Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Belgium and Luxemburg, Head of Kazakh Mission to the EU and NATO Yerik Utembayev told about the results of Kazakhstan's presidency in the OSCE, expectations for the OSCE Summit in Kazakhstan and prospects of our country in the Organization at a roundtable on 'Kazakhstan's presidency in the OSCE: results and new prospects' held in Brussels.

'The results of the last year showed that Kazakhstan prevented the recession and preserved the economic growth. In the first half-year the growth of GDP made more than 8%', the President emphasized.

The creation of stronger trading and economic links in the Eurasian region and greater integration among countries will form a key part of Kazakhstan’s Third Astana Economic Forum, planned for July 1-2 in the country’s capital.

An opening ceremony of the “Nazarbayev University” took place on June 28 in the capital of Kazakhstan with the participation of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President himself. With the launch of the University, young Kazakhs obtain an opportunity to get an education equal to the highest standards in the world without leaving the country.

The High-Level Conference on Tolerance and Non-Discrimination is being hosted by the Kazakh OSCE Chairmanship in the Palace of Peace and Accord (the Pyramid) in Astana on 29-30 June 2010. The conference has brought together senior government officials, politicians and public figures from 56 OSCE participating states aiming to contribute to further strengthening of interaction between different cultures and civilizations, and to implement the related OSCE commitments and values.

Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev believes Kyrgyzstan is in need of a serious programme of economic recovery and promises help in its elaboration and implementation.

Astana and Ankara are seeking to join efforts in helping restore stability in Kyrgyzstan on a mission to establish long-term peace in Eurasia. This was clearly demonstrated by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmat Davutogly’s latest visit to Astana, as he held talks with his Kazakh counterpart Kanat Saudabayev and was received by President Nursultan Nazarbayev on June 21.

Kazakhstan says its recent efforts to defuse political tensions in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan has demonstrated the effectiveness of its current chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Kanat Saudabayev, minister of foreign affairs, says: “The tragic events in Kyrgyzstan in early April almost plunged that country into turmoil, crisis and lawlessness. This was a serious test for the Kazakh chairmanship and for the entire OSCE.”

Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Karim Massimov reported to Parliament on his government’s performance in managing economic processes in the first half of 2010. He said the faster than expected recovery of the economy, hit earlier by the global credit crunch, allows the government to reconsider expected revenues and reintroduce export customs duties for hydrocarbons. At the same time, two major banks, which required government bailouts in early 2009, were now ready to buy out the shares purchased by the state back then.