USAK conference entitled “Kazakhstan's foreign policy in light of current affairs” held

    By Ebru Özarslan
    On 8 April 2013, with the participation of the Ambassador of Kazakhstan in Turkey, H.E. Prof. Canseyit Tumebayev as the keynote speaker, a conference was held with the title -- Kazakhstan's Foreign Policy in Light of Current Affairs. by the International Strategic Research Organization (USAK).
    Several diplomats, academics, experts, and officials participated in the conference held at the USAK House.
    The conference started with an introductory speech by Vice President of USAK Prof. Kamer KASIM,. Professor Kasim mentioned the importance of CICA, which is an organization that has members facing political problems with each other.
    This organization aims to emphasize confidence building measures rather than 'security', participants said.
    This organization was founded by the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, to create a comprehensive security system in Asia. It was declared by Nazarbayev in 1997, at the 47^th UN General Assembly. Kasim claimed that Kazakhstan has been bearing the presidential role of the organization since the latter's foundation and also acted as a dynamo in energizing cooperation under the organization's roof. In this organization, according to Kasim, the most important step taken by the Nazarbayev administration was giving up the nuclear estate.
    During the conference, Kazakhstan's Ambassador emphasized the significance of nuclear disarmament, global economic crisis' negative effects and his country's bilateral relations with international organizations in terms of providing international peace and security. He also claimed that the bilateral relations with Turkey should be improved further than the current level.
    On the subject of close relations with international organizations, the ambassador mentioned that after gaining its independence in 1991, Kazakhstan's active participation to major international organizations such as the UN has gathered speed.
    Moreover, under some international organizations, Kazakhstan has gained presidency roles. For instance in 2010, the presidency of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was granted to Kazakhstan even though it isn't a European country, and in 2011-2012, Kazakhstan chaired the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
    Regarding the campaign around nuclear disarmament, Kazakhstan renounced nuclear weapons by its own will. In 1991, nuclear disarmament process was initiated; in 1993, a related agreement was signed; and in 1996, Kazakhstan began playing an active role in preventing nuclear tests all around the globe. In 2010, Kazakhstan had initiated a universal anti-nuclear program; and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan suggested a world decontaminated from nuclear weapons right after the nuclear tests in 2012.
    Prof. Tumebayev said that between the years 1949 and 1991, Kazakhstan also tested nuclear weapons about 400 times due to Soviet policies, but after its independence, the country began pursuing an opposite policy of confronting nuclear weapon usage.
    In his speech, the Ambassador also touched upon the global economic crisis. He said, the effects of the economic crisis still continue to be felt and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan put forward a solution offer called G-Global through which the establishment of a fair and steady system is aimed. The ambassador also invited relevant Turkish authorities to support this system.
    Prof. Dr. Tumebayev claimed that Kazakhstan is very objective and sincerely internationalist in its aim to preserve peace all around the world and make better the international economy. Regarding China, the Ambassador made a positive statement. According to Tumebayev, during Kazakhistan's last meeting with the President of China, many agreements were provided in different fields. There is a partnership relation between China and Kazakhstan, since stability in Central Asia is sustainable only through a firm and cooperative framework between China and Kazakhstan. Tumebayev emphasized that Kazakhstan choses the 'freedom' end of the dilemma between freedom and security; and he explained the success of Kazakhstan in terms of how such "freedom" was utilized. He also gave place to future strategic plans of Kazakhstan and the Space Research Center in his speech.
    At the end of his speech, Prof. Tumebayev mostly gave messages of friendship, fellowship and partnership to Turkey. According to his message, with the help of formal and informal meetings, the already established bonds between Turkey and Kazakhstan can be strengthened. He also expressed his affirmative opinion toward the foundation of a Turkish/Turkic cooperative body in the region, Journal of the Turkish Weekly wrote.