UN Secretary-General to give speech within Kazakhstan's chairmanship in Security Council

"One of the key activities of our chairmanship is a high-level thematic briefing on the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, confidence measures that will be held on January 18. In particular, we expect UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to act as the main speaker at the briefing (the high-level official from the UN - IA). A fairly high representation is expected from other member countries of the Security Council, both permanent and elected. The topic is quite clearly and precisely correlated with the traditional priorities of the Kazakhstani diplomacy with the foreign policy initiatives of the Head of State", the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan noted.

He also recalled that the high place in Kazakhstan's chairmanship is occupied by nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament issues.

In addition, as Y. Ashikbayev informed, on January 19, the UN Security Council will hold ministerial debates on the theme "Building a regional partnership in Afghanistan and Central Asia as a model for the interdependence of development security" chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Kairat Abdrakhmanov.

"It will not only be the participation of high-level delegations of the member countries of the Security Council at the ministerial level, but also the high political chairmanship on the part of neighboring countries at the level of Heads of political Ministries. As a country that for the first time represents Central Asia in the Security Council, we give priority to our region. Kazakhstan acts both from the point of view of ensuring its Kazakhstani interests. At the same time, through our regular consultations with the Central Asian partners, we also express the common point of view of the countries of Central Asia. This is a great signal for the entire international community", the speaker concluded.

Yerzhan Ashikbayev said that in the near future, on January 9, a briefing and consultations will be held on the topic "The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

It should be noted that consultations on the African Union / UN hybrid operation in Darfur were already held on January 2, and a report on the Iraqi compensation fund was voiced.

We remind that from January 1 to January 31, 2018 Kazakhstan chairs in the United Nations Security Council.

Akbota Kuzekbay