Aktobe Today: The Russians (and Kazakhstanis) are Coming!

Friday, September 19, 2008
Aktobe

Two days till the Summit.  The Summit has defined the life of the city for the past few months.  A number of months ago, the government awarded the hosting of the Summit to Aktobe.  This involved more than rolling out the red carpet for our guests.  Playing host in Kazakhstan apparently means rolling out new streets, new building facades, new billboards, new flags, new colors, new buildings, new flowers, new grass, new parks, just as a start.

As a result of the months of preparation work, the city has basically been rebuilt from scratch – and looks beautiful.  All it took was every road in the city being closed, at least twice; tearing up just-laid flower beds to replace them with new flowers, two to three times; painting and putting up new and matching colors on the apartment buildings around the city; completing a new building on the main street over halfway, tearing it down to the first floor, and rebuilding; and rumors of street closings, gas station closings,, vacation day, and a warning not to leave one’s home off and on for the days of and surrounding the Summit.

The Summit is now upon us, from Sunday to Monday, plus the opening of the new mosque and church on Tuesday.  There’s a mix of excitement, frustration, pride, and cynicism running through the city.  The event is big and it is appropriately exciting.  The Presidents of Kazakhstan and Russia will be attending, along with basically every minister and mayor from both countries, and then lots of lower level government officials, and lots of media.  I’m not exactly sure of the agenda, but I have heard it covers the economy, bilateral relations, economic development, and friendship.

There are banners around the city proclaiming the friendship between Kazakhstan and Russia.  Probably over 80% of the billboards in the city have now been replaced with Summit billboards –of President Nazerbayev of Kazakhstan, of Kazakhstan national pride, of Astana, or of the Summit information.

Due to the amount of work and stress that comes with the Summit, apparently for everyone, many plans have been delayed until post-Summit.  The city does look beautiful, the water works again, and nice roads, and the Fall weather help with that perception, as well.

While the city has been preparing, I’ve also been busy.  Our Volunteer Club has again picked up momentum, and we are now also working with an organization that works with the orphanages, so students also volunteer there, as well as with disabled children and adults.  Horse therapy for disabled children has been expanded to Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, every week.  We’re waiting for a little more news on the wheelchair factory, but I’ve been to the site many times, and we’re ready to renovate, hopefully we’ll get the roof done before the snow hits.  In early October, I’m going to Almaty to work with the new PCVs.  Then, there’s a few other project.  It’s been a good month.

Happy Fall!

For more information on the Summit, see below:

From Diapazon, 18 Sept. 2008 (http://diapazon.kz/?nom=88&news=2263)

Guests will Give Busts
There are four days until the the fifth forum of Kazakhstan and Russia.  On September 21-22 in Aktobe will come the presidents of Kazakhstan and Russia, the ministers of the two countries, Russian governors and the mayors of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

On the agenda is: the grand opening of the Aktobe airport, dedication and opening of the new church, mosque, and shopping center in the Twelfth Microregion of Aktobe, a entreprenuership forum, and a trade and industrial exhibition with the heads of State.  Guests may also have the opportunity to fly to Khromtau to see the nearby town.  Over the past few weeks, teams of Russian and Kazakhstani specialists have visited Aktobe to review the agenda, the locations of the meetings, and go over protocal for the two days of attendance.  Rumor has is that along with the President of Russia, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will also be attending.  As of print time, however, the Regional Akimat has not confirmed this information.

Before the official start of the summit, participants have already begun to arrive.  For example, representatives of the Chelyabink tractor factory arrived on September 19.  They will take part in the indusrial exhibition, which will be held September 22 at “Konis”.  The new airport opening is scheduled for September 21.  This past Wednesday, several preparation teams worked at both places; the electronic scoreboard in Konis was put up and the road to the airport was decorated with colorful flags and a light arch was unveiled.

For several days, the Aktobe Hotel did not receive visitors, all of the rooms were booked for the summit.  Some guests have asked for a five star hotels, but they have all been booked.  We have learned that in order to fit all of the guests, some attendees will be housed int he student dormitories.
We know that the governors and other guests of the forum will give a gift of two busts, in honor of folk hero Koblandy Batyr and hero Alija Moldagulovoy.  Two months ago, the Department of culture ordered them from Aktobe sculptor Zhadygeru Kenbayu and Almaty artist Bahytzhanu Abishevu.  In addition, each summit participant will sign the emblem of the forum.  Among the guests will be the vice-chairman of Sberbank of Russia, representatives of Gazprom, Uralsktali, and the Siberian Research Institute.

Гостям подарят бюсты

Алия Турниязова

Выпуск № 38 (763) от 18.09.2008

До начала 5 форума приграничных регионов Казахстана и России осталось 4 дня. 21-22 сентября в Актобе приезжают президенты Казахстана и России, министры двух стран, российские губернаторы и мэры Москвы и Санкт-Петербурга.

Программа примерно такова: презентация аэропорта, открытие церкви, мечети и супердетсада в 12 микрорайоне, форум предпринимателей, торгово-промышленная выставка и непосредственно форум глав государств. Возможен вылет гостей в Хромтау. Сценарием встречи глав государств уже несколько дней занимается бригада специалистов по протоколу высоких встреч. Ходят слухи, что вместе с президентом России приедет и премьер Владимир Путин. Но в областном акимате эту информацию не подтвердили.

Участники саммита начинают прибывать заранее, например представители Челябинского тракторного завода 19 сентября. Они примут участие в промышленной выставке, которая пройдет 22 сентября во Дворце спорта «Коныс». Открытие нового аэропорта планируется 21 сентября. В среду там одновременно работали несколько бригад, запускали электронные табло в залах. Дорогу в аэропорт украсили разноцветными флагами, установили световую арку.

Актюбинские гостиницы уже несколько дней не принимают посетителей – все номера забронированы для участников саммита. Некоторые гости просили пятизвездочные отели, но, увы, с ними у нас напряженка. Мы узнали, что для гостей попроще пришлось освободить даже комнаты в студенческих общежитиях.

Известно, что официально губернаторам и другим гостям организаторы форума подарят на память скульптурные бюсты народного героя Кобланды батыра и Алии Молдагуловой. Два месяца назад департамент культуры заказал их актюбинскому скульптору Жадыгеру Кенбаю и алматинскому художнику Бахытжану Абишеву. Кроме того, каждому участнику саммита достанется значок с эмблемой форума. Известно, что среди гостей – зам­пред «Сбербанка России», представители «Газпрома», «Уральскстали», Сибирского научного института.