Askar Akhmetovich Musinov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the UAE
Askar Akhmetovich, it is known that since 2002 you have been the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Please tell us, first, a few words about yourself and your experience in the Gulf countries?
Before starting our conversation, I would like to thank the editors of the Russian Emirates magazine for the opportunity to notify all Russian-speaking readers, including citizens of Kazakhstan, living and working in the Emirates, about the opening of the Kazakh embassy in the capital of the UAE - the city of Abu Dhabi.
I was born in the city of Almaty, where my school years passed. He graduated from Leningrad State University with a degree in Oriental studies and has been working in the system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan since 1987. At various times, he held various diplomatic posts in the central apparatus and abroad. In 1993-1996 was the head of the Main Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan; in 1996, the first secretary-chief of the consular department of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; in 1996 -1997 - Director of the Consular Services Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan; 1997-1999 - the chief of the Protocol of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan; in 1999-2002 - Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Arab Republic of Egypt; in 2002-2006 - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf countries (UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain) in combination. I have the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
The opening of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the Emirates is a historic event in relations between the two countries. What will its activities be expressed in, and how do you see today's cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Emirates? What are the prospects for further development, in your opinion?
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in September 1992. Since 1997, the Consulate of Kazakhstan has been operating in Dubai, the status of which was raised to the Consulate General in 1999. As you know, the functional duties and tasks of the consulate general are limited mainly by the development of economic and trade cooperation between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the UAE, consular and other issues. However, this does not correspond to the dynamic level of development of relations that exists today between the two states. For example, the only embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Saudi Arabia to date has oversaw the establishment of political relations between Kazakhstan and the Persian Gulf countries in general and the Emirates in particular. In this regard, the need has ripened for the exchange of embassies primarily between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the UAE, the relations of which have reached a higher level.
You quite rightly noted that the opening of the Kazakh embassy in the Emirates is a historic event in relations between the two countries and the implementation of the agreements between the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.A. Nazarbayev and the UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the exchange of embassies.
Currently, the economic success of Kazakhstan is a universally recognized fact. But the leadership of our republic does not stop there and sets itself ambitious goals, including joining the ranks of the 50 most competitive countries in the world over the next ten years. The basis of this strategy is to use the advantages of the regional and global economies to enter Kazakhstan into international markets by increasing the competitiveness of national goods and services. That is why the leadership of Kazakhstan set the embassy the task of deepening and expanding bilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and the UAE, as well as studying the achievements of the Emirates in the economic, social and other fields. Currently, the embassy is taking a series of measures regarding the participation of the emirate’s side in Kazakhstan’s international initiatives, assistance to entrepreneurs of the two countries, attraction of emirate investments in the economy of Kazakhstan, strengthening the legal framework for bilateral cooperation and intensifying work on preparations for signing a number of important documents.
To date, strong political, trade and economic cooperation has been established between Kazakhstan and the Emirates. Our countries adhere to similar positions on many pressing problems of international life, and advocate the strengthening of an atmosphere of stability and trust in their regions, a just and peaceful solution to various conflicts. The coincidence of the positions of the two countries on a number of important international and regional problems created the basis for deepening cooperation in the international arena. For example, it can be noted that the UAE leadership supports the initiative of Kazakhstan to convene a Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), convene Congresses of World Religions, and positively assesses the activities of Kazakhstan in the framework of the CIS and the SCO.
As promising areas of cooperation between our countries, the sphere of transport, communications and logistics can be noted. For example, there is the possibility of combining direct rail and road connections from Kazakhstan to Iranian ports with existing transport communications of the UAE and other Gulf countries. The completion of the reconstruction of the Aktau port in Kazakhstan will allow for the establishment of freight traffic between Kazakhstan and the UAE in transit through Iran through the North-South international transport corridor.
Great prospects are observed in the field of establishing cooperation in the field of agriculture. Kazakhstan, which has great potential in this area, can supply large quantities of wheat and barley to the UAE.
We are interested in studying the Emirate experience in creating free economic zones in Dubai and other emirates, the largest seaport in the region, Jebel Ali, as well as establishing business cooperation in the field of port facilities and the functioning of the SEZ. The commonality of historical roots and cultural values also implies the active development of cooperation in this area.
Until recently, Kazakhstani entrepreneurs were engaged in the transportation of mainly consumer goods from the Emirates. The visit of the head of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev to the United Arab Emirates in February of this year, no doubt, gave a new impetus to the trade and economic development of relations between the two countries. What, in your opinion, will be the new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation?
It should be noted that close friendships have been established between the leaders of our countries, as evidenced by their regular mutual visits. So at the beginning of this year, the head of state twice visited the Emirates, and in October of this year, the UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan paid a visit to Kazakhstan. Undoubtedly, high-level visits give an impetus to the development of relations between the two countries in various fields and create a good basis for fruitful cooperation.
In February 2006, a working visit of the government delegation of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Abu Dhabi took place to identify the main areas of bilateral cooperation. As a result of the negotiations, an "Action Plan between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the UAE" was signed, according to which, among other agreements, the Emirate side committed itself to building a business and hotel complex "Bourges al-Emirat", a national center for cardiac surgery and a research and educational town similar to Dubai Knowledge Village. Currently, with the assistance of the embassy, preparatory work is being carried out between the interested ministries and departments of the two states on their implementation. At the end of September 2006, the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, was visited by specialists from the emirate company Aldar to familiarize themselves with and inspect the site of the Bourzhal-Emirate complex.
The agenda includes the next meeting of the intergovernmental commission of Kazakhstan and the Emirates, the creation of the Business Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates, which will further expand trade and economic relations, and establish business ties between entrepreneurs of both countries. In addition, the leadership of the emirate airline Al Ittihad expresses its intention to open new flights to the cities of Kazakhstan. This step in the future will contribute to an increase in the number of tourists, both from Kazakhstan and from the Emirates, as well as to strengthen the flow of cargo transportation.
Currently, a fairly large number of your compatriots live in the Emirates. The number of tourists from Kazakhstan is increasing every year. How can you, as an ambassador, appreciate this fact?
Since gaining its independence, Kazakhstan has proclaimed itself a secular state with an open market economy. The state provided our citizens with the opportunity to develop their private business, work and study abroad. As a result, many Kazakhstanis currently work outside of our country on a contract basis, including in the Emirates, send their children to study abroad. According to our data, more than 700 people live or work with local citizens in the UAE, and about 40 students study at the universities of the Emirates of Dubai and Sharjah.
The emirates are one of the most visited places in the world by the citizens of our country, and the number of people wishing to visit the UAE is increasing every year. So only through the UAE international airports annually pass more than 15 thousand of our citizens. Of course, the bulk are tourists. But delegations of various levels come, both official and working groups, arriving on business in the UAE or making transit to third countries through the airports of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.
This is quite normal. People choose places where they are well and friendly, where they care about their safety. Emirates correspond to all these standards. At the same time, I want to note our interest in ensuring that the tourist flow is stable in both directions. In this regard, the embassy sets itself the task of attracting tourists from the Persian Gulf countries to Kazakhstan.
What would you like to wish or advise your fellow citizens from the pages of our magazine?
I want to emphasize that one of the main tasks of the embassy is the protection of the rights and interests of Kazakhstani citizens in the Emirates. All of them are under the auspices of our state and at any time can turn to the embassy for help. However, they, in turn, must respect the customs and traditions of the host country, comply with local laws and rules of conduct. In this regard, I recommend that Kazakhstanis living in the United Arab Emirates timely register with the consular department at the consular section of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Abu Dhabi or at the Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Dubai. These measures are necessary for the prompt resolution of issues affecting their interests.
