Astana, 4 June 2025 – An official ceremony was held at the Secretariat of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Astana, highlighting Kazakhstan’s continued support for the organization.
During the event, H.E. Mr. Alibek Bakayev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, handed over the instrument of ratification of the Protocol on Amendments to the Host Country Agreement to CICA Secretary General, H.E. Ambassador Kairat Sarybay. A symbolic cheque was also provided to mark Kazakhstan’s voluntary contribution to the CICA Secretariat’s budget.
The ratification of the Protocol is an important step in bringing the conditions for the work and presence of the Secretariat in Kazakhstan in line with international standards, including those used in the UN system. It provides the CICA staff with the status of international civil servants as part of the Road Map for CICA Transformation, bringing the Conference closer to its goal of becoming a full-fledged international organization.
The Secretary General thanked the leadership of Kazakhstan for their strong and ongoing support. He expressed special gratitude to H.E. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for his strategic vision, and for his close attention to CICA’s development. He also extended thanks to Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Murat Nurtleu and the Ministry’s team for their active and professional work.
Kazakhstan’s voluntary financial contribution, once again, confirms its status as the most consistent, reliable and generous donor to the CICA budget. The majority of voluntary contributions to CICA are made by Kazakhstan, highlighting its special and in many ways unique role in supporting the organization. The country also leads in the secondment of officers to work at the Secretariat, showing its deep commitment to supporting CICA.
Another important contribution of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the development of CICA is the construction of a separate building for the organization’s headquarters in Astana. The Secretary General noted that, following the decision of President Tokayev, construction of the new building is nearing completion. It will become the first permanent home of CICA and a symbol of a new stage in the organization’s institutional development.
In turn, Deputy Minister Alibek Bakayev reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s strong commitment to CICA as a founding member and host country of its Secretariat. He emphasized that the transformation of CICA into a full-fledged international organization, initiated by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and endorsed at the 6th Summit in Astana, remains a strategic priority. As part of this process, clarifying the legal status of Secretariat personnel through amendments to the Host Country Agreement — outlined in the 2023 Transformation Road Map — was accomplished in a short timeframe through effective cooperation with the Secretariat.
Deputy Minister Bakayev also expressed confidence that the completion of CICA’s new headquarters in Astana will further strengthen the Secretariat’s institutional foundations. He confirmed Kazakhstan’s intention to maintain a high level of voluntary financial contributions, with USD 1.2 million allocated for 2025, underscoring the country’s ongoing commitment to the Organization’s growth and operational capacity. He concluded by thanking the CICA Secretariat team for their effective work and acknowledged the valuable support of Member States that continue to second experts to the Secretariat.
