Key Issues of Investors in West Kazakhstan Region were Discussed

Ambassador-at-Large - Head of the Representative Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Almaty, Zhanibek Abdrashov visited the UN Plaza building, where he met with the heads of representative offices of UN agencies accredited in Almaty, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

During the meeting, Abdrashov stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation with the United Nations, calling it a priority for reforms of the UN development system and the Government of Kazakhstan. Special attention was paid to Kazakhstan’s initiative to establish the UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty. "We proposed to create this center as an important mechanism for achieving the set goals of sustainable development in the region," the diplomat said.

The implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development between the UN agencies and the governments of the countries of the region was discussed at the meeting. The parties also discussed the activities of the Project Office for Central Asia on Climate Change and Green Energy in Almaty, aimed at developing and implementing projects to support and accelerate specific climate actions in the region.

At the end of the meeting, the UN representatives reported on current activities and confirmed their readiness for further cooperation to implement significant projects in Kazakhstan and the entire region.

 

On this day, 15 years ago, the Agreement on the Establishment of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States was signed in the city of Nakhchivan, which later evolved into the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

In a relatively short period, the OTS has established itself as a full-fledged and respected actor in international relations, committed to contributing to the strengthening of peace and sustainable development.

Turkic integration encompasses a broad spectrum of cooperation, ranging from transit and transport issues, economy, ecology, science, education, arts, tourism, and sports to a substantial humanitarian agenda.

Kazakhstan is both a founding member and initiator of the OTS, actively promoting integration within its framework.

This is reflected in Kazakhstan’s chairmanship program for this year, adopted under the motto "TURKTIME!" which outlines eight priorities aimed at strengthening unity and cooperation among Turkic countries.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Information, held a briefing for the diplomatic corps dedicated to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and issues related to the empowerment of women in Kazakhstan, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

Welcoming the participants, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Akan Rakhmetullin highlighted key advancements of implementing Resolution 1325 in Kazakhstan, including ongoing efforts to enhance women’s rights in the country.

Among the new initiatives, the Kazakh diplomat noted the training of female military advisors on gender issues and the protection of civilians at the Peacekeeping Training Center (KAZCENT), the promotion of women to leadership positions based on a gender-sensitive approach to professional development in the security and defense sectors, and the inclusion of female diplomatic personnel in international negotiations.

Vice Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan Evgeniy Kochetov emphasized the promotion of gender issues in the socio-economic and public sectors, underscoring Kazakhstan’s commitment to the Global Forum "Generation Equality" (GEF) in 2021, where the country joined two Action Coalitions focused on combating gender-based violence and advancing economic justice and rights.

Additionally, representatives from the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, the OSCE, and relevant government bodies presented on the implementation of the National Action Plan in line with Resolution 1325.

According to Azamat Sisatov, Head of the Peacekeeping Activities Department of the Ministry of Defense, there are currently 6,802 women serving in the armed forces of Kazakhstan, including 863 officers. Among them are 31 colonels, 112 lieutenant colonels, 235 majors, 203 captains, 173 senior lieutenants, and 109 lieutenants.

Rimma Shakeyeva, a representative from the Ministry of Defense’s Peacekeeping Operations Center, shared her experience serving in the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

The briefing emphasized the importance of international cooperation in strengthening the role of women in maintaining peace and security. Participants highly appreciated Kazakhstan’s international efforts to ensure gender equality and promote women’s rights at both national and regional levels.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan decisively condemns the airstrike on the residence of the UAE head of diplomatic mission in Khartoum, Sudan, on September 29, 2024, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

We firmly believe that any kind of violence against diplomatic missions and their staff is absolutely unacceptable.

Such actions violate the fundamental principle of the sanctity of diplomatic missions, guaranteed by Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, and require a comprehensive investigation with bringing all those involved to justice.

 

Ambassador-at-Large - Head of the Representative Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Almaty, Zhanibek Abdrashov, participated in the International Scientific and Practical Symposium "Biosecurity and Sustainable Development: Strategic Approaches", organized jointly with the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Control of the Ministry of Healthcare of Kazakhstan, the National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections named after M. Aikimbayev, as well as the German Society for International Cooperation, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

During his speech, the Head of the MFA Representative Office noted the relevance of cooperation in the field of biosafety in the light of the initiative of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to establish a special entity accountable to the UN Security Council, the International Agency for Biosafety.

Following the results of the symposium, the participants agreed on the need for further rapid response to global public health emergencies. The reports of the symposium will serve national and international experts as a basis for decision-making on providing biosecurity worldwide.

 

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko met with Luis Francisco Martinez, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to Kazakhstan, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

The two sides examined the current state and future prospects for strengthening bilateral cooperation in political, trade, economic, investment, and cultural-humanitarian spheres, as well as the schedule for upcoming visits.

Deputy Minister Vassilenko emphasized the importance of effectively implementing bilateral agreements, including those reached during the talks between the foreign ministers of both countries at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly currently taking place in New York.

Both sides noted the importance of promoting active cooperation in areas such as energy, civil aviation, tourism, education, trade and investment.

The successful experience of such companies as Inditex, Maxam, Glovo and Talgo in Kazakhstan was emphasized. The officials expressed high expectations from the upcoming joint venture by Tecnicas Reunidas (Spain) and Sinopec (China) of a project to construct an integrated gas chemical complex for the production of polyethylene in the Atyrau region commissioned by JSC NC KazMunayGas.

 

On the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, a bilateral meeting took place between Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu and Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates of the Kingdom of Morocco Nasser Bourita, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

The ministers discussed the current state and prospects of bilateral relations in the political, trade, economic, investment, and cultural-humanitarian spheres.

Following the negotiations, the parties signed the Agreement on Visa Exemption for Holders of National/Ordinary Passports between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco. This Agreement aims to facilitate the movement of citizens of both countries and contributes to further strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.

According to the Agreement, citizens of Kazakhstan and Morocco are exempted from visa requirements for entry, exit, transit, and temporary stay in each other’s territories based on valid national/ordinary passports. The duration of each stay must not exceed 30 calendar days within a 180-day period from the date of entry.

At the same time, citizens of either party who intend to stay in the territory of the other party for longer than provided by the Agreement, or engage in employment, education, or entrepreneurial activities, must obtain the appropriate visa from the diplomatic missions or consular offices of the host country.

The Agreement shall enter into force after 30 calendar days from the date of receiving the last written notification through the diplomatic channels confirming the completion by the parties of the internal procedures necessary for its entry into force.

 

As part of the UN General Assembly’s high-level week, the delegation of Kazakhstan participated in the ratification ceremony of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Kazakhstan, as the incoming Chair of the Third Meeting of the States Parties to the TPNW, demonstrates its continued commitment to global nuclear disarmament. During the ceremony, the ministers of foreign affairs of Indonesia, Sierra Leone and the Solomon Islands handed over their instruments of ratification, reaffirming their countries’ commitment to the objectives and principles of the Treaty. This brings the total number of signatories to 94, and the number of countries that have ratified the Treaty to 73, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

During the event, the Kazakh side emphasized the importance of collective efforts of all stakeholders in advancing the goals of the Treaty and expressed confidence in the need to strengthen global norms against the use and proliferation of nuclear weapons. "Each new ratification of the TPNW brings us closer to our common goal and is a powerful signal that the international community is united in its aspiration to eliminate the nuclear threat," the Kazakh delegation said, calling on all states to join this aspiration and contribute to building a world free of nuclear weapons.

Expressing gratitude to the Co-Chairs of the Informal Working Group on the Universalization of the TPNW - the permanent representatives to the UN of Uruguay and South Africa, the delegation of Kazakhstan stressed the important role of the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu and noted the contribution of public organizations, in particular the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and the Red Cross, for their tireless efforts to promote the goals of the Treaty.