Kazakhstan

current issues:

• radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with its former defense industries and test ranges are found throughout the country and pose health risks for humans and animals;
• industrial pollution is severe in some cities;
• because the two main rivers which flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts;
• these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms;
• pollution in the Caspian Sea;
• soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salinization from faulty irrigation practices

natural hazards:

NA

international agreements:

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

0-14 years:

30% (male 2,576,204; female 2,486,937)

15-64 years:

63% (male 5,203,035; female 5,451,404)

65 years and over:

7% (male 384,341; female 814,542) (July 1996 est.)

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.47 male(s)/female

all ages:

0.93 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

noun:

Kazakstani(s)

adjective:

Kazakstani

conventional long form:

Republic of Kazakstan

conventional short form:

Kazakstan

local long form:

Qazaqstan Respublikasy

local short form:

none

former:

Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic

chief of state:

• President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (since 22 February 1990) was elected chairman of the Supreme Soviet 22 February 1990, and president by popular election 1 December 1991;
• was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage;
• election last held 1 December 1991 (next to be held NA 2000);
• results - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV ran unopposed;
• note - President NAZARBAYEV's term was extended to the year 2000 by a nationwide referendum held 30 April 1995

head of government:

Prime Minister Akezhan KAZHEGELDIN (since 12 October 1994) and First Deputy Prime Ministers Nigmatzhan ISINGARIN (since 12 October 1994) were appointed by the president

cabinet:

Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister

note: President NAZARBAYEV has expanded his presidential powers by

decree:

only he can initiate constitutional amendments, appoint and dismiss the government, dissolve parliament, call referenda at his discretion, and appoint administrative heads of regions and cities

• elections (indirect) last held 5 December 1995 (next to be held NA 1999);
• results - percent of vote by party NA;
• seats - (47 total) "independent" state officials 25, progovernment parties 11, other parties 2, vacant 9 (of which 7 are to be nominated by the president)

• elections last held 9 December and 23 December 1995 (next to be held NA);
• percent of vote by party NA;
• seats - (67 total) seats by party NA;
• note - 172 candidates were forwarded by parties and social organizations and 113 candidates were independents

• ALASH party;
• People's Unity Party (PUP; was Union of People's Unity), Akhan BIZHANOV, chairman;
• Democratic Party, Tulegen ZHUKEYEV and Altynbek SARSENBAYEV, cochairmen;
• People's Congress of Kazakstan (PCK), Olzhas SULEYMENOV, chairman;
• Socialist Party of Kazakstan (SPK; former Communist Party), Petr SVOIK, chairman;
• Communist Party, Baidabek TULEPBAYEV;
• National Democratic Party, Kamal ORMANTAYEV, chairman;
• AZAT party, Khasen KOZH-AKHMET, chairman;
• Confederation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakstan;
• Peasant Union of the Republic Kazakstan (KPU);
• Slavic Movement LAD, Aleksandra DOKUCHAYEVA, chairman;
• Party for Social Justice and Economic Revival "Tagibat";
• Social Democratic Party, Dos KUSHIMOV, cochairman;
• People's Cooperative Party, Umirzak SARSENOV, chairman;
• Organization of Veterans;
• Republican Party

• Independent Trade Union Center, Leonid SOLOMIN, president;
• Kazakstani-American Bureau on Human Rights, Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS, executive director;
• Democratic Committee on Human Rights;
• Independent Miners Union

chief of mission:

Ambassador Bolat NURGALIYEV

chancery:

(temporary) 3421 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 333-4504 through 4507

chief of mission:

Ambassador A. Elizabeth JONES

embassy:

99/97 Furmanova Street, Almaty, Republic of Kazakstan 480012

mailing address:

use embassy street address

telephone:

[7] (3272) 63-39-05, 63-13-75, 63-24-26

• sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sun with 32 rays soaring above a golden steppe eagle in the center;
• on the hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in yellow

revenues:

$NA

expenditures:

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

• oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, iron and steel, nonferrous metal, tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials;
• much of industrial capacity is shut down and/or is in need of repair

• illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy;
• mostly for CIS consumption;
• government eradication program;
• used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe and North America from Southwest Asia

total:

13,841 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines

broad gauge:

13,841 km 1.520-m gauge (3,299 km electrified) (1992)

total:

87,873 km public roads

paved:

82,568 km

unpaved:

5,305 km (1994)

• Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops);
• Kazakstan may also be establishing a maritime force - navy or coast guard - on the Caspian Sea

males age 15-49:

4,399,356

males fit for military service:

3,516,583

males reach military age (18) annually:

154,750 (1996 est.)