Kazakh ambassador briefed a packed room of journalists about incidents in WKazakhstan

WASHINGTON. December 22. KAZINFORM Erlan A. Idrissov, Kazakhstan's ambassador to the U.S., held an hour-long news conference on Wed at the National Press Club detailing what his government knows - and what it intends to do - about what he called the most tragic incidents in and near Zhanaozen in western Kazakhstan.

Idrissov said that the news conference, which was attended by more than 65 people and included two video cameras, was part of an ongoing effort by the government of Kazakhstan to be open and transparent about the outbreak of violence that claimed 15 lives and left many injured in Zhanaozen and Shetpe. A government commission is investigating the rioting that started on Dec. 16, he said, and he promised that those who committed crimes would be brought to justice, the News Bulletin of the Kazakh Embassy to the US reads.

He also said that many actions are being taken to find new jobs for almost 2,000 oil workers who were laid off earlier this year in Zhanaozen, especially in the country's mining industry. The government is saddened by the violence, he added, and is taking numerous steps to deal with the social and economic complaints of citizens in the region.

The ambassador fielded a wide range of questions and answered all of them as best as he could. The questions ranged from the conditions in western Kazakhstan to the outlook for the curfew that has been imposed. Amb. Idrissov said that the situation has stabilized, public services have been restored and the curfew could be lifted sooner than 20 days if citizens are deemed to be safe. Some answers are still unknown, but he said daily briefings are planned in Kazakhstan to keep the public apprised of the latest developments and facts.

Amb. Idrissov expressed the wish that the next time he faced journalists that the conversation would be more uplifting and wished everyone a happy holiday season and good new year.