Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov outlines importance of the United Nations In his article published in the leading national newspaper “Kazakhstanskaya Pravda” on October 24, Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov marks the United Nations Day by examining the development of Kazakhstan’s relationship with the United Nations. (The United Nations Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Charter in 1945, when the UN was officially established. It has been celebrated every year since 1948). Minister Idrissov describes Kazakhstan’s successful membership in the United Nations since it joined the Organization on March 2, 1992. The United Nations has been active in Kazakhstan for over 20 years having first opened a representation in the country in 1993. Minister also says that Kazakhstan has actively participated in all of the UN’s main events and has hosted major international forums. Major landmarks in the UN-Kazakhstan relationship have included official visits to Kazakhstan by the United Nations Secretaries-General Kofi Annan in 2002 and Ban Ki-moon in 2010. Ban Ki-moon also participated in the 2010 OSCE Summit in Astana. Minister Idrissov points out that Kazakhstan is a member of almost all special agencies of the United Nations as well as two regional commissions of the organization (UNECE and ESCAP); it is also a periodically-elected member of a number of functional commissions of ECOSOC as well as a member of the Executive Boards of UNICEF, UNESCO and UN-Women. Kazakhstan is also a member of the Human Rights Council (2013-2015). Minister Idrissov emphasizes that Kazakhstan’s involvement in activities of these agencies is based on active participation and not a merely formal role, and that this position has been defined and driven by President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. Erlan Idrissov says: “We view our membership in the United Nations as an opportunity for direct and active participation in resolving issues, promoting initiatives, hosting events and exerting a positive influence on the course of world events.” Kazakhstan has applied for a non-permanent sit in the United Nations Security Council for 2017-2018. Minister Idrissov highlights the key elements of the country’s candidature since formally initiating the process in September 2013. Kazakhstan’s application is focused on ensuring global nuclear, water, food and energy security. The delegation of Kazakhstan conducted bilateral meetings with their UN counterparts to discuss Kazakhstan’s candidature at the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 24-29 in New York. Minister Idrissov says that already, a number of countries have voiced their support for Kazakhstan’s ambition, highlighting the trust in the country among the world community. A further initiative from Kazakhstan has come from President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who proposed to create a regional United Nations Center in Almaty. This idea, first presented to Ban Ki-moon in September 2011, is based on the fact that there is no regional UN center located between Vienna and Bangkok. Minister Idrissov explains, this proposal is based on a strong foundation – Almaty is already home to 18 representative offices of organizations, programs, funds and specialized agencies of the United Nations. Summing up, Mr Idrissov reiterates Kazakhstan’s commitment in using the United Nations structures to resolve pressing international issues of the day and expresses his confidence that Kazakhstan will achieve the strategic goal of becoming a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 17:30:03 +0000
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