YouSaid · the spoken record

Kassymjomart Tokaev

lines on the record: 54
first: 1996-09-24
most recent: 1998-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“We support the trans-Caspian project for an oil and gas pipeline, Baku-Ceyhan, and we view the project for an oil pipeline through the territory of Iran as very promising. It must be noted with regret that mankind will be entering the next century burdened by many serious problems. But, at the same time, there are no grounds for unrelieved pessimism, since the passing century, which witnessed two world wars, the development and testing of lethal types of weapons and a multiplicity of regional and ethnic conflicts, has developed reliable mechanisms — our Organization first among them — for preventing and settling international problems. The cause of peace, security and development is of concern to all States. We must, therefore, all act as a united whole. Kazakhstan is ready to take part in this work for peace and cooperation.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The agreement signed between Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation in July this year on the delimitation of the northern part of the Caspian Sea lays the foundations for a complete settlement of the Caspian problem. It is now important to take concrete steps for the implementation of this instrument, which is in conformity with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. A solution of the Caspian problem is of strategic importance for Kazakhstan. We are interested in reliably ensuring the export of our mineral resources through multiple-option oil-gas pipelines. We expect early implementation of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium project, and we believe that the construction of an oil pipeline from western Kazakhstan to China offers promising prospects.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The Declaration and other documents adopted at the ECO summit in Almaty creates good prerequisites for the creation of a favourable trade climate in relations between the ECO member countries and their potential partners in Europe and Asia. We believe that ECO is a promising organization and has great potential for expanding economic ties in the territories of 10 States with a total population of more than 300 million people. Kazakhstan will work for the further strengthening of cooperation between the ECO and the United Nations. Another issue that must be included among today’s urgent problems is the legal status of the Caspian Sea. We note with satisfaction the progress made in reaching consensus on this complex and delicate subject, which affects the interrelations among the five littoral States.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Our country, with its vast territory, is an important link between Asia and Europe. Our participation in the Transport Corridor: Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA) project will undoubtedly facilitate an increase in the effectiveness of the transport system in the vast area of the Eurasian continent. We place great hopes in the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA), recently adopted by the Economic Commission for Europe and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. 19 Kazakhstan, as the Chairman of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), intends to make a real contribution to stepping up the activity of this important regional forum.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“While noting with gratitude the assistance from the United Nations, we nevertheless call on the States Members of our Organization to pay greater attention to this serious problem and to take more active and specific steps to solve it. The peculiarity of the geographical situation of Kazakhstan, and of Central Asia as a whole, confronts us with an acute problem of access to world markets, including the transport of hydrocarbons. Kazakhstan therefore attaches great importance to cooperation with the United Nations and its specialized agencies to develop transit transport systems in the landlocked Central Asian States. Reviving the traditions of the Great Silk Road, Kazakhstan is interested in expanding and developing transportation networks in Central Asia and beyond.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Kazakhstan has in all truth experienced the consequences of environmental disasters. From this high podium, the President of Kazakhstan has more than once called on the world community to unify and coordinate efforts to protect the environment. We are grateful to the General Assembly for the support that has been extended to our country, as reflected in the resolution on assistance in overcoming the consequences of the nuclear tests in the Semipalatinsk region. The Aral Sea disaster has become genuinely global in nature. Deposits of salt from the exposed bed of the Aral Sea have been found in the Arctic Ocean and in Western Europe.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Accordingly, we support the decisions of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly on international drug control and will participate actively in their implementation. In speaking of the main problems that ail mankind, we cannot forget separatism. Kazakhstan has more than once stated its position that it does not accept ethnic separatism. Given the calamities it is inflicting on many States, now is the time to declare unambiguously that separatism must be proclaimed outside the law. The right of nations to selfdetermination cannot under present historical circumstances play the role that it played at the beginning of this century. Yet another global problem which casts a cloud over the future of mankind is the ever deteriorating environmental situation.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“On the threshold of the next century, a handful of madmen cannot be allowed to blackmail and endanger the lives and well-being of people who uphold the ideas of creation and peace. This is doubly dangerous in the case of nuclear terrorism. International organized crime is associated in one way or another with illegal drug-trafficking. Most unfortunately, the scale of the drug business is constantly growing. Drug addiction, moving freely across borders, is undermining statehood and the moral foundations of society. Increasingly, more young people are becoming addicted to drugs. We are witnessing a new phenomenon of drug production becoming a leading component of national economies. Drugs from Afghanistan are to be found in virtually all countries of the world.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The task of the world community is to convince all the parties to the conflict to cease military action right away and sit down at the negotiating table with a view to establishing a Government of national reconciliation. We are convinced that no military solution to the Afghan problem exists. A peace process in Afghanistan is possible only if interference from outside is halted and full support is given to the efforts of the Secretary-General. Not only immediate neighbours, but all interested countries, must take an active part in the search for ways of solving the Afghan problem. One of the most difficult present-day problems is international terrorism and organized crime. Kazakhstan rejects terrorism in all its manifestations and is ready to participate in international efforts to combat this evil.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The demonstrations of our country’s involvement in the peacekeeping activities of the United Nations include 18 the formation of a peacekeeping battalion in Central Asia and Kazakhstan’s participation in the United Nations standby arrangements system. From this high podium, we cannot fail to pay attention to the current situation in Afghanistan. The events taking place there, which are accompanied by mass violations of human rights and the fundamental norms of international law, have become a subject of profound concern to us. Kazakhstan has made and will continue to make its contribution to the achievement of peace in that country.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Kazakhstan, as a firm proponent of strengthening regional and global security, strongly condemns any undermining of the non-proliferation regime and calls on India and Pakistan to heed the views of the vast majority of the world community and accede without delay to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We support the call of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for those countries to join in the negotiations on prohibitions of the production of fissionable materials for nuclear weapons and to refrain from deploying such weapons in their territory. In the context of strengthening regional security and the non-proliferation regime, Kazakhstan will continue to work for the creation of a nuclear-weaponfree zone in Central Asia.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“This is attested to by the meeting which took place in Almaty in July of the leaders of Kazakhstan, China, the Russian Federation, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on issues of cooperation and confidence-building measures in the region. We believe that the agreements signed with China on the delimitation of the Kazakh-Chinese border will make a major contribution to strengthening regional security and stability. The Kazakh-Russian Declaration on eternal friendship and alliance for the twenty-first century and the Treaty of eternal friendship between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are also of great importance.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“We believe that Kazakhstan’s voluntary renunciation of its nuclear heritage and its firm adherence to the nonproliferation regime constitute important prerequisites for the attainment of this strategic objective. A few days ago, the second International Conference on the problems of non-proliferation was held in the town of Kurchatov, which is within the territory of the former nuclear testingground at Semipalatinsk. During the conference, the last strategic missile launch silo was shut down. Kazakhstan consistently advocates the creation of security structures on the Asian continent. We note with satisfaction that the initiative of our country’s President to convene a conference on interaction and confidencebuilding measures in Asia is taking solid shape and becoming a tangible factor in present-day international life.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“As a proponent of a policy of integration, our head of State is a constant advocate of creating the appropriate economic conditions for this to take place and has proposed, as Chairman of the Customs Union, the conclusion of a treaty on the creation of a unified economic space within the CIS. Kazakhstan, which pursues a policy of constructive cooperation, has created a zone of security and goodneighbourliness around its borders. We are not in confrontation with any State in the world. As a Eurasian State, Kazakhstan sees the development of friendly, equitable and mutually beneficial relations with the countries of the East and the West as a priority of its foreign policy.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“We shall strengthen pluralism in society in order reliably to guarantee the freedoms of conscience, speech and the press and further to strengthen the foundations of a secular democratic society. Kazakhstan does not believe that it is possible to build its own statehood without successful integration into the world economy and world politics. In this context, we are developing and strengthening our national financial institutions, which has enabled us to cope, at lower cost, with the consequences of the crisis affecting Asia and the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Our country is embarking on a comprehensive programme of democratization that covers such important spheres as elections, political parties, Parliament, civil society, the judicial system, the advancement of women and the mass media. The President of Kazakhstan, Mr. Nursultan Nazarbaev, will be taking decisive steps to solve acute social problems, combat corruption and optimize the State administration. All these measures are aimed at further protecting and guaranteeing the rights and freedoms of every citizen of our multi-ethnic society. We shall do everything within our power to preserve such values as inter-ethnic harmony and the diversity of the cultures and customs of each of the nationalities that make up the people of Kazakhstan.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Globalization also compels us to reassess the nature of international cooperation from the standpoint of strengthening multilateral mechanisms for taking decisions on the urgent problems that are of concern to the entire world 17 community. Despite all the diversity of national interests, such decisions need to be taken through joint efforts on the basis of goodwill and consensus, and here the role of the United Nations cannot be underestimated. On the eve of the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we again note the permanent significance of that instrument in affirming democratic values and the rule of law. Kazakhstan, seven years after making its choice of democracy and an open society, is today taking tangible steps to intensify its political reforms.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Allow me to congratulate you, Sir, on your election to the high office of President of the General Assembly at its fifty-third session and to assure you of the full support of the delegation of Kazakhstan in your work. Kazakhstan, in welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General to reform the United Nations, supports the decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its last session. The steps taken in that direction will undoubtedly facilitate the renewal of the Organization in the changing historical conditions. On the threshold of the twenty-first century, the world is becoming an integrated and interrelated system in which there is no room for autarchy and self-isolation. Globalization, which embraces the main spheres of human activity, has radically altered the accustomed assumptions about the realities of modern life.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The United Nations was designed for a world based on the principles of partnership and cooperation, not on all-out confrontation. Also important is the fact that the United Nations Charter, which might be called an institutional pillar of the Organization, is a highly balanced document, free of any visible bias in one direction or another, and this has allowed it to become, one might say, a code of modern international relations that no civilized State has any right to ignore. The decisions that are being taken should be as balanced as possible and should not amount to stop-gap and ad hoc measures. That is one of the main demands with regard to United Nations reform. The United Nations should come out of the reform process renewed, more effective and more efficient.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“I would like to make special mention of the activities of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). Seven new States, including Kazakhstan, joined ECO not very long ago. Nevertheless, the ECO member States have managed to reach promising levels of cooperation and interaction. The declaration adopted at the ECO summit last May provides an opportunity to create new transportation corridors and routes to transport hydrocarbons, and the ECO member States, as well as many other countries in Asia and Europe, are equally interested in their development. How the Organization will look when it enters the twenty-first century will depend on the decisions we take in the follow-up to our discussions of United Nations reform. Years ago, an enormous internal capacity was built into the United Nations Charter.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Our State is leading the Commonwealth of Independent States in per capita foreign investments. We strongly believe that very soon Kazakhstan will firmly take its place in global integration processes and become a fully fledged member of major economic associations and organizations. We should like to express our appreciation to the United Nations for its support for President Nazarbaev’s proposal to create a joint body for Central Asia under two regional Commissions, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). In a few days’ time, the heads of these Commissions will come to our country. A special ECE- ESCAP programme for Central Asian States is under way. A joint office of the two organizations is to be opened in Almaty.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“We in Kazakhstan are convinced that peace in that country can be achieved through political negotiations, under the auspices of the United Nations, between all the parties involved in this conflict in order to establish peace and form a Government of national unity in that country, which has suffered so much. Kazakhstan, which is committed to the ideas of renewal, has firmly embarked on a course of economic reform and the democratization of social life. Reforms in our country have become irreversible. The privatization of the economy is being completed, the level of inflation has been steadily low, the national currency is stable and liquid, and for the first time in a little more than five years of independence we have registered economic growth. Kazakhstan is open to the outside world and offers considerable investment opportunities.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“We note with satisfaction the signing in June of the General Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan, which represents a significant breakthrough in the settlement, under the auspices of the United Nations, of the longest-running conflict among the post-Soviet countries. Kazakhstan is one of the guarantors of the peace process in Tajikistan. We believe that all those concerned should ensure the adoption of practical measures to facilitate the implementation of the agreements concluded, the delivery of international humanitarian assistance and the reconstruction of the national economy. We are seriously concerned by the continued armed confrontation in Afghanistan.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“The formation of a Central Asian battalion under the auspices of the United Nations has become a factor of stability in the Central Asian region and provides clear evidence of the implementation of the proposal made by our Head of State. Recently, its first exercises were successfully conducted in Kazakhstan. The signing of unique agreements between Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and the People’s Republic of China on confidence-building measures and the reduction of armed forces in the border region should be considered as a major achievement in the area of international security.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Recognizing the importance of a deep reduction in the number of conventional weapons having indiscriminate effects, Kazakhstan took a decision to declare a moratorium, effective 6 August 1997, on the export of anti-personnel mines, including the re-export and transit thereof. Kazakhstan has taken consistent steps to strengthen security and stability at the regional level. Nursultan Nazarbaev’s initiative to convene a Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, first put forward at the forty-seventh session of the General Assembly, is shaping up on the practical plane. We are planning to convene, in 1998, a meeting of 18 Foreign Ministers of interested States to discuss security issues in Asia.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Kofi Annan, for his support for the idea of establishing such a zone, in his message addressed to the participants in the Semipalatinsk conference. As a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Kazakhstan is firmly committed to the non-proliferation regime, and considers it important to actively contribute to its further strengthening. Our State vigorously supports the objectives of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. We believe that the signing of this document was one of the most important and historic events of this century, which is nearing its end. We call on all States to adhere to this Treaty.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“This month Kazakhstan hosted an international conference on nuclear non-proliferation, initiated by President Nazarbaev. Participants visited the former testing ground and became further convinced of the need to assist Kazakhstan, which is overcoming the consequences of nuclear tests conducted for more than half a century. In this respect, the strengthening of environmental security has the highest priority for the region of Central Asia. Accordingly, at a meeting held in Almaty last February, the Heads of the Central Asian States adopted a Declaration proclaiming 1998 a Year of Environmental Protection in our region and highlighting the need to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia. We are grateful to the Secretary-General, Mr.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Enormous damage has been caused to the health of the population and the natural environment. We believe that nuclear weapons represent a tragedy that affects all the peoples of the world. With that in mind, our Head of State has spoken about the responsibility of the nuclear Powers for the damage caused to the population and the natural environment of the States where nuclear tests were conducted. Such responsibility could be shouldered by setting up an international fund for the rehabilitation of the health of the population and the environment of the regions affected by nuclear-weapon tests. Our President’s decision to close the Semipalatinsk testing ground should be considered as a major contribution to nuclear disarmament of historic significance.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“For this reason, addressing the nineteenth special session of the United Nations General Assembly last June, the President of Kazakhstan once again drew the attention of the international community to the acute environmental problems inherited by our country. I refer to ecological disaster areas of the Aral Sea and the former Semipalatinsk nuclear testing ground. The problem of the Aral Sea has a global dimension. Particles of salt sediments from this region have been found in Europe, as well as in the Arctic Ocean. The Aral Sea region is witnessing a disastrous shortage of fresh water, a worsening of the population’s health and the degradation of the natural environment. Some 470 nuclear explosions have been conducted at the Semipalatinsk testing ground, which used to be the largest in the world.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Supporting the enlargement of the Council in both categories of its members, we believe it is possible to include as its permanent members representatives of the developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America in order to ensure a balance of interests and an adequate reflection of existing geopolitical realities. It is important to keep in mind, however, that to preserve the Security Council’s efficiency, the number of its members should be limited. At the same time, we think it is necessary to show proper respect and to pay attention to other proposals coming from other States. Kazakhstan has on several occasions used this high rostrum to stress the need to strengthen the United Nations activities in the area of the environment. For our country these activities have special importance.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Our country is in favour of convening a special “Millennium Assembly” in the year 2000. This idea is in consonance with President Nursultan 17 Nazarbaev’s initiative to convene on the eve of the twenty- first century a special session of the General Assembly devoted to reform. In our opinion, United Nations reforms should be carried out in an integrated manner, at different levels and in different directions. At the same time, it is impossible to ignore that the key element of these reforms is the reform of the Security Council itself. Kazakhstan has repeatedly declared its support for Germany and Japan as candidates for permanent membership of the Council.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“Despite the economic difficulties of the transition period, Kazakhstan is trying to honour its financial obligations. At the same time, we consider it imperative to further improve the scale of assessment on the basis of real ability to pay. Kazakhstan, as one of the States that have joined the system of stand-by arrangements, supports the strengthening of the Organization’s capacity to carry out preventive and peacekeeping activities. We welcome the Secretary-General’s proposals on the issues of disarmament and regulation of armaments, and we support his measures regarding human rights, organized crime, drugs and terrorism. Kazakhstan is ready to join in efforts to strengthen the role of the General Assembly in dealing with burning international issues.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“In our view, the proposed United Nations Development Group deserves endorsement. At the same time, it is important to preserve the independence and the distinctiveness of the funds and programmes that are being consolidated, especially the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), a reputable organization that is doing so much for the sake of children, including its work in Kazakhstan. The financial crisis of the United Nations is an urgent issue demanding a solution. The programme of reforms proposed by the Secretary-General provides for measures to redress the situation in which the Organization has found itself. There is no doubt that the improvement of the financial situation of the United Nations depends on the fulfilment by Member States of their obligations to the Organization.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“For our part, we stand ready to contribute to the adoption within the United Nations of important decisions on the urgent issues of today. The Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, has undertaken to carry out a daunting mission of reforming the Organization. Nothing could be harder than to live in times of change; it is all the harder to be the maker of the changes. This is why we are fully on the side of the man at the head of the United Nations, and we welcome his initiatives and his course of action. Kazakhstan supports the Secretary-General’s proposals regarding a more efficient leadership and management structure, a new management culture and structural transformations within the Organization. We support measures taken by the United Nations to ensure sustainable development.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“First of all, I would like to congratulate the President on his election to his high office, which convincingly proves that the international prestige of Ukraine, one of the founders of the United Nations, is widely recognized. For the current session, which is being held in the spirit of renewal of this world forum, it is very symbolic. I also with to express our appreciation to the previous President, Mr. Razali Ismail, for his considerable contribution to the successful work of the fifty-first session of the General Assembly. Kazakhstan believes that in the twenty-first century the United Nations should become a highly effective instrument that will help to make a smooth transition to real multipolarity, establish global economic partnership and democratize international relations.”
1997-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 52 (1997)
“We have to help the United Nations reach a new level in dealing with global trends. A renewed Organization, promptly reacting to the challenges of today, will not only enrich itself but will also give us a sense of confidence on the eve of the next century.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Scientific research and technological factors have grown in importance as never before. New technologies have become the hottest items in world markets. The role of a State in world economic ties is changing; it is no longer the dominant institute. International institutes function as independent international economic entities. It is with this list of problems, which is far from being complete, that we are entering the next century. We have yet to sort them out and find optimal ways to adapt to new realities which will be facing us in the twenty-first century. We have to admit that humankind, creating these problems through its activities, still cannot find adequate ways to solve them. That is why we turn to the United Nations. Our common home is becoming a quintessence of the human mind.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“This century, which has witnessed two world wars, the collapse of the colonial system and the disintegration of the socialist system, has begun a new phase. This phase has new dimensions, both geo-political and geo-economic. In politics, a trend towards the globalization of international problems has been apparent. With the end of the cold war, the problems of nuclear non-proliferation have not been solved. The problem of environmental security has acquired global dimensions. The globalization of communications has triggered illegal trafficking in weapons, drugs and money of giant proportions. A new information realm has been formed in which national borders have become merely symbolic. Previously unknown methods of production have emerged, increasingly referred to as “computer civilization”.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“We are grateful to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Bank for the elaboration of large-scale programmes for the rehabilitation of the Aral Sea zone. At the same time, we are looking forward to a more active execution of these programmes. Meanwhile, the situation in this region, as well as in other environmental disaster areas, remains extremely serious. Kazakstan welcomes and supports the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly to convene a special session on environment and sustainable development in the middle of next year. We hope that this forum will adopt meaningful decisions on environmental problems that also affect our country.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“During economic transition, even large States cannot cope alone with environmental problems of such magnitude. It is also important to remember that it is innocent people who suffer, not the ones who created or tested these lethal weapons. They are the victims of the arms race between the two opposing systems, victims of 22 the totalitarian thinking of the cold war period. They have every right to demand the attention of international organizations and donor countries. We cannot say that the United Nations has been indifferent to the consequences of the environmental disasters in Kazakstan. But, at the same time, we cannot claim that the victims of these environmental disasters have felt practical results of the activities of international missions.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“From this lofty rostrum it is impossible to ignore another problem that brings great pain to humankind, a pain which our country feels especially acutely. I am referring to environmental disasters. There may be no other place in the world where such vast territories are affected by the consequences of these disasters. Indeed, more than half of Kazakstan’s territory could be declared an environmental disaster area. However, it is not only a matter of territories, but people who are still suffering. The Semipalatinsk nuclear test site and the Aral Sea have become disaster areas of global dimensions. Furthermore, we should not forget that Kazakstan has been the site of chemical and biological weapons tests. All these problems require priority attention from the United Nations.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The time has come to put an end to the absolute right of nations to self-determination. Basically, the world has already realized the right to self- determination; further continuation of this process will create new trouble spots and lead to more bloodshed. The current world order should rest on the principles of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States. If we really care about the stability of the current world order we must firmly reject any manifestation of secessionism. Our highest values should be the peace, well-being and happiness of peoples, and we can achieve these goals not by instigating peoples to self-determination but by creating appropriate conditions for the sustainable economic development of all nations.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Our common task is to prevent United Nations peace-making functions from being delegated to any other organizations. The diminished peace-making potential of the United Nations is not its fault, but its misfortune. Kazakstan believes that United Nations peace- making activities could be rendered more effective through a more precise formulation and strengthening of the missions’ mandates. They could thereby make a significant contribution to the resolution of crisis situations. When we talk about international issues we cannot ignore a trend as alarming as the growth of secessionism. This phenomenon has become one of the major causes of crisis situations in the world, particularly in the post- Soviet context. We think that the United Nations must pay close attention to the destructive consequences of aggressive secessionism.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“It is with deep satisfaction that we can report that our quest for peace and security on the Asian continent is being supported by an ever increasing number of States. Experts are at work on a permanent basis. A conference on Asian security took place at the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers. We are especially grateful to the United Nations for its assistance in the implementation of the initiative of our Head of State. Kazakstan regards the convocation of this conference on interaction and confidence-building measures in Asia as its contribution to United Nations global peacekeeping efforts. Kazakstan fully supports the peace-making activities of the United Nations in different parts of the world. We have no doubt that the United Nations should play a priority role in the maintenance of international peace and security.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“We are grateful to the United Nations for its support of Kazakstan’s proposal concerning the resolution on transit environment in the landlocked States of Central Asia. We are also pleased at the positive reaction of the United Nations to the initiative of the leaders of the three Central Asian States concerning the formation of a Central Asian peacekeeping battalion. I would like to take this opportunity to state that the Central Asian peacekeeping battalion will be committed to the United Nations Charter and will serve the ideals and purposes of our Organization. Four years ago, speaking at the United Nations, the President of Kazakstan pointed out the necessity of convening a conference on interaction and confidence- building measures in Asia.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“21 The situation in Central Asia underscores the need for greater interaction between the region and the United Nations. Such interaction would cause Central Asia to become more involved in international cooperation. Central Asia could undoubtedly contribute to the establishment of a safer world order. In this regard, we pin great hopes on the establishment by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) of a joint commission for Central Asia. We appreciate the positive United Nations reaction to this initiative of our Head of State. Kazakstan wants to join the World Trade Organization as soon as possible and is taking concrete steps in this direction.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Kazakstan, as a strategically important State in this region, makes every effort to guarantee tranquillity in Central Asia. However, the situation in the region defies straightforward assessment. There are zones of tranquillity, including Kazakstan, but there are also zones of conflict. One matter of great concern is the situation in Afghanistan. Further escalation of the conflict in Afghanistan could have negative effects on the situation in Central Asia. We are grateful to the Security Council for paying attention to the situation in that country. There is no doubt that the Security Council statement of 28 September 1996 is important for the resolution of the situation there. At the same time, we urge the Security Council to take up this item again in order to elaborate measures to stop the conflict.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“We have to take a closer look at those provisions of the Charter that deal with cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, or, speaking the language of the Charter, with regional arrangements and agencies. This kind of interaction would be extremely effective for the development of an early warning system and preventive diplomacy. Besides, active cooperation with regional organizations would be beneficial when dealing with economic problems. I would like to recall President Nursultan Nazarbaev’s proposal to include in the agenda of a future session of the General Assembly an item entitled “United Nations reforms — an adequate response to the challenges of the twenty-first century”. One does not have to elaborate on the need to ensure stability and security in the Central Asia region.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Criticism of the United Nations can hardly be a reason for doubting its ability to function and for shifting all the blame onto the Secretary-General. I am sure that we have not yet fully mobilized the creative potential of the United Nations. This applies first of all to the Charter. We should carefully reread it, taking into consideration today’s world order, not to drastically revise, it but to find additional opportunities hidden in this truly comprehensive document. It is our opinion that despite the piles of studies on the legal framework of the United Nations, the Charter itself contains enormous unexplored potential for the renewal of the United Nations. Until the United Nations mobilizes these dormant capabilities it will create the impression of a dormant Organization unable to respond to the challenges of today.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“It is important to keep in mind that the United Nations is our common home. We cannot count on hotels in case of emergency. That is why United Nations reforms should be approached from rational positions. We want the United Nations to keep up with the times and to tap the potential for self-improvement and elimination of the vestiges of the past. We want the United Nations structure to be more effective and flexible in dealing with the problems threatening peace and security. Supporting the desire of Japan and Germany to become permanent members of the Security Council, Kazakstan is in favour of an expansion of the Council’s non-permanent membership on the basis of an equitable and balanced representation of all regions. All other proposals should also be taken into consideration.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)