U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Krol delivers speech at Al-Farabi University

22:23, 16 April 2015

ALMATY. KAZINFORM - Ambassador George A. Krol delivered his first public speech as U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan on the broad and productive U.S.-Kazakhstan bilateral relationship to students and professors of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University on April 16. Ambassador Krol delivered an overview on the positive history of cooperation between the United States and Kazakhstan, the two countries' mutual interests, and the shared vision of a stable and prosperous world. The Ambassador underscored the importance of the U.S.-Kazakhstan strategic partnership as well as people-to-people ties, Kazinform refers to the press service of the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Kazakhstan.

"We call our relationship officially a strategic partnership because we share and work together to achieve the same strategic goals to promote durable stability, peace, security, economic prosperity, and non-proliferation in the region and even globally," said Ambassador Krol delivering his remarks. "Even outside our governments, the ties between our people are growing. The number of Kazakhstanis visiting the U.S. has increased steadily. We now issue visas valid for five years and look to expand that."

The Ambassador's remarks reflected the mutual understanding reached between the Governments of the United States and Kazakhstan to begin working toward issuance of ten-year business and tourist visas for Kazakhstani citizens. This process will take several months to achieve as the U.S. and Kazakhstani governments complete administrative steps needed for implementation.

Ambassador Krol commended Kazakhstan for its historic leadership on nuclear disarmament, efforts toward accession to the WTO, international education partnerships, and the positive role it plays in the region and beyond. "Situated at the crossroads of east and west, Kazakhstan has a vital role to play in connecting the economies of the region. Here our leaderships have long seen eye to eye as we have supported each other in promoting regional connectivity, diversified trade routes, and greater cooperation on border, customs, and water sharing," said Ambassador Krol.

Furthermore, Ambassador Krol said that "as Kazakhstan diversifies its economy beyond the energy sector and seeks to build up its infrastructure, I see great potential for increased U.S. business engagement and investment with Kazakhstani partners in fields such as agriculture, manufacturing, and the processing industries."

Ambassador Krol noted that the United States was the first country to establish an embassy in Kazakhstan, laying the foundation for development of an unusually effective and productive partnership with Kazakhstan based on mutual understanding.

Diplomacy