Kazakhstan’s Position Paper

Regarding Major International Issues

at the 66^th UN General Assembly Session

1. In accordance with its foreign policy priorities, during the 66^th UN General Assembly session Kazakhstan will continue to work to strengthen and advance the Organization’s role in the prevention and settlement of conflicts and crises, in uniting the efforts of the international community to achieve sustainable development, in the prevention of and dealing with man-made and natural disasters, as well as in tackling other modern global problems.

2. Due to the political and economic dynamics in the modern world, the UN member states are facing challenges that are unprecedented in their complexity and scale. These challenges make it necessary to adapt the UN machinery and procedures to modern reality, rationalize it and make it more flexible and efficient in the face of a broad spectrum of global problems, threats and challenges.

Reforming the United Nations must be pursued in accordance with the UN Charter purposes and principles, based on the broadest consensus, and the reforms should take into account the needs of all member states of the Organization.

The General Assembly plays the central role as the main deliberative, policymaking and representative body of the United Nations. Here, more work needs to be done for further advancement of its role, authority and effectiveness.

The expansion of the United Nations Security Council should be done in two categories, both of permanent and non-permanent members. This must be accomplished on the basis of fair geographic representation and respect for sovereign equality of states. The reform must also bring a change in the Security Council working methods and improve its efficiency, transparency and accountability.

The current structure, the rules and regulations of the United Nations Secretariat do not meet the present needs of the Organization. Kazakhstan supports the process of reorganization of the United Nations administrative and financial system within the consultative work on cohesive functioning of the Organization.

3. Kazakhstan has always firmly and consistently supported the ideas of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Our country will continue to make its contribution to diminishing the nuclear threat by taking practical steps. Today the world has all the prerequisites for more decisive actions in this regard.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is the basis of the nuclear non-proliferation machinery, which is why we are advocating for its further strengthening, expanding its universality and adapting it to the new reality.

We support the objectives of the countries which strive for the earliest drafting of a Convention on universal and complete ban of nuclear weapons. In this connection, we suggest, as a first step, starting work on drafting and approving a Universal Declaration of a Nuclear-Free World which would reflect the commitment of all states to advance consistently to the ideals of a world free from nuclear weapons.

We think that nuclear states should fulfill their obligations in accordance with Article VI of the NPT and eliminate completely their nuclear arsenals.

4. Kazakhstan stands for the speediest entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty as well as for strengthening the verification mechanism of that Treaty which is an important instrument for ensuring non-proliferation, disarmament and nuclear security in the world.

We urge all the countries of the world and international organizations to mark the International Day of Action against Nuclear Tests, as provided in the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 64/35 which was adopted at the initiative of the Republic of Kazakhstan, making it our important contribution to the cause of global and comprehensive ban of nuclear tests.

We consider it important to observe the International Day annually both at the United Nations and in the world at large.

5. The entry into force in March 2009 of the Central Asian Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (CANWFZ) Treaty became an important contribution to ensuring international and regional security. Kazakhstan stepped forward with the initiative to develop a plan of action on preventing the proliferation of nuclear materials and fighting terrorism in Central Asia.

The official nuclear states are taking a long time to recognize the status of established nuclear-free zones and to approve the required protocols. In view of the above, we consider it necessary, without any delay, to start discussions on the international and legal status of nuclear-free zones. This status should provide for both the negative guarantees of security and certain privileges for the states - parties.

The states who volunteered to assume non-nuclear status should be both welcomed and encouraged in every possible way. Support in the form of providing them with negative guarantees will encourage other states to establish such zones.

We are ready for a constructive dialogue with nuclear states with the aim of signing a protocol on negative guarantees with the states - parties to the Treaty of Semipalatinsk.

We stand for establishing new nuclear-free zones, including in the Middle East. We are positive that this would be a good foundation for a dialogue on achieving peace, cooperation and mutual trust in the entire Middle East region.

6. We urge all relevant parties to start work on an international legally binding document whereby nuclear states would provide security guarantees to countries that do not have nuclear weapons.

We support the establishment of the Working Group at the Disarmament Conference for substantive discussions regarding the start of negotiations on the development of a universal, legally binding document regarding the guarantees to non-nuclear states. Such guarantees could effectively keep in check the aspirations of some non-nuclear states to acquire nuclear weapons, which they regard as a guarantee of their own security.

7. Negotiations on a Fissile Materials Cut-off Treaty should be started as soon as possible. Such a treaty will contribute further to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. If the production of such materials is ceased, that will keep to a minimum the chance to develop illegitimate military nuclear programs, improve the monitoring of available material and minimize considerably the threat of nuclear terrorism.

Kazakhstan supports the inalienable right of all the members of the international community to develop peaceful nuclear technologies. However, it should be done in strict compliance with the NPT norms and under the IAEA control.

Being the largest producer of uranium, Kazakhstan, within the efforts of the international community to develop a multilateral mechanism for consumer countries to have a guaranteed access to nuclear fuel on a non-discriminatory and stable basis, submitted an official application to the IAEA regarding its readiness to host a nuclear fuel bank of low-enriched uranium, under the auspices of IAEA.

8. The events of 25 years ago at the Chernobyl (Ukraine) nuclear power plant and those of 2011 at the Fukushima NPP (Japan) require further measures to be taken by the international community in order to be able to take coordinated actions in the event of serious disasters at facilities using nuclear energy and fissile material for peaceful purposes to minimize potential negative effects.

Since the human demand for energy in growing, people must develop the nuclear energy industry. In this connection, IAEA should develop an emergency control system assessment program and international nuclear safety control mechanism paying more attention to assistance in developing safer technology in this area.

9. We share the concern of the international community related to illicit trade of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and support the recommendations contained in the United Nations Secretary General’s report on small arms. We believe that the United Nations should play a leading role in counteracting this threat. The time has come to develop legally binding international documents regulating SALW marking and tracing, ensuring an effective supervision of the UN embargo compliance, the implementation of the UN Program of action in the area of SALW and other current standards.

We welcome the efforts of the United Nations aimed at developing an effective Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The treaty must become a legally binding international instrument reflecting the current obligations of the states with regard to international law.

10. We support the activities of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific in pursuing measures to help strengthen confidence and advance the regional and sub-regional dialogue aimed at furthering disarmament and security in the region. We are committed to active cooperation in this field, including the issue of achieving the provision of negative guarantees to the states - parties to the Treaty of Semipalatinsk.

11. We consider it timely to convene the Fourth Special Session of the General Assembly on Disarmament where we could discuss specific ways to resolve the vital issues of strengthening strategic stability and a further limitation of the arms race.

In this connection, we believe it is necessary to convene the Open-ended Working Group which would work on the basis of consensus.

12. We are committed to international cooperation in the research and uses of outer space for peaceful purposes.

We proclaim our fundamental support of the activities of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space where we recognize the coordinating role of the United Nations in the use of space which is the common patrimony of all humankind.

Kazakhstan pursues its state policy in advancing space activities in accordance with international conventions, agreements, treaties and UN resolutions, and also supports the idea of drafting a comprehensive convention on international space law.

We think it is highly important that the Conference on Disarmament advance the issue of developing a legally binding document on the prevention of the militarization of outer space. We believe it is necessary to continue work to make progress on the PAROS and, for this purpose, to engage other international bodies working on space exploration.

13. We view the issue of the Security Council sanctions as a most important instrument in carrying out preventive measures. We give our full support to the idea of striving for more effective sanctions while minimizing their negative effects.

At the same time, we believe that the use of force should remain the measure of last resort in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter which may be used only if all political and diplomatic means to resolve a problem have been exhausted.

14. We have always have been consistent in our support of recent UN efforts to improve the efficiency of its peacekeeping activity. These efforts include field support system improvement, an increase of the number of women in peacekeeping missions, laying down conditions for a gradual transfer from peacekeeping to peace building during post-conflict settlement, since these are interconnected and mutually reinforcing actions in the interest of building long-term peace and stability.

We welcome consistent actions of the United Nations aimed at increasing its peacekeeping capability and strengthening peacekeeping elements aimed at rebuilding, providing support and assistance to the electoral process, assisting the population to overcome post-conflict difficulties in reconstruction.

15. Kazakhstan welcomes the accession of the Republic of South Sudan to the United Nations. The creation of a new nation state is an outstanding achievement resulting from a prolonged and arduous negotiations process. We highly commend the results of the referendum held on July 9 and all the steps of state-building carried out in the spirit of peace and mutual respect of the participating parties. Kazakhstan hopes that the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan will resolve all remaining differences by peaceful means and in full compliance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. We note with appreciation the efforts of the African Union, the United Nations Secretary General, the Tripartite Group mediators and many other partners from all over the world that helped bring about this historic event.

16. We call for a resolution of the Palestinian problem on the basis of international law, including the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations.

We support the efforts of the Quartet on the Middle East to help resume Palestine-Israeli negotiations to define the common borders and the principles of peaceful co-existence of the two states.

As the Chairman of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, Kazakhstan will continue to provide full support to the process of returning the Middle East countries to stability as a prerequisite for establishing a just and permanent peace in the region.

We view as justified the creation of the Palestinian state within the 1967 borders that would co-exist in the conditions of peace and security with Israel, and support the efforts aimed at recognizing it as a full member of the United Nations.

17. We want to see an early stabilization of the situation in the countries of North Africa and the Middle East.

Massive protests have become a reflection of a dire social and economic crisis in some countries of the region. The peoples of North Africa and the Middle East have every right to demand a more just and prosperous life which requires transparent and democratic reform.

We make an appeal to end all hostilities in the region and we condemn the suppression of civil protest by force. The change should come on the basis of a peaceful and constructive dialogue between the interested parties, under the auspices of the United Nations.

We hope that all political forces with an influence over the situation in these countries will act responsibly and will take measures to ensure civil peace and accord.

18. We urge for an immediate political and diplomatic settlement of the situation concerning Iran’s nuclear program on the basis of strict adherence to the provisions of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and IAEA rules.

We welcome a further dialogue between the international group of mediators and Iran. We believe that lifting of sanctions in exchange for specific actions of Iran to assure transparency of its nuclear program will open up an opportunity for advancing the settlement of the problem.

19. Kazakhstan would like to see sustainable and stable development if Afghanistan.

The world community and the United Nations should both play an active role in the political settlement and reconstruction in Afghanistan acting in close cooperation with the government of the country.

The leadership of Kazakhstan supports the policy of the Afghan government aimed at unifying the Afghan society and turning it into a civilized and democratic state.

The Parliamentary elections in Afghanistan held in 2005 and 2010 created the conditions for a new stage in the development of the state. Kazakhstan agrees that the main responsibility for the reform and effective use of external financial aid falls on the government of Afghanistan that must act under strict monitoring of the international community. The evolution of the situation in the country will depend on the degree of commitment of the main actors to the process, including neighboring countries of the region.

20. The United Nations must use all its capabilities and tools to resolve the long-standing conflicts in the OSCE responsibility zone. As the 2010 OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Kazakhstan worked hard to resolve these conflicts by solely peaceful and political means and on the basis of generally recognized standards of international law. We urge the parties of the conflict to abide by the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the current frameworks of the negotiations and to refrain from actions that would result in greater tensions and a worsening of the humanitarian situation.

21. We are deeply concerned with the situation related to the North Korea nuclear program. The attempts to carry out secret research in the area of nuclear weapons in contravention of international obligations cannot be justified under any circumstances.

Kazakhstan has firmly condemned nuclear tests carried out on October 9, 2006 and May 25, 2009 since we believe that such actions do not augur well for achieving peace and confidence on the Korean peninsula while, at the same time, they could have serious consequences for peace and security in the Asian Pacific region.

At the same time, Kazakhstan is against using force to resolve the problem since only a peaceful settlement of this crisis can ensure stability and prosperity in Northeast Asia. In this connection, Kazakhstan believes that the issue of a complete dismantling of the DPRK nuclear program must be resolved within the framework of the Six-Party Talks.

22. We firmly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. To be effective in our fight against international terrorism we need a long-term, comprehensive approach which would provide for an active participation and cooperation of all UN member-states, in accordance with the UN Charter and norms of international law.

Kazakhstan attaches special significance to the activities of the Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) of the UN Security Council and is interested in active cooperation in all areas of the CTC activities.

We continue to support the bi-annual high-level review meetings on the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy adopted in 2006.

Since Kazakhstan is a party to all major international conventions on the fight against terrorism, we welcome the idea of convening once a year the Ad Hoc Committee on drafting the articles of a comprehensive anti-terrorism convention and support a further improvement of other antiterrorist treaty mechanisms.

We highly value the work of such international bodies as OSCE, SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization), CICA (Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia) and CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization). They all play an important role in advancing regional and sub-regional cooperation in countering terrorism.

23. We proceed from the premise that the United Nations is the only organization that has a comprehensive mandate and international support required for providing countries with effective assistance in the fight against transnational crime and the problem of illicit drug trafficking.

We recognize the importance of the UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Program in promoting effective measures on strengthening international cooperation in the entire range of the fight against these threats.

We confirm our commitment to assisting the United Nations in countering illicit drug trafficking and we actively use the potential of regional cooperation in the fight against Afghan drug trafficking. This is why we attach special importance to the activities of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center (CARICC) in Almaty for combating illicit drugs and their precursors, as well as to the cooperation with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, including in the framework of the Paris Pact and the Rainbow Strategy.

24. Kazakhstan supports the consolidation of international efforts in fighting corruption. We became a party to the United Nations Convention against Corruption in 2008. At this point, our state has practically fulfilled its obligation to bring our legislation in conformity with the provisions of the Convention, in particular, through vigorous implementation of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Fighting Corruption”.

We attach great importance to the upcoming conference of the parties to the Convention to be held on October 24-28, 2011 in Marrakech. At the conference, we intend to urge the states - parties to the Convention to lay emphasis on the issues of prevention and asset recovery which are the most important tools in implementing the Convention.

25. We support global partnership for development and seek to create a transparent, non-discriminatory and fair multilateral trade system that would promote growth and sustainable development.

In our view, more active and focused action to promote trade is an essential condition for attaining development goals set forth in the Millennium Declaration.

We think it is important to further engage all interested parties in such negotiations with a view to work out a mutually acceptable approach to the issues of expanding exports of goods and services, providing access to world markets and ensuring conditions for a closer integration of the developing countries and transition economies into the world trade system.

26. In our opinion, it is essential to seek the implementation of decisions and recommendations of major international forums on trade and development so that small and vulnerable economies could get certain advantages in accordance with agreements and international obligations.

We stand for harmonization of national and international actions and engagement of the private sector and civil society for advancing the achievements in attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

We agree that innovative financing, as well as traditional sources of official development aid (ODA) are an important tool for the mobilization of resources to counter economic crisis and ease its effects for development.

27. We support the efforts of the international community to take urgent and effective measures aiming to stop the practice of using unilateral economic coercion measures unauthorized by the United Nations or taken in contravention of international law principles and the UN Charter, as well as the international trade principles, since such practice has general negative effects, primarily for the developing countries.

We are in favor of further discussing this issue at the 66^th Session of the UN General Assembly.

28. We urge the international community to pay due attention to the issue of economic vulnerability of land-locked states, to provide them with equitable access to world trade markets and also give them full support in overcoming the barriers and problems related to their geographic location.

We view as positive the results of the comprehensive Midterm Review of the Almaty Program of Action. We are committed to the earliest and effective implementation of its provisions. In this context, advancing regional cooperation is an important element in implementing this Program.

We emphasize the necessity of coordinated efforts at all stages of development of transport infrastructure and trade systems.

We are firm in our striving for developing specific measures to create effective transit transportation systems with due regard for the linkage among transportation, international trade and economic growth.

29. We support the work aimed at achieving well-coordinated efforts to resolve the problems of global food security.

We will continue to seek further coherence of scientific data-based policy in support of more balanced and sustainable agricultural growth which creates opportunities for management at international, regional and local levels.

30. We realize that sustainable development is becoming a condition for future life on Earth. That is why we support the preparation process for the Conference on Sustainable Development “Rio+20”. As the Chairman of the 20^th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, we will work hard on the preparation for the Rio+20 Conference. We believe that the development of “green” economy may help economic development of the countries without damaging the environment. Acting within the framework of the United Nations and the Rio+20 Conference, we intend to advance the Green Bridge initiative and the Global Energy and Environmental Strategy. We are ready to continue taking an active part in the work on sustainable development in the regions of the European Commission for Europe (ECE) and ESCAP.

31. Kazakhstan views as a priority the issue of cooperation on the provisions of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. We undertook to cut greenhouse gases emissions by 15 per cent by 2020 and by 25 per cent by 2050. We have submitted an application to be included in Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol so that we could take an active part in its implementation mechanisms for the earliest transition to low emission technologies.

There are some environmentally dangerous zones in our territory such as the Aral sea and the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. Within the framework of the 66^th Session of the UN General Assembly we call for the support of the resolution “International Cooperation and Coordination of Activities to Rehabilitate the Population and Environment and to Ensure Economic Development of the Semipalatinsk Region in Kazakhstan”. In view of serious hydroeconomic problems in Central Asia, we intend to revitalize the work on the rational use of the regional water resources, acting in close cooperation with the organizations of the United Nations system.

32. Kazakhstan embarked on the road of building a social state with high standards of living. The problems of human and social development, including the reduction of poverty, education, protection of vulnerable groups of the population, healthcare and the creation of favorable conditions for life are central in the policy of our state.

We welcome the results of the High-Level Meeting on Youth held in New York on July 25-26, 2011 and the inclusion in the outcome document of the recommendations on setting specific indicators for implementing the World Program of Action for Youth adopted in 1996.

Currently, Kazakhstan is working on the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We plan a gradual implementation of the provisions of the Convention with the aim of ensuring social integration and full participation of people with limited capabilities in the life of society.

We support the highlighting of issues of ageing and respecting the rights of the elderly as a separate area of UN activities. The establishment of the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing will help work out the recommendations on developing strategies to ensure the protection and better social status of the elderly.

33. We are committed to our obligations on attaining the Millennium Development Goals and we are consistently working on the implementation of the Program of rapid industrial and innovation development called the Strategic Development Plan Kazakhstan-2030.

As Kazakhstan has already attained some original MDGs, such as the reduction of poverty, access to primary education and gender equality in secondary education, the government undertook some commitments in the MDGs Plus agenda. These are additional targets adapted for Kazakhstan and based on the analysis of our national priorities, national statistics, relevant government programs and experience of other countries.

34. We pay particular attention to the issue of empowerment of women and achieving gender equality. During the negations in different forums we try to take into consideration cross-cutting gender perspectives in the work of the United Nations. As a member of the first Executive Board of UN Women, Kazakhstan aims at strengthening its leading role, in particular, by approving and implementing its comprehensive Strategic Plan for 2011-2013 intended to overcome the most difficult problems on the way to achieving gender equality.

35. We view the topic Women, Peace and Security as one of the priority themes. It will help strengthen the measures for the maintenance and consolidation of peace and security to satisfy the needs of women and ensure their equal participation and full engagement in mediation and negotiations, all aspects of maintenance of peace, provision of humanitarian aid and post-conflict reconstruction. We support the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. We think it is important to finalize the trigger mechanism on assessing the situation in conflict regions with due regard to the Security Council resolutions on the subject of gender at all stages of the peace process.

36. As a member of the Executive Board of UNICEF, the leading international organization for the protection of children, we work to introduce country programs that would reflect real needs on the ground, to attract additional financial flows and to secure stronger strategic partnerships in the interests of children. We welcome the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health launched by the Secretary General in September of 2010, in particular by supporting national health care plans, providing integrated services and searching for innovative approaches to financing.

37. The state bears the primary and exclusive responsibility for ensuring the access of the population to healthcare; it must not allow financing of this social development area on the “what is left” principle. Those countries that are in need have every right to get assistance in this area from UN specialized agencies and funds. Based on that, we welcome the convening of the High-level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (September 19-20, 2011, UN Headquarters).

38. We want countries and international partners to intensify their efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS. We support the policy of achieving “Three Zeroes” by 2015 approved in the Outcome Document of the High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS (June 8-10, 2011, UN Headquarters). We think it will be hard to implement this ambitious program containing specific indicators of progress; however, we also think it is essential in order to reverse the expanding world epidemic.

39. Strengthening cooperation in countering natural disasters and destruction under the general guidance of the United Nations must remain one of the priority tasks of the Organization.

We welcome the positive work of the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund and we think it necessary to enhance the cooperation and interaction among UN agencies, other international organizations and national governments in preventing the dangers and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters. At the same time, we are convinced that humanitarian response must not undermine the foundations of providing assistance or to contradict the basic principles of respect for sovereignty of the affected countries or their territorial integrity.

We support further consistent and comprehensive strengthening of the role of the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) as the guarantor of the preservation of the civilian nature of humanitarian assistance. The government of Kazakhstan is providing assistance to the deployment of the OCHA regional office in Almaty and its subsequent activities.

We welcome the upcoming opening in Almaty of the Regional Office of the International Disaster Reduction Strategy for the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus which is called to become the basis for establishing an effective collective security system against the threat of natural disasters, accidents and catastrophes in the region.

40. We are convinced that if we are to be more effective in providing humanitarian assistance to the population in need, we must work towards strengthening humanitarian capacity at all levels, primarily, at the national and local levels. In this connection, we stand for a smooth functioning of the Central Emergency Response Fund as an important tool for ensuring predictable, adequate and timely financing of international humanitarian operations.

41. We stand for a strict and unconditional compliance with the imperative principles of international law designed as a foundation of modern world order. We also support the efforts of the international community aimed the resolution of important current issues on the basis of international law.

Kazakhstan is taking practical steps to promote the supremacy of law in the observance of human rights and freedoms. That is why, as an evidence of this, among other things, we recognize the competence of such UN bodies as the Human Rights Committee, the Committee against Torture, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to consider individual complaints of citizens.

42. We view as a priority area the issue of human rights along with the issues of sustainable development and international peace and security. We believe that human rights should never be viewed as a tool of exercising pressure or achieving political ambitions. The principles of impartiality, transparency and non-politicization declared by the United Nations when dealing with this theme must be implemented in practice and should help establish a result-oriented dialogue where states would undertake specific obligations in the area of human rights and then work to implement them.

We should work to build up the authority of the United Nations Human Rights Council and make full use of the potential of the Universal Periodic Review and the Special Procedures. We view the HRC 2011 review as an opportunity of a further revitalization of the work of the Council.

The Republic of Kazakhstan has put forward its candidature from the Asian region to the Human Rights Council for 2012-2015, with the elections in May of 2012.

43. We believe it is necessary to give a new momentum to eradicating the causes and minimizing the consequences of the escalation of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. We attach great significance to the High-level Meeting in commemoration of the 10^th Anniversary of the Durban Declaration and the Program of Action which will be a unique opportunity to bring together the opposite positions and shape a new paradigm of public and inter-state relations.

44. We note the significance of inter-faith dialogue as a basis for bringing together the positions of countries on the issue of the defamation of religions. We stand for a more active search of mutually acceptable relations for the elimination of religious intolerance and making it synonymous with unlawful and subversive activities. In view of Kazakhstan, it is inadmissible to exploit religion for the purposes of certain groups.

We believe that an open intercultural and inter-faith dialogue helps strengthen peace and security; therefore, our country will continue to implement our initiatives on promoting tolerance and accord in the international arena.

The Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions has become an indispensable and effective element of the global inter-faith dialogue in the modern world. At the same time, the Congress plans to give the role of the conceptual platform for dialogue to the Council of religious leaders the establishment of which will be discussed during the 4^th Congress on May 30-31, 2012.

We note significant progress in the work of the Alliance of Civilizations. Kazakhstan is a member of its Group of Friends.

Kazakhstan intends to continue its active cooperation in the framework of the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation and work with the participating United Nations member states, UN system and religious NGOs.

45. Kazakhstan is a member of the Groups of Friends United against Human Trafficking, and as such we support all the efforts of international community directed against this form of modern slavery. We call for further implementation by all UN member states of the Global Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons adopted at the 64^th Session of the UN General Assembly.

We call upon all states to ratify, as soon as possible, the international treaties related to human trafficking, including the Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and the three Protocols thereto.

46. Since Kazakhstan is a transit country and a destination of migrants, we pursue our migration policy in strict compliance with the most fundamental international legal instruments in order to observe human rights and freedoms at the time of an increase in migration flows. Our main efforts are aimed at using the positive aspects of migration and minimizing its negative consequences.

47. We support the activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at all levels, in particular, in view of the deteriorating situation in the North of Africa and the Middle East, which leads to forced displacements and loss of shelter as a result of conflict and persecution. We stand for non-politicization of the UNHCR activity and the preservation of entirely humanitarian and social essence of its work adapted for new conditions of higher migration flows and the use of refugee protection mechanisms by terrorist elements.

48. Kazakhstan is firmly committed to the cause of consistent development of regional cooperation with the aim of ensuring security and economic prosperity of all the countries in the region.

We support the efforts intended to intensify and develop cooperation between such regional organization as OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation), OSCE, SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization), CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization), CIS and EEC (Eurasian Economic Community) with UN organizations and agencies.

We advocate the use of the platforms of the United Nations and regional organizations for implementing preventive diplomacy for the prevention of the emergence of destructive conflicts based on a comprehensive analysis of obvious and hidden threats of conflicts, as well as on tolerance and accommodation. Kazakhstan attaches great importance to the activities of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia located in Ashgabat.

49. Kazakhstan will focus on the subject of tolerance in general during our Chairmanship in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in 2011.

The Astana meeting on June 28-30, 2011 was a landmark event in the development of this key, authoritative organization. Thus, for the first time after its establishment in 1969, the Organization of Islamic States got a new name – the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) which became an evidence of its transformation into a more united and effective international alliance. In this connection, a new emblem of OIC was approved.

In Astana we managed to resolve an issue that had been discussed for a long time, namely, the setting up of the Permanent and Independent Human Rights Committee along with the approval of its Charter and criteria for its activity which became an important event for the democratic development of Islamic world.

The following will also be priority issues for Kazakhstan during our Chairmanship of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers: promotion of trade and economic interaction with Muslim countries; mutually beneficial cooperation with economic entities of the OIC, including the IDB (the Islamic Development Bank). Kazakhstan is committed to the strengthening of bilateral and multilateral relations in economy, finance, science and technology, education and culture. We will always strive for more profound cooperation between Central Asia and OIC. During our Chairmanship of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, we intend to play a constructive coordinating role with the aim of taking effective collective measures for the benefit of the peoples of North Africa and the Middle East.

During its term as the Chairman of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, Kazakhstan intends to make an important contribution to implementing all aspects of the 10-year Program of Action of this regional organization.

50. In view of our interaction with the United Nations for almost 20 years and our understanding of the role of the Organization for further development of Central Asian countries, we make an appeal to support our initiative to set up a regional center for multilateral diplomacy in the territory of our country. This will contribute to advancing the efficiency of 19 offices of UN organizations, programs, funds and special agencies located in Almaty, most of them having the status of regional or sub-regional organizations. The joint ECE-ESCAP office for North and Central Asian countries that is expected to open in 2011 could contribute to the activities of this center.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Astana

August 2011