Author: Frangulian Shushan

RA NAS NEWLY ELECTED FOREIGN MEMBERS TO TAKE PART IN ACADEMY’S GENERAL ANNUAL MEETING

Noyan Tapan

Jan 14, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The newly elected foreign members
of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia have been officially
invited to take part in the RA NAS 2009 general annual meeting. The
issues of holding the meeting and Diasporan Armenian scientists’
participation were discussed at RA NAS presidium’s sitting on January
14 with the participation of RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobian.

According to RA NAS Press Service, NAS general annual meeting with take
place on April 21-23, during which Diasporan Armenian scientists will
make scientific reports. It is also envisaged discussing directions
of NAS and Diasporan Armenian scientists’ cooperation. Diasporan
Armenian scientists will give lectures at universities.

VALLEY OF DECEIT

Sabah
Jan 13 2009
Turkey

Yesterday, as Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Donmez turned himself in,
police who excavated the location noted in his agenda found 30 hand
grenades and numerous ammunition.

THE MAP WAS FROM SAKARYA The same day Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa
Donmez was taken under custody, police conducted an excavation of a
site mentioned in his journal. In the excavation, which took place
in Zir Valley, located in Yenikent, Ankara, 30 hand grenades, 9 smoke
bombs, 2 flares, 12 booby traps and almost 800 G-3 bullets.

THEY HAVE SERIAL NUMBERS The hand grenades found in the garden of an
empty building in a location, know as being an Armenian graveyard,
had serial numbers. It has also been revealed that Ankara’s Zir Valley
has been used as training grounds for the Special Department of the
Ministry of National Defense since the 1950’s.

THE DIG LASTED FOUR HOURS Police initiated the excavation, which took
place in the garden of a deserted home in Zir Valley at 18:00 and
had accessed the arsenal an hour later. A second excavation, which
was started 200 meters distance from where the weapons were found,
was concluded at 22:10, to be continued today.

THE ERGENEKON CASE: A BRIEF SUMMARY

BIA
Jan 12 2009
Turkey

The tenth wave of detentions has been followed by some arrests and
some releases.

The investigation of the clandestine nationalist Ergenekon organisation
is now in its 19th month. The media has become used to counting the
waves of detentions which have been following each other, and on
Wednesday, 7 January, the tenth wave was carried out.

Police operations in six different cities resulted in the detention
of 37 more people.

Going back to Susurluk

The Ergenekon organisation has been likened to the clandestine
paramilitary Gladio organisation in Italy. The case has been labelled
the "case of the century", but it is not uncontroversial.

Some believe that this organisation is linked to many extrajudiciary
killings and has its roots in the Susurluk network which was exposed
in 1996 but never prosecuted in a satisfactory manner. Others believe
that the investigation has become a smoke screen for the ruling
party’s persecution of political opponents.

The Ergenekon organisation is said to be dedicated to toppling the
government of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), since the
members see themselves as defenders of secularism. Western influence
in Turkey is also scorned and an isolationist attitude prevalent.

Weapons and extrajudiciary killings The first notice the Turkish
public took of this organisation was when a weapons arsenal was
found in a house in Umraniye, Istanbul, in June 2007. Subsequently
the organisation has been linked to bomb attacks on the Cumhuriyet
Newspaper in 2006 and the attack on the Council of State in 2006
(where one judge was killed).

The indictment has claimed that the organisation has also had a hand
in the murder of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink in 2007, the
priest Andrea Santoro in Trabzon in 2006, as well as three Christians
in Malatya in 2007. Other extrajudiciary killings have been laid at the
organisation’s door, and it is claimed that they were planning to kill
further Alevi and Armenian community leaders, as well as intellectuals.

The indictment states that when all the incidents are taken together,
it becomes clear that the goal was to create internal conflict, chaos
and terror in the country so that the conditions would be just right
for a military intervention.

Journalists, academics, generals, …

In the waves of arrests, Turkey has seen politicians, journalists,
academics and retired generals arrested. The actual trial began
in October 2008, when the indictment of over 2,000 pages was read
out. Currently, there are 86 people on trial, 46 of them in detention.

Some arrests in tenth wave After the tenth wave of detentions on 7
January, Prof. Dr. Yalcın Kucuk and retired Colonel Mustafa Levent
GöktaÅ~_ have been arrested. Others arrested were Ä°brahim Å~^ahin,
the former head of Police Special Operations, teacher Oguzhan
Sarıoglu, Special Operations police officer YaÅ~_ar Oguz Å~^ahin,
as well as six others.

In addition, the Alevi leaders Ali Balkız (of the Alevi BektaÅ~_i
Federation) and Kazım Genc (of the Pir Sultan Abdal Culture
Association) have been provided with police protection, following
claims that they were to become targets of the Ergenekon organisation.

Retired General Tuncer Kılınc, as well as retired Colonel İlyas
Cınar and retired Major General Erdal Å~^enel were released. The
son of former Istanbul mayor Bedrettin Dalan, BarıÅ~_ Dalan, as well
as Bedrettin Dalan’s driver CoÅ~_kun Umur, have also been released,
together with three others. They are to be tried without detention.

In all, sixteen people have been released and another 17 been added
to those previously arrested in the Ergenekon investigation.

–Boundary_(ID_qsKMIgag5WxfyTRYrgd feQ)–

GAS TRANSIT TO ARMENIA EXPECTED TO RESUME TONIGHT – OFFICIAL

Civil Georgia
Jan 12 2009
Georgia

Transit of Russian gas to Armenia via Georgia is expected to be resumed
later on Monday, Alexandre Khetaguri, the Georgian Energy Minister,
told journalists on January 12.

"Repair works on the gas pipeline are nearing to its end and tonight
the transit will apparently be resumed," Khetaguri said.

Gas transit via Georgia was suspended on January 9 as a result of
the pipeline damage in Gardabani, southern Georgia, according to the
Energy Ministry.

BAKO SAHAKYAN MET WITH MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT

Panorama.am
19:04 12/01/2009

Today the President of Nagorno Karabakh Bako Sahakyan invited
a discussion with the participation of the Prime Minister Ara
Harutyunyan and the members of Government, reports the press service
of the NKR President’s Administration. According to the source,
during the discussion the officials discussed economical and other
issues of the country in 2009.

North County Times – Californian, CA
Jan 11 2009

LAKE ELSINORE: Teen overcomes adversity, named Youth of the Year

Takavorian, ‘a person of hope,’ named Youth of the Year

By JENNIFER KABBANY – For The Californian | Saturday, January 10, 2009
6:34 PM PST

LAKE ELSINORE—- Mary Takavorian was tapped Saturday as the Boys &
Girls Club’s local Youth of the Year, an honor years in the making for
the 16-year-old Lake Elsinore resident.

Mary is the first to admit she is not a perfect person, nor has she
led the perfect life.

At age 3 she was diagnosed with leukemia, and had to undergo
chemotherapy, then years of daily medications and blood work. The
medicine weakened her immune system and, growing up, she wasn’t
allowed to have pets or play outside very often.

Her middle school years brought a new set of challenges. She was
mocked at school because she was of Arab descent, teasing that
worsened after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

Frustration over being robbed of a childhood because of cancer coupled
with embarrassment and self-esteem issues over schoolyard harassment
had its effects.

Describing herself as a "confused and at times rebellious adolescent,"
Mary said she would lash out at her parents or little sister, and deny
her Arabic heritage to peers.

"I started arguments at home," she said. "I had a temper."

But a couple of years ago, Mary said, something started to click —-
an "enlightenment" occurred. She said she began to realize that all
the hardships she had faced had in fact toughened her up and given her
confidence.

"I put the puzzle pieces together," she said.

She stopped denying her Arabic ethnicity, and now proudly talks of
it. She is willing to tell others of her bout with leukemia, something
she never did before.

Two years ago, Mary took on a volunteer position at the Alberhill
Ranch Boys & Girls Club to earn community service hours and quickly
became a leader there.

Mary distinguished herself as a leader, from telling a bunch of rowdy
teens to settle down, to answering phones, giving parents tours and
running programs, said Lisa Cabulagan, unit director for the Boys &
Girls Clubs of Southwest County.

Mary quickly became president of the club’s Keystone group, an
association of high school students. In that capacity, she led an
effort to pick up trash around Lake Elsinore and organized the
inaugural disability awareness games, where she invited the community
to play wheelchair basketball.

During this time, she has also maintained a 4.0 grade-point average at
Lakeside High School and dedicates hours to her passion for dance. She
even volunteered to help a group of young girls at the Boys & Girls
Club learn a new dance to perform.

"She is amazing," Cabulagan said. "I’m inspired by her integrity and
maturity."

Stan Scheer, superintendent of the Murrieta Valley Unified School
District and one of the judges for the award, described Mary as a
strong leader.

"She has a selfless attitude and has overcome a lot," he said. "She is
a person of hope."

As the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest County’s Youth of the Year,
Mary will serve as an ambassador for the organization, representing it
at functions and fundraisers, and giving motivational speeches at
clubs around the region. She also will work as a leader at the clubs
to develop new programs for the kids.

Mary credits the Boys & Girls Club for helping her relive her
childhood, and opening her eyes to the vast diversity of the region.

Haifa Takavorian, Mary’s mother, said her daughter has always been
mature.

As a child, Mary would sit still and put on a brave face during her
bone marrow or spinal cord shots, Haifa said, adding that even back
then, doctors said� Mary would be a role model.

"She is a strong cookie," Haifa said.

Mary’s parents both immigrated to the Unites States from the Middle
East in the late 1980s. Mary speaks English, Armenian and Arabic
fluently. Her father, Simon, came to the United States to pursue "the
American dream."

Mary said that attitude has rubbed off on her. She said the sky is the
limit for her career as far as she is concerned. She has plans to be
an English teacher, but quickly adds she might become a lawyer or a
judge instead.

"And then president," her father added, half-serious.

"I’ve always had dreams," Mary said. "I am going to succeed."

Mary said her challenges have given her mental and emotional
toughness.

"I survived for a reason, and that’s to give back," she said. "That’s
how God wanted it."

s/2009/01/10/news/californian/lake_elsinore/z9b5d0 1b19c9d7d648825753a0080cd39.txt

GAS SUPPLIES TO ARMENIA HALTED BY PIPELINE BREAK

International Herald Tribune
Jan 9 2009
France

TBILISI, Georgia: Russian gas supplies to Armenia were halted Friday
by a pipeline break in Georgia, Georgia’s energy minister said.

Alexander Khetaguri said the aging pipeline suffered a rupture. He
said in a televised statement from the accident site that it would
take at least five days to repair the damage and resume supplies.

Armenia has some gas reserves which it could use while repairs are
being made, Khetaguri said.

Russia’s Gazprom state gas monopoly expressed concern about the halt
in supplies and offered its help in making repairs.

Relations between Russia and Georgia remain tense following a war
waged in August by the ex-Soviet neighbors.

ARMROSGASPROM: AVERAGE DAILY GAS CONSUMPTION 9MLN CUB. M IN ARMENIA AS FROM JAN 1

ARKA
Jan 9, 2008

YEREVAN, January 9. /ARKA/. As from January 1 2009 average daily
gas consumption is 9mln cubic meters in Armenia as per the demand,
says the report on the official website of ArmRosgasprom company.

According to the central dispatch service of the company, gas supply
and consumption schedules are settled throughout the country and
uninterrupted gas supply is provided to consumers. No gas pressure
fluctuations are recorded, the report says.

"ArmRosgasprom" holds the monopoly for supply and distribution of the
Russian natural gas on the domestic market in Armenia. The company
was founded in 1997. "Gasprom" open joint stock company and Armenian
Ministry of Energy had 45% of the shares each with the remaining 10%
belonging to "Itera". After implementation of two out of three planned
investment stages of the project (after purchase of additional shares
of ArmRosgasprom in 2006 and 2008) the share of "Gasprom" company
in the authorized stock has increased to 75.55%. The share of the
Armenian Government is 20% and that of "Itera" 4.44%.

Asbury Park Press, NJ
Jan 4 2009

Colonial-era hotel a reminder of romantic past in neglected Myanmar

IN YANGON, MYANMAR
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ¢ January 4, 2009

In the colonial heyday of this elegant Victorian hotel, gentlemen in
white dinner jackets and ladies in flowing gowns sipped cocktails on
the shaded verandah as the sun went down, enjoying a welcome respite
from the tropical heat of Myanmar.

The legendary Strand Hotel was one of the great watering holes of the
British Empire. Just like Raffles Hotel in Singapore or the Mandarin
Oriental in Bangkok, the 107-year old Strand remains a national
landmark.

Yangon has the largest number of colonial buildings in Southeast Asia,
including colonnaded government offices and sumptuous official
residences, but most are dilapidated, neglected for decades.

Large black water streaks mark most of the facades, and bushes sprout
from the roofs of some, including the stately High Court building ‘
adjacent to a rooftop statue of a British lion still gazing over his
domain.

Surprisingly, however, most of the old buildings appear to have
survived relatively unscathed the fury of Cyclone Nargis, which
devastated the capital when it roared through on May 3. Although many
modern structures were badly hit with their roofs torn off, the city’s
historic downtown district appears relatively undamaged .

Except for the glittering golden stupas such as the famed Shwedagon
Pagoda that are the symbol of Yangon, almost everything else in the
city is suffering from more than 40 years of neglect. This includes
the potholed roads and even the rundown mausoleum where Myanmar’s
best-known citizen, former United Nations Secretary General U Thant,
lies buried.

The Strand was built in 1901 by the Sarkies brothers, Armenian
refugees from Turkey who founded a chain of luxury hotels in the
region, including Raffles, the Oriental, the Majapahit in the
Indonesian port of Surabaya, and the Eastern & Oriental in Penang,
Malaysia.

In the 1920s and ’30s, it became a favorite hangout of famous writers,
British officers, celebrities and even royalty. Luminaries such as
Rudyard Kipling, W. Somerset Maugham, Graham Greene, Noel Coward,
George Orwell and Lord Mountbatten were all regular customers. More
recently, it has accommodated the likes of Mick Jagger and Oliver
Stone.

Completely renovated in 1990, its teak floors are polished and
gleaming, the antique chandeliers sparkle in the spacious and
luxurious reception rooms and the quintessential colonial icon ‘ the
ceiling fans ‘ gently rotate above tables surrounded by rattan chairs
in the cozy cafe.

But today, the Strand is mostly empty, just like other hotels in this
city of five million once called Rangoon. Since the cyclone swept
through the nearby Irrawaddy Delta killing more than 130,000 people,
the number of guests has plummeted.

"It’s understandable that a tragedy of this scale has badly affected
Myanmar’s entire tourist industry," said the hotel’s manager Budiman
Widjaja. "But we hope that with the passage of time things will
improve."

Before World War II, the Strand was reserved for "whites only," but
during the Japanese occupation of Burma ‘ as Myanmar was formerly
known ‘ it became an army barracks. It received its first Burmese
guests only after the war.

The socialist military regime that ruled the nation from 1962 to 1988
nationalized the hotel and it became a rundown shadow of its former
self.

But since the early 1990s, the military junta has tried to encourage
foreign tourism, and the property was acquired by Adrian Zecha, the
founder of Singapore’s exclusive Aman Resorts chain, and renovation
began.

The Strand reopened in 1995 as an all-suite, top-of-the range boutique
hotel. Its teak and marble floors, mahogany furniture and canopied
beds complement original pieces, like period bathroom fixtures.

But unlike the other grand old hotels in the region, the Strand’s
restoration remained true to its architectural past, and it has no new
wing, and no swimming pool or tennis courts.

"We came to the Strand because of its old-world romantic charm," said
Tomas Llobet, from Brussels, Belgium, who was celebrating a wedding
anniversary with his wife, Victoria. "We wanted to be in a place with
a lot of historic character, properly renovated without huge
concessions to modernity."

The ghosts of the British colonels would approve of their choice.

IF YOU GO

STRAND HOTEL, YANGON, MYANMAR
DETAILS: The hotel is at 92 Strand Road in Yangon, Myanmar. Room rates listed on the hotel’s Web site begin at $550.

0104/LIFE02/901040308/1006/LIFE

INTERVIEW WITH USA AMBASSADOR MR. R. HOAGLAND

Gazeta.KZ
Dec 29 2008
Kazakhstan

Dear readers, we offer answers of H.E. Ambassador of the USA to
Kazakhstan Richard Hoagland for the questions received from the
readers of the Kazakhstani internet source Gazeta.kz.

Question#1 Author: Kuanysh

How will Kazakhstan and USA cooperate on education programs for
our specialists in the United States, especially for construction
engineers?

The United States sponsors a number of excellent educational exchange
programs, ranging from the Fulbright Scholarship for advanced
academics to the FLEX program for high school students. For more
information on these educational opportunities, please visit our
web site at or contact us directly
at [email protected].

Question#2 Author: Anvar

Mr. Ambassador, could you please tell us about yourself: when and
where you were born, what educational background you have, what your
family is like, what kind of music you prefer, whether you used to be
a hippie, whether you smoked weed, what kind of sport you are fond
of. What are your religious and political views: are you a democrat
or a republican? For example, I know that you smoke which is quite
unusual for an American! What other typical or non-typical traits of
character do you have?

Thank you very much for your personal interest. I was born in Fort
Wayne, Indiana, and I studied at the University of Virginia and the
University of Grenoble, France. Before joining the Foreign Service,
I taught English as a foreign language in Zaire (which is now the
Democratic Republic of the Congo) and African literature at the
University of Virginia’s Carter-Woodson Institute of African and
Afro-American Studies.

Before coming to Kazakhstan, I served previously as U.S. Ambassador
to Tajikistan 2003-2006, as Charge d’affaires to Turkmenistan July
2007-July 2008, and in the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan 1993-1995. And
so, I know this region pretty well.

Was I ever a hippie and did I ever do the standard "hippie
things"? Let’s just say, like almost all university students, I fully
enjoyed life.

Music? My favorite music is chamber music from all historical periods,
from before Johann Sebastian Bach to after Sergei Prokofiev. I also
very much like traditional American folk music from the Appalachian
Mountains, especially those recordings our Library of Congress made
in the 1930s.

One other detail few people know – I am a passionate gardener. Finally,
I love good food and very much enjoy shopping at "Green Bazaars"
and cooking for myself and my friends.

Question# 3 Author: Alibek

Could you please explain terms for obtaining the Green Card? How is
it issued? What are eligibility requirements? How can application
be submitted?

A Permanent Resident Card, or a "green card," is given to someone
who legally immigrates to the United States. This can be done
in a number of ways, including being sponsored by a relative,
being petitioned for by an employer, or winning the Diversity Visa
lottery. For more U.S. visa information, please visit our web site
at

Question#4 Author: Nair Aliyev (Azerbaijan)

What is U.S. viewpoint on routes of oil and gas transportation to
world markets from the Caspian region?

The United States’ view of this issue is simple. We believe the
more routes that oil and gas can take to get to world markets,
the better. This includes routes through Russia, routes to China,
and routes across the Caspian.

Question#5 Author: Nair Aliyev (Azerbaijan)

Could you please explain what happened to the Caspian Guard program
which was widely discussed several years ago? The program meant to
provide help to Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in establishing combat
efficient military naval forces.

There are many programs under which the United States, Kazakhstan,
and other countries cooperate to build mutual security. The name
Caspian Guard has not been used for many years. We continue, however,
to cooperate with Kazakhstan and other countries of the Caspian Basin
to ensure free access and commerce in accordance with international
practice.

Question# 6 Author: Zhanar

Why have cases of racial hostility in the United States increased
with the election of an African-American, Barack Obama, as President
of the United States?

There has not been any rise of racial hostility in America, as
far as I know. In fact, while no nation is perfect, the election
of Senator Obama shows how far the United States has come in race
relations. Both Democrats and Republicans, black people and white
people, as well as people of all other races, have praised Senator
Obama’s election as an historic turning point in race relations in
the United States. Regardless of one’s political party, seeing an
African American take the oath of office as President of the United
States on January 20th will make the great majority of Americans very
proud of their country.

Question#7 Author: Anar

Your predecessor, Mr. John Ordway, predicted problems in interethnic
relations for the next 20 years in Kazakhstan. Do you also support
this point of view?

Ethnic tensions can rise in any country in the world, including the
United States. However, I know that President Nazarbayev takes ethnic
and religious tolerance very seriously, and I believe that Kazakhstan
has every opportunity to become one of the more ethnically harmonious
nations in the world.

Question #8 Author: Zhanar

Is it true that elected US presidents undergo a sanctification ceremony
in one of the main synagogues?

According to the First Amendment to our Constitution, there can be no
establishment of a religion in the United States, and so, obviously,
there is no religious rite or ceremony that new presidents are required
to perform.

Question #10 Author: Andrey

You are a representative of a country upon whose action or inaction
depend the destinies of the world. I hope that you will handle the
responsibility placed on you with dignity during these hard times
for your country and the world. God bless you.

Thank you so much for your kind wishes. It is the greatest honor of
my life to have been chosen by my government as U.S. Ambassador to
Kazakhstan. I hope to see our relationship strengthen in the areas
of political and economic progress, security cooperation, and energy
resource development during my tenure. And I sincerely hope I will
represent my country with dignity.

Question#11 Author: Andrey

Is it possible to arrange non-visa entry for Kazakhstani citizens
to the United States, like the one for Russians citizens to Israel,
for example? Or as we have now for entry to Russia? I think it would
serve only to strengthen trust and respect between the two countries.

The United States has legal requirements that countries must meet
before they qualify for what we describe as "visa waiver status." As
can be seen from the recent accession to visa waiver status of some
Central European countries, these requirements are constantly being
reviewed for different countries. In theory, this could become possible
for Kazakhstan sometime in the future.

Question #12 Author: Zhanbolat Mamyshev, Astana

Will budget and non-budget expenses on various U.S.-sponsored programs
be decreased due to the crisis and the beginning of a recession in
many major world economies?

Like all Americans, I am waiting to see what the new Administration
will decide to do with the budget. However, I think the financial
crisis will probably have more impact on domestic policy budget
choices, while foreign policy will largely remain the same.

Question# 13 Author: Oleg

Mr. Ambassador! I have a question: Is it true that comedian Michael
Zadornov is denied entry into the US due to his mocking of the American
life style and literacy of ordinary Americans? (I hope I expressed
myself correctly) How do you evaluate system of higher education and
Unified National Test/Exam in Kazakhstan from the point of view of
education system in former USSR?

While I am not personally familiar with the details of this particular
case, I can tell you firmly that the United States does not deny visas
based on an applicant’s personal views or on his exercise of freedom
of speech – unless, of course, he advocates terrorism or other forms
of violence.

To answer your second question, the Soviet Union bequeathed an
excellent education system to its successor nations, and so far I am
very impressed with the educational level of Kazakhstanis.

Question# 14 Author: Asset

What kinds of investments were made to Kazakhstan by USA in 2008? What
industries will the US investments cover in 2009?

The United States is a free-market nation and, as such, its government
does not invest in industries in other countries. However, American
businesses are the number-one investors in Kazakhstan, in industries
as varied as building railroad locomotives to helping Kazakhstan
profit from its vast mineral and hydrocarbon resources. While the
global financial crisis might delay some new investments, I have no
doubt that in the long term, American businesses will continue to
invest in Kazakhstan – not only in the energy sector, but across the
whole economy.

Question # 15 Author: Gukas, Erevan

Mr. Ambassador, after recent events when you were not appointed as a
US Ambassador to Armenia due to denial of Armenian genocide in the
beginning of 20th century have you changed your opinion concerning
the given issue?

Thank you very much for this question, because it allows me to set the
record straight. I never, ever "denied the Armenian genocide." That
view was falsely attributed to me by some political extremists who
wanted to make a political statement. What I did, as any diplomat
loyal to his own government must do, was support my government’s
policy. Our view is not "to legislate history." Rather, let both
Yerevan and Ankara fully open their historical archives, seriously
study together the documented history of the period, and mutually
reach a common position based on the objective historical record.

Question#16 Author: Marat

Why does U.S. not acknowledge the exile government of the Chechen
Republic in London?

The United States supports the territorial sovereignty of Russia in
the same way that it supports the territorial sovereignty of Georgia.

Question #17 Author: Russian

Mr. Ambassador, what is the United States’ acknowledgment of Kosovo and
non-acknowledgment of South Ossetia and Abkhazia associated with? Is
a policy of double standards still effective?

I disagree with the premise of your question. The two situations are
completely different. Unlike the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia collapsed
over a period of time in war and ethnic violence. Today, Kosovo is
the seventh country to emerge out of the former Yugoslavia. If you
recall, in 1999 the international community had to intervene in Kosovo
because of the extreme ethnic violence and ethnic cleansing that took
place there.

The international community has spent a lot of time and a lot of
effort working on this problem. The United Nations has been integrally
involved, and Martti Ahtisaari, former UN diplomat, former president
of Finland, and winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, came to
the conclusion that the only possible way forward for Kosovo was
to have internationally-recognized independence. The United States
recognized Kosovo because we thought that it was the right thing
to do, and because, as with other cases in the former Yugoslavia,
we sought an outcome that protects the rights of people to live in
peace, security, and stability. It seems to us that this is the best
possible outcome, with full protection for the rights of minorities,
including the Serbian minority that will continue to live in Kosovo.

On the other hand, Russia’s recognition of the supposed independence
of Abkhazia and South Ossetia contradicts the longstanding support
of the international community (including Russia) for Georgia’s
territorial integrity, and risks destabilizing the broader region. No
country in the world so far, with the single exception of Nicaragua,
has joined Russia in recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Some
might even go so far as to ask if Abkhazia and South Ossetia should be
independent, should not Chechnya and Dagestan be independent, too? I
want to emphasize this is not my view, nor the view of my government,
but I know that some ask this question.

Question #18 Author: Symbat

Will U.S. policy towards Near East countries change and in general,
will the policy of the omnipresent justice and democracy axe in world
politics change with the new U.S. president taking over the office?

U.S. foreign policy has remained through many years generally
consistent under both Democratic and Republican presidential
administrations, though each administration has its own
priorities. Under President Obama, the tone and nuances of U.S. foreign
policy might change – for example, I expect U.S. foreign policy to
become increasingly pragmatic – but long-term U.S. national interests
are consistent.

In our relationship with Kazakhstan, I believe we need to be grounded
in reality. We need mutually and thoroughly to understand the
historical, cultural, and political realities in both our countries –
and we need to respect them. Where they are congruent, we will easily
prosper together. Where they are not fully congruent – and friends can
disagree and still remain friends – we will work to understand each
other’s reality with respect. Where we will find points of agreement,
we will pursue common goals. Where we will sometimes disagree, we
will do so with respect and without recrimination.

Question #19 Author: Bek

We would like to cooperate more with the United States, since it is
a warrant of world safety. It’s commonly known that in many ways
we are squeezed between two large countries, one of them being a
superpower country and the other an ideological claw. All of the
above creates certain difficulties and internal uneasiness. Is it
possible to envision the United States as a warrant of our national
independence and safety in the region?

As Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said during her October 5 visit
to Astana, we do not believe that there is some kind of competition
for the affections of Kazakhstan among its neighbors. I believe the
government of Kazakhstan is successfully building strong relationships
with nations from every region of the world.

The United States strongly believes that no country is entitled to
some kind of special "sphere of influence" in Central Asia that aims
to exclude other countries. That would be a violation of Kazakhstan’s
sovereignty and its fundamental right to choose its own partners. The
United States will continue to promote openness in the region.

Question #20 Author: Mikhail

Mr. Ambassador, how do you assess civil society development in
Kazakhstan and what kind of support might the United States provide
for its further growth? Thank you.

A vibrant civil society is the cornerstone of democracy. Kazakhstan’s
civil society is developing, with NGOs becoming more and more expert
on how to articulate and promote the interests of the citizens of
Kazakhstan, which range from human rights and media freedom to prison
reform, pensioner support, and environmental protection.

The U.S. Embassy provides support to civil society through the
work of USAID, small grants to help NGOs implement worthy projects,
and exchange programs, such as the International Visitor Leadership
Program and Community Connections, that allow Kazakhstanis to share
ideas and experiences with their colleagues in the United States. We
also bring experts from the United States to work with civil society
leaders in Kazakhstan. The United States is committed to working with
our Kazakhstani partners to build a solid civil society in Kazakhstan.

Question #21 Author: Damir 010

Will the United States invest money into Kazakhstan’s economy?

The Government of Kazakhstan has already laid out an aggressive
program for dealing with the economic crisis that many believe will
be effective. The United States will continue to cooperate with
Kazakhstan on issues of mutual interest, including programs in the
areas of security, healthcare, civil society, and many others. The
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) works
closely with its Kazakhstani partners to fund projects important to
Kazakhstan’s further development. Our trade representative in Almaty
continually works to attract new U.S. investment to Kazakhstan.

Question #22 Author: Viktor

Mr. Ambassador, I have a pragmatic question. Nowadays, the automobile
industry of the United States is undergoing huge problems which are
difficult to solve even with the government support. At the same time,
it’s known that the importation of used vehicles from the United
States to Kazakhstan has been developed. Do you think it would be
reasonable to import used and new vehicles to Kazakhstan at a lower
price in order to revive sales in the United States?

While it’s difficult for me to comment on any specific business, the
United States strongly supports increased trade with Kazakhstan. We
commend the government of Kazakhstan’s desire to expand its non-energy
sector economy.

In its goal to become one of the 50 most competitive countries in the
world, Kazakhstan should consider reducing the bureaucratic barriers
that make international trade more difficult than it has to be. The
United States is always prepared to work with Kazakhstan to improve
its business and investment climate.

Questions #23 & #9

Question #23 Author: Murat

Recently the EU announced the program "Eastern
Partnership." Unfortunately, Kazakhstan was not on the list of partner
countries. Mr. Ambassador, is the convergence of the RK and the EU
possible and to what extent, in your opinion? Is it possible for
Kazakhstan to become an associated member of the EU? Do you envisage
membership of the RK in NATO? Thank you.

Question# 9 Author: Tima

We would like to join NATO. Is it possible?

As the American Ambassador, I cannot comment on the European Union’s
policy and plans. NATO has always said the door is always open for new
members. However, in reality, while Kazakhstan cooperates fruitfully
with NATO through its Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP), the
government of Kazakhstan has never expressed an interest in joining
NATO as a full member. Under President Nazarbayev’s multi-vector
foreign policy, Kazakhstan has developed excellent relationships with
Russia, China, the United States, and the European Union and those
relationships have served Kazakhstan very well.