Kazakhstan’s Permanent Representative Presented the Credentials to the Director-General of WTO
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Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the WTO and International Economic Organizations Asset Irgaliyev presented his credentials to the WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
In the conversation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala highly appreciated the reforms carried out by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on economic liberalization aimed at strengthening fair competition, protecting freedom of entrepreneurship and reducing state participation in the economy.
In turn, the Permanent Representative Kazakhstan Asset Irgaliyev noted that since its accession to the WTO in 2015, Kazakhstan has consistently and actively supported a predictable multilateral trading system.
For instance, Kazakhstan had previously chaired the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment, and since 2018 our country is chairing the WTO Special Session of the Council for Trade in Services. Kazakhstan is further committed to facilitating the accession of Central Asian countries to the WTO and representing the trade interests of landlocked developing countries. Moreover, last year Kazakhstan implemented its Trade Facilitation Commitment at 100%.
In addition, during this meeting, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan Irgaliev also handed to the Director-General of the WTO an instrument on Kazakhstan's acceptance of the WTO Agreement on fisheries subsidies.
This agreement contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 14.6 to reduce harmful fisheries subsidies. It is important to note that subsidies for aquaculture and inland fisheries are excluded from this agreement.
WTO Director-General Okonjo-Iweala emphasised the importance of Kazakhstan's accession to this agreement and noted that the Republic of Kazakhstan, as a landlocked country, makes a significant contribution to the UN goal of reducing harmful fisheries subsidies.
In total, the Republic of Kazakhstan became the 79th WTO member to support the agreement on fisheries subsidies. This agreement automatically enters into force when it is accepted by two-thirds of WTO members, i.e. 109 out of 164 countries. There are no fisheries subsidies in Kazakhstan, therefore, this agreement does not contradict Kazakhstan's legislation on fisheries subsidies.
This WTO Agreement does not apply to the Caspian Sea, given its status as an inland water body with no outlet to the world’s oceans and not subject to international conventions on the law of the sea. The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth with a special legal status, being neither a sea nor a lake.
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relevant news
Ambassador of Kazakhstan Presents Credentials to the Acting President of Iran
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Ambassador of Kazakhstan in Tehran Ontalap Onalbayev presented his credentials to the Acting President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammad Mohber, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
During the meeting, Ambassador Onalbayev informed the Acting President of the IRI Mohber about the ongoing political and socio-economic reforms in Kazakhstan under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. In addition, he noted the necessity for further intensification of bilateral trade, economic, investment, and cultural cooperation.
During the talks, the Acting President of Iran Mohammad Mohber stated that the development of multilateral cooperation with friendly Kazakhstan is one of the priorities of Iran's foreign policy. Tehran pays special attention to further strengthening and expanding friendly and good-neighborhood ties with Astana.
At the end of the meeting, the Acting President of Iran Mohber congratulated the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Iran on the beginning of his diplomatic mission and expressed readiness to provide comprehensive assistance and support to further strengthen and expand bilateral relations.
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Kazakhstan and the United States Strengthen Cooperation in the Field of Disarmament and Non-proliferation
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Yerlan Alimbayev, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the UN in Geneva, met with Mallory Stewart, the United States Assistant Secretary of State, to discuss upcoming events in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation at the UN Geneva platform, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
The parties exchanged assessments of the current situation in the Conference on Disarmament and discussed the priorities of both countries ahead of the second session of the Preparatory Committee for the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which is scheduled to be held from July 22 to August 2, 2024 in Geneva, under the chairmanship of Akan Rakhmetullin, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.
They also touched upon certain issues of promoting initiatives of Kazakhstan and the United States in the field of artificial intelligence in the military sphere, peaceful use of outer space, export control, assistance to victims of nuclear tests and biological safety, including the promotion of the Kazakh initiative to establish an International Agency for Biological Safety/Security within the UN.
Following the meeting, the interlocutors agreed to continue dialogue and consultations in Geneva, New York, Astana and Washington, as well as to ensure constructive interaction with other participants of the Preparatory Committee to achieve practical results.
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