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Central Asia

Photo: Kairat Umarov, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the UN and President of the Security Council for the month of January, speaks to press following Security Council consultations on the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) and other matters. 22 January 2018. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Loey Felipe

By Santo D. Banerjee

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – Kazakhstan has elicited praise for highlighting Afghanistan and Central Asia during its first ever presidency of the Security Council in the month of January. An end-of-the-month "wrap-up" session also reflected appreciation for putting spotlight on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and confidence building measures.

Kazakhstan is the first Central Asian country to be elected to the 15-nation Security Council as a non-permanent member for the two-year period 2017-2018.

"Central Asia is represented on the Security Council for the first time in the history of the United Nations," said Council President Kairat Umarov, Kazakhstan's Permanent Representative to the UN.

UN INSIDER

Photo: Escorted team from UNAMID’s Governance and Community Stabilization Section is pictured on its way to Birka area, North Darfur. The purpose of the trip, which took place on 2 February 2018, was to conduct a peace conference for farmers and herders as part of the Mission’s support to peaceful coexistence and stability between the two communities. Credit: Mohamad Almahady, UNAMID.

By J Nastranis

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – In a presidential statement on Darfur by Kazakh Ambassador Kairat Umarov, Security Council President for January, has welcomed improvements in the security situation, as well as the on-going absence of armed clashes between Government forces and the armed opposition, in addition to the extension of unilateral cessations of hostilities by both sides.

The presidential statement (S/PRST/2018/4) issued on January 31 said: "The Security Council also welcomes improvements in the humanitarian situation, including increased humanitarian access throughout Darfur and the return from Chad and the Central African Republic of more than 5,000 refugees in recent months."

UN INSIDER

Photo: Kairat Abdrakhmanov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and President of the Security Council for the month of January 2018, addresses the Security Council meeting on Maintenance of International Peace and Security. 18 January 2018. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.

By J Nastranis

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – As conflicts escalate in different geographic areas all over the globe, the 15-nation Security Council has underlined an urgent need for redoubled efforts for their prevention and resolution, addressing where appropriate the regional dimensions of conflicts with specific emphasis on regional diplomacy and arrangements. The Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security

In presidential statement (S/PRST/2018/1), presented by Kairat Abdrakhmanov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and Security Council President for January, veto-wielding five permanent members and ten non-permanent members underline the need for continuing to strive towards sustainable peace and achieving a world free of violent conflicts by 2045, the year of the UN's Centenary.

UN INSIDER

Photo: Kairat Abdrakhmanov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and President of the Security Council for the month of January, opens the Security Council meeting on maintenance of international peace and security, with a focus on building regional partnership in Afghanistan and Central Asia as a model to link security and development. Secretary-General António Guterres is seen to his right. 19 January 2018. United Nations, New York. Credit: UN Photo/Manuel Elias

By J Nastranis

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – The 15-nation United Nations Security Council has reiterated its commitment to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan and the Central Asian States. Before debating the pressing challenges ahead, the Council adopted a presidential statement on January 19, expressing its continued support to the UN Secretary‑General’s call to action to avert threats.

The presidential statement S/PRST/2018/2, presented by Kazakhstan's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kairat Abdrakhmanov, whose country holds the Council presidency for the month of January, reiterates the Council's concern over the continuing threats to the security and stability of Afghanistan.

THE WORLD
Central Asia

Photo: UN Security Council debates on Afghanistan and Central Asia. Credit: UNAMA.

By António Guterres, UN Secretary-General

Following are extensive excerpts from UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Security Council debate on building regional partnership in Afghanistan and Central Asia to link security and development, on January 19. The debate was convened by the Council's Kazakh presidency for the month of January. – The Editor.

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – The entire international community has a stake in peace, stability and development in Afghanistan, and the countries of Central Asia have a particularly important role to play.

Sustainable development is a fundamental end in itself, enabling people, communities and societies to flourish and fulfil their potential. But, sustainable and inclusive development is also an important factor in preventing and ending conflict, and in sustaining peace. Only by addressing the root causes of crisis, including inequality, exclusion and discrimination, will we build peaceful societies resilient to terrorism and violent extremism.

THE WORLD
Asia-Pacific

Photo: Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan and President of the Security Council for the month of January, addresses the Security Council meeting on Non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, with a focus on confidence-building measures. 18 January 2018. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.

By Santo D. Banerjee

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – In the run up to the fiftieth anniversary of the UN inviting nuclear haves and have-nots to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) on July 1, 1968, Kazakhstan has proposed a set of six measures aimed at the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and offered a platform for disarmament negotiations with North Korea.

The initiative has been launched on January 18 at the high level briefing of the Security Council which focused on the theme of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction: confidence-building measures convened by Kazakhstan in its capacity as the Council President for the month of January. And this at a point in time when, as UN Secretary-General António Guterres says, "global anxieties about nuclear weapons are the highest since the Cold War."

ARMAMENTS
Nuclear Weapons

Photo: General view of the Security Council meeting on non-proliferation by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 15 December 2017. Credit: UN Photo/Manuel Elias.

By Alyn Ware

Alyn Ware is Global Coordinator of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament (PNND).

NEW YORK (IDN) – Kairat Umarov, President of the UN Security Council for January, has announced that Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev will chair a special session of the Council on January 18 on the issue of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Confidence Building Measures (CBMs).

The session is being called in order to provide a focus on the resolution of political issues that give rise to States relying on weapons of mass destruction – especially nuclear weapons.

"Today we should pay more attention to the building of trust and confidence among political leaders and among countries," Kazakh Ambassador Umarov told a press conference at the UN on January 2, announcing the session. "Without this, none of the issues will be solved. This is what today's world is lacking."

UN INSIDER

Photo: Ambassador Kairat Umarov (centre, on dais), Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the UN and President of the Security Council for the month of January, briefs journalists on the Council’s programme of work for the month on January 2 at the UN Headquarters in New York. Credit: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.

By J Nastranis

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – Two days after the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued "a red alert for our world", the new Security Council President Kairat Umarov has presented a content-rich agenda for the January programme of work of this vital organ of the world body which bears primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

Umarov is Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the UN in New York – the first Central Asian country ever to chair the Council for January. Kazakhstan joined the Council as non-permanent member on January 1, 2017 for two years.

UN INSIDER

Photo credit: The Astana Times

By Ramesh Jaura

BERLIN | UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – When Kazakhstan joined the 15-nation United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on January 1, 2017 as a non-permanent member for two years, President Nursultan Nazarbayev pledged "adapting the . . .Council and the entire UN system to the threats and challenges of the 21st century."

"We will seek to strengthen the understanding of Security Council members on the importance of creating a renewed model of international relations that accurately reflects the realities of the 21st century and shapes a collective responsibility for meeting global and regional challenges," President Nazarbayev declared.

UN INSIDER

Photo: Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev met October 31 with the heads of Russian, Turkish, Iranian delegations as well as a delegation of observers from the U.S., Jordan and the UN. Credit: Akorda.kz

By Jaya Ramachandran

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – As Kazakhstan prepares to chair the UN Security Council for the month of January 2018, the Central Asian country's contribution in the process of de-escalation of the nearly seven-year old conflict in Syria has been commended during Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov's recent visits to London and Vienna.

The applause has come in the run-up to the eighth round of the Astana Process on Syrian peace meant to supplement UN-brokered peace talks in Geneva, in Kazakhstan's capital city, on December 21-22. The first round of talks was launched in January 2017, nearly one month after the foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey, and Russia agreed to do so pursuant to the UN Resolution 2336 adopted December 31, 2016.

SUSTAINABILITY
Peace & Justice

  1. Kazakhstan Committed to Sustainable Development and Mutual Prosperity in Central Asia
  2. Security Council Delegation Visits Kabul Before Kazakhstan Assumes Presidency for January

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IDN-InDepthNews offers news analyses, features, reports and viewpoints that impact the world and its peoples. It has been online since 2009. Its network spans countries around the world.

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