KAZAKHSTAN DIPLOMACY

AND ROLE IN

INTERNATIONAL AREAafter 24 years of independence

“From its President to its painters, poets, economists and entrepreneurs, this is a nation confidently on the move. We need to understand the new national identity of this increasingly successful player on the world stage” – Jonathan Aitken, the author of the book “Kazakhstan: Surprises and Stereotypes”

KEY FACTS ABOUT KAZAKHSTAN

- Kazakhstan is the 9th large territory in the world (2,7 millions sq.km) with 17,6 million population

- The capital is Astana city established in 1998

- Became independent in 1991, 16th of December

- More than 150 nations and ethnics live in Kazakhstan with Kazakhs (66%), Russians (21%), Uzbeks (3%), Ukrainians (1,7%), Uigurs (1,4%), etc.

- Kazakh is the state language, Russian has a status of official

- Contains rich oil recourses with 1.6 million barrels per day production, minerals (ferrous and non-ferrous metals)

- GNI per capita is $11,7 millions (2014, Worldbank.org)

- GDP per capita is $12,4 millions (2014, Worldbank.org)

ORIGINS OF KAZAKH-RUSSIAN RELATIONSHIPS

XVIII-XX CENTURIES

• Leaders of Kazakh tribes (Hans) asked patronage of Russian Empire to provide a

defence against jungar invaders in the south-east boarders

• Rebellion of Kazakhs protested against Russian colonisation

• Renaissance of Kazakh literature: Abai – a great philosopher of the time

• New generation of Kazakhs – the raise of communist wave in the steppe

Our close relationships with Russia began in 1731. It was trouble times for Kazakh Khannate asKazakhs tried to defend their territories from Chinese Jungar invaders. The war of protecting thelands lasted around 100 years, the nation suffered many deprivations and that was why the leader ofWestern Kazakh tribes Han Abulkhair made a decision to ask for a patronage from Russian Empire’sQueen Elizabeth II.

From that time the factual colonisation of the vast Kazakh territory began. Thus the threat of jungarsinvaders was terminated Kazakhs became aware of coming new invader from the North whoimplanted new rules and laws in a freedom-loving steppes and counted themselves as occupiers withextremely bad relation to the local people. It was a reason why rebellious leaders of several Kazakhtribes began to undermine the process of colonisation attacking Russian fortresses. But it’s clear thatall these rebellions were depressed and the leaders were killed. Despite the resistance to colonisationpositive changes came to steppe as well. The representatives of the richest Kazakh society havingfinished education in the Russian institutes came back to steppes educated, fluently speaking Kazakhand Russian. They were aware of own people illiteracy and that was why began to open publicschools for children. Still laws predominated in steppes which restricted the rights of girls to study.Despite this fact, all the children could learn at schools run by rich and educated Kazakhs.

One of the brightest philosophy of that time was Abai Kunanbayev who left a rich literature heritageafter him – the most known today is his words of edification to his nation which are actual even inmodern times.

With coming of XX century the moods in steppes changed as they changed inwhole Russian Empire. A new political course was being formed whichproclaimed equality among all the people and authority which must be given tothe working class, also what is very important that this course promisedindependence to the States which were been colonized. Kazakh intellectualsfound these ideas impressing as they thought it would be a chance for theirnation to become independent and to develop the country in its own way.

Among those Kazakhs were writers, poets, civil activists, owners of firstnewspapers and schools Akhmet Baitursinov, Alikhan Bukeikhanov, MagzhanZhumabayev, Mirzhakip Dulatov, Iliyas Djansugurov and plenty of others whowere apparently repressed and killed after years of Communism settled down asa new political system in Kazakhstan.

ORIGINS OF KAZAKH-RUSSIAN RELATIONSHIPS

XX CENTURY

1917 October revolution and its consequences

Severe communist politics and dark times of 1930-40: hunger in steppes,

repressions, World War II (Great patriotic war 1941-45)

Resettlement of nations and tragic testing of nuclear weapons in Kazakhstan

Growth of national consciousness – Jeltoksan (December) movement

Nursultan Nazarbayev – a new political figure

In 1917 there was a military coup and change of the power in Russia.Communists killed all the members of Russian monarchy in the Winter Palaceand took the power into their hands. It was a new Soviet State created in 1921.The communists promised a freedom and equal opportunities for poor andworking people; so people who were deprived by the Tsarism powercompletely supported a new Communism leaders. But proclaimed freedomswith the years turned to totalitarianism which restricted all the freedoms mainlythe freedom of expression. Those ones who criticised the system were sent toprisons or shot down. All these “black” methods of fighting with oppositionwere initiated by Joseph Stalin who ruled a new formed Soviet Union from 1922to 1953.

So that was why 1930-s was the most difficult times for Kazakh people whoinitially supported a new political system but soon were depressed with itsconsequences came to the steppes. Kazakhs from ancient times raised domesticanimals such as horses and ships and the richness of the families wereevaluated by a quantity of domestic animals. During 1930-s all the domesticanimals were deliberately confiscated which led strictly to the starvation anddeath of the nation in the severe climatic conditions.

Only in modern society those mistakes were admitted. Thus, the fact is thatmore than 6 mln. Kazakhs died during hunger and repressions of XX centurywhich was almost 65% of 1913 population. Moreover, part of those who stayedalive left Kazakhstan and settled down in Mongolia, China, Uzbekistan, Turkeyand Iran. The World War II also took lives of millions people across all SovietUnion, Kazakhs were in those dreadful lists as well.

If to ask how Kazakhstan became a multi-national country theanswer could be find in 1960-s. There was a big resettlement ofethnic Russians to Kazakhstan as it was declared a big project ofdeveloping virgin lands in the north of Republic. So the number ofRussians in Kazakhstan peaked at 70% point whereas local peoplereached only 20%. Together with Russians ethnic Ukranians,Belarusians, Germans, Koreans, Uigurs and others came to workand live in Kazakhstan.

XX century for Kazakhstan was very tough times. Nevertheless, thenation all the time was united and was stronger than outer troubles.Kazakhs also stayed alive after nuclear weapons testing in EasternKazakhstan, Semei city, but no longer could stay silent. The testingbegan in 1949 and only in 1991 Semei polygon was closed as adamage caused to the environment was too high.

There were 456 explosions which all together caused a biggernegative effect on environment and health of local people thantragic explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan.

In 1980-s all these biases in policy towards local people became a trigger for people’sresistance against a system. The fact that exposed people’s anger was change of Firstsecretary of Communist party in Kazakhstan who never lived in Kazakhstan and didn’t knowthe interests and needs of local people. He was appointed by Moscow leaders. Young peopleof Almaty city went out to the streets protesting this fact. It was a cold December (in KazakhJeltoksan), outside was -30 degree below 0. New appointed Secretary was too afraid of suchpeople’s behaviour so he appealed to Moscow and said that it was armed demonstrationagainst ruling party thus the demonstration was originally peaceful. So then soldiers of theSpecial Army Forces arrived to Almaty and fiercely punished locals by beating them withsticks and drenched with cold water right in the cold streets. A lot of people were arrestedand imprisoned. But nobody left indifferent. So the protests against the system spread allover the country.

In that time a new figure came to political arena.He was Kazakh, born and raised in ordinary Kazakhfamily, who understood all the willing of his nationand knew how to communicate with Moscowrulers, so he succeeded in his political career. Hisname was Nursultan Nazarbayev. Those times wascrucial in his own representation as a politician. Heheard people’s anger and he did all the best tonegotiate with Moscow to solve problematicaspects. It was he who closed Semei polygon, madeKazakh a state language, created Semei-Nevadaorganization for supporting non-nuclear world. In1990 he became a President of Kazakhstansocialistic Republic and in 1991 after Soviet Unioncollapsed he became a President of independentKazakhstan. He is still on his position.

ORIGINS OF KAZAKH-RUSSIAN RELATIONSHIPS

XX AND XXI CENTURY

Creation of CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States)

An idea of Eurasian world

“Napkin” diplomacy and assigning Caspian Sea’s borders

A new history of independence began from creating a new non-politicalorganization CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) in 1991 whichmembers became 11 ex-Soviet countries. 3 years later in 1994 PresidentNazarbayev sounded his idea of Eurasian world which key point was anintegration on economic and social levels with Eurasian countries. Nobodypaid attention to the idea in those times but it became actual in recent timesand obtained clear forms in 2008. First Custom Union was created then in2014 it renamed to Eurasian economic community (EAEC) which openedborders to commodities and established a free trade zone between 3 membercountries – Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus. EAEC is a prototype of EuropeanUnion but in Eurasian part of the world.

It is now Kazakhstan is a stable developing country which has achieved economicsuccess but in late 90-s was time for so-called “napkin” diplomacy. The problemwas in dividing a territory of Caspian Sea which is known as cornucopia of oil.After several years of discussions Russia did not tend to ratify memorandumabout division of Caspian Sea borders, so President Nazarbayev personallyvisited President Yeltsin in his apartment. There Nazarbayev after long hours ofdiscussions took a napkin and draw the borders of Caspian Sea which BorisYeltsin understood and accepted. Then it took another several hours to decryptPresidents’ handwritings and to create a document which delineated seabedborders of Caspian in accordance with a median line modified by two Presidents.This was an illustration of personal diplomacy of the President Nazarbayev whothen became known in the world as a competent negotiator.

SINO-KAZAKH RELATIONSHIPS

Hu Jintao: “China has no better friend in today’s world than Kazakhstan” (China-

Kazakhstan summit, 2011).

SINO-KAZAKH RELATIONSHIPS

Affirming State’s borders – negotiations with Jiang Zemin

During 2009-2013 period Kazakhstan received about $23 billions of

Chinese investment mostly into oil output and manufacturing industry

Ambitious mutual projects including expansion of oil and gas pipelines

between the countries, a creation of Europe-China highway with

running across Kazakhstan’s 3 000 km. territory, free trade zone at the

new border crossing of Khorgos

As China remains the 2nd biggest investment partner of Kazakhstan therelationships with this state are build up in a friendly way. So, ex-chairman ofPRC Communist party Hu Jintao said during China-Kazakhstan summit in 2011that China has no better friend in today’s world than Kazakhstan.

And it were not just beautiful words with no meaning. The confirmation tothese words was vast investments to Kazakhstani economics and realisation oflarge interethnic projects.

During 2009-2013 period Kazakhstan received about $23 billions of Chineseinvestment mostly into oil output and manufacturing industry.

The big common projects launched the last 5 years including expansion of oiland gas pipelines between the countries, a creation of Europe-China highwaywhich is running across Kazakhstan’s 3 000 km. territory, free trade zone at thenew border crossing of Khorgos.

The origins of successful cooperation began in 1991 when President Nazarbayevand Chairman Jiang Zemin affirmed borders of independent Kazakhstan. Theyboth spoke Russian fluently and understood each other as both wereacquainted with Soviet political system. Mr. Zemin finally said: “We must settlethese border issues now, while we are both in charge. One day in the future anew generation may come to lead China who I am not so sure will be so eagerto reach an agreement”. Shortly afterwards the territorial issues were solvedwhich gave 53% of the contested regions to Kazakhstan and 47% to China.

WESTERN DIPLOMACY

OSCE as a big diplomatic effort of Kazakhstan

Astana – is a centre of holding international events

Drawing international investments

Kazakhstan – member of UN, OIC (Organization of Islamic

Cooperation), TURKSOI (International organization of Turkic culture)

A position of negotiator of international conflicts

It’s urgent demand for modern Kazakhstan to build up strong partnership relationships withWestern world including Europe and USA. That was why Kazakhstan diplomats and thePresident himself did their best to promote its new capital Astana in internationalenvironment.

The one of the biggest Kazakhstani diplomatic efforts was holding OSCE (Organization forsecurity and co-operation in Europe) summit in 2010. The idea of Kazakhstan chairmanshipsounded by President Nazarbayev was met with confrontation in high political circlesespecially by American administration. However, Nazarbayev began to lobby his proposalvisiting all the leaders of states-members of organization and influenced them to accept thechairmanship of Kazakhstan arguing that the world was changing in the XXI century and itwas time to trust an Eurasian and Asian nation with presidency. In 2006 Nazarbayev met withGeorge W Bush and personally questioned him why America was so against of Kazakhstantaking chairmanship. This question was unexpected and President of America had to replythat the question would be reconsidered. After several rounds of diplomatic debatesKazakhstan eventually took chairmanship in 2010 and held summit in Astana.

Apart from holding OSCE summit which was visited by first political figures from Europe andUSA, Astana hosted 7th Asian winter games with participants from 26 Asian countries, WorldIslamic Economic Forum with participants from 55 Islamic states, Shanghai Cooperation Counciland International forum for a nuclear weapons-free world. All these events brought wideopportunities to Kazakhstan and its capital to be recognizable in the world and also to drawinvestments in its economics.

For instance, this month President Nazarbayev visited UK where he met with the Royal family,Prime Minister David Cameron and representatives of English business elite and afterwardsvisited France where he met with François Hollande and representatives of business elite. Thesepersonal meetings brought more than $5 billion of investments into state economics.

Kazakhstan position in international relations is to encourage all the confronting countries toestablish a dialogue in finding solution. Kazakhstan is one of those few countries who hasfriendly relationships with all countries in the world.

Recently, presenting his speech in UN General Assembly in New-York on 29th of September,2015 President Nazarbayev underlined a huge role of negotiations in international conflicts onexample of Ukrainian crisis and asked of full implement of Minsk agreements. He also toldabout creating zones free of nuclear weapons particularly in the Middle East.

3 LANGUAGES POLICY“BOLASHAK” SCHOLARSHIP

As Kazakhstan aspires to find its niche in international world it is a priorityof the country to bring up a new generation of specialists fluentlyspeaking in English. This was a reason why a presidential scholarshipcalled “Bolashak” (literal translation is Future) were established in 1993.The scholarship gives opportunity to Kazakhstani university graduates tostudy further abroad and covers all the tuition fees and living expenses ofscholarship’s holders. After getting education students should return toKazakhstan and work there for minimum 5 years. During 21 years morethan 11 thousands people have been getting education abroad mostlypreferring UK and USA as their study destinations. This programme ischanging a situation in language policy of country whose people fluentlyspeak 2 languages – Kazakh and Russian, and younger ambitiousgeneration speaks English as well. The programme also gives opportunityto Kazakhstani people to integrate deeply with global community.

Tobias Ellwood, Parliamentary under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth office: “Both commercially and politically, the Kazakhstan of today is on the verge of becoming a significant player on the regional and international stage”.