About: Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan’s electoral mood calls for more ties with Europe
The European Neighbourhood Council (ENC) conducted interviews over the recent presidential elections, revealing a need for further reforms to overcome an oil-dependent economy, while further deepening ties with the European Union (EU), writes Samuel Doveri Vesterbye.
Kazakhstan: getting ready to make a new step forward
Kazakhstan, the ninth largest country in the world, with an area the size of Western Europe and a population of more than 18 million citizens, is tomorrow testing the maturity of its democracy, writes Beibut Atamkulov, the country's foreign minister.
EU-Kazakhstan: Elections, trade and transition
A small cultural contextualisation may prove helpful when discussing political reform in Kazakhstan, says Samuel Doveri Vesterbye. Here it is.
Bannon under fire at Kazakhstan media conference
The Eurasian Media Forum is an annual international discussion platform that has gathered hundreds of delegates from across the world in Kazakhstan since 2002. But it never got such publicity as this year, because one of them was Steve Bannon,...
What next for Kazakhstan after the elections?
The next President of Kazakhstan will have to oversee that there is no backsliding in economic, social and political reforms, and reassure international partners that the external policy of the country remains unchanged, writes Eli Hadzieva.
Kazakhstan and the Venice Commission
The Council of Europe’s Venice Commission has provided precious support to the process of constitutional and legislative change in Kazakhstan, writes Igor Rogov.
Religion should not be used to sow divisions
In recent years, many thousands have died and millions more had to flee their homes due to conflicts in which religion has been used to justify discrimination and violence. Countering these dangerous distortions is one of the challenges that religious leaders will address in Astana on 10 and 11 October, writes Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
A day to reflect on our nuclear weapon-free future
29 August was chosen by the United Nations to commemorate the anniversary of the closure of the Semapalatinsk nuclear test site, and to promote the initiative for a nuclear weapon-free world, writes the Astana Times in an editorial article.
Kazakhstan will benefit enormously from Belt and Road initiative
Kazakhstan, the most impressive reformer in the Central Asian region, is set to benefit enormously from China’s Belt and Road initiative as an equal partner, Kate Mallinson of Chatham House said at an international conference marking the 20th anniversary of Astana, on 5 June.
Another environmental catastrophe is looming in Central Asia
The EU as a soft power should convince other donors to make the funds available to decontaminate old uranium mines in Central Asia, writes Adrian De Meer.
Projecting soft power as an imperative for the EU in Central Asia
There is a thirst for Europe in Central Asia and much more should be done to answer this interest under existing and new inter-cultural programs, writes Nargis Kassenova.
The tripartite approach is suffocating OSCE
Kazakhstan’s view is that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) should not be a place where decisions are made by the United States, Russia and the European Union with everyone else reduced to the role of spectators, writes Kairat Abdrakhmanov.
Kazakhstan is getting closer to OECD membership
Next week Almaty, the financial hub of Kazakhstan, will welcome political leaders from Central Asia and OECD member states for the OECD Eurasia Week. Kazakhstan hopes that this event will further strengthen the relations between the Eurasian and the OECD countries, writes Timur Suleimenov.
EXPO 2017 in Astana will contribute to global sustainable development
Staging such an important exhibition as EXPO 2017 in Kazakhstan will accelerate our transition to a modern and sustainable economy, writes Kairat Abdrakhamanov. EXPO 2017 taking place from 10 June to 10 September 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Its theme is "Future Energy".
Kazakhstan changing to secure continuity
Kazakhstan and the wider region of Central Asia are on the cusp of significant change, albeit largely unrecognised by the rest of the world, writes Kamran Bokari.
Kazakhstan: Disarmament is key
Recent terror attacks should renew international leaders' determination to defeat extremist groups and the ideology that propels them, writes Erlan Idrissov.
Why Northern Kazakhstan will not follow Eastern Donbass
Similarly to Ukraine, post-Soviet Kazakhstan is also asserting its national identity, but the absence of EU ambition toward Astana and its participation in the Eurasian Union preserves the country from a Donbass-type scenario, writes Michael Emerson
New partnerships will be required to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons
As nuclear power begins to take off in the developing world, the UN’s uranium bank in Kazakhstan will play an increasingly important role in preventing the spread of enrichment technology and ensuring security, writes Almaz Khamzayev.
Armenia’s anti-NGO laws inspired by Moscow
?Moscow’s push for Yerevan to adopt anti-NGO legislation is just the latest sign of its determination to mold Armenia into a loyal vassal that does its bidding with no questions asked, writes Armine Sahakyan.