Maulen Ashimbayev, Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, took part in the 53rd plenary session of the Interparliamentary session of the CIS.
In his speech, the Chairman of the Senate thanked his colleagues for the support of Kazakhstan to host the jubilee session of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly Council in Almaty, which is scheduled for March next year.
Maulen Ashimbayev also recalled that next year the CIS presidency would be transferred to the Republic of Kazakhstan. In this regard, our country has already been actively working in this direction.
“President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has approved the Concept of the CIS Chairmanship of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The priorities around which the chairmanship of Kazakhstan will be built have been determined. Work on parliamentary diplomacy is one of them. In the framework of its presidency, Kazakhstan will continue providing active support to the IPA CIS in addressing a wide range of tasks set before the Commonwealth,” the Senate Speaker noted.
The audience of the plenary session also discussed the issues of post-pandemic development and stressed the importance of continuing to work on stabilizing the epidemic situation. In this respect, the Senate Speaker pointed out the importance for all countries of the Commonwealth to take additional efforts collectively to prevent biological disasters and similar crises in the future. He urged the partners to support the initiative of Kazakhstan to establish the International Agency for Biological Safety.
“Last year, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev initiated the creation of the International Agency for Biological Safety under the United Nations. The aim of this institution could be the taking of preventive measures to avoid crises like the coronavirus pandemic. The agency could help combat new types of challenges and threats to humanity. At present, practical consulting with all stakeholders is being carried out. We call on our colleagues from the CIS countries to support the initiative of Kazakhstan to create the International Agency for Biological Safety,” Maulen Ashimbayev said.
During the session, parliamentarians also reviewed model bills developed by the Assembly for their further use in national legislations of the CIS countries.
Additionally, on the sidelines of the Assembly, Maulen Ashimbayev held several bilateral negotiations with his colleagues. The key issue of the meeting between Maulen Ashimbayev and Tanzila Narbayeva, Chair of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, was further steps to enhance inter-parliamentary cooperation.
It was noted at the meeting that the established Commission on Cooperation between the Senates of the Parliaments of the two countries is an important instrument for inter-parliamentary interaction. The Senate Speaker suggested conducting a meeting of the Commission in Kazakhstan in the Aral Sea region in the first half of next year.
“Discussion of the interaction between our countries on the restoration of the Aral Sea could be one of the major issues on the agenda of the Commission. Overall, water issues still hold a special place in our bilateral relations. The dialogue on the sustainable use of water and energy potential of our countries and providing environmental protection of transboundary rivers is important to continue. As the President of Kazakhstan has noted, the early completion of negotiation processes in the framework of “water diplomacy’ meets the common interests of our country and the Central Asian states,” Maulen Ashimbayev said.
Maulen Ashimbayev continued the discussion of transboundary rivers with Valentina Matviyenko, Chair of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia. The Speaker of the Senate noted that the issue had been raised during the XVII Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia with the participation of the Presidents of both countries, and also during the visit of Valentina Matviyenko to Kazakhstan in June this year.
The proposal by Maulen Ashimbayev is to intensify work in this area and discuss the issue at the parliamentary level with the involvement of relevant government agencies. Apart from that, Maulen Ashimbayev proposed to include these and other issues into the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the Commission on Cooperation between the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan and the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia, which is to be held in the first half of next year.
“Water problems are relevant for the whole of our region. After all, efficient and careful use of transboundary water resources is a significant factor in regional development. Furthermore, I think the issue of sustainable development in a post-pandemic environment might also be of interest to parliamentarians of the two countries. We pay much attention in the Senate to the issues of comprehensive development of rural areas, including the development of infrastructure, social facilities, businesses, creation of jobs. We would be interested in sharing the experience with our Russian colleagues on legislative support for this direction,” Maulen Ashimbayev commented.
(Press Office of the Senate, 74-72-27, Photo by E. Ukibayev)
