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KAZAKHSTAN MAY IMPEDE PEACE IN THE REGION
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[07:19 pm] 18 December, 2008
The Ambassador to Kazakhstan in Armenia Aimdos Bozzhigitov presented
today the "Road to Europe" program, which Kazakhstan plans to implement
in 2009-2011. The Ambassador did not conceal the fact that the basis
for cooperation between Kazakhstan and other countries is economic
interest.
Kazakhstan's "Road to Europe" program was presented in Armenia with
the initiative of the Council of Europe, which had commended the job
to the Yerevan school of political courses of the Council of Europe.
Among participants of the discussion were representatives of political
forces of the National Assembly, Foreign Affairs Ministry officials,
diplomats and NGO representatives. Accepting the fact that Kazakhstan
has turned into a key player in the region, participants of today's
discussion took note that Kazakhstan must combine its economic
interest with other circumstances for maintaining peace and security
in the region.
"Today Kazakhstan plays a key role as a country that has an enormous
amount of power-generating resources. It is the second largest country
with petroleum, gas and uranium and the fifth largest wheat producing
country. Many European, American and Russian companies are drawing
their attention to Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is leading a versatile
foreign policy and all countries are tolerating that," said today NA
deputy Armen Ashotyan.
Aside from Kazakhstan's advantages, Ashotyan talked about Kazakhstan's
unilateral, crippled economic policy in the South Caucasus in presence
of the Ambassador and said:
"That underlines the difference in economic development between
Armenia and Azerbaijan. In other words, Kazakhstan contributes to
Azerbaijan's increase in income, makes it become more bellicose
and thus, cripples the military balance in the region. Kazakhstan
may contribute to instability by losing to the militarization of a
country in the region."
Ashotyan believes that Kazakhstan must lay down the condition
that the profits or proceeds from investments must not be spent on
militarization.
As far as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement is concerned,
Kazakhstan has declared that it will hold a neutral stance in the case
of restart of military operations. Participants of today's discussion
reminded the Ambassador that Kazakhstan is a member of the CSTO and
is obliged to support member countries in the case of a start of
military operations.
What is Kazakhstan planning on doing if military operations begin
on the Armenian-Azeri border? In response to that, the Ambassador
said: "Kazakhstan is in favor of the peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."
During today's discussion, one of the participants stated that it
is harder to establish cooperation with Kazakhstan due to the lack
of a general border and that the August events in Georgia and Osetia
showed that the Georgian road is not too promising.
Diplomat David Hovhannisyan took note that in that case, Armenia can't
cooperate with the U.S. and other European countries. He proposed to
the Kazakh Ambassador to cooperate with Armenia in the framework of
the Meiendorf declaration.
"It is a great opportunity to cooperate for peace and security in the
region, even in the framework of only one point," said Hovhannisyan.
A1+
[07:19 pm] 18 December, 2008
The Ambassador to Kazakhstan in Armenia Aimdos Bozzhigitov presented
today the "Road to Europe" program, which Kazakhstan plans to implement
in 2009-2011. The Ambassador did not conceal the fact that the basis
for cooperation between Kazakhstan and other countries is economic
interest.
Kazakhstan's "Road to Europe" program was presented in Armenia with
the initiative of the Council of Europe, which had commended the job
to the Yerevan school of political courses of the Council of Europe.
Among participants of the discussion were representatives of political
forces of the National Assembly, Foreign Affairs Ministry officials,
diplomats and NGO representatives. Accepting the fact that Kazakhstan
has turned into a key player in the region, participants of today's
discussion took note that Kazakhstan must combine its economic
interest with other circumstances for maintaining peace and security
in the region.
"Today Kazakhstan plays a key role as a country that has an enormous
amount of power-generating resources. It is the second largest country
with petroleum, gas and uranium and the fifth largest wheat producing
country. Many European, American and Russian companies are drawing
their attention to Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is leading a versatile
foreign policy and all countries are tolerating that," said today NA
deputy Armen Ashotyan.
Aside from Kazakhstan's advantages, Ashotyan talked about Kazakhstan's
unilateral, crippled economic policy in the South Caucasus in presence
of the Ambassador and said:
"That underlines the difference in economic development between
Armenia and Azerbaijan. In other words, Kazakhstan contributes to
Azerbaijan's increase in income, makes it become more bellicose
and thus, cripples the military balance in the region. Kazakhstan
may contribute to instability by losing to the militarization of a
country in the region."
Ashotyan believes that Kazakhstan must lay down the condition
that the profits or proceeds from investments must not be spent on
militarization.
As far as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement is concerned,
Kazakhstan has declared that it will hold a neutral stance in the case
of restart of military operations. Participants of today's discussion
reminded the Ambassador that Kazakhstan is a member of the CSTO and
is obliged to support member countries in the case of a start of
military operations.
What is Kazakhstan planning on doing if military operations begin
on the Armenian-Azeri border? In response to that, the Ambassador
said: "Kazakhstan is in favor of the peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."
During today's discussion, one of the participants stated that it
is harder to establish cooperation with Kazakhstan due to the lack
of a general border and that the August events in Georgia and Osetia
showed that the Georgian road is not too promising.
Diplomat David Hovhannisyan took note that in that case, Armenia can't
cooperate with the U.S. and other European countries. He proposed to
the Kazakh Ambassador to cooperate with Armenia in the framework of
the Meiendorf declaration.
"It is a great opportunity to cooperate for peace and security in the
region, even in the framework of only one point," said Hovhannisyan.