Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASTANA1377
2008-08-01 06:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN ESTH UPDATE, JULY 2008
how-toVZCZCXRO0924 RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHTA #1377/01 2140616 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 010616Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2879 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 0591 RUEHAST/USOFFICE ALMATY 0626
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 001377
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TBIO TSPA PGOV KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN ESTH UPDATE, JULY 2008
ASTANA 00001377 001.2 OF 002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 001377
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TBIO TSPA PGOV KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN ESTH UPDATE, JULY 2008
ASTANA 00001377 001.2 OF 002
1. Summary: This information is drawn primarily from the
Kazakhstani press and has not been verified. The opinions expressed
in this report, therefore, should not be interpreted as official
positions and/or policy of the U.S. Government.
-- Falsified Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates
-- Population of Caspian Seals Falling
-- Three Cases of Anthrax Registered
-- No Financial Losses From KazSat-1 Failure
-- Nature Reserves Added to UNESCO World Heritage List
-- Fire in Yertis Ormany Nature Reserve
Falsified Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates
--------------
2. Express K newspaper reported on July 16 that the Prosecutor
General's Office had carried out inspections of maternity hospitals
throughout Kazakhstan that revealed numerous violations, such as
concealing maternal and infant deaths, inappropriate distribution
and spending of government money, charging pregnant women for
medical check ups that were supposed to be free, absence of
sufficient equipment and qualified doctors, and low quality of
medical services that frequently led to patient deaths. It was
reported that the secrecy of maternity medical establishments
prevented demographic specialists from getting an accurate picture
of the demographic situation in the country. The Prosecutor
General's Office filed one criminal case and 511 administrative
cases as a result of the inspections.
Population of Caspian Seals Falling
--------------
3. Kazakhstan Today reported on July 16 that the Caspian
International Seal Survey (CISS) for the Caspian Environmental
Program, which is funded by the UK's Darwin Initiative, presented a
report on its recent survey of the Caspian seal population.
According to the report, there was a significant reduction in the
population of seals during 2005-2007. The seal birth rate in 2007
was 3.5 times below the level of 2005, purportedly due to pollution.
Caspian Environmental Program researchers suggested that the status
of Caspian seals be changed from a "vulnerable" species to a
"threatened" one in the Red List of the International Union for the
Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
Three Cases of Anthrax Registered
--------------
4. On July 24, Kazakhstan Today published a statement by the
Ministry of Health about three cases of anthrax registered this July
in East Kazakhstan and Kzylorda oblasts (regions). In all the
cases, the source of infection was infected meat. One of the
victims died. Over the past 10 years, 176 cases of anthrax have been
registered in Kazakhstan.
No Financial Losses From KazSat-1 Failure
--------------
5. Interfax reported on July 24 that according to the Kazakhstani
National Space Agency, Kazakhstan will not incur any financial
losses as a result of the failure of the first Kazakhstani
satellite, KazSat-1. The government will receive $60 million in
compensation and insurance payments if the Russian contractor fails
to put the satellite back into operation. However, taking into
account lessons learned from KazSat-1, the government intends to
purchase more reliable equipment from European manufacturers for
KazSat-2, which is being built by Russia's Khrunichev Space Research
and Production Centre, just as KazSat-1 was. The launch of KazSat-2
might also be delayed until early 2010. Interfax also reported that
Kazakhstan will spend no less than $6 billion on its space program
during 2009-2020.
Nature Reserves Added to UNESCO World Heritage List
-------------- --------------
6. Interfax reported on July 10 that the Naurzum Nature Reserve and
the Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve had been added to the UNESCO World
Heritage List. These wetlands are key stopover points for millions
of birds migrating from Africa, India, and Southern Europe to
Western and Eastern Siberia. They also host a large number of
endangered species.
Fire in Yertis Ormany Nature Reserve
--------------
7. A large fire occurred in the Yertis Ormany Nature Reserve in
Pavlodar oblast (region) during July 14-16. The area affected
totaled to 1080 hectares, with damages estimated at over $200,000.
A special commission confirmed the fire as a case of arson, and is
investigating possible links to assaults on local pilots patrolling
the reserve and on representatives of the reserve's management which
took place several days before the fire. Authorities suspect that
the victims had been attacked because they had significantly reduced
ASTANA 00001377 002.2 OF 002
illegal timber cutting in the reserve.
ORDWAY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TBIO TSPA PGOV KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN ESTH UPDATE, JULY 2008
ASTANA 00001377 001.2 OF 002
1. Summary: This information is drawn primarily from the
Kazakhstani press and has not been verified. The opinions expressed
in this report, therefore, should not be interpreted as official
positions and/or policy of the U.S. Government.
-- Falsified Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates
-- Population of Caspian Seals Falling
-- Three Cases of Anthrax Registered
-- No Financial Losses From KazSat-1 Failure
-- Nature Reserves Added to UNESCO World Heritage List
-- Fire in Yertis Ormany Nature Reserve
Falsified Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates
--------------
2. Express K newspaper reported on July 16 that the Prosecutor
General's Office had carried out inspections of maternity hospitals
throughout Kazakhstan that revealed numerous violations, such as
concealing maternal and infant deaths, inappropriate distribution
and spending of government money, charging pregnant women for
medical check ups that were supposed to be free, absence of
sufficient equipment and qualified doctors, and low quality of
medical services that frequently led to patient deaths. It was
reported that the secrecy of maternity medical establishments
prevented demographic specialists from getting an accurate picture
of the demographic situation in the country. The Prosecutor
General's Office filed one criminal case and 511 administrative
cases as a result of the inspections.
Population of Caspian Seals Falling
--------------
3. Kazakhstan Today reported on July 16 that the Caspian
International Seal Survey (CISS) for the Caspian Environmental
Program, which is funded by the UK's Darwin Initiative, presented a
report on its recent survey of the Caspian seal population.
According to the report, there was a significant reduction in the
population of seals during 2005-2007. The seal birth rate in 2007
was 3.5 times below the level of 2005, purportedly due to pollution.
Caspian Environmental Program researchers suggested that the status
of Caspian seals be changed from a "vulnerable" species to a
"threatened" one in the Red List of the International Union for the
Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
Three Cases of Anthrax Registered
--------------
4. On July 24, Kazakhstan Today published a statement by the
Ministry of Health about three cases of anthrax registered this July
in East Kazakhstan and Kzylorda oblasts (regions). In all the
cases, the source of infection was infected meat. One of the
victims died. Over the past 10 years, 176 cases of anthrax have been
registered in Kazakhstan.
No Financial Losses From KazSat-1 Failure
--------------
5. Interfax reported on July 24 that according to the Kazakhstani
National Space Agency, Kazakhstan will not incur any financial
losses as a result of the failure of the first Kazakhstani
satellite, KazSat-1. The government will receive $60 million in
compensation and insurance payments if the Russian contractor fails
to put the satellite back into operation. However, taking into
account lessons learned from KazSat-1, the government intends to
purchase more reliable equipment from European manufacturers for
KazSat-2, which is being built by Russia's Khrunichev Space Research
and Production Centre, just as KazSat-1 was. The launch of KazSat-2
might also be delayed until early 2010. Interfax also reported that
Kazakhstan will spend no less than $6 billion on its space program
during 2009-2020.
Nature Reserves Added to UNESCO World Heritage List
-------------- --------------
6. Interfax reported on July 10 that the Naurzum Nature Reserve and
the Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve had been added to the UNESCO World
Heritage List. These wetlands are key stopover points for millions
of birds migrating from Africa, India, and Southern Europe to
Western and Eastern Siberia. They also host a large number of
endangered species.
Fire in Yertis Ormany Nature Reserve
--------------
7. A large fire occurred in the Yertis Ormany Nature Reserve in
Pavlodar oblast (region) during July 14-16. The area affected
totaled to 1080 hectares, with damages estimated at over $200,000.
A special commission confirmed the fire as a case of arson, and is
investigating possible links to assaults on local pilots patrolling
the reserve and on representatives of the reserve's management which
took place several days before the fire. Authorities suspect that
the victims had been attacked because they had significantly reduced
ASTANA 00001377 002.2 OF 002
illegal timber cutting in the reserve.
ORDWAY