Kazakhstan took part in the Autumn Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg. Despite the restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the country continued to maintain ties with one of the most reputable international organizations. In addition, Kazakhstan has recently become a member of GRECO. It is the main anti-corruption body of the Council of Europe.
“MEPs favorably said that the transformations in Kazakhstan are of a systemic and not one-off nature. They also noted the speech of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, where it was said that the reforms would further continue, and that it was necessary to improve the efficiency of the state, transparency and competitiveness of the political process,” said Askar Shakirov, Deputy Chairperson of Senate, Upper House of Kazakh Parliament.
The delegation of Kazakhstan met with PACE President Rik Daems, his deputies and the heads of PACE committees. They talked about the decisions already taken, including the abolition of the death penalty, the introduction of the institution of parliamentary opposition and the development of party building. The protection of the rights of citizens with special needs was specifically discussed. In the Council of Europe, the initiative of the President of Kazakhstan to secure quotas for people with special needs in Parliament and in representative bodies was particularly welcomed.
“You are the most active observers in the Council of Europe where you are also sharing the common approach of our expertise. We are honored in the whole world actually for human rights, for the value of democracy and also respect for the law. And that obviously are basic principles which we are sharing together. And once again having those principals in my mind, I congratulate you on sovereignty’s 30 years. Thank you very much,” noted Kimmo Kiljunen, Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
An agreement on deepening cooperation was reached at the end of the visit, and PACE representatives expressed their willingness to come to Kazakhstan this year.
Translation by Assem Zhanmukhanova
Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova
Web-editor: Admin
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