Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Friday called for an enhanced mediation role of Turkic states in conflicts, including those between Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Hamas, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamist movement.
“Increasing the role of mediation is an urgent task. A difficult situation is unfolding in our environment,” Kazakhstan’s head of state said during the 10th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), held in the Central Asian country’s capital, Astana.
“The conflict between Russia and Ukraine persists, in the Middle East (the war) between Israel and Palestine. Instability continues in Afghanistan. The problem of illegal immigration is worsening in the West,” he said.
Tokayev highlighted that civilians in the Gaza Strip, especially children and the elderly, are becoming casualties of the confrontation between Israel and Hamas.
“The main task is to ensure their safety. In this regard, I have decided to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people worth one million dollars,” he said.
The Kazakh president stressed that “solving pressing problems that have not been resolved for decades through violence and terrorist acts is absolutely unacceptable.”
“Kazakhstan strongly condemns such methods. The exacerbation of the situation can have serious consequences. In this sense, we call for resolving any conflict exclusively through peaceful negotiations and diplomatic dialogue,” he said.
“For us, maintaining the territorial integrity of all states and non-interference in their internal affairs are key priorities. It is important to strictly implement the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and comply with international law,” he added.
Tokayev once again stated that the work of the UN Security Council “is at a standstill.”
“In such a situation, the role of the General Assembly should be strengthened. At the same time, it is necessary to be more constructive when reforming the Security Council. In our opinion, this important decision-making body should include countries representing all regions of the world, including those from the Global South,” he said.
The head of state of Central Asia’s largest economy held that amidst complex global processes, the actions of Turkic countries must adopt a balanced approach.
“In this context, we must focus on strengthening Turkic integration,” he said. EFE