A WEEKLY ONLINE PUBLICATION / WWW.MFA.GOV.KZ ISSUE NO. 442 / FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2016

President Urges Foreign Ministry Focus on Economic Diplomacy

President Addresses Nur Otan Congress in Elections Preparation

Also In The News

Kazakh Delegation Offers Nation’s Experience at African Summit

In Focus:Foreign Policy Priorities

President Urges Foreign Ministry Focus on Economic Diplomacy

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President Nursultan Nazarbayev directed the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs to increase its emphasis on international economic activities during a Feb. 3 extended meeting of the ministry’s board.

Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov, other government ministers, Chairman of Astana EXPO 2017 Akhmetzhan Yessimov, Kazakh ambassadors and the Ministry’s senior management attended the meeting.

Nazarbayev noted that the ministry was created 25 years ago under difficult conditions and thanked the ministry’s diplomats for strengthening the independence of the state and developing its foreign policy.

“Today, our country has diplomatic relations with 178 countries; there are 60 Kazakh embassies and diplomatic missions covering 94 countries, more than 50 diplomatic missions of other states and international organisations operate in Kazakhstan. Many foreign policy initiatives have been implemented due to our diplomacy. Kazakhstan for the first time claims to be a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. In this regard, we hope to get support from countries with which we have friendly relations,” said the President.

Nazarbayev added that Kazakhstan has also helped create international organisations, such as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). He also reminded that Kazakhstan hosted the OSCE summit, the first in this century, and the 38th Session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers.

“All this had a positive effect. Carrying out these activities led to the sounding of the name of our country in the international arena. At the same time, the challenges ahead are no less important. Therefore, taking into account our achievements, today we have to think about the next steps,” the Kazakh President concluded.

During the meeting, Idrissov noted that the foreign ministry would continue to promote the foreign policy and economic interests of the country to develop Kazakhstan’s international authority and strengthen bilateral cooperation with other states.

“Nowadays, Kazakhstan has a high international prestige… [Many foreign leaders] expressed their support for ongoing course of political and economic reforms as well as policy of peace. The international

community considers the Plan of the Nation “100 Concrete Steps to implement five institutional reforms” as a serious political message of Kazakhstan’s commitment to evolutionary development and progressive integration into the system of global relations,” said Idrissov.

He added that the current global economic situation requires, above all, improving the methods and tools of expansion of “economic diplomacy.” According to Idrissov, a key focus of the Foreign Ministry is to attract foreign investment, facilitate implementation of industrial and innovative projects and the “Nurly Zhol” (Path to the Future) programme of massive investments into infrastructure development.

“Implementation of Strategy 2050, the ideology of Mangilik El (Eternal Nation), a gradual achievement of the stated goal of joining the 30 most-developed countries, creation of favourable external conditions for political, economic and social reforms inland and protection of national interests abroad remain the key priorities of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry,” said Idrissov.

He also emphasised that Kazakhstan has become a recognised leader in nuclear disarmament and an active moderator in the dialogue of cultures, religions and civilisations.

Measures to ensure participation of foreign states in EXPO 2017 Astana were also discussed at the meeting. So far, 70 countries have officially confirmed plans to participate in the expo.

“Today, our country has diplomatic relations with 169 countries; there are 60 foreign embassies and diplomatic missions covering 94 countries, more than 50 diplomatic missions of other states and international organisations operate in Kazakhstan. Many foreign policy initiatives have been implemented due to our diplomacy. Kazakhstan for the first time claims to be a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. In this regard, we hope to get support from countries with which we have friendly relations.”

- President Nursultan Nazarbayev

President addresses MFA board meeting, including ambassadors and senior ministry management

President Addresses Nur Otan Congress in Elections Preparation

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An initiative by Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) deputies and resulting action by President Nursultan Nazarbayev to dissolve the chamber and hold early parliamentary elections has Kazakh political parties scrambling to set their slates for the March 20 election. Candidate nominations, which began Jan. 20, will continue through Feb. 8.

The Mazhilis is composed of 107 members, 98 elected by popular vote and the balance by the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan. The previous convocation included 83 representatives from the Nur Otan Party, eight from the Ak Zhol Democratic Party and seven from the Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan (CPPK).

Chaired by Nazarbayev, Nur Otan adopted a new election programme, “Kazakhstan-2021: Unity. Stability. Creation,” as part of its XVII Congress, held Jan. 29 in Astana. The platform is based on the 100 Concrete Steps Plan of the Nation to execute the five institutional reforms.

“We support our working population through implementation of the Employment Roadmap-2020 Programme. There [should be] no place for unemployment in Kazakhstan. We have all the resources in place to avoid it,” said Nazarbayev, discussing unemployment problems in the world. “250 million people are unemployed worldwide. 1.7 billion people are capable of working, but only 1.2 billion have permanent jobs.”

He added nearly 400,000 new jobs will be created across the country under the Nurly Zhol (Path to the Future) programme projects in the upcoming years.

In addressing the party, Nazarbayev noted its 17-year leadership in the Mazhilis served as the foundation of Kazakh economic and societal achievements. The total volume of the national economy grew 23 times, 28 new economic sectors have been created during the last six years and 890 new productions began operation. Kazakh companies now produce 400 new types of products and the per capita GDP increased 20 times.

Kazakhstan is the first nation to activate the five institutional reforms based on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) standards. Realising the changes will require an effective and technologically-sound national apparatus and the head of state noted the world is watching the way in which they are implemented.

The governing party held a congress on Jan. 29, as all parties are preparing candidates for the early election

The congress was attended by more than 2,000 government officials, heads of national holdings, social activists, scientific and cultural figures, representatives of NGOs and youth organisations, foreign diplomats and the news media. The party concluded its proceedings by approving 127 candidates for its list. The Nur Otan slate includes only 33 of its current Mazhilis members, with the openings assumed by government officials, several business executives, prominent sportsmen and popular singers.

The other parties had similar congresses. The All-Nation Social Democratic Party gathered Jan. 30, the Auyl Social Democratic Party convened Feb. 1, the CPPK met Feb 2, and the Ak Zhol the following day. Birlik (Unity) Party is holding congress on Feb 5 with the Azat Democratic Party remanining silent about whether it will seek participation in the election or not.

Although Nur Otan held the overwhelming majority of seats in the last Mazhilis, its future composition is expected to be comprised of more parties, noted political scientist and Alternative Consultancy Director Andrey Chebotarev. His comments, made during “Kazakhstan-Russia: beginning of a new political year,” an international roundtable held recently in Astana, were reported by Interfax.kz.

Chebotarev added the dissolution of the Mazhilis is linked to the fact that Kazakhstan is facing major changes, in particular the increased powers of the Parliament and government.

“During the last presidential election, President Nazarbayev carefully outlined that the state will focus on constitutional reform, which involves the transfer of power from the President to Parliament and government,” he said. “Holding an early parliamentary election is the first step on the way to build a new structure of the Mazhilis, with more parties represented. Apparently, the new composition of the Mazhilis will have to implement that transfer of powers in practice.”

An initiative by Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) deputies and resulting action by President Nursultan Nazarbayev to dissolve the chamber and hold early parliamentary elections has Kazakh political parties scrambling to set their slates for the March 20 election. Candidate nominations, which began Jan. 20, will continue through Feb. 8.

Kazakh Delegation Offers Nation’s Experience at African Summit

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The distance between Kazakhstan and the southern tip of Africa may be 9,786 kilometres, but it has not prevented the Central Asian nation from taking great interest in the continent.

A Kazakh delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Yerzhan Ashikbayev participated with observer status in the 26th African Union (AU) heads of state and government assembly, held Jan. 21-31 in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia. The theme was “African year of human rights with particular focus on the rights of women.”

As AU’s supreme organ, the assembly regulates policies, forms priorities, ratifies the annual programme and monitors the policy and decision administration. The summit was dedicated to the issues of sustainable development in Africa in terms of realising the Agenda 2063 goals. The participants discussed topics of economic and investment cooperation, regional security provisions and promoting the human rights and migration policy.

Since gaining independence in 1991, Kazakhstan has worked to consolidate the development process and open markets throughout the world. The last 20 years have seen the Kazakh per capita GDP increase by a factor of 18 by establishing specific goals to update, industrialise and reform the political system and the country wishes to share the road to those accomplishments with other nations.

“We have an interest in contributing to the modernisation and transformation of Africa,” said Ashikbayev in an interview with EFE published on laprensasa.com. “We can share the experience we have accumulated with African countries.”

Expanding trade with other nations is one of Kazakhstan’s goals in its recent admission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The country has “great expectations” for the future despite the fact the effects of trade liberalisation “have yet to be seen,” he added.

Collaborating with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Kazakhstan organised a special event during the assembly dedicated to strengthening South-South cooperation for implementing sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Africa. Ashikbayev told the foreign ministers and heads of international organisations about recent achievements in Kazakhstan and its contribution in achieving SDGs and the global cooperation programme. He referred to the similarities between Kazakhstan’s 2050 Strategy and AU’s Agenda 2063 in terms of SDG application.

The participants also learned about a $2 million Kazakh-UNDP cost-sharing projection aimed at providing institutional development assistance to African countries. The venture is in addition to Kazakhstan’s ongoing assistance in promoting South-South knowledge exchange and offering expertise in coal, oil and gas mining, sustainable transport management, urban sanitation, arid land irrigation and growing wheat. Attention was also drawn to Kazakhstan’s proposal to create the Islamic Organisation for Food Security, which represents the nation’s contribution to prevent hunger and food security problems in Africa.

Ashikbayev’s comments on the timeliness and relevance of the Kazakh initiatives were reinforced by those in attendance. Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Ghebreyesus noted the importance of Kazakh technical assistance rendered to African countries and stressed the necessity to further advance and strengthen relations among the developing countries in the bloc. UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Africa Maged A. Abdelaziz emphasised the continent’s growing role in the modern world, which opens new prospects for cooperation, and suggested taking advantage of the opportunities.

Ashikbayev also used the opportunity to meet with AU Commission Chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, emphasising the union’s important role in the development of the continent and achievements in overcoming poverty and increasing people’s welfare, preventing conflicts and providing for regional security. She noted she appreciated the country’s participation in the summit and expressed confidence that mutually-beneficial relations between Kazakhstan and the AU will continue to grow.

The foreign minister convened with 20 of his counterparts to discuss further cooperation and ensure mutual support for many important initiatives on international platforms. On behalf of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Prime Minister Karim Massimov, he also extended invitations to attend EXPO 2017, the international exhibition with the theme of future energy to be held next year in Astana.

“We have an interest in contributing to the modernisation and transformation of Africa.” - Deputy Foreign Minister Yerzhan Ashikbayev

DFM Yerzhan Ashikbayev (left) with African Union Commission Chairperson Dr. NC Dlamini-Zuma

In Focus: Foreign Policy Priorities

Welcoming Investment

Kazakh National Business ‘Champions’ to Discuss Expanding Exports to Iran

A Kazakh-Iranian business forum will be held Feb. 7 in Tehran, Iran, according to the Baiterek National Holding press service. A memorandum of understanding between Baiterek and the National Development Fund of Iran defining the priorities of the companies’ joint work is among the documents to be signed. In particular, the parties will cooperate in the fields of industrial and innovative development, informational technology and other industries. The partnership aims to support investment and achieve its impact in accordance with the economic development plans of the two countries.

During the forum, the Minister of Investment and Development of Kazakhstan Asset Issekeshev and Baiterek CEO Kuandyk Bishimbayev are expected to meet with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Mines, Minister of Oil, Minister of Roads and Urban Development and Minister of Agriculture of Iran, as well as Iranian Vice President for Science and Technology Soren Sattar.

More 100 Kazakh companies are slated to attend the forum, including 40 Baiterek partner companies, four national champions (Alageum Electric, Caspian Beverage Holding, Eurasian Food Corporation and Zhigermunayservis) and more than 40 companies operating in the manufacturing, food processing, machine building, petrochemical, agriculture and other sectors of the economy. (baiterek.gov.kz)

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Strengthening UN & Int’l Security

Impact of Lifting of Sanctions on Iran Discussed in Astana

The opportunities presented by the fact that sanctions on Iran are being lifted under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) were discussed at a special briefing at the Kazakh Foreign Ministry on Jan. 28.

Economic counsellors at the United States Embassy Patrick Horn and the delegation of the European Union in Kazakhstan Niall Leonard took part in the briefing hosted by Deputy Foreign Minister Askar Mussinov.

The main issue of the discussion was a list of the sanctions to be lifted. “Against the backdrop of negative events in the world, this agreement is a bright spot and a breakthrough. I would like to underline that Kazakhstan played a significant role in addressing this important international process. Thus, we organised two rounds of talks between the E3/EU+3 (China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) and Iran in Almaty in 2013. International experts emphasise the key role of Kazakhstan in accelerating this process,” highlighted Mussinov.

The EU and the U.S. adopted the necessary legal acts to lift all sanctions taken in connection with the Iranian nuclear programme. Authorisation of dual-use goods should be granted by the competent authorities of the member states where the exporter is established.

Hosting Astana Expo 2017

Germany Prepares to Take Part in EXPO 2017

On Jan. 27, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Germany Bolat Nussupov met with Commissioner General of the German Pavilion at EXPO 2017, representative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of Germany Dietmar Schmitz.

During the meeting, Commissioner of the German Pavilion at EXPO 2017 said that over the past period Germany had done a great deal of work in this area and was currently finishing internal procedures to develop the concept of the German pavilion and prepare for the signing of the relevant framework agreement.

According to Schmitz, holding of the EXPO 2017 in Astana will create conditions for successful diversification of the Kazakh economy. In order to present and promote EXPO 2017 in the international arena, the German Commissioner proposed to use the Kazakh stand at the globally known international travel trade show ITB-Berlin, which will take place March 9-13 in Berlin.

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Also In The News...

• New container train service through Kazakhstan launchedOn Feb. 1, a new container train service on the China-Iran route via Kazakhstan was launched. The 9,000-kilometre route runs from the city of Yiwu (Zhejiang Province, East China) through the Alashankou-Dostyk border crossing to Kazakhstan’s new Zhezkazgan-Beineu and Uzen-Bolashak lines and via Turkmenistan’s railway network to Tehran. With only a 10-day transit time, the 40-foot containers on the train can travel much faster overland than by sea, which takes from 25 – 30 days. In establishing the new service, the railway companies of China, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran collaborated to identify logistics solutions needed to speed up the delivery of cargo from East China to Persian Gulf markets. The launch of the service was attended by Mayor of Yiwu City Chiu Shen Ping and representatives from the China Railway Container Transport Group, Kazakhstan Railways, the international transport and logistics holding TransInvest Group and others. (railways.kz)

• Air Astana and Air France to share flightsAir Astana, Air France and KLM have strengthened their cooperation by signing a code-sharing agreement for flights between Astana and Paris operated by Air Astana. Starting from March 11, the three weekly flights will be given a marketing code of KLM and Air France. This agreement will allow passengers using international networks to purchase tickets to travel to the capital of Kazakhstan. The airlines also signed an agreement on the transfer of passengers and baggage to facilitate cooperation and increase transit flow. Starting from March 11, departures and arrivals at Charles de Gaulle airport by Air Astana flights will be moved from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 for the more convenient transfer of passengers. (kazpravda.kz)

• KazISS joins leading global think tanksThe Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President (KazISS) was recognised as a regional leader in four categories of the Global Go-To Think Tanks rating index of 2015. The rating is made by the think tanks and civil societies programme at the University of Pennsylvania, which explores the role policy institutes play in governments and civil societies around the world. The rating results from the analysis of more than 6,600 think tanks worldwide. According to the new rating, KazISS is among the top 100 best centres for security, defence and foreign policy research. It also entered the list of leading think tanks for the first time, taking 57th place in the world. (kisi.kz)

• National television of Kazakhstan to cooperate with Vietnam TelevisionVietnam Television (VTV) and the Kazakhstan National Television and Radio Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation with the intention of expanding cooperation between Kazakhstan and Vietnam in information provision. The memorandum was signed during the meeting of Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Vietnam Beketzhan Zhumakhanov and President of Vietnam Television Chan Bin Min. The memorandum aims to expand communication between the people of the two countries and strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in television, creating joint activities for exchanging experience in television production and in the protection of copyright and related rights. (mfa.gov.kz)

• Video cameras to appear on Almaty roads in 2016A new automated informational system on road safety, uniting 105 fixed stations and using 663 cameras, has been introduced in Almaty. In the last year alone, police have identified more than 614,000 offences using the new system. According to police, these measures helped reduce such violations related to crossing oncoming lanes by 45 percent, pedestrian crossings by 11.7 percent and road intersections by 16.3 percent.

• Grant competition for internships in American startups announcedThe Shakhmardan Yessenov Science and Education Foundation has announced a grant competition for internships in some of the fastest-growing startups in Silicon Valley. The programme, “Internship in IT startups in the U.S.,” was launched by the fund last year. It aims to develop the intellectual potential of Kazakhstan.The key selection criteria are professional skills and a desire for personal growth. According to requirements published on the foundation’s website, applicants must know English but need not be professionals yet. The competition is also open to students still working on bachelors or master’s degrees in information technology. (yessenovfoundation.org)

• GGG to fight Dominic WadeKazakhstan’s middleweight World Boxing Council (WBC) interim champion and unified World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and International Boxing Organisation (IBO) middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin will face American Dominic Wade in California’s Forum Arena on April 23. (boxingnewsonline.net)

• Almaty boy awarded medal for courage On Feb. 2, 11-year-old Daniyar Satybaldy was given an award pin for his courage during a house fire. Satybaldy saved his younger sisters and brother from the fire by breaking a window and pulling them from the burning house. During the awards ceremony at school 152, Satybaldy said he wants to become a rescuer when he grows up. According to tengrinews.kz, the fire took place Nov. 29 in a private house in the district of Almaty. (tengrinews.kz)

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