Download see. History of the KazISS Annual Conferences

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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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