Voice of Democracy
Published by Kazakhstan 21st Century Foundation · Washington, D.C. · June 18, 2004

'DRUNKEN DEBAUCHERY' -- Congressional junkets can be a lot of fun, especially when they include the Paris Air Show, a tropical golf tournament or meetings with important world leaders. Unfortunately, sometimes the peripatetic politicians have too much fun. That's apparently what happened when Rep. Dennis Rehberg, Montana's only congressman, went to Kazakhstan. Roll Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper, reports his visit "devolved into utter drunken debauchery," according to a mysterious e-mail message circulating "in Montana political circles." The sender implied he or she was connected to the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan and that Rehberg and his colleague on the trip, Sen. Conrad Burns, "embarrassed the Embassy and the United States with their antics," Roll Call said. The American visitors were "drunk the entire time," according to the cable writer. Roll Call reported it could not verify the origin of the e-mail but "we did verify that very much of what was said in the e-mail did happen." It added that Rehberg confirmed he had been drinking vodka but denied he was drunk when he toppled off his horse, breaking one rib and bruising several others. They ride horses differently in Kazakhstan than in Montana, the congressman explained. The inebriated congressman also "made fun of the Kazakh national costume" and traditions, according to the e-mail. All in all, Sen. Burns said in a prepared statement, "We had a terrific trip." http://www.rollcall.com/

LET'S RUN IT UP THE FLAGPOLE AND SEE WHO SALUTES -- Besides toasting and drinking to each other's health and country, Congressional junketeers and their hosts exchange gifts. So it was when Montana's only congressman and the state's junior senator went to Kazakhstan to meet with President Nursultan Nazarbayev. According to Kazakhstanskaya Pravda, the Kazakh newspaper, the visiting lawmakers "passed to our head of state an American state flag that was flown on the premises of US Congress in honor of the Republic of Kazakhstan." In the presentation ceremony, they congratulated Nazarbayev on his "political, economic and democratic achievements," Pravda proudly proclaimed. Now through a special offer available everywhere else, you, too, can have a flag exactly like the one presented to the Kazakh dictator. But it'll cost you. That's right, you can have your own star spangled souvenir that flew over the Capitol (on a roof adjacent to the dome and largely out of public view, but that's better than merely "on the premises"), accompanied by a certificate saying the same insincere things about you that said about Nazarbayev. Just go to Rep. Dennis Rehberg's web page [ http://www.house.gov/rehberg/services.html#flags] and place your order. You can get a nylon stars and stripes measuring three feet by five feet for only $16.05 including shipping. For $11 more you can get the deluxe version, 5x8 feet of cotton stars and stripes. You can even pick the date it flies over the Capitol. Just be sure to fill in all the boxes on the web page and "please mail your check to Congressman Denny Rehberg." It's a small price to pay, and it's the perfect gift to take the next time you go on a junket to visit a favorite relative, dear friend or corrupt Asian dictator.

NGO PLAN APPEARS TO BE NO-GO -- Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Kazakhstan have announced plans to establish an independent group that will bring greater public scrutiny over the country's scandal-ridden energy sector, reported RFE/RL from Prague. The Kazakh government is at the center of several major international investigations into bribery, money laundering, tax evasion and corruption involving Western investors and top regime officials, including President Nazarbayev himself. The group seeks greater "transparency in the mineral-resources sector as soon as possible," said a spokesman for Soros-Kazakhstan. Toward that end it seeks public disclosure of information about payments from energy companies and revenues collected by the government in oil deals. The NGO coalition has not yet gotten the Kazakh government's permission to allow international auditors to conduct field investigations into accountability and corporate transparency in natural-resource management, and they’re not very optimistic. The group is expected to face strong resistance from the Kazakh government, which is mired in scandal, international investigations and criminal court action in the United States. As RFE/RL reports, "Nazarbayev has himself been accused of making off with some of the country's oil revenue." Independent political observer Bolat Tilepov told RFE/RL that he doubts the transparency coalition will succeed in achieving greater transparency because "We don't have a stable, civil society yet" nor the "mechanisms to control the sector." Observers say establishing such a mechanism is also considered unlikely because those running the government are the ones with the most to lose if there is public scrutiny. http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/6/FB222A1A-7D07-40F5-AB1A 1FFED58D36B2.html

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