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| KAZAKHSTAN AT KABUL CONFERENCE |
At the International Conference on Afghanistan in Kabul July 20th, representatives from more than 70 countries – including Kazakhstan - discussed the Afghan government-led plan for improved development, governance and stability.
The Conference marked the culmination of months of intensive study and rigorous policy debate on government priorities implemented through national programmes, to deliver on the key goals of economic growth and job creation in Afghanistan.
Building on commitments made at the recent international London Conference (January 2010), the Kabul Conference wholeheartedly supported a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.
Speeches at the Conference were made by Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton and Kazakhstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Secretary of State and current OSCE Chariman-in-Office, Kanat Saudabayev.
“Within the framework of our Chairmanship of the OSCE” said Mr Saudabayev, “Kazakhstan is working purposefully on consolidating the efforts of the participating States on rendering assistance to Afghanistan within all three dimensions of the Organization’s activities. At the OSCE Informal Ministerial Meeting in Almaty last weekend, President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan reiterated : ‘There is no doubt a new OSCE strategy on Afghanistan is necessary’...
“Kazakhstan’s strategic approach to the Afghan issue became one of the foundations of a historical consensus reached [last weekend] on holding an OSCE Summit in Astana before the end of 2010… On behalf of the OSCE, I would like to express our readiness to assist in electoral reform and our hope that the upcoming parliamentary election of September 18th will contribute to the establishment of the fully-fledged legislative and executive branches of the government and, ultimately, to the building of a stable and democratic state in Afghanistan.
The key goal of the Kabul Conference was to mobilize international confidence and resources for a new generation of ‘bankable’ national programmes in accordance with the Afghanistan National Development Strategy and President Karzai’s inaugural speech of November 2009. Security, development, regional cooperation and reconciliation and reintegration were other themes.
Kazakhstan & Afghanistan – Diplomatic Cooperation
Diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan were established in February 1992. Kazakhstan’s Diplomatic Mission which had operated in Kabul since September 2002 was reorganized into an Embassy in June 2003. From August 2005, A. Smagulov has been the Kazakh Ambassador to Afghanistan. In 1993 the Embassy of Afghanistan was opened in Almaty. In 2005 it was relocated to Astana. From March 2009 Abdul Hay Hayder has been the Afghan Ambassador to Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan & Afghanistan - Political Co-operation
In April 2004, President Karzai paid his first official visit to Kazakhstan. During talks he discussed the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking, ways for Kazakh companies to enter Afghan markets and Kazakhstan’s participation in the programmes of economic reconstruction of Afghanistan.
In May 2010, Kazakhstan’s Kanat Saudabayev visited Afghanistan as Chairman of the OSCE. He was received by President Karzai and had talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Z. Rassoul and EU Special Representative for Afghanistan, Vygaudas Usackas. In the framework of the visit an agreement was reached by both governments on Cooperation in the Fight Against Illegal Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances... Opening of the Kazakhstan's Chamber of Commerce & Industry took place in Kabul. Multilateral relations have also been developing.
Kazakhstan & Afghanistan - Trade & Economic Cooperation
In 2008 bilateral trade turnover reached USD 623.8 million (export – USD617.1 million, import – USD6.7 million). In 2009 trade turnover made USD409.6 million (export – USD408.4 million, import – USD1.2 million). In January-May 2010 it reached USD192 million (export – USD191.3 million, import – USD0.7 million).
The existing route of transportation of Kazakh grain to Afghanistan passes along the territory of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan via the railway stations of Galaba, Gushgy and Termez. There is a weekly direct flight Kabul-Almaty-Kabul run by Afghan airlines Kam-Air.
Kazak-Afghan Intergovernmental Commission for Trade & Economic Cooperation plays an important role in the development of economic relations between the two countries.
The Co-chairman of the Intergovernmental Commission is Vice-Minister of Industry & New Technologies N. Abdibekov from Kazakhstan and Vice-Minister of Trade & Industry Sharif Sarifi from Afghanistan. There have been three meetings of the Intergovernmental Commission: two in Astana (September 2007 and May 2010), one in Kabul (December 2008).
In October 2007 Kazakh Government approved the Action Plan to Support Afghanistan for 2007-2008 that set forth measures aimed at strengthening economic and humanitarian cooperation, including activation of operation of the Intergovernmental Commission, delivery of seeds of traditional agricultural crops, agricultural equipment, mineral fertilizers, investments into the Afghan economy, training of personnel for police and armed forces of Afghanistan, training of Afghan youth for highly specialized and technical professions.
In accordance with the Plan, in July 2008 USD 2.38 million was transferred to the account of the Finance Ministry of Afghanistan for implementation of projects to construct schools in Samangan province (USD 160,000), a hospital in Bamian province (USD 570,000), reconstruction of the asphalt road between Kunduz-Talukan (USD 1.65 million).
In 2010, an additional USD 1.5 million was allocated from the reserves of the Kazakh Government for restoration of infrastructure in Afghanistan.
In October 2008, 2000 tons of bread wheat was delivered to Afghanistan as humanitarian aid. In April 2009, 1.300 tons of powdered milk was delivered. In April 2010 – 6000 tons of rice was delivered.
In 2008 Kazakhstan exported 333,000 tons of grain to Afghanistan, and 512.900 tons of flour. In 2009 it exported 326.500 tons of grain and 762.700 tons of flour to Afghanistan.
In November, 2007 the Kazakhstan National Exhibition was hosted in Kabul – along with a meeting for business circles. Business contracts worth a total USD 85 million were signed during the event.
Kazakhstan & Afghanistan - International Treaty Framework
The treaty framework is based on the Agreement of the Bases of Relationships & Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan signed in April 2004 and ratified by Kazakhstan in 2005.
At present Kazakhstan and Afghanistan are considering draft agreements on interaction in prevention of natural emergency situations and liquidation of their consequences; promotion and mutual protection of investments; intergovernmental motor communication; on culture and information; air communication; on legal cooperation on criminal cases; on transit transportation of passages and cargoes; on cooperation in healthcare.
Kazakh Diaspora
According to data, the overall number of ethnic Kazakhs living in Afghanistan stands at between 650-700 people. According to the committee for Migration of the Ministry of Labor & Social Protection of Population of Kazakhstan, 426 families (1831 people) returned to Kazakhstan between 1991 and 2003 - and 43 families (245 people) in 2004.
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| Date : |
21/07/2010 |
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