KAZAKHSTAN: MEDIA REACTION, APRIL 9 - 15

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000663 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ECON SOCI KDEM KPAO KMDR KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: MEDIA REACTION, APRIL 9 - 15 ¶1. SUMMARY: Kazakhstani political commentators focused on the domestic political scene this week, weighing the relative merits of the ruling Nur Otan party and its adversaries in the opposition. "Delovaya Nedelya," an independent weekly, published a wrap-up of the G-20 summit in which it mocked the IMF as solely an Anglo-American institution and another critical article about the situation for immigrants in the United States. END SUMMARY. NUR OTAN: SUCCESS OR FAILURE? ¶2. Independent, Russian-language "Vremya" published a commentary by opposition National Social Democratic Party deputy head Amirzhan Kosanov blasting the government's handling of the financial crisis, which Kosanov describes as "an ever worsening economic disease" causing "social cramps" and which could eventually lead to "a fatal political crisis." Kosanov believes that the reason that the "staggering financial inflows from the National Fund" have failed to stimulate the economy is the lack of oversight. The government can't control itself. "How can the Nur Otan parliament control the Nur Otan government?" Kosanov concludes that government oversight can only come from independent institutions which are lacking in Kazakhstan. ¶3. On the other hand, pro-government, Russian-language "Liter" trumpeted recent survey results showing a high approval rating for President Nazarbayev and his party. The director of Moscow State University's Information and Analytical Center, Alexei Vlasov, credited the high public trust in Nur Otan to its First Deputy Chairman, Darkhan Kaletayev. Under Kaletayev's leadership, Nur Otan is controlling state procurements, conducting an anti-corruption campaign, helping children, and collecting money for medical treatments. Vlasov believes that Kaletayev is a rising party figure giving a good account of himself in the eyes of President. ZOMBIE POLITICS ¶4. Pro-government, Russian-language "Central Asia Monitor" reports that the Kazakhstani political scene reminds one of a cemetery -- "some politicians are already dead, others have one foot in the grave." The majority of oppositionists are "the living dead" who emerge from the grave only on the eve of elections. While Kazakhstani opposition parties present articulate ideologies, their forgettable front benches give the impression that the parties are being directed by "headless horsemen." G-20 SUMMIT: U.S. AND BRITISH DOMINATION ¶5. Independent, Russian-language "Delovaya Nedelya" blasted the G-20 leaders for allegedly taking no serious steps against the growing financial crisis. However, "at least the G-20 leaders didn't fight among themselves" and did manage to pledge $1 trillion dollars for the IMF. The author said that "even G-20 members such as Russia, Brazil, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia have practically no influence on the IMF's decision-making" which is under "American and British control." The author concluded, "The results of the G-20 London summit show that the United States and the United Kingdom will continue to be the main financial players and will continue dictating to the rest of the world what to do." IMMIGRANT BRAIN DRAIN ¶6. "Delovaya Nedelya" reported that the U.S. State Department and Congress are concerned about a "brain drain" of immigrants leaving the United States. According to the author, 150,000 immigrants left the United States over the last six months, most of whom decided to resettle in Canada, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, and Chile. The author cited the arduous visa process as the main culprit, but also said that immigrants are leaving America because they are made to feel uncomfortable in the wake of the "war on terrorism" and the absence of a "human foundation" in the United States. This term is defined by "Americans' unwillingness to help each other, the lack of work, friends, and family values, and Americans' disrespect for the elderly." The author finished by stating that the "brain drain will ASTANA 00000663 002 OF 002 continue until the United States profoundly changes its immigration policies and stops perceiving the rest of the world as a hostile encirclement." HOAGLAND