BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 5. President of
Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree defining the
powers of the Vice President of Kazakhstan, the presidential press
service said.


Under the decree, the Vice President ensures the development and
submits to the President strategic initiatives in the areas of the
country's domestic and foreign policy.


Upon the President's instruction, the Vice President represents
him in interactions with the Kurultai, the Government and other
state bodies, as well as political parties, public associations and
international organizations.


The Vice President will also participate in international events
upon the President's instruction, head the Secretariat of the
Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, and oversee
the activities of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies
under the President.


The decree also assigns the Vice President responsibility for
ensuring the activities of a number of commissions and councils,
including those dealing with state awards, citizenship, state
symbols and heraldry, training abroad, the Al-Farabi State Prize in
Science and Technology, the Abai State Prize in Literature and
Arts, as well as youth policy.


The Vice President also exercises other powers in accordance
with instructions from the President.


In addition, the Vice President is authorized to issue orders
and give instructions to central and local executive bodies on
matters within his competence.







The Vice President may also attend sessions of the Kurultai,
Government, Kazakhstan Halyk Kenesi and advisory bodies under the
President, request and receive necessary information, documents and
other materials from state bodies and officials on matters within
his competence, and establish interagency working groups to draft
presidential acts on matters within his competence and address
other tasks assigned by the President.


The organizational, legal, information and analytical support
for the Vice President's activities will be provided by the
Presidential Administration.


The decree also approves amendments to certain acts of the
President of Kazakhstan, as set out in the appendix to the
decree.


The Government, Presidential Administration and Office of the
President's Affairs will take the necessary measures to implement
the decree.


The decree enters into force on the date of its signing. Erlan
Karin currently serves as Kazakhstan's Vice President.