There are certain forces that do not want Kazakhstan and Russia to get closer, but they get a proper response from Astana. This is stated in an article published on Tuesday by Russian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Alexey Borodavkin for the International Affairs journal.
"Of course, it is no secret to us that there are forces in Kazakhstan who would like to tear this important thread that ties our peoples together, not to allow the republic to get closer to Russia in general and to abandon the Russian language in particular," he said.
According to the ambassador, these unacceptable manifestations of extreme nationalism, which are sponsored and directed by the enemies of Russia and Kazakhstan, find an adequate response from both Kazakhstanis and the leadership of the state. "President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev clearly characterized them as provocations aimed at undermining national unity, with unfriendly forces behind them," the diplomat stressed.
Borodavkin said that numerous organizations of Russian compatriots in Kazakhstan are an important aid in the efforts to counter attempts to drive a wedge between our countries. They are actively working to preserve the cultural identity of our national diasporas. Ethno-cultural organizations that unite Russian Kazakhs in Russia play an important role in maintaining strong ties between Moscow and Astana, the ambassador added.
Contentious questions
Borodavkin also noted that Russia and Kazakhstan have contentious issues in bilateral relations, but they are not of a fundamental nature. "Of course, not everything and not always goes smoothly in Russia-Kazakhstan relations. There are controversial issues, which were mentioned above. However, they are not of a strategic, fundamental nature," - he said. - "Moscow and Astana are fully aware of these disagreements, and we are working together to remove them or minimize their impact on the bilateral allied relations and integration ties. We will cope with everything ourselves, and most importantly, together."
As the ambassador noted, the prosperous future of the Russia-Kazakhstan relations will depend on the strong will of the two peoples and states. "Its pillars are both objective factors - historical, geographical, economic, cultural and linguistic - and the firm focus of the leadership of the two countries on a comprehensive, mutually beneficial and close rapprochement between Russia and Kazakhstan," Borodavkin summarized.
Sanctions of the West
He added that Western sanctions have had no effect on economic cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan. "In 2022, sanctions pressure intensified unprecedentedly, which, of course, complicated the way we have to do business. This was partly because the republic is forced to adjust to Western restrictions on our country, for example, in the global banking sector, which is still controlled by the United States," - the article reads. - "But even this did not hinder us - Russia and Kazakhstan have found new opportunities for continued cooperation, for example, the share of national currencies in interstate settlements within the EEU was brought up to 75%, keeping a positive outlook on the dynamics of its expansion."
According to the ambassador, the only recession was observed in the pandemic year of 2020, but even then, thanks to the accumulated experience of joint mitigation of crisis phenomena and the deep interconnection of economic complexes, the slowdown in the Russia-Kazakhstan economic track was not so significant, if compared with the global rates. He also noted that Russia has been considering the Kazakhstani economy as one of the main platforms to apply its investment efforts.
"Kazakhstan's business circles also demonstrate a desire to invest in the Russian economy. The largest project of this kind is the development by KAZ Minerals of the Baimskaya deposit in Chukotka, which, according to available estimates, will require investments of $8 billion. The partners are not deterred even by the complication of debt service caused by anti-Russian sanctions," Borodavkin said.
He stressed that the key role in strengthening the Russia-Kazakhstan ties is the implementation of interagency programs in the field of industrial, scientific and technical cooperation. The ambassador drew attention to the fact that "in the medium term, joint plans include the implementation of 23 large-scale projects in Kazakhstan in the vehicle, aviation, light, chemical, petrochemical and metallurgical industries."
"Thus, despite attempts by the collective West to isolate Russia's economy, the integration process between our countries is reaching a qualitatively new level, characterized by a more active involvement of Kazakhstani enterprises on a mutually beneficial basis in joint production and transport and logistics chains," Borodavkin stressed.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: Federation Council
Based on materials from TASS