Kazakhstan is ready to move beyond recent turmoil: Envoy

Diplomacy

Published: 17 Jan. 2022, 18:10 Updated: 17 Jan. 2022, 20:26

Kazakhstan is ready to move beyond recent turmoil: Envoy

Bakyt Dyussenbayev, ambassador of Kazakhstan to Korea [EMBASSY OF KAZAKHSTAN IN KOREA]

Bakyt Dyussenbayev, ambassador of Kazakhstan to Korea, admitted there was "economic inequality" in the country which fueled the recent violent protests, adding that the government will "listen actively" to the people going forward.

In speaking with the JoongAng Ilbo at the embassy in Seoul on Friday, the ambassador highlighted some of the recent happenings in the Central Asian country, including the demonstrations in the capital city that began after a spike in fuel prices earlier this month.

Within a few days, the Almaty mayor’s office and residence were both set on fire, and the country had to call in foreign assistance, including troops from Russia, to help quell the riots that left as many as 225 people dead, according to local authorities.

In addition to addressing the recent events in the country, the ambassador also spoke of what he envisions for Korea-Kazakhstan relations in the near future. He spoke through a translator.

The following are edited excerpts of the interview.

Q. There has been much criticism of and analysis on the protests in Kazakhstan, and many have pointed out that their roots go deeper than the recent rise in fuel prices. What are your thoughts on such assessments?

A. The government is also aware of this, and the new cabinet is formulating a plan on the country’s economy and politics. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also said in a speech on Jan. 11 that he will make special efforts to resolve economic inequality in Kazakhstan. In the future, reducing the gap between the rich and the poor and controlling inflation will be the key, and we will become a country that listens actively to the voices of the people.

The riots were quelled and the situation stabilized after the input of troops of the Collective Treaty Security Organization (CSTO), a Russia-led alliance where Kazakhstan, Armenia, Belarus and the Kyrgyz Republic, among other states, are members. Should the rest of the world be concerned about the recent Kazakh reliance on foreign troops?

The CSTO is a military and security cooperative body recognized by the United Nations. President Tokayev requested support from the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is the chairman of the CSTO. With the unrest subsided, the CSTO peacekeeping forces began withdrawing from Jan. 13 and will be completely withdrawn by Jan. 23.

Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country in the world, sharing borders with China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. This alone places the country in a complex geopolitical context. How would you sum up the Kazakh point of view and its foreign policy outlooks?

Like South Korea, which neighbors many great regional powers, the Kazakh government has also emphasized independent politics and pragmatic diplomacy. Thanks to this, it has not experienced any political or economic conflicts with any country. The United States, China and Russia are all partners of Kazakhstan, and the same goes for the European Union. We will continue to maintain mutually beneficial relations with various countries in the future.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Korea-Kazakhstan relations. Where do you think the bilateral ties stand today?

The 100,000 Koryoin, or ethnic Koreans, living in Kazakhstan, are the bond that connects us. Additionally, the return of the remains of General Hong Beom-do [last year, from Kazakhstan to Korea] was very meaningful. The two countries are also strategic partners that can enhance each other's strengths. In particular, Kazakhstan is the partner for Korea's high-tech industry, as we can supply the necessary rare earths the industry needs. Interest in Korean culture from Kazakhstan is also growing. Q-POP [Kazakh pop music] singers such as 91 [Ninety One], which combines the strengths of Korean music and Kazakh culture, are doing very well. I hope more Koreans will have opportunities to listen to their music.

The recent protests in Kazakhstan and internet shutdown also highlighted how the country is a major player in the bitcoin world. When do you suppose the bitcoin market will recover from the latest blow?

We have been working to diversify our economy. There were external factors, such as China's ban on cryptocurrency mining [which resulted in an influx of miners from China to Kazakhstan], but we have also made efforts to officially legalize cryptocurrency mining, impose low taxes and provide cheap electricity. As domestic order has been restored, we expect the situation to improve gradually.

BY KIM HONG-BUM, ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]