VZCZCXRO0924
RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTA #1377/01 2140616
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 010616Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2879
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 0591
RUEHAST/USOFFICE ALMATY 0626

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 001377 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV TBIO TSPA PGOV KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN ESTH UPDATE, JULY 2008 
 
ASTANA 00001377  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  Summary:  This information is drawn primarily from the 
Kazakhstani press and has not been verified.  The opinions expressed 
in this report, therefore, should not be interpreted as official 
positions and/or policy of the U.S. Government. 
 
-- Falsified Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates 
-- Population of Caspian Seals Falling 
-- Three Cases of Anthrax Registered 
-- No Financial Losses From KazSat-1 Failure 
-- Nature Reserves Added to UNESCO World Heritage List 
-- Fire in Yertis Ormany Nature Reserve 
 
Falsified Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. Express K newspaper reported on July 16 that the Prosecutor 
General's Office had carried out inspections of maternity hospitals 
throughout Kazakhstan that revealed numerous violations, such as 
concealing maternal and infant deaths, inappropriate distribution 
and spending of government money, charging pregnant women for 
medical check ups that were supposed to be free, absence of 
sufficient equipment and qualified doctors, and low quality of 
medical services that frequently led to patient deaths.  It was 
reported that the secrecy of maternity medical establishments 
prevented demographic specialists from getting an accurate picture 
of the demographic situation in the country.  The Prosecutor 
General's Office filed one criminal case and 511 administrative 
cases as a result of the inspections. 
 
Population of Caspian Seals Falling 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶3. Kazakhstan Today reported on July 16 that the Caspian 
International Seal Survey (CISS) for the Caspian Environmental 
Program, which is funded by the UK's Darwin Initiative, presented a 
report on its recent survey of the Caspian seal population. 
According to the report, there was a significant reduction in the 
population of seals during 2005-2007.  The seal birth rate in 2007 
was 3.5 times below the level of 2005, purportedly due to pollution. 
 Caspian Environmental Program researchers suggested that the status 
of Caspian seals be changed from a "vulnerable" species to a 
"threatened" one in the Red List of the International Union for the 
Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). 
 
Three Cases of Anthrax Registered 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶4. On July 24, Kazakhstan Today published a statement by the 
Ministry of Health about three cases of anthrax registered this July 
in East Kazakhstan and Kzylorda oblasts (regions).  In all the 
cases, the source of infection was infected meat.  One of the 
victims died. Over the past 10 years, 176 cases of anthrax have been 
registered in Kazakhstan. 
 
No Financial Losses From KazSat-1 Failure 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. Interfax reported on July 24 that according to the Kazakhstani 
National Space Agency, Kazakhstan will not incur any financial 
losses as a result of the failure of the first Kazakhstani 
satellite, KazSat-1. The government will receive $60 million in 
compensation and insurance payments if the Russian contractor fails 
to put the satellite back into operation.  However, taking into 
account lessons learned from KazSat-1, the government intends to 
purchase more reliable equipment from European manufacturers for 
KazSat-2, which is being built by Russia's Khrunichev Space Research 
and Production Centre, just as KazSat-1 was.  The launch of KazSat-2 
might also be delayed until early 2010.  Interfax also reported that 
Kazakhstan will spend no less than $6 billion on its space program 
during 2009-2020. 
 
Nature Reserves Added to UNESCO World Heritage List 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶6. Interfax reported on July 10 that the Naurzum Nature Reserve and 
the Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve had been added to the UNESCO World 
Heritage List.  These wetlands are key stopover points for millions 
of birds migrating from Africa, India, and Southern Europe to 
Western and Eastern Siberia. They also host a large number of 
endangered species. 
 
Fire in Yertis Ormany Nature Reserve 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶7. A large fire occurred in the Yertis Ormany Nature Reserve in 
Pavlodar oblast (region) during July 14-16.  The area affected 
totaled to 1080 hectares, with damages estimated at over $200,000. 
A special commission confirmed the fire as a case of arson, and is 
investigating possible links to assaults on local pilots patrolling 
the reserve and on representatives of the reserve's management which 
took place several days before the fire.  Authorities suspect that 
the victims had been attacked because they had significantly reduced 
 
ASTANA 00001377  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
illegal timber cutting in the reserve. 
 
ORDWAY