INTERVIEW WITH THE INCOMING CHAIRMAN-IN-Office Kazakhstan seeks to “breathe new life” into interaction among participating States Kanat Saudabayev was appointed Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State - Minister for Foreign Affairs on 4 September 2009. Shortly after assuming his new functions, including spearheading the country’s prep- arations for its Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2010, Minister Saudabayev answered wide-ranging ques- tions posed to him by OSCE Spokesperson Martin Nesirky. He described what the Chairmanship meant for Kazakhstan and its citizens and expressed confi- dence that its forthcoming regional and internation- al security initiatives would breathe new life into the interaction among the OSCE participating States. Martin Nesirky: Kazakhstan will be the first Central Asian country and the first State from the former Soviet Union to chair the OSCE. What prompted your country to undertake this challenging mission? Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev: The Chair- manship of the OSCE represents a logical next phase in the development of our young State. The OSCE and many of our partners in the Organization have played an important role in our achievements. During the 18 years of our country’s independence, we have managed to build a strong market-oriented economy, to ensure democratic development and to strength- en inter-ethnic and interreligious harmony. Those about to assume the OSCE Chairmanship From the very outset, Kazakhstan was an active hesitate to reveal too much about their priorities in participant and played a leading role in the pro- advance, but could you indicate what you intend to cesses aimed at ensuring security and integra- focus on and why? tion in the Eurasian region. To demonstrate our You are quite right: We will officially announce commitment to ensuring peace, shortly after our our priorities at the first meeting of the Perma- independence, we renounced the world’s fourth nent Council in January 2010. Until then, we largest arsenal of nuclear weapons. all need to stand behind the efforts of the cur- The OSCE has been playing a key role in rent Greek Chairmanship in carrying out its maintaining the European security architecture packed agenda. and determining the nature of mutual relations At this early stage, however, I can definitely among the various countries of Europe and the say that European security issues, the resolution principles governing these relations. Time and of protracted conflicts and the stabilization of again, the Organization has demonstrated its Afghanistan will be the focus of our efforts. We ability to bring “added value” to the security will also pay close attention to issues related to sphere. I am confident that the potential contri- arms control and to the proliferation of danger- bution of Kazakhstan towards regional stabil- ous materials and weapons of mass destruction. ity, along with international security initiatives, As a recognized leader in the non-proliferation will breathe new life into the interaction among field, Kazakhstan intends to make full use of the OSCE participating States. practices it has developed. 16 OSCE Magazine December 2009 Kazakhstan attaches great importance to of working meetings in Vienna, and if results combating the new threats and challenges of the emerge from these discussions, the Kazakh modern age, especially international terrorism, Chairmanship will have painstaking work ahead religious extremism and the various forms of of it to implement any agreements that are illicit trafficking and organized crime. As you reached. know, the participating States have approved In your opinion, how does the OSCE differ from other the theme of the economic and environmental organizations? How would you characterize its main dimension in 2010, which is “promoting good strengths and weaknesses? governance at border crossings, improving the The OSCE’s broad geographical coverage in security of land transportation and facilitating its membership, its multilateral approach to sta- international transport by road and rail in the bility and security, and the consensus principle OSCE region”. employed in decision-making are features that In the human dimension, tolerance and relat- add to our Organization’s uniqueness. ed issues will be among the main items on our agenda. Based on our own positive experience in maintaining peace and harmony in a multi- ethnic and multi-faith society, and in promot- ing international interreligious dialogue within the framework of the Congresses of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, we plan to focus on the many aspects of this subject, including gender and human rights. How do you plan to guide the Corfu Process that was launched under the Greek Chairmanship? The Corfu Process is the logical response of AN the OSCE community to the rather difficult and HST AZAK K F at times traumatic events that have occurred O Y in the OSCE area in recent years. We will seek STR to maintain a dialogue on all aspects of pan- N MINI G European security, which touches on all three I FORE dimensions and geographically encompasses OSCE/ not only the Euro-Atlantic area but also the vast Eurasian region. Having said that, we have not always proved Kazakhstan is home to more than 100 ethnic groups. The Corfu Process is in keeping with that able to respond appropriately to situations of ten- approach. Its ultimate goal is to search for prac- sion and conflict, despite the fact that the Orga- tical answers to specific questions. It has not set nization was created as an early warning and any limitations in terms of duration or content. crisis resolution instrument. I believe that this We believe that the Corfu Process should be problem does not lie within the OSCE itself, but geared primarily towards topics that enjoy the can be traced to the participating States’ lack of most support and that have the greatest chances political will. In our search for compromise, we of being developed into concrete documents really should make maximum use of our unique and programmes. We are in the midst of a series platform for dialogue. Meet Kanat Bekmurzayevich Saudabayev • Secretary of State from May 2007 to August 2009 • Ambassador to the United States from December 2000 to May 2007 • Head of the Prime Minister’s Chancellery with the rank of Cabinet Member from 1999 to 2000 • Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and also accredited to Norway and Sweden, from 1996 to 1999 • Foreign Minister in 1994 • Ambassador to Turkey from 1994 to 1996 Minister Saudabayev holds a Ph.D. degree in philosophy from Kazakh State University and a Ph.D. degree in political science from Moscow State University. He is a graduate of the Leningrad State Institute of Culture and the Academy of Social Sciences attached to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Prior to joining the diplomatic service, he had a distinguished career in culture and the arts, earlier serving as director of the Kazakh Academic Theatre and later as Chairman of the State Committee of Culture. He speaks Kazakh, Russian, English and Turkish. December 2009 OSCE Magazine 17 situation in the OSCE region. For one thing, the Russian Federation Russian Federation Organization should identify the main areas in its mandate that are the most vulnerable to nega- Astana Mongolia tive changes in the security sphere — for exam- ple, the migration processes in the OSCE area. Within the context of the global crisis, Kazakhstan migrants represent the most vulnerable econom- ic sector in countries of both origin and destina- China tion. They belong to the category of most vulner- Aral Sea Almaty able people, along with refugees and internally Caspian Sea displaced persons. The OSCE should consider Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan how its activities can help to assist all interested TER U Turkmenistan E countries to raise the level of their social, eco- NA R nomic and legal protection for these people. NO / Tajikistan E As an important producer and exporter of energy, AZIN G Kazakhstan is a major player in the global energy The names and boundaries on this map Pakistan industry. How can its experience in this sector help Afghanistan do not imply official endorsement or : OSCE MA Iran acceptance by the OSCE. P MA the OSCE make a contribution towards increasing Population: GDP per capita: energy security? 16.4 million US$8,350 (2008) The OSCE participating States do not have a Ethnic groups: GDP (purchasing power parity): common position regarding the Organization’s More than 130 US$177,545 million (2008, IMF) role in ensuring energy security. We know that the Western countries are most interested in strengthening energy security and the security of energy supplies, especially given the problems How can Kazakhstan influence the resolution of pro- that arose concerning gas supplies in Europe last tracted conflicts? winter. We also know that many participating Unfortunately, most protracted conflicts in the States would like to exploit the OSCE’s potential OSCE area began in the territory of the Com- to ensure energy security in Europe. monwealth of Independent States (CIS). As you Kazakhstan is a country with major hydro- know, President Nursultan Nazarbayev has per- carbon reserves. As a landlocked country, we sonally played a part in ensuring a constructive are extremely interested in the export of raw dialogue between the parties to conflicts, both materials to as many foreign markets as pos- bilaterally and in various multilateral formats. sible, including European markets. However, Historically, Kazakhstan has enjoyed cordial rela- present-day realities show that many exporters tions with all the CIS countries and is involved in of oil and gas prefer to resolve energy supply key investment projects in most of them. We do issues on a bilateral basis — the setting of prices, understand the arguments and problems of the development of routes, volumes, and other fac- parties and have always made an effort to take tors — without the involvement of third coun- them into account, while making sure that we tries or parties.