Kazakhstan to focus on de-escalation of conflicts as UN Security Council member
ASTANA. July 5 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan is set to promote resolution of conflicts in Eurasia with practical deeds in its status as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrisov said.
"I said in the beginning that we would try to concentrate our efforts on de-escalation of conflict situations, especially in our area, the Eurasian space. You are aware of the existence of such conflicts, these are everyone's concern. We will try to promote resolution of such conflict situations by practical steps," Idrisov said at a press briefing in Astana on Tuesday.
Kazakhstan is hopeful of close cooperation with other UN Security Council members in the promotion of peace, the minister said.
"Russia and China are permanent members of the Security Council [...] and we are expecting to collaborate closely both with them and with other permanent or non-permanent members of the UN Security Council during our two-year tenure. Hopefully, their policy and our policy, our concrete steps will strengthen peace," Idrisov said.
The UN General Assembly elected Kazakhstan on June 28 a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2017-2018. Kazakhstan will formally assume the powers of a non-permanent UN Security Council member on January 1, 2017, and will retain that capacity through December 31, 2018.
