WASHINGTON – Askhat Daulbayev, Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General, told the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism on Feb. 19 that Astana is ready to host a regional follow-up summit later this year.
A long-time career prosecutor, Daulbayev led a delegation to the three-day forum, which, according to U.S. officials, was designed to help “prevent violent extremists and their supporters from radicalising, recruiting or inspiring individuals.”
Although the invitation to the summit was received at short notice, the strategically located Central Asian nation sent its top law enforcement official to show solidarity and commitment to cooperation and demonstrate that the summit to counter violent extremism is timely.
Daulbayev said his country fully supports and shares the idea of consolidating the efforts of all countries to prevent, suppress, and counter violent extremism in all its forms. Its violent manifestation, he noted, poses a threat for each and every country and is “one of the most dangerous phenomena.” He also expressed hopes that the meeting in Washington will lay the foundation for the development of a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder programme of actions against violent extremism.
Like many other countries, Daulbayev said, Kazakhstan has suffered from manifestations of violent extremism and is taking all necessary measures to prevent and combat “this evil.”
In the domestic realm, Daulbayev outlined specific areas where the government has formed partnerships with civil society organisations to more effectively serve Kazakhstan’s citizens and promote interfaith accord and interethnic tolerance. The Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, for example, has over the past 20 years become a key institution whose work is guided by the fundamental values of respect, independence, freedom, unity and peace. He went on to describe a special government-funded Programme on Combating Extremism and Terrorism, which has been implemented in Kazakhstan since 2013.
In the international arena, Daulbayev said, Kazakhstan has convened the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, a groundbreaking global interfaith conference launched in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in an effort to promote global dialogue across cultures and religions, foster tolerance and, in the process, help counter the forces that fuel radicalisation and extremism. The congress, which gathers every three years, will hold its fifth meeting under the theme of “A Dialogue of Religious Leaders and Politicians for Peace and Development,” in Astana from June 10 – 11, 2015.
