Athens, 6 October 2023

Meeting of Chair of Standing Committee on National Defence and Foreign Affairs with Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Athens

The Chair of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Foreign Affairs of the Parliament Dora Bakoyannis held a courtesy meeting with the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Athens Yerlan Baudarbek-Kozhatayev.

During the meeting the historically fruitful bilateral relations between Greece and Kazakhstan were confirmed and issues of economic, political, parliamentary and cultural cooperation between the two countries were discussed. 

The Chairperson of the National Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee recognising the closeness of Greece and Kazakhstan in terms of pursuing a policy based on respect for human rights and adherence to the principles of international law, referred to matters of Greek interest, pointing out the importance the Greek side attaches to the development of a sincere channel of communication with Türkiye, since the current time period proves to be opportune, especially after the closeness that developed between the two peoples following the recent earthquakes, as well as the obvious change in Türkiye's stance, as it has recently avoided taking actions and making statements that could escalate tension. 

In the same context, Mrs Bakoyannis explained that there is an urgent need for decisive support for the effort to find a solution, that will be accepted by the EU, on the Cyprus issue, based on the tangible reality of the coexistence of the two peoples. At the same time, she emphasised the Greek sensitivity towards any action with influence in Cyprus, indicating as negative the sign carried by the proposal to amend the Statute of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS, 11 November 2022), in order to grant observer status to the pseudo-state. 

In this regard, the Ambassador reiterated Kazakhstan's positions on the country's firm adherence to the principle of territorial integrity and the UN Charter with clear support for the relevant UNSC resolutions, saw the need to to give priority to honest dialogue between the parties and, furthermore, noted that Kazakhstan has so far not ratified the amendment to the Statute of the OTS.

In the course of the meeting Mrs Bakoyannis expressed the intention to make good use of parliamentary diplomacy - through committees and the parliamentary friendship groups - so that the exchange of contacts between members of the Hellenic Parliament and the Parliament of Kazakhstan would bear fruit in every field of cooperation, on the basis of both countries' extroversion. 

Mr Baudarbek-Kozhatayev, looking back on the recent transnational and diplomatic contacts between officials of the two countries, noted that the tightening of relations is progressing and can be enhanced by the prospect of contacts at an even higher level of representation. 

He also gave a brief update on the progress of negotiations regarding the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, the upcoming cultural exchanges between municipalities and the strong interest in expanding cooperation establishing a direct air link to and from Kazakhstan. 

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