A bi-weekly online publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Issue # 246
Kazakhstan and Belarus Verify Positions on Key Issues of Bilateral Cooperation
The bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Belarus are described by friendly ties and increasing economic and trade cooperation, greatly enhanced by integration mechanisms such as the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space. The Heads of State of two countries have reiterated this message during President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s visit to Minsk on May 13-14.
The two countries reach new agreements annually, and this year is no exception. President Nazarbayev’s visit resulted in signing of a joint statement with President Alexander Lukashenko, as well as a dozen of intergovernmental and ministerial agreements. In particular, the Heads of State agreed to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and food.
Belarus is one of the key political and economic partners of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev said during bilateral talks with Alexander Lukashenko at the Presidential Palace on May 14.
“Belarus is our strategic partner, a close friend, and an ally,” Nazarbayev said, noting that integration processes such as cooperation within the Customs Union (CU) and the Single Economic Space (SES) bring the two countries even closer in all respects. “This visit will raise our relationship to a new level, especially in trade,” Nazarbayev said.
With regard to bilateral relations, Kazakhstan and Belarus hold similar positions on interstate and international issues, he added.
According to Belarusian President, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Belarus reached almost U.S. $ 1 billion, and “it is just a drop in the bucket.” “We need to double our turnover,” Lukashenko said. He also stated that Kazakhstan ranks third among Belarusian trade partners in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), following Russia and Ukraine. more...
CIS States Review 20 Years of Cooperation, Discuss Security Issues
On May 14-15, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev paid a working visit to Moscow, Russia, to participate in a jubilee session of the CSTO Collective Security Council and an informal meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State.
The event brought together presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The meeting was timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty that was signed on May 15, 1992 in Tashkent and the 10th anniversary of the Organisation itself.
This year Kazakhstan took over the chairmanship of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, having successfully hosted the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers and Security Council Secretaries Committee in Astana in April.
Opening the meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace, Russian President Vladimir Putin said: “Today we are going to review the main results of our work. I believe our organization has proven itself worthy, strong and became more mature in recent years. It has become one of the proactive instruments for maintaining collective security in its area of responsibility”.
“It is important not to stop there, we should optimize a number of areas of the CSTO to achieve greater coordination of our actions on the international arena,” he stressed.
The CSTO CSC session focused on the world’s most pressing problems and further joint efforts to counteract global and regional challenges and threats to the Organisation member countries.
As President Nazarbayev said at a press conference following the meeting, the leaders of the CSTO member states discussed future prospects of further strengthening the collective security measures.
During the meeting in a narrow format the presidents exchanged their views on important global and regional security issues. more...
Kazakhstan Attempts to Make Public Sector Recruitment More Transparent
Addressing the XIX session of Kazakhstan People’s Assembly (KPA), President Nursultan Nazarbayev instructed the state agencies to create career opportunities for young people, especially in public service. In order to make the process of applying to the civil service more transparent, Culture and Information Ministry conducted the second selection stage – the interviewing the candidates with the participation of the representatives of the public and media.
According to Kazakhstan’s legislation, the public service is based on principles of legality, patriotism, availability, professionalism of public servants, with due account to public opinion and openness except for the bodies dealing with state secrets or other secrets protected by law. Over the years of independence a lot has been done for enhancing professionalism and efficiency of Kazakhstan’s public service.
At present, the constitutional right of citizens for equal access to public service is realized by means of open competitions for vacant positions in state bodies. The competitive selection includes testing the knowledge of legislation by the Agency for Civil Service and its territorial divisions as well as interviewing the applicants by the competition committee of a state body seeking the public servant.
It is obvious that the ministry’s scope of activities includes the development of national culture, media, language, and interaction with civil society institutions, Kazakhstan People’s Assembly and is of great public interest. This area most clearly demonstrates the spirit and values of Kazakhstan and its society.
Recently, at the initiative of Culture and Information Minister, three advisory bodies responsible for the development of culture, languages, and media were set up. Each deliberative body include MPs, scientists, prominent artists, clerisy, media executives, creative unions’ leaders, experts, who works out recommendations to develop the industry. Now such approach is decided to be used in recruiting.
“Transparency, structural interaction with creative community, the media, NGOs, quality improvement of public services, and provision of full support for the youth have always been in the focus of our ministry. I would say we cultivate these values,” Zhanna Kurmangalieva, executive secretary of the Culture and Information Ministry says. more...
New Campaign Seeks to Boost Civic Activism
In April, a nation-wide campaign “The Future Starts Today!” launched in Kazakhstan. The campaign is intended toawaken the civic consciousness of Kazakhstan, to instill in the hearts and minds of its citizens the idea that the country’s success is inextricably linked to the success of each of its inhabitants, making it important for individuals to set high goals and achieve them. The Astana Times talked with Alina Khamatdinova, executive director of the Civil Alliance of Kazakhstan, about the new, large-scale social project.
It is very exciting for me to interview you, nearly two years after my participation in the “We Are One Team” campaign. I must say, that campaign was very successful. Could you please tell us what the main ideas and goals of the new campaign “The Future Starts Today!” are? What inspired you to create and launch these campaigns?
It was this year’s state-of-the-nation address of President Nursultan Nazarbayev that inspired me to do this. I really liked its deep social meaning and the specific tasks and directions for development the president highlighted. The Civil Alliance of Kazakhstan not only actively supports the president’s calls, but also participates in processes for realising them. Last month, we launched the campaign “The Future Starts Today!” across Kazakhstan. The idea of this campaign is to awaken Kazakh residents’ civil consciousness, inspire their souls with the message that our country’s success is connected with the success of each of its inhabitants, and show them that that’s why it is very important to set high goals and be brave enough to work towards them. “The Future Stars Today!” is our call for everyone to unite, cooperate and be part of the motherland’s progress.
What is the scale of the campaign? How many participants are involved, how many events do you plan to hold, and what’s the geographical reach of the campaign?more...
NEWS
Pages 1 - 20 of 37
2012-04-18 On April 18, 2012 President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev paid a state visit to Malaysia
2012-03-29 President Nursultan Nazarbayev's article "Kazakhstan as the Great Connector" has been published in the inaugural publication of the BRICS summit, which is taking place on March 29, 2012 in New Delhi, India.
2012-03-27 Joint Statement of the Presidents of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and the United States of America Regarding the Trilateral Cooperation at the Former Semipalatinsk Test Site
2012-03-27 Remarks by President Obama, President Medvedev of Russia, and Kazakhstan President Nazarbayev at Trilateral Announcement
2012-03-27 Kazakhstan: Seoul Nuclear Security Summit Fact Sheet
2012-03-26 Remarks by President Obama and President Nursultan Nazarbayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan before Bilateral Meeting
2012-03-26 What Iran Can Learn From Kazakhstan; an opinion by Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan, published in the International Herald Tribune on March 26, 2012
2012-03-19 Commentary by Altai Abibullaev, the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan, on the European Parliament’s resolution of 15 March 2012
(in response to a question at a March 19 media briefing)
2012-03-02 Remarks by President Nursultan Nazarbayev at a meeting
with heads of the diplomatic missions accredited in Kazakhstan
Astana, March 2, 2012
2012-02-28 Statement by
H.E. Mr. Yerzhan Kazykhanov,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
at the plenary session of the Conference on Disarmament
(Geneva, February 28, 2012)
2012-02-27 Statement by H.E. Mr. Yerzhan Kazykhanov,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
at the 19th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
2012-02-01 Remarks by Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov
before meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
(February 1, 2012, Department of State)
2012-01-31 Remarks by Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister H.E. Yerzhan Kazykhanov at the Atlantic Council Conference “20th Anniversary of Kazakhstan’s Independence and Kazakhstan-US relations” (January 31, 2012, Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Washington, DC)
2012-01-25 Statement by the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Kazakhstan
on the event that took place in the town of Zhanaozen on the 16th of December 2011.
2012-01-16 Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan
2012-01-16 The text of the Statement by Official Representative of the Prosecutor-General’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan Suyindik Nurdauletov
2012-01-15 Kazakh FM Confident Election to Mark “Step Forward for Young Nation”
2011-12-27 Director of the Peace Corps Aaron S.Williams has sent a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Kazykhanov expressing gratitude for his support of Peace Corps in Kazakhstan
2011-12-22 Kazakhstan Encourages a Multi-Party Democracy
2011-12-22 Kazakhstan’s Experience: 20 Years of Independence
