EU Ambassadors tour S Kazakhstan
ASTANA. May 18. KAZINFORM Ambassadors of the European Union are visiting South Kazakhstan region in the period from 18 to 19 May.
A courtesy visit to the Akim of the region Askar Myrzakhmetov is planned as part of their official programme. The visiting mission includes the Head of Delegation of the European Union to Kazakhstan, Ambassador Aurélia Bouchez, Ambassador of Latvia Juris Maklakovs, Ambassador of Poland Jacek Kluczkowski, Ambassador of Slovakia Lubomir Rehak, Ambassador of Finland Mikko Kinnunen, Ambassador of the United Kingdom David Moran, as well as Chargé d'Affaires of Sweden Manne Wangborg and Chargé d'Affaires of Bulgaria Stoyana Rusinova.
"We hope that the visit will open for us new perspectives and opportunities to further develop effective relations with representatives of local authorities and civil society in various spheres of activities: from prevention of human trafficking and strengthening local capacities to broader issues of economic and cultural development," Ambassador Aurélia Bouchez mentioned in anticipation of her visit.
Within the frame of this visit, Heads of eight European diplomatic missions are going to attend the office of the Project on "Educational Legal Trainings in Response to Human Trafficking" that has been funded by the European Union in the amount of EUR 214,000. During three years of the project activities, the public organization "Sana Sezim" has helped 76 victims of human trafficking, fraud and illegal labour migration. About 1,500 people living in the region have received legal advice and 920 people - psychological support. Social assistance has been provided to 514 potential victims of human trafficking in the region. Also, the diplomats intend to learn about the outcomes of the Project on "Strengthening Capacity of South Kazakhstan NGOs for Sustainable Development of Civil Society" funded by the European Union and implemented by NGO "Bereke".
In the course of two-day visit the EU Ambassadors will hold a number of meetings with representatives of local executive authorities and will visit educational, cultural and social facilities of the region, the press service of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan said.