Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addresses 76th session of UN General Assembly

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addresses 76th session of UN General Assembly

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the General Debates of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. They were dedicated to the themes of sustainable recovery, meeting the needs of the planet and respecting human rights. In his speech, the Head of State focused on the triple threat facing the world: recovery after COVID-19, the climate crisis and the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. President Tokayev proposed to immediately expand the global access to vaccines, as well as confirmed readiness to share the Kazakh-made vaccine on a bilateral basis or as part of the COVAX system.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has exploded from 32 million to 225 million confirmed cases. We are deeply grateful to all health workers, scientists and vaccine makers who produced in a remarkably short time safe and effective vaccines. But the economic and social implications remain very difficult. Unemployment has risen sharply, and hundreds of millions of people are losing their livelihoods. More than 130 million people are now living in extreme poverty. In many ways, the pandemic has exposed our vulnerability and underscored the critical importance of multilateralism and international solidarity,” said the president.

In his address, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also spoke about the situation in Afghanistan. He supported the call of the UN Security Council for the formation of a new government through negotiations, which would be inclusive and representative. He also announced the readiness of Kazakhstan to provide a logistic platform for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

“Kazakhstan envisions Afghanistan as a truly independent, sovereign nation living at peace with itself and its neighbors. Afghanistan must continue to adhere to its international obligations and ensure its territory is free of terrorists, drugs and human traffickers. Whatever our political affiliations or personal feelings, we must not abandon the people of Afghanistan now. The acute humanitarian situation should be our first priority. UN agencies and other humanitarian actors must have immediate, safe and unhindered humanitarian access,” continued the Head of State.

 

Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova

Translation by Saniya Sakenova