NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan

On 12 October 2021, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Asia and Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), Natalia Gherman, participated in the Sixth Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.

The high-level participants were hosted by H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Meeting of the CICA Ministers of Foreign Affairs was held under the overall theme of “Security and Sustainable Development in Asia in New Realities of the Post-Pandemic World”.

Discussions focused on issues of common interest such as the security situation in the CICA region, economic recovery and development in the post-pandemic reality, responding to threats through enhanced international cooperation, as well as the implementation of confidence building measures in CICA activities.

SRSG Natalia Gherman addressed the Forum on behalf of the United Nations Secretary General.  She reiterated the United Nations’ commitment to strengthen joint efforts to tackle existing and emerging challenges, such as inclusive and sustainable recovery from the global pandemic and climate emergency.

“The United Nations looks forward to continue its partnership with CICA to build a stronger multilateral system that protects the shared interests of all”, noted the SRSG.

The Meeting concluded with the adoption of the updated CICA Catalogue of Confidence Building Measures, Regulations of the CICA Council of Eminent Persons, Amendments to the CICA Rules of Procedures.

As part of its chairmanship agenda, in 2022 Kazakhstan will host CICA Summit.