The Ambassador of Kazakhstan met at the National Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Ukraine

On October 7, 2021, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Ukraine Darkhan Kaletayev and Director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies of Ukraine Oleksandr Bogomolov met at the National Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Ukraine.

O.Bogomolov was appointed to this position less than a month ago. Therefore, the meeting was aimed at restarting the relations between the Embassy and NISS, taking into account close and friendly relations that already have been established. O.Bogomolov previously headed the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine named after the famous Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar scientist and researcher Agatangel Krymsky.

In this regard, addressing the delegation of the Embassy of Kazakhstan, Mr. Bogomolov stressed that he had experience in relations with the Kazakh side, and this was a good basis for strengthening contacts.

The Ukrainian side expressed interest in expanding ties with Kazakhstan's expert and civil society, including counterpart organizations. This showed the possibility of implementing the approaches of so-called "public diplomacy".

According to O.Bogomolov, in bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Ukraine we should talk about the restoration of those ties that have developed between the countries historically, of course, adjusted for today's regional realities.

The NISS leadership intends to significantly strengthen the status of the Institute, including the country's communication at the international level. The institute is responsible for the content of foreign policy relations.

The director of NISS is optimistic about the prospects of intensifying trade and economic relations with Kazakhstan.

In his reply the Ambassador of Kazakhstan D.Kaletayev congratulated O.Bogomolov on his appointment to such a responsible position and expressed hope that the favorable relations established with the previous leadership of the NISS would be continued.

According to D.Kaletayev, an important mission of the Embassy of Kazakhstan to Ukraine is to expand trade and economic ties, which have declined in recent years. Now there are taken measures to restore mutual trade, including various approaches and logistics solutions. At the same time, the driver of bilateral trade is private business and investors.

The Ambassador outlined his vision of issues that unite Kazakhstan and Ukraine today.

First, it is the figure of the First President of Kazakhstan-Elbasy, who studied and did an internship in Ukraine. The Ambassador stressed that Nursultan Nazarbayev always remembered Ukraine warmly and was keenly interested in what was happening here.

Also there is an understanding that Ukraine has made its choice and Kazakhstan respects it, while offering its experience and opportunities to harmonize the whole set of issues that today fills the regional dimension. The political potential of the First President of Kazakhstan, who enjoys authority throughout the post-Soviet space, could be useful, including for Ukraine.

Secondly, it is the personality of Taras Shevchenko who occupies a very honorable place in both Ukraine and Kazakhstan. The Ambassador noted that he was treated with great respect in Kazakhstan. Streets and museums were named after him. At the same timeto illustrate the importance of Taras Shevchenko for the history of both countrieswere indicatedactive contacts of the Mangistau region where Taras Hryhorovych had been exiled with Ukraine.

The third issue is the Ukrainian diaspora. Even three decades after Ukraine and Kazakhstan gained independence, a significant number of Ukrainians continue to live in our country. In some regions, such as Kostanay region, there are places of compact residence of Ukrainians, where their share in the population exceeds 70%. They lead their traditional way of life preserving the original culture, language, customs, but at the same time successfully adapting to the Kazakh conditions, mastering the Kazakh language and culture.

Ukrainians are well represented in the state bodies of Kazakhstan, including the Parliament of the Republic, which is facilitated by the policy of interethnic harmony. Ukrainians are one of the most active participants in the unique institution of interethnic harmony – the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan.

In addition, D.Kaletayev informed O.Bogomolov about the projects carried out at the initiative of the Embassy, ​​including the organization of the study of Ukrainian archives in the rehabilitation of victims of political repression, which took place in the 1920-30s, as well as archival documents about the Holodomor, prisoners of war from among those who served in the 106th Akmola Cavalry Division and were surrounded by Germans in 1942 (the so-called Barvinkov cauldron).

In general, the meeting was held in a friendly and favorable atmosphere. The parties agreed to prepare a joint international scientific-practical conference dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the independence of the two countries. NISS expressed readiness to conclude a previously developed and agreed Memorandum of Cooperation with the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

They also expressed interest in holding further meetings at the level of experts of the Embassy and NISS on topical foreign policy and economic issues, discussing the scientific works of the staff of the institute.