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Kazakhstan Committed to Reforms, Says State's Boucher

By David I. McKeeby

Kazakhstan is earning America's support for its bid to lead the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) by committing to further progress on democratic reforms, says Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher.

"The decision to support Kazakhstan's chairmanship was not one the United States made quickly or easily," Boucher told a congressional panel July 22. "We felt Kazakhstan had much to do to meet the high standards of chairmanship."

Since Kazakhstan and its Central Asian neighbors achieved independence with the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union, U.S. policy in the region has been aimed at helping these new states realize "options and opportunity" through democratic and market reforms, Boucher said. "We support the development of fully sovereign, stable, democratic nations, integrated into the world economy and cooperating with one another."

When Kazakhstan takes OSCE's rotating chairmanship in 2010, it will become the first post-Soviet state to lead the 56-nation body, founded in the 1970s to promote dialogue between East and West on security, economic, environmental and human rights issues. Today, OSCE is dedicated to early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation in member states.

But despite Kazakhstan's post-independence achievements and its future potential afforded by both its people and its Caspian Basin energy wealth, Boucher acknowledged U.S. concerns about its "slow and uneven progress" on the path to democracy. Civil society and independent media remain largely underdeveloped, he said, and Kazakh political institutions remain dominated by its presidency, as seen in the country's single-party parliament seated in 2007.

At the same time, Boucher said, Kazakhstan has proven a "strong and reliable" security partner, beginning with its fateful decision to renounce its share of an inherited Soviet nuclear stockpile. In addition to its cooperation in international efforts against both nuclear proliferation and terrorism, Kazakhstan has deployed engineering troops to help Iraq, sponsored recovery projects in Afghanistan and played an active role in the OSCE.

Kazakhstan has pledged to pass legislation by the end of 2008 to reform its election law, use OSCE recommendations to modernize the media, promote religious freedom and open its system to help the registration of new political parties. "Clearly, a great deal of work must be done by the end of 2008," he said.

Ultimately, the United States is committed to Kazakhstan's success, Boucher said, and is joining with several European countries to help Kazakhstan as it prepares for OSCE chairmanship. The United States is ready to extend further assistance to promote democratic reform and the development of civil society and independent media.

"Our broader vision is for a strong, independent and democratic Kazakhstan that is a leader and anchor of stability in the region," Boucher said. Kazakhstan's term as chair of the OSCE "will help serve that broader vision."

Source: U.S. Department of State