KAZAKHSTAN’S MEMBERSHIP IN THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL: PRIORITIES AND EXPECTATIONS

KAZAKHSTAN’S MEMBERSHIP IN THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL: PRIORITIES AND EXPECTATIONS On June 28, 2016, Kazakhstan was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a twoyear term beginning in January 2017. Thus, Kazakhstan has become the first Central Asian country to be elected to the world’s most important political body that has the primary responsibility for maintaining global peace and security. Moreover, Kazakhstan is the second only Turkic-language state to become a UNSC member after Turkey that served in this capacity in 1951-1952, 19541955, 1961, and 2009-2010, and Ankara exerted every effort to support Kazakhstan’s candidature. Astana publicly announced its intention to become a UNSC member in June 2010 and held a comprehensive diplomatic campaign to gain support of the UN member states. The UN General Assembly’s approval of the country’s application became an evidence of Kazakhstan’s positive reputation and growing role in international affairs. Kazakhstan’s working program in the UNSC is based on President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s manifesto “The World. The 21st Century” and has been summarized in his policy address to the UNSC entitled “Kazakhstan’s Concept and Vision for Sustaining Global Partnerships for a Secure, Just and Prosperous World”. In this document, Kazakhstan pledges to work in an open, unbiased, balanced, responsible and constructive manner on the UNSC’s entire agenda and make every effort to promote trust and cooperation among all UN member states. The country’s main UNSC membership priorities include the following: moving towards a world free of nuclear weapons; creating conditions to prevent the threat of a global war; promoting peace, security and development in Central Asia, including Afghanistan; facilitating the formation of a global antiterrorist coalition (network) under the UN auspices; assisting the peaceful development of Africa; contributing to the sustainable development goals of the UN; and adapting the UN activities to the needs of the 21st century. Kazakhstan’s chairmanships in the three UNSC committees – on Afghanistan and Taliban, on ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida, and on Somalia and Eritrea – will help to achieve these goals.

In addition, Kazakhstani diplomacy has identified four transnational issues as the most important areas for global partnership: nuclear security, energy security, food security, and water security. Kazakhstan, as one of the world’s leaders in nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament, has called on all UN member states to set a goal of ridding the world of nuclear weapons by the UN’s 100th anniver-sary in 2045. In this context, Astana will use the UNSC membership to promote its antinuclear initiatives, such as a universal ban on the deployment of lethal weapons in outer space, on the seabed and in international waters, as well as in the Arctic, and prohibition of research aimed at the creation of new types of weapons of mass destruction. Kazakhstan will also strive for expanding the nuclear-weaponfree geographical space beyond the existing five such zones, by trying to intensify international efforts to establish a nuclear-weaponfree zone in the Middle East. At the same time, Kazakhstan will promote safe and secure application of peaceful atomic energy through hosting the IAEA Low-Enriched Uranium Bank on its territory, which will provide non-nuclear states with equal access to civilian nuclear materials.

Nevertheless, in terms of energy security, being an energy-sufficient country, Kazakhstan, has certain national energy security concerns related to regional imbalances in electricity supply and environmental pollution caused by fossil fuels. Therefore, Kazakhstan understands that there is a global need to develop and deploy clean, efficient and affordable energy technologies for diversifying energy supply and reducing greenhouse emissions. It is expected that as part of its UNSC membership Kazakhstan will take practical steps to help promote green economy and renewable energy, as well as to facilitate the implementation of commitments by all parties to the Paris Climate Agreement. With this effort, in June-September 2017, Astana will host Expo 2017, a major international exhibition that will focus on future energy issues, including innovative and pragmatic energy solutions to tackle social, economic and ecological challenges. This event aims to create a global dialogue between countries, nongovernmental organizations, companies and the general public on the crucial issues of sustainable development, environmental protection, and climate change.

Ensuring food security is a problem of global magnitude, with thousands of people dying of hunger and associated diseases and millions facing famine around the world every day. In its UNSC member capacity, Kazakhstan is well positioned to lead international collaboration for eradicating chronic hunger and malnutrition worldwide. Being a leading regional grain and flour producer and exporter, the country has considerable experience of rendering humanitarian assistance to the neighboring countries, including the provision of food aid to Afghanistan and other developing nations in Asia and Africa. Moreover, as the only donor country in Central Asia, Kazakhstan is in the process of establishing its official development aid program through the newly created Kazakhstan Agency for International Development, or KazAID, that will be involved in both bilateral and multilateral humanitarian projects. One of the top priorities in food security will be modernization of agricultural production by investing in rural infrastructure and introducing resourceefficient and environment-friendly technologies. The issue of water security is of no less strategic importance than other security areas as it is about the population’s permanent access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water for sustaining livelihoods, human well-being, and socio-economic development. As the world’s largest landlocked state with limited water resources, Kazakhstan is closely familiar with the problem of water scarcity for satisfying the needs of the population and national economy. Using its experience in addressing the Aral Sea desiccation and managing trans-boundary rivers, Kazakhstan is capable of intensifying multilateral cooperation in responding to the challenges related to water security, such as insufficient supply of clean and safe water, underdeveloped or obsolete water supply systems, inexpedient use of hydro-energy resources, and inefficient agricultural irrigation. Over the next two years, on a daily basis Kazakhstan will be at the forefront of the UN to confront multidimensional threats and challenges to security and stability the world is facing today. Along with conflict resolution, terrorism, disarmament, nonproliferation, sustainable development and environmental protection, Kazakhstan will have to deal with other most pressing issues that are currently on the UNSC’s agenda, such as the migration crisis, territorial disputes, lack of trust and confidence in interstate relations, cross-border organized crime, including drug smuggling and trafficking in persons.

Relying on the UN fundamental principles, Astana will attempt to make a meaningful contribution to the UNSC work and promote win-win scenarios, rather than zero-sum games. Kazakhstan will use its UNSC membership not only to address the key issues of peace and security, but also to draw international attention to the problems faced by Central Asia and advance the region’s interests, as well as to protect the country’s national interests at the global level. Written by Dauren Aben, Eurasian Research Institute, Kazakhstan Politics, Foreign Affairs and Security        The Head of the High Electoral Board of Turkey, Sadi Guven, reported that the official results of referendum were confirmed and the changes to the Constitution of the country were approved. It was noted that, while 25.1 million (51.41%) voted in favor of the amendments, 23 million (48.59%) voted against it.

During his official visit to Moscow, the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, and the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, discussed further development of bilateral relations and ways to ensure security and maintain the current situation in the region. During his official tour to the Caspian region, the Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia, Khalid Abdulaziz Al-Falih, visited Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. During the meeting with the President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the parties discussed further development of trade, economic and cultural relations focusing on the possibilities of implementing joint projects in transport and communication, construction and chemical industries. Moreover, during the meeting with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the sides discussed the opportunities to develop the economic cooperation and increase the bilateral trade and mutual export paying special attention to strengthening cooperation in oil and gas refining. During his official visit to Tashkent, the Foreign Minister of Turkey, Mevlut Cavusoglu, and the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, discussed cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, agricultural and other spheres. In addition, the sides also discussed regional and international issues. During his official visit to Baku, the First Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleg Hladkovskiy, and the First Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Yagub Eyyubov, discussed the creation of joint production of goods in defense sector for further sale to the third countries. The parties also discussed the issues of bilateral military and technical cooperation.

During his Central Asian tour, the Special Representative for Central Asia, Ambassador of the EU, Peter Burian, visited Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. During his meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Abdulaziz Kamilov, the parties discussed perspectives of developing cooperation in political, trade-economic, investments and financial-technical spheres. Moreover, during his meeting with the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission, senior representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Members of Parliament of Kyrgyzstan, the parties discussed further steps for the democratization of the country.

The Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan reported that a working meeting among the specialists in chemical, biological and radiological weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) armed forces was held within the framework   of the bilateral cooperation plan for 2017 between the Azerbaijani and Russian Defense Ministries. During the meeting, the participants shared their experiences gained by the military structures of Azerbaijan and Russia in defense against chemical, biological and radiological WMDs.

According to the Operational Command South of Ukraine, the country’s Armed Forces held military exercises in the Nikolayev and Kherson regions (in Southern Ukraine) close to Crimea. It was noted that neither shooting practice nor missile launches are planned during the drills. According to the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan, a group of 54 servicemen of the country’s Armed Forces returned from Afghanistan to Baku in accordance with the rotation plan. It was noted that the group was in charge within NATO-led non-combat Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan.   .

Economy, Finance and Energy      The First Deputy Head of the Gas Export Department of the state oil company of Azerbaijan, SOCAR, Nazim Samadzade, reported that the volume of commercial gas production in Azerbaijan will reach 40 billion cubic meters per year until 2025. It was also noted that up to 800 million cubic meters of gas is annually supplied to Georgia and over 6.6 billion cubic meters is delivered to Turkey from Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz gas condensate field, while 1.5 billion cubic meters is needed to meet domestic demand. The press service of the President of Uzbekistan reported that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, took part in the first stone laying ceremony of the modern refining complex in Jizzak region. It is expected that the complex will annually produce more than 3.7 million tons of motor fuel, more than 700,000 tons of aviation kerosine and 300,000 tons of oil products.

The Consortium of Swiss and French companies Alstom Renewable Switzerland and GE Hydro France reported that the company won the tender to reconstruct the At-Bashy hydro power plant (HPP) in Naryn region of Kyrgyzstan. The At-Bashy HPP reconstruction project worth 1.535 billion som ($22.8 million) includes replacement of the main power equipment and extension of the capacity of the HPP by 10%. The At-Bashy HPP is the only source of electricity generation in Naryn region with an annual output of 115-160 million kWh, which covers over 25% of the annual demand.

According to the Head of the Huawei Enterprise Business Group in Russia, Cao Chong, the company plans to spend $3 million on the implementation of joint projects with Russia in 2017. It was also noted that the company spent about $2 million on advanced training for its partners in Russia, certification of products and implementation of marketing strategy. Moreover, in 2016 Huawei increased the number of its Russian partners by 18% year-on-year to 470 companies. The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Economy of Turkmenistan reported about signing the contract with the Swiss company   John Deere International GmbH for purchasing agri-machinery, outfit, spare parts and consumables. Supplies of advanced farm machinery (1.350 pieces in total) will be carried out in 3 installments during 2017-2020. In the first stage, 150 new John Deere W540 combine harvesters will be supplied with the start of the grain-harvesting campaign in 2017.

The Chairman of the State Border Service of Kyrgyzstan, Azamat Sulaimanov, reported that $280 thousands of budgetary funds have been used for equipping the checkpoints in Kyrgyzstan. It was noted that these funds were spent on buying equipment for informatization, movable labs in 7 checkpoints, and vehicles. The Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Ali Ahmadov, reported that $6.71 billion (out of $8.83 billion of total investments in the country) were invested in the construction sector in 2016. It was noted that more than 2.29 billion out of these $6.71 billion were invested in fixed assets.

According to the CEO of the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund of Kazakhstan (UAPF), Nurbubi Nauryzbayeva, the net amount of investment income in JanuaryMarch 2017 reached 51.5 billion tenge ($163.1 million). It was noted that in the first quarter of 2017, the pension assets increased by 153 billion tenge ($490.2 million) and comprised 6 trillion tenge ($19.8 billion) as of April 1 2017. In JanuaryMarch 2017, the amount of payments from the UAPF equaled 77 billion tenge ($244.9 million).

The state owned automobile company of Uzbekistan, Uzavtosanoat, reported that the country produced 88,200 automobiles in 2016. It was also stated that the company started to export its products to seven countries in 2016. These countries include Middle Eastern countries (Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq) and Africa countries (Ghana, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria).

Society and Culture     Prepared by Lidiya Parkhomchik, Hayal Ayca Simsek, Daniyar Nurbayev The Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan announced that being committed to the principle of Islamic solidarity, the country provided humanitarian aid to Yemen via the Azerbaijan International Development Agency (AIDA) established in 2011.

The Ambassador of the U.S. to Kyrgyzstan, Sheila Gwaltney, announced a donation of over 130,000 books to 80 children’s libraries across the country. The books will be delivered through USAID Reading Together Project. The Director of Manned Space Program Office of China, Wang Zhaoyao, reported that the country plans to begin the construction of its own orbital station in 2019. It was noted that the construction of the station would be underway between 2019 and 2022. The President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, established new medals Yel korgany (Defender of the Motherland) of the 1st and the 2nd degree by signing corresponding decree.