By empty (12/2/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

European agencies plan to spend more than 13 million euros ($15.5 million) in Kyrgyzstan\'s Batken Oblast, the poorest in the country, over the next three years and 900,000 euros in Issyk-Kul Oblast. The funding is to be spent on the reduction of poverty and general development programs, with particular emphasis on training officials and the public how to monitor expenditures.

By empty (12/1/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Nursultan Nazarbaev has signed a law amending tax legislation introducing an export tax on oil, the presidential press service reported. The Kazakh Parliament adopted the law on 27 November. The sections concerning oil exports will come into force on 1 January 2004.

By empty (12/1/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Asylbek Kozhakhmetov, a leader of the opposition Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK) movement, told a news conference on 1 December that the DVK political council has decided to transform the movement into a full-fledged political party reported. Kozhakhmetov heads the organizing group for the new party, which he said would be called the People\'s Party-Democratic Choice Of Kazakhstan. The party\'s platform will include replacing the current presidential system with a parliamentary one, expanding the number of members of parliament, election of half of the members of parliament according to party lists, and election rather then appointment of local-government organs.