Aidos Sarym, a member of the Kazakhstan parliament, analyses the not too long ago adopted European Parliament decision “EU Technique on Central Asia: New Alternatives for a Stronger Partnership”.
Aidos Sarym is a deputy of the Mazhilis (the decrease chamber of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan) and serves as secretary of its Committee on Worldwide Affairs, Defence, and Safety.
On 17 January, the European Parliament (EP) voted to undertake the Decision: “EU Technique on Central Asia: New Alternatives for a Stronger Partnership”.
The Decision, a deliberate doc of the European Parliament, displays the MEPs’ evaluation of implementing the brand new EU Technique for Central Asia.
To this finish, the legislators have repeatedly visited Kazakhstan and different nations within the area. The opinions of official representatives and the civil sector in Central Asia had been taken under consideration whereas drafting the doc.
For my part, the EP Decision on Central Asia 2024 differs in tone in comparison with related paperwork from previous years.
This doc marks the primary occasion the place Central Asia is recognised as a area that has efficiently shaped its regional id, with impartial positions on sure points of latest worldwide and regional relations and unified regional alternatives in commerce, funding, enterprise and innovation.
The European Parliament recognises the convergence of worldwide and regional challenges and threats to the European Union and Central Asia, creating new alternatives for long-term, structured, mutually helpful cooperation.
On this regard, the European legislative physique calls on the European Union to accentuate its engagement with Central Asia, given its “geostrategic significance”, and to advertise strategic partnerships with the Central Asian states by enhanced political and financial cooperation.
I can solely welcome the MEPs’ name for elevated engagement between the European Union and Central Asian states.
Certainly, there are numerous new avenues the place we must always search stronger partnerships, resembling within the inexperienced and digital transition, transport and logistics, together with the event of the Center Hall, and significant uncooked supplies, to call only a few.
Nonetheless, it’s clear that we disagree on the problem of so-called “political persecution” and “political prisoners”.
There isn’t a decree, regulation, or normative doc in Kazakhstan’s laws that allows the persecution of residents for specific political beliefs. Furthermore, the Structure prohibits censorship within the nation.
Quite the opposite, I want to stress that Kazakhstan’s reforms have strengthened the system of human rights safety, freedom of expression and meeting.
Our Parliament is changing into a platform for energetic political debate and the expression of polarised opinions on problems with significance to our folks. The precept of the rule of regulation – the independence and professionalism of the judicial system – is being constantly strengthened.
The principle activity going through Kazakhstan at present is to strengthen the tradition of the rule of regulation. The strict enforcement of regulation and order should make sure the equal software of the regulation to all – with out exception. That is what Kazakhstan strives for and works on day by day.
Any violation of the regulation is punishable. Political beliefs and ideological preferences of individuals don’t have anything to do with regulation and order. Based on the courtroom’s choice, all individuals listed within the decision of the European Parliament have violated the regulation and are held accountable for it.
Calls to overthrow the constitutional order, violently change energy, incite and finance extremist actions – in different phrases, to undermine the constitutional order – are strictly prosecuted below the legal guidelines of Western nations.
In the USA (18 U.S.C. § 2383), such offences can lead to 10 years’ imprisonment. Comparable penalties are utilized in Europe, together with Germany and France.
The double requirements of particular person MEPs have lengthy been identified to me and my colleagues on the Mazhilis. Usually, they’re perceived as a part of the established tradition within the European legislature.
Efforts to eradicate such practices are underway by European regulation enforcement businesses, particularly in gentle of the continuing corruption scandal within the European Parliament, a matter that’s well-known to all.
The repute of those legislators has lengthy been tarnished on account of monetary and different irregularities, together with ties to exterior affect teams.
My colleagues and I are watching this course of with concern.
We hope for the objectivity of European regulation enforcement businesses and courts to revive the repute of this necessary legislative establishment of Europe.