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Kazakhstan and EU Address Common Security Concerns

On November 14, the European Union Delegation to Kazakhstan, the Embassy of the Netherlands, and the Kazakh government convened a roundtable in Astana to address critical transnational threats impacting both the EU and Kazakhstan. The event gathered more than 70 experts, government officials, and international representatives to discuss pressing issues such as terrorism, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and other security concerns. Particular attention was given to the interconnected nature of international extremism, border protection, critical infrastructure, drug trafficking, and arms trafficking. Participants underscored the growing level of cooperation between the EU and Kazakhstan, exchanging insights and experiences to enhance joint responses to these multifaceted threats. Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Roman Vassilenko, emphasized that transnational threats disregard borders and national sovereignty, posing a global challenge. “No country is immune from such issues as cyberattacks, organized crime, terrorism, trafficking in persons, or illegal migration,” he stated. Vassilenko noted that Astana has ratified all 19 UN universal counter-terrorism conventions and protocols, demonstrating its active engagement with the international community, including the EU. EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan Aleska Simkic hailed the roundtable as a significant milestone in security collaboration. “Today’s global security threats are neither confined by borders nor limited to single regions; they affect us all, underscoring the need for a united and coordinated response. The European Union and Kazakhstan are bound by shared interests and mutual challenges—whether addressing extremism, human trafficking, or organized crime. This roundtable offers an essential platform for exchanging insights and best practices, strengthening our common security and resilience, and creating better coordination between actions that both sides are already implementing. By working together, we build not only a safer Central Asia and Europe but also contribute to broader regional stability and peace,” Simkic said. Dutch Ambassador to Kazakhstan Nico Schermers echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of collaboration. “Only by working together and learning from each other’s perspectives and insights can we tackle transnational threats affecting the European Union and Kazakhstan,” he remarked. The roundtable concluded with both the EU and Kazakhstan reaffirming their commitment to combat terrorism, trafficking, and organized crime, paving the way for deeper and more effective cooperation in the future.

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Uzbekistan Drafting Law to Ban LGBT “Propaganda”

Alisher Qodirov, leader of Uzbekistan's Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival) party, has announced that a draft law banning the discussion of LGBT topics is being prepared in Uzbekistan. Qodirov shared this news on his Telegram channel, where he also referenced a social media post by Ivanka Trump, daughter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who highlighted her father’s plan to cut federal funding for schools promoting "inappropriate sexual content" and "transgender ideology." Qodirov commented: “The change in the center of the disease is very good,” suggesting his support for similar measures in Uzbekistan. He added: “We are working on adopting a law prohibiting any kind of propaganda in this regard,” though he did not elaborate further. In the past, Qodirov has also advocated for banning Soviet ideology and symbols in Uzbekistan. This stance followed a recent case in Samarkand, where a pensioner wishing to restore the Soviet Union received a three-year restricted freedom sentence for actions deemed a threat to Uzbekistan’s constitutional order.

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Central Asian Leaders Arrive in Azerbaijan for UN COP29 Climate Summit

The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) opened in Azerbaijan's capital Baku on November 11, drawing approximately 50,000 participants, including government representatives, politicians, investors, and environmentalists from 198 countries. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attended the Summit, where he was welcomed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Tokayev will open the plenary session and hold talks with various heads of state, as well as representatives of international organizations and businesses. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has also arrived at the conference and is scheduled to address the opening session on November 12. He will participate in the special session “High-Level Dialogue: Advancing the Mountain Agenda and Mainstreaming Mountains and Climate Change,” organized by Kyrgyzstan with the support of Azerbaijan and Mongolia. This discussion will also feature Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Nepali President Ram Chandra Poudel, and representatives of international organizations. Russia is represented at the summit by its Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Additionally, representatives of the Taliban, which the UN does not recognize as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, have been included in the delegation for the first time. Armenia, however, has not yet confirmed its participation due to ongoing territorial disputes with Azerbaijan. The Summit is being held at the Baku Olympic Stadium, with sessions set to conclude on November 22. COP29 has been termed a “finance summit” due to its primary focus on financing developing nations in the fight against climate change. Delegates are also working to establish a framework to improve national emissions reduction programs.

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Mirziyoyev Calls for Independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as Capital

Speaking at this week's summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Bishkek, Uzbekistan's president Shavkat Mirziyoyev has once again discussed the situation in the Middle East. Mirziyoyev noted that global geopolitical processes have become increasingly complex since the start of the war in the region. The atmosphere of competition and mistrust between countries is intensifying, the hotbeds of conflict and war are increasing, and various dangers are growing. "These problems are a severe obstacle to our joint plans and big projects in trade, investment, transport, energy, agriculture, and other fields; this is the truth," Mirziyoyev said. “It is, first and foremost, about the ongoing war in the Middle East and the double standards that we see. Nothing can justify the unprecedented humanitarian tragedy in Gaza and Lebanon, the devastating attacks against civilians, especially the death of innocent children, the elderly, and women. We strongly condemn the actions aimed at restricting the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. The only solution to this long-standing conflict is the establishment of an independent State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 borders, by international regulations and resolutions,” noted Mirziyoyev. He hoped the Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh next week would find a clear political solution to this problem. He also highlighted the importance of Afghanistan’s stability: “When it comes to security, we believe Afghanistan should always be at the focus of our Organization. In this regard, it is crucial to establish a regular dialogue mechanism at the ministerial and expert levels. We believe that the issues of providing support to de facto authorities in addressing acute problems in Afghanistan, integrating this country into regional economic processes, and implementing social and infrastructure projects should be considered.”

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Bakyt Baketayev: Organization of Turkic States Is About Investment, Not Politics

The 11th summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), which includes Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Hungary (as an observer), was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan's capital. Speaking with The Times of Central Asia, Kyrgyz political analyst Bakyt Baketayev noted that the OTS was initially created on a cultural and linguistic basis. However, the turbulent geopolitical situation in the world gave the organization impetus for its current development. “The catalyst for the development of the OTS was the geopolitical situation and military-political events in the world. At the beginning of the organization's work - in 2009 - the countries worked on cultural programs and common spiritual issues uniting Turkic peoples. Today, the members of the OTS already cooperate at the level of governments, ministries, and agencies and discuss economic issues,” Baketayev said. Baketayev drew attention to the composition of the Organization of Turkic States. It includes countries representing different economic and political associations: NATO (Turkey), the European Union (Hungary), and the EAEU (Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan). “We should not expect any big results from the OTS summit. There will be no common political statements - the countries are scattered geographically and have different interests. But from the economic point of view of trade development and investment development, concrete steps are quite possible,” Baketayev said. The analyst is confident that the Organisation of Turkic States will help overcome problems related to hydropower and the lack of water resources in Central Asia. If the heads of state have common economic interests, they will be more likely to reach an agreement.

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Pope Francis Receives Kyrgyzstan President Japarov

On October 4, during his official visit to Italy, Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov was received by Pope Francis at the Vatican. As reported by the president's press office, Japarov emphasized Kyrgyzstan's status as a secular, multi-ethnic country which guarantees freedom of religion to the numerous communities which integral to Kyrgyz society, play an essential role in its development. The Kyrgyz leader also noted that one of the country's key traditional values has always been tolerance and respect for cultural diversity, and extended an open invitation to the Pope to visit. According to the Holy See’s press office, the discussions focused on the cordial relations between the Holy See and Kyrgyzstan and the two states’ "mutual collaboration in the fields of healthcare, education, and culture, and aspects of the life of the local Church." The two leaders also exchanged opinions on current international affairs “with special attention to the ongoing conflicts and humanitarian issues, revealing the importance of urgent commitment to promoting peace." During the audience, Pope Francis presented President Japarov with a terracotta sculpture entitled "Love and Tenderness," a photo book on the Apostolic Palace, and a copy of this year's Message for Peace. In return, President Japarov gifted Pope Francis decorated jars filled with honey ecologically produced in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, an image of St Peter's Basilica made from colorful wool, and a handcrafted Kyrgyz silver tea set. Japarov is the third leader of a Central Asian country to meet Pope Francis. In January 2024, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made his first official visit to the Holy See at Pope Francis's invitation, at which appreciation was expressed for the good relations between the Holy See and Kazakhstan, particularly regarding mutual collaboration in interreligious dialogue. The meeting followed in the wake of Pope Francis' visit to Kazakhstan in September 2022, to attend the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana. Held in the Kazakh capital every three years, the Congress functions as a permanent international interfaith platform for dialogue between religions. In April 2024, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon visited the Vatican and during his meeting with Pope Francis, stressed his country's tolerance and coexistence of representatives of all religions.