A Borat under the skin

President Bush meets President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan today at the White House. It is Mr Nazarbayev's first visit to the US since a highly successful trip in December 2001 that ushered in five years of aid, energy deals and military co-operation betweeen the two countries: Kazakhstan has allowed US military aircraft to use its airspace and runways for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Announcing the meeting, the White House Press Secretary, Tony Snow reeled off a big list of topics to discuss: "democracy promotion, the war on terror, energy diversification, expanding prosperity, and our common commitment to working together to advance freedom and security." And now there is another one, Borat.

Over the last few years, it has been scarcely credible how the Kazakh Government has risen to the monkey-baiting, horse-urinating and Jew-on-Jew-hating of Sacha Baron Cohen.

We've had statements, rebuttals and the closing of Borat's Kazakhstan-hosted website. We know about the movie-war of Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan and the Kazakh-funded epic Nomad which closes with a sentimental lecture from President Nazarbayev.

But events yesterday afternoon in Washington and, we expect, today have reached new all time Kazakh highs for art imitating life imitating the madness of a British comedian.

First there was the four-page colour advertisement in yesterday's New York Times and International Herald Tribune: the second special supplement in eight months and this time with the title: "Kazakhstan in the 21st century: Looking outward".

At a reported cost of between $300,000 and $400,000, the Kazakh Government informed America of its attraction to "international hotel groups", its "over 40 religions" and the possibilities of “combining business with pleasure in cosmopolitan Kazakhstan". Yet what is the most e-mailed story in today's NYT? "Kazakhs Shrug at ‘Borat’ While the State Fumes".

Next, looking ahead to today's meeting, President Nazarbayev invited the US Energy Secretary, Samuel Bodman, to the Kazakh Embassy in Washington to the unveiling of a statue celebrating Kazakhstan's breakaway from the Soviet Union in 1991. The statue was of a young warrior holding a falcon standing on board a winged leopard.

Then Borat turned up. You can watch part of what happened here on Wonkette, and read the statement he gave on his startling website, Jagshemash!

"I would like comment on recent advertisements on television and in media about my nation of Kazakhstan, saying that women are treated equally, and that all religions are tolerated — these are disgusting fabrications. These claims are part of a propoganda campaign against our country by evil nitwits Uzbekistan — who as we all know are a very nosey people, with a bone in the middle of their brain."

Then it was time to go to the White House, as this account from The Washington Post, relates:

"Suddenly, 50 journalists were on a crazed three-quarter-mile sprint down 16th Street, trying to keep up with the lanky, fast-moving fake Kazakh, desperate not to miss anything that might happen in this big fake event. One camera guy tumbled to the sidewalk in the crush.

ABC News senior national correspondent Jake Tapper maneuvered his way to Baron Cohen's side just as the comic gazed on Scott Circle and asked again for directions. "The White House? It's this way," Tapper said. Then, to his camera guy: 'Did you get that?'"

At the gates of the White House (as pictured above) Borat asked to see Premier Bush: "Do you have an appointment?" "Eh, no so much." But he did hand over an invitation to a screening of his film, which you can see on his myspace account.

Who knows what will happen today, but we have already enjoyed an interview with Erlan Idrissov, the Kazakh Ambassador to Britain, on Sky News. Asked if he is planning to see Borat's film he replied, straight as a bureaucrat: "Yes of course, I'll go and see it. But do not think that I am dying to see it, that it is because I have something under my skin."

Comments

[chris hulatt]

I worked many years in Kazakhstan and had a great time with a wonderful people. Often, during my time there the friendly folk offered me "piece of horse", or "Pisbarmak" in Kazakh. Now, thanks to Borat, I realise they were not saying piece.

As an interesting aside; Did you know, the expression "extracting the urine" originates in Kazakhstan and refers to an action, usually horseplay, resulting in the removal of another's dignity?

[Ken]

Why is Borat speaking Polish? His greeting "Jagshemash" is a phonetic version of "jak sie masz" in Polish, which means "How are you?" His "thank you" is also the Polish word for same.

What gives?

[mrjauk]

Correcting a poster above. Unless there's been a more recent competition, Borat's sister is actually Kazakhstan's fourth-best prostitute...unless, of course, Borat has more than one sister.

[Tim]

Priceless!

[Spencer Davis]

They say there is no such thing as bad publicity, I believe that Kazakhstan will enjoy a tourism boom on the back of the media frenzy surrounding Borat. Sacha Baron Cohen is undoubtedly a genius but it is a fine line between genius and insanity.

[Gareth Evans]

Having read the US article and seen the video on Wokette I am higly amused.

The Americans seem to think Sacha Baron Cohen is taking the mickey out of Kazakstan. When it is obvious he is mocking the Americans who are extremely naive.

[George K]

I love it how the Kazakh govt are getting so worked up about silly jokes!

Borat is great! LONG LIVE BORAT!

[murat]

I believe Mr Cohen is wrong doing that. Because kazakhs peoples are real people not a cartoon caracter. But it could be good if he was going to do a program about his stamford hill friends its could be good with funny hairs. kazaks people must sue him. There is nothing fun about peoples cultures and lifes.

[mike Wood]

I know from time in Almaty that the Kazakh people are very warm. But the government is still unreconstructed. The Borat stuff is fun and revealing of what lies only just below the surface in K. Instead of rising to the bait, that country's government might learn from all the piss taking and make some positive changes (eg a move towards equal rights for women). Meanwhile, Borat will continue to amuse.

[Glyn]

Superb story!Borat is the funniest thing to hit the screens in ages, I love the character, its near the mark but truly harmless enough. I split my sides laughing! Baron Cohen and his producers must be loving all this publicity and good luck to them. Oh and who wouldn't be proud to have a sister who was number two prostitute in the whole of their country?

[Chris Gillibrand]

Does anyone realise how angry the Stevenage League of Friends of Kazakhstan are about all of this? (Yes, they do exist!)

[Max May]

Actually Borat could become a more powerful media weapon as America and other developed countries (with populations worried about terrorism and extremism) need to revel in mocking backward countries.

[Paul Ebhart]

Cringworthy of the highest calibre. Only a genius, or a madman, could pull this off.

[Julie]

Fabulous!