Council for a Community of Democracies

Kazakhstan Assumes Chairmanship of the OSCE, Renounces Democracy as a Major Focus
January 19, 2010
By: Randi Zung

On January 14, the country of Kazakhstan became the first former Soviet republic to hold the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In an address to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, Chairman and Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabaev stated that they would continue to “[assist] in resolutions of ‘protracted conflicts’” as well as work to prevent “the emergence of similar conflicts which result in human tragedy and humanitarian disasters.” In addition, Saudabaev said that Kazakhstan would also work towards supporting: global nuclear disarmament, fighting terrorism and religious extremism, and curbing drug trafficking. In the address, Saudabaev also noted that they plan to organize a meeting to address and facilitate the increased participation of women “in public and political life.” Saudabaev further announced that they would “pay particular attention” to preventing injustices related to the infringement upon the rule of law.

Kazakhstan’s first order of business detracts from the OSCE’s former agenda of democratic freedom and human rights by instead focusing on international security and co-operation. According to an article by BBC News, human rights groups have identified the country as never having held a free and fair election as well as prohibiting free speech. Despite its new position as chair country, the fact that Kazakhstan’s government is not free, according to Freedom House’s 2009 report, has provoked many to question whether the refocusing of the OSCE’s agenda is a deliberate attempt to divert attention from the country’s poor record. To avoid hypocrisy, head of the Kazakh NGO Adil Soz, Tamara Kaleeva said “Kazakhstan must try to improve the situation inside the country in accordance with OSCE principles,” reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. In an interview with Reuters, Saudabaev said that democracy in Kazakhstan was “a work in progress.”

Kazakhstan’s president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, stated that the country’s chairmanship is “an extremely important recognition of Kazakhstan's international authority, and a historical mission for the Kazakh state,” BBC News reports. According to Reuters, Nazarbayev also dodged claims that his country is guilty of failing to protect democracy and human rights stating that the creation of “Western” standards were falsely constructed against, and used to evaluate, his country’s practices. Political analysts believe that Kazakhstan’s increased international presence will bring further scrutiny to the country’s questionable human rights record from both within and outside of the nation. The country, which has been led by Nazarbayev for nearly 20 years since gaining independence, has been criticized for being an authoritarian state. The country’s parliament is comprised entirely of Nazarbayev’s allies. In addition, analysts have identified the recent trials of prominent opposing politicians and businessmen as an attempt to maintain Nazarbayev’s power.

Sources:
BBC News - Kazakhstan raises questions over OSCE's direction
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8459600.stm

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - Kazakhstan Lays Out Vision for Controversial OSCE Chairmanship http://www.rferl.org/content/Kazakhstan_Lays_Out_Vision_For_Controversial_OSCE_Chairmanship/1929378.html

Reuters - OSCE to focus more on security, less on democracy-Kazakhstan
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE60D19Q20100114?sp=true

Statement given by Mr. Kanat Saudabayev at the 789th Meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council
http://www.osce.org/documents/cio/2010/01/42290_en.pdf