NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan

On 9 October, in Nur-Sultan, SRSG Natalia Gherman met with H.E. Mr. Mukhtar Tleuberdi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan to discuss issues relating to current and future cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United Nations. She informed her interlocutor on the UNRCCA regional preventive agenda in the field of countering terrorism, violent extremism and transboundary water management. They exchanged views on UNRCCA’s initiatives to connect Afghanistan into regional cooperation processes with Central Asia.

SRSG Natalia Gherman highlighted the situation facing the region’s youth as another critical area for peace and development. In this context, the interlocutors discussed the results of the first workshop within UNRCCA’s new Youth Initiative that took place in Taraz, Kazakhstan on 7-9 October 2019, with participation of young people from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The Minister reiterated full support of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the activities of UNRCCA.

On the same day, at the invitation of the Kazakh Foreign Minister, Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE and the OSCE Secretary-General, SRSG participated in the roundtable discussion "Afghanistan and the OSCE: Fostering Opportunities for Partnership and Cooperation”. 

The round table brought together senior representatives of international and regional organizations, including the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, heads of OSCE missions in the countries of Central Asia, as well as delegates from the EU, CICA, SCO, CARICC and UNHCR.

In her address, SRSG Natalia Gherman stressed the atmosphere of enhanced positive dynamics and advanced cooperation in the region reflected in more coordinated and coherent support to Afghanistan. She also highlighted that UNRCCA, as a special political mission with a regional mandate was well positioned to support efforts of Central Asian states as well as regional organizations and initiatives aimed at improved security, stability and development through imbedding Afghanistan in the regional processes.  She informed the participants about UNRCCA’s work to engage Afghanistan into counter-terrorism, transboundary water management, youth and women agenda in Central Asia.