Official visit of Jean Asselborn to Kazakhstan

In Astana, Minister Asselborn held bilateral talks with the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murat Nurtleu, the Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development, Marat Karabayev, the Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, Bagdat Mussin, as well as the chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security of the Lower House of the Kazakh Parliament, Aigul Kuspan.

The visit allowed Minister Asselborn to discuss the bilateral relations between Luxembourg and Kazakhstan, as well as to explore ways to strengthen them. In this regard, Minister Asselborn signed a new memorandum of understanding on air services that will, among other things, increase the number of Cargolux weekly flights to Kazakhstan from 7 to 21. On the occasion of a ceremony marking the 77th flight to Astana International Airport since May 7, 2023, the ministers and the delegation attended the arrival of a Cargolux flight in the presence of the leaders of the cargo company, Richard Forson, chairman and CEO, and Maxim Straus, vice president and chief financial officer.

Following this, the Minister signed a second memorandum of understanding on the use and exploration of space for peaceful purposes, which provides for cooperation in the form of joint projects, conferences, or an exchange of information and data.

The political and social situation in Kazakhstan was also discussed, as was the human rights situation. Minister Asselborn encouraged his interlocutors to continue the path of democratic reforms while taking note of the efforts made.

The relations between the European Union and Kazakhstan were also discussed, in particular with regard to the implementation of the enhanced partnership and cooperation agreement, the implementation of the memorandum of understanding on a strategic partnership between the EU and Kazakhstan in the field of critical raw materials, as well as issues related to the negotiations on a visa facilitation agreement. On this point, Minister Asselborn assured his interlocutors that Luxembourg supported the Kazakh request and that he was ready to raise the issue within the EU Council.

Finally, the visit to Astana was also an opportunity for Minister Asselborn to have exchanges of views with his various Kazakh interlocutors on the latest regional developments and the consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Luxembourg foreign minister reaffirmed the EU's support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, stressing that the Russian war of aggression constitutes a serious violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. The Minister took the opportunity to present to his interlocutors the measures taken by the EU in response to Russian aggression, in particular with regard to sanctions and the fight against their circumvention, in the light of the adoption by the EU of the 11th package of sanctions at the last Foreign Affairs Council. The Minister welcomed the willingness of the Kazakh authorities to implement the necessary measures to avoid circumvention of sanctions.

In this context, Jean Asselborn recalled that European sanctions do not target third countries, while assuring his Kazakh interlocutors that Luxembourg and the EU stand ready to help Kazakhstan in order to meet the challenges posed by the circumvention of European sanctions.

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