Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA663
2009-04-17 11:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN: MEDIA REACTION, APRIL 9 - 15
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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
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
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