ASG MIROSLAV JENČA VISITS KAZAKHSTAN AND MEETS WITH HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIALS

ASG MIROSLAV JENČA VISITS KAZAKHSTAN (April 2023)
19 Apr 2023

ASG MIROSLAV JENČA VISITS KAZAKHSTAN AND MEETS WITH HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIALS

ASTANA, Kazakhstan

On 17 April, Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations visited Kazakhstan. During his visit, he met with Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan; Mr. Yerlan Koshanov, Chairperson of Majilis (Parliament); Ms. Dania Espaeva, Deputy Chairperson of Majilis and current Chair of the Central Asia Women Leaders’ Caucus and Mr. Kairat Umarov, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Discussions focused on cooperation between the United Nations and Kazakhstan, global and regional challenges and the country’s reform process and its international initiatives.

In his meeting with the President of Kazakhstan, Assistant Secretary-General Jenča appreciated the President’s strong support for the Secretary-General’s initiatives to address the most pressing global issues related to peace, security and development. He welcomed the President’s contribution to building trust and promoting regional cooperation in Central Asia. He thanked the leadership of the country for a constructive partnership with the United Nations, including UNRCCA, in strengthening regional interaction in preventing violent extremism and countering terrorism, climate change and transboundary water management as well as promoting the Women, Peace and Security and the Youth, Peace and Security agendas. He expressed hope that, under the Kazakh Chairmanship of the Central Asia Women Leaders’ Caucus in 2023, the role of women in security, political, socioeconomic and environmental spheres will further grow in the region.    

The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for security in Central Asia were also discussed. The Kazakh interlocutors stressed the necessity of providing socioeconomic and humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan in the current very challenging situation.

Assistant Secretary-General Jenča expressed confidence that the solid foundations of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United Nations, laid down over the last 30 years, would continue to contribute to peace and stability in the region.