Minister Abdrakhmanov took part in Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom

The Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom in Washington is the first-ever Ministerial to advance religious freedom around the world. This event focused on concrete outcomes that reaffirm international commitments to promote religious freedom and produce real, positive change.

The Ministerial convened a broad range of stakeholders, including foreign ministers from more than 80 countries, international organization representatives, 100 religious leaders, and over 170 civil society representatives, to discuss challenges, identify concrete ways to combat religious persecution and discrimination, and ensure greater respect for religious freedom for all.

In his opening speech, US Vice President Mike Pence stated that ensuring religious freedom is one of the core priorities of the Trump Administration, as well as an essential focus area of the US state policy. In this vein, the United States intends to continue rendering assistance and support to the international community for protecting the rights of religious associations, minorities and faiths all over the earth.

According to the US Vice President, America will always stand for religious freedom, and we will always speak out boldly wherever and whenever it’s threatened.

“To that end as well, the United States is also launching a new initiative to leverage our resources, together with other nations, to support those who fight for religious freedom and suffer from religious persecution.  And today, I’m also pleased, as Vice President, to announce that the United States will launch the new International Religious Freedom Fund”, Mike Pence stated.

Secretary of State Pompeo said that in order to implement these goals, the US plans to launch a number of initiatives aimed at defending the rights and freedoms of believers.

Also the Conference supported the US proposal to adopt the Potomac Declaration and the Potomac Plan of Action related to religious freedom.

“Most importantly, later today we will release the Potomac Declaration and the Potomac Plan of Action. These documents reassert the United States’ unwavering commitment to promoting and defending religious freedom. They recommend concrete ways the international community and governments can do more to protect religious freedom and vulnerable religious communities”, US Secretary of State M. Pompeo said at the meeting.

In his statement, Abdrakhmanov confirmed Kazakhstan’s unwavering commitment to the principles of freedom of religion and the willingness of our country to support international efforts in this area.

“I pay special attention to the fact that these initiatives are in tune with the idea of President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev on Islamic rapprochement proposed during the Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in April 2016, as well as rapprochement of cultures, supported by the UN General Assembly in December 2012”, the Kazakh Foreign Minister said.

The Kazakh side believes that the promotion of religious freedom also contributes to international stability and security. Central Asia, which seeks to serve as a regional model of peace, security, stability and sustainable development, is a good example of this.

The minister briefed the Conference participants about the forthcoming sixth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions to be held in Kazakhstan this October. It serves as a unique platform initiated by the President of Kazakhstan to keep a dialogue between religions, cultures and civilizations.

Abdrakhmanov also exchanged views with Secretary of State Pompeo, Senior Advisor to the US President Jared Kushner and held talks with Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells, with whom he discussed the state and prospects for the development of Kazakh-American relations.

The foreign minister also visited the Atlantic Council – one of the leading think tanks, where he held a briefing on the main priorities of Kazakhstan’s development and shared views on the topical issues on the international agenda.

Saltanat Suraganova

Photo by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan