Brussels, 23/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - The fifth Cooperation council between the EU and Kazakhstan took place on Tuesday in Brussels. It provided the occasion to take note of the efforts made by the Caucasian Republic to improve human rights and strengthen cooperation with the EU, notable in the area of trade. However, additional efforts are still necessary. The European delegation was led by the Italy Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Roberto Antonione and the Kazakhs by the Vice Premier, Akmetzhan Yessimov.
In a joint communiqué, the Cooperation Council supports the goal of Kazakhstan to Chair the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2009, while stressing the need to continue reforms so that the country reaches international standards and those of the OSCE, notably in the areas of State of Law, human rights and freedom of the media. The Council welcomes the introduction of a definition of torture into Kazhak legislation, which in its view, constitutes "a first step" towards the implementation of the Convention against torture and or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment. While welcoming the setting up of a Human Rights Office in the country, the Council is encouraging Kazhakstan to: sign and ratify as soon as possible international covenants on civil and political rights, as well as economic, social and cultural rights; apply the moratorium on the death sentence.
The intensification of dialogue and cooperation between the EU and Kazakhstan in the areas of trade, investment, energy and transport, is judged satisfactory by the Council. Nevertheless, the EU considers that reforms are necessary for improving the general investment climate. It is also supporting the accession of the republic to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and is encouraging the country to cooperate with other countries in central Asia. The Council welcomes: the entry into force on 1 June of the agreement between Kazakhstan and Euratom in the area of nuclear safety; the intensification of dialogue between the EU and the country regarding justice and home affairs and their cooperation in the fight against terrorism and organised crime. In this context, the EU is insisting that Kazakhstan ratifies and applies the United Nations Convention against Trans-national Organised Crime and that it accedes to the Rome Statute creating the International Criminal Court (ICC).