Comments of a Belgian Expert on Central Asia about "Nursultan Nazarbayev peace and accord formula"
Upon Kazakhstan’s independence in 1991, one of the most pressing challenges was the risk of inter-ethnic conflicts. At the time, voices forecasting large-scale armed conflicts and the loss of statehood in the post-Soviet space abounded. A considerable number of social, economic, political challenges had to be overcome as independent Kazakhstan emerged from the rubble of the Soviet Union.
Aware of these risks, to ensure the inter-ethnic harmony among the over 100 ethnic groups living in the territory of Kazakhstan, first President H.E. Nursultan Nazarbayev build the new nation according to the following principles (among others): secularism, the preservation (and de-politicization) of inter-ethnic harmony and diversity and the equality of all citizens regardless of ethnic and religious affiliations. These principles were formalized with the establishment of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, an advisory body bringing together representatives of 130 ethnic groups, created in 1995, which has helped define the parameters of Kazakh identity.
Thirty years later, we observe that Kazakhstan has been able to maintain domestic peaceand ensure security and stability by promoting a national identity with which all ethnic groups living in Kazakhstan can identify with.
As we approach the 30th anniversary of independence and we reflect on the pathway taken by Kazakhstan over these three decades to ensure domestic stability, harmony and peace at home, these values have translated into the foreign policy and diplomatic outreach of Kazakhstan. As is often said, foreign policy is an extension of domestic policy, and Kazakhstan’s international cooperation and diplomatic approach is reflective of this.
Efforts to maintain inter-ethnic harmony at home–developed, as mentioned before, out of an initial need for state survival– have provedhighly effective over timeand constitute one of the hallmarks of Kazakh diplomacy, recognised throughout the world. To this end, Kazakhstan launched in 2003 the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, an inclusive platform for dialogue that embraces religious leaders from the leading faiths (Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shintoism, Zoroastrianism…) and policymakers from around the globe; held every three years. To a certain extent, the success of this initiative rebukes to some extent arguments about an impending “clash of civilizations” espoused by Samuel Huntington and other scholars.
Another of thedefining features of Kazakh diplomacy also finds its genesis in the early years of independence, namely its renunciation of its nuclear arsenal, at the time the fourth largest in the world. This step earned Kazakhstan the status of a global advocate of arms control and nuclear non-proliferation, and the UN General Assembly has recognized 29 August, theday when Kazakhstan shut down the Semipalatinsk testing ground, as the official International Day against Nuclear Tests.Other proposals made and actions
taken by Kazakhstan related to nuclear non-proliferation make it a leader in
nuclear disarmament.Here we can mention the creation in 2006, together with other Central Asian Republics, of the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, by which these countries commit not to manufacture, acquire, test, or possess nuclear weapons. One last example is the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) Bank which became operational in Kazakhstan in 2019. At a time of growing concerns over nuclear security, the LEU Bank is part of global efforts to create an assured supply of nuclear fuel to countries (strictly for civilian use) in the event of market disruptions or similar occurrences.
It is fitting that the first major Kazakhstani initiative to mediate at the
highest level of international politics occurred in the nuclear field. I am referring here to the 2013 Almaty talks on the Iranian nuclear programme.
Kazakhstan’s role as international mediator took extra visibility during the Astana peace talks on Syria from 2017 onwards (complementing the Geneva talks), during which, for example, an agreement was reached to create four de-escalation zones within Syria. Notwithstanding the situation on the ground.
These days, with the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan coping the headlines of all major media outlets around the world, Kazakhstan has taken the proactive stance to temporarily host the offices of United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) and other UN agencies until the situation on the ground is stabilised. Afghanistan, it should be added, has been an increasing focus of Kazakhstan’s nascent humanitarian diplomacy.
It is worth noting that at the tender age of just three decades, most countries would still be considered too young to play a significant role in the resolution of global challenges and would instead be focused into ensuring the fundamental needs of sovereignty, political stability and economic sufficiency.
Bordering the two largest countries in Eurasia – Russia and China – it has managed to maintain equidistance with major powers. There are, in my opinion few states at a comparable level of development, size and population that play such a significant role in regional and international organizations. Therefore, as a middle power with moderate influence, Kazakhstan has consistently been punching above its weight.
As this article has briefly outlined, Kazakhstan has emerged as an important player in the
world of mediation of international disputes, alongside its high profile in multilateral organizations (for instance, Kazakhstan was the first country member of the United Nations Security Council). Achieving peace, stability and inter-ethnic harmony at home as earned Kazakhstan reputation as a neutral, capable mediator and honest broker in the international scene. It is therefore safe to conclude that Kazakhstan will continue to contribute to global diplomacy, making the world safer, more stable, and more secure.
Alberto Turkstra, Project Manager, Diplomatic World Institute