Astana, 11 October — The Republic of Kazakhstan is preparing to host the sixth session of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), in Astana on 12-13 October 2022, after 30 years of its establishment, while calling for the transformation of the conference into a global regional organization due to security, political, military and economic considerations of 27 member states occupying more than 90 % of the territory of the Asian continent and collectively produce more than 50% of the world’s GDP.
Kazakhstan has identified the priorities of its presidency in implementing confidence-building measures in its five dimensions by achieving the highest rates of development that require working to establish strong partnerships based on the spirit of solidarity between countries and international groups, for the benefit of various peoples and societies, where the importance of the activities of the CICA Conference is determined. Five basic dimensions that represent the confidence-building measures guide: the political and military fields, combating dangers, new challenges, and cooperation in the economic, environmental, and humanitarian fields.
Kazakhstan calls on member states to activate their capabilities to confront regional challenges and has presented its own vision to address common issues, and the need to unite efforts to improve the conference’s efficiency and international competitiveness, which requires its transformation into a full-fledged international regional organization.
The priorities of Kazakhstan’s presidency of the conference during 2020-2022 are focused on institutionalizing CICA and transforming it into a fully international organization, aiming to maintain regional and global stability.
Kazakhstan also plays a leading role in developing the military and political dimension of CICA, as it believes that the background of armed conflicts spreading around the world since the beginning of the century requires more urgent cooperation to enhance security cooperation and diplomatic efforts between Asian countries at the bilateral and multilateral levels, and stresses the Enhancing transparency and building confidence in the military and security fields between states and international organizations is critical to help de-escalate escalation and anticipate the occurrence of such conflicts in the future.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed transforming the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) into a fully international organization during his meeting with the delegations participating in the Sixth Meeting of Foreign Ministers and said that CICA, which was initiated by Kazakhstan in 1992, has turned into a platform A continental with broad geographical representation and a comprehensive agenda that has the potential to unite the efforts of Asian countries to promote peace, cooperation and development.
President Tokayev added: “We have identified a number of ambitious priorities aimed at achieving the strategic goal – transforming CICA into a full-fledged international organization since this conference already has all the necessary elements of an international organization, including basic documents, administrative and working bodies, a budget operating, permanent secretariat, and this move will also underscore the commitment of member states to create a truly common, indivisible and inclusive security architecture on the largest continent.”
For his part, His Excellency Madiyar Menilbekov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Arab Emirates, said: “The main milestones are clear and strong for the efforts of the member states and the successes of the leadership of Kazakhstan over the 30 years since the establishment of CICA, especially in the issue of international security and cooperation, the main achievements and plans, programs and arrangements. Before the Sixth Conference “CICA” two days later.
The organization includes 27 permanent members: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Russia and Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka.
And 13 observers: Belarus, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Ukraine, the United States of America, as well as the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the International Organization for Migration, the Arab League and the Parliamentary Assembly of Speaking Countries In Turkish.
Source: ASWAQ
