USA: Ficticious character Borat oveshadows Kazakhstan president's trip to Washington

Record ID: 590851

  • Title: USA: Ficticious character Borat oveshadows Kazakhstan president's trip to Washington
  • Date: 29th September 2006
  • Summary: (AMREP) WASHINGTON, D.C. , STATES (SEPTEMBER 28, 2006) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) SACHA BARON COHEN AS BORAT SAYING: "If there is one more item of Uzbek propaganda claiming that we do not drink fermented horse urine, give death penalty for baking bagels, or export over 300 tons of human pubis per year, then we will be left with no alternative but to commence bombardment of their cities with our catapults. Furthermores, all claims that our glorious leader is displeased with my film, 'Borat: Cultural Leanings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan' is lie. Infacts, main purpose of Premier Nazharbayev's visit to Washington is to promote this movie film."
  • Embargoed: 14th October 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: International Relations,Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA823TMZIYWH09SNW53X00H19NK
  • Story Text: Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen is making the most of Kazakhstan President Nazharbayev's visit to Washington this week. While irritating many at the Kazakhstan embassy, Cohen is using the opportunity to promote his new film, "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan."
    Cohen's character, Borat, is a fictitious Kazakhstan reporter who frequently clashes with American culture. Earlier in the week, the government of Kazakhstan attempted to control its image in the United States by running television advertisements and running a four page spread in the New York Times. Cohen turned them into punchlines at a faux news conference outside the Kazakhstan embassy.
    "I would like to comment on recent advertisements on television and in the 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 propaganda campaign against our country by evil nitwits Uzbekistan," said Cohen.
    "If there is one more item of Uzbek propaganda claiming that we do not drink fermented horse urine, give death penalty for baking bagels, or export over 300 tons of human pubis per year, then we will be left with no alternative but to commence bombardment of their cities with our catapults," added Cohen.
    Cohen insisted, despite media reports, that President Nazharbayev was in Washington to promote the new film. "All claims that our glorious leader is displeased with my film, 'Borat: Cultural Leranings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan' is lie. Infacts, main purpose of Premier Nazharbayev's visit to Washington is to promote this movie film," said Cohen.
    Although held in the same location, Cohen's fake news conference attracted many more journalists than a statue unveiling ceremony outside the Kazakh embassy with the country's president. The Washington press corps seemingly could not get enough of Borat as they followed him down the streets of the capital. Despite enjoying more press coverage, Cohen failed to earn an invitation to the White House but that didn't stop him from trying. Kazakh President Nazharbayev won't be begging at the gates like Cohen. He has a scheduled appointment with President Bush on Friday (September 29).
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