CIC Special Briefing - Kazakhstan and the War Against Terrorism

Since its inception as an independent state, Kazakhstan has played an energetic regional role in encouraging multi-lateral cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

Following the events of 11 September, 2001, President Nazarbayev expressed immediate support for the United States and gave strong diplomatic backing to the US-led coalition. In a personal letter to President Bush, the Kazakh President said that his country would support US action against those responsible. In subsequent speeches, he said that his country would be at the forefront of those providing assistance - including military assistance – to the world community, to combat terrorism that he described as "a global evil." Permission was given for US over-flight, and intelligence cooperation between Kazakhstan and the US was stepped up. The Kazakhstan President also announced his intention to ratify a number of international conventions on terrorism, with priority given to the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. His government has since taken steps to block the assets of known terrorists.

In 2001, Kazakhstan stepped up security on its southern borders in response to turbulence in neighbouring states caused by Islamic extremists, taking special military measures to cover the country's sparsely-populated southern flank, and arresting members of the Islamic militant group, Hizb ut-Tahrir which has called for the overthrow of the Kazakhstan government.

Following a meeting with the US Secretary for Defence on 29 April, 2002, President Nazarbayev announced a joint decision to allow US and coalition forces to use its main airport at Almaty in emergency situations.

Cooperation between Kazakhstan and the US on anti-terrorist measures was strengthened further by the part played by the former at the Seventh Forum on Export Control and Nonproliferation in Central Asia and Transcaucasus that was held at Almaty in June, 2003. Praising legislation approved by the Kazakhstan parliament to curb proliferation of modern weaponry, John Schlosser, Director of the Office for Export Control and Cooperation of the US State Department, praised Kazakhstan as an example of what might be achieved and urged other countries in the region to follow suit.

Kazakhstan also deserves the credit for the creation of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA). This has the specific task of combating terrorism in the region, and for helping to develop the potential of both the CIS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in playing significant anti-terrorist roles. The first CICA summit, held in Almaty in June 2002, was regarded as a major breakthrough because the final document (the Almaty Act) required signatories not only to condemn terrorism, but also those supporting terrorists and even those failing to take decisive action against terrorist organisations.

During a visit to Kazakhstan as part of a tour of Central Asia during July of this year, Nato Secretary General Lord Robertson praised the country's anti-terrorist stance and thanked President Nazarbayev and the Kazakhstan Parliament for their support over Iraq. Speaking in Almaty on 10 July, Lord Robertson said that close relations between NATO and Kazakhstan, which has been an active member of the Alliance's Partnership for Peace Programme, would contribute to regional stability. Describing Kazakhstan as "a good partner" of NATO, he said that during their meeting the Kazakh President suggested a number of new initiatives that could be undertaken within the NATO framework.

Praising the country's decision to send 25 army engineers to assist in post-war reconstruction in Iraq, Lord Robertson said: "I would like to commend Kazakhstan, its president and its parliament for the nation's support for the peacekeeping mission in Iraq. We live in a dangerous world, and I am sure the growing relations between Kazakhstan and NATO will help stabilise the situation in the world."