Kazakhstan approves of sending 20 observers to join UN missions

Kazakhstan’s Parliament has approved of sending 20 Kazakhstan’s officers as observers to join UN missions, Tengrinews reports, citing announcements made at the joint sitting of the Parliament chambers today. On Friday Kazakhstan’s Defense Minister Adilbek Dzhaksybekov read a suggestion made by the country’s President Nazarbayev to send Kazakhstan’s military officers as observers to join UN missions in Haiti, Western Sahara, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, 5 people in each of the missions. The President’s suggestion was unanimously supported by 45 senators and 106 deputies of the Majilis (lower chamber). According to the Minister, the number of international conflicts has been reduced by 40% thanks to respective efforts of the international community. “To tell the truth, there is a probability of losing lives of those sent (…) We are sending the officers to sources of military and political instability (…) Observers won’t be taking part in resolving the conflicts. They are being sent with no firearms in hands. The major task is to monitor the situation and report to the UN”, the Minister said. He emphasized the officers will be selected on voluntary basis. “These are military personnel (…) when joining the armed forces they should be fully aware that their job involves risks; from this perspective, they are public servants of a special type”. The Minister briefed that Kazakhstan plans to send up to 150 people of military contingent to joint different missions upon careful study of the situations and upon respective consultations with the country’s Foreign Ministry. The contingent will include both soldiers working within contracts and officers. There are certain risks, but handling with risks is what military people normally do”.