Kairat Abdrakhmanov, the newly appointed Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations, presented his credentials to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York on Jan. 9.
During the meeting, the parties discussed pressing issues on the global agenda, the role of the UN in resolving international problems and Kazakhstan’s contributions to the process. Both also emphasized the productive and mutually beneficial character of Kazakhstan’s cooperation with the UN.
Abdrakhmanov highlighted Kazakhstan’s readiness to continue cooperating with the UN on issues such as poverty elimination, strengthening the role of women, protecting women’s rights, developing public-private partnerships, creating new workplaces, climate change and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Kazakhstan is actively participating in achieving the goals of sustainable development and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Kazakhstan was one of the first countries to report its MDG achievements to the international community. In particular, Kazakhstan reported on poverty elimination, access to primary education and achieving gender equality in secondary education.
Nuclear non-proliferation as well as issues of energy, water, and food security are on Kazakhstan’s agenda in its campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2017-2018. The election is set for 2016.
Kazakhstan actively participates in the work of various UN bodies. Starting from 2014, the country has been a member of the UN Economic and Social Council, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS and the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Kazakhstan became a member of the UN in 1992. Since its accession, the country has sponsored and co-sponsored various resolutions related to nuclear disarmament, addressing the consequences of nuclear tests, protecting the populations of environmentally vulnerable regions and the rapprochement of cultures.
Kazakhstan has also nominated its candidacy for the post of president of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was the first Asian representative to successfully head the UN Office at Geneva in 2011-2013. Byrganym Aitimova, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the UN in New York from 2007-2013, also served as President of the International Association of Permanent Representatives to the United Nations.
