Agree to Differ

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Kazakhstan and Belarus – have been members of that union

in its various guises for more than 20 years, while Armenia and

Kyrgyzstan have joined only in recent months. Was it too early to

take these resource-poor republics into the union?Why Armenia

and Kyrgyzstan, and not Transcaucasian republics, for example?

Answer:

Russia soured relations with Georgia because

of the support of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. And in the

Azerbaijani-Karabakh at the time the Russian military

contractors marked their presence. Therefore, Armenia is

the unique outpost of Russia in the Transcaucasia, housing

the Russian military base.

Kyrgyzstan can play the same role in Central Asia. It is

obvious that the organizational motivation of the union

is not only economic, but also defensive in nature. What

kind of convergence of such diverse economies can we talk

about? It is clear that political reasons play the leading role.

When it became clear in 2014 that Ukraine has chosen

the European Union instead of the Eurasian one, candi-

dates like Armenia and Kyrgyzstan appeared immediately.

Unfortunately the adjustment period of the global political

architecture, which began in the late twentieth century, is

still ongoing. Under these conditions it is more important

to create clear alliances, which include the states without

any kind of intractable problems. Otherwise, the ‘private’

problems become common to all states of the union.

Great attention is paid to the preservation and development of the culture of

the people of Kazakhstan

Image: APK

Perhaps this is the way out? An insoluble problem becomes

tractable, and then the solution is found by joint efforts?

The President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev,

made a proposal to support the request of “the state of

Armenia” but said “the country of Armenia” should join

the union according to internationally recognized borders,

without including the territories attached during the

‘Karabakh conflict’ of the early 1990s. Nazarbayev’s posi-

tion was supported by all those involved.

The peoples of the new union have much in common,

generated by a long-standing history of relations, and espe-

cially in the Soviet past. The allied relationship will help us

to remember, develop and strengthen those good values that

have been acquired over the decades. The purpose of the new

association is not the restoration of the USSR, but the keeping

of something valuable that was born in the cultures during a

century rich in great tragedies and creative accomplishments.

Question:

How was the United Nations resolution on

the proclamation of the International Decade for the

Rapprochement of Cultures born?

Answer:

First of all, we need to agree on the meaning of

the term ‘culture’. It is not only visual arts. Yes, I see it as art,

but the art of life in nature, in society; the art of living of an

ethnic group in the neighbourhood of other ethnic groups.

Therefore, the ‘rapprochement of cultures’ is, of course, not

an exchange of concerts – ‘song and dance’, as some national

administrators understand the United Nations appeal. It is,

finally, the art of bringing people closer together based on

the perception of values, common to all cultures and reli-

gions. I do not know any religion with the commandments

‘kill’, ‘steal’, ‘lie’, ‘slander’. Therefore, not only can we call for

cultures and nations to draw closer together, make friends

President Nazarbayev is successfully pursuing a policy of strengthening

peace and harmony inside the country and developing constructive and

mutually beneficial cooperation with all interested states. This balanced

policy based on a fair assessment of the legitimate interests of all nations

has already brought many advantages. Kazakhstan has been recognised

by the international community as a respected partner that is treating

its international obligations with utmost responsibility. Not accidentally,

the OSCE summit, which adopted the Declaration Towards a Security

Community, was held in Astana in 2010 after an 11-year break.

The upcoming fifth Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional

Religions will no doubt make a significant contribution to the development

of a global dialogue for the sake of peace and harmony. Kazakhstan

hopes for collaboration, mutual understanding and cooperation with all

religious leaders and politicians to fulfil these noble missions.

The Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in Astana

since 2003, is an important item on the international agenda

Image: Congress of World and Traditional Religions

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