This strategy may be applied in various parts of the world and can serve as a good model for many states to follow. Its key element is ensuring the security-development nexus, as well as promoting a regional approach and coordinating UN activities under a single entity at the headquarters and on the ground.

I would like to emphasize one more symbolic, but noticeable contribution of our country in the work of the UN Security Council. Kazakhstan has set up the tradition of holding a solemn ceremony of installing national flags for new non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, elected for the next 2 years.

For the first time in UN history, in January 2018 during our presidency of the UN Security Council, Kazakhstan initiated an official ceremony for new non-permanent members joining the Council. UN member states have called this innovation a “hallmark” of Kazakhstan’s UNSC legacy. Earlier the flags of UN Security Council non-permanent members, hung in front of the Security Council hall, were changed without any ceremony. It was considered a purely technical procedure. With the introduction of a new tradition, this is now an official event in the Organization’s calendar with the wide participation of representatives of UN member states and international media.

***

During two years of work on the UN Security Council, representatives of Kazakhstan took part in more than 1,000 open and closed meetings, 38 informal meetings of Security Council members, contributed to the adoption of 115 resolutions and 48 statements by the Council President. Behind these figures is the tremendous work of our diplomats, employees of the Foreign Ministry, its overseas agencies, as well as other state agencies of our country.

We presided over the Security Council in January 2018, taking responsibility for the global agenda and the discussion of international issues on this platform.

It is also important to note the participation of Kazakhstan in 12 field visits to various regions of the world. One of them was organized in Afghanistan. This did not go unnoticed and the Leader of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani sent a letter of thanks to our President.

***

We considered the ambitious task of the UN Security Council membership as a “national project”. This was facilitated by our most important qualities and achievements, including  tolerant thinking and honesty and impartiality. We have a achieve a great many things in recent years including the organization of Congresses of World and Traditional Religions, the Astana Process on peace negotiations in Syria, our global leadership to achieve a nuclear-free world, as well as our conflict prevention and counter-terrorism initiatives. In addition, the experience of chairing the OSCE, OIC, SCO, CICA, CIS and other international and regional agencies played a special role.

I would like to point out that amidst deep contradictions between various countries, primarily the nuclear-armed nations, the multi-vector nature of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy became the key to our effective work on the Security Council, not only preserving, but also strengthening strategic cooperation with leading world powers.

We did our best to meet the expectations of the world community and, I am sure, in many ways we managed to meet their high aspirations. Kazakhstan is convinced that to effectively address the problems and challenges that the world faces we need concerted efforts of all states, increasing the impact of existing international organizations and cooperation mechanisms operating under the leadership of the UN.

The evolution of new threats in a rapidly changing world requires an adequate response and search for optimal forms of collective resistance. This will be facilitated by the good will of the UN member states to move in this direction, as well as the noble goals and activities of the Organization, including on the Security Council’s platform.

I am sure that history will show the effectiveness of the position of Kazakhstan on critical issues of international policy.

Kazakhstan will continue to contribute to the consolidation of a global partnership to build a safe, just and prosperous planet.

Working in the main UN body on peace and security was a unique opportunity for us to gain invaluable diplomatic experience and strengthen the international standing of our country.

The success of Kazakhstan’s work on the United Nations Security Council and our effective leadership of this body in January 2018 under the direction of President Nazarbayev is considered an important achievement for the whole Kazakh nation. All state agencies and the civil sector played an active part and contributed to the implementation of the great mission of our country on the Council.

We plan to keep actively working on the UN platform, advocating multilateral cooperation, maintaining a global system based on internationally recognized rules, jointly overcoming global challenges and promoting peace and common development throughout the world.

Конец формы

[A1]I have reworked as the other sentence was unclear. Please check you are okay with changes.

[A2]I have reworked to make this point clearer.

[A3]I do not believe this sentence is necessary as no one will be aware that there was any ‘issue’ which needed to be resolved.

[A4]Please check this is correct.