GOVERNMENT Weekly Review ASTANA. November 6. KAZINFORM. /Anar Zhumabekova/ Social protection, housing and utilities appear to be the most burning issues which the population is concerned about. Other questions received by the Hotline service relate to education, human rights, financial system, and healthcare. The overall number of questions asked by the population has exceeded 10, 000. These are the questions the citizens of Kazakhstan want to ask President Nursultan Nazarbayev in live broadcast of "Kazakhstan", "Habar", "Astana", TV channels and "Kazakh Radio", "Astana Radio", "Shalkar" radio stations on November 13. Citizens can ask their questions by telephone, e-mail, internet and text messages so far today. The internet version of the direct line - www.line.gov.kz The questions received by 555-777 telephone number, KCell, Beeline, Neo mobile users can send text messages to 1111. The questions can also be asked at www.line.gov.kz or by e-mail vopros@akorda.kz All communication means are free and will be available for 24 hours all over the country. The busy week of the President started with a two-day visit to Jordan. The visit was made at the invitation of King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein. This was the second visit of N. Nazarbayev to Jordan. The first visit was made in 2006 when the two leaders agreed to strengthen diplomatic relations, create Kazakh-Jordanian Business Council, and expand cooperation between the twin cities of Astana and Amman and open through flight between the two capitals. The official delegation consisted of Secretary of State-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kanat Saudabayev, Minister of Agriculture Akhylbek Kurishbayev, Minister of Culture and Information Mukhtar Kul-Mukhammed, Minister of Sport and Tourism Temirkhan Dosmukhambet, Akim of Astana Imangali Tasmagambetov, Chairman of the National Security Committee Amangeldy Shabdarbayev and Presidential Aide Kuandyk Bishimbayev. Upon arrival to Amman Nursultan Nazarbayev and King of Jordan Abdullah II bin Hussein had bilateral talks at the Al-Hummar palace. As part of his visit to Jordan President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev took part in the opening of the Days of Kazakhstan's Culture. Together with King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein the President attended a concert of Kazakh masters of Arts in the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre on the shore of the Dead Sea. The decision to hold the Days of Kazakhstan Culture was made by King Abdullah II during his official visit to Kazakhstan in 2007. The concert included performance of the Kazakh National Folk Orchestra "Otyrar Sazy", singers Bekbolat Tleukhan, Aigul Ulkenbayeva, Shugyla, Talgat Mussabayev and others. An exhibition of Kazakh ancient jewelries and souvenirs reflecting rich culture and history of the Kazakh people was held within the framework of the Days of Culture. Nursultan Nazarbayev also visited the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau Industrial Park where he familiarized with the motor-car repair factory of Amman. The bilateral documents signed include the Program of Cooperation in the field of tourism and sport between two countries for 2009-2011 inked by the Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sport and the Government of Jordan November 5 President Nursultan Nazarbayev arrived in Italy with a three-day official visit. The President started his visit with a meeting with Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization Jacques Diouf and then hold bilateral meetings with the management of the leading Italian companies. The accompanying delegation consisted of Secretary of State - Foreign Affairs Minister Kanat Saudabayev, Assistants to President Kairat Sarybai and Kuandyk Bishimbayev, Economy and Budget Planning Minister Bakhyt Sultanov, Industry and Trade Minister Asset Issekeshev, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sauat Mynbayev. In Rome Nursultan Nazarbayev and Italian President Giorgio Napolitano had top-level talks after the official ceremony of meeting at the Quirinal palace. A briefing for the mass media was held afterwards. Nursultan Nazarbayev also met with Chairman of the Board of Eni Company Paolo Scaroni, Chairman of Uni Credit Group Dieter Rampl and with Director General of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization Jacques Diouf. The Issues of regional development, finances and investments were on agenda of the meetings. A Kazakh-Italian business forum took place in Rome during the visit of the delegation from Kazakhstan. The forum ended with signing a number of documents to the amount of USD 1 billion. "The President's visit started with an important business forum. We presented Kazakhstan's investment potential to our Italian colleagues who in turn expressed interest in cooperation with the Kazakh businessmen. Participation of 150 Italian and 50 Kazakhstani companies in the event set the best pattern of this. Bilateral documents to the amount of USD 1 bln were signed following the forum", Sultanov noted. Another bilateral document signed is ROME was the Agreement on Strategic Partnership between Kazakhstan and Italy. "We will do our best to make relations between Kazakhstan and Italy strategic", N. Nazarbayev said after the ceremony of signing. He noted that over recent years Kazakhstan as a young state made every effort to become economic and political partner of Italy. Production of oil at Kashagan oil field will start in 2012 - Chairman of Eni Company Paolo Scaroni informed following his meeting with N. Nazarbayev in Rome. "That was a quite important meeting for us. First of all we focused on work of Eni at Kashagan deposit. The first oil will be produced in 2012", Scaroni noted. The parties also considered a number of projects between KazMunaiGaz NC and Eni regarding oil and gas exploration and the projects of industrial infrastructure in Kazakhstan. Italian Concern Eni intends to invest significant funds into creation of infrastructure at Karachaganak oil field and development of oil processing sector in Kazakhstan, which was agreed upon at the talks between Nursultan Nazarbayev and Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in Rome. Following the talks with Nursultan Nazarbayev President of Italy Giorgio Napolitano announced he will visit Kazakhstan in future and expressed gratitude to the Kazakh Leader for invitation and assured of his intention to visit Kazakhstan. The Parliament of Kazakhstan has been preoccupied with the discussion of current issues, such as the legislation on the Electronic Government, gender issues, tariff preferences within the Customs Union, development and funding of the agro-industrial sector. The Senate Committee on Finances and Budget discussed the draft Law "On ratification of the Protocol on the terms and procedure of application, in exceptional cases of import customs duty rates different from the rates of the Single Customs Tariff". The Protocol was signed in order to realize agreements on uniform Customs tariff regulation between Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus. Also the Draft Law on ratification of the Protocol on provision of tariff preferences has been considered by the Finance and Budget Committee of the Senate. The bill is to ratify the Protocol on provision of tariff preferences signed on December 12, 2008 in Moscow and to form the legal base of the Customs Union of Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus. According to the legislators practicing of the tariff preferences means exemption from payments or lowering import customs duties as well as their application in cases not provided for by the Agreement. In accordance with the Protocol the Commission carries out comparative analysis of the legislations of the member countries regarding provision of tariff preferences and organizes negotiations in order to reach agreements regarding the cases of application of the non-anticipated preferences. The volumes of state financing of the agro-industrial complex will reach KZT 391.1 billion by 2014, according to Kazakh Vice Premier Umirzak Shukeyev who spoke at the parliamentary hearings on the issues of industrialization of the agro-industrial complex and effective usage of budget funds. "Contrary to the previous program it is decided to ensure financing of activities in the seven priority directions in advance and without cut", the Vice Prime Minister noted. He said that KZT 137 billion will be allocated for realization of measures of the program. The amount of allocated funds will increase annually and by 2014 it will make KZT 391.1 billion. November 2 the Government had a telephone conference where, among others, the issue of grain production, export and sale were discussed. Addressing the management of the Ministry of Agriculture and "KazAgro" Holding K. Massimov instructed to consider the issues of continuing allocation of funds from the National Fund this year. The Premier also charged the Ministry and Holding to study the opportunity of grain sale against the guarantee of a bank with installment payment. Besides, he required the Ministry of Transport and Communications and "KazakhstanTemirZholy" JSC to submit the scheme of utilization of KZT 5 billion allocated for the transport of grain. It was said that the net weight of the grain harvest is expected be 20 mln tons, according to Vice Minister of Agriculture Murat Orazayev. Besides, according to him, the export potential of the Kazakh grain will be up to 9 mln tons. The Government of Kazakhstan introduced a temporary moratorium on the issuance of new licenses to Kazakhstani air companies. "Until the situation with the European Union is resolved I declare a moratorium on the issuance of new licenses to air companies", Karim Massimov said. Thereupon the ban of flights of the Kazakh air companies was decided to extend till the second half of 2010, according to Kazakh Minister of Transport and Communications Abelgazy Kusainov. As earlier reported, the European Commission included a range of Kazakh air companies to the blacklist limiting their flights to Europe. According to A.Kusainov, the Majilis (Lower House of the Kazakh Parliament) is considering a new draft Law "On aviation" that will outline all recomendations and proposals of the International Civil Aviation Organization on strengthening of the control over the flights security.