Kazakhstan Foreign Minister addresses UN General Assembly
ASTANA, September 22, 2017 – September 21 Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov spoke at the general debate of the UN General Assembly in New York. The Minister informed the member states on the current development of Kazakhstan, and also presented the approaches of our country on the main global problems.
The Foreign Minister elaborated on the third modernization of Kazakhstan announced this year by President Nursultan Nazarbayev. “We are striving to become one of the thirty most competitive countries in the world, corresponding to the most advanced world standards in terms of economic performance and governance. A new model of economic growth determines the way to achieve these ambitious goals, “the Minister said. Participants of the General Assembly were informed about the constitutional reform in Kazakhstan, as well as the program of modernization of public consciousness.
Speaking about the UN reform, Kazakhstan supported this process in order to improve its ability to respond effectively to crises. The UN remains a beacon of hope for billions of people around the world, a universal institution that carries the hope for a better, safer and more sustainable life, the report says. Kazakhstan is working on the establishment of the UN Regional Multilateral Diplomacy Hub in Almaty, which will pay special attention to issues of sustainable development, humanitarian assistance, disaster risk reduction and increased sustainability in the region and beyond.
The minister detailed the vision of President N.Nazarbayev of the process of global nuclear disarmament as “the most urgent task of mankind in the 21st century”. It includes a number of important steps – a complete ban on nuclear testing, a complete ban on nuclear weapons, a complete and verifiable destruction of nuclear arsenals. K.Abdrakhmanov presented the initiatives of the Head of State at the opening of the IAEA Low Enriched Uranium Bank, in particular, the convening of a summit of nuclear-weapon States to discuss the future of nuclear disarmament, the strengthening of the role of regional nuclear-free zones, the renewal of global nuclear security summits and ensuring entry into force Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by 2020.
“We are deeply concerned about the nuclear tests conducted by the DPRK, the only state in the 21st century to continue such trials, despite the condemnation of the entire international community. The actions of the DPRK on the further development of nuclear and missile programs are absolutely unacceptable, “the statement said.
Kazakhstan supported the creation of the UN Office to Combat Terrorism, and has also begun to develop a Code of Conduct on the attainment of a world free from terrorism. The Kazakhstan party recently allocated 300 thousand US dollars for the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia, the Minister said.
K.Abdrakhmanov highlighted the main aspects of the Astana negotiation process on Syria, which started this year with the support and direct participation of the President of Kazakhstan. He noted that the process brought obvious positive results aimed at strengthening the ceasefire regime, creating de-escalation zones and developing a monitoring mechanism.
Kazakhstan’s position on the Middle East peace process is based on the principle of two states: a sovereign, independent, viable and unified State of Palestine with its capital in East Jerusalem within the secure and recognized borders that coexists side by side with Israel, the report stresses.
The minister said that at the Astana summit the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the violence against the Rohinj community and called for a dialogue between the UN, OIC and the government of Myanmar in order to prevent a humanitarian crisis.
Kazakhstan is fully committed to strengthening and improving UN peacekeeping activities and believes that the Secretary-General’s new approach to peacemaking reform based on prevention and peacekeeping will lead to greater efficiency and accountability of peacekeeping operations.
The Minister also informed the General Assembly about the preparations for the chairmanship of Kazakhstan in the UN Security Council in January 2018. Thus, it is planned to hold open high-level debates on peace and security with the participation of President N.Nazarbayev. Special attention will also be paid to security and stability issues in Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Press-service
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Republic of Kazakhstan