2001 Ron Paul 69:1
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw
the attention of my colleagues to the Op Ed
article “Crazy for Kazakhstan — Asian nation of
vital interest” by former Secretary of Energy
Bill Richardson published in “The Washington
Times” on July 30, 2001. Mr. Richardson has
been working with countries of Central Asia,
particularly with oil rich Kazakhstan, for a long
time and has an extensive expertise in the region.
I think we can rely on his assessments.
In the article he outlines achievements of
Kazakhstan and defines this country one of
the promising “of all the countries rising from
the ashes of the Soviet Union”.
2001 Ron Paul 69:2
Indeed, Kazakhstan, despite the difficulties
of its transition period, has carried out large
scale economic and political reforms, especially
when compared to the rest of the newly
independent states.
2001 Ron Paul 69:3
Kazakhstan is a young country located in a
critically strategic region with “rough” neighbors
and it is crucial for the U.S. to work with
this country both politically and economically
to ensure their security, independence and
progressive development.
2001 Ron Paul 69:4
This year is the 10th anniversary of
Kazakhstan’s independence and during this
period Kazakhstan has shown its commitment
to work with the U.S. in many areas, including
sensitive ones, and has proven to be our reliable
partner.
2001 Ron Paul 69:5
Mr. Speaker, I agree with Mr. Richardson
that this key Central Asian country is of great
importance to U.S. interests. Kazakhstan in
many ways should be seen as our natural ally
in the region. The time has come for the U.S.
to pay closer attention to this country and be
more engaged with it. For this reason I cosponsored
the legislation (H.R. 1318) that
would grant permanent trade relations to
Kazakhstan.
2001 Ron Paul 69:6
I submit the full text of this article from “The
Washington Times” to be placed in the
RECORD.
[From the Washington Times, July 30, 2001] CRAZY FOR KAZAKHSTAN (By Bill Richardson)
As secretary of energy and ambassador to
the United Nations during the Clinton administration,
I traveled three times to
Kazakhstan to underscore the importance of
this key Central Asian country to U.S. interests.
Of all the countries rising from the
ashes of the Soviet Union, few offer the
promise of Kazakhstan. In terms of both economic
potential and political stability,
Kazakhstan is critical to the long-term success
of the Central Asian nations. The Bush
administration should continue our policy of
engaging Kazakhstan to ensure that this key
country moves towards the Western orbit
and adopts continued market and political
reforms.
2001 Ron Paul 69:8
From its independence from the Soviet
Union in 1991 to the Present, Kazak leaders
have made the difficult and controversial decisions
necessary to bring their country into
the 21st century. In May 1992, President
Nursultan Nazarbayev announced that
Kazakhstan would unilaterally disarm all of
its nuclear weapons. In the aftermath of the
Soviet Union’s collapse, Kazakhstan was left
with the fourth-largest nuclear arsenal in
the world, a tempting target for terrorists
and other extremists. Mr. Nazarbayev’s courageous
decision to disarm in the face of opposition
from Islamic nationalists and potential
regional instability was one of the
fundamental building blocks that have allowed
Kazakhstan to emerge as a strong, stable
nation and a leader in Central Asia.
Then-President George Bush hailed the decision
as “a momentous stride toward peace
and stability.”
2001 Ron Paul 69:9
Since that time, Central Asia has become
an increasingly complex region. Russia is reemerging
from its post-Soviet economic crises
and is actively looking for both economic
opportunities in Central Asia as well as to
secure its political influence over the region.
China is rapidly expanding its economic
power and political influence in the region.
Iran, despite recent progress made by moderate
elements in the government, is still a
state sponsor of terrorism and is actively
working to develop weapons of mass destruction.
Many of the other former Soviet republics
have become havens for religious extremists,
terrorists, drug cartels and transit
points for smugglers of all kind.
2001 Ron Paul 69:10
In the center of this conflict and instability
Kasakhstan has begun to prosper by
working to build a modern economy, developing
its vast natural resources and providing
a base of stability in a very uncertain
part of the world. With the discovery of the
massive Kashagan oil field in the Kazak portion
of the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan is
poised to become a major supplier of petroleum
to the Western World and a competitor
to Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC). It is critical that we continue
to facilitate western companies’ investment
in Kazakhstan and the establishment
of secure, east-west pipeline routes for
Kazak oil. This is the only way for
Kazakhstan to loosen its dependence on Russia
for transit rights for its oil and gas and
secure additional, much needed, oil for the
world market.
2001 Ron Paul 69:11
American policy in the region must be
based on the complex geopolitics of Central
Asia and provide the support required to enable
these countries to reach their economic
potential. We must continue to give top priority
to the development of Kazakhstan’s oil
and gas industries and to the establishment
of east-west transportation corridors for Caspian
oil and gas. We must also remain committed
to real support for local political
leadership, fostering rule of law and economic
reforms and to helping mitigate and
solve the lingering ethnic and nationalistic
conflicts in the region. Only through meaningful
and substantial cooperation with
Kazakhstan, will we be able to realize these
goals.
2001 Ron Paul 69:12
There are many challenges ahead for
Kazakhstan, but there are enormous opportunities
for economic and political progress.
Mr. Nazarbayev has taken advantage of
Kazakhstan’s stability to begin transforming
its economy from the old Soviet form giant,
state-owned industries and collective grain
farms into a modern, market-based economy.
We have much at stake in this development.
Will Kazakhstan become a true market-
oriented democracy, or will it slip into
economic stagnation and ethnic violence
like so many of its neighbor? The stability of
Central Asia and the Caucasus depends on
how Kazakhstan chooses to move forward.
The United States must do its part to enhance
U.S.-Kazakhstancooperation and encourage
prosperity and stability for the entire
region.
