Rights of People with Disabilities in the Context of Emergencies and Climate Change were Discussed at the Kazakh Foreign Ministry
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted an international forum on "The Rights of People with Disabilities in Emergencies and Climate Change in Kazakhstan", press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
The event was organised by the Association of Women with Disabilities "Shyrak" together with the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan and the Eurasia Foundation under the financial support of USAID.
The forum was addressed by Senator of Parliament Lyazzat Kaltayeva, Ombudsman for Rights of Socially Vulnerable Groups of Population Kenzhegul Seitzhan, Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population Askarbek Yertayev, Ambassador-at-Large Alua Nadirkulova, advisors of ministers and akims on disability issues, representatives of governmental organizations, international organizations, as well as public associations from Central Asia.
During the event, participants discussed the rights and needs of people with disabilities in emergencies caused by climate change, and shared experience and best practices in emergency response to the needs of people with disabilities.
The outcome of the event was the development of specific recommendations for the state authorities of Kazakhstan to improve legislation and policy in this field.
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Kazakhstan and Morocco Signed an Agreement on Exemption from Visa Requirements
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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.
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Kazakhstan Participated in the Ratification Ceremony of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
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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.
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An Informal Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the OTS Member States was Held in New York
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On the margins of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, an informal meeting of foreign ministers of the member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
Opening the meeting, the head of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry underlined the symbolism of the meeting, which is held on the eve of the 15-year anniversary of the establishment of the OTS.
Мinister Nurtleu emphasized the significant results achieved during this period, recalling the important role played by Turkic integration today in the international arena.
He also noted that Kazakhstan as chairman of the OTS in 2023-2024 under the "TURKTIME" motto has successfully held more than 80 events, including the 5th World Nomad Games.
During the meeting, the participants discussed topical issues of interaction within the OTS, as well as preparations for the 11th Summit of the Organization, scheduled in Bishkek in November 2024. At the same time, special attention was paid to the issues of strengthening cooperation of the OTS with international organizations, such as the UN and the OIC.
In conclusion, the participants of the meeting confirmed their readiness to deepen cooperation within the OTS, emphasizing the importance of joint efforts to achieve a common goal - strengthening the unity and solidarity of the Turkic countries.
For reference: On October 3, 2009, the presidents of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Türkiye signed the Nakhchivan Agreement on the establishment of the Cooperation Council of Turkic States, later transformed into the OTS.
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Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Held a Number of Bilateral Meetings on the Margins of the UN General Assembly
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The high-level week of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly has started at the UN Headquarters. The delegation of the Republic of Kazakhstan headed by Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu takes part in the session, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
On the margins of the event, the Kazakh Foreign Minister held bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers of Spain José Albares, Latvia Baiba Braže, Luxembourg Xavier Bettel, Poland Radosław Sikorski, and Switzerland Ignazio Cassis.
During the talks with European partners, the prospects for the development of cooperation between Kazakhstan and these European countries were discussed, and an in-depth exchange of views on regional and global agendas took place.
Following the negotiations, a number of agreements were reached on the organization of mutual high-level visits.
Minister Nurtleu also met with Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moldova Mihai Popșoi and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha. The parties considered issues of cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats.
The importance of quality and timely fulfillment of instructions on the results of the state visit of the President of Kazakhstan to Singapore in May this year was noted during the talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore Vivian Balakrishnan.
During the meeting with Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif Alzayani, an Intergovernmental Agreement on Exemption from Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic Passports was signed. Foreign Minister of Bahrain expressed his appreciation to the Kazakh side for the opening of the Consulate General in Manama, emphasizing that this step will qualitatively strengthen relations between the countries.
Prospects for further strengthening cooperation with the International Labor Organization were discussed with its Director-General Gilbert Houngbo, where the interlocutors reaffirmed the importance of improving labor legislation, social protection and ensuring decent work.
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Head of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry Meets with Representatives of American Companies to Strengthen Economic Cooperation
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Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu held a number of meetings with representatives of leading American companies to discuss the development of further long-term and mutually beneficial partnerships, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
During discussions with the leadership of PepsiCo, special attention was given to the development of the food industry and enhancing the country’s export potential, which will help increase the competitiveness of Kazakhstan products in the international market.
The meeting with Google focused on expanding collaboration within the "Google for Startups" program. In the context of integrating artificial intelligence and cloud technologies, both parties agreed to continue joint efforts to promote local startups in global markets and to develop digital infrastructure and an innovation ecosystem in Kazakhstan.
As part of the "Digital Country Partnership" (DCP) program, implemented in collaboration with Mastercard, the Minister emphasized the importance of joint achievements in developing financial infrastructure and implementing fintech solutions to strengthen Kazakhstan’s leadership in the development of a digital, cashless economy.
During the meeting with Citi, the participants reviewed the successful 30-year partnership and discussed issues of sustainable financing, improving trade relations, and developing infrastructure projects. The Foreign Minister expressed his appreciation for the company’s contribution to the country’s economic development and highlighted the importance of continued cooperation in attracting foreign investments.
Continuing discussions with leaders in the financial sector, Minister Nurtleu and representatives of Visa discussed initiatives to expand access to financial services and improve digital services in rural areas, aimed at enhancing financial inclusion and regional development in Kazakhstan.
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Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister addressed the UN Summit of the Future
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Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu spoke at the Summit of the Future, held within the framework of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation, the UN reform and global efforts to address challenges such as climate change, nuclear security and digital transformation, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
Kazakhstan is here today to join forces with all UN member states and its institutions in ensuring a bright future for both our Planet and all of humanity," said Nurtleu, reaffirming Kazakhstan's full support for the UN Secretary-General's initiatives and all key documents of the Summit of the Future.
The Minister noted that a comprehensive reform of the UN system is needed to overcome current global challenges such as climate change and the nuclear threat. Strengthening the voices of middle powers and developing countries in international institutions should play an important role in this process.
As stated by President Tokayev of Kazakhstan, the voices of Middle Powers and the developing world need to be amplified and heard clearly in the Security Council. In times of geopolitical turmoil and economic uncertainty, the world needs diplomacy and dialogue," Nurtleu emphasized.
The Kazakh Foreign Minister also drew attention to the internal reforms initiated by the President of Kazakhstan, aimed at building a just and inclusive society. Special attention was paid to the abolition of the death penalty, combating torture and domestic violence, and strengthening human rights mechanisms.
In line with the goal of building a Just and Fair Kazakhstan, our country has abolished the death penalty, introduced a zero-tolerance policy on torture and domestic violence, and strengthened the national preventive mechanism," said Nurtleu, emphasizing that respect for human rights remains a priority of state policy.
Central Asia faces climate change threats such as rising temperatures, melting glaciers and desertification. In response to these challenges, Kazakhstan plans to hold the first UN Regional Climate Summit in 2026 and to strengthen coordination on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and has proposed to establish a UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development for Central Asia and Afghanistan.
In the area of digital transformation, the Kazakh diplomat emphasized the role of technology in achieving the 2030 Agenda and proposed the establishment of the UNESCAP Digital Solutions Centre, which will contribute to bridging the digital divide in the Asia-Pacific region.
Kazakhstan, which has a tragic experience of nuclear testing, continues to play an active role in promoting international nuclear disarmament. Minister Nurtleu called on the international community to work together to prevent a nuclear catastrophe in the future.
At the end of his speech, the Kazakh Foreign Minister emphasized that there is no alternative to peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law. He called on the world community for open dialog and multilateral cooperation. The Minister also expressed Kazakhstan’s full support for the three landmark documents adopted at the Summit of the Future: The Pact for the Future, the New Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations. These documents aim to strengthen multilateral cooperation and create an effective global system to address the existential threats of our time, including climate change, technological transformation and security threats.
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