Kazakhstan - the universal bridge between the East and the West

«The foreign policy remains continuation of domestic policy of the state» - N.A.Nazarbayev noted.

For me as for the citizen of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan is the brotherly and friendly country. The political relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are at rather high level. Bases of the relations between two countries were put by the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. The relations develop very dynamically, successfully and positively.

Thanks to peace-loving and constructive foreign policy favorable external conditions for social and economic development of the state are framed. In 20 years in economy of Kazakhstan it is involved more than 150 billion dollars of foreign investments. Leading companies of the world participate in exercise of large infrastructure projects in the country. Legal veneering of frontiers of Kazakhstan became the most important achievement of foreign policy.

Everything in 20 years of independence the Republic of Kazakhstan managed to reach successes to which some countries go for blepharons. Today Kazakhstan the authoritative member of the world community who as equals with leading powers participates in the solution of actual global and regional problems. Kazakhstan managed to build friendship both with the West and with the East, both with Muslims and with Christians. At the republic there are a lot of partners and friends on all planet and it, the most important.

As the President noted, for years of independence Kazakhstan achieved appreciable foreign policy successes on the world scene, became the authoritative and responsible member of the world community. Today Kazakhstan as equals participates and makes the contribution to the solution of actual regional and global problems of safety. Kazakhstan built friendship and adjusted mutually beneficial cooperation with many countries of the near and far abroad. Presidency in OSCE, EurAsEC, SCO, OIS, ODKB and Turkic Council became the sign of high international authority of the state in recent years.

The locating of Kazakhstan in the neighbourhood with political and economic giants does priority a vector of foreign policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Providing originally civilizational world order of the XXI century relying on will of the majority of members of the world community, its real and potential centers of influence will depend and on success of developing confidential partnership of strategic character between the states, being formed architecture of the international relations.

In so short to historical measures the period of RK assigned to itself reputation of the responsible subject of the international relations.

As the member of the United Nations for last years Kazakhstan managed to take an appreciable place in this authoritative multilateral structure. A number of the Kazakhstan initiatives is supported by the world community that promoted creation of favorable international image of RK. Some are at an advance stage. So, the republic suggested to frame Fund of peacekeeping efforts of the United Nations, to accept Global power-ecological strategy, put forward a large-scale ecological initiative "Zelyony Most" and some other ideas. Kazakhstan also advances the candidate in non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for 2017-2018.

It is forward cooperation of Kazakhstan with UNESCO, a being global platform for dialogue in such key for mankind development spheres, as education, a science, culture and communications develops. Work on expansion of representation of the Kazakhstan objects in the List of the world heritage of UNESCO proceeds. Three masterpieces of cultural and natural heritage of Kazakhstan are at present brought in it – "Hagi Ahmed Yasavi's Mausoleum", "Petroglyphs of an archaeological landscape of Tamgala" and "Sara Arch – steppes and lakes of Northern Kazakhstan". At recent session of General conference of UNESCO the offer of RK on declaration of the International decade of rapprochement of cultures from 2013 to 2022 is accepted.

Kazakhstan carries consistently out work on statement SVMDA as an authoritative forum. The initiative of Kazakhstan is surveyed today by the world community as a unique interstate platform for carrying out dialogue and consultations, decision-making and exercises of measures on the basis of consensus on safety problems in Asia.

Presidency in OSCE and carrying out the Summit of the Organization in Astana in December, 2010 became one of the largest achievements of domestic diplomacy. Year of presidency in OSCE forever was included in the bright line into the chronicle of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Astana’s summit became one of the largest international events of the first decade of the XXI century.

Presidency of Kazakhstan in the Shanghai organization of cooperation in 2010-2011 was successful. Anniversary meeting of Council of heads of states – members of SCO, taken place on June 15 the current year in Astana became its culmination. Results of the summit promoted further rising of a role and RK place in the solution of global and regional questions of foreign policy.

The important event, attention of the Islamic countries and world mass media, the 38th session of Council of ministers of foreign affairs of the Organization of the Islamic cooperation, passed in Astana was on June 28-30, 2011 drawn. The Astana’s occurring became the most important political event of the current year in Muslim community. During presidency in OIS it is planned to put forward a series of ideas, including on dialogue expansion between the Islamic world and the West.

During the whole years of Independence Kazakhstan allocated an important place for development of the relations with the states of the CIS, including within multilateral integration interaction. In 1991 President Nursultan Nazarbayev emphasized that "at the heart of future relations between the independent states the spiritual unity of the nations fostered not by one generation of our ancestors" will lie. At the initiative of the Kazakhstan party the Concept of further development of the CIS and the plan of the main actions for its realization are approved. These documents define the priority directions of cooperation for the long-term period and are urged to "resuscitate" Commonwealth activity.

One of foreign policy priorities of RK on the former Soviet Union is cooperation within the Organization of the Contract on collective security.

The Republic of Kazakhstan intends and to make from now on efforts on interaction development under the aegis of ODKB, to building of its potential with a view of providing the world and stability in the region.

Large achievements characterize cooperation of Kazakhstan within the Eurasian economic community. The main efforts were concentrated to formation of the Customs union of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation.

In 2010 – in a year of presidency of RK in EurAsEC – the Single customs tariff is installed, the Customs code of the Customs union came into force. Now necessary events for start since January 1 of next year of the following stage of integration – Uniform economic space are held.

For years of Independence Kazakhstan became the important partner of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Central Asia. Now the republic actively uses mechanisms of cooperation with Alliance with a view of safety strengthening. Cooperation with NATO in the field of extreme civil planning, a science and public diplomacy fruitfully develops.

Kazakhstan is interested in strengthening of mutually advantageous partnership with the Council of Europe, in view of his high international authority and a leading role in the field of the European democracy.

Kazakhstan aspires to play a role of the universal bridge between the East and the West, making use of the internal experience – model of conservation and strengthening of an international consent. An important contribution of the republic to world and dialogue cultural development between religions is the initiative on declaration of 2010 International year of rapprochement of the cultures, reflected in the resolution of the 62nd session of General Assembly of the United Nations in December, 2007.

The initiative of the Head of state about convocation of Congress of leaders of world and traditional religions became a concrete contribution of Kazakhstan to association of spiritual and moral potential of world religions for the solution of the international conflicts and counteraction to modern threats. In total in RK 3 similar congresses took place. Now larger organizational work on preparation for carrying out in Astana in May, 2012 of the fourth forum of spiritual hierarchies is carried out.

In foreign policy of Kazakhstan essential value is allocated for a question of unity and revival of spiritual heritage of the people of the Turkic world.

For last years Kazakhstan became the participant of 49 multilateral universal conventions in the field of the humanitarian law and human rights.

In February, 2010 of RK successfully presented the first Universal periodic review within Council of the United Nations for human rights which reflected the significant progress reached in Kazakhstan in the sphere of protection of human rights.

Kazakhstan in which territory there are such ecologically dangerous zones as the Aral Sea and the former Semipalatinsk nuclear range, uses foreign policy tools for the solution of questions of environmental protection and conservation of global climate. Being the chairman in the International fund of salvage of Aral, the republic in common with the countries – founders of fund actively started development of the Action program on assistance to the countries of the basin of the Aral Sea for 2011-2015.

Confirming the commitment to active assistance of the United Nations in counteraction to drugs threat, Kazakhstan offered conditions for establishment in the territory of the Central Asian regional information and coordination center for fight against a drug trafficking.

RK joined all 13 international universal conventions on fight against terrorism. Kazakhstan strictly carries out decisions of Security Council and annually represents the National report on the done work in Counter-terrorism committee of the United Nations.

Modern domestic diplomacy adjoins practically to all spheres of vital activity of the state and its citizens. Today it is difficult to imagine policy, economy, transport, medicine, culture, sports, a science, education and other spheres of life without participation or diplomacy assistance. All this demands high professionalism, profound knowledge, experience, diligence and patriotism.

For example, one of the main objectives of consular service the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of RK is protection of the rights and interests of the Kazakhstan citizens abroad. According to the Border service of KNB, more than 4 million departures of Kazakhstan citizens annually are abroad made. These are nearly 25 % of the population of the country.

Quite often consuls should represent itself as lawyers, and also to assist compatriots at emergence of force majeure – natural disasters, technogenic catastrophes or during operations in flashpoints.

Thus, the foreign policy of the country in its conceptual measurement and in the planned priorities declares Kazakhstan as about the Eurasian factor of the international relations. In spite of the fact that for the last decade the most important priorities of foreign policy of RK remain invariable, the Kazakhstan management quite pragmatically aspires to diversify the relations, to adjust wide cooperation and to show diplomatic activity through a multivectorial course.

Summing up in 20 years, it is possible to tell with confidence that the foreign policy which is carried out under the direction of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, was exclusively fruitful and successful. But the foreign policy isn't necessary on a place; it is directed in the future. Within further realization the accent becomes on transition to multilevel and multiplane foreign policy. In it the perspective direction of development of the Kazakhstan diplomacy for the good of the state and each citizen of the country is concluded.

Gashimova Eliza Zakir kyzy