Kazajstán: papel fundamental en la estabilidad regional según la OSCE
Astana – Helga Schmid, Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), highlighted the vital role of Kazakhstan in promoting regional security and fostering economic prosperity in her recent interview with international news agency Kazinform. OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid has held the position since December 2020. Photo credit: OSCE/Oliver Koehler. Schmid, who visited Astana on June 8 and 9 to address the Astana International Forum, praised Kazakhstan for its active involvement in addressing regional challenges and its commitment to advancing multilateral cooperation. On the sidelines of the forum, she met with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu, among other high-ranking officials of the country. The discussions focused on strengthening regional cooperation and connectivity amidst growing challenges in the region, such as border management, energy security, and climate change. Helga Schmid and President Tokayev during their meeting at Akorda on June 7. Photo credit: Akorda. «Kazakhstan’s commitment and experience in promoting regional integration definitely make it stand out in the region. Kazakhstan is one of the key actors in regional security, economic prosperity, and human development. This is evident in our partnership,» said Schmid, who visited Astana after Bishkek and Ashgabat. As part of her visit, Schmid presented the international EcoPorts certificate for the port of Kuryk on the Caspian coast to Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Zulfiya Suleimenova. «This globally approved environmental management standard shows how trade and environmental protection can go hand in hand. The certification is the result of successful cooperation between the OSCE and Kazakhstan, of which I am very proud,» she said. Enduring partnership The partnership between Kazakhstan and the 57-member organization has a long history and has rapidly progressed since the establishment of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in 1999. From left: OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, then OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev, and first President Nursultan Nazarbayev at the closing session of the OSCE Summit in Astana, December 2, 2010. Photo credit: OSCE/Velimir Alic. A milestone in this cooperation is Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the OSCE in 2010, making it the first country from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Central Asia to preside over the organization. Subsequently, in November 2010, Astana hosted the OSCE summit, the first in 11 years, which witnessed the adoption of the Astana Declaration. «I commend Kazakhstan’s constructive engagement and close cooperation with the Secretariat and OSCE institutions. Together, we are strengthening border security management and countering transnational threats, including cybercrime, as well as addressing global challenges with strong regional implications such as climate change,» said Schmid. Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Kazakhstan has become a key player in the region’s geopolitical landscape. With its strategic position and multi-vector foreign policy, the country has succeeded in promoting dialogue, stability, and economic growth in Central Asia and beyond. «Likewise, the OSCE remains firmly committed to Kazakhstan. Our Programme Office in Astana demonstrates this every day by strengthening ties with the government, civil society, academia, the private sector, and the international community to support the country’s comprehensive reform agenda,» said Schmid, emphasizing that cooperation is increasingly important given the growing security risks in the region. As part of her visit, she also met with representatives of civil society, discussing the safeguarding of democratic elections, ensuring press freedom, and digital rights of citizens. Governance and rule of law reform agenda Schmid also acknowledged the country’s efforts in implementing comprehensive reforms to strengthen democratic institutions, improve governance, and protect human rights. Sustainable democratic development, she noted, requires strong institutions, respect for the rule of law, and an engaged civil society. «The OSCE, through our local field staff, is already closely cooperating with Kazakh officials in this area: to help develop institutional capacities through the Ombudsman’s office, to promote water resource management, or to foster public participation in government planning and legislation. This cooperation also includes civil society organizations, which play an essential role in protecting human rights, fundamental freedoms, and promoting OSCE commitments,» she said. Democratic elections are an important pillar of long-term security and stability, according to Schmid. The OSCE has been sending its observers to monitor elections in Kazakhstan 14 times, most recently for the presidential elections in November 2022 and parliamentary elections in March. In March, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) had a core team of 11 experts based in Astana, 32 long-term observers, and 300 short-term observers. Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan Zulifya Suleimenova and Helga Schmid at the OSCE conference on climate change on July 7. Photo credit: OSCE. «We not only assess the voting process itself but also whether political parties had equal access to the media or if certain groups face more difficulties when running for office. While the situation varies from country to country, room for improvement can be found in all OSCE participating states. As the OSCE, we strive to address any deficiencies, as does our Programme Office in Astana, in close cooperation with the Kazakh authorities, following the recommendations of ODIHR,» she explained. Equal opportunities for women and men Gender equality and the empowerment of women are important pillars of OSCE activities in Kazakhstan. «To this end, we have implemented various initiatives and programs to support women’s participation in political and public life, economic empowerment, and the prevention of gender-based violence. We have, for example, a project supporting women working in the energy sector in Central Asia, a sector that is heavily dominated by men,» said Schmid. The OSCE Programme Office and the Parliamentary Development Fund in Kazakhstan also offer courses on women’s political, social, and economic empowerment. Relevance of the OSCE amid growing confrontation Schmid is confident that platforms like the OSCE will remain relevant. Participants of a two-week training program for coast guard divers that the OSCE Programme Office in Astana concluded in June, aimed at enhancing border security in Kazakhstan. Photo credit: OSCE Programme Office in Astana. «The OSCE was created as a platform for dialogue among states that normally do not agree. I firmly believe that the existence of inclusive platforms like the OSCE, where disagreements can be openly discussed, will continue to be indispensable,» she said. Addressing shared challenges requires greater efforts towards dialogue. «We face a wide range of security challenges, and we know that these do not stop at any particular border: security is inextricably linked to that of neighboring regions, and it remains crucial to maintain and strengthen our commitment to dialogue, trust-building, and cooperation among all participating states,» she said. In promoting dialogue, she highlighted the important role of the Astana International Forum and also praised President Tokayev’s decision to expand the forum’s focus to international affairs. «This was a timely event… »
