5th meeting of the Cooperation Council between the EU and Kazakhstan

The Cooperation Council between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan held its fifth meeting on Tuesday 22 July 2003. The meeting was chaired by Mr Roberto Antonione, Italian Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and head of the EU delegation. The delegation of Kazakhstan was led by Mr Akhmetzhan Yessimov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The European Commission was represented by Mr Michael Leigh, Deputy Director General for External Relations.

The Cooperation Council expressed the hope that Kazakhstan would pursue successfully its ambition for OSCE Chairmanship in 2009. It was noted that this would require increased efforts to comply fully with international norms and standards, including those of the OSCE, in the fields of rule of law, democracy and human rights, in particular as regards elections, freedom of the media, freedom for political groupings and NGOs to operate unhindered, and the independence of the judiciary.

The Cooperation Council welcomed the introduction of a definition of torture into Kazakhstan's legislation as a first step towards the implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. In this context the EU encourages Kazakhstan to sign and ratify as soon as possible the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The Cooperation Council welcomed the establishment of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) in Kazakhstan. The Cooperation Council notes the EU's view that the Commissioner's mandate should be substantially widened to cover the full range of issues concerning rule of law, democracy and human rights in Kazakhstan.

The EU encourages Kazakhstan to implement the planned moratorium on the death penalty as soon as possible and calls upon Kazakhstan to proceed towards abolishing it altogether.

The Cooperation Council noted with satisfaction the intensification of dialogue and cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, energy and transport between the EU and Kazakhstan. It notes the ongoing dialogue between the government of Kazakhstan and foreign investors, and notes Kazakhstan's position that contracts with subsoil users are to be renegotiated only on a voluntary and mutually agreed basis to take into account the principle of reciprocity and the need to keep the balance of interests of the parties. It also notes, however, the EU's wish to see improvements regarding the general investment climate in Kazakhstan, in particular on transparency, registration and work permits for foreign workers, the rule of law, and stability of contract.

The Cooperation Council noted recent developments in the process of Kazakhstan's accession to the WTO. The EU supports Kazakhstan's accession to the WTO on commercially viable terms and in full respect of WTO rules and notes that it will work with Kazakhstan to achieve this goal.

The Cooperation Council noted with satisfaction Kazakhstan's continuing efforts to engage in cross-border cooperation within the CIS. The EU encourages Kazakhstan to continue its efforts to cooperate with the other countries of Central Asia.

The Cooperation Council welcomed the entry into force on 1 June 2003 of the agreement between the European Atomic Energy Community and the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of nuclear safety, as well as Kazakhstan's recent ratification of the Inogate Umbrella Agreement.

The Cooperation Council noted with satisfaction the intensification of EU-Kazakhstan dialogue on Justice and Home Affairs as well as their ongoing cooperation in the fight against terrorism, drugs and organised crime, inter alia in the framework of the Central Asia drugs action programme (CADAP) and the EU's border management programme for Central Asia (BOMCA). In this context the EU urges Kazakhstan to ratify and implement the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and to accede to its optional protocols, as well as to bring into force such anti-money laundering provisions as are needed to fulfil its commitments concerning the implementation of UNSCR 1373 (2001).

The European Union encourages Kazakhstan to accede to the Rome Statute creating the International Criminal Court and to adopt implementing legislation.

Over the working breakfast the Parties had a useful exchange of views on political reforms and matters of regional interest.

| Haut |