Statement
by Her Excellency Mrs. Byrganym AITIMOVA
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan
to the United Nations before the General Assembly
on agenda item 109:
“Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization”
(New York, October 8, 2007)
Mr. President,
At the outset, I would like to pay tribute to the Secretary-General for his
comprehensive report on the work of the Organization, which covers multifaceted
activities of all United Nations institutions.
Indeed, this has been a most challenging, crucial and fruitful year
in the United Nations history. The Secretary-General and the Organization have
taken bold and practical steps in several important areas, namely, security,
peace-keeping, development, preventing climate change, promoting inter-religious and intercultural dialogue, as well as institutional reforms.
We are encouraged by the firm conviction of the Secretary-General that
the United Nations must not shrink from the challenges and many pressing needs
in the world today and we are strongly convinced that they can best be addressed
collectively, through the world’s only truly universal instrument, the United Nations.
At the 2005 World Summit, all Governments committed themselves to implementing comprehensive national development strategies to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
It is obvious, that the Millennium Development Goals can be achieved only through
active engagement of the entire international community on the basis of partnership and cooperation. We fully share Secretary-General’s opinion that we need to narrow the gap between aspiration and achievement and we commend his firm decision to make the Goals a central priority for the Organization.
Kazakhstan is committed to its obligations to reach the Millennium Development Goals
and steadily implements long-terms development Strategy “Kazakhstan?2030”. This year
we celebrate 10th anniversary of adoption this important for our country document, which determined main directions of social and economic development of Kazakhstan for a long-term period.
In 10 years of implementation the Strategy Kazakhstan has successfully completed the transfer stage and now steadily enters into a development stage of new quality. The Government’s major task in economic policy consists in country’s joining the Top-50 most competitive world economies within the upcoming decade.
Climate change and sustainable development. Conservation of climate on our planet is a problem affecting the interests of all mankind and of every nation. We share the view of the Secretary-General, that overcoming climate change will contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, alongside the wider sustainable development goals agreed at the World Summit in 2005
Kazakhstan takes concrete measures to tackle the environmental problems at national and regional level. We work on establishing a Eurasia Water Center – a major science and production association that would develop break-through technologies of water management and tackle environmental problems of watersheds in the region. Besides, a Solar Center for Renewable Resources and Sources of Energy - the first in Central Asia—is to be established.
Kazakhstan is fully aware of its share of responsibility for ensuring a global energy balance and security. To promote further diversification of energy delivery to consumers and also to provide assurances to energy producers, Kazakhstan proposes to adopt a Eurasian Pact on Stability of Energy Delivery.
A global solution to climate change will require a global response and we attach great importance to international discussions of post-Kyoto regime. Kazakhstan welcomes and fully supports the process of negotiations that are to continue in Bali at the 13-th Conference of Parties to the UNFCC later this year.
Conflict prevention and peacemaking. International peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the United Nations remain the most efficient tool to prevent and settle crises and ensure global and regional stability.
Kazakhstan firmly supports UN peacekeeping activities and efforts to strengthen the Organization’s peacekeeping capacity.
Speaking of Asia, we have to mention the issue of the establishment of a continental arrangement of preventive diplomacy. That has become possible due to the implementation of Kazakhstan’s initiative to convene the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), declared by the President of Kazakhstan during the forty-seventh session of the General Assembly in 1992.
Today, the CICA process brings together 18 states and a number of observer states and international organizations. Time has proven the relevance of the CICA process, within which a political dialogue among Asian states is gaining momentum. We also appreciate the establishment at Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) of a United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia and express our readiness to closely cooperate with the Center and our neighbors in order to strengthen regional capacities for conflict prevention.
Combating terrorism. The threat of terrorism to international peace, security and development remains a pressing issue for the international community. We support efforts of the international community aimed at developing practical measures to strengthen security mechanisms and improve legal instruments to have better coordination of anti-terrorism cooperation. Kazakhstan attaches great importance to establishing the international legal base that would allow for efficient and quick response to terror attacks and their timely prevention. To this end, we encourage Secretary-General to take measures to facilitate soonest finalizing of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.
Kazakhstan attaches importance to the strengthening of regional and sub-regional cooperation to combat terrorism as well as the role of regional organizations and forums to eliminate this threat. To this end, Kazakhstan highly appreciates efforts of such international bodies as Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), CICA, and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which make a significant contribution to actions of the international community aimed against international terrorism.
Disarmament and non-proliferation. Kazakhstan shares high expectations, expressed by the Secretary-General, that the Conference on Disarmament would be able to make a break through in multilateral disarmament diplomacy solving long-standing disagreements over its program of work. We believe that preserving this forum is the responsibility of the whole international community.
Kazakhstan believes that the conclusion of a Fissile Materials Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT) is essential for nuclear disarmament and the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons. We believe that the start of negotiations on an FMCT will be a significant step towards nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
History chose that man made his first flight into space from the territory of Kazakhstan and we are strongly convinced that space, as the common heritage of humankind, should be used only for peaceful purposes. Therefore, we support the initiative of the Russian Federation and China to elaborate a legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space and on the threat or use of force against space objects.
Humanitarian affairs. We believe it is important to increase coordination and cooperation of UN bodies, other international organizations, and governments on the national level in order to prevent and overcome consequences of natural disasters for the sake of saving many people’s lives. In this regard, we attach particular importance to the establishment by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) of Central Asian Disaster Response Coordination Centre in Kazakhstan.
In general, delegation of Kazakhstan welcomes the Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization. However, taking into account that issues of gender mainstreaming and equality as well as empowerment of women gain increased attention and importance in international agenda, we would like to see in the future reports of the Secretary-General more detailed and comprehensive information and analyses devoted to these issues.
In conclusion, I would like to stress, that eventual success in attaining our objectives in the field of security, development and human rights will be assured only through the close coordination and support from all members of the international community and Kazakhstan will responsibly and actively participate in all major UN activities.
Thank you for your attention.
Statement
by H.E. Mr. Kassymzhomart Tokaev,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan,
during the general debate at the sixty-first session
of the United Nations General Assembly
(New York, 22 September 2006)
Madam President,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First of all, I would like to congratulate you, Madam President, on your
election to this high office and express confidence that under your skilful
stewardship the sixty-first session of the United Nations General Assembly
will be successful and fruitful.
Last year's World Summit has reaffirmed the role of the United Nations
as an indispensable and universal forum for taking important action on
today's burning issues. The Summit's decision to carry out the United
Nations reform, the most radical in its history, is a case in point. We
are now in a position to give a preliminary assessment of the work in
that area. The results, unfortunately, are mixed.
On one hand, helpful decisions have been taken to establish new elected
bodies within the United Nations system - the Peacebuilding Commission
and the Human Rights Council. They have been set up thanks to intensive
efforts of all delegations, which have been able to reach a compromise
through negotiations.
On the other hand, lack of any progress on the issue of reforming the
work of the General Assembly and the Security Council seriously impedes
the institutional reform of the Organization. In our view, further delays
in that process might have a negative impact on the United Nations efforts
in the areas of international stability, security and development.
For the delegation of Kazakhstan the current session is, in a way, an
anniversary session - we are taking part in the work of this forum for
the fifteenth time. Consistently advancing its national interests at the
international arena, my country is firmly committed to the purposes and
principles of the United Nations Charter.
The establishment in Asia of a mechanism of cooperation to enhance regional
security and stability, known as the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building
Measures in Asia (CICA), has been one of Kazakhstan's first initiatives,
put forward from this rostrum in 1992. We can safely claim that the initiative
has proved its viability and has become an important factor of international
relations at this juncture, as evidenced by the outcome of the second
CICA Summit, held in Kazakhstan last June. The documents adopted by the
CICA, such as the Catalogue of Confidence-building Measures and the Agreement
on the Establishment of the CICA Secretariat, create propitious conditions
for regional cooperation and multilateral dialogue in Asia.
Kazakhstan invariably calls for an enhanced nuclear-weapon non-proliferation
regime. This position is rooted in the sufferings of our people, who are
still reeling from negative effects of nuclear explosions at the Semipalatinsk
nuclear testing ground, shut down exactly 15 years ago by a decree of
President Nursultan A. Nazarbayev. This position has been supported by
a historic decision of my country to voluntarily renounce its nuclear
arsenal, which used to be the fourth largest in the world.
We want that step to serve as a commendable example in the light of
the ongoing large-scale crisis that has struck the global security system.
Regrettably, lack of any results at the last NPT Review Conference and
the United Nations Disarmament Commission remains a major challenge for
the international community.
It is time to take coordinated efforts to overcome that crisis. The process
in that direction has already made a good start. The Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free
Zone in Central Asia, signed on 8 September 2006 in Semipalatinsk, is
a demonstration of political will of five Central Asian States - Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The signing of that
milestone instrument could become a catalyst for the process of enhancement
of the NPT. We believe that tangible progress in that area is possible
if all Member States comply with their obligations regarding nuclear disarmament
and vertical and horizontal proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The Central Asian States are ready to continue consultations with the
permanent members of the Security Council on the issue of that Treaty's
entry into force.
In our view, the States concerned should strictly comply with their
commitment to a moratorium on nuclear test explosions and work to ensure
the entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. All peaceful
nuclear programmes should be carried out in a transparent manner, under
the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
It is a matter of great concern that the crisis has extended not only
to strategic but also to conventional weapons. Regrettably, Member States
have so far failed to devise common approaches to the Programme of Action
in this area.
We have to step up efforts to tighten national export control mechanisms.
I refer, first and foremost, to dual-use materials and technologies, as
well as to missiles and means of delivery of weapons of mass destruction,
with full and strict compliance with the provisions of a Security Council
resolution adopted in 2004.
The possibility of weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands
of terrorists is a matter of grave concern. To prevent such a scenario,
we have to push for the accession of all United Nations Member States
to the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear
Terrorism.
We live in a world where tensions between States and armed conflicts
are still very much part of everyday life. The crisis in Lebanon has highlighted
yet again the need to use effectively the United Nations capacity to maintain
international peace and security. Since the early days of the conflict,
Kazakhstan has called for the strengthening of the Security Council role
in the settlement of that crisis.
The deployment of a strengthened contingent of United Nations peacekeepers
in the conflict zone was the only viable solution to that large-scale
crisis.
Regrettably, lack of an effective mechanism to prevent the break up
and spread of armed conflicts remains a serious problem. In our view,
the establishment of a United Nations Preventive Diplomacy and Conflict
Prevention Center in Central Asia remains a relevant proposition. That
Center would focus on the provision of advice and expertise to the countries
of the region, taking into account their national interests and security
considerations.
It is vitally important to find out how belated adoption of the Security
Council resolution on Lebanon agrees with the process of the United Nations
system reform. Inefficiency of the institutional system of the United
Nations and lack of broad understanding among Member States negatively
affect global and regional stability and security.
The Security Council reform is taking way too long. The existing status
quo is not in the interests of United Nations Member States themselves
and that the final solution can be found only through constructive dialogue.
The issue of an enhanced status of the General Assembly is still pending.
Kazakhstan believes that through reform we have to strengthen the role
of all States in making decisions on major international issues.
Kazakhstan has decided to run for the Economic and Social Council. We
express our appreciation to those Member States that have supported our
nomination. If elected, we intend to actively participate in the work
of that important United Nations body on all substantive items of its
agenda.
Speaking from this high rostrum, I feel obliged to express serious concern
about the surge of international terrorism. Recent explosions in Iraq
and Turkey and an aborted London terror plot indicate that this global
threat is clearly growing. It is impossible to counter that threat without
consolidated efforts by the entire international community. To speed up
the implementation of relevant counter-terrorism conventions and Security
Council resolutions, we have to strengthen cooperation between Member
States at the United Nations. An early conclusion of a comprehensive convention
on international terrorism is very much on our agenda.
With illegal routes of delivery of Afghan drugs from Asia to Europe
running through its territory, Kazakhstan exerts every effort to address
that threat. Yet it is clear that no country in the world can deal effectively
with it on its own. That fight can be effective only if we join our efforts
and mobilize resources of the United Nations and its specialized agencies.
It is precisely for that reason that Kazakhstan has supported the United
Nations initiative to set up in Kazakhstan a Central Asian Regional Information
and Coordination Center for Fighting Illegal Drug Trafficking.
We welcome the results of the General Assembly plenary on migration
and development. We believe that those discussions have helped to lay
the ground for a regular dialogue on that issue among all parties concerned.
As a country of destination, transit and origin of migration, Kazakhstan
is willing to take an active part in the search for solutions to the problems
of illegal migration, labour migration and protection of the rights of
migrants.
In our view, development issues should remain in the focus of attention
of the international community. The timely and effective realization of
the Millennium Development Goals will grow in importance as we approach
2015.
Kazakhstan supports decisions on development issues taken at major international
conferences and United Nations summits and calls for their timely and
effective implementation. As the largest landlocked country, Kazakhstan
urges the international community, first of all the developed countries,
to take every effort to meet the needs of the least developed and developing
landlocked countries.
Structural reforms, carried out since its independence, have totally
transformed Kazakhstan. Today, it is one of the most dynamic States of
the world that has set ambitious goals to promote further development.
Average growth of GDP over the last 5 years was at 10 percent. The World
Bank has included Kazakhstan in the top 20 most attractive economies for
investment. The Government works to ensure that Kazakhstan joins the ranks
of the most competitive economies. To reach that target, we have developed
an industrial innovative economic development programme and finance relevant
projects through a special national fund. All basic development institutions
have been put in place. Negotiations on Kazakhstan's admission to the
World Trade Organization are in the final stages.
Programmes are being implemented to use the transport and transit capacity
of the country and large-scale projects are being carried out to integrate
the country's transportation infrastructure into the Eurasian transportation
system.
Kazakhstan renews its commitment to the Millennium Development Goals.
The UNDP report, issued on the eve of the 2005 World Summit, demonstrates
that our country has made great strides in that area.
As a major exporter of energy resources, Kazakhstan will continue to
pursue its policy to ensure their delivery to world markets through multiple
routes.
With the growing economy the Government is consistently increasing social
spending, primarily in health care, education, employment and other areas.
The efforts being taken have made it possible for the World Bank to rank
Kazakhstan as a successful State with a dynamically growing economy.
We pay close attention to the promotion of democracy, building of civil
society and enhancement of interethnic and interfaith accord inside the
country. Our accomplishments here are evident. My country, home to more
than 100 ethnic groups and practically all religions, is a model of tolerance,
accord and stability.
It is no accident that Kazakhstan has hosted a forum of leaders of world
and traditional religions. The second congress has just completed its
deliberations in Astana. Religious leaders adopted a declaration calling
for an active dialogue among religions. We cannot allow the use of religious
differences as an instrument of hatred and strife and we have to save
humanity from a global clash of religions and cultures. The Congress has
become Kazakhstan's contribution to global dialogue among religions.
Kazakhstan carries out a balanced foreign policy based on our long-term
national interests and aimed at the development of friendly ties with
the neighboring countries and all interested countries of the world.
As the current Chair of the Commonwealth of Independent States, my country
has devised a plan to reform that organization in order to enhance its
capacity.
Kazakhstan has been working actively in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
and the Eurasian Economic Community and supports the Collective Security
Treaty Organization.
Leading the other post-Soviet countries in many areas, Kazakhstan has
always assumed responsibility for the implementation of international
initiatives, be it its decision to shut down the Semipalatinsk nuclear
testing ground or to voluntarily renounce nuclear weapons or its initiatives
to convene a regional security forum in Asia (CICA) or to hold a Congress
of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions or to host the first global
conference on transit transport cooperation or to organize a session of
the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee away from Headquarters.
In 2007, Kazakhstan will host the sixty-third session of UNESCAP, which
turns 60.
We express our appreciation to all States that have supported Kazakhstan's
candidature for OSCE Presidency on 2009.
Kazakhstan will continue to be active on all key items of the global
agenda and will contribute to the implementation of important decisions
adopted at the United Nations.
In conclusion, I would like to quote a popular saying in my country:
"Nothing can be farther than yesterday and nothing can be closer
than tomorrow". A year ago, at the World Summit, we agreed to take
action to reform the United Nations. We should not forget that humanity
pins its hopes for better future on the United Nations as an indispensable
organization. It is high time to take specific and effective action to
raise the prestige of our Organization.
Thank you for your attention.
Other statements at the General Assembly
(since January 2005)
Statement by H.E. Ms. Byrganym Aitimova, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan
to the United Nations at the thematic debate of the General Assembly on the theme: “Recognizing the achievements, addressing the challenges and getting back on track to achieve the MDGs by 2015” English
Statement by Ms.Aida Alzhanova, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan
to the United Nations at the informal consultations of the General Assembly on the theme: “UN System Wide Coherence”,
New York, 17 April 2008 English
Statement by H.E. Mrs. Byrganym Aitimova, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan
to the United Nations at the informal consultations of the General Assembly on the theme: “UN System Wide Coherence”, New York, 28 March 2008 English
Statement by Her Excellency Mrs. Byrganym Aitimova, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan
to the United Nations before the General Assembly on agenda item 9, “Report of the Security Council”, and item 124, “Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and related matters”,
New York, 12 November 2007 English
Notes for intervention at the Meeting of the
“Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and increase in the Membership of the Security Council and other Matters related to the Security Council”, December 14, 2007 English
Statement by H.E. Ms. Byrganym Aitimova, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations at the Plenary Meeting
of the 62nd Session of the General Assembly
on the Situation in Afghanistan; New York, November 5 2007 English
Statement by H.E. Ms. Byrganym Aitimova, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations at the informal meeting of the General Assembly
on the “Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Related Matters”; New York, May2007 English
Kazakhstan’s position at the sixty-first session of the United Nations General Assembly; New York, September2006 English
Statement by H.E. Mr. Yerzhan Kazykhanov, Ambassador, Permanent Representative
of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations, before the General
Assembly on agenda item 102: "Report of the Secretary-General on
the Work of the Organization" New York, 2Oct2006 English
Tokaev - 61st session General Debate 22Sep2006 English
Russian
Statement by H.E. Mr. Yerzhan Kazykhanov, Ambassador, Permanent Representative
of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations, before the General
Assembly on agenda item 110: "Report of the Secretary-General on
the work of the Organization" New York, 29 September 2005 English
Statement by H.E. Mr. Kassymzhomart Tokaev, Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Kazakhstan, during the general debate at the sixtieth
session of the United Nations General Assembly New York, 18 September
2005 English Russian
Statement by H.E. Mr. Kassymzhomart Tokaev, Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Kazakhstan, at the High-Level Plenary Meeting of the
sixtieth session of the United Nations General Assembly (UN Summit) New
York, 15 September 2005 English Russian
Statements by H.E. Mr. Yerzhan Kazykhanov, Ambassador, Permanent
Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations, on
the 13th Informal meeting of the plenary to discuss the revised text of
the President's draft outcome document of the high-level plenary meeting
of the General Assembly of September 2005 New York, 28 July 2005 Statement
1, Statement 2, Statement
3, Statement 4
Statement by H.E. Mr. Yerzhan Kazykhanov, Ambassador, Permanent Representative
of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations, at the informal meeting
of the plenary on the draft outcome document of the High-level Plenary
Meeting of the General Assembly of September 2005 New York, 22 June 2005
English
Statement by Mr. Sagadat Nurmagambetov, the former Minister of Defense
of the Republic of Kazakhstan, five-star general veteran of the Second
World War, at the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in commemoration
of the sixtieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War New York,
9 May 2005 English Russian
Statement by H.E. Mr. Yerzhan Kazykhanov, Ambassador, Permanent Representative
of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations, at the Informal Thematic
Consultation of the General Assembly on the Report of the Secretary-General:
"In larger Freedom Towards Security, Development and Human Rights
for All" Cluster IV (Strengthening the United Nations) New York,
28 April 2005 English
Statement by H.E. Mr. Yerzhan Kazykhanov, Ambassador, Permanent Representative
of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations, at the Informal Thematic
Consultation of the General Assembly on the Report of the Secretary-General:
"In larger Freedom Towards Security, Development and Human Rights
for All" Cluster I (Freedom from Want) New York, 26 April 2005 English
Statement by H.E. Mr. Yerzhan Kazykhanov, Ambassador, Permanent Representative
of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations at the Informal Thematic
Consultation of the General Assembly on The Report of the Secretary-General:
"In Larger Freedom: towards security, Development and Human Rights
for All" Cluster II (Freedom from Fear) New York, 21 April 2005 English
Statement by H.E. Mr. Yerzhan Kazykhanov, Ambassador, Permanent Representative
of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations at the plenary meeting
of the General Assembly on the Report of the Secretary-General "In
larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all"
New York, 7 April 2005 English Russian
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