Bush urges Kazakh leader to speed up democratic reforms

ALMATY, Kazakhstan (AP) - U.S. President George W. Bush urged his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev to follow up the Central Asian nation's recent economic success with democratic reforms, the president's press office said Tuesday.

Bush's call comes in the wake of anti-government uprisings last spring in two other ex-Soviet republics in the region. One led to the ouster of an autocratic leader in Kyrgyzstan, while a revolt in Uzbekistan in May was bloodily suppressed by government troops, and control over the country was further tightened.
"The latest events in the region have stressed the importance of a balanced economic growth, responsible governance and democratic development," Bush told Nazarbayev in a letter sent Monday, the president's press office said. "I urge you to make sure that economic reforms are backed up with bold democratic reforms in Kazakhstan."
Widespread poverty was one of the triggers leading to the uprisings in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Bush also urged Nazarbayev to ensure the country's upcoming presidential elections were free and fair. Nazarbayev, a former communist boss who has held power for 16 years, has said he intends to run for another seven-year term in elections expected in December.
The country's parliamentary elections in September were internationally criticized as falling short of democratic standards.

Nazarbayev allowed limited liberal reforms in the mid-1990s, but has in recent years been accused of cracking down on the opposition and free media.
Nazarbayev is, however, credited with the country's notable economic progress, driven mostly by generous foreign investment in its vast energy sector. Kazakhstan has the highest living standards in the region.

Associated Press, August 2, 2005