ASTANA, Kazakhstan -

On 29-30 June, Petko Draganov, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), visited Astana to meet with the Speaker of the Senate Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Assistant to the President Nurlan Onzhanov, First Deputy Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev, Chairman of the National Security Committee Nurtay Abykayev, Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov and the diplomatic community.

During the meetings an exchange of views took place on developments within Central Asia and beyond affecting security and stability in the region. The sides focused on challenges related to water/energy issues, transnational organized crime, situation in Afghanistan and the Middle East, and ways to address them. Prospects for strengthening regional cooperation in dealing with cross-border threats and a broad range of other issues related to the implementation of UNRCCA activities were discussed as well.

The SRSG also participated and delivered a keynote speech at the South and Central Asia Regional Conference on Countering Violent Extremism. The conference brought together official delegates of 9 partner states and 11 partner organizations, as well as civil society organizations and the private sector.

Click here for the text of SRSG Draganov's speech at the Regional Conference on Countering Violent Extremism in English