Kairat Umarov

Kairat Umarov, the Kazakhstani Ambassador to the United States

Kairat Umarov (born 12 January 1963) is the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United States.[1] While Umarov assumed the post as Ambassador in January 2013, he previously served in Washington as Minister-Counselor at the Embassy between 1998 and 2003. Most recently, he was deputy foreign minister. As Ambassador, Umarov has emphasized cooperation with the U.S. in the areas of economic development and investment. He has met with civil society groups and discussed religious freedom in Kazakhstan and has served on panels in Washington, D.C. on Kazakhstan’s economic and political influence in the region.

Ambassador Umarov wrote an oped in US News & World Report making the case why Kazakhstan should serve as non-permanent member on the U.N. Security Council for 2017-2018.[2]

In support of Kazakhstan's selection to the UN Security Council, the Ambassador cites Kazakhstan's founding of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, membership in Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and the Partnership for Peace, NATO cooperation, annual hosting of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, involvement in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, hosting P5+1 talks on Iran's nuclear program, establishing KazAID and the Green Bridge Partnership Program, and work to ensure water and energy security.[2]

Kairat Umarov also actively participated in establishing diplomatic relations with Belize. On November 7, 2013, Ambassador Umarov and U.S. Ambassador to Belize Nestor Mendez signed a joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.[3]

Career

Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States

Ambassador Umarov presented his credentials to President Barack Obama in January 2013 after serving as Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister since 2009. The cornerstone of the Kazakh – U.S. strategic partnership is nuclear nonproliferation and nuclear security.[4]

Kairat Umarov also contributed to the development of legal cooperation between the countries. Thus, in February 2015 Kazakhstan and the U.S. signed the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.[5]

Building Commercial Ties with American Companies and Investors

In August 2014, Ambassador Umarov traveled to Southwest Missouri with Congressman Billy Long (R-MO7) and visited agribusinesses, manufacturing and high tech companies.[6]

Congressman Billy Long (MO-7) and Kazakh Ambassador Kairat Umarov visited Brewer Science in Springfield, MO on August 21, 2014

In late 2014, Kairat Umarov visited Houston, Texas. During the visit, Kairat Umarov met with Mayor of Houston Anise Parker, and they discussed a wide range of issues of strengthening trade-economic and cultural cooperation between Kazakhstan and Houston.[7]

Opinion Editorials Authored by Kairat Umarov

  1. Letter from Kazakhstan: Why we believe in the nuclear fuel bank, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, August 27, 2015
  2. Expanding Into Central Asia: Kazakhstan Joins WTO, Forbes, July 28, 2015
  3. Close the door on nuclear dangers, The Hill, September 14, 2014
  4. Kazakhstan-U.S. Strategic Partnership on the Rise, The Astana Times, March 24, 2014.
  5. Kazakhstan is a Serious Candidate for the U.N. Security Council, US News & World Report, October 21, 2013.

Video Interviews & Speeches by Kairat Umarov

  1. Ethnic & Religious Diversity in Kazakhstan
  2. US Investment in Kazakhstan
  3. Speech at press conference for boxing match between Beibut Shumenov and Bernard Hopkins, April 17, 2014
  4. Speech at UN General Assembly as Acting Foreign Minister, September 29, 2012

References

  1. ↑ "New Ambassador of Kazakhstan, Kairat Umarov, Arrives in Washington D.C.". Kazakhstan Embassy in US. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Put Kazakhstan on the U.N. Security Council". US News & World Report.
  3. ↑ "Kazakhstan establishes diplomatic relations with Belize". inform.kz.
  4. ↑ "Ambassador Kairat Umarov Biography". www.kazakhembus.com.
  5. ↑ "Kazakhstan, U.S. Advance Strategic Partnership by Signing Key Treaty". astanatimes.com.
  6. ↑ "Rep. Billy Long Hosts Kazakhstani Ambassador in Springfield". OzarksFirst.
  7. ↑ "December 16 declared Independence Day of Kazakhstan in Houston". www.inform.kz.
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