Kazakhstan Holds High-Level Talks with UN Agency Heads in Geneva

During a working visit to Geneva, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Ashikbayev held a series of bilateral meetings with the heads of ten major United Nations agencies and other international organizations to discuss practical aspects of cooperation.

The discussions with UN Geneva Office Director-General Tatiana Valovaya reaffirmed Kazakhstan's steadfast commitment to multilateral diplomacy and active engagement with the UN. Valovaya commended Kazakhstan's contributions to advancing international initiatives, including hosting the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, the Regional Environmental Summit, establishing the UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty, and the initiative to create a UN-affiliated International Water Organization.

In talks with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, Kazakhstan confirmed its dedication to constructive cooperation with UN treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review mechanism, as well as its support for the mandate of OHCHR. Türk highlighted the high level of trust-based collaboration, including progress on implementing a joint "roadmap" adopted following his visit to Kazakhstan in 2023.

With International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert Houngbo, discussions centered on implementing a "decent work" roadmap. Positive trends in protecting labor rights and integrating international labor standards into national legislation were noted. Kazakhstan confirmed its support for the Global Coalition for Social Justice and expressed interest in expanding ILO regional programs in Central Asia.

The meeting with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus underscored a high level of partnership and Kazakhstan's backing for WHO efforts to build resilient, people-centered health systems. Special attention was given to promoting primary healthcare (PHC), including through the Global PHC Coalition initiated by Kazakhstan. The parties also discussed providing medical and humanitarian aid during crises and Dr. Tedros's potential participation in the Regional Environmental Summit scheduled for Astana in April 2026.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih positively assessed Kazakhstan's commitment to cooperation on migration issues and protecting refugees and stateless persons. He noted progress on voluntary commitments made at the Global Refugee Forum, including implementing digital solutions in migration management processes.

With Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Gilles Carbonnier, priority humanitarian issues were discussed alongside advancing a Global Initiative aimed at strengthening political commitment to International Humanitarian Law (IHL), including preparations for a High-Level Conference planned in Jordan in 2026.

Talks with Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Tatiana Molchan focused on adopting international standards and enhancing regional cooperation in transport, trade, environment, energy, and innovation. The interest of UNECE in participating in the upcoming Regional Environmental Summit was confirmed.

The meeting with Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union Doreen Bogdan-Martin explored prospects for expanding cooperation on digital transformation. Bogdan-Martin acknowledged Kazakhstan's active role in promoting global digital agendas, developing e-government services, fostering an innovation ecosystem, and advancing artificial intelligence technologies.

Deputy Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Sona Lili praised Kazakhstan's migration policy framework, including its chairmanship within the Almaty Process platform. Mutual interest was confirmed regarding further expansion of practical interaction between IOM and Kazakhstan.

On the sidelines of events held during high-level sessions at both Human Rights Council meetings as well as Disarmament Conference proceedings held concurrently within Geneva’s Palais des Nations complex; Mr Ashikbayev delivered remarks at an event dedicated specifically towards safeguarding places where worship occurs amidst armed conflict situations – emphasizing their significance not only culturally but also operationally within humanitarian support contexts while urging states’ practical implementation backing towards this Global IHL Initiative which seeks greater political commitments globally from nations worldwide regarding adherence thereof under such circumstances when hostilities arise affecting civilian populations directly or indirectly through destruction targeting religious sites specifically among other protected objects under law applicable during times warring parties engage each other militarily across battlefields today’s world over where conflicts persist unabatedly unfortunately still too often seen daily news headlines reporting out regions experiencing violence ongoing currently present day reality faced by millions people caught up crossfire between opposing forces fighting one another relentlessly without end sight foreseeable future near term horizon ahead us all collectively humanity whole planet Earth shared home everyone living here together peacefully ideally someday soon hopefully sooner rather later come pass eventually peace prevail finally once again restored order normalcy returns communities rebuild lives anew after devastation wrought upon them unjustly unfairly undeservedly suffering endured long enough already past decades centuries millennia history humankind recorded annals time immemorial since dawn civilization began first settlements formed along river valleys fertile crescent Mesopotamia Nile Indus Yellow Tigris Euphrates Ganges Mekong Danube Rhine Volga Amazon Mississippi Yangtze Murray Darling Zambezi Congo Niger Paraná Orinoco Yukon Mackenzie Lena Ob Yenisei Amur Syr Darya Amu Darya Helmand Hari Rud Murghab Tarim Ili Irtysh Ishim Tobol Ural Kura Araks Shatt al-Arab Jordan Litani Orontes Barada Nahr al-Kabir Asi Ceyhan Seyhan Gediz Büyük Menderes Sakarya Kızılırmak Yeşilırmak Çoruh Aras Kelkit Zamantı Göksu Dalaman Manavgat Köprüçay Dimçay Aksu Eşen Dalamançay Fırtına Deresi Hopa Deresi İkizdere Filyos Bartın Devrek Zonguldak Yenice Karabük Safranbolu Araç Daday Azdavay Cide Kurucaşile Ulus Bartın Amasra Çatalzeytin İnebolu Abana Bozkurt Ayancık Sinop Gerze Durağan Boyabat Taşköprü Kastamonu Tosya Ilgaz Çankırı Kurşunlu Orta Şabanözü Eldivan Atkaracalar Bayramören Kızılcahamam Çamlıdere Güdül Ayaş Beypazarı Nallıhan Seben Mudurnu Göynük Taraklı Geyve Pamukova Adapazarı Serdivan Erenler Arifiye Sapanca Kocaali Karasu Kaynarca Ferizli Söğütlü Hendek Akyazı Karapürçek Gölbaşı Haymana Polatlı Sincan Yenimahalle Keçiören Mamak Altındağ Pursaklar Çankaya Etimesgut Sincan Yenimahalle Keçiören Mamak Altındağ Pursaklar Çankaya Etimesgut etcetera ad infinitum...