Nursultan Nazarbayev signs law on snap presidential elections in KazakhstanFebruary 2, 2011 - 16:52 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a law on amendments to the constitution, allowing him to hold snap presidential elections instead of a referendum on prolonging his rule until 2020, presidential press service reported. Kazakhstan's parliament on Wednesday, February 2, approved amendments to the constitution. The bill amending the constitution was unanimously approved by the parliament's two houses and was submitted to the president to be signed. "The law puts in place the constitutional framework for conducting early presidential polls," Talgat Danakov, deputy chief of presidential administration, said at the joint session of parliament. Nazarbayev, whose current term is due to expire in 2012, unexpectedly rejected a plan to hold a referendum on prolonging his rule until 2020, saying that he would instead call early presidential polls. The presidential announcement to reject the referendum plan, which had envisaged scrapping elections in 2012 and 2017, came after rare criticism of the ex-Soviet state by its Western ally the United States. The parliament last month said the controversial referendum should go ahead but the constitutional court rejected the plan later, according to AFP. 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 | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |