/REUTERS, Astana, Raushan Nurshayeva, January 11, 07/ - President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev on Wednesday had determined the staff of new government, keeping the majority of ministers on their places, and also had changed the had of upper chamber of parliament.

According to message published on official site of president www.akorda.kz, their posts had kept:

• Minister of energy Baktykozha Izmukhambetov,
• Minister of finance Natalya Korzhova,
• Minister of internal affairs Baurzhan Mukhamedov,
• Minister of agriculture Akhmetzhan Yessiomov,
• Minister of justice Zagipa Baliyeva,
• Minister of public health Anatoliy Dernovoy,
• Minister of labor and social security Gulzhan Karagusova,
• Minister of transport Serik Akhmetov,
• Minister of security of environment Nurlan Iskakov,
• Minister of culture and information Yermuhamet Yertysbayev,
• Minister of tourism and sport Temirkhan Dosmukhamenbetov.

Minister of emergency became Viktor Khrapunov, before taking the post of akim (governor) of Eastern-Kazakhstan region.

On Wednesday Nazarbayev had left the economics and budget planning minister's chair after Aslan Musin, which had also became the vice-premier, and changed the ministers of industry and trade, education and defense.

As the minister of international affairs is appointed Marat Tazhin, having worked as assistant of president and secretary of Security council.

NEW "NUMBER 2"

The former minister of foreign affairs Kasymzhomart Tokayev on Thursday was appointed as senator and immediately elected as the chairman of upper chamber of parliament by the idea of Nazarbayev.

President of Kazakhstan, appointing the part of members of the chamber, told, performing in senate that the former speaker Nurtay Abykayev had left his post unsolicited.

"He expressed the wish to work on the diplomatic job, and I had satisfied his request: he will work as ambassador in Russian Federation", - Nazarbayev told.

The speaker of senate, according to the constitution of Kazakhstan, takes upon himself the authorities of president in case of his prescheduled dismissal or removal from the post or death and executes them till the end of president's term.

[2007-01-11]