Special edition
Cheney Tells Nazarbayev:
“We Are Proud to Be Your Strategic Partner”
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Three agreements signed as part of
Vice President’s visit to Astana
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U.S. Vice President Richard Cheney, visiting Astana on May 5 and 6, held talks with President Nursultan Nazarbayev on strengthening the far reaching partnership between the two countries and affirmed Washington’s support for Kazakhstan’s drive to bolster its economy and democracy. As part of the visit, three agreements were signed calling for expanded cooperation in eliminating the infrastructure of weapons of mass destruction, fighting proliferation of WMD and promoting the economic development in Kazakhstan.
Speaking alongside President
Nazarbayev at a news
conference in the Ak Orda
presidential residence in Astana,
Vice President Cheney said:
“Standing in this modern capital
city, I am proud to affirm the
strong ties between Kazakhstan
and the United States. We have
great respect, Mr. President, for
all that you have accomplished
in the last 15 years. And we are
proud to be your strategic
partner. My country looks
forward to continued friendship
between us as we work to
enhance security to defend the
peace and to build a better
world.”
Earlier, the two leaders had a
private meeting which lasted
more than an hour, much
longer than the ten minutes originally scheduled, and then led an hour long meeting of the full delegations.
Opening the full meeting, President Nazarbayev noted the “special significance” of the visit and told the Vice President that it “symbolizes the great dynamics of the bilateral relations established between the two nations from the very first day of our independence.”
At the news conference, President Nazarbayev told Kazakh and U.S. reporters bilateral discussions centered on cooperation in the energy sector, security, and further trade and economic cooperation. The President said the United States is the largest foreign investor in Kazakhstan with 12 billion U.S. dollars in direct investment. The bilateral trade volume reached two billion U.S. dollars, while 374 businesses with U.S. participation work in Kazakhstan today. “We also exchanged views on the geopolitical situation in Central Asia, regional integration processes that take place in the Caspian region and Eurasia,” the President said.
The Kazakh leader provided the news media details on the three agreements signed as part of the visit. One agreement, between the U.S. Department of Defense and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Kazakhstan, provides for the expansion of U.S. financing of WMD infrastructure elimination projects in Kazakhstan up to a current total of 158 million U.S. dollars. The second agreement, between Kazakhstan’s Customs Committee and the U.S. Department of Energy, calls for greater cooperation in preventing illicit trafficking of nuclear materials through the supply and deployment of special detection equipment. Finally, a memorandum of understanding between the two governments on the Kazakhstan-U.S. Program on Economic Development opens the way for 40 million dollars worth of joint financing of projects in Kazakhstan during the next four years. This agreement takes the so called Houston Initiative on promoting ties between small and medium sized businesses of the two countries one step further. It was launched in 2001. The Kazakh Government will provide 25 percent of financing in the first year, and 50 percent in the final year of the program.
The President also announced the two leaders had agreed “American companies will provide assistance in the modernization of Kazakhstan, as well to our efforts to join the group of the 50 most competitive nations of the world. Implementing breakthrough projects in high technology and export oriented production in Kazakhstan was also discussed in this respect. Opening joint ventures in biotechnology and space exploration, establishment of joint scientific research and educational centers have very bright prospects.”
Also speaking at the news conference, the U.S. Vice President said: “I had the opportunity to thank the President for the contributions that Kazakhstan has made to our coalition’s efforts in Iraq and in the global war on terror. We talked about ways to strengthen our bilateral relations, ways we could work together to advance the security and the prosperity of this region of the globe.”
He continued: “We admire this nation’s many contributions to our world, and the United States is proud to count Kazakhstan as a friend. Your nation has abundant resources and an even greater supply of human talent. And America has tremendous confidence in your future as a successful, independent, sovereign and prosperous nation.”
The Vice President stressed that Kazakhstan, leading the region in terms of economic and political progress, also has “a vital role to play in ensuring prosperity, stability and peace across Central Asia.” Kazakhstan’s economy is twice as large as the economies of the countries of the region combined, while competitive multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections, introduction of local elections, religious freedom and the abundance of private news media point to a flourishing democracy.
Vice President Cheney continued, “All the nations of this region have the right to determine their own destiny, to institute reforms and to work with others to ensure a future of hope across Central Asia. The way forward is clear; continue democratic and economic reforms, the rule of law, fighting corruption, accountability of institutions and sound security policies. These are the keys to progress, and nations that follow such a course will find themselves on a path to greatness. The vision we affirm today is a community of sovereign states that grow in liberty and prosperity, trade and freedom and strive together for a century of peace.”
Responding to questions about
Iran’s nuclear program, the U.S.
Vice President said “the example
provided by Kazakhstan some
years ago when they achieved
independence of giving up the
inventory of nuclear weapons
that were deployed in
Kazakhstan was an outstanding
example that the Iranians might
want to consider.”
Before his departure from Astana
on May 6, the Vice President
also met with leaders of
Kazakhstan’s political parties
including the opposition, while
Mrs. Cheney hosted a tea for
a group of U.S.-educated young
Kazakh leaders who are
currently in senior positions in
government and business.
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News Bulletin of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the USA and Canada
(Compiled from own sources and agency reports)
Contact person: Roman Vassilenko
1401 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20036
Tel.: 202 232 5488, ext. 104, Fax: 202 232 5845
