Kazakh embassador's going on tour to defend his country

by Victoria Revay | February 21, 2007 at 10:36 am

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Kazakhstan's envoy to the United States -- Kanat Saudabayev -- is going on tour in defence of his country. He'll be traveling across the country, lecturing at universities to dispel the myths about his country, which he says is poorly depicted in Sasha Baron Cohen's blockbuster movie Borat. The movie satirizes the U.S. and pokes fun at Kazakhstan as a place where people drink horse urine-- among other things.

Speaking at Yale University, Kanat Saudabayev presented the former Soviet state as a modern nation of well-educated professionals and a major non-OPEC oil exporter.

Kazakhstan has placed ads in U.S. newspapers and on television to tout its rapid economic growth and immense oil reserves, describing a country of cash machines, sushi bars and high-tech conference centres.