Work on pressuring Russia to stop its war on Ukraine must continue, even at a national level when the EU cannot, Jan Marian deputy foreign minister of the Czech Republic, told EURACTIV in an interview on Monday (3 June).
Speaking to EURACTIV in Astana, former European Commission president José Manuel Barroso talked about Russia, EU sanctions and their impact on Kazakhstan, but also about some important decisions he took when he was in charge of the EU, a time he described as the “geopolitical adolescence” of Europe.
Dinara Naumova, the youngest member of parliament of Kazakhstan, described the changes that have taken place in Kazakh society and politics since the January 2022 unrest, as well as what lies ahead for the future, in an exclusive interview with EURACTIV.
The EU must avoid creating new 'dependencies' and offer an alternative to partner countries as it reshapes its diplomatic approach after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the bloc's chief diplomat Josep Borrell told EURACTIV.
In an interview with independent Kazakh analyst Anastassiya Reshetnyak, EURACTIV took stock of a busy diplomatic week in Central Asia during which several regional conflicts unfolded, including between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
The Kazakh authorities at first tried to stigmatise as terrorists and outcasts those who had taken to the streets in January, but they are very aware of the scale of public discontent and are trying to respond to them, political analyst Anastassiya Reshetnyak said in an interview.
Too many ‘Black Swans’ have appeared globally, many in the vicinity of Kazakhstan. Still, the country will continue its muti-vector policy to ensure stability in contact with the world’s major players, Askar Nursha, an independent political analyst, told EURACTIV in an interview.
In a wide-ranging interview, Timur Suleimenov, the First Deputy Chief of Staff to the President of Kazakhstan, discussed the war in Ukraine, the impact on his country of the Western sanctions, the drive for modernization following the January unrest in his country and the changing geopolitical balances.
The EU and the US should draw a clear red line between what is sanctioned and goods that can be continued to be traded with Russia, Kairat Torebayev, vice-minister of trade and integration of Kazakhstan, told EURACTIV.
In an exclusive interview, Margulan Baimukhan, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the EU, discussed tensions between major geopolitical players, Central Asian cooperation, and his country's traditions in promoting international understanding.
In an exclusive interview, the Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Bakhyt Sultanov discussed the upcoming WTO ministerial under the chairmanship of his country, EU-Kazakhstan economic relation, and carbon border tax.
In a wide-ranging interview, Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov discussed his country’s relations with the EU, the situation with "fraternal neighbour" Afghanistan, regional cooperation, and strategies for a 'Third Renaissance' of Uzbekistan.
Kazakhstan aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, which means expanding the share of renewables to 83% and halting heat generation from coal after 2050, Serikkali Brekeshev told EURACTIV in an interview.
Kazakhstan is moving towards reforms progressively and steadily, with the state now supporting and financing NGOs and the political opposition enjoying full parliamentary rights, Aida Balaeva, the minister of information and social development, told EURACTIV in an interview.
It is necessary to create conditions for dialogue with the new government in Afghanistan, regardless of its political attitudes and ideologies. This is very important for both the Central Asian countries and the EU, Kazakhstan's Talgat Kaliyev told EURACTIV in an interview.
When Kazakhstan decided it was going on the hunt for the "practical, best practices for effective solutions" that would bolster the rights of its youngest citizens, the Central Asian children's rights ombudswoman came to Europe.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kazakhstan's Justice Minister Marat Bektaev discussed Kazakhstan's relations with the EU, its ongoing multi-billion international court cases, and the Central Asian country’s strategic development plans and efforts to create good conditions for foreign investment.
Rejecting the idea of 'deportation centres' that would host Afghan refugees in Central Asia, Luxembourgish Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn told EURACTIV in an interview the EU holds enormous responsibility towards those who "helped us build an embryo of rule of law" in Afghanistan.
In a wide-ranging interview, the Russian ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov discussed Afghanistan, the ‘Crimea Platform’, carbon border tax, COVID and vaccines, and the new political season.
European Council President Charles Michel gave a scathing assessment of the recent US withdrawal from Afghanistan in an interview for the French website Le Grand Continent on Wednesday (8 September), pointing out the need for the EU to step up efforts to build its strategic autonomy.
In case the EU wishes to become a more reliable security provider and global actor, it needs to avoid past mistakes and develop credible military intervention forces that are able to project stability in our neighbourhood, Slovenia's defence minister Matej …
In a wide-ranging interview, Yerzhan Kazykhan, special representative of the president of Kazakhstan for international cooperation, discussed the state of play of the Central Asian country's relations with the EU, its international initiatives and new projects, such as joining the EU’s battery alliance.
A lot has change over the last years in Kazakhstan in terms of human rights, but more work is outstanding, independent expert Nazgul Yergalieva told EURACTIV in an interview, describing how the authorities in the central Asian country are now cooperating with NGOs in improving human rights protection.
Before the European Parliament adopted a resolution on Kazakhstan in February, there was no comprehensive dialogue at the decision-making level and no complete analysis of the EU lawmakers' sources of information, Elvira Azimova, Kazakhstan's commissioner for human rights, told EURACTIV in an interview.
