Kazakhstan peacemakers to avoid missions causing mixed public reaction

Kazakhstan peacemakers will not participate in missions causing mixed public reaction, Tengrinews.kz reports citing Kazakhstan Defense Ministry. “The UN is currently performing 15 peacemaking operations. Kazakhstan Defense Ministry has initiated certain developments in this direction. They were coordinated with the Foreign Ministry and submitted to Kazakhstan government and then to the President’s Administration for approval. It is too early to talk about any particular missions before the Presidents makes the decision and the Parliament reviews the suggestions. Of course, the suggestions were made with consideration of their political practicability and compliance with Kazakhstan’s foreign policy interests. They do not include missions that may cause mixed reaction of our major partners or the society,” the Ministry states. The Ministry reminded that according to Kazakhstan President’s decree No.161 dated October 11, 2011 that approved the military doctrine, observance of international obligations to upkeep peace and security, including participation in peacemaking activities, is one of the major objectives of Kazakhstan’s defense policy.The main principles of Kazakhstan’s participation in peacemaking operations are impartiality and retaining full neutrality, lack of special relations with any of the conflicting parties, refusal from direct or indirect cooperation in performance of interests of any of the said parties if that infringes on interests of other participants of the conflict. “The mission of Kazakhstan forces as part of the stabilization coalition forces in Iraq in 2003-2008 was positively evaluated by the international community, the United States, Western countries and Iraq government and served for improvement of the image and prestige of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan. We have also gained precious experience of participation in the multinational coalition,” the Ministry states. According to the authority, performance of tasks as part of peacekeeping and restoration missions is normally entrusted to divisions of the Armed Forces, other troops and military structures of Kazakhstan that are specially trained under the international standards. First of all, these are militarymen of Kazakhstan peacemaking battalion Kazbat established by the Kazakhstan President’s decree dated January 31, 2000. Military personnel is recruited into the battalion on voluntary basis only and consists only of contracted militarymen (officers and sergeants). The size of the military contingent, its composition and qualifications of the militarymen will be defined upon coordination with the UN for specific missions to be participated by Kazakhstan peacekeepers. Kazakhstan Defense Ministry will announce participation in such missions only after the coordination. According to the Ministry, the draft law On Peacemaking Activities has been prepared and is currently being reviewed. The draft law specifies the scope of power and obligations of Kazakhstan’s state authorities in peacemaking. Besides, according to clause 5 of article 53 of the Constitution of Kazakhstan, the decision to use Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces in performance of international obligations on keeping peace and security has to be made at a joint meeting of both chambers of the Kazakhstan Parliament. “Special tactics peacemaking training The Steppe Eagle has been held annually since 2003. It started as Kazakhstan-British joint training. Starting from 2005, the training is participated by the U.S. Armed Forces, making the training trilateral: Kazakhstan, Great Britain and the U.S. Starting from 2012, the training is held in the spirit of the Partnership for Peace and is participated by militarymen of the U.S., Great Britain, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Germany, Lithuania, France, Italy and other countries. This is one of the goals on the individual action plan for partnership between Kazakhstan and NATO,” the press-service writes. Besides, the Ministry states that during the training NATO experts evaluate interoperability of Kazbat peacemaking battalion with foreign divisions under the program called Operative Potential Concept. Kazbat has passed the evaluation by Kazakhstan experts and its second check by NATO experts is scheduled for 2013. “Various peacemaking trainings are held from time to time by British and other foreign instructors in Kazakhstan. The plan is to organized a joint training with British Armed Forces for Kazbat held by British military instructors on peacemaking operating tactics, as well as training at the joint Czech-British peacemaking training center,” the message states. According to the Defense Ministry, first Central Asian Partnership for Peace training center (KAZCENT) was opened in the Kazakhstan’s Military Institute of Ground Forces on July 1, 2008, to enhance the peacemaking potential and implement the cooperation plan between Kazakhstan and NATO. The center’s main objective is to train militarymen of Kazakhstan, NATO and partners for participation in peacekeeping operations. on December 20, 2010, KAZCENT was acknowledged by NATO as the 19th training-educational center of the Partnership for Peace. Foreign partners, including Great Britain, the U.S., Turkey, Germany and others render active support to development of the center. KAZCENT held over 30 events with participation of militarymen of Kazakhstan, NATO member-countries and partners, including the English military terminology in multinational operations, NATO administrative procedures and Military-civilian interaction trainings. Kazakhstan Defense Ministry notes that foreign countries, including CIS member-states, are actively participating in peacemaking activities. Russia sent observers and military troops to take part in the international peacemaking forces in Africa (Western Sahara, Ethiopia-Eritrea, Sierra Leone, Congo, Liberia), East Timor and former Yugoslavia. Ukraine has sent over 25 divisions since 1992. The total of over 25 thousand Ukrainian militarymen, over 3 thousand vehicles and 40 helicopters have taken part in the international peacemaking operations. In 2011 alone Ukraine sent 960 militarymen for participation in 11 peacekeeping operations. Azerbaijan is taking part in NATO mission in Afghanistan. Armenian military forces are present in Kosovo and Afghanistan. Over 20 Kyrgyzstan militarymen have been trained to be UN military observers in Liberia, Burundi, Sudan and Sierra Leone. By Baubek Konyrov