031803

In this issue:

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan

Astana, March 18, 2003

Kazakhstan expresses its deep regret and concern with the absence of unity at the United Nations Security Council on the problem of Iraq. Despite all the hopes of the international community, the main collective body, called upon to play the leading role in the issues of securing peace, has so far failed to agree to an accepted solution in order to settle the situation around Iraq by political means.

Our state, having voluntarily renounced the fourth largest nuclear arsenal in the world, has actively supported the efforts of the international community to disarm Iraq. Unfortunately, those efforts turned out to be futile, in part because of the destructive position of the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein who had not presented convincing evidence of disarmament of his country. The possibility of peaceful solution of the arisen problem through the diplomatic means had

been basically reduced to zero. A dangerous trend of split and absence of common position on the Iraqi question appeared in the international community.

Kazakhstan remains of the principled positions of support for the UN and stands for resolving key international problems only within the framework of that organization which reflects the will and interests of the entire international community. Our country also stands for the consolidation of all nations of the world within the United Nations in order to strengthen its role and authority in ensuring peace and global security.

Kazakhstan values highly the fact that the U.S.-led international antiterrorist coalition has played a key role in securing stability in Afghanistan, thus preventing the serious threat to security of the nations of Central Asia. Kazakhstan has joined the coalition since the first days and remains its active member. Our country has successfully cooperated with the U.S. in the sphere of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Kazakhstan remains committed to fundamental principles of the strategic partnership with the U.S. and hopes for further development of equitable and mutually beneficial ties with that country.

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For more news and information visit us at www.kazakhstan-embassy-us.org

News Bulletin of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the USA and Canada

(Compiled from own sources and various agencies' reports)

Contact persons: Roman Vassilenko, Aibek Nurbalin

Tel.: (202) 232- 5488 ext. 104, 115, Fax: (202) 232- 5845