Kazakhstan's efforts to improve United Nations 'machinery'.

As they entered the twenty-first century, the people of Kazakhstan have a right to be proud of their country's political stability and its inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony, which are its greatest accomplishments. The stability of the society and its economic and social achievements contribute in an important way to the strengthening of Kazakhstan's statehood and its recognition as a full-fledged member of the international community.

Since gaining independence on 16 December 1991. Kazakhstan has been constructing a democratic society in which human rights are a priority. It is committed to socially-oriented market reforms, principles of democracy and human rights protection. Its policy objective is to build a rule-of-law State. based on the primacy of international law and State support, and free development of social and institutional systems of human rights protection.

Kazakhstan joined the United Nations family on 2 March 1992, and has since been able to integrate and take a proper place in the international community. As a universal and influential organization, the United Nations must be the centre for addressing key international issues and continue to play an indispensable coordinating role in all global affairs. The current world situation requires serious efforts to improve UN machinery and adapt it to new realities. To effectively address new challenges. Member States need a strong and efficient multilateral institution. The reform of the United Nations must be comprehensive and encompass all its main organs.

The Government of Kazakhstan supported the UN Secretary-General's proposal to establish a high-level panel to review the functioning of the UN system. Our delegation actively participated in the open-ended informal consultations on the revitalization of the General Assembly's work during its fifty-eighth session, and the Assembly subsequently adopted a resolution that is very important in enhancing its role, improving its working methods, streamlining its agenda and strengthening the President's office.

The conditions that determined the composition and procedures of the Security Council have changed dramatically, and its reform is part of the commitment world leaders made during the UN Millennium Summit. Kazakhstan is firmly committed to strengthening this major UN body responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. We welcomed Assembly President Julian Hunte's decision to resume the work of the open-ended working group, which could bring back the negotiation process in order to reach a comprehensive package agreement on the Council reform.

Afghanistan continues to pose a serious threat to peace and stability in Central Asia. Kazakhstan has always called for an early settlement of the situation in that country and two years ago opened its diplomatic mission in Kabul, which broadened its participation in the political and economic activities to rebuild the Afghan society. It cooperates actively with the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and international organizations in efforts to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the situation there. Kazakhstan cosponsored a resolution, adopted in 2003, relating to international assistance for peace and security and the promotion of normalization of the situation and economic reconstruction to improve the life of the Afghan people. The cosponsors reflect Member States' commitment to the 2001 Bonn process for building a new Afghanistan.

Although the political situation in Afghanistan has become somewhat stable. Kazakhstan is especially concerned by the production and trafficking of illicit drugs in the country which, unfortunately, continues to be the main source of drugs bound for international markets. Opium production in 2003 returned to former high levels and, as a result, opium transit through Central Asian countries has increased. Kazakhstan has underscored the need to establish joint mechanisms to stem drug trafficking in Afghanistan and allocate adequate resources to implement projects and programmes to combat drug distribution. A comprehensive approach, based on an integrated international strategy coordinated by the United Nations, is needed to effectively address the drug threat. We believe that the United Nations should pay more attention to the implementation of programmes against drug trafficking.

The international community should keep under constant review the continued efforts to eliminate terrorist groups in Afghanistan. Kazakhstan joined the efforts to ensure broad and effective cooperation to address these global threats and challenges, and supports the work of the UN to combat international terrorism. Pursuant to Security Council resolution 1373 (2001). Kazakhstan has taken effective measures against terrorism by establishing a comprehensive national mechanism to suppress the financing of terrorism and money laundering.

Kazakhstan has ratified the International Conventions for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings. It encourages the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee, which has a broad mandate encompassing international cooperation, internal executive machinery and domestic legislation, to intensify its cooperation with international and regional organizations. It also attaches great importance to further the work on the international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism and the comprehensive convention on international terrorism. The need for such legal instruments cannot be overestimated and we must strengthen our efforts to address this global threat effectively.

Kazakhstan's efforts to create a comprehensive security system in Asia are well known. The Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, initiated by Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbaev, provides for active cooperation between regional States in combating international terrorism. We have put forward an initiative on the establishment of a UN preventive diplomacy and conflict management regional centre in the country, which will strengthen UN activity in Central Asia.

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction remains one of the most serious challenges to international peace and security. Kazakhstan calls for a strengthened and universal application of the existing regimes of non-proliferation and believes that the current international agreements in this area should be adapted to new realities. The UN system should play a vital role in solving the proliferation of nuclear weapons, by tightening control, strengthening the non-proliferation regime and improving transparency when it comes to weapons development and testing.

Kazakhstan, as the site of the former Semipalatinsk nuclear-testing ground, has first-hand knowledge of the horrendous effects of nuclear testing. Therefore, it calls for an early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), since a moratorium on test explosions is a basis for nuclear non-proliferation arms control and disarmament. It strongly supports the International Atomic Energy Agency's efforts to ensure global nuclear safety, and has signed the Additional Protocol to Safeguards Agreement in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. As a country that voluntarily renounced its nuclear inheritance, the fourth largest such arsenal in the world, Kazakhstan is actively involved in negotiations to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia.

The international community must also adopt coordinated measures to prevent and reduce the excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread of small arms, which undermine efforts to ensure indivisible and comprehensive security.

In conjunction with the United Nations and Japan, Kazakhstan hosted the International Conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons in Central Asia, in Almaty from 16 to 18 March 2004. The Conference focused on assessing the needs of participating States regarding the implementation of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.

Kazakhstan firmly supports UN efforts to strengthen its peacekeeping capacity. In October 2003, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UN concerning its contribution to the system of preparatory activities of the Organization. It remains fully committed to peacekeeping obligations and continues to take steps in enhancing the UN peacekeeping capacity.

In August 2003 Kazakhstan hosted the International Ministerial Conference on Transit Transport Cooperation, which has contributed directly to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. A resolution adopted in 2003 calls for full and effective implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action in addressing the special needs of landlocked and transit developing countries. The country's initiative on the establishment of a UN Register of Environmental Problems, put forward by President Nazarbaev, is highly relevant.

Kazakhstan, like other Central Asian States participating in the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, urges the international community to provide more effective assistance to the affected region through multilateral and bilateral channels. We support the UN system in their efforts to rehabilitate the social, economic and environmental situation in that area, but do not believe that those are adequate. Kazakhstan welcomed the outcome of the International Freshwater Forum, held in Dushanbe in 2003 within the framework of the International Year of Freshwater. The decisions adopted in Dushanbe contribute to the achievement of the goals and objectives set at the Millennium Summit and the Summit for Sustainable Development.

Kazakhstan has also been consistently facilitating international efforts to establish and promote a dialogue among civilizations and cultures. As a State characterized by a high level of religious tolerance and inter-ethnic harmony, it hosted the first Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in September 2003 where participants agreed on the need to continue a constructive inter-religious dialogue.

In December 2003, President Nazarbaev signed a decree on the accession of Kazakhstan to the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Its accession to UN human rights instruments fully assists its leadership's efforts to establish a society that pays priority attention to respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, irrespective of sex and ethnic or religious background.

Yerzhan Kh. Kazykhanov is the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations. He served as Director of the Department of Multilateral Cooperation and as Chief of Protocol in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was Counsellor at the Permanent Mission to the UN from 1995 to 2000.

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