+23° / +10°C WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 No 13 (127) www.astanatimes.com Kazakh population reaches 18 million Astana celebrates 19th birthday admire of it. I congratulate you on By Assel Satubaldina the Astana Day! I wish prosper- ity, health and all the best that you ASTANA – A variety of cultural want for yourself!” he said in his events took place July 6 in Astana as opening remarks. the capital celebrated its 19th birth- He recalled the nation’s ances- day. Kazakhstan President Nursul- tors who made it possible to live in tan Nazarbayev kicked off July 4 peace and unity and urged people to the celebrations in the capital during remember what they did. a flag raising ceremony. “We are a happy generation who, Astana plays a key role in the unlike our ancestors, did not witness history of independent Kazakh- the first and second world wars, re- stan, noted the President. “Astana pressions and famine. We may think is a symbol of our opportunities, sometimes that it has always been greatness and unity of the people. that way, but it was not. Our happy We are the only nation that created generation lives under clear sky due a city from scratch at the turn of to the victory of our fathers, who the century, the pearl of the Central gave this to us,” Nazarbayev noted. Asian region. We love Astana and Continued on Page B8 EXPO 2017 welcomes By Yerbolat Uatkhanov more than 400,000 children are zakhs, will soon determine the every ten years, but information born. I declare that as of July 1, measures for resettlement of Ka- on the operative data is collected one millionth visitor ASTANA – Kazakh Presi- the (population of Kazakhstan) zakhs and their relationship with regularly,” First Vice-Minister of The occupancy rate at hotels is dent Nursultan Nazarbayev an- will be 18 million people,” said their compatriots. National Economy Ruslan Dale- By Zhanna Shayakhmetova 60 percent “which is three times nounced at the recent Fifth World Nazarbayev. “We helped the Bulgarians, nov said. higher than last year.” Kurultai of Kazakhs that Kazakh- This number could also increase Chechens, who were resettled from “We get data on how many peo- ASTANA – EXPO 2017 received Additional ticket options from stan’s population had reached 18 as a result of a recent presiden- the North Caucasus at the proper ple were born, minus how many its one millionth visitor July 11. July 1-10 and tickets for evening million. tial order to reduce the red-tape time. Why can’t we help our native came, left and so on. We will post Approximately 1.8 million tick- visits from 6.30 p.m. until the close “In 1991, when Kazakh inde- required for Kazakhs to return to Kazakhs? Kazakh business people such information using an online ets have been sold and 921,293 of the exhibition were introduced, pendence was declared, the share their homeland. This news was are encouraged to participate in the counter, which will help to moni- people visited the exhibition in said Astana EXPO 2017 National of ethnic Kazakhs was only 40 well received by the more than creation of a fund of compatriots. tor the population,” he added. the first month, said Astana EXPO Company Commercialisation Office percent of the state’s population. 800 ethnic Kazakhs from 39 coun- The leadership of the Kurultai, the Chairperson of Committee on 2017 National Company Executive Director Daulet Yerkimbayev. When I participated in elections, tries who participated in the Ku- presidential administration and the Statistics of Ministry of National Director Beibut Karymsakov at a According to the results, 25,000 I was afraid to think what per- rultai. government are ordered to create Economy Nurbolat Aidapkelov July 10 press conference. people purchased tickets for evening cent of the votes we would get. The President also announced the above-mentioned fund,” Presi- gave more specific data, saying, Nur Alem, the Kazakh national visits and 14,500 people used a 3+1 Now, the share of ethnic Kazakhs another order at the event creat- dent Nazarbayev said. “according to the latest figures, the pavilion, as well as the South Ko- option and a youth tariff. Children is more than 70 percent. Praise ing the Otandastar Fund to support “The figures are positive. We population was 17,994,000 people rean, Russian and German pavilions up to 17 were permitted free and the Almighty that over the years foreign compatriots. have not published figures by re- as of May 1. In general, we believe are among the most visited pavil- more than 50,000 people visited the we have kept the size of Kazakh- The new organisation, together gions for a long time. In general, the population will have increased ions. expo on weekends. stan’s population. Every year with World Association of Ka- the census, you know, is held once by 241,000 people this year.” “The total number of visits to in- “To date, 1.8 million tickets ternational pavilions is 5.96 million have sold out. About 40,000 sou- and 834,579 visits have been regis- venirs worth over 80 million tenge tered to the main exhibition facili- (US$244,880) items were sold. This ties, including 303,007 people who indicates a high interest among the visited the Nur Alem national pavil- visitors to the souvenir products,” Senate elections fair and transparent, ion,” said Karymsakov. said Yerkimbayev. In addition, 160,000 people in- No attempts to enter the area with cluding schoolchildren, students, fake tickets were registered. pensioners, those with physical dis- “Around 670 different incidents, say international observers abilities and members of vulnerable including 12 offences have been (CEC) announced the results the Thirty eight candidates, com- Kazakh media, monitored the pro- social groups have visited the expo registered at the security centre. By Assel Satubaldina following day. prised of incumbent and former ceedings. They included mission at a reduced rate and 407,700 peo- Ninety percent of incidents were “Based on the protocols com- senators, deputy mayors and gov- representatives from the Shanghai ple, including 17,700 children from missing children incidents. This ASTANA – Sixteen senators piled by the election commissions ernors, political party representa- Cooperation Organisation (SCO), regions. situation is understandable as there representing 14 regions as well as in the regions, Almaty and Astana tives, regional administrations Commonwealth of Independent According to the statistics, the are a lot of fascinating exhibits and Astana and Almaty were elected regarding the voting results, the (maslikhats) and individuals from States (CIS), Parliamentary As- number of foreign visitors has children are distracted easily,” said June 28 to the upper chamber of Central Election Commission of the private sector, competed for sembly of Turkic Speaking Coun- reached 130,000. Astana EXPO 2017 National Com- the Kazakh Parliament in elec- Kazakhstan recognises the elec- the 16 open seats. tries (TURKPA) and Cooperation “The proportion of foreign pany Security Department Director tions which international observ- tions held in 14 regions of Kazakh- Nearly 518 observers, including Council of Turkic Speaking States visitors is 14 percent of the total. Rustem Chakenov. ers deemed fair and transparent. stan and Almaty and Astana,” said 172 international observers and (Turkic Council). Around 35,500 tourists came from Also, 1,031 cultural, entertain- The Central Election Commission CEC Secretary Bakhyt Meldeshev. 244 representatives of foreign and Continued on Page A2 Russia, 19,000 people from Ger- ment and business events and 84 many and 11,500 people from Chi- protocol events attended by heads na. There’s an open sky mode and of state, ministers and international 21 airlines operate flights to 28 in- pavilion commissioners have been Little progress in Syria talks but negotiators ternational destinations,” he added. held as part of the exhibition so far. agree to continue Astana meetings Nazarbayev meets ing the de-escalation zones direct- ly,” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Special Representative diplomatic corps on a Syrian settlement Alexander I can say that the domestic foreign Lavrentiev acknowledged, adding, By Malika Orazgaliyeva policy has been formed,” he under- however, that safe areas already lined. de-facto existed on the ground. ASTANA – President Nursultan The President noted that during Commenting on the modest out- Nazarbayev met July 3 with the the first years of independence, Ka- come of the talks, Kazakh Foreign heads diplomatic missions and rep- zakhstan managed to preserve its Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov resentations of international organi- territorial integrity and national in- admitted there was “room for fur- sations accredited in the country. dependence, as well as create strong ther improvement in certain areas.” The meeting, which also included guarantees of security. But he also argued that each round top officials of the country’s Minis- “Today, Astana plays a leading of talks in Kazakhstan “yields con- try of Foreign Affairs, was timed to role in the international anti-nuclear crete results, which have positive coincide with the 25th anniversary movement and significantly contrib- impact on the lives of hundreds of of Kazakhstan’s diplomatic service. utes to ensuring strategic stability thousands of Syrians.” “In the first years of independ- and justice in the world,” he stressed. As a host to the international ne- ence, we had no experience inter- In addition, Nazarbayev noted gotiations, Abdrakhmanov praised Participants of the Astana Process peace talks on Syria sit at the negotiation table for the concluding late evening session. acting with the other countries. Ka- that Kazakhstan is the initiator of “the tireless work of the Astana zakhstan did not have its diplomatic projects within the framework of Process participants”, which has service.