FARUKH SHEHZAD

ANKARA, Oct 12: Kazakhstan continues to fulfill its obligations under the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the country’s defense minister said on Wednesday.

“No crisis within the intergovernmental military alliance,” Ruslan Zhaksylykov said. “Let’s rely on our state, on our legislation. We comply with all the established norms, everything is in order with us,” he added, urging against speculation on the alliance.

The statement comes two weeks after top military officials and defense ministers gathered for a meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a regional Eurasian bloc of post-Soviet countries.

On Sunday, CSTO member Kyrgyzstan announced the cancellation of the alliance’s military exercises a day before they were scheduled to begin.

No statement was released on the reason behind the cancellation, but it came amid border tensions between Kyrgyzstan and neighboring Tajikistan, also a CSTO member.

The CSTO was founded in 1992 and consists of six former Soviet states, namely Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.

--------------------

Nur-Sultan, JAN 22: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited Almaty on Wednesday for the first time since clashes there left dozens dead, vowing to repair damage to oil-rich Kazakhstan’s largest city and financial hub.

“The task now is to rebuild the city in the shortest possible time (…) I have no doubt the city will be restored,” he told a government meeting, according to a statement on the presidential website.

The visit comes on the eve of the start of the announced withdrawal of a Russia-led military contingent of more than 2,000 troops that were sent to help restore order after peaceful protests gave way to violence and looting.

“Tomorrow begins the organised withdrawal of the peacekeeping contingent” from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the alliance led by Moscow, confirmed Tokayev.

Almaty showed further signs of a return to normal life Wednesday with many more people out on the streets than last week and most restaurants and shops open.

AFP correspondents saw helicopters flying overhead as Tokayev met officials in the the city where municipal services were cleaning up broken glass from shop windows smashed by looters.

Tokayev said Russian and allied forces “played a very important role in terms of stabilising the situation in the country”.

“Without a doubt, it was of great psychological importance in repelling the aggression of terrorists and bandits. The mission can be considered very successful,” he added.

Tokayev also spoke with relatives of law enforcement personnel killed in the riots and visited injured people in hospital, the presidential website said.

---------------------------

Courtesy Anews

---------------

• Dr. Zarema Shaukenova, Director, KazISS says 2022 will mark another significant year of diplomatic years between Pak, Kazakhstan

ISLAMABAD, NOV 25: A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KazISS), Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan and Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad, Pakistan.

The MOU calls for cooperation and collaboration between the two institutions in areas of interest including research. The two institutions agreed to collaborate in various joint projects including conferences, seminars, roundtable discussions, and research.

The MOU Signing symbolizes the beginning of a fruitful partnership between both think tanks which will eventually benefit Pakistan and Kazakhstan at bilateral level.

Dr. Zarema Shaukenova, Director, KazISS, expressed interest in initiating joint analytical research projects. Furthermore, she stated that 2022 will mark another significant year of diplomatic years between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.

Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director CGSS stated that CGSS has an extensive experience of working with various think tanks and institutions of Kazakhstan in areas of research, academics, and exchange programs.

Arman Tynabek, Deputy Head of Missions, Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Islamabad stated that the Embassy has always extended support to facilitating collaboration between various institutions of Pakistan and Kazakhstan.

Embassy is pleased to support this partnership which will eventually play a significant role in further enhancing the bilateral relations of two countries. Furthermore, we also appreciate the important role of CGSS and efforts in enhancing the relations of the two countries.

The MoU was signed by Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director CGSS and Dr. Zarema Shaukenova, Director, KazISS signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions.

-----------------------------------------

Direct air connectivity between Pak, Kazakhstan to further enhance public relations: Sanjrani

ISLAMABAD, NOV 12: Ambassador of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Kistafin met Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani at Parliament House. During the meeting both dignitaries discussed exchange of delegations at parliamentary and trade level between Kazakhstan and Pakistan.

Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani said that excellent economic relations between Pakistan and Kazakhstan will help further promote bilateral cooperation and economic and trade relations will also lead to significant progress in the development of the region.

Chairman Senate praised the steps taken to make economic and trade relations effective. The Chairman of the Senate said that direct air connectivity between Pakistan and Kazakhstan would be further enhanced and help promote public relations.

Sanjrani further said that “Fraternal and friendly relations between the two countries are an important part of our foreign policy,” the Chairman of the Senate said. The Upper House has Kazakhstan, Pakistan Friendship Group, which can further coordinate parliamentary relations between the two countries.

Ambassador of Kazakhstan praised Pakistan’s culture and hospitality and said Kazakhstan values its relations with Pakistan.

Kazakhstan’s ambassador told the Chairman Senate that delegations were gaining momentum at the trade level to strengthen trade and economic ties.

The Kazakhstan Business Forum is going to meet in which a delegation from Pakistan’s business community will participate.

He said steps are also being taken to promote cooperation in science and technology, education and other fields.

Chairman Senate praised the steps taken to make economic and trade relations effective. The Chairman of the Senate said that direct air connectivity between Pakistan and Kazakhstan would be further enhanced and help promote public relations.

Pakistan and Kazakhstan also have excellent relations at the level of international forums. Chairman Senate said Pakistan and Kazakhstan have often taken a similar stand on international and regional issues.

He said that the promotion of parliamentary relations would bring stability through cooperation in economic and economic sectors. Pakistan is working to further strengthen the promotion of connectivity with central goods countries.

Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani said institutional cooperation would help further enhance public relations.

Civil aviation will also be spoken to in this regard, he said. Chairman Senate said there are vast opportunities for investment in Pakistan. Kazakhstan’s investors can make use of investment opportunities in Pakistan.

---------------------------------------------------------

ISLAMABAD, SEP 1: Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Yerzhan Kistafin called on the Federal Minister of National Food Security and Research Fakhar Imam in his office in Islamabad Wednesday.

The meeting was also attended by the Vice Chancellor of Quaid-e-Azam University Mr. M. Ali and Director General Islamic Research Institute, International Islamic University, Dr. M. Zia-ul-haq. Federal Minister for National Food and Security Syed Fakhar Imam said that the trade between the two countries is approximately $60 million. He said that the trade between the two countries has huge potential and can be increased significantly.

He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has put high priority on the development of high tech, construction and agriculture sector. Minister said that technological exchange between Kazakhstan and Pakistan can enhance the agricultural sector of the country.

The two dignitaries discussed agricultural trade between the two countries. Fakhar said that Pakistan has immense agricultural capacity which can allow Pakistan to increase its exports. Minister said that in the last 40 years, 2 million Chinese students have attended foreign universities which has become the backbone of the rise of the Chinese economy.

He said that Pakistan needs to focus on its human resource if it wants to successfully tackle the challenges of the day. Fakhar said that the business community of the two countries should have direct linkages which can lead to transfer of relevant technologies and can lead to increase in FDI in the country as well.

Fakhar Imam said that cooperation amongst countries at every level needs to be increased if the world wants to move towards sustainable and nature friendly development. He further stressed that the future is in the hands of the youth and hence their quality of education needs to be at par excellence.

Fakhar welcomed and appreciated the 200 scholarships offered by Hungary to the Pakistani students. Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mr. Yerzhan Kistafin extended an invitation to Fakhar Imam to attend the “KazAgro/KazFarm-2021”.

He said that KazAgro is a major exhibition of modern technologies, equipment, tools and services for the production/ storage/ processing/ logistics of agricultural products in Kazakhstan.

Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mr. Yerzhan Kistafin said that the agricultural bilateral trade between the two countries has immense potential.

He said exchange of agricultural technologies can enhance the productivity of agriculture in Pakistan and thus should be a primary area of focus. Both dignitaries agreed to enhance trade and exchange of technologies in the agriculture sector. 

=======================

NUR-SULTAN, APR 6: The Head of State decreed to appoint Akan Rakhmetullin as the Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, on Monday, Apr 5.

Born in Almaty is the graduate of the Almaty Energy Institute, Diplomatic Academy of Kazakh MFA. Prior to the appointment, he served as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan.

----------------------------------------------------------

COURTESY inform.kz

--------------

NUR-SULTAN, APR 5: Kazakhstan aims to strengthen bilateral relations with Turkey in the field of communications to benefit from its experience and expertise, said the country's information and social development minister on Sunday.

Aida Balayeva spoke to Anadolu Agency ahead of her two-day visit to Turkey set to begin on Monday.

Recalling that Turkey was the first country to recognize Kazakhstan's independence in 1991, Balayev said Turkey has always stood by Kazakhstan. "Despite its own economic difficulties during the 1990s, Turkey unconditionally invested in Kazakhstan," she said.

Noting that Turkey-Kazakhstan diplomatic relations will complete 30 years next year, Balayev said: "The productive partnership and interaction between our countries will continue to expand."

Cooperation between Anadolu Agency and Kazinform

The minister said that a cooperation agreement was signed between Kazakhstan's state news agency Kazinform and Anadolu Agency in 2018.

"Today, very close cooperation has been established between the news agencies of the two countries. The agencies share daily news, photos, and images with each other. They are currently planning to implement joint projects to mark the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan's independence."

She pointed out that the previously created union of Turkic language news agencies is not active enough.

"We can think of creating a common platform again between media organizations and their representatives. We can organize this platform within the framework of Astana Media Week," an annual event to develop domestic media field and promote business relations in the industry at the regional level.

----------------------------------------------------

COURTESY anews

--------------

ISLAMABAD, MAR 7: Akan Rakhmetullin, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Pakistan visited Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad and had a meeting with Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director, CGSS.

During the meeting Akan Rakhmetullin presented a certificate of appreciation to Khalid Taimur Akram and other CGSS members for their dedication and active participation in the celebration of the 1150th Anniversary of Abu Nasr Al-Farabi, the great philosopher and scientist. These certificates are presented on behalf of Kazakhstan’s ministry of Culture and Sports.

Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram also briefed regarding the Regional Integration Center, University of the Punjab, Lahore and put forward projects and initiatives to include the academic sector of Kazakhstan in Regional Integration Center.

Akan Rakhmetullin appreciated the contribution of CGSS in strengthening cultural cooperation between Kazakhstan and Pakistan.

------------------------------------------------------

COURTESY cgss

-----------

NURSULTAN, JAN 2021: Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed further political modernization and outlined his 2021 priorities for the Kazakh Parliament and government at the Jan. 15 opening of the first session of the Parliament of the seventh convocation.

At the end of the last parliamentary elections, two Kazakh political parties were just a few percent away from earning seats in the Majilis (lower house of the Parliament). The President proposed to reduce the mandatory vote threshold from seven to five percent for more political parties to be able to enter the Majilis and, thereby, increase the political competition.

“The time has come to make such a decision. Such a rule will stimulate legally registered parties to participate in the next elections,” he said. “This initiative will expand representation, and allow us to take into account the opinion of the widest possible layers of the population when developing state policy.”

In addition to that, he proposed to return the option “none of the above” to the ballots because “the concept of alternative views and voting against all should be considered normal in Kazakhstan.”

The President informed the citizenry about the upcoming akim (governor) elections in rural districts in Kazakhstan. These elections should “strengthen the system of local self-government at the grassroots level,” he stressed.

The Jan. 10 Kazakh parliamentary elections coincided with Kazakhstan’s 30th anniversary year of independence. In this historical year, Tokayev called on the deputies to focus their efforts on building “an effective state and a just society.”

“The main priority is to improve the quality of life and increase the well-being of citizens. The people are waiting for a full return and concrete results from the socio-economic programs we have implemented,” he said.

Tokayev instructed the Parliament to make every effort to develop the rule of law and strengthen government approval.

“The essence of reforms in this area lies in the reasonable decentralization of the system, modernization of the state apparatus, optimization of the quasi-public sector, and digitization of all procedures. Thus, the state apparatus will become as compact, open, and efficient as possible, and the decision-making process will become flexible and transparent. Socio-economic development is impossible without proper protection of the rights of citizens,” Tokayev said.

The President also stressed the importance of modernizing social policies, education, healthcare, and pension systems. In addition to this, Tokayev instructed the Kazakh government to prioritize the progressive growth of the national economy, continue countercyclical macroeconomic policies to support economic activity, as well as to focus on creating favorable conditions for doing business.

“Given the dynamic transformation of the labor market, it is necessary to stimulate the flow of labor from low-productivity to more productive sectors of the economy. As I said earlier, the industry of our country should be flexible and adaptable to change,” said Tokayev.

Another priority will be the infrastructure connecting regions, cities, districts, and villages. According to him, the government will modernize more than 3,500 villages and repair roads between villages and all national highways.

Tokayev concluded that the Parliament is the locus of all activities aimed at protecting the interests of the country. He called on the deputies to make decisions with a sense of the highest responsibility and to always remember that the Kazakh people expect positive changes.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

COURTESY norwaynews

-----------------

The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast host Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) speaks to Catherine Putz, The Diplomat’s managing editor, about the January 2021 elections in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

Click the play button to the right to listen. If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here; if you use Windows or Android, you can subscribe on Google Play here, or on Spotify here.

If you like the podcast and have suggestions for content, please leave a review and rating on iTunes and TuneIn. You can contact the host, Ankit Panda, here.

------------------------------------------------

COURTESY thediplomat

------------

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh political party leaders debated on Dec. 30 live on air on the Khabar national television channel with seats in the Majilis (lower house of the Parliament) at stake. The citizens watched the pre-election debates live unlike the last debates in 2016 that were pre-recorded.