Voice of Democracy
Published by Kazakhstan 21st Century Foundation · Washington, D.C. ·Oct. 14, 2003

TALK IS CHEAP, WE WANT ACTION, WARNS U.S. -- A senior U.S. diplomat warned Kazakhstan that unless it ends its policy of media harassment and undertakes "serious… political and economic reform" any hopes for "strong and lasting relationships" with Washington are in jeopardy. Kazakhstan and its Central Asian neighbors may talk about democratic reform but they've achieved next to nothing, charged Assistant Secretary of State Lorne Craner, according to RFE/RL. He said the United States is looking for tangible results, not more rhetoric and promises. Craner, who heads the human rights and labor bureau, singled out Kazakhstan for its repression of the media. Following 9/11 the US sought to strengthen ties with the Central Asian republics, but he warned the region's leaders not to think that interest replaces the need for political and economic reform. Relations with Washington are unlikely to go very far until Kazakhstan acts decisively to remedy these problems, Craner warned. He said harassment of the independent media reached its low point with the conviction earlier this year of Kazakh journalist and human rights leader Sergei Duvanov on rape charges, reported RFE/RL, noting that "Human rights activists have called those charges politically motivated." He pointed to the lack of legal due process in Duvanov's case and called on the Nazarbayev regime to rectify the problem. He also called for free elections and a free media, describing them "a clear indicator of a government's commitment to democracy." But just as important, he added, is "what happens in between elections," he told a group of law students in Washington, because that "is the fabric of democracy."http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2003/10/07102003155608.asp

ELECTIONS TAINTED AGAIN -- Kazakh authorities are continuing their crackdown on opposition parties and activists, reported RFE/RL. The parliament and the courts act as appendages of the executive, not independent and equal branches of government. In recent regional elections, the courts blocked a moderate opposition party and the regime jailed some of its leaders. Reformists warn that "the slow pace of democratic reform" in Kazakhstan "threaten(s) its economy and security." Opposition politicians and regime critics are harassed, fired from their jobs, persecuted, prosecuted and even jailed to stifle any dissent, reports RFE/RL. The abuses have become so blatant that the European Parliament protested by nominating one opposition leader to receive the 2003 Sakharov Prize for his efforts to bring democracy, freedom of the press and the rule of law to Kazakhstan. http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2003/10/06102003162545.asp

CAVEAT EMPTOR -- Officials of both countries are trying to put the best face on the upcoming visit of the head of the U.S. Export-Import Bank to Kazakhstan, but if they expect to see greater involvement of American firms in the republic they will have to confront complaints from Western businessmen of government corruption and interference at all levels, regulations that are biased against foreign companies and fears for personal safety. Phillip Merrill, the bank chief, said in a press release that the United States "want(s) to participate in stable economic growth in the republic and attract a larger number of U.S. companies to invest." Merrill will be the first Ex-Im official ever to visit Kazakhstan. http://www.interfax.com/com?item=Kaz&pg=0&id=5663381&req

CREEPS & CORRUPTION – A survey of international business executives, academics and risk analysts by Transparency International concluded that Kazakhstan suffers from "a high level of corruption." It was ranked among the most corrupt 25% of 133 countries surveyed; several potentially wealthy oil-producing countries received similarly poor scores, reported the Associated Press, including Angola, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Libya and Venezuela. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/08/international/europe/08CORR.html?tntemail0

For the full stories, see the web citations above or contact us at News@Kazakhstan21.org or see VOD Archives [http://iicas.org/english/enlibrary/libr_16_03_01kp.htm]. The Kazakhstan 21st Century Foundation promotes democracy and human rights in Kazakhstan through public affairs and educational programs in the United States and Europe. This material is distributed by Kazakhstan 21st Century Foundation.