On February 1, 2022, the special webinar dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and countries of the Caspian region was organized by Caspian Policy Center based in Washington, DC.
The speakers of the event included Erzhan Kazykhan Deputy Chief of Staff of the President of Kazakhstan – President’s Special Representative for International Cooperation, US Assistant Secretaries of State Donald Lu and Karen Donfried as well as high representatives from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It was moderated by former US Ambassador to Kazakhstan Richard Hoagland.
Emphasizing the significant potential for strengthening cooperation between the countries of the region and the United States, President’s Special Representative Kazykhan stressed: “We see multiple opportunities for practical engagement across several key priority areas including countering terrorism and other security challenges, tackling the climate emergency, diversification of transit-transport systems, promoting women's economic empowerment etc.”
In the context of January events in Kazakhstan, Special Representative Kazykhan emphasized the unwavering commitment of the Head of State to continue the political, economic, and institutional modernization of the country. “The new Cabinet will introduce the Action Plan for 2022 soon. A new economic policy will become a basis for New Kazakhstan”, he concluded.
The events that took place in Kazakhstan were also emphasized in Assistant Secretary Lu's speech. He expressed hope that the Government of Kazakhstan will ensure the continuation of the course for further political and economic transformations.
“The challenge for the West is to support Kazakhstan in a manner that is not teaching but allow Kazakhstan to recognize and to address the human rights problems that occurred in January and to move forward with social, political, and economic reforms necessary to prevent any potential unrest” Lu said.
The participants of the webinar noted the importance of cooperation between the countries of the region and the United States to further develop political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian dialogue.