Date: 20th October 2006

Borat's Kazakh Invitation


The Kazakhstan government has invited spoof journalist Borat to visit their country.

Because it's the only way to save their reputation.

The Kazakhs have decided Sacha Baron Cohen, whose character has portrayed the central Asian nation in a most unsavoury light, should see what it's really like.

Borat has claimed that the favoured mode of transport in Kazakhstan is a wooden cart pulled by peasant women and that wine is made of horse urine.

He has also spoken of a popular folk song among Kazakhs, entitled Throw The Jew Down The Well.

Despite initial outrage at the comedian's humour, the government is now trying to see the funny side.

Deputy Foreign Minister Rakhat Aliyev said: "I'd like to invite Cohen here. He can discover a lot of things. Women drive cars, wine is made of grapes, and Jews are free to go to synagogue.

"
We must have a sense of humour and respect other people's freedom of creativity.

"It's useless to offend an artist and threaten to sue him. It will only further damage the country's reputation and make Borat even more popular."

The Ali G star's new movie, Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan, premieres at the London Film Festival next week.

Mr Cohen's first offence as Borat was when he arrived to host the 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards in an "Air Kazakh" plane flown by a one-eyed pilot clutching a vodka bottle.

Source: Press Release