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A letter by Jan H. Kalicki , UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, International Trade Administration UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration Washington, D.C. 20230 Mr. Douglas M. Bloomfield Dear Mr. Bloomfield: Thank you for your recent letter concerning Akcszlian Kazhegeldin, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the charges of the Government of Kazakhstan of tax evasion against him. Please rest assured that the U.S. government is actively promoting democracy and human rights in Kazakhstan. While the State Department has taken the lead in these discussions, Commerce Department officials have also encouraged the government of Kazakhstan to adopt policies that foster democracy and greater respect for fundamental human rights principles, and will continue to do so in the future. In addition, the U.S. government will continue to object to the harassment of political candidates. In addition to discussing these issues with the Kazakhstani government, we have also taken every opportunity to meet with Kazakhstani opposition leaders. I met with Mr. Kazhegeldin during his visit to Washington last May. Please do not hesitate to contact me again if I can be of further assistance. Sincerely, |
