Kazakhstan welcomed the commencement of implementation of the Joint Action Plan on Iran’s nuclear programme, which was adopted by the E3+3 and Iran on Nov. 24, 2013 in Geneva. In a Jan. 21 statement, Kazakhstan’s foreign ministry said: “As a country that is firmly committed to the non-proliferation regime and that has voluntarily given up its nuclear weapons, Kazakhstan calls on Iran and the E3+3 to take all necessary steps to timely and effectively implement all arrangements within the framework of the Joint Action Plan, which should lead to a comprehensive and long-term agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme. Kazakhstan is confident that implementation of the arrangements will result in improvement of the level of trust, further normalization of the relations between the parties and make an important contribution to strengthening regional and global security.”
Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan, Colonel-General Saken Zhassuzakov attended the annual meeting of the NATO Military Committee in Brussels on Jan. 22-23. Heads of the general staffs of the militaries of NATO member states and partners took part in the meeting. Participants discussed the results of cooperation over the past year and prospects for development of cooperation within the Partnership for Peace programme, as well as issues of regional and global security. “Kazakhstan pays special attention to cooperation with NATO. This is an important part of our multi-vector policy and a contribution to national and regional security,” Zhassuzakov said at a meeting with Chairman of the NATO Military Committee General Knud Bartels. At the meeting, the sides reviewed efforts of the international community in creating conditions for the stable development of Afghanistan. Kazakhstan presently renders educational and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. Annually, about 200 Afghan students come to study in Kazakhstan and obtain bachelor’s degrees in engineering, education, healthcare and agriculture under a Kazakhstan government financed programme that would educate 1,000 Afghan students. Also, Kazakhstan has granted the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan the right to ship cargo through the country both overland and by air. In Brussels, the Kazakh delegation also held a number of bilateral meetings with their colleagues from Turkey and the UK on the sidelines of the NATO meeting. Zhassuzakov said the Ministry of Defence of Kazakhstan paid special attention to the development of the peacekeeping ability of the army. Kazakhstan’s armed forces participate in international peacekeeping exercises every year.
On Jan. 18-22, Kazakhstan participated in Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in the UAE. Booths representing 650 companies were present at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) and representatives of such international organisations as the International Energy Agency, UN Fund and heads of the world biggest energy companies delivered reports at the event. According to Serik Amirov, director of the department for cooperation with the International Exhibition Bureau and participants of the EXPO at the Astana EXPO 2017 national company, one of the biggest advantages of participation in the WFES is the opportunity to familiarise with the latest energy trends and innovations in the energy sphere. Kazakhstan’s pavilion was one of the most popular pavilions at WFES 2014. Executive Director of the International Energy Agency Maria van der Hoeven, as well as Chairwoman of the World Energy Council Marie Jose Nadeau visited the Kazakhstan pavilion. The visitors of the pavilion had an opportunity to make their own video about future energy which is webcast online on the expo2017astana.com website. Visitors could also learn more about the concept and theme of the EXPO 2017 exhibition.
