Kazakhstan expresses regret over lack of unity in UN Security Council on Iraq, says continues to support U.S.-led antiterrorist coalition

Kazakhstan expresses its deep regret and concern with the absence of unity at the United Nations Security Council on the problem of Iraq. efforts of the international community to disarm Iraq. Unfortunately, efforts to disarm Iraq turned out to be futile, in part because of the destructive position of the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein who had not presented convincing evidence of disarmament of his country. Kazakhstan remains committed to fundamental principles of the strategic partnership with the U.S.

ASTANA, March 18, 2003 - Statement by the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan on Iraq problem:

Kazakhstan expresses its deep regret and concern with the absence of unity at the United Nations Security Council on the problem of Iraq. Despite all the hopes of the international community, the main collective body, called upon to play the leading role in the issues of securing peace, has so far failed to agree to an accepted solution in order to settle the situation around Iraq by political means.

Our state, having voluntarily renounced the fourth largest nuclear arsenal in the world, has actively supported the efforts of the international community to disarm Iraq. Unfortunately, those efforts turned out to be futile, in part because of the destructive
position of the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein who had not presented convincing evidence of disarmament of his country. The possibility of peaceful solution of the arisen problem through the diplomatic means had been basically reduced to zero. A dangerous trend of split and absence of common position on the Iraqi question appeared in the international community.

Kazakhstan remains of the principled positions of support for the UN and stands for resolving key international problems only within the framework of that organization which reflects the will and interests of the entire international community. Our country also stands for the consolidation of all nations of the world within the United Nations in order to strengthen its role and authority in ensuring peace and global security.

Kazakhstan values highly the fact that the U.S.-led international antiterrorist coalition has played a key role in securing stability in Afghanistan, thus preventing the serious threat to security of the nations of Central Asia. Kazakhstan has joined the coalition since the first days and remains its active member. Our country has successfully cooperated with the U.S. in the sphere of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Kazakhstan remains committed to fundamental principles of the strategic partnership with the U.S. and hopes for further development of equitable and mutually beneficial ties with that country.

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