Visit To Germany
Tokayev visited Berlin, Germany from 3–4 October 2006 and addressed the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on 3 October in an attempt to gain support among members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for Kazakhstan's bid to head the organization in 2009. In his address he discussed the "fierce" competition between the European Union, China, and India to secure energy sources, saying that Kazakhstan is "one of the very few countries capable of boosting its oil production and thus becoming an important alternative energy supplier to global and European markets." He expressed interest in the Burgas-Alexandroupoli and Odessa-Brody-Gdansk pipeline projects, asking the EU for $80 billion in investment from 2006-2021. Tokayev criticized Lithuania for opposing a Russian offer for its Mažeikių oil refinery. He also reaffirmed Kazakhstan's desire to join the European Neighbourhood Policy.
Tokayev rejected the proposed construction of the Trans-Caspian oil pipeline to Azerbaijan, which EU officials desire, because of the likelihood of opposition from other nations bordering the Caspian Sea.
Gernot Erler, an official in the German Foreign Ministry, announced the German Government's support for Kazakhstan heading the OSCE in 2009. Portuguese Socialist MEP Ana Gomes said to Tokayev, "Minister, you're bidding for the presidency of the OSCE. Yet, the OSCE gave a report on your last elections, on the observation of the elections, which said they failed to meet international standards for genuine elections in many important points. And we hear about political dissent being crushed, we hear even about religious groups being crushed." Tokayev replied that political opposition forces in Kazakhstan "cannot challenge the government" because of their own weaknesses, Kazakhstanis need to be "educated" about democracy because the concept is foreign, and the government considers religious tolerance a priority. He criticized the OSCE's election report for "technical irregularities" and biased targeting while calling for more of a "mutual understanding." He further stated that his government believes it would "contribute a lot as a representative, as a country which is located in Central Asia. The geographical dimension of the OSCE has changed, this is a unique Eurasian, as well as Pan-American organization. So, the leadership, the presidency of this organization also must reflect this unique character, unique dimension of the organization."
He cited efforts to reform Kazakhstan's election process that included a "special program" to modernize the system and establishing "party dominance" in the Parliament so that "parties win the parliamentary elections, obtain majority in the parliament" and "will be able to establish their own governments." He called creating a multi-party system in Kazakhstan a "huge step forward in the process of democratization."
Read more about this topic: Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
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