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Kazakhstan

Astana Can Initiate OSCE Reforms. Expert View

Kazakhstan can give an impulse to the OSCE restructuring and balancing the three baskets of the Organization during its Presidency in OSCE in 2010, claimed the Head of the Foreign Policy Studies Department of Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies at the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bulat Auelbayev. READ MORE

Customs Triumvirate Wants to Join WTO

By Evelina Titova

An unexpected initiative of Moscow doesn't promote WTO joining for Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. The participants of the Customs Union received two variants of WTO joining: together and separately. READ MORE

Kazakhstan: Government Focusing On Domestic Economy, Not Upcoming OSCE Chairmanship

By Joanna Lillis

With Kazakhstan’s parliament now in its fall session, President Nursultan Nazarbayev has made it clear that Astana’s top priority in the coming year is economic rejuvenation, not political democratization. READ MORE

Regional Cooperation In Central Asia: Improving The Western Track Record

Ву Martha Olcott

As the twentieth anniversary of the independence of states of Central Asia approaches, it is appropriate to review what the international community has learned about the efficacy of regional cooperation in responding to the challenges that the Central Asian region has faced. The article attempts to answer the question why the international community; particularly western defined or dominated institutions, have only been partially successful in working with the countries of the region to work towards the amelioration of these issues, and regional cooperation, cooperation between the five Central Asian states has been disappointing. READ MORE

OSCE High Commissioner Discusses Minority Participation, Education During Visit To Kazakhstan

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Knut Vollebaek, urged Kazakhstan to further enhance effective minority participation in the country. READ MORE

Germany - Central Asia: Words Must Be Backed Up By Action

Germany and the EU are ready to help the Central Asian countries improve the region’s water management. Minister of State Gernot Erler underlined this during the second EU-Central Asia conference at ministerial level in Brussels. In 2008 Germany, already recognizing
the problem, started the Central Asia Water Initiative. READ MORE

The promise of emerging democracies

By Nursultan Nazarbayev

The world is remaking itself. Amid pressing economic challenges and multinational security concerns, new alliances are forming. Global commerce along with governments are bringing down borders, opening relationships and creating opportunity. Kazakhstan, like most emerging democracies, is cautiously optimistic, with a pragmatism steeped in the hard lessons of history. Policies have consequences; alliances can liberate as well as captivate. With the stroke of a pen, superpower leaders like Presidents Obama and Dmitry Medvedev of Russia can reverse a decade of tepid relations to put forces and agendas into motion that affect all of us. READ MORE

Kazakhstan Approaches OSCE Chairmanship As A "National Strategic Project"

By Vladimir Socor

Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev has instructed the government to form a State Commission on Preparations for Kazakhstan's Chairmanship of the OSCE. Personally chairing an enlarged inter-departmental meeting on this subject, Nazarbayev described Kazakhstan's chairmanship of the OSCE in 2010 as a "national strategic project." The State Commission should coordinate all aspects of the country's effort, from policy analysis and diplomatic activity to personnel training and public outreach. READ MORE

Astana and the EU Intend to Intensify Bilateral Cooperation on the Eve of Kazakhstan Presidency in OSCE

The Ambassador of Kazakhstan, the Head of the Mission of the Republic to the EU and NATO Erik Utembayev met the Secretary General of the European Union Javier Solana in Brussels. READ MORE

Estonia and Kazakhstan Agreed on Cooperation

During an official visit to Kazakhstan, Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip signed two bilateral agreements within the meeting with Kazakhstan Prime Minister Karim Massimov.  According to the news agency REGNUM Novosti, on September 7th Estonian Government Office received the both agreements – one on the issue of visas abolishment for diplomats of both countries, and on the issue of economic, scientific and technical cooperation. READ MORE