WEEKLY REVIEW.Astana hosts sitting of CIS Council, international conference: ?Modern Kazakhstan and the Way to Europe?. Security Council discusses food security

The Council adopted several amendments to the Strategy of Cooperation of the CIS member countries in the sphere of information and the Action plan on realization of this strategy in order to bring them into compliance with the demands of time. The CIS Economic Development Strategy is a complex document representing a system of mutually agreed views of the CIS member states upon the common goals, priorities and prospects of socio-economic development in terms of deepening of interstate economic relations, aimed at transforming the Commonwealth into a significant participant in the system of international economic relations. Its purposes are to give new impulse to economic development in the CIS member countries, ensure stability and balanced economic growth, economic security, increase of welfare and life quality. According to Z. Grechanaya, chairperson of the Council action plans in humanitarian cooperation for 2009-2010 and a plan on further development of common educational space and cooperation in education for the period till 2010 were also considered. Z. Grechanaya pointed out the importance of the Council?s decision on establishment of a jubilee medal ?65th anniversary of the Victory in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War?. On the agenda of the Council there was also a joint action plan on creation of a single registration system for citizens of the third states and stateless persons entering the territory of the CIS states and other documents. At the sitting the Kazakh President broached the issues of migrants and drug trafficking, prevention of Influenza A(H1N1) spread. In his view, the CIS members should be more tolerant towards the migrants. ?We try not to exile them from the country as far as possible, given their countries are also experiencing hard time ?, N.Nazarbayev said. Speaking of drug trafficking, N. Nazarbayev called for synergy in the fight against this universal evil. According to him, Kazakhstan will try to reduce transportation of narcotics via its territory and work in this direction with the other CIS states. As is known, the Government of Kazakhstan adopted the program on struggle against drug addiction and drug trafficking for 2009-2011 that envisages budgeting of KZT 39.7 billion in antidrug activities and establishment of 2 interregional specialized departments in Shymkent and Karaganda towns. The issue of creation of the Customs Union was discussed at the meeting of Kazakh President N. Nazarbayev and Russian Prime Minister V. Putin. The Russian Prime Minister emphasized the necessity of integration for acceleration of mutual trade and implementation of the investment projects. The Customs Union?s activity is to become an important lever in overcoming the crisis and rehabilitation of the economic growth. N. Nazarbayev and V. Putin detailed further Russian-Kazakh business partnership expansion. The neighbor countries plan to bolster their efforts on execution of the whole package of measures, reflected in the Joint Action Plan of Russian and Kazakhstan for 2009-2010. At the meeting with Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko Nursultan Nazarbayev emphasized Kazakhstan?s interest in cooperation with Ukraine in economic and political spheres. ?However, our countries do not fully use their big potential. Our earlier agreements had not been realized yet?, he said. The Ukrainian Primer thanked the President of Kazakhstan for raising the problem of renewal of dynamic cooperation between the two states. ?I fully agree with you. Ukraine and Kazakhstan have colossal opportunities. You and your team for many years have tried to develop our relations, particularly in the spheres of aviation, agriculture and engineering?, PM U. Tymoshenko said. The Ukrainian Premier also expressed readiness of her country to cooperate in the sphere of railroad transport and energy. Summarizing the work of the Council Kazakh PM K. Massimov noted the similarity of the CIS member states? views on the matters discussed will help the countries fruitfully address the tasks. This week the Security Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan held its session in Astana. The issue of food security was on the agenda of the session. At the session the President highlighted the importance of development of agriculture as one of the sectors of innovation economy, increase an added value of agriculture, its volumes in the country?s GDP and total exports. First of all, it is development of the processing industries, which is the weakest link of the agroindustrial complex. Secondly, it is introduction of high technologies, effective use of the funds allocated by KazAgro Holding for investment projects implementation, and effective land and water use. Kazakhstan takes measures on regulation of customs-tariff policy for solution of the issues of food security. ?Customs duties will be increased, We will protect and regulate our domestic market from import?, the Minister of Agreculture A.Kurishbayev said. The Lower House of our Parliament hosted Thursday representatives of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Council of Europe, CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, deputies and leaders of political factions of different countries at its international conference: ?Modern Kazakhstan and The Way to Europe?. The Kazakh side was represented by Speakers of both Houses of the Parliament, Secretary of State, representatives of central state bodies, diplomatic corps and public organizations. Secretary of State K. Saudabayev read out the President?s message to the conference, in which the ?The Way to Europe? state program had been called a ?unique ?road map? of Kazakhstan?s chairmanship in the OSCE. ?Chairmanship of our country in this powerful international organization in 2010 is not only a collective acknowledgement of Kazakhstan?s success, but high responsibility for the enhancement of peace and stability on the Continent. Amid the world crisis it is necessary to find new approaches towards strengthening of security, dialog and mutual understanding between East and West. It is significant to balance development on all three dimensions of the OSCE work: humanitarian, economic and environmental, military and political. These are the priorities of Kazakhstan. Our special program ?The Way to Europe? is a kind of road map for the chairmanship in the organization. Its implementation will enable to establish broad interaction with the European countries on promotion of democratic reforms and improve life quality, attract investments and advanced technologies, upgrade national legislation, modernize mechanisms of state management in the European manner?, the address reads.