1-3 March 2024– Antalya – CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay participated in the 3rd edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF). This high-level gathering, held under the theme "Advancing Diplomacy in Times of Turmoil" and under the auspices of H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Türkiye.
The forum brought together heads of states and governments, foreign ministers, heads of international organizations, business leaders, and academics to discuss pressing global issues.
During his address to the "New Dynamics of Cooperation in Eurasia" panel at the ADF, CICA Secretary General highlighted CICA’s role as pan-Asian intergovernmental platform, promoting comprehensive approaches to security and complementing other regional organizations in ensuring peace, connectivity and development across Asia and beyond.
On the sidelines of the forum, Ambassador K.Sarybay held a series of bilateral meetings with representatives of CICA Member States, observers, and partner organizations. Discussions centered on the active CICA agenda for 2024, including forthcoming events such as the Youth Council meeting at the ministerial level followed by the Rally of Volunteer Movement Leaders (16-17 May, Astana), a Ministerial Conference on Environmental Issues (28 August, Astana) and the 7th CICA Ministerial Council in autumn. Discussions delved into the latest developments within ongoing transformation processes and explored avenues for enhancing collaboration and synergy with diverse multilateral initiatives.
CICA Secretary General held bilateral meeting with Deputy Prime-Minister-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq Dr. Fuad Hussein. He expressed gratitude for Iraq’s contribution to the CICA Fund and its initiatives to strengthen CICA’s counter-terrorism domain. Ambassador K.Sarybay also conveyed his hope to greet high-level representatives of Iraq at important events within the CICA framework.
During a fruitful meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bairamov, Ambassador K.Sarybay discussed potential synergy between CICA and Azerbaijan's diverse multilateral efforts. The meeting focused on promoting sustainable connectivity and addressing climate change, with K.Sarybay expressing encouragement at Azerbaijan's positive developments in regional security approaches. Both parties explored the possibility of organizing a CICA event during the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (November 2024, Baku).
Challenges to regional security, including the reintegration of Afghanistan into the international community, were discussed during a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin. Interlocutors agreed to speed up ratification by Tajikistan of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Secretariat, its Personnel, and Representatives of Members of CICA.
Secretary General’s meeting with Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, was marked by commendation for Bangladesh's leadership in environmental protection as the co-coordinator of the implementation of relevant confidence building measures. He also acknowledged Bangladesh's active role in CICA transformation process and its ratification of the CICA Convention on Privileges and Immunities in 2023.
Ambassador K.Sarybay had substantive deliberations with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Jeenbek Kulubaev, appreciating consistent support for CICA activities and discussing upcoming events such as the seventh plenary session of CICA Business Council and the ninth Business Forum in Bishkek scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2024.
In discussions with Undersecretary for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, K.Sarybay highlighted the importance of West Asia and its subregional mechanisms for cooperation within CICA. Both sides agreed to advance CICA Think Tank Forum activities, ensure equal geographical representation in the CICA Secretariat, and promote multilingualism.
Furthermore, Secretary General engaged in substantive dialogue with Nilvana Darama, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, focusing on the implementation of the Road Map of Transformation and other CICA agenda items for 2024. He expressed appreciation for continued support and proactive engagement within the CICA framework, including the implementation of CICA confidence building measures.
During a meeting with Ambassador Khusrav Noziri, Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), K. Sarybay explored CICA's potential as a broad outreach platform to scale up ECO’s projects in connectivity and intraregional trade. Both sides exchanged their organizations' 2024 agendas, which included high-level events, and discussed ways to enhance the institutional framework of their interactions.
Secretary General’s consultation with Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary General and Head of the Office of the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, explored potential synergies between CICA and LAS, along with reciprocal participation in high-level events, adding depth to regional cooperation efforts.
As part of the visit’s formal agenda, Ambassador K. Sarybay gave an interview to an international Turkish TV channel TRT AVAZ, highlighting the significance of the ADF for addressing pressing regional and global issues. He underscored Türkiye’s pivotal role in international affairs, its economic development, trade advancements, technological progress, and its influence inglobal arena.
Expressing gratitude for the timely organization of the 3rd ADF, Ambassador K.Sarybay met with Türkiye's Deputy Foreign Minister, Burak Akçapar, acknowledging the forum's pivotal role in fostering dialogue on regional development, peace, and security challenges and opportunities.
Media contact:
Akbota Batyrkhan
Public Relations Officer
Email: a.batyrkhan@s-cica.org
Phone number: +7 (777) 036-26-58
