WEEKLY REVIEW. EAPC Security Forum, PM Report on progress of Government's antirecession program
The Security Forum was an informal venue of an open and free discussion of the problems of regional and global security. The forum theme "Security through partnership" and the situation in the regions of Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Afghanistan and energy safety were discussed. Delegations from 50 countries of the EAPC and NATO and other international organizations, and mass media arrived to participate in the forum. The Security Forum was initiated by the Kazakhstan President and backed by the NATO. This is the first time when the forum is held in the post-soviet space and the Asian continent. It became the largest event in Kazakhstan of 2009.
On June 25 NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer chaired the opening plenary session of the EAPC Security Forum and delivered a keynote speech. In his speech Secretary General called for elaboration of new approaches and "different working culture" than those used in the past. He told that we need to use the driving force of globalization to our own advantage. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the main guest of the Security Forum at the press conference on the eve of the Forum and after the plenary session answered some important questions concerning Kazakhstan and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Mr. Scheffer said that he believes that both Kazakhstan and NATO influence each other. Kazakhstan's position as an energy supplier and the political role of the President play an important role in different areas and international organizations active in this region. He told that while official meeting with President Nazarbayev they discussed not only the Central Asian region but the Middle East region as well. There were discussions on nonprofit operations, the uranium issues and nuclear program, which were always in concern of international policymakers. They discussed the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization that is very important as well. There's no direct link between the two organizations but Mr. Scheffer considered the OSCE as a relevant organization for regional security. President Nazarbayev has always been ambitious about cooperation between Kazakhstan and NATO, Secretary General added.
Opening the Forum President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has sent his greetings to the participants of the Forum and emphasized the meaningfulness of this large meeting in Astana which is held in the year of the 60th anniversary of the NATO. He told that within the past decades the Alliance has gone through an impressive way from a closed military block to a multi-field cooperation of 50 partner countries. Moreover, for the first time in the history of NATO the EAPC Forum was held in the Central Asia. The global scale of risks and security challenges of the 21st century dictate the world community necessity of efforts unification for the search of answers for broad range of threats, both in global and regional security, President commented. The Kazakhstan example is becoming especially relevant and essential today when the world is threatened by the further expansion of the mass-destruction weapon and the threat of its use by terrorist organizations. Therefore our country makes suggestions to create the global movement "The world free of nuclear weapon", President added. Kazakhstan also evaluates the dialog "NATO - Central Asia - Afghanistan" positively and supports the actions of security assistance in Afghanistan. Being elected OSCE chairman in 2010, Kazakhstan intends to carry in its endowment in maintenance of peace and stabilization of dialog between East and West. President expressed his hope that the Forum in Astana would assist in searching new approaches for solving relevant problems of global and regional security.
During the Forum touching upon the Afghanistan problem, Kazakhstan Minister of Foreign Affairs Marat Tazhin noted it might become a potential area for joint efforts. "While intending to use in full transit opportunities of the region we must pay more attention to non-military aspects of security. Kazakhstan put forward an initiative to provide education and training for Afghans in the spheres of healthcare, education, agriculture, law enforcement and military disciplines. Multilateral and bilateral projects are underway to supply humanitarian aid", the Minister said. He also said that Kazakhstan welcomes the decision of the NATO recent Summit to activate elaboration of the reconstruction programs in Afghanistan with particular emphasis on economic and humanitarian fields. Kazakhstan expects that its regional resources will be employed in this process. Speaking about the drug trafficking problem, the Kazakhstani Minister said: "Certain degree of cooperation has been established under the UN and different multilateral programs. However it goes without saying that these efforts are not enough and there is an urgent need to do more. Creation of Central Asian Regional Information Center is one of these steps and we would welcome concrete measures of EAPC members to support this endeavor. No doubt, ISAF plays an important role in fighting terrorism and extremism. We support its mission and hope that increase in the number of troops deployed by the Alliance and the United States will contribute to the achievement of the main goal which is peace in Afghanistan."
Other than that, the NATO PA organized an inter-parliamentary Rose-Roth Seminar on the relevant issues of Euro-Atlantic Security.
On June 22 Prime Minister Karim Massimov accounted on the progress of implementation of the anti-recessionary program of the Government at the enlarged sitting of "Nur Otan" People's Democratic Party in the Majilis. It was said that according to the order of the President of Kazakhstan, USD 10 billion was allocated from the National Fund for the implementation of the antirecessionary program. KZT 607.5 billion was directed for the capitalization of "Samruk-Kazyna" National Welfare Fund, the rest KZT 480 billion and KZT 120 billion were borrowed by "Samruk-Kazyna" Fund and "KazAgro" Holding through loan securities, Mr. Massimov said. Within stabilization of the financial sector four main banks have received KZT 476 billion. To address the issues on the real estate market Kazakhstan Mortgage Company has purchased the right of demand on mortgage borrowings to the amount of KZT 13 billion. "Samruk-Kazyna" Fund will complete construction of the residential estates of Astana and Almaty home owners. Agreements on 2,500 projects to the amount of KZT 122 billion have been concluded as of June 1. "KazAgro" Holding allocated KZT 120 billion for the development of the agro-industrial complex whereas "Samruk-Kazyna" Fund to allocate KZT 120 billion for the implementation of innovative, industrial and infrastructural projects. The state support amounted to more than USD 3.5 billion. "These projects cover energy, transport infrastructure, oil and gas as well as processing industry", K. Massimov said.