-5° / -8°C WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017 No 5 (119) www.astanatimes.com Kazakh President signs amendments Astana to host to Constitution into law another international meeting on Syria efforts to find a peaceful solution to By Malika Orazgaliyeva the conflict in Syria during the UN Security Council regular meeting ASTANA – Astana will host an- devoted to a political settlement of other round of talks on settling the the conflict in Syria. conflict in Syria within the Astana “The Astana Process is becoming Process March 14-15. an integral part of the architecture High-ranking delegations from of peace, which is being built brick Russia, Turkey and Iran have con- by brick under the auspices of the firmed participation and invitations UN in Syria,” he said. have been sent to representatives of The members of the Security the United States, United Nations Council acknowledged that the and Jordan, according to a March continuation of the political negoti- 9 press release from the Kazakh ations in Geneva was made possible Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The thanks to the regime of cessation of guarantor states are expecting con- hostilities, fixed in the framework firmation of the participation of del- of the Astana Process. They called egations from the government and on the conflicting parties to fully the armed opposition of Syria. comply with this regime and ensure Preliminary consultations are the humanitarian access to human scheduled for March 14 and a settlements in accordance with the plenary meeting is scheduled for UN Security Council resolution and March 15. the agreements of Dec.29, 2016. According to the press release, Speaking in Parliament March within the framework of the Asta- 13, Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat na Process, launched with the full Abdrakhmanov said special repre- support and direct participation of uting the powers of the President, of government, emphasising their “I express my sincere gratitude sentatives of the Russian President President of Kazakhstan Nursultan and Foreign Minister on Syria, dep- By Malika Orazgaliyeva the Parliament and the govern- ability to take responsibility and to the members of the Working Nazarbayev, there were two rounds uty foreign ministers from Turkey ment. These amendments are make decisions independently. Group, the deputies of the Par- of high-level international meetings and Iran have confirmed their par- ASTANA – Kazakh President aimed at implementing the 100 “The new challenges mentioned liament and all the people in Ka- on Syria on Jan. 23-24 and Feb. 15- ticipation in the Astana talks. Nursultan Nazarbayev signed Concrete Steps Plan of the Nation. in my state-of-the-nation address zakhstan for their support and 16, as well as a meeting of experts “The format and the agenda of amendments and additions to the “First, the new law significantly lay particular responsibility on the invaluable contribution to the im- on Feb.6. These meetings produced the meeting depend on three guar- Constitution of the Republic of strengthens the Parliament’s role legislative and executive bodies. I plementation of the constitutional rules for a joint operational group to antor states,” Abdrakhmanov told Kazakhstan March 10. in state affairs, including in the for- am sure the expansion of powers reform,” Nazarbayev highlighted. The law “On introducing amend- monitor the ceasefire regime in Syr- the deputies. “The regime of cessa- mation of the government. Second, of the Parliament and the govern- According to the President, the ia paving the way for the parties to ments and additions to the Consti- tion of hostilities in Syria is taking the government becomes more in- ment will contribute to a more ef- rapid technological revolution in discuss the political agenda within tution of the Republic of Kazakh- hold.” dependent, receiving the powers fective achievement of the objec- the modern world shapes a new the framework of the Geneva Pro- stan,” which was approved by the It has also become known that an to directly manage the economy. tives of the third modernisation of reality of the global economy. cess and in accordance with UN official delegation from the Syrian Parliament and presented to the Third, the constitutional basis the economy,” the President said. He said the updated Constitution Security Council Resolution 2254 government led by the country’s President was sent to the Consti- of law enforcement and judicial During the official signing cer- is an answer to the current chal- (2015). UN ambassador is to take part in tutional Council on March 6. The systems will be modernised. The emony at the Akorda residence, lenges and called on all the citi- Kazakhstan will continue its ef- the talks, as well as a delegation Constitutional Council of Kazakh- law lays the foundations for the the President underlined vital im- zens to unite their efforts in order forts to seek a political solution to from Jordan. In Washington, the stan approved March 9 the amend- activities of the Prosecutor Gen- portance of the document for the to achieve the strategic goal for the conflict in Syria, according to U.S. Department of State also con- ments to the country’s major docu- eral’s Office, providing the highest country. Kazakhstan to enter the list of 30 the ministry statement. firmed its ambassador in Astana ment after determining it complies supervision over the observance of “The current reform is a natu- developed countries of the world. On March 8, UN Secretary- will take part as an observer. The with the Constitution, including the rule of law and representation ral result of the state development. “I am confident that together General’s Special Envoy for Syria participation of the Syrian armed its values, fundamental principles of state interests in court. Fourth, We are a young country building we will be able to ensure the suc- Staffan de Mistura noted the role of opposition remained unclear at the of work and the country’s form of constitutional control will be its statehood. We need to meet the cessful development of the state the Astana Process in international time of writing. governing. strengthened. Fifth, guarantees of requirements of a changing world, and prosperity of our people in the The bill had been passed in its immutability of our independence, both in the economy and in politics,” 21st century. The main goal of the first reading on March 3. The na- unitary status, territorial integrity Nazarbayev said being flanked by reforms is to preserve our unity, tionwide discussion of the amend- and form of government are to be the country’s top officials. friendship, mutual understand- ments to the Constitution took fixed at the constitutional level,” “The political system will ac- ing, as well as equality in terms of place Jan. 26 to Feb. 24. Nazarbayev explained during a quire a greater degree of democra- ethnic, linguistic and confessional Kazakh FM informs The new law introduced 26 joint meeting of the chambers of cy and stability. At the same time, principles. Thanks to our cohesion, amendments to 19 articles of the the Parliament March 3. the presidential form of govern- we achieved many victories. Fol- Constitution. A considerable part The head of state noted the high ment will remain in Kazakhstan,” lowing these postulates, we will of amendments concern redistrib- professionalism of all branches he noted. achieve new ones,” he said. Parliament on Astana’s work on Gov’t allocates $3.2 billion UNSC, priorities to boost banking sector Earlier, Deputy Chairman of lem Loan Fund, Qazkom Bank and “To effectively implement a po- Staff Report in Central Asia the National Bank of Kazakhstan its major shareholder Kenes Raki- tential transaction to purchase a to the demands of the 21st century By Malika Orazgaliyeva Kazakh President Nursultan Naz- Oleg Smolyakov said the govern- shev, Halyk Bank of Kazakhstan stake in Qazkom, the government and elaborating a set-up for regular arbayev recently signed a decree, ment will allocate 2 trillion tenge and BTA Bank signed a memoran- of Kazakhstan and the National meetings of UNSC member states ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign effective immediately, allocating (US$6.3 billion) to purchase prob- dum to ensure the financial stabili- Bank have an intention to pro- at the head of state and govern- 1.1 trillion tenge (US$3.2 billion) to lem loans from banks. ty and improvement of the banking vide financial support through the Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov ment level to strengthen a collec- improve the nation’s banking sector. On March 2, the government sector, according to the National purchase of troubled assets by the informed the members of the tive political will to address global The document was published on the of Kazakhstan, the country’s Na- Bank, which stipulates, among Fund for Problem Loans,” the fi- Mazhilis (lower house) of Parlia- challenges. portal of the information and legal tional Bank, the Samruk Kazyna other things, that Halyk Bank is set nancial controller said. ment about the nation’s priorities “Our country started its respon- system of normative legal acts Adilet. Sovereign Wealth Fund, the Prob- to buy out Qazkom’s shares. Continued on Page A4 as a member of the United Na- sible mission from Jan. 1. Today, tions Security Council (UNSC) in Kazakhstan’s delegation is active- 2017-2018, as well as answered ly involved in the discussion of the their questions on a wide range Security Council’s agenda,” said of issues, during the March 13 so Abdrakhmanov. “Kazakhstan will called “government hour”. chair the UNSC in Jan. 2018 with Kazakh domestic violence rate decreases Kazakhstan is the first Central the main focus on Central Asia and Asian country elected as a non- Afghanistan.” By Zhazira Dyussembekova more than 5,000 cases of medium tion changed when the special To date, about 4,000 people are gravity harm, almost 680 cases laws were adopted.