The Guarantor of Independence (on the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the accession of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations and to understanding its role as a guarantor of the country’s independence and sovereignty. The study traces the path from constitutional reforms in the USSR and the first attempts of the union republics to exercise foreign policy powers prior to Kazakhstan’s recognition as a full member of the international community in 1992. Particular attention is given to the formation of the foreign policy course of the young republic, the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the first steps of Kazakh diplomacy on the inter-national stage. The article examines in detail Kazakhstan’s key initiatives within the framework of the UN: the voluntary renunciation of nuclear weapons, the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, the creation of a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia, as well as active participation in peacekeeping missions, and the promotion of issues of ecology, human rights, and sustainable development. The contribution of the country to the development of multilateral diplomacy and the establishment of regional cooperation mechanisms is emphasized. Article concludes that Kazakhstan’s accession to the UN contributed to strengthening its position in the international arena and to its integration into the world community as a full-fledged participant in global processes.