Kazakhstan's Prime Minister resigns, causes unknown yetApril 2, 2014 - 17:04 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov, who had managed Central Asia's largest economy since September 2012, said on Wednesday that he had resigned, according to Reuters. There was no immediate indication why he stepped down, but President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who wields sweeping powers in his vast nation, can change prime ministers at his own choosing. Journalists summoned to government headquarters saw Akhmetov on monitors, telling a cabinet meeting that had Nazarbayev accepted his resignation. Akhmetov, 55, is a devoted loyalist of Nazarbayev. He started his career at the same steel plant in Temirtau as the president and later rose through the ranks of the Soviet Communist party. He said that under the law his cabinet had resigned with him, but the ministers would continue carrying out their duties before a new government is formed. "I hope that this composition of the government will be mainly preserved and will continue working for the future of our motherland," Akhmetov told the cabinet, according to Reuters. His successor will face a major task of preparing Kazakhstan's integration into the Eurasian Economic Union which will unite Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. The union, to be formed by 2015, is widely seen as a regional counterbalance to the European Union. Kazakhstan is the second-largest post-Soviet oil producer after Russia. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Armenia to participate in key EU meeting for the first time ever National Assembly speaker Alen Simonyan has said that Armenia will for the first time participate in the Conference. U.S. reacts to Russia’s criticism of upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting Matthew Miller has weighed in on Russia’s criticism of an upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting. Lavrov sees ‘collapse’ of Russia’s ties with Armenia Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has underscored heightened tensions between Russia and Armenia. Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. |