardly been mentioned before in parliamentary debates.
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The Jewish community of Kazakhstan is composed of Bukharan Jews and European immigrants from the 19th and 20th centuries. The community is well organized and cooperates with U.S. and Israeli organizations. Relations with the Kazakh government are good, and there have been no recent reports of anti-Semitism. Kazakhstan maintains cordial relations with Israel.
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Animal life in Kazakhstan varies by region. The republic is home to the extremely rare saiga antelope, which is protected by government decree. The saiga inhabits the steppes, as do roe deer, wolves, foxes, and badgers. Various animals thrive in the deserts, including gazelles; rodents, such as gophers, sand rats, and jerboas; and reptiles, such as lizards and snakes. Wild boars, jackals, and deer are found near the rivers and lakes. The mountains are home to ibex (wild goats), lynx (wildcats), wolves, wild boars, and brown bears.
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Yes, there is no way that the travel or the time the government requires you to spend in Kazakhstan can be circumvented. However, most parents consider this a cultural enrichment period and try to take as much of the experience home with them as possible.
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The conference agenda will include briefings from senior officials on Kazakhstan's priorities in using advanced technologies to diversify the economy. It will feature updates on Kazakhstan's business environment, government support of the emerging technology sector, investment projects supported by the newly established development institutions, and tax incentives. American executives working in Kazakhstan for many years will talk about their success stories, while U.S. administration officials will share their vision of the two countries' partnership.
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The government has taken many positive steps in the fight against HIV/AIDS, including launching a US$53 million program for 2006-2010 to fight the spread of HIV in Kazakhstan. However, Kazakhstan’s HIV/AIDS laws have not been brought into compliance with international standards, and government policies, including mandatory HIV testing and the segregation of HIV-positive prisoners, are discriminatory and continue to reinforce prejudice. The government has ... failed to ensure access to treatment programs for all HIV-infected persons, and to address police abuses against drug users and sex workers.
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