Implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention Discussed in Almaty
Images | Kazakh MFA
Issues of implementation of the provisions of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and its further strengthening were the main topics of discussion at the regional workshop held in the UN Plaza building. The event, organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan with support of the European Union, was attended by national coordinators on BTWC issues from the countries of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to exchange information and best practices regarding the improvement of legislation and national action plans, as well as the preparation and presentation of information on the implementation of confidence-building measures - a key mechanism for ensuring transparency in the biosafety practices of States Parties to the Convention.
Representatives of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs thanked Kazakhstan for the opportunity to organize a training course in Almaty and the representatives of relevant government agencies from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan for participation in the event, and emphasized the critical importance of comprehensive and active implementation of the Convention at the national level. National contact points play a key role in this regard.
Representatives of Kazakhstan drew attention to the strict fulfillment by Kazakhstan of its obligations under the BTWC. It was noted that the priority issue for our country in the field of biological safety is the implementation of the initiative to establish the International Agency for Biological Safety (IABS). Kazakhstan shares the belief in the need for active cooperation to ensure the use of the latest achievements of biotechnology for peaceful purposes. The IABS will ensure control over the development of science and technology in areas related to the BTWC.
UN and national experts noted the active role of Kazakhstan in strengthening the Convention and promoting the IABS initiative widely discussed within the BTWC Working Group in Geneva, which also arouses support and interest in further discussion among many countries.
At a separate panel session, Kazakhstan’s experience in implementing the BTWC was presented. General Director of the National Scientific Center for Particularly Dangerous Infections named after Aikimbayev, Zaure Zhumadilova, described the mechanism for preparing annual reports on confidence-building measures, measures adopted in the field of biological safety and the activities of the Central Reference Laboratory, which carries out its research in strict accordance with the BTWC and the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Biological Safety".
As part of the event, the workshop’s participants visited the Central Reference Laboratory located in Almaty and learned about the activities of the flagship institution of the Kazakh biotechnological complex. CRL’s mission is to ensure the biological safety of the country, develop and implement the scientific basis for monitoring, prevention, and assess the risk of infection with highly dangerous diseases to prevent and reduce their spread in people and animals. Experts in the field of biosafety positively assessed the activities of the laboratory and the developments of Kazakh scientists, which are fully funded from the republican budget.
For reference: The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction was opened for signature in 1972 and entered into force in 1975. The BTWC is one of the key pillars of the international community's efforts to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
In September 2020, at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed to create the International Agency for Biological Safety (IABS), to prevent the spread of biological (bacteriological) and toxin weapons, encourage broad and inclusive international cooperation on research and development of measures to combat dangerous pathogens, establish systems of verification and assurance so that programs and developments in the biological field will not be used for military purposes, thereby improving international norms and institutionalizing the BTWC regime.
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Head of State Tokayev meets Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun
Images | Akorda
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with Minister of National Defense of China Dong Jun, Kazinform News Agency cites Akorda.
Welcoming Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, who is on an official visit to Kazakhstan, Tokayev noted his contribution to the strengthening of good-neighborliness, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation.
The Head of State stressed that the Kazakh-Chinese relations are at the highest level of eternal all-round strategic partnership. As Tokayev said, Kazakhstan and China share the common views on the key issues of regional and international security on the multilateral track.
Our countries maintain a constructive dialogue and provide mutual support within the UN, SCO, CICA. We commend and back China’s global development initiative, the global security initiative and the global civilization initiative. I believe that they will positively contribute to the strengthening of the modern architecture of global security, said the Kazakh President.
For his part, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun thanked the Head of State of Kazakhstan for the hospitality and noted the high level of preparation for the meeting of the defense ministers of member states of the SCO in Astana.
During the meeting, the sides expressed interest in developing peacekeeping, educational and military technical cooperation.
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President to personally monitor all-out efforts to restore housing, infrastructure affected by floods
Images | primeminister.kz
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev vowed he will personally monitor all-out efforts to help restore housing and infrastructure in the regions of Kazakhstan affected by colossal floods this spring, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.
In his address to an April 25 meeting of the People’s Assembly of Kazakhstan, President Tokayev announced mass reconstructions planned in the flood-affected regions in the upcoming months.
The Government, according to the Head of State, is bending every effort to make sure everyone affected by the floods will get compensated.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev pointed out that those affected by floods will be given a chance to relocate to more economically attractive areas.
He also reminded that well-known Kazakhstani billionaires and entrepreneurs who had made generous donations to help restore flood-hit regions will monitor how their funds are spent and distributed.
The Government will also lend a helping hand to small and medium-sized enterprises and agrarians in the regions hit by the natural disaster in order to ensure smooth sowing campaign.
I would like to reiterate that no one will be left without the support in such difficult moment. The Government will fulfill all obligations," emphasized the Kazakh leader.
Ensuring wellbeing of all citizens is the key goal of the Government, he stressed.
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Upcoming session of People’s Assembly of Kazakhstan set to take place online due to flooding
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Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with the deputy chairs of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan, Kazinform News Agency cites Akorda.
During the meeting, President Tokayev congratulated newly appointed deputy chairs of the Assembly Yuri Shin and Lugmar Bularov, wished them successful work in enhancing the unity and consolidating the society.
Tokayev also heart a report delivered by deputy chair - head of the Secretariat of the Assembly Marat Azilkhanov on the implementation of the previous instructions and the preparation for the 33rd session of the Assembly.
The Head of State informed that the decision was made to switch the upcoming People’s Assembly session to an online format due to the current flood situation in a number of regions of the country. The members of the regional Assemblies are to join the session via videoconferencing.
At the meeting, the Kazakh leader noted the great contribution the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan made in assisting those affected by floods.
Tokayev also gave a number of specific tasks on further enhancement of the work of the Assembly.
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Olzhas Bektenov inspects bank reinforcement of Atyrau's residential areas in anticipation of second flood peak
Images | primeminister.kz
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov within the framework of fulfilment of instructions of the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev checked the progress of measures taken to reduce the risk of flooding in Atyrau region, primeminister.kz reports.
In the regional centre Olzhas Bektenov assessed the readiness of Atyrau city for the predicted second wave of floods during the inspection of fortifications of residential areas. In the west, the situation remains difficult due to the release of water from the Iriklinskoe reservoir of the Russian Federation, as well as due to high flood discharges of large lateral tributaries to the river Zhaiyk and the corresponding rise in water levels.
As previously reported, after the peak of floods in the West Kazakhstan region flood flow moves along the river channel towards Atyrau region, flowing into the Caspian Sea. Over the past day due to the inflow of water from the West Kazakhstan region in the city of Atyrau recorded a rise in level by 6 cm (total rise first floods 227 cm).
On site inspected the pace of work on bank reinforcement of residential areas, as well as dredging of the river Zhaiyk to increase the carrying capacity. The readiness of forces for enhanced work during the peak period has been checked.
Head of the Government Olzhas Bektenov instructed to increase the forces to promptly ensure the transfer of military personnel and equipment to Atyrau region from regions where the flood situation has stabilised.
As of today, 92% of anti-flood preventive measures have been completed. The city has been divided into 111 sectors for effective work. 482 kilometres of protective levees have been constructed. The completed sections have been inspected by technical supervision. About 6 thousand servicemen of the Ministry for Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the National Guard, employees of the Akimat, and about 2 thousand units of equipment are involved in the work. Active assistance is provided by volunteers. Last Saturday, about 9 thousand volunteers took part in the work to protect the city within the framework of the subbotnik on bank reinforcement.
In addition, dredging works are being carried out to increase the capacity of water from the Zhaiyk River to the Caspian Sea. Special technical fleet vessels and hydraulic excavators are used to clean, deepen and widen waterways.
At the same time, flood control works are being carried out on irrigation and watering systems. In Atyrau region, 14 out of 15 canals are located along the Zhaiyk River. In four systems (Sokolok, Naryn, Chernaya Rechka, Baksai) there is a possibility to pass flood waters by gravity. In this regard, gravity canals are being cleaned and canal breaches are being made to utilise the terrain for water diversion. For example, NCOC is excavating an additional 24 km long Sokolok bypass canal and dismantling existing structures. In total, these bypass canals have the capacity to discharge flood water at a flow rate of 139.9 m3/sec. At all head water intakes by the staff of pumping stations is carried out round-the-clock duty.
For reference:
The danger zone includes the settlements Zharsuat and Kurylys, 10.5 kilometres of dams are located on this territory. At present, the dams in this area are being raised by specialised machinery. Dams are also being raised in the settlements of Inderbor, Yeltai, Yesbol, Koktogai, Budene, Orlik and Yntymak, where there is a probability of flooding. Shore protection works are being carried out in Inder, Makhambet, Isatai districts and Kurmangazy.
At the same time, in Zhylyoi district, which suffered from floods, the consequences of the emergency are being eliminated. Electricity and gas supply is being resumed. Gas supply has been restored in 201 houses, disinfection works have been completed in 41 houses. Financial assistance in the amount of 100 monthly instalments has been provided to the affected residents for temporary rent and other purposes, 3,271 families have already received payments. The commission for damage assessment and compensation continues its work.
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Construction of car plant set to be completed by yearend in Kostanay
Images | Akorda
Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with KIA Corporation President Song Ho-Sung during which he stressed that the development of automotive industry is one of the key areas of the industrial policy of Kazakhstan, Kazinform News Agency cites Akorda.
Song Ho-Sung briefed Tokayev about the construction of a full-cycle plant for production of cars in Kostanay city set to be completed by the end of this year.
Up to 90 billion tenge worth of investments were funneled in the project’s implementation. 1.5 thousand permanent jobs are set to be created.
The project’s design capacity will be 70 thousand cars per year, of which 50 thousand cars are to be produced using the small node assembly method, meaning a higher share of local content.
The KIA Corporation President also briefed about the work ongoing to attract global suppliers of automotive components. In particular, an agreement of intent was signed with South Korea's Seyong EHWA on construction of a plant of automotive components in Kazakhstan.
The Kazakh President welcomed the decision of KIA Corporation to localize the production of automotive components in the country as well as noted the importance of preparation of domestic qualified specialists to develop the industry.
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15 reservoirs are over 90% full in Kazakhstan
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The Kazakh water resources and irrigation ministry has released the latest data on the situation in the reservoirs in the country, Kazinform News Agency reports.
According to the ministry, filling of four reservoirs of the Ural-Kushum irrigation and watering system is underway in West Kazakhstan region. The reservoirs currently hold 221 million cubic meters of water, which is 85% of their total capacity.
Four reservoirs down the Malyi Uzen River are 91% full with 101 million cubic meters of water and three reservoirs along the Bolshoi Uzen River hold 69 million cubic meters of water, that is 66% of their total capacity. The two rivers received a total of 428 million cubic meters of flood water.
The level of water in the Zhaiyk River in Uralsk has risen 2cm in the past 24 hours to 864cm. There has been a 4cm rise in the water level of the Shagan River in Chuvashinskoye village, Baiterek district, West Kazakhstan region. The water level in the Derkul River stands at 234cm.
Astaninskoye and Seletinskoye reservoirs are said to be 100% full in Akmola region. Both facilities run as usually.
Two major reservoirs are at their fullest in North Kazakhstan region amid the ongoing flooding.
The water level of the Yessil River in Petropavlovsk city has remained at 1,270cm over the past day as the flood situation is still challenging.
Aktobe region’s two major reservoirs are 97% full. Two major reservoirs of East Kazakhstan region are said to be filled by around 81% on average.
In Abai region, where flooding is ongoing, the Shulbinsk reservoir holds water at 63% of its capacity.
Three major reservoirs are 98.5% full in Karaganda region.
Kostanay region’s two major reservoirs are filled by 92%.
According to the ministry, all the regions of Kazakhstan, except for East Kazakhstan and West Kazakhstan regions, have past the peaks of floods.
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