Kazakh President Nazarbayev signs decree forming new government
ASTANA. Sept 13 (Interfax) - Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has signed a decree endorsing a new composition of the Kazakh government.
The decree was signed on Tuesday and posted on the presidential website the same day.
In particular, the president reappointed Erlan Idrissov foreign minister, Kalmukhanbet Kassymov interior minister, Dauren Abayev information and communications minister, Yerlan Sagadiyev education and science minister, Tamara Duissenova health and social development minister, Zhenis Kassymbek investments and development minister, Bakhyt Sultanov finance minister, Arystanbek Mukhamediuly culture and sports minister, Kuandyk Bishimbayev national economy minister, and Kanat Bozumbayev energy minister.
All the newly-reappointed ministers occupied the same jobs in the previous government led by Karim Massimov, who was relieved of his duties and appointed head of the National Security Committee at the end of last week.
Bakytzhan Sagintayev, who formerly served as first deputy prime minister, was appointed prime minister at the same time.
The new Kazakh government includes one first deputy prime minister (Askar Mamin), and two deputy prime ministers (Askar Myrzakhmetov, who also serves as agriculture minister, and Imangali Tasmagambetov, who headed the defense ministry prior to the appointment).
Saken Zhasuzakov, who earlier served as first deputy defense minister, has been appointed defense minister in the new government.
Marat Beketayev, a former deputy head of the presidential secretariat, has been appointed new justice minister. The previous justice minister, Berik Imashev, has been assigned to head the Kazakh Central Elections Commission.
The Ministry of Civil Service Affairs has been transformed into the Agency for Civil Service Affairs and Anti-Corruption. Kairat Kozhamzharov, who earlier headed the national anti-corruption bureau within the Ministry of Civil Service Affairs, has been appointed agency chief.
Thus, 11 ministers, including Myrzakhmetov, who is also deputy prime minister, have retained their former jobs, and new heads have been appointed in two ministries.
