ISLAMABAD : Monitoring Desk – President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has appreciated Turkmenistan’s political course that , he said, has made a significant contribution to stability and sustainable development across the vast Eurasian continent. He supported the Turkmen suggestion of establishment of UN University of Peace and Neutrality. He has emphasized Kazakhstan’s active participation in the development of a Comprehensive Strategy for the Development of Central Asia’s Transport System. President has underscored the importance of UN reform and welcomed the intensification of negotiations on the Ukrainian conflict.
The leader of Kazakhstan took part in the Forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust, the International Day of Neutrality, and the 30th Anniversary of the Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan.
At the beginning of his address, H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and H.E. Mr. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on the 30th anniversary of the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan.
The Head of State emphasized that Turkmenistan’s political course has made a significant contribution to stability and sustainable development across the vast Eurasian continent. According to him, the proposals voiced at the Forum are intended to demonstrate anew the great positive significance of neutrality in the 21st century.
The President of Kazakhstan noted that Turkmenistan’s positive neutrality is organically rooted in the centuries-old cultural traditions and spiritual values of the Turkmen people.
“As the founder of Turkmen classical literature and an outstanding thinker, Magtymguly Fragi, once said: ‘Where there is peace, the state grows stronger; where there is justice, trust grows.’ The ideas of the great humanist Magtymguly essentially represent a unique worldview concept whose relevance in today’s complex international realities raises no doubts,” H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated.
President again underscores the importance of UN reform
The Head of State highlighted the special significance of Ashgabat’s initiative to proclaim the International Year of Peace and Trust, supported by the UN General Assembly.
The President noted that Kazakhstan joined this important resolution, as peace and trust constitute the fundamental basis of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy strategy.
“Despite progress in resolving certain conflicts, the overall global situation remains extremely tense. There is a shortage of such critically important factors as mutual trust, tolerance, and understanding of the importance of peace and cooperation for sustainable development. It is also with great regret that we must note the erosion of international law, its replacement by certain ‘rules,’ and, of course, the decline in the authority and effectiveness of multilateral institutions, primarily the United Nations. Without restoring strategic balance and building a just world order, international stability and security may remain nothing more than figures of speech and good wishes in negotiations and resolutions of multilateral forums. Therefore, Kazakhstan advocates reform of the United Nations, including expanding the membership of the Security Council and strengthening the role of the General Assembly. During the 80th session of the General Assembly, I proposed the creation of a ‘group of like-minded states’ to prepare concrete proposals on reforming the UN system,” he said.
“Kazakhstan welcomes the intensification of negotiations on the Ukrainian conflict”
The President of Kazakhstan considers it important for major powers, by demonstrating political will, to call on UN member states to engage in broad-based dialogue.
H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that Kazakhstan supports the initiative announced today by the Head of Turkmenistan regarding the establishment of a UN University of Peace and Neutrality.
“It is now clear that a fair and sustainable world order will become a reality only when narratives about the inevitability of global confrontation and even nuclear war are rejected, and when militaristic rhetoric is replaced by the language of peace, trust, and cooperation. In this context, Kazakhstan welcomes the intensification of the negotiation process on the Ukrainian conflict.
Following the meeting of the Presidents of Russia and the United States, the key provisions of a peace pact are being actively discussed, which indicates the emergence of an opportunity to achieve the long-awaited peace,” the Head of State noted.
“Kazakhstan’s decision to join the Abraham Accords is driven by the desire to contribute to stabilizing the situation in the Middle East”
H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also expressed support for the settlement of conflicts in other regions.
“We welcome the signing of agreements on the situation in the Middle East. Kazakhstan’s decision to join the Abraham Accords is driven by the desire to make a feasible contribution to stabilizing the situation in this region. At the same time, Kazakhstan supports the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state as the most important factor in resolving this truly protracted military-political crisis. In our view, the signing of the Joint Declaration on Peace by Azerbaijan and Armenia is of historic significance, opening broad prospects for comprehensive cooperation in this region and beyond. We hope for the early conclusion of a full-fledged peace treaty guaranteeing stability in the South Caucasus,” he said.
President of Kazakhstan considers it necessary to continue assistance to Afghanistan
“An important platform for coordinating cooperation in this area is the UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan, established in Almaty. The Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) also plays an active role in strengthening stability and security; this forum has demonstrated its political relevance. We thank our friends for supporting the activities of this forum, including the transformation of CICA into a full-fledged international institution,” he noted.
“This is, in essence, a call to end military violence and seek peaceful solutions” President on the importance of the ‘Movement for Peace’ initiative
H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized that Kazakhstan pays special attention to strengthening interfaith, interethnic, and intercultural dialogue, recalling that for more than twenty years Kazakhstan has regularly hosted Congresses of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
“At the recent 8th Congress in Astana, Kazakhstan put forward an initiative called the ‘Movement for Peace.’ This is, in essence, a call to end military violence and to seek peaceful solutions in the spirit of collective responsibility to future generations. Kazakhstan will take the most active part in the activities of the SCO, an authoritative and successful Eurasian organization with a broad constructive agenda, including security and confidence-building measures. The key condition for global progress and stability is sustainable socio-economic development. Due to growing geopolitical tensions, international sanctions, disruptions in supply chains, technological competition, and many other factors, the global economy is facing its most serious challenges and is slowing down. Fortunately, Central Asia is avoiding stagnation, with all countries in the region demonstrating fairly confident growth. For example, Kazakhstan’s economic growth this year will exceed 6 percent, GDP will surpass USD 300 billion, and per capita GDP will exceed USD 15,000,” he noted.
The President stated that Central Asian countries are actively increasing their transit and transport potential to strengthen connectivity between East and West, North and South.
He noted that Kazakhstan attaches great importance to the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and is modernizing railway, port, and road infrastructure to create a “seamless” transport system.
The Head of State emphasized Kazakhstan’s active participation in the development of a Comprehensive Strategy for the Development of Central Asia’s Transport System.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev draws attention to transboundary water use and the environmental state of the Aral and Caspian Seas
According to the Head of State, ensuring water security requires special attention.
“In conditions of growing water scarcity, its conservation and rational use have already become a strategic, indeed, vital, priority for our country and, I believe, for other states in the region. Issues of transboundary water use and the environmental condition of the Aral and Caspian Seas require urgent decisions and measures. In our view, joint efforts based on mutual compromises could enhance the effectiveness of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, including by inviting Russia to participate as an observer. As for the Caspian Sea, at the current rate of shallowing, this dangerous process may become irreversible, inevitably triggering a chain reaction of environmental, socio-economic, and even political consequences. Kazakhstan has initiated the development of a special Intergovernmental Programme aimed at preventing ecosystem degradation and further shallowing of the Caspian Sea. We call on the entire international community to support our efforts to preserve this unique body of water,” the President said.
Head of State proposes establishing an International Water Organization within the UN system
H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev believes that the development of global water diplomacy requires close intergovernmental coordination.
“There is no specialized structure within the UN system focused exclusively on water issues. Therefore, Kazakhstan proposes establishing an International Water Organization that could consolidate all existing mandates of various UN bodies. An optimal option could be transforming the UN-Water inter-agency mechanism into a full-fledged specialized UN agency or organization. The implementation of this initiative fully aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and serves the interests of the entire international community. In April next year, a Regional Environmental Summit will be held in Astana, where Kazakhstan intends to launch international consultations on the establishment of a global water organization. I am confident that, thanks to shared political will, critically important water-related issues will begin to be addressed systematically rather than in a fragmented manner, as is the case today,” the Head of State emphasized.
In conclusion, H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed confidence that the Ashgabat Forum would contribute to strengthening constructive partnership among interested states and give strong impetus to international efforts to build a just world order based on mutual trust.
