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KAZISS CONFERENCES. HISTORY Introduction The KazISS Conferences on Security in Central Asia have been among the most significant events held by the Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan (KazISS). The Conferences held annually since 2003, when Maulen Ashimbayev – who headed the KazISS from May 2000 to May 2005 and currently heads the International Affairs, Defense, and Security Committee of the Majilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan – launched the practice. The initiative was supported by Marat Tazhin, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan. The fora are aimed at providing the platform for vigorous exchange of opinions by the expert representing the most reputable think tanks of Central Asia and beyond and at deliberating recommendations to maintain stable development and security of the entire region. The first two KazISS Conferences were on "Regional Security, Political and Economic Development of Central Asia and Interests of Kazakhstan" and on "Security and Regional Cooperation". While Dr. Bulat Sultanov headed the Institute from May 2005 until October 2014, ten Conferences were held at the KazISS including those on "China, Russia, the USA: Interests, Positions, Strategies and Current Relations with Central Asia”, "Central Asia amidst Geopolitical Transformation and Global Economic Crisis", "Kazakhstan's OSCE Chairmanship: Preliminary Outcomes and Prospects", and "European Union, Kazakhstan and Russia: a New Paradigm of Interaction". Erlan Karin, Director of the KazISS from October 2014 until February 2017 held the Conferences on "Central Asia amidst Global Geopolitical Trends" and on "Central Asia in the Security System". All the KazISS Conference have been covering the key issues of political and economic cooperation in the region, Central Asia’s security, as well as the fight against terrorism and extremism. 1 Maulen Sagatkhanuly Ashimbayev (2000-2002), the Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan and the Head of the Analytical Center of the Security Council of Kazakhstan, galvanised the research in all main departments of the Institute having directed their work to the issues of external and internal security; strategy of Kazakhstan in the new international context; progressive development of the national economy; and the Caspian issues. Maulen Ashimbayev established close cooperation between the Institute and the Presidential Administration so that the materials prepared by the KazISS experts would be used in the appropriate addresses. The number of publications increased significantly including analytical and scholarly materials in the Kazakh language. Alongside with numerous managerial and structural initiatives and considerable improvement of analytical and publishing activities, the establishment of the Almaty Annual International Conference on Security, which was first held in 2003, is one of the best initiatives of Director Ashimbaev. KazISS Director Maulen Ashimbayev (2000—2002) The Annual Conference on Security in Central Asia since its establishment in 2003 has been a vehicle for elaboration of the expert recommendations and proposals for better maintenance of security in Central Asia, especially at the initial stage of consolidation of the newly independent states of the region. Following the Munich format, the Almaty Annual Conference, however, has been focusing on the regional security. The event initially gathered the most prominent experts on Central Asia from the neighboring countries of Asia and Europe who later were joined by their colleagues from all over Asia, namely from China, Japan, India, Turkey, and Pakistan. I Almaty Annual Conference. On June 17-18, 2003, the Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan in Almaty jointly with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation held the first Annual Conference entitled "Regional Security, Political and Economic Development of Central Asia and Interests of Kazakhstan". The event was timed to mark the 10th anniversary of the KazISS. The Conference was attended by senior figures representing the Administration of the President of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, most reputable experts of the Institutes for Strategic Studies of Central Asian countries and other analytical centers. The vigorous discussion on the most pressing issues of the regional security issues attracted the experts from both from Central Asian states and those countries that were involved in the processes unfolding in the region, namely from Russia, China, Almaty Annual Conference Initiated by Iran, Turkey, Germany, France, India, Pakistan, the KazISS Director Ashimbayev UK, and the USA. 2 The discussion at the first Almaty Conference covered the perspective directions of security cooperation, threats and challenges to the security of the region, their impact on the other regions. The delegates also underlined the vital importance of a stable regional security system in Central Asia. II Almaty Annual Conference. On June 17, 2004, the second Annual Conference on "Security and Regional Cooperation" was held by the KazISS jointly with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Kazakh-Russian University. The Conference was seen as a vehicle to establish better interaction among researchers and experts from Kazakhstan and abroad in the format of working groups, roundtables, seminars, and joint KazISS Director Maulen Ashimbayev publications. The working group under the auspices of the KazISS aimed at preparation of the analytical reports on the topical issues such as the "Formation of Central Asia as Subject of Geopolitics" and a more profound studies on "Cooperation and Rivalry between the USA and Russia in Central Asia" was established. The second Almaty Annual Conference was attended by leading experts of the government affiliated and independent think tanks from the states of Central Asia, Russia, China, the USA and others, as well as the representatives of international organizations and Deputy Director of Institute of diplomatic missions accredited in Almaty. Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences Vitaly Naumkin Bulat Klychbaevich Sultanov headed the Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan form 2005—2014. Due to his extensive diplomatic experience, Bulat Sultanov was able to establish close cooperation between the Institute and a number of European partners, namely the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), German Research Foundation (DFG), Friedrich Ebert Foundation, George C. Marshall Center and with the Asian partners including the Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SISU), the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) as well as with the Russian partners such as the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies (RISI), Plekhanov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and MGIMO. Publications of monographs and collective books become a considerable part of the Institute work enabling it to improve significantly its academic profile. The pool of experts was enhanced by a number of doctors and candidates of sciences; a particular KazISS school of thoughts was being consolidated. 3 KazISS Director Bulat Sultanov (2005—2014) III Almaty Annual Conference. On June 21, 2005, in cooperation with the Kazakh-Russian University and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Ministry of Culture and Sports of Kazakhstan, Fredrich Ebert Foundation, the KazISS held the III Almaty Annual International Conference on Security and Regional Cooperation. The Conference on "China, Russia, the Under Secretary of Security Council of USA: Interests, Positions, Strategies and Kazakhstan Maulen Ashimbayev Current Relations with Central Asia” was held under the auspices of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan. The two previous Conferences had proved to be highly important for analyzing the mechanisms of security and stability in the Central Asian region. In addition, the events had enabled to establish vast contacts so that the experts could continue constructive dialogue on strengthening of international cooperation to maintain regional and Eurasian security. It became apparent that on the background of continuous rethinking of the influence of the external actors on Central Asia, it was necessary to conduct a profound analysis of the strategies, interests, positions of those external players and their interactions with the states of the region. The discussion at the Conference covered such topics as the changing policy of the USA in Central Asia; Russia's joining the Organization of Central Asian Cooperation (OCAC); and economic cooperation of China, Russia and the USA in Central Asia. The experts attending the Conference also touched upon a wide range of issues directly related to the security and stability in Central Asia, terrorism extremism, and expanding economic relations. The top officials of Kazakhstan, namely Under Secretary of the Security Council of Kazakhstan Maulen Ashimbayev and Senior Inspector of the Secretariat of the Secretary of State of Kazakhstan Marat Shaikhutdinov as well as the leading experts of the government affiliated and independent think tanks of Central Asia, Russia, China, the USA, and others together with the representatives of international organizations and diplomatic missions accredited in Almaty participated in work of the Conference. Senior Inspector of 4 IV Almaty Annual Conference. On June 7, 2006, the Conference on "Regional Security Concepts and Approaches: Experience, Challenges and Prospects of Interaction in Central Asia" was held by the KazISS in Almaty for the fourth time jointly with the Ministry of Culture and Information of Secretariat of State Kazakhstan, IMEP under Secretary of Kazakhstan the Foundation of the First Marat Shaykhutdinov President of Kazakhstan, IV Annual Almaty Conference and Fredrick Ebert Foundation in Kazakhstan. (7 June 2006) The sections were held in the course of the Conference on the regional security in Central Asia: trends, influence factors and prospects; political stability in Central Asia: view from Europe on the security in Central Asia and the interests of the regional powers; and on the security institutions in Central Asia: as well as on the issues of cooperation. The participants in the Conference discussed a wide range of issues related to the current state and prospects for the regional security and stability in Central Asia, particularly the role of the Central Asian countries, Russia, China, the United States, the EU, and some leading Asian countries in the balance of power in the region; the CSTO, SCO, EurAsEC, NATO, and other international organizations in the regionwere also considered as well as the issues of regional cooperation. The Conference was attended by Erlan Baizhanov, the Head of the Information and Analytical Center of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan, Toktasyn Buzubayev, Deputy Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Marat Shaikhutdinov, Deputy Head of the Center of Foreign Policy Analysis of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan. The Directors of the Institutes for Strategic Studies of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan as well as the leading experts from China, India, Iran, Spain, Mongolia, Pakistan, Turkey, France, and Germany were among the speakers at the Conference, namely Alexander Rahr, Program Director of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP); Zhao Huasheng, Director for Russia and Central Asia Studies of the Center for SCO Studies at Fudan University (China); Sanaei Mehdi, Head of the Center for Research on Russia, Central Asia and Caucasus (Iran); Thomas Gomart, Director of the Russia/NIS Center at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI); Jamshed Ayaz Khan, President of the Institute of Regional Studies (Pakistan); Ramakant Dwivedi, Research Coordinator of the India-Central Asia Foundation (ICAF) as well as the representatives of a number of research institutions of Kazakhstan. Dr. Zhao Huasheng spoke on the role of the SCO in Central Asia as a mechanism for maintenance of security and for combating extremism that had established its Center for Counterterrorism and numerous cooperation 5 Zhao Huasheng, Directo of, Center for Russia and Central Asia Studies, Center for SCO Studies, Fudan University. structures had held a series meetings and conferences on the regional and international levels and adopted a large number of international instruments. According to the speaker, demonstration of tangible outcomes of the fight against terrorism in particular and the regional security in general were crucially important. “The SCO needs to prove itself as an effective mechanism for security in Central Asia" - stressed the speaker. The presentation ceremony of the books jointly published by the KazISS and the India-Central Asia Foundation "Prospects for Stronger Kazakh-Indian Partnership" (Almaty, 2006) and "India-Kazakhstan Relations: Enhancing the Partnership" (Delhi, 2006) was held in the course of the Conference. V Almaty Annual Conference. On June 5, 2007, the Conference on "Cooperation and Security in Central Asia amidst Political and Socio-Economic Transformations" held by the KazISS was attended by senior officials representing the Presidential Administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan. The Conference gathered more than 80 participants from 15 countries including the leading experts of the Institutes for Strategic Studies of Central Asian countries and think tanks of Russia, China, Germany, France, Spain, Iran, and Turkey as well as a number of the research institutions of Almaty. The cosponsors were the Fredrick Ebert Foundation in Kazakhstan, the IMEP under the Foundation of the First President of Kazakhstan and the "KazEnergy" Association. The discussion at the Conference was focused on the features of the political and economic transformation occurring in the counties of Central Asia and their implication on national, regional levels as well as the external factors of global scale. The Head of the Information and Analytical Center of the Presidential Administration Askar Shomanov outlined the internal political processes in the states of Central Asia and examined their influence on the geopolitical situation in the region. Deputy of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Alikhan Baymenov shared his opinion on the problems of economic and social character in Central Asia and new challenges the region faced in Deputy of Majilis of Parliament of his opinion. He noted that religious extremism and Kazakhstan Alikhan Baymenov drug trafficking were two threats to security, and called for finding a unified strategy to address these issues effectively. "It is important to understand that the state itself without civil support cannot be effective against religious extremism and drug trafficking in the long term, especially given the extent of corruption in all countries of Central Asia" – warned the Parliament Member. The detailed talks were delivered by the Ambassador of Russia to Kazakhstan Bocharnikov, Ambassador of Tajikistan to Kazakhstan Iskandarov, Deputy Director of the IMEMO, Corresponding Member of RAS, Professor Chufrin (Russia), Director of the College of Northeast Asian Studies of Jilin University, Professor Zhu Xiang Ping (China), Professor of the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations Catherine Pujol (France), Deputy President of the Center for Russian, Central Asian and the Caucasian Studies of the Institute for Iran-Eurasia Studies Jahangir Karami (Iran). Kazakhstan experts such as Bulat Sultanov, Leila Muzaparova, Sanat Kushkumbaev, Konstantin Syroezhkin, Murat Laumulin, Kuralai Bayzakova, Klara Khafizova, and others focused on the regional economic and security issues, on the 6 regional balance of power between the countries of Central Asia, Russia, China, the USA, the EU, some leading Asian countries, and on the key issues on the regional cooperation in Central Asia. The exchange of opinions enabled by the Conference reaffirmed the necessity and relevance of such an international dialogue about the pressing issues of security and international cooperation. VI Almaty Annual Conference. On June 11, 2008, the Sixth Annual Conference on "Central Asia: Current State and Prospects of Regional Cooperation " was held in Almaty by the KazISS jointly with the Foundation of the First President of Kazakhstan and Fredrick Ebert Foundation and coincided with the 15th anniversary of the Institute. Academics and political analysts from leading research institutes and think tanks of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Russia, Tajikistan, and Germany as well as the representatives of the diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Almaty took part in the Conference. The discussion was focused on the issues of regional political and economic cooperation. Particular attention was paid to the prospects and priorities of the countries of Central Asia, the unfolding geopolitical situation around the region, and the role of the great powers. In the course of the Conference, the experts exchanged their views on the ways to strengthen regional security, considered the prospects of cooperation on the most pressing regional issues related to transport, water and energy and food, as well as that on cultural humanitarian sphere and environmental security. As for the latter, the establishment of a unified information cultural space was suggested that would thrive due to the development of modern means of communication and information. KazISS Director Bulat Sultanov Speaks Acting Director of Department of Central Asian at VI Annual Conference Studies Kalybek Kobaldin noted the problematic nature of labor migration and called for the countries of the region to develop a mechanism for regulation of the labor and illegal migration. Another important aspect for maintaining stability in the region, according to the speaker, was better ties and interaction between the clergy of various denominations and religious educational institutions of the Central Asian states so that they could contribute into prevention of radical religious ideologies. 7 The experts presented at the Conference agreed that there were a number of factors that could destabilize Central Asia such as acute cross-border disputes, international terrorism, transnational organized crime, illegal migration, as well as drug and arms trafficking. The KazISS Director Bulat Sultanov noted that the countries of the region were increasingly under external pressure facing the negative consequences of competition for regional influence between world and regional powers. Dr. Sultanov supported the initiative to establish the Union of Central Asian States. The experts also stressed that a more vigorous interaction between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan had contoured a new regional cooperation so far on a trilateral basis. At the same time, poor state of regional trade within Central Asia was emphasized by И.о. директора Департамента ЦА К.И. Кобландин many. VII Almaty Annual Conference. On June 9, 2009, the Institute held VII Almaty Annual Conference entitled "Central Asia amidst Geopolitical Transformation and Global Economic Crisis" jointly organized with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Kazakhstan and the Fund of the First President of Kazakhstan. The Conference was attended by a number of top officials of Kazakhstan, leading experts of the government affiliated research institutes and independent think tanks of Central Asia, Russia, China, India, South Korea and Germany as well as the representatives of international organizations, diplomatic missions and the media accredited in Kazakhstan. The discussion covered the influence of the external factors on the political and economic orientations of the Central Asian states, in which the special attention was paid to the policy of such major powers as Russia, China and India. It was also noted that the geographic proximity to the conflict zones of the South Caucasus and Afghanistan had influenced negatively the regional security. The delegates called for a more proactive cooperation to eliminate the growing threat of international terrorism, drug trafficking and arms trade. Deputy Chairman of Committee of Foreign Policy Analysis and Forecasting, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Sanat Kushkumbayev noted that the Central Asian states could gradually resolve a growing number of interstate and regional issues such as the most pressing water-energy, transport, migration, and border disputes within a regional forum where they Deputy Chairman of Committee of Foreign would be raised and frankly discussed. Policy Analysis and Forecasting, Ministry In the course of the Conference, the experts of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Sanat focused on the need for a harmonized economic policy, Kushkumbayev stronger trade and financial ties within the region that would in full measure realize the potential of Central Asia as a bridge between Europe and Asia. As for the EurAsEC, it should be aimed at stimulating inflow of investments to the region to overcome economic stagnation in the Central Asian countries. 8 In general, the Conference touched upon the most pressing problems of Central Asia. The exchange of views enabled to identify the most promising areas for the regional cooperation and bilateral relations between the states of the region and to develop a number of recommendations to mitigate the consequences of the financial crisis in the long term. VIII Annual Almaty Conference. On May 28, 2010, the KazISS in partnership with the OSCE Centre in Astana and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University held the VIII Annual Conference in Almaty entitled "Kazakhstan OSCE Chairmanship: Preliminary Outcomes and Prospects". The forum was attended by the Chairman of the International Relations, Defense, and Security Committee of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Kuanysh Director of KazISS Bulat Sultanov Sultanov, Ambassador-at-large, Director of the OSCE Interviewed on Conference outcomes Department of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Kazakhstan Serzhan Abdykarimov, Deputy Head of the OSCE Center in Astana Jeanette Kloetzer, Director of the Institute of European Law and Human rights Marat Bashimov, Executive Director of the "Charter for Human Rights" Public Foundation Zhemis Turmagambetova, Chairman of "Tabigat" Ecological Union Mels Eleusizov, Chief Research Fellows of the KazISS Murat Laumulin, Vyacheslav Dodonov and others. Emphasizing the active role of Kazakhstan as the Chairmanship of the OSCE, the Conference participants expressed support for the Kazakhstan’s initiative to hold OSCE Summit in Astana in November, 2010. The well-known KazISS expert in economics Dr. Dodonov spoke on the prospects for more stable financial markets in the context of maintenance of economic security. He stressed that maintaining the stability of financial markets became one of the most important tasks for security and international economic cooperation including that with Europe. He noted that financial speculations had become a destabilizing factor for social and economic wellbeing of most countries in the world. In the course of the discussion, it was noted that the concept of European security was being reviewed and rethought to go beyond the continental borders and represent a closer interaction of the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian dimensions of security. At the same time, Afghanistan remained the global problem; thus, socioeconomic and humanitarian reconstruction of that country was one of the primary tasks for the OSCR member states. The Conference participants touched upon the post-crisis recovery of the world economic system noting that Kazakhstan had managed to achieve growth in the key sectors of its economy, which indicated a positive dynamics in the implementation of the Expert Inteview of KazISS country's anti-crisis program. Chief Research Fellow Vyacheslav Dodonov 9 IX Almaty Annual Conference. On June 14, 2011, the Conference entitled "Kazakhstan: Achievements of Independence and Vision of Future" was held at the KazISS for the ninth time and was dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan's independence. The Conference was organized jointly with the Akimat of Almaty and Almaty Heavy Engineering Plant (AZTM). The issues discussed in the course of the Conference were Kazakhstan's independence and its historic significance, the contemporary content of state sovereignty, the youth policy of independent Kazakhstan, and the dynamics in social well-being in Kazakhstan during the years of independence. KazISS’s Director Bultan Sultanov Particular attention was paid to the scenarios for the speaks at IXth Annual Conference Kazakhstan’s development in the 21st century, as well as the balancing the countries of Central Asia tried to maintain within the "triangle" of the super powers. In addition, the participants considered the issues of Kazakhstan's economic development, in particular those of new technologies and management methods, the current trend to abandon nuclear energy in Europe, development of the national financial sector and structural modernization of Kazakhstan's economy. The speakers were the KazISS Director Bulat Sultanov, General Consul of the Republic of Korea in Kazakhstan Shin Hen Yin, Ambassador of Kazakhstan, Professor at Kazakh-German University Alim Zhamburshin, KazISS Chief Research Fellows Murat Laumulin and Vyacheslav Dodonov, Research Fellow of the Institute of Emerging Markets IDE-JETRO (Tokyo, Japan) Natsuko Oka. Deputy Director of Center for Social Analysis Berentayev X Almaty Annual Conference. The Conference “Acute Security Issues in Central Asia" held on June 6, 2012 was organized together with the Security Council of Kazakhstan and the Agency for Return on Investment Research. The representatives of the expert community from Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, France, and the USA and the researchers of the KazISS and other think tanks of Kazakhstan participated in the forum. In their welcoming speeches, the Head of the Analytical Department of the Security Council of Kazakhstan Erkyn Tukumov and the Director of the KaZISS Bulat Sultanov emphasized the need for timely and adequate response to the current and emerging security challenges and threats at the global, regional and national levels. The KazISS Director Bulat Sultanov drew the attention of the participants to the fact that the threats identified ten years ago at the first Conference remained acute a decade later. X Annual Conference Delegates 10 The key topics for the discussion included transformation of the terrorist threats and development of the counter-terrorism system in the region, China's influence on the regional security, and the prospects for Kazakhstan-NATO cooperation in stabilizing Afghanistan, as well as the opportunities and threats posed by the media. The Conference was hosted the discussion of the impact the acute global problems had had on the situation in Central Asia. The activities of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Their Precursors (CARICC) were considered as a real model for countering these global threats in Central Asia. The key speakers were the Director of the Research Institute of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan Kairtay Shegirov (Astana), Director of the Institute for Analysis and Development Initiatives Nazik Beyshenaly (Bishkek), Head of the CIS Center of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of KazISS Director Bulat Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergei Zhiltsov Siltanov Interviwed by Khabar TV (Moscow) and the others. XI Almaty Annual Conference. The Conference on "Security and Cooperation in the Caspian-Central Asian Region" was held in Almaty by the KazISS together with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation on June 20, 2013. The discussion touched upon the pressing issues of security and cooperation in the Caspian-Central Asian region such as energy security and implication for the regional security after the ISAF withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Regional Director of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Germany) in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, Peer Teschendorf, speaking on the regional cooperation, stressed that the Friedrich Ebert Foundation supported such a dialogue between partners in order to better understand the partners and contribute into finding of an optimal solution of the problems faced by the Regional Director of Ebert Foundation in countries of this region. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, Peer Teschendorf The two theses of the Deputy of the Majilis of the Parliament Kazakhstan Maulen Ashimbayev were the projection on the situation in Afghanistan as the main security factor of the Central Asian region and a rather particular character of the relations between the Central Asian countries at the present stage. The experts pointed at the importance of the Caspian-Central Asian region in the contemporary system of international relations and at a number of internal and external problems that might threat the security of the states of the region. However, the participants of the Conference agreed that, despite the existing contradictions, the region had a significant potential for finding an effective and mutually beneficial solution and that an appropriate use of the strengths these countries possessed would contribute to reducing of the risk of conflict in Central Asia and on the Caspian Sea. 11 The event was attended by most prominent experts of research institutions and think tanks of Central Asian countries and from Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Iran, China, Russia, and the EU. The deputies of the Majilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, the Security Council officials, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and of the Almaty City Mayor`s office, as well as the representatives of the media, international organizations and diplomatic missions accredited in Kazakhstan together with universities faculty and students were also among the participants. Deputy of Majilis of Parliament of Kazakhstan, Chairman of International Affairs, Defense and Security Committee Maulen Ashimbayev XII Almaty Annual Conference. On May 28, 2014, the KazISS jointly with the Ebert Foundation and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (FRG) in Moscow held the XII Annual Conference in Almaty on "The European Union, Kazakhstan, and Russia: a New Paradigm of Interaction". The most reputable experts from the countries of Central Asia, Russia, and Germany, senior officials of the Kazakhstan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, the representatives of the international organizations and diplomatic missions accredited in Kazakhstan, academics and faculty members of the leading universities of Almaty, as well as the media took part in the work of the Conference. Having considered the transition to a multi-polar world, the experts discussed the aspirations of a number of global players to impose their interests on other states, as well as the implication of unilateral political "games". Another trend, considered by the experts, was the process of shifting economic and political weight from the West to the East. The Conference participants stressed that the natural desire of states for economic integration was the key to a stable economic growth and prosperity. According to experts, the EAEC XII Annual Almaty Conference would become a bridge connecting Europe and Asia. Yerlan Tynimbayuly Karin (2014 - 2017) KazISS Director Erlan Karin Yerlan Karin was appointed the Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan by the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev on October 16, 2014. Under the leadership of Erlan Karin, the KazISS accelerated considerably its media presence: there was a certain rebranding of the Institute; more research was being done on the issues relating to religious extremism and terrorism. 12 XIII Annual Conference. The Conference on "Central Asia amidst Global Geopolitical Trends" was held on June 18, 2015 in Astana by the KazISS together with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Speakers at the event were the Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nurlan Ermekbayev; KazISS Director Erlan Karin; Director of the Central Asia Program at George Washington University (Washington) Secretary of Security Laruel Marlene; Head of the Russia-Eurasia Council of Kazakhstan Nurlan Ermekbayev Program of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) James Nixie; Director of the Institute of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Chinese Academy of Social Director of Institute of World Economy Sciences Ding Xiaoxing; Director of the Institute of World Economy and and Politics Politics under the Foundation of the First President of Kazakhstan Sultan Sultan Akimbekov Akimbekov. XIV Annual Conference. On June 20, 2016, in Astana, the KazISS together with the Ebert Foundation, CASMO, and the Embassy of China to Kazakhstan held the fourteenth Annual Conference on "Central Asia in the Security System". The Conference was held under the aegis of the “Kazakhstan-China Expert Forum”. The participants in the Conference focused on China's foreign policy, its place in the global processes, opportunities and challenges for the co-development of China and Central Asia; they considered the socio-cultural aspect of China’s presence in the region and its perception. In the course of the Conference, the experts identified a number of new opportunities and risks of the regional transport strategies. The other topic for considerations was China's role in the development of the Asia-Pacific region, and KazISS Chief Research Fellow Konstantin Syroezhkin the geo-political and geo-economic impact of China on the countries in the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The China’s delegates reassured the participants that Beijing did not possess any ambition to impose its leadership on the Central Asian states. This thesis was made by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Kazakhstan Zhang Hanhui: "We work in close cooperation with the countries of Central Asia in economic, political, humanitarian and security fields. At the same time, we have no intention to create a sphere of influence in this region. We do not pretend to be a leader in this region. All cooperation will be mutually beneficial based on the preservation of the interests of these countries" – he said. Dr. Pan Dawei, the Director of Russia and Central Asia Research Center of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, emphasized that China did not claim any special status in Central Asia and did not share the concept of leadership promoted by the USA that included assignment of the responsibility for maintenance of the global order and the spheres of influence. 13 The KazISS Director Erlan Karin said that China’s policy was characterized by pragmatism. According to Erlan Karin, this enabled China to avoid clashes with Russia in Central Asia. “I assume Russia will continue the policies focused on the security issues in the Central Asia in future as it had been doing previously within the CSTO and SCO” - he said. The event gathered the prominent sinologists from Kazakhstan and the leading KazISS Director Erlan Karin Speaks before experts on Central Asia from China. The Conference Delegates Conference was attended by the Secretary of the Security Council of Kazakhstan Nurlan Ermekbayev; Director of the Center on American Studies at Renmin University Shi Yinhong; KazISS Chief Research Fellow Konstantin Syroezhkin; Director of the Division for the Central Asia Studies of the CICIR Ding Xiaoxing; Director of Russia and Central Asia Research Center of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences Pan Dawei; Research Fellow of Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy Zhao Kejin; Chief Research Fellow of the Institute of Central Asian Studies of the Academy of Social Sciences of XUAR of the PRC Hu Hunpin; Deputy Director of the Institute of East European, Russian, and Central Asian Studies of Academy of Experts Representing Delegation of China Social Sciences (CASS) Sun Li, and experts from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Zarema Kaukenovna Shaukenova has been heading the Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan since 2017. Doctor of Sociology, Professor, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Kazakhstan. Zarema Shaukenova was appointed the Director of the Institute by the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev on February 28, 2017. From 2011 until 2017, Zarema Shaukenova was the Director of the Institute of Philosophy and Political Science of the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan. In 2010 – 2011, she was Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan. KazISS Director Zarema Shaukenova XV Annual Conference. On June, 2, 2017, the Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan together with Friedrich Ebert Foundation holds the Annual International Conference on “Central Asia amidst Global Geopolitical Trends”. This year, this is the jubilee KazISS Conference that is to conclude a series of the events on the regional security. 14 Well known experts from Afghanistan, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkey, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, the USA, and the UK are willing to participate in the work of the Conference. Moreover, the event is to be attended by the government officials of Kazakhstan, the representatives of the mass media, international organizations, and diplomatic missions accredited in Kazakhstan. 15