Meeting with a representative of the US State Department

On November 29, Deputy Chairman of the Religious Affairs Committee of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Civil Society of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerkin Ongarbayev met with Director of the office for Southeast Asia of the Bureau for democracy, human rights and labor of the us Department of State Michael Keller, employee of the office for Southeast Asia of the Bureau for democracy, human rights and labor of the us Department of State Jessica Rogers, as well as a diplomat of the us Embassy in Almaty Tim O'connor. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan: Ambassador-at-large Zhalgas Adilbayev, as well as adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Azamat Ayat.

During the meeting, the parties discussed issues related to the draft law on amendments and additions to certain legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on religious activities and religious associations.

Acquainted the interlocutors with the religious situation in Kazakhstan, Y. Ongarbayev informed about the ongoing activities in the framework of the discussion of the bill "On amendments and additions to some legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on religious activity and religious associations”, in particular, noted the round table with the representatives of the United Nations and religious confessions in Kazakhstan, and conducted a briefing of the Minister of religious Affairs and civil society of the Republic of Kazakhstan for foreign diplomats accredited in Kazakhstan.

In this context, the Deputy Chairman expressed Kazakhstan's desire to establish secular principles and develop democracy.

The representative of the US State Department, in turn, gave a positive assessment of the state policy being implemented in Kazakhstan, which ensures the protection of women's rights and the development of participation in the political life of the state.

The American side also informed about the preparation of the report of the US State Department on religious freedom and expressed gratitude for the assistance in preparing the report.

In general, the meeting was held in the form of a constructive dialogue, representatives of the American side received exhaustive answers, and it is also worth noting that the meeting strengthened the dialogue between Kazakhstan and the United States in the religious sphere.