News:

On March 24, 2009. President Nursultan Nazarbayev made an official visit t to the Republic of Finland. Following the official welcoming ceremony at the Palace of the President of Finland, President Nursultan Nazarbayev left a message in the book of honoured guests.

President Nazarbayev then was awarded with the Order of the White Rose of Finland and of the Lion of Finland, one of the highest state decorations of Finland. In his turn, the head of state presented the order of Altyn Kyran (Golden Eagle) to President of Finland Tarja Halonen for significant achievements in strengthening bilateral relations.

The Presidents then held tete-a-tete and extended discussions. The issues on world policy, in particular security in Europe and regional security, situation in Afghanistan, energy security and effects of the global financial crisis were discussed during the meetings. The parties also discussed prospects for the development of Kazakhstan-Finnish relations in political, economical and humanitarian spheres.

In 2008 the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Finland exceeded US$ 1 billion and 100 million. This level increased by 56 per cent, compared to 2007. There are 22 ventures successfully working in Kazakhstan with the participation of Finnish capital.

Following the negotiations, the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Finland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect To Taxes on Income and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Finland in the field of education and science were signed.

As Nursultan Nazarbayev emphasized, Kazakhstan considers Finland as a reliable partner in the OSCE and the European Union. The head of state pointed out that all necessary conditions for strengthening relations between Finland and Kazakhstan in political aspect have been created. A trusting dialogue has been established, main priorities of cooperation have been determined, the intergovernmental commission and other mechanisms of bilateral cooperation are functioning.

“Our country attached great importance to cooperation with Finland in the framework of the European Union. We hope that Finland will play an active part in concluding a new agreement on cooperation between Kazakhstan and the European Union. The results of talks held today demonstrated aspiration of Kazakhstan and Finland to expanding and deepening political, trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation,” the head of state stressed.

In the framework of state visit to the Republic of Finland President Nursultan Nazarbayev held bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and Speaker of the Parliament Sauli Niinisto.

During the meeting with Matti Vanhanen President Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed issues on the development of intergovernmental relations in the course of which the agreements on holding by the end of the current year the sixth session of the Kazakhstan-Finnish Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation and exchange of delegations of the two countries were achieved.

The issues on strengthening interparliamentary relations were discussed during the meeting with Speaker of the Parliament. On completion, the head of state left a message in the book of honoured guests.

The President then took part in the wreath-laying ceremony to the Cross of Heroes and Marshall Mannerheim at the Hietaniemi Cemetery.

The President then met with members of the Paasikivi society where the presentation of Nursultan Nazarbayev’s book The Kazakh Way in Finnish language took place.

“I am glad to present the distinguished audience my book The Kazakh Way. It tells about the most difficult and bright pages in the modern history of our state and our efforts on building a modern and independent Kazakhstan,” the President stressed at the presentation.

Nursultan Nazarbayev emphasized that the main character of his book is the people of Kazakhstan, its glory history, modern life and future.

The state banquet hosted by the President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen in honour of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev took place on the same day.

On March, 21, 2009 the Treaty on Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in Central Asia, signed on September, 8, 2006 in Semei, comes into force. Kazakhstan welcomes this event and believes that it will contribute in global non-proliferation process and strengthening of regional and international security.

Nursultan Nazarbayev, the president of the Republic of Kazakhstan signed the historical decree on closure of Semipalatinsk test site (STS), one of the biggest test sites in the world, where 459 nuclear explosions had been conducted. Under the President’s initiative Kazakhstan chose its future without nuclear weapons and today, years later, it is obvious that it was the only right choice. The genuine components of our security are not nuclear weapons stockpiles, but the peaceful foreign policy, internal stability, sustainable economic and political development. In this context the signing and ratification of the Treaty on Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in Central Asia is a logical extension of our President’s initiative in the field of regional and international security strengthening.  

The initiative on establishment of the Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in Central Asia was developed under the UN aegis and this point has made the initiative successful. The number of resolutions was passed by UN GA to support the idea of Central Asian zone creation.

Free of nuclear weapons zones designed to eliminate the possibility of any action with nuclear weapons in certain regions of the world and contribute to the development of nuclear energy peaceful uses. Such zones are developing under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. They are one of the mechanisms of its implementation as it is one of the most effective means of achieving the main objective - global nuclear safety.

For the first time a zone free of nuclear weapons was established in Latin America and the Caribbean in 1967. Treaty includes all states of the region. After this agreement three more had been signed establishing such zones: South Pacific (The Treaty of Rarotonga, 1985), Southeast Asia (Bangkok Treaty, 1995), Africa (Pelindaba Treaty, 1996) and includes more than 100 countries. Central Asian zone was the fifth in the world. Mongolia declared its Nuclear-Weapons-Free Status too.

Adopted a special law prohibits production, storage, transportation and testing of nuclear weapons on its territory.

As it is said in Semipalatinsk Treaty States Parties have pledged to ban the production, acquisition and deployment of nuclear weapons and their components or other nuclear explosive devices in the region. It should be noted that the Treaty does not prohibit the development of national peaceful nuclear programs.

Protocol on the negative assurances is an integral part of the Treaty. Under the Protocol the nuclear weapon states pledge not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons to any country participating contract.

On March 23, 2009: The 2nd Astana Economic Forum held in Kazakhstan on 11-12 March was attended by Nobel Prize Winners in Economics, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the IDB President amongst others. Together, participants have published a signed recommendation – aimed squarely at the participants of next month’s G-20 Summit in London - for a radical reversion of the economic paradigm to reform and renew the global financial system.

“Imperfection of the world currency and financial system and its failure to adapt to the conditions of the changing world were the main reasons for the cataclysms taking place at global and regional financial markets” say Forum participants in the document. “There is a need for drastic renovation of the existing world currency system by means of bringing it into compliance with the main criteria of the world’s modern economic architecture; namely - democratic stance, competitiveness, civilization, legitimacy and reporting to the world community.

“With this in mind, and under UN supervision, we recommend the establishment of a discussion platform between G20 countries and other countries - whose votes were not taken into account during the development of the [current] international currency and financial system. It is necessary to create legitimate and multilaterally acceptable conditions for all participating countries for the functioning of the world currency system.

“As a first step, all countries of the world should discuss the issue of legislative consolidation of the idea to create a world currency aimed at bringing the global currency system to compliance with the fundamental criteria of the modern global economic architecture.  The legitimacy of this law should be based on its endorsement by all participating countries (UN members).

“Once the main premise on harmonic and fair global currency and financial system are developed, and the necessary level of integration and cooperation among countries is reached, the supranational world currency should be introduced. This would provide currency and financial security in the world and thus eliminate the privileges of certain emitting countries of the main trade and reserve currencies.  

“An increase in the efficiency of the existing international and supranational institutions is recommended, in particular of the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, as well as a creation premise for the establishment of new international and regional organizations including currency and financial institutions.

“Foreign trade protectionism, dumping and barriers in capital flow do not provide a solution to problems related to… recession - but they could provoke a deepening of the crisis.

In addition, it would be well worthwhile to introduce changes into the assessment methodology of the structure of assets and liabilities of commercial banks, condition of their liquidity, financial stability, security of their loan portfolios in the light of the collateralized property depreciation and the strengthening risks in projects that are being financed.”    

The statement issued following the 2nd Astana Economic Forum asserts that the current global crisis will only be overcome by joint efforts.

The G-20 London Summit takes place April 2nd and 3rd and brings together leaders of the the biggest or wealthiest countries, who own 90% of wealth and control 80% of global trade. Heads of state and government from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, and the United States will attend.

Representatives from Africa, South East Asia and the President of the European Commission are also invited - as are the heads of global institutions, including the World Trade Organisation, the World Bank and the IMF. The Summit’s official agenda has three items: first, to take whatever action is needed to stabilise financial markets. Second, to reform and strengthen the global financial and economic system to restore confidence and trust and, third, to put the global economy on track for sustainable growth (read recommendations).