Foreign relations of Kazakhstan

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Kazakhstan
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Kazakhstan

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Foreign relations of Kazakhstan are primarily based on economic and military security. Kazakhstan has relations with all of its neighbors and especially strong relations with Russia. Kazakhstan is a member of the United Nations, Organization for Security and Coöperation in Europe, North Atlantic Cooperation Council, Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and NATO's Partnership for Peace program. Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan established the Eurasian Economic Community in 2000 to begin the process of creating a free trade zone under a Customs Union.

1 International disputes
2 Illicit drugs
3 Armenia
4 China
5 United States
6 Switzerland
7 See also
8 References
9 External links

[edit] International disputes

Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined with Turkmenistan. Kazakhstan has no common land or Caspian Sea border with Iran. Issues with Russia and Azerbaijan were settled in 2003.
Russia leases approximately 6,000 km² of territory enclosing the Baikonur Cosmodrome

[edit] Illicit drugs

There is significant illicit cultivation of cannabis and limited cultivation of opium poppies and ephedra, for the drug ephedrone, in Kazakhstan. There is a limited government eradication program. The cannabis is consumed largely in the CIS. Kazakhstan is used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Russia, North America, and Western Europe from Southwest Asia.

[edit] Armenia

Kazakhstan formed diplomatic relations with Armenia on 6 November 2006. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said, "The trade level cannot satisfy either side, this low indicator does not meet our states' demands." Fortunately however, "Documents signed today create a legal base for closer cooperation between our companies... As a result of talks, we confirmed the urge of our states to further strengthen our relations. Increasing trade and economic ties will contribute to this, for Kazakhstan's business and capital not to be afraid to go to Armenia." Armenian President Robert Kocharyan echoed Nazarbayev's statements, saying, "We want this visit to prompt the arrival of Kazakh investment in Armenia."^[1]

[edit] China

The People's Republic of China and Kazakhstan formed diplomatic relations on 3 January 1992. The two nations signed their first boundary agreement in April 1994, and their second supplementary boundary agreement in July 1998 to mark their 1,700 km shared border.^[2]

[edit] United States

United States Vice President Dick Cheney visited Kazakhstan on 5 May 2006.^[3]

[edit] Switzerland

Rakhat Aliyev, the First Vice Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan met with Anton Tahlmann, the Vice Foreign Minister of Switzerland, in Berne, Switzerland from 13-14 November 2006. Tahlmann announced that the Swiss Federal Council is considering opening an embassy in Kazakhstan, saying, "Switzerland is interested in comprehensive development of relations with your country because of its dynamic development and the growing role in the region. In relation with this Berne regards an increase of its diplomatic presence in this country, an opening of the Swiss embassy in perspective." He confirmed his government's support for Kazakhstan's candidacy for the Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2009. The two ministers also discussed trade, migration, and the environment.^[4]^[5]