13 October 2022 (TDI): The participating countries adopted the Astana Statement on transforming the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) into a full-fledged organization.
Astana statement on CICA transformation https://t.co/uLE6IQcAjI pic.twitter.com/fWmac8SsHy
— President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s Press Office (@AkordaPress) October 13, 2022
The President of Kazakhstan proposed this critical step in October 2021 during the Sixth Foreign Ministerial meeting of CICA. The transformation will impact how the organization operates and help them effectively implement the regional development programs. It is important to note that this transformation has been a critical priority of the incumbent chairperson Kazakhstan during its tenure from 2020-2022.
Astana Statement on CICA transformation
The heads of the government of the Heads of State or Government of the Member States of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), having met on 12-13 October 2022 in Astana on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the CICA process decided to chart the future course of the cooperation at the CICA level.
It is unanimously decided to launch the structured, inclusive, and transparent negotiations process of gradual, incremental, and consensus-based transformation of CICA into a full-fledged regional international organization.
The process of transforming CICA will pursue the following primary goals: defining the overarching areas of our future cooperation and strengthening our interaction’s organizational and institutional base.
The member countries of CICA envision our organization as contributing to dynamic, equitable, comprehensive, and balanced economic growth, connectivity, and social and cultural development of its Member States.
The member countries have shared their resolve to strengthen collective work within our organization to seek joint solutions for our common challenges of the twenty-first century towards a secure and prosperous region and to pursue peaceful settlement of disputes following the UN Charter;
CICA, as an organization, will interact and cooperate in areas of interest of all Member States with other states, organizations, and fora, sharing the same goals and principles to strengthen results-oriented and consensus-based multilateral cooperation in our region.
Process of Transformation
Here are the steps that were decided to transform the process. It is decided that the Meeting of Heads of State or Government (Summit) and the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (Ministerial Meeting) shall henceforth be referred to, respectively, as the Council of Heads of State or Government (Summit) and the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (Ministerial Council).
The Executive Director of the CICA Secretariat shall henceforth be referred to as Secretary General. The Secretariat will submit to the Member States, through the Chairmanship, proposals for amendments to the relevant CICA documents for approval by the respective governing bodies.
It was also decided that the Member States will determine, when and as appropriate, the details of the transformation process, including criteria for membership. To take a meaningful, practical step to that end, the request will be made to the chairmanship with the respective country for drafting proposals in 202 the Chairmanship to make proposals in 2023 with the assistance of the Secretary-General and close consultation with the Member States, on a road map of necessary measures in the transformation process for consideration by the Member States.
This is an important milestone as CICA is celebrating its 30 years of establishment, and transformation.
The sixth Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) by Kazakhstan in Astana. The two-day conference marked the thirtieth anniversary of the intergovernmental organization.
The leaders from Palestine, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Turkey, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are attending the summit.
Prime Minister of Pakistan participated in the summit and met presidents and prime ministers of various countries during his presence in Astana.
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