Politics

MAIN POINTS OF President Nursultan Nazarbayev's Speech at the Istanbul Process Ministerial Conference (Almaty, April 26, 2013)

Ministerial Meeting

• The decisions of the Istanbul Process Ministerial Conference will be important to the long-awaited peace in that country.

Political Future of Afghanistan
• Afghanistan is entering a historic stage. The exit of the ISAF should not be construed as a sign of weakened international focus on Afghanistan. It should signal the transition to a new, peaceful stage.

Almaty Ministerial Conference of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan

On April 26, Kazakhstan hosted the 3rd Ministerial Conference of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan. More than 50 delegations led by the foreign ministers of the participating states and others, gathered in Almaty for the Conference. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev inaugurated the event. It was co-chaired by Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov and Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul.

Istanbul Process Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan

The 3rd Ministerial Conference of the Istanbul Process will take place in Almaty on April 26th, 2013. The Istanbul Process is aimed to foster confidence and increase trust among Afghanistan's neighbors and country involved in the stabilization of this country.

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in regard to the terrorist attack in Boston

"We are aware there are a number of conflicting reports being circulated by the media.

"They suggest the suspects may have spent time in a number of countries, including Kazakhstan. So far we have not established any facts to confirm these rumors. We stand ready to offer our full cooperation to our American partners.

"Kazakhstan strongly condemns acts of terrorism in any form and stands firm in our support for the people of Boston."

New "Employment 2020" Initiative Off to Great Start

Kazakhstan’s new job training and small business incubation program, “Employment 2020,” celebrated its first birthday at the end of 2012 by boasting a doubling of worker enrollment and a four-fold increase in micro loans. These were granted to Kazakhs eager to start their own businesses. The encouraging news – when combined with government economic forecasts of 6 percent growth in 2013 – is evidence that the Central Asian nation’s economy is well-positioned for increased prosperity.

Kazakh Anti-Corruption Chief Visits India, Shares Experience and Advice

Rashid Tusupbekov, Kazakhstan’s top anti-corruption official, attended a three-day international conference from April 9-11 in India to share his country’s experiences on fighting corruption with his counterparts from India and 140 other countries.

Tusupbekov, who chairs Kazakhstan’s Agency for Countering Economic Crime and Corruption, was invited to New Delhi to attend a meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Agencies (IAACA). He provided members of the association’s governing body with examples of the ways Kazakhstan battles corruption.

U.S. Helps Kazakhstan Institute Groundbreaking Civil Service Reforms

The governments of the United States and Kazakhstan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation during a series of high-level meetings in Astana on March 15. The agreement establishes reforms aimed at building the efficiency and capacity of civil services in the Central Asian nation and is one of the serious signs yet of Kazakhstan and the United States’ growing strategic partnership.

Kazakhstan expresses condolences over Boston Bombings event

On the tragic occasions of bombings in Boston, the President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov have conveyed condolences to their counterparts President Barack Obama and Secretary John Kerry.

The 3rd Ministerial Meeting of the Istanbul Process April 26, 2013 Almaty, Kazakhstan

MEDIA ADVISORY
Press Center and Press Conference Hall

The host country provides a Press Center and Press Conference Hall at the Hotel InterContinental Almaty for all accredited media.

The Press Center featured with 120 work stations will be available from 8.00 on April 26 at “Astana” Hall and will be equipped by TV monitors and provision of audio and video signal from the Conference.

Speech by H.E. Kairat Umarov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the U.S., at a Forum "The April 26 Almaty ‘Istanbul Process’ Meeting: Toward Clarity on Post-2014 Afghanistan?” (CACI, April 9, 2013)

Friends,

1.Introduction

It is always great to be here at the Central Asia and Caucasus Institute, which is a primary institution for the study of our region.

Today's topic is very important, as it touches the core of the regional development in the coming years.

Afghanistan is experiencing three transitions: security (as the Afghan National Security Forces take over), political (expected Presidential elections) and economic (as the troops leave, the financial contributions from the foreign countries are expected to decrease).