Articles by Malika Orazgaliyeva

Kazakh, Azerbaijani presidents pursue deeper economic relations in Baku

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev discussed bilateral trade, political, cultural and humanitarian cooperation, as well as international and regional issues, during an April 3 meeting in Baku. Nazarbayev said the two countries should seek new, joint economic opportunities resulting from the global economic crisis, including in transit and…

Strengthening economic diplomacy is Kazakh foreign ministry’s primary goal, says minister

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Kairat Abdrakhmanov told a gathering of the country’s diplomats and high-level government officials March 27 that strengthening economic diplomacy in implementing the nation’s five institutional reforms connected to its third stage modernisation is the ministry’s primary mission. “Strengthening of economic diplomacy is the principal task of the whole…

New Uzbek President’s state visit to Kazakhstan sees relations soar

ASTANA – Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed bilateral relations during Mirziyoyev’s March 22-23 first state visit to Kazakhstan. His visit, accorded the highest status, corresponded with the Nauryz spring holiday. During their meeting at the Akorda presidential residence on March 23, Nazarbayev noted a sharp increase in trade turnover between…

Kazakhstan welcomes results of Syria meeting in Astana, as Russia, Iran and Turkey issue joint statement

ASTANA – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan issued a statement March 16 welcoming the outcomes of another international meeting on Syria held March 14-15 as part of the Astana Process. “Kazakhstan welcomes the results of the third international meeting on Syria held on March 14-15, 2017 in Astana, where the guarantor states discussed…

Astana to host another international meeting on Syria

ASTANA – Astana will host another round of talks on settling the conflict in Syria within the Astana Process March 14-15. High-ranking delegations from Russia, Turkey and Iran have confirmed participation and invitations have been sent to representatives of the United States, United Nations and Jordan, according to a March 9 press release from the Kazakh…

Kazakh FM informs Parliament on Astana’s work on UNSC, priorities in Central Asia

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov informed the members of the Mazhilis (lower house) of Parliament about the nation’s priorities as a member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2017-2018, as well as answered their questions on a wide range of issues, during the March 13 so called “government hour”. Kazakhstan is…

Kazakh President signs amendments to Constitution into law

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan March 10. The law “On introducing amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” which was approved by the Parliament and presented to the President was sent to the Constitutional Council on March 6. The…

Kazakh President, ATOM Project Hon. Ambassador nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and Honorary Ambassador of The ATOM Project Karipbek Kuyukov along with the international organisation Global Zero have been nominated for the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. Director of the Basel Peace Offices (BPO) Alyn Ware from Switzerland submitted the nominations, according to a February 26 posting on his Facebook…

Nazarbayev, Putin note potential for expanding ties during Almaty meeting

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed bilateral cooperation and international issues Feb.27 in Almaty. During the meeting, Nazarbayev stressed the close and trusting relationship between the two countries. “This year marks 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between us. The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was established thanks to…

Kazakh Deputy PM notes increased bilateral trade during meeting with Uzbek President

ASTANA – First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and participated in the 16th session of the joint intergovernmental commission on bilateral cooperation Feb. 23 in Tashkent. “Kazakhstan is the largest strategic trade partner of Uzbekistan in Central Asia,” Mirziyoyev said, noting the two countries are entering a…

Kazakhstan launches first ODA project in Afghanistan, with support from UNDP and Japan

ASTANA – A Kazakh delegation presented the country’s first official development assistance (ODA) project to the Afghan government Feb.12-17 in Kabul. The project seeks to strengthen the economic independence of Afghan women by providing education from Kazakhstan’s top educational institutions in public administration and health care, maternal and child health and other topics. The initiative…

Kazakh President Sets Goals Toward Third-Stage Modernisation

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev led a Feb. 3 expanded government meeting discussing the key objectives of the third stage of Kazakhstan’s modernisation, which were laid out n his Jan. 31 annual address to the nation. Nazarbayev instructed the government to take into account the target indicators of the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy while developing a…

Deputy FM Discusses Peace, Security and Sustainable Development at UN

Kazakh Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yerzhan Ashikbayev participated in Jan. 23-24 United Nations discussions in New York on the synergy of peace, security and sustainable development. The Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to the United Nations in collaboration with the delegations of Belarus and Suriname, as well as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) convened…

EXPO 2017 Launches One-Stop Service, Accreditation Centres

ASTANA – The Astana EXPO 2017 national company presented on Dec. 23 the One-Stop Service Centre (OSSC) and Accreditation Centre to representatives of countries planning to participate in the expo, expo2017astana.com reported. During the meeting, Director of Service Department Diyas Azbergenov informed about functional capacities of the OSSC. “The OSSC works around the clock on…

Kazakh President Visits UAE, Improves Business Ties, Attends Energy Summit

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev paid his first official visit in 2017 to Abu-Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Jan.15-16, reported the press office of the Akorda.   He met with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, co-CEO of Calatrava Grace Corporation Micael Calatrava and business circle representatives of the country.…

Kazakhstan Participates in First UNSC Meeting, Appoints New UN Representative

ASTANA – Kazakhstan attended its first meeting Jan. 3 as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and on Jan. 4 appointed former Kazakh Ambassador to the United States Kairat Umarov Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations. According to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting was followed included five new…

Kazakh FM Reports on 2016 Results: UNSC Membership, Attracting Investment Major Achievements  

ASTANA – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov reported on the main results of the ministry’s activities in 2016 and highlighted the coming tasks of Kazakh diplomacy for 2017 during his traditional annual briefing on Dec.27. Idrissov emphasised that the country’s international achievements and successes became possible through President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s peaceful and dynamic foreign…

Regulations Reducing Visa Categories, Paperwork Come into Force in 2017

ASTANA – New rules reducing the number of visa categories from 14 to three and reducing the paperwork necessary for a visitor to obtain a visa to Kazakhstan will come into effect Jan. 1. Under the new rules, visas will be divided into type A for diplomats, officials and investors, type B for short-term visitors…

Israeli Prime Minister Visits Astana, Strengthens Ties

ASTANA – Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Nursultan Nazarbayev, top government officials and took part in a Kazakh-Israeli business forum during a Dec.14 visit to Astana. According to Nazarbayev, the sides held an open and constructive dialogue. They paid special attention to trade and economic issues that are being negatively influenced…

Int’l, Domestic Officials Discuss Human Rights Efforts in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Kazakh and international human rights officials discussed implementation of human rights protections guaranteed by Kazakhstan’s Constitution and existing laws, as well as Kazakhstan’s compliance with international standards for judicial and non-judicial human rights protections at a Dec. 8 roundtable in Astana. The event was devoted to Kazakhstan’s 25 years of independence and Human…

Winter Universiade 2017 Ticket Office Opens in Almaty

ASTANA – Almaty opened Dec. 2 the ticket office of the 28th World Winter Universiade 2017 at Mega Alma-Ata shopping mall,reported almaty2017.com. Universiade 2017 ambassadors, including famous Kazakh sportsmen, artists, well-known bloggers and TV presenters attended the opening. The ticket office will provide discounts for veterans, disabled people, children and students as well as group…

Youth Entrepreneurship, Education Are Important for Sustainable Growth, President Tells Forum

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev told the Dec. 1 National Youth Forum that education and entrepreneurship are important in a modern world and noted the opportunities the Kazakh government provides for young people. “The main focus of my policy has always been about the present and future of the younger generation. Today, every young citizen…

President Rejects Proposal to Rename Capital City

ASTANA ­– President Nursultan Nazarbayev rejected during the Nov. 25 meeting of the National Commission for Modernisation a proposal voiced one day earlier in the Parliament to rename the Kazakh capital after him. “We have done a lot. I would not be able to do anything alone, without you next to me,” he said addressing…

Kazakh FM Briefs OECD on 100 Concrete Steps, EXPO 2017

ASTANA­ – Kazakhstan participated in the Nov. 22-24 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Eurasia Week in Paris. The event sought to strengthen relations between countries of the region and the organisation and examine ways to improve the region’s competitiveness. Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov headed the Kazakh delegation, which included representatives of…

Parliament Adopts Declaration on 25 years of Kazakhstan’s Independence, Wants Astana Renamed after President Nazarbayev

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Parliament adopted Nov. 23 the Declaration on the 25 years since the Independence of Kazakhstan during a joint meeting of the two chambers of Parliament under the chairmanship of Mazhilis speaker Nurlan Nigmatulin. “All the achievements and victories of independent Kazakhstan have become possible thanks to the dedication and tireless work of…