Kazakhstan Politics Roundup - July 31, 2008

President Nursultan Nazarbayev met with King of Spain Juan Carlos I (Kazinform)

Unvalued contribution to foreign policy (neweurasia.net)

Kazakhstan Politics Roundup - July 29, 2008

Aliyev, America and new parliament (neweurasia.net)

Senior Kazakh official convicted of abuse of office (Interfax)

Kazakhstan Politics Roundup - July 28, 2008

Astana diplomat, on hot seat, gives U.S. congressmen an earful
(EurasiaNet) - Facing mounting criticism over its drift away from democratization, Kazakhstan aggressively defended its record at a recent US Congressional hearing.

Israeli-Kazakh cooperation grows (Eurasia Daily Monitor)

Beleaguered lobbyist linked to Kazakh UN ‘passport’ scheme (Times Online)

Kazakhstan Politics Roundup - July 25, 2008

President’s advisor: Stop rubbing our nose in our flaws, political reforms will continue without any pressure
(Interfax) - Kazakhstan’s president advisor Yermukhamet Yertysbaev finds media speculations on the alleged disavowing of political liberalization by the president ridiculous.

Kazakhstan committed to reforms, says State’s Boucher (News Blaze)

Is Kazakhstan taking advantage of shadow lobbying in the United States, or what is the real value of being a Bush political appointee? (Roberts Report)

Kazakhstan and China hold joint military exercises (CaspioNet)

Kazakhstan Politics Roundup - July 24, 2008

Abuse claims in Kazakhstan rattle the U.S.
(Wall Street Journal) - Members of Congress expressed concern Tuesday about allegations of corruption and human-rights abuses in Kazakhstan, a strategic U.S. friend and energy producer.

U.S. urges Kazakhstan to uphold OSCE values
(Reuters) - The United States urged Kazakhstan on Wednesday to show clear signs of democratic progress before the end of this year ahead of its chairmanship of Europe’s main human rights watchdog in 2010.

Opposition leader questions Kazakh investment in Bora Bora resort (Pacific Magazine)

New Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Turkey started his duties (Kazakhstan Today)

Is Rakhat Aliyev a victim of Kazakh power politics? (Registan.net)

Kazakhstan Politics Roundup - July 23, 2008

Kazakhstan corruption: Exile alleges new details
(Wall Street Journal) - Rakhat Aliyev asserted in interviews with The Wall Street Journal that Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has diverted billions of dollars in state assets and long taken commissions from companies doing business in his mineral-rich land.

Kazakh PM met with delegation of US State Department (Kazinform)

European Parliament Deputy to visit Kazakhstan (Kazinform)

“Nur Otan” and NDI cooperation prospects discussed (Kazinform)

Kazakhstan Politics Roundup - July 22, 2008

Moratorium on SCO expansion unlikely to be lifted in near future (Interfax)

UAE ties with Kazakhstan deepen (The National)

Kazakhstan Politics Roundup - July 18, 2008

Kazakhstan to start issuing biometric passports in November (Interfax)

The rise of Kazakh military (neweurasia.net)

Kazakhstan Politics Roundup - July 17, 2008

Another snag in the “Kazakhstan Triangle”: Did KazmunaiGas pay $2 million for Cheney’s visit to Astana? (Roberts Report)

Kazakhstan, China discussed issues on customs services coop (Kazinform)

Kazakh President invited to the UAE (Kazinform)

Kazakhstan Politics Roundup - July 16, 2008

Kazakhstan hosts OSCE parliamentary assembly
(Eurasia Daily Monitor) - The 17th session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly hosted by Kazakhstan in Astana is generally seen as a diplomatic victory for Kazakhstan on its uphill way to political recognition by the Western world.

Presidents of UAE and Kazakhstan hold talks (Gulf News)