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Embassy News Archive 2006
Kazakhstani University Students and Faculty Participate in Seminar on Academic IntegrityAt a seminar November 28-29, 2006 thirty students and twenty faculty from across Kazakhstan explored how to create a culture of honesty and confront corruption in Kazakhstani post secondary education.Ambassador John Ordway and Bakhytnur Otarbayeva, president of the Fulbright Association of Kazakhstan, opened the seminar and James Lancaster, a professor at Appalachian State University and a consultant of the Center for Academic Integrity, shared his expertise on the topic. Alumni of U.S. government educational exchange programs facilitated working groups at the seminars. Student and faculty guests from Kyrgyzstan also shared their experience in promoting academic integrity.The students created a sample code of academic integrity and a set of guidelines on maintaining academic honesty that they later discussed with faculty. Kazakhstani faculty examined tools to promote integrity in the classroom.The Fulbright Association of Kazakhstan will publish the sample code of academic integrity and guidelines in English, Kazakh, and Russian, and distribute it to all universities in Kazakhstan. All participants are expected to conduct seminars or trainings for their colleagues in their home institutions by late February 2007.The seminar took place at the Nauryz sanatorium in Almaty, preceding a two-day conference for 30 university faculty on December 1-2.The project was sponsored and organized by the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section with the assistance from the Fulbright Association of Kazakhstan. The project partners were the National Debate Center, U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and the Ministry of Education, Kazakhstan. View Photogallery |
Ambassador Ordway’s November 27, 2006 Press ConferenceAmbassador Ordway held his fourth press conference of 2006 at the Kazakhstani Press Club in Almaty on November 27. He answered questions about the United States’ support for human rights in Kazakhstan, President Nazarbayev’s visits to the United States and the United Kingdom, grass roots democracy in Kazakhstan, constitutional changes in Kyrgyzstan, energy transportation routes in Central Asia, the arrest of Mark Seidenfeld, Sacha Cohen, mid-term elections in the United States, and the move of the embassy to Astana. Transcript |
President Nazarbayev and Ambassador Ordway Emphasize Strong Partnership at New Embassy Compound DedicationMore than 500 guests, among them President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Tokayev, and Astana Mayor Askar Mamin, attended the embassy's long awaited dedication on November 14. Speaking at the ceremony, President Nazarbayev said the United States and Kazakhstan had achieved a high level of cooperation in international stability, energy security, nonproliferation, the struggle against terrorism, and support for democratic reform. (Link) Ambassador Ordway impressed the audience with remarks in Kazakh and Russian, describing the completion of the two year construction project as "a symbol of the two countries' friendship and strategic partnership." General Charles Williams, the director and chief operating officer of the State Department's Overseas Buildings Office, said the project represented $20 million in terms of investment in the local economy. View Photogallery |
American and Kazakhstani NGOs Build "Jazz Bridges Kazakhstan""American Voices" jazz artists Deborah Brown and Mike Del Ferro played to packed houses in Astana's Presidential Cultural Center November 8, 2006. Jazz is one of the most popular American art forms in Kazakhstan, as demonstrated by the enthusiastic audience response and extensive and laudatory press coverage. In their "Jazz Bridges Kazakhstan" concert, Brown and Del Ferro performed jazz standards from "The American Songbook" and "Jazz Bridges," jazz renditions of Kazakh traditional music. "Jazz Bridges" featured an ensemble of four musicians under the leadership of the world famous dombra player, Alkuat Kazakhbayev. In an interview with Liter daily November 4, Brown said the lovely tones of the dombra expressed the "soul of Kazakhstan". |
U.S. Orchestra Conductor Performs in Astana and AlmatyOn October 4, guest American conductor Emily Freeman Brown conducted a concert of American and Kazakhstani music performed by the Academy of Soloists chamber orchestra and the Symphonic Orchestra of Astana State Philharmony at the resplendant National Music Academy of Kazakhstan in Astana. The concert program included Symphony #1 by Samuel Adler; John Corigliano's Chaconne for Violin and Orchestra from the film, The Red Violin; Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; and, Chase the Girl! by Kazakhstani composer Tles Kazhgaliyev. The internationally renowned violinist Aiman Musakhodjaeva, currently the director of Astana's Academy of Soloists, performed a violin solo for the Corigliano piece. In recognition of Kazakhstan's capital city and the friendship between Kazakhstan and the United States, Brown opened the concert with flawless renditions of the national anthems. At the conclusion of the concert with the rollicking Kaz shgaliyev piece, the crowd gave Emily a five-minute thunderous ovation, punctuated with cries of "Bravo!" |
Walter Dean Leads Discussion on Media and DemocracyWalter Dean, a 40-year veteran of broadcast journalism, led screenings and discussions in Almaty and Astana September 26 and 28 of Good Night, and Good Luck, the film depicting how Edward R. Murrow helped put an end to the Communist witch hunts of the 1950s by challenging accuser Senator Joe McCarthy on television news. Dean conducted Socratic dialogues with the film audiences and students at KIMEP, KazGu, and Eurasian National University, by posing questions to explain the responsibility of media to provide information citizens need to make crucial decisions affecting their lives. Dean is currently the director of broadcast initiatives for the Committee of Concerned Journalists, a consortium of journalists, publishers, owners and academics. The group seeks "to clarify and renew journalists' faith in the core principles and function of journalism, to create a better understanding of those principles by the public, and to engage and inform ownership and management of these principles and their financial as well as social value." Dean's program was the latest in the series of Splash! events celebrating the move of the embassy from Almaty to Astana, by highlighting American values and culture. View Photogallery |
Dance Performance Wows Sold Out Crowd in AstanaAmerican choreographer Peter Kalivas treated Astana to a contemporary dance performance featuring professional dancers from The National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Astana and children from the Palace of Youth, on September 23 at 18:00 at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Astana. Kalivas' work has been described as "beautifully sculpted and athletic, with a fun and entertaining quality." The Astana performance was a sold-out, standing room only triumph. Ambassadors and staff representing Norway, Great Britain, Italy, India, Japan and the United States and a crowd populated with young dance enthusiasts stood and cheered with the last leap of the dance in a standing ovation, seven curtain calls and an encore. View Photogallery |
Serik Kulmeshkenov's Exhibition Opens in AstanaOn September 7 in Astana, the United States Embassy and the Museum of Contemporary Arts presented an exhibition of the works of artist Serik Kulmeshkenov. A native of Astana and a United States citizen since 2005, Serik Kulmeshkenov is an internationally acclaimed artist with awards from over 25 countries. His art media include drawing, engraving, cartooning, calligraphy, photography, and poetry. The artist donated all the exhibited artworks to the Museum of Contemporary Arts in Astana. Serik Kulmeshkenov was born in Astana in 1956 and is the son of a railroad conductor. At the age of 26, he went blind and was diagnosed with Behcet’s Disease, a rare and incurable illness that causes inflammation of the blood vessels. After 12 years of treatment which temporarily restored his sight, Kulmeshkenov lost his left eye and most of the sight in his right. Despite these hardships, Serik Kulmeshkenov has been a graphic artist since 1985 and has won international acclaim.In 1999, Kulmeshkenov won Russia’s “green card lottery” and was able to move to the United States. He now calls Rochester, Minnesota home. Speaking at the exhibit opening, Deputy Chief of Mission Kevin Milas said Kulmeshkenov's "love of the beauty of art and of both his countries must have helped in the restoration of his artistic vision." View Photogallery |
DAS Evan Feigenbaum Addresses Bilateral Relations Conference in AlmatyEvan Feigenbaum, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, delivered opening remarks August 23 for the conference, "Kazakhstan and the USA: Current State and Prospects for Bilateral Cooperation," sponsored by the Institute of World Economy and Policy (IWEP) at the First Kazakhstan President Foundation, the U.S. Embassy, and the AES Corporation. Participants discussed the U.S. role in developing Kazakhstan's energy industry, prospects for supplying oil to the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan pipeline, bilateral trade, U.S. support for Kazakhstan's WTO accession, U.S. investment outside the energy sector, and promoting security in Central Asia and the Caspian region. Transcript |
Experts Discuss Corruption in Post Soviet StatesOn August 22 in Almaty and August 24 in Astana, the American Embassy presented the Russian translation of The System Made Me Do It: Corruption in Post-Soviet Societies, by Rasma Karklins, professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Karklins has written what is described as the first comprehensive study of the origin, nature, and consequences of corruption in post-communist countries. As part of the book presentation, Dr. Karklins and other distinguished guests participated in panel discussions in both cities about corruption. Transparency Kazakhstan executive director Sergey Zlotnikov and other Kazakhstani experts provided perspectives about corruption in Kazakhstan. |
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns' Visit to KazakhstanOn July 23-28, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns paid a visit to Astana and Almaty, Kazakhstan, to lead a U.S. trade and investment mission. Secretary Johanns held meetings with Deputy Prime Minister Karim Masimov, Minister of Agriculture Akhmetzhan Yesimov, Minister of Industry and Trade Vladimir Shkolnik, and regional officials. The goal of the mission was to promote two-way trade and investment between the United States and Kazakhstan. Trade mission participants included 18 U.S. companies and agriculture associations. In both cities, mission participants met with agribusiness and government officials, and had the opportunity to form partnerships with local entrepreneurs. They also visited the Rodina dairy, cattle and grain farm near Astana, and the Plem-Zavod Agricultural Production Facility for dairy, livestock and grain in Almaty. View Photogallery |
U.S. Independence Day CelebrationOn June 30, 2006, the American Embassy celebrated its 230th Independence Day in Almaty, Kazakhstan with a beautiful outdoor reception in the Gorniy Gigant area. Ambassador John Ordway gave his Fourth of July remarks in Kazakh, Russian, and English. Aiymdeos Bozzhegitov, head of the Almaty office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also honored the reception with congratulatory remarks. The event was attended by 360 people. The 230th Independence Day was also celebrated in Astana at the Rixos President Hotel on Thursday, June 29, 2006. More than 300 guests from the Kazakhstani government, academia, business, and the NGO sector joined the U.S. Embassy in celebration. Ambassador Ordway was joined on the dais by First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Rakhat Aliyev for congratulatory remarks. View Photogallery |
Press Conference Given by U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan John Ordway on June 21, 2006On June 21 Ambassador Ordway held his third press conference of 2006 at the Kazakhstani Press Club in Almaty. He answered questions about proposed amendments to Kazakhstan's media law, sanctions against Belarus, the West Kazakhstan-West China gas pipeline, investments in Kazakhstan's energy sector, "Kazakhgate" and the U.S. visa issuance policy. Transcript |
Press Conference Given by U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan John Ordway on May 10, 2006On May 10 Ambassador Ordway held his second press conference of 2006 at the Kazakhstani Press Club in Almaty. He answered questions about Vice President Cheney’s May 5-6 visit, the United States’ energy policy, Iran, FBI assistance with the Sarsenbaiuly investigation, Kazakhstan’s bid for the OSCE chairmanship, bilateral cooperation in counter-narcotics, and the April 23 incident involving a mission employee and President Nazarbayev’s motorcade. Transcript |
Vice President Cheney visits KazakhstanDuring his May 5-6 visit to Kazakhstan, Vice President Cheney met with President Nazarbayev and held a press conference where he thanked the president for Kazakhstan’s contributions to coalition efforts in Iraq and in the global war on terror. During the trip Vice President Cheney and President Nazarbayev discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, and ways the two countries could work together to advance regional security and prosperity. Transcript |
Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher's Interview on Channel 31On April 8 during his visit to Kazakhstan, Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher gave an exclusive interview to Channel 31 “Sostoyaniye KZ” program. Transcript |
Ambassador Ordway's March 7 Press Conference in AstanaThe U.S. assessment of and cooperation in the Sarsenbaiuly murder investigation, U.S. policy priorities in Kazakhstan, and adoptions of Kazakhstani children were among the topics raised during Ambassador Ordway’s press conference March 7 at the U.S. Embassy Branch Office in Astana. Transcript |
Richard Boucher Reviews U.S. Policy in South, Central AsiaThe success of U.S. foreign policy in South and Central Asia is “critically important” to U.S. economic and security interests, according to the State Department’s Richard Boucher. Boucher on February 16 shared his views about U.S. policy objectives in the region with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who are considering his nomination to serve as assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs. Transcript |