The main session of the UN Security Council in 2017 began with the Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s political address. It outlines the main priorities for Kazakhstan as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2017-2018, which are aimed at strengthening global partnerships in building secure, equitable and prosperous world. Nursultan Nazarbayev’s political address was voiced immediately after António Guterres’s first speech at the Security Council as the UN Secretary General. The UN chief called on countries to overcome their differences and to join efforts to prevent conflicts. Kazakhstan offered a clear plan for the creation of a renewed model of mutual relations between states, with a collective responsibility to address global and regional challenges is formed.

KAIRAT ABDRAKHMANOV, KAZAKH FOREIGN MINISTER:

Without union dialogue preventing conflicts and sustaining peace can’t be obtainable. At the global level it requires setting a goal of building by 2045 the UN centenary the world free of nuclear weapons.

The Kazakh President’s address highlights 7 priorities, including prevention of the global war threat, promotion of peace in Afghanistan and formation of regional peace zone in Central Asia. Astana also intends to cooperate with all Security Council members on an equal basis, facilitate a compromise and consensus-building in order to strengthen international peace and security. The Political address from the Kazakh President, which was highly evaluated by the participants of the meeting, is expected to receive official status in the UN Security Council.