They Smell a Borat? Kazakhstan Takes Out 4-Page Ad Section in 'NYT'

By: E&P Staff Expecting a major, if probably hysterical, hit to its image in the coming weeks with the release of the new ?Borat? movie, the government of Kazakhstan has taken out a four-page advertising section in today?s New York Times and International Herald Tribune.

It comes as Kazakhstan?s President Nursultan Nazarbayev is about to meet with President Bush, starting today. The ad kicks off with a large photo of the two men shaking hands at the White House in 2001.

The costly ad supplement, which appears in the middle of the Times? first section, makes no mention of Borat or the movie. The government has also produced ads to be shown on U.S. television.

For those not in the know, Borat is a character ? a bumbling, racist, Kazakh journalist ? created by Sacha Baron Cohen for his TV series ?Da Ali G Show.? In the new movie, which has already drawn wide attention, he comes to America and does everything from riding the New York City subway (releasing chickens) to singing the ?Star Spangled Banner? at a Western rodeo.

But often he pokes fun at the alleged ignorance, backwardness, and anti-Semitism in his homeland. This has drawn protests and threats of legal action from the Kazakh government in the past.

The ad section in the newspapers today includes headlines like, ?Bolstering ties with the United States? and ?Growing economy attracts international hotel groups.? But one article on the first page seems to target Borat?s claims that Kazahtstan is heavy with anti-Jewish and anti-gypsy bias. "Religous tolerance,? it opens, ?is another one of the hallmarks of the nation ... Kazakhstan is home to over 40 religions.?

It quotes its president: ?In the last 15 years, there has not been a single case of a newspaper or television station harassing the followers of any particular faith ... there is an overall atmosphere of tolerance and understanding of all faiths in our society.?

The Kazakh government is also reportedly funding a $53 million epic movie on its tribal struggles called "Nomad."

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Related E&P Stories:

-- White House Denies Meeting on Scary 'Borat' Crisis

-- Borat Must Be Making Happy: Kazakh Leader's Visit to U.S. on Front Page of 'Wash Post'