KAZAKHSTAN

Main Weapon Supplier Killed

Kuanysh ZHUMANGAZINOV

ALMATY, Apr 17 (THE GLOBE)

The Kazakhstani main weapon supplier, possibly a participant or owner of the information of the illegal sale of fighters MIG-21 to North Korea, was killed some hours before the US State Secretary Madeleine Albright arrived to Kazakhstan.

Talgat Ibraev, the Kazspecexport General Director, killed with five shots in the entrance of his house in the Saturday night in Almaty, right after his coming back from the tour to Astana, electronic media reported.

It is unclear for the being if any member of his family suffered.

The Almaty City Department of Internal Affairs brought a suit on the murder the same day. THE GLOBE learnt from sources close to the investigation that Ibraev's driver wounded in the leg and is in a hospital. Currently eyewitnesses are being checked. This murder was referred to cases �controlled� by the country's administration.

A reliable source told THE GLOBE there had been one man that shot.

Our source thinks the murder had been ordered. It is possible that Ibraev's former partners by his previous work in Ulan were concerned in the murder, he stated.

Ulan, the special weapon exporter, was established in 1993 according to the governmental decree. However, it was liquidated soon.

Karuzharak company preceded today's Kazspecexport. It was subordinate to the Committee of Defense Industry, the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan.

In summer 1999 Kazspecexport was transferred to the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Trade. However, the enterprise appeared to be under the jurisdiction of the secrete sector of Prime Minister Balgimbayev's chancellery.

In spring 1999 Kazspecexport was created on the basis of Karuzharak. In November 1999 Talgat Ibraev was appointed the head of the enterprise. So, in 2.5 years he returned to his habitual business, sales of weapons, in order to be shot in a half of a year in the entrance of his house.

Currently the KNB was checking agreements concluded by Kazspecexport when governed by Ibraev, our source said. The state enterprise is subordinate to the secrete sector of the Kazakhstani Prime Minister's chancellery. That is why only national security officers are adopted to documents. This makes the investigation for the City Department more difficult.

Note: The governmental press service said to THE GLOBE Talgat Ibraev was 43 and had three children. During the last ten years he had been working in different foreign trade companies and associations, including the JSC Mashexport and Ulan company. During 2.5 years before he was appointed the General Director of Kazspecexport he had not have any job.


Russo-Kazakh Subcommission on Baikonur Assembles

Baikonur, Apr 17

(Irna-Itar-TASS-ACSNA )

A meeting of the Russo-Kazakh cooperation commission's Subcommission for the Baikonur space center opened on Sunday under the chairmanship of General Director of the Russian Aerospace Agency, Yuri Koptev, and Kazakh Minister of Energy, Industry and Trade, Vladimir Shkolnik.

All questions of the Baikonur maintenance, including environmental protection, withdrawal of radioactive sources and protection, are in competence of the subcommission. In November 1999 it discussed the Russo-Kazakh interaction in case of launching emergencies. This meeting will last for two days to discuss social security of persons employed at the Baikonur space center, to coordinate the subcommission's plan for 2000 and, probably, to make some changes in the Russo-Kazakh agreement on joint uses of the space center.

�We are unable to take any final decision on such a painful question as amending the Russo-Kazakh agreement on Baikonur, but we are ready to listen to all opinions about that question,� Yuri Koptev said.

Customs clearing in Baikonur and a list of commodities enjoying customs benefits will be also discussed.


After the Meeting with Albright

Comments by public figures

Serikbolsyn Abdildin, first secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan:

I think Madeleine Albright's initiative of meeting with political parties and public organisation is creditworthy. She hijacked Nazarbayev's domination, as it is known he avoids meeting people with different thought trends.

Presenting the position of Communist Party, I first of all raised a question on issuing a new law on elections and the appointment of Akims by election. Mrs. Albright discussed the problems of democratisation; outcome of the last election and the situation as regards human rights had been discussed at the meeting with Nazarbayev. She emphasised that had not treated this topic well, and this was probably a form of criticism.

I think this meeting was a big lesson for our diplomacy, for different opinions of parties loyal to the authorities and the opposition to come closer together. Our authorities, headed by Nazarbayev do not encourage such meetings, that is why I appreciate this meeting.

Underling the importance of the visit of the State Secretary, I would like to say I was convinced long ago that internal opinions were nothing to Nazarbayev. Opinions of people of different trend of thoughts frighten him, and Clinton's pressure through Albright will affect him greatly.

Azat Peruashev, leader of the Civil Party of Kazakhstan:

At the meeting with the US State Secretary, I expressed my opinion on the last report by the US State Department at the Congress on Human Rights in Kazakhstan. It contained some mistakes and it suggests that the authors of the report do not know the real situation in Kazakhstan. For example, the report states that trade of people is permitted in Kazakhstan. In the light of such statements, it presents Kazakhstan not even a country of the third world, but of the fourth. Mrs. Albright responded to this that the information was to be more authentic and the US State Department needed to work with all political parties.

The meeting was short and we could talk for only 2 minutes. What could we say in such a short time? Madeleine Albright's statement on joint working groups (with participation of the OSCE) to be established in May was very important for us. These groups are supposed to promote efficient democratic development of Kazakhstan and to improve the elective legislation. If our party is offered to join in this group, we will take part for sure.

Zhemis Turmagambetova, representative of the International Kazakhstani Bureau on Human Rights:

At the meeting I expressed my position on the conditions of political and civil rights in Kazakhstan. For example, a veto upon professionals due political reasons, and on the problem of fundamental rights � holding demonstrations and meetings and the freedom of speech. We do not have freedom of speech, Kazakhstanis have lost the right to gain and to distribute information. Members of the opposition can be provoked any moment, or inadmissible methods may be used, or criminal cases can be suited, etc.

Representatives of the Agricultural and Civil Parties spoke that the model of democratisation did not suit Kazakhstan, as we have a different mentality.

In his speech Tatyana Deltsova (former employee of 31st Channel) said if a journalist gave an objective information, he could be blamed for being in opposition.

Summing up the results of the meeting, Madeleine Albright said she was depressed by the situation in Kazakhstan and emphasised that if they supported the independent press, possibly, a �round table� devoted to national dialogue would be held in May.

It seems to me that our meeting with the US State Secretary may somehow affect the situation in Kazakhstan further.


Radio Liberty

�Strangers� among �Insiders�

Since gaining independence, Kazakhs all over the world, have started to return to Kazakhstan. Radio Azattyk broadcast material on migrants living in southern Kazakhstan.

There is a village in this region, inhabitants of which live in a very difficult conditions, according to our information. About 100 families, who arrived from Iran, live there in the former military Soviet army garrison. They arrived in 1993 and for 7 years have been living in the military barracks. The Iranian settlement is at the railway Arys-Tashkent at the 52nd stop. It is possible to reach the district centre Saryagach only along a broken road. But these people, about whom the state seems to forget, live here all the same.

14.04.2000 THE GLOBE based on materials from Radio Azattyk

(the Kazakh Service of Radio Liberty )

(Translated from Kazakh by THE GLOBE)


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