Kazakhstan’s role in regional and global affairs on top of agenda

7 Mar 2017

Kazakhstan’s role in regional and global affairs on top of agenda

ASTANA, Kazakhstan –

On 7 March, Mirsolav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Petko Draganov, UN Special Representative and Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), concluded a two-day visit to Kazakhstan focused on the country’s contribution to regional and global cooperation.

The priorities of Kazakhstan for its membership in the UN Security Council in 2017 - 2018 were discussed with the Chairman of the Senate Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Mr. Tokayev noted that strengthening regional security and cooperation was one of the key priorities outlined by President Nursultan Nazarbayev in his January address to the UN Security Council. Touching on recent constitutional reforms, the Speaker underlined that the new amendments have consolidated the democratic, secular, legal, and social basis of the Kazakh statehood. The changes primarily address issues around the redistribution of power between branches of government. Another important feature of the reforms, according to Speaker, is the Senate’s exclusive authority to elect and discharge the National Human Rights Ombudsman at the proposal of the President.

In the course of the visit, M. Jenča and P. Draganov also met with the Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov. During the meeting, UN officials congratulated the Kazakh leadership on the 25th Anniversary of the Kazakhstan’s membership in the UN. An important role of Kazakhstan in implementing a number of initiatives put forward by UNRCCA, including work toward achieving mutually acceptable solutions to regional challenges, such as cooperation on trans-boundary water management in the Aral Sea Basin, was highlighted.  The discussions also referred to a number of upcoming events, notably the Shanghai Cooperation Summit and Expo 2017, both of which will take place in Astana in June 2017.

During the visit, Mr. Jenča and Mr. Draganov delivered a joint lecture at the Academy of Public Administration, an institution under the auspices of the President of Kazakhstan, followed by an interactive discussion with students on the role of the United Nations in preventive diplomacy, and key issues on the International agenda.

 

Photo Courtesy: MFA Kazakhstan