Statements and Remarks of CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay

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Statement of the Executive Director of CICA Secretariat, Ambassador Kairat Sarybay at the 2020 OSCE ASIAN CONFERENCE ON MULTILATERAL RESPONSES TO THE GLOBAL SECURITY CHALLENGES.


Statement of Executive Director of the CICA Secretariat Ambassador Kairat Sarybay
at the 2020 OSCE ASIAN CONFERENCE ON MULTILATERAL RESPONSES TO THE GLOBAL SECURITY CHALLENGES
(12- 13 October 2020, via Zoom)

 

 
Mr. Chairperson, Dear Robin,
Excellencies,
Dear colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Secretariat of the ‘Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia’ (CICA), I would like to express my gratitude to the ‘Organisation for Security Co-operation in Europe’, host country Republic of Korea and Chair of the Asian Partners for Co-operation Group Slovak Republic for inviting the CICA to this very important and timely conference. I would like to thank all key note speakers for their presentation.

CICA believes that there is a close link between peace, security and stability in Asia and in the rest of the world. We are highly encouraged to participate and share CICA's response to Asian and global security challenges, in today’s inter-organizational dialogue.

Dear Colleagues,

Security cooperation is at the core of the philosophy of CICA. In order to promote and strengthen security cooperation among Member States, the CICA has adopted a dimension of cooperation called  'New Challenges and Threats', that includes CBMs related to counter-terrorism, border control management, human trafficking and trans-national crimes, which are in view of the diverse profile of the Member States, and realities typical to Asia. Member States have volunteered to coordinate and co-coordiante the implementation of these mutually agreed measures, and have specified the following priorities for Security cooperation:

  1. Exchange of information on measures among Member States on fighting terrorism, prevention of the activities of separatist and extremist organizations and organized crime groups linked closely to them.
  2. Exchanging information on the measures the Member States have taken to curb illicit drug trafficking, human smuggling and trafficking, illegal migration, money laundering, trans-boundary organized crime, illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.
  3. Establishing and strengthening cooperation and contacts between relevant authorities of the Member States in the area of fighting the economic and cyber crimes.
  4. Promoting law enforcement cooperation and exchange of information on legal, judicial and criminal matters.
  5. Sharing of experience and strengthening cooperation to cope with the emerging infectious diseases and epidemics.

To realize these priorities, top expert agencies of Member States organize and proactively participate in the activities like training programmes, field visits, experience sharing sessions, workshops, conferences and round-table talks. Turkey and Kazakhstan have been actively coordinating such activities on regular basis with support of their expert agencies.

Negotiations on CICA Action Plan for UN Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy are also in progress.

Dear Colleagues,

We are passing through a very turbulent time for Asia and the world: facing new challenges, in which historical destinies of people and nations are closely intertwined in pursuit of strong economic expansion, good public health, joint sustainable development and progress.

At this juncture, the Republic of Kazakhstan has assumed the CICA Chairmanship on 24 September 2020, for the period 2020-2022 with the theme “Partnership for Security and Development in Asia’.

I would like to draw your kind attention to the following global challenges of our time, which were highlighted by the CICA Chair during recently held CICA Ministerial Meeting;

  • The spread of Covid-19 has shown that the outbreak of epidemic diseases and pandemics around the world can pose an extreme biological threat not only to human survival, but also to national, regional and global economies and security. Problems of ensuring food, energy, water and environmental security remain urgent.
  • Changes in global economic architecture are worrying. Trade, investment and technological protectionism is replacing multilateral cooperation within the framework of global platforms.
  • Cybercrime and incitement to hatred have become a major component of information warfare aimed at manipulating public consciousness, failing life support systems and national security.
  • Illegal and uncontrolled migration is on the rise. In these conditions, only active collective interaction and an open dialogue of civilizations can determine the right decisions that ensure stability and sustainable development of all nations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight the mutually agreed views of CICA leaders expressed during the Fifth CICA Summit held in June 2019, which articulate CICA’s vision on topics such as security situation in Asia and measures to promote the CICA dialogue, trust and coordination:

  • CICA leaders agreed that in increasingly interconnected and interdependent globalized world, security has become an all-encompassing concept and the states in the region are sharing common interests in building a sustainable environment conducive to peace and security.
  • They expressed readiness to seek common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security and pursue development and progress, and to build security environment and forge constructive partnership.
  • CICA leaders expressed deep concern on the security threats posed by terrorism and extremism. They agreed that all acts of terror are unjustifiable whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed.
  • CICA is committed to combat terrorism and extremism by devising a comprehensive strategy against terrorism, including through eliminating conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, preventing provision of funds, blocking recruitment and cross border movement of terrorists, countering extremism and radicalization, and the spread of terrorist ideology, countering misuse of the Internet for terrorist purposes and dismantling terrorist shelters, good governance, economic development and peaceful resolution of prolonged unresolved conflicts.
  • CICA believes that peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan should be inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. CICA also recognized that terrorism, extremism and illicit drugs pose a great threat to the security and stability of Afghanistan, the region and beyond. It is necessary for the international community to assist Afghanistan in combating drug production and trafficking and promoting alternative livelihood; and take necessary measures in countering illicit drugs, precursors, consumption and demand worldwide.
  • In view of the growing threat posed by transnational organized crime to the security and prosperity in the region, the CICA leaders have noted the necessity of strengthening cooperation based on the international and respective national laws in countering transnational organized crime, such as drug trafficking, financial crimes, including money-laundering, human trafficking, trafficking in cultural property, illicit arms flows in all their forms and aspects and corruption.

Excellencies,    

We are committed to continue to strengthen the dialogue with international and regional organizations and forums to jointly respond the regional and global security challenges.

In order to develop relations with other organizations, CICA has signed Memorandums of Understanding with Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (RATS SOC); and The United Nations and Organisation for Security Co-operation in Europe(OSCE) are the observer organizations to CICA.

At the same time, CICA is open to cooperate with other regional and international organizations with common shared values and goals.

CICA believes that the cooperation with international partners will further expand joint efforts to enhance security and sustainable development in the region and beyond. Despite the fact that these organizations and forums pursue individual regional and political agendas, they operate within the UN principles, as does the CICA.  

Distinguished colleagues,

Having said that, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that there are obvious similarities and common values shared by the CICA and the OSCE. The two institutions share also the Member States.

Certainly, there is a much untapped cooperation potential between the two organizations. I believe that closer interaction between the CICA and the OSCE would serve for the implementation of the mentioned common shared values and goals, and, without any doubt, for the benefit and prosperity of our nations.

Therefore, the Secretariat has been tasked to continue efforts to forge institutional level relationships with other international organizations, including the OSCE.

CICA Member States, while affirming their commitment to the UN Charter, believe that peace and security in Asia can be achieved through dialogue and cooperation leading to a common indivisible area of security in Asia where all states co-exist peacefully and their people live in peace, freedom and prosperity.

I thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen, for your kind attention.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

FOR CICA MEMBER STATES

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