ASTANA, December 23. /TASS/. Kazakhstan’s military is ready to take part in UN peacekeeping operations, Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov told a news conference on Wednesday. He recalled that this year the country had passed a law on peacekeeping activities, which "enshrines this procedure." "The essence of the law is that Kazakhstan must honor its commitments to the UN regarding participation in the peacekeeping obligations, but, at the same time, it will be careful about taking a decision on sending our peacekeepers abroad. The main and final word in this issue rests with the country’s parliament," Idrissov said.
According to the minister, "Kazakhstan has all this time been boosting its peacekeeping potential." "Kazakh peacekeepers have vast experience, they are well trained and equipped and are ready to take part in peacekeeping activities," he said.
Idrissov recalled that Kazakhstan had experience of such participation in Iraq. "The Kazakh peacekeepers have made a serious contribution to resolving the Iraqi crisis," he noted, adding that at present "Kazakhstan’s peacekeepers were not involved in any operations in the world."
"There is also the institution of military observers during peacekeeping operations. We declared our readiness to take part and send our military observers. Currently our observers are working in two countries - Western Sahara and Ivory Coast. However, they do not take part in any military operations there and are just monitoring the developments," the minister said.