The Asar party -- which was registered in December and is led by President Nursultan Nazarbaev\'s eldest daughter, Darigha -- held its first congress on 31 January. According to party Political Council member Yerlan Karin, among the suggestions for party activities that were put forward at the congress was encouraging a dialogue among the government, the opposition, and society to draw up a joint reform program. Karin also introduced to congress participants an initiative intended to ensure clean elections, and promised that the party\'s newly established parliamentary faction will take an active role in assessing draft legislation on the media and on elections that is making its way through the parliament. Karin said the draft media law neither meets Kazakhstan\'s needs nor guarantees free access to information. (gazeta.kz)