Remarks at the Departure Ceremony for President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan May 19, 1992

May 19 / Administration of George Bush, 1992

Well, Mr. President, distinguished mem- nations. Today we took very positive steps bers of the Kazakhstan delegation, it’s been toward increased trade with the signing of a great pleasure to welcome you to the agreements on trade, bilateral investment, White House on this historic occasion, the and the Overseas Private Investment Cor- first-ever visit of the head of state of an poration. independent Kazakhstan. I have never been The surest way, though, to increase trade to your country, but Secretary Baker has. remains for American firms to have the op- And he has spoken to me about the tremen- portunity to compete fairly in Kazakhstan. dous potential of a nation rich in resources, I am pleased that the Kazakh Government a nation stretching from the steppes of Rus- has this week signed a landmark agreement sia to the Tien Shan in the south, 4 times with Chevron Corporation to open the the size of Texas. Tengiz oil fields. Mr. President, our meeting today marks In order to expand trade, I’ve asked for the beginning of a new relationship, a rela- our able Secretary of Commerce, Barbara tionship made possible by the end of the Franklin, to form a business development long era of East-West conflict that we called committee to work with your Government the cold war. With the passing of that bitter to increase contacts between private Kazakh conflict, we enter into a new era of hope and American firms. We will continue to for a more democratic and free order in provide humanitarian assistance, including Eastern Europe and in Central Asia. much needed food and medical aid. The Under your leadership, sir, Kazakhstan is U.S. also stands ready with technical assist- pursuing a course true to these aims. Our ance on a range of issues, from food dis- meetings today confirm the many interests tribution to speeding the conversion of de- that we share. The U.S. supports your inde- fense sector industry to civilian economy. pendence. We believe its security, But Government assistance is just one Kazakhstan’s security, is important for sta- part of an outpouring of American support. bility in Europe and in Asia. We welcome As President, I am pleased to see the active President Nazarbayev’s commitment that efforts on behalf of private citizens to pro- Kazakhstan will join the Non-Proliferation vide aid to your new nation, volunteer orga- Treaty as a non-nuclear-weapons state and nizations like Project Hope and Mercy that it will adhere to the START Treaty. Corps, to the city of Waukesha, Wisconsin, We’ll continue to work toward a signing of which has sent 40,000 pounds of food, med- the new START protocol by Kazakhstan, ical supplies, and clothing to its Kazakh sis- Ukraine, Byelarus, Russia, and the United ter city. States in the very near future. Like all of the former republics of the I want to take this occasion to underline Soviet empire, Kazakhstan faces challenges our pledge to maintain regular, high-level that go beyond the need to build a strong, communication with the Kazakh Govern- competitive economy. After more than 70 ment on political and security issues, and years of Communist rule, Kazakhstan and that means exploring the possibility of coop- its Commonwealth neighbors are engaged erative programs in nuclear nonproliferation in the difficult task of nation-building. At and beginning contacts between the armed issue are the first questions of government forces of our two nations. and society: respect for the rule of law; the Beyond our common security interest, the role of political parties, of free press and U.S. is committed to helping Kazakhstan independent media; the freedom of associa- make the transition from the old Socialist tion; and the freedom of the individual. command economy to the free market. We On behalf of all Americans, I pledge the continue to aim at a tax treaty between our support of the United States of America as

792 Administration of George Bush, 1992 / May 19

Kazakhstan seeks a future that is peaceful, remarks followed a ceremony in which prosperous, and free. President Bush and President Nazarbayev Once again, Mr. President, it has been signed the Agreement on Trade Relations a special privilege to welcome you to Wash- Between the United States and Kazakhstan, ington, to welcome you to the White House. the Bilateral Investment Treaty Between the And may God bless your great country. United States and Kazakhstan, and the United States-Kazakhstan Overseas Private Note: The President spoke at 1:17 p.m. in Investment Corporation Agreement. the Rose Garden at the White House. The

Joint Declaration With President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan May 19, 1992

DECLARATION ON U.S.-KAZAKHSTAN mit to uphold shared international prin- RELATIONS ciples, especially democracy, respect for At the conclusion of this important meet- borders and territorial integrity, and peace- ing, we—the President of the United States ful resolution of disputes. Together we will and the President of the Republic of promote respect for international law and Kazakhstan—have resolved to develop the principles enshrined in the Helsinki friendly, cooperative relations between our Final Act, the Charter of Paris, other impor- countries and peoples, and to work together tant documents of the Conference on Secu- to strengthen international peace and stabil- rity and Cooperation in Europe, and the ity. United Nations Charter. The United States Kazakhstan and the United States favor welcomes Kazakhstan’s efforts to establish an early ratification and implementation of equal and mutually beneficial relations with the START Treaty as an important guaran- Russia and the states of Central Asia as well tor of maintaining global stability. Reaffirm- as with other states in accordance with these ing its commitment to peace and security, principles. Toward this end, the United Kazakhstan shall, at the earliest possible States welcomes Kazakhstan’s membership time, accede to the Treaty on the Non-pro- in multilateral institutions like the United liferation of Nuclear Weapons as a non-nu- Nations, the Conference on Security and clear state, while preserving the right of Cooperation in Europe, the North Atlantic control over the non-use and reductions of Cooperation Council, the International the nuclear weapons temporarily deployed on its territory. Kazakhstan guarantees to Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and carry out the elimination of all types of nu- its commitment to values and accepted clear weapons, including strategic offensive norms of behavior in the world. We agree arms, within the seven-year period provided that our countries should maintain a regular for in the START Treaty. The United States bilateral dialogue on questions of peace and welcomes these steps and shall take nec- stability that are of interest to both states. essary measures to assist Kazakhstan in this We believe that the basis for the develop- matter. Kazakhstan and the United States ment of a lasting partnership between our agree on the need to establish effective na- states must be a shared commitment to pro- tional control over non-proliferation of the mote the values of democracy, free markets, weapons of mass destruction and associated and world peace. In this regard, the United technologies to third countries. States supports Kazakhstan’s commitment to The United States and Kazakhstan will pursue far-reaching political and economic work to strengthen international security on reform. The United States welcomes the basis of lower and more stable levels Kazakhstan’s desire to build its independ- of armaments among all nations. We com- ence in full accordance with the

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