Kazakhstan Can be Proud of the Way It Conducted Elections
I am proud of Kazakhstan for the way we have carried out these parliamentary elections. I want to extend compliments to the more than 10 election observation missions from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE): Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary…
The Great Gain Not the Great Game: How Kazakhstan is Charting its Own Course in the World
It is a sign of Central Asia’s and Kazakhstan’s increasing role and importance in the world that more and more is written about our region. But what is striking – and at times frustrating – is how reporting and analysis can be distorted to fit narratives which have little relationship to what’s actually happening. It has,…
Celebrating Kazakh Khanate’s Anniversary, We Honour Our History and Identity
It was the English writer, Charles Dickens, who once wrote, “Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration.” Home is indeed a powerful idea. Home protects, it unites, it shelters. Kazakhstan is home for Kazakhs, ethnic Russians, Ukrainians,…
Kazakhstan: 100 Steps Toward a New Nation
Kazakhstan’s 100 Concrete Steps initiative was launched in the spring as a direct response to worsening regional and global conditions. Increased tensions between the major powers had led to tit-for-tat sanctions which had an impact far beyond the countries directly involved. Slowing growth across the world had seen the price of energy and raw materials…
Kazakhstan Ready and Able to Host 2022 Winter Olympic Games
When two years ago we launched our bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, few commentators gave Kazakhstan a chance. But following the IOC committee’s successful visit to Almaty last month, the mood has changed. We are now viewed as serious contenders. This knowledge has unleashed a huge sense of pride and excitement in the…
Peace in Ukraine a Major Priority for Kazakhstan’s Diplomatic Efforts
One of the most important issues on the international agenda, as well as for Kazakhstan’s foreign policy, is a solution to the crisis in Ukraine. Regretfully in recent weeks, the situation seemed to be moving further away from this goal. We continue to hope, however, that all the parties involved in this difficult situation will…
Kazakhstan’s Campaign for UN Security Council: A focus on real issues
It is a little over a year since Kazakhstan formally announced its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2017-2018. And it has been a year of steady progress and sustained achievement. Our diplomats have been working world-wide to take our foreign policy and international relations to new frontiers. We have…
Of Land- and Sea-Lockedness, and the Pursuit of Happiness
In 1997, Jared Diamond wrote a Pulitzer Prize-winning book called “Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies.” The book explained in easily understandable yet well-argued prose why the world turned out to be what it is today – a Europe-centric, or rather a Eurasian-centric world – and why it did not come to…
A New Step Forward to Greater Regional and Global Security
Strengthening international security is one of the top priorities of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan pursues its primary mission – strengthening the sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security and defense of the nation – through consistent efforts to strengthen regional and global security, by making a substantial contribution to the establishment…
Defining the Contours of Kazakhstan’s Diplomacy up to 2020
During the two decades of Kazakhstan’s independence and under the leadership of its first President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the country has achieved major breakthroughs in its political and socioeconomic development. The country has achieved substantial foreign policy results in the international arena and has become a reputable and responsible member of the global community. Kazakhstan’s diplomacy…
A shrinking world, social media diplomacy and Kanysh Satpaev
On New Year’s Eve, as we look back on the year of 2013 quickly rushing by and think of what lies ahead of us in 2014, I think the past year has been very eventful and productive. I addressed the public on the results of our work in a briefing at the Central Communications Service…
Kazakhstan in the UN: Collaboration Facilitates Peace and Progress Efforts
Every year on Oct. 24 according to resolution No. 168 adopted in 1947 by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the UN Day is celebrated. It is noteworthy that this year marks 20 years of the UN presence in Kazakhstan; on Feb. 16, 1993 the UN Office was opened in Kazakhstan. Since joining the UN…
Future for Kazakhstan-UK Relations Remains Bright
Kazakhstan has come a long way in a short time. In 21 years, we have moved from a Soviet republic with no private sector to a sovereign state with a market economy ranked as one of the ten fastest growing in the world. We have never forgotten that Britain was among the first countries to…
20th Anniversary of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea: Status and Prospects for Cooperation
Water is the foundation of life and secure access to it is essential for a country’s development. Kazakhstan faces acute water shortages in parts of the country and new methods and technologies need to be found to address the problem. Over the past two decades we have focused heavily on addressing the problem of the…
EU-Kazakhstan Relations Must Evolve. Oil Is Not the Future
When the first oil is pumped commercially out of the Kashagan field this year, it will be the result of over a decade of close collaboration between Kazakhstan and international energy companies. The technically challenging conditions which include extreme temperatures, shallow waters, and difficult geology have brought the best minds in the industry to our…
