+18°C / +10°C WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2014 No 14 (57) www.astanatimes.com Kazakhstan Takes 8th Place National in International Physics Olympiad Commissions for By Michelle Witte ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s team UNESCO has come in eighth out of 85 coun- tries in the unofficial results of the 45th International Physics Ol- ympiad (IPHO), held at Astana’s Gather in Astana Nazarbayev University from July By Malika Orazgaliyeva chairs of UNESCO-associated 13-22. Students from Kazakhstan schools and clubs as well as a won three gold and two silver ASTANA – The first interre- number of prominent scholars medals at the event, in which 383 gional meeting of the National and public figures in cultural and high school students participated. Commissions for UNESCO took artistic circles. During the competition, students place on July 22-24 in Astana. Representatives of UNESCO’s from around the world competed in The meeting, held for the first partner international organisa- two rounds of assessment, a five- time outside of UNESCO head- tions ALECSO (the Arab League hour theoretical round consisting of quarters in Paris, was jointly or- Educational, Cultural and Scien- three questions and an experimental ganised by Kazakhstan's Ministry tific Organisation), IICAS (the round in which the students perform of Foreign Affairs and Ministry Institute for International, Com- experiments. Students can be award- of Culture, as well as the Akimat parative and Area Studies) and ed gold, silver or bronze medals for (city administration) of Astana their efforts, or honourable mentions. TURKSOY (the International and UNESCO. Organisation for Turkic Culture) According to IPHO rules, gold The meeting brought together medals are to be awarded to about attended the meeting on behalf of National Commissions represent- 8 percent of participants, silver to observing parties. ing all regions of the world to 25 percent. About 67 percent of “Kazakhstan warmly welcomes discuss perspectives for capaci- participants receive some type of participants of the first interre- recognition. ty-building, strengthening coop- gional meeting of National Com- Each country can send a team eration and promoting National missions for UNESCO, gathered of five students to the competition. Commissions’ best practices. today in our young capital. We Technically, the competition is be- Heads and members of 125 are pleased that the leadership of tween individuals only, and team member states’ National Com- UNESCO entrusted Kazakhstan performance is not officially ranked. missions representing UNESCO's with holding the first event in this Amir Bralin, Nurislam Tursyn- five regional groups – the Arab format. I hope that such meetings bek and Danat Issa brought home states, Africa, Asia and the Pa- will become a positive tradition gold medals for Kazakhstan, while cific, Europe and North America and an effective instrument of our Daulet Kurmantayev and Nurbek as well as Latin America and the cooperation,” Secretary of State Dinmuhammed took silver. The Caribbean – attended the meeting. of Kazakhstan Adilbek Dzhaks- students have represented Kazakh- Kazakhstan’s National Com- ybekov said, reading the welcom- stan at other national and interna- mission includes the heads of key ing speech of Kazakh President tional science and mathematics ministries and national commit- Nursultan Nazarbayev to the competitions. tees, UNESCO Goodwill Ambas- gathered participants. Continued on Page A2 Minister of Education and Science Aslan Sarinzhipov (c) with winners of the 45th International Physics Olympiad. sador for Sport Serik Sapiyev, Continued on Page A3 Visit Increases Kazakhstan, Kazakh Foreign Ministry Kyrgyzstan Cooperation Expresses Condolences over tance of joint efforts to maintain the Kyrgyz President on the pri- eration and international issues. By Arsen Nurabayev regional stability and security. orities of the political and socio- The setting clearly impacted the #MH17, Calls for ‘Most They also reviewed the process economic development of his atmosphere of the talks, which BISHKEK – Kazakh Minister of Kyrgyzstan’s accession to the country in accordance with the were “frank, kind and truly fra- of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov Customs Union and the Eurasian Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy. He ternal,” according to a Facebook paid an official visit to the Kyr- Thorough Investigation’ Economic Union and intensifica- stressed that Kazakhstan was in- post by the Kazakh Foreign Min- By Altair Nurbekov gyz Republic, on July 15-16, tion of Kazakh-Kyrgyz trade and terested in sustainable develop- istry. concerned with what happened. where he was received by Presi- economic cooperation. ment of all countries of the re- During the meeting, the state We believe that there should be a ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Minis- most thorough investigation and dent Almazbek Atambayev and Atambayev outlined the pros- gion and intended to continue its and prospects of Kazakh-Kyrgyz try of Foreign Affairs issued its first that all the circumstances of what interacted with his counterpart. pects for further development efforts to achieve this goal. bilateral cooperation, and current Idrissov began the conversa- comments on tthe loss of Malaysian happened be established. We are of his country and also praised Idrissov’s visit began on the issues of region cooperation and Air flight MH17 and the deaths of the tion, held in the similar Kazakh working to determine whether the visionary leadership of Naz- shores of Lake Issyk Kul, a prized international interest were dis- nearly 300 people on board on July 17. or not there had been citizens of and Kyrgyz languages, by con- arbayev, which has ensured a pro- tourist destination in Kyrgyzstan, cussed. The comments, posted on Face- Kazakhstan on board the plane veying the best wishes of Kazakh gressive increase in Kazakhstan’s favoured by guests from Kazakh- “We have a historical con- book and Twitter, say: and will share this information President Nursultan Nazarbayev socio-economic performance and stan and Central Asia, as well as nection and there is a feeling of “We express our deepest condo- once we have it. Generally, we yet to the leader of the neighboring living standards. Atambayev said Russia. friendliness between our coun- lences to the families and the close again call on all sides involved in state and the Kyrgyz people. he expects a fruitful visit and There he met with Kyrgyz For- tries. We have one past and a ones of those who perished due the conflict in eastern Ukraine to The parties discussed topi- talks with his Kazakh counterpart eign Minister Erlan Abdyldayev common future ahead waiting for to the crash of the #MH17 Ma- cease fighting as soon as possible cal international and bilateral this November in Astana. to discuss Kazakh-Kyrgyz bilat- us,” said Idrissov. laysian Airlines airliner in east- and to find solutions to their dif- issues and stressed the impor- In his turn, Idrissov informed eral cooperation, regional coop- Continued on Page A8 ern Ukraine. We are most deeply ferences through peaceful means.” Astana’s Nibali Wins Tour Golovkin Gets Big Win de France, Sets New Records at Madison Square Garden See story on B7 See story on B1 INSIDE NATION ECONOMY & BUSINESS EDITORIAL OPINIONS NATION & CAPITAL Proposed Changes to Oralman Legislation to Industrial Production of Coalbed Methane Kazakhstan’s ambitions for economic and YESPAYEV: Knowledge-Based Economy Astana Hosts International Wheelchair Dance Relax Some Settlement Rules A2 Discussed at International Forum A4 social growth A6 Key Component of Kazakhstan 2050 A7 Competition B1 Kazakhstan’s ‘Best Family’ to be Announced in Kazakhstan Improves Position in Global MUKANOV: Conserving, Increasing Kazakhstan’s Southern Border Holds Hidden September A2 Innovation Index A5 Kazakhstan’s Forests are Priorities A7 Tourism Potential B1 US$ 1 = 183.52 KZT 1 Euro = 246.72 KZT 1 Rouble = 5.23 KZT A2 NATION WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2014 NATIONAL Proposed Changes to Oralman Legislation NEWS IN BRIEF “As a result of complex testing, about 44 percent of prospective stu- dents successfully passed the tests for to Relax Some Settlement Rules enrollment in higher education insti- By Michelle Witte tutions,” Deputy Minister of Educa- tion and Science of Kazakhstan Takir ASTANA – Kazakhstan may Balykbekbayev said at the July 24 once again adjust legislation relating Central Communications Service to ethnic Kazakhs wishing to im- (CCS) media briefing. “The complex migrate to Kazakhstan (called oral- testing is held for graduates from mans, “returnees,” in Kazakh) in re- previous years who plan to enroll in sponse to the country's demographic higher education establishments and goals and the needs of migrants. for graduates of technical and voca- According to Aslan Kar- tional education. In total, 87,060 ap- zhaubayev, vice chairman of the plications to take part in the testing were submitted,” he informed. Mean- Committee on Migration of Kazakh- while, according to him, the maxi- stan's Ministry of Labour and Social mum 100 points were scored by just Protection, who spoke with The nine prospective students. The aver- Astana Times on July 24, Kazakh- age number of points scored was 44.9 stan has always had an open-door and 56,019 people did not score the policy for ethnic Kazakhs wishing to minimum enrollment points. About immigrate. Currently, he said, more 44 percent of prospective students than 1 million Kazakhs live in China successfully passed the test and can and Uzbekistan each, slightly fewer enter higher educational institutions.. in Russia and about 500,000 in Kyr- gyzstan and Mongolia. There are “More than 80 ethnic groups live in also Kazakhs in Iran, Afghanistan the Pavlodar region. Nine offices of and Turkey. the Regional Assembly of the People In December 2013, he said, the of Kazakhstan work in the region and laws regarding returning Kazakhs 50 ethno-cultural associations func- were changed. Most returnees, he tion in its towns, districts and rural said, come from the south, from areas,” Deputy Head of the Assem- Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and bly of the People of Kazakhstan of they settled in southern Kazakh- the Pavlodar Region Seisembai Zhet- stan.