Almaty hosted a round table titled “75 Years of the UN: Future Vision”

ALMATY, March 2, 2020 - The UN Office in Almaty recently hosted a round table with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The event involved representatives of UN agencies, the diplomatic corps, public and academic communities.

This event coincided with the 28th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s accession to the UN, on March 2, 1992, and the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.

Head of the Representative Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Almaty Erlan Iskakov noted that Kazakhstan, by reflecting on its experience in constructive multilateral cooperation, is focused on establishing its position as a regional partner for sustainable development. In this regard, one of the country’s strategic priorities is the initiative of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Leader of the Nation Nursultan Nazarbayev to establish the UN Interregional Center in Almaty focusing on Sustainable Development Goals.

Kazakhstan is actively participating and making a significant contribution to the work of UN agencies. It contributes to the development of interactions and dialogues between platforms and regional organizations and systematically implements the main UN program documents.

Making his statement, Head of the UN Department of Public Information in Kazakhstan Vlastimil Samek underlined that over the years of close cooperation, Kazakhstan has become an active participant in the organization’s work and provides effective initiatives to strengthen cooperation and resolve conflicts in the region.

In his New Year address, UN Secretary General António Guterres launched the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the UN, which is dedicated to two priority areas - digitalization and youth involvement. Meanwhile, the Digital Kazakhstan state program adopted by Kazakhstan confirms its commitment to these priorities. Youth involvement is also on the Kazakh government’s agenda. Last year was declared the ‘Year of Youth’, this year is the ‘Year of Volunteers’.

In turn, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the UN (1999-2003) Madina Dzharbusynova noted that as a member of the UN, Kazakhstan has the opportunity to fully participate in developing solutions to pressing global issues. For 28 years, the country has been making significant contributions to the multilateral efforts of this major international organization.

The ambassador focused on Kazakhstan’s main initiatives at the UN in the spheres of strengthening peace and international security, disarmament and reinforcing the regime of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and ending and banning nuclear tests. The participants emphasized that the historical contributions and consistent positions of Kazakhstan in these areas were recognized by the global community through the election of Kazakhstan as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2017-2018.

The event also involved Consuls General of Uzbekistan, Turkey, France, Russia, and China, Kuralay Bayzakova, professor of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Ainur Sabitova, director of the Sorbonne-Kazakhstan Institute at Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University and others. The expert community praised the close cooperation between Kazakhstan and the UN, which has reached a high and strategic level.

The round table was held with the assistance of the Kazakhstan Media Alliance, acting as a moderator of the events in Kazakhstan dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the UN, in partnership with the Representative Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Almaty and the UN Office in Almaty.