Kazakhstan in interested in the political dialogue, development and deepening of relations with Eastern European countries and EC, enlargement of bilateral commercial and economic mutually beneficial cooperation on the principles of equitable partnership and cooperation in international scene.
Level of economic development, structure and complementarity of economies, problems of Kazakhstan and Eastern European countries establish great perspectives for various political, commercial, economic, scientific and cultural relations on mutually beneficial basis.
When it’s referred to European direction of Kazakh foreign policy, we mean its policy at two levels, namely: at the level of relations between RK and EC and at the level of its relations with European states at bilateral basis. To the question why Kazakhstan is interested in event soccurred in Europe, the President N.Nazarbayev, answering the question of one journalist in press-conference in September 1992 during his first visit to Germany and France, said that some part of Kazakh territory is situated in Europe and, therefore, Kazakhstan is not indifferent in European situation.
Why does Europe attract attention of many countries of the world including RK? Because Europe is a receptive market, consumption market of energetic raw materials; Europe is the highest level of equipment and technologies; Europe is export of capital and investments into economy of many countries; Europe is the highest level of life, education and healthcare. Whatever processes occur in the world, Europe was, is and will be the center of world development. Therefore, the Republic of Kazakhstan intends to improve cooperation and activation of partner relation with Europe in the future [1, p. 121].
EC makes efforts directed to modernization of communications and transport networks in Central Asia. Ideally economic policy of European Union implies the investments and participation in projects “of connection” of the sea coast of the Pacific Ocean with European territory that in American terminology is called as strategy of “Silk Way” [2, p. 69-74].
Political and commercial-economic relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and European Union are based on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed in Brussels on January 23, 1995. Assess in the qualitative level of mutual relations Brussels-Astana, political scientists note that “the enlargement of European Union significantly approached it to Kazakh borders. Integration activity of our country, first of all, within Common Economic Area, and implementation of EC program “Enlargement of Europe – New Neighbors: New Frameworks of Relations with Eastern and Southern Neighbors of EC” initiated in 2003 and associated European policy of neighborhood shall assist in more intensification of mutual contacts” [3].
EC is the largest commercial partner of Kazakhstan, goods turnover for 2010 was 38.020 billion USD, import – 7.238 billion USD, export – 30.782 billion USD. Share of EC countries in good sturnoveris 46% of total volume of the external trade of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Total goods turnover between Kazakhstan and Eastern European countries was 4.116 billion USD as of 2010 that constituted almost 11% of the total goods turnover with EC [4]. According to the Kazakh scientists, from the end of XX century Kazakhstan is the principle regional exporter of oil and gas products for EC, annually providing to 20% of all European import. According to data of the Statistics Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan, share of Kazakh energy carriers in some European countries significantly increased for the last years – in Italy (74%), Great Britain (11%), and Germany (10%) [5, p. 3-6].
The Republic of Kazakhstan is interested in cooperation with European Union within TACIS program which was established to support the authorities of the former Soviet Union in its efforts to make economic reforms and revive economy. TACIS creates all conditions for the development of the investment climate, economic growth and political stability, development of trade required for economic reorganization and modernization of Kazakhstan.
Within the program TEMPUS directed to the support of high education reforming, EC allocated 1.7 million ECU to various projects in Kazakhstan in 1999. Agreements on the establishment of Kazakh-European legal center, information bureau of TEMPUS program in the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan were achieved. Center of business relations was established in Almaty within the program; this center helps to fulfill practical contacts between enterprises of EC and RK.
Besides national programs, international and regional programs as INOGATE and TRACEKA are fulfilled within TACIS. INOGATE (International Program of Oil and Gas transportation to Europe) is directed to the formation of hydrocarbon delivery system from Central Asia to Europe and assistance in restoration and modernization of the existing regional oil and gas transport systems. Program existssince 1997.
Based on strategic interests of European Union, the project of Caspian oil transportation TRACEKA (transport corridor “Europe-Caucasus-Asia”) was established by EC within TACIS program. This program of technical assistance financed by European Union is directed to the development of transport corridor West- East from Europe through Black Sea, Caucasus and Caspian Sea to Central Asia [7].
Eastern European countries take the special place in general European vector of foreign policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan that specified by their geopolitical position, level of political, economic and social development of countries of this region.
Europe and Asia were always united by Great Silk Way, and Polish monk-Franciscan Benedict Polish was among the first Europeans discovered Kazakh steppes more than seven centuries ago. His trip in 1245-1247 with diplomatic mission of the Holy See into deep of Asia through the steppes of the modern Kazakhstan was the first evidence of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our regions. Monk-traveller Benedict Polish played the key role in the collection of information on the Great Steppe and discovered its life and everyday life of its inhabitants firstly in Europe [8].
Medieval politicians of the Golden Horde paid a special attention to the relations with Eastern European region. Many materials on Eastern European politics of the Golden Horde were collected. It shall be mentioned the most significant aspects of the politics of the Golden Horde which played the important role and reflected actual political processes on the territory of the Eastern Europe [9, p. 26]. All historians agree that the Golden Horde played the very important role in historical destinies of the Eastern Europe, but the character of this role was revealed in different ways [10].
Relations with Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria develop intensively at the present days. Contractual legal framework including international and intergovernmental economic, humanitarian, scientific and cultural agreements and contracts is enlarged consecutively. Kazakhstan thinks that cooperation with countries of this region shall be built on the legal basis which should promote the effective interaction of market economies. This stipulates for the conclusion of agreements on the promotion and mutual protection of investments, avoidance of double taxation and acceptance of other documents providing for maximum freedom of movement of goods and services.
Moreover, Eastern European countries are attractive as one of the European regions with dynamically forming model of the establishment of market relations. The experience of Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia in the sphere of economic reforms is also multiple valued. Kazakhstan is very interested in the experience of economic reforms, construction of democratic society, popularization of national ideas.
Experience of joining NATO of Eastern European states and European Union is very important politically for the Republic of Kazakhstan, positively affects the strengthening of foreign political and foreign economic positions of our state in the relations with these organizations. Moreover, this experience may be interesting in the perspective for regional integration of Central Asian states [6, p. 81].
At the same time on the of the priority directions of cooperation between Kazakhstan and EC is the possible close relations of the Republic of Kazakhstan with economic and political organizations of Central and Eastern European countries, first of all with such sub-regional political structures as “V4”, “Central European Initiative”, Danube Commission, Organization for Cooperation of Black Sea countries. Establishment of relations with these international institutions is base don the fact that Central and Eastern European countries consider Kazakhstan as a state with rich natural and material resources and as the country succeeded in the establishment of legal democratic state, market reforms and support of international unity and solidarity. Kazakhstan shall trade an destablish transfer of technologies from Eastern European countries. This is mutually beneficial process:
It should be noted that Eastern European states approve the European vector of foreign policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Poland is interested in integrated strengthening of political, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation with Kazakhstan [11].
HistoricalgeneralitywithmanyEasternEuropeancountriesshallbetakenintoconsideration as tribes from Kazakh steppes lived in Polish territory. Polish people “when they were Sarmatians” ruled a huge empire extended from Don toVistula, from Black Sea to Baltic Sea including the entire Eastern Europe with Bohemia. Polish people, however, could not keep “the legacy” of their Sarmatian ancestors and their empire was limited to the modern Poland [12, p. 281].
The general cultural legacy with Hungary significantly strengthens relations. There was much information on Kipchaks in Hungarian territory in works of Hungarian and foreign explorers. At the end of IX century tribes of nomads-cattle breeders (Kipchaks) appeared in Hungary; they made crusades to the countries of Central and Southeastern Europe and scarified the entire Europe. The famous scientist Ishtvan Konur Mandoki studied generality and peculiarities of Kazakh and Hungarian nations. He was the author of some monographs and investigations in the field of study of Turkic languages. We find the common words in Kazakh and Hungarian languages. This imprint was left by thousand year relations of former neighboring nations. Words with the same meaning include names of labor tools, cereals, fruits; more than five hundred words. There is a family generation n Kazakhstan which is called Magyars. Descendants of Kipchaks, so called Kuns, live in Hungary. According to the history, them other of the Hungarian king BelI V was the sister of the Kipchak khan Kotyan. The article “Kazakhstan is Our Partner” was published in the newspaper “Nepsabadshag” on March 8, 1995. It described the foreign policy of Kazakhstan on the establishment of EAC, CICMA suggested by the President N. Nazarbayev. “Kazakh foreign policy seriously takes the experience of the Hungarian political and economic reforms. The embassy of Kazakhstan was opened in Budapest, because it has the central role in the region” [13, p. 310].
The concept of program “Way to Europe” declared by the President of Kazakhstan N. Nazarbayev was enthusiastically accepted in Slovakia. Slovakia considers Kazakhstan as one of the key states in Central Asia which significantly affects the political and economic processes in the region. We are interested in the development of friendly and mutually beneficial relations between our countries and reckon on the further intensification of the mutual cooperation. Our relations are not burdened by any arguable issues and develop in a balanced manner in all sectors. Membership of Slovakian Republic in EC gives the additional impulse to the mutual cooperation and political dialog from the point of view of our individual interests and obligations resulting from our membership in EC. Moreover, Kazakhstan relates to the priority countries of the Slovakian official assistance in development; 15 projects were approved for 2004-2008 within this program. These projects were directed to the support of small and medium enterprises, civil society development and water resources and energy [14].
Kazakhstan interested in the political dialogue, development and deepening of relations with Eastern European countries and EC, enlargement of bilateral commercial and economic mutually beneficial cooperation on the principles of equitable partnership and cooperation in international scene.
Level of economic development, structure and complementarity of economies, problems of Kazakhstan and Eastern European countries establish great perspectives for various political, commercial, economic, scientific and cultural relations on mutually beneficial basis. Kazakhstan and Eastern European countries are equally interested in lasting peace, stability which are compulsory conditions of the progressive development on a way of establishment of democratic society and strengthening of national identity in the best interests of their nations [6, p. 82].
- Ibrashev U. Actual issues of integration and globalization by the example of Europe: collected scientific works – Almaty: Kazakh University, 2008 – 232 p.
- Temirkhanov Development of national economy under conditions of globalization // Tranzitnaya economica – Almaty, 2004 - #3, – 69-74 p.
- Mikheyev Co-operation of Kazakhstan and European Union – www.analitika.org.
- Archives of CTC of Ministry of Finance of the Republic of
- Sabden Integration of Kazakhstan in to world economy: Challenges and problems // News of National Academy of Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Series “Socialsciences” – Almaty, 2006 - #2, – 3- 6 p.
- Suleimenov S. Kazakhstan and Eastern European countries: principal directions and perspectives of cooperation: monogram – Astana: State University of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2008 – 134 p.
- Some issues of project implementation of the UN Development Program ”Development of region of Great Silk Way” and technical assistance of European Union “Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia” – Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan #1437 of 10 November
- Web-site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan mfa.kz.
- Grekov B. Eastern Europe and decline of the Golden Horde – Science edition, 1975.
- Essays of Russian culture of 12-15 – M., 1970 – volume 1, 2 – 7-32 p.
- European vector of foreign policy of Kazakhstan is approved and supported by – National Information Bureau “Kazinform” – 10.04.2008 - http://www.zakon.kz/108998-evropejjskijj-vektor-vneshnejj- politiki.html.
- Larry Wolf inventing eastern Europe The Map of Civilizationon the Mind of the Enlightenment, Stanford university press, Stanford, California, – 231 p.
- Kurmanguzhin A. 45 years in diplomatic service: Memoirs – Almaty: “Zhibek Zholy” edition, 2003, – 320 p. + 32 insets.
- We highly appreciate the foreign policy of Kazakhstan // “Continent” – 11.2008 - #21 (230) - http://www.continent.kz/2008/21/3.htm.