U.S. Relations with the People's Republic of China (2005)

Rice Urges Kazakhstan To Lead Central Asia on Democratization

Secretary of State speaks at Eurasian National University in Astana

Following is the transcript of Rice's remarks at Eurasia University:

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U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesman
October 13, 2005

REMARKS

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
At Eurasian National University
October 13, 2005
Astana, Kazakhstan

SECRETARY RICE: (In Russian) Thank you, Mr. Rector. Thank you for that warm welcome and the warm introduction. This is a really beautiful place. I'm very pleased to join you here at the Eurasian University, a university that is an historic center of learning here in the heart of the new Kazakhstan. This university, like the city of Astana itself, is a source of great pride for Kazakhstanis and the gleaming symbol of progress for all of Central Asia.

It was not 15 years ago that this bustling, modern capital was indeed a quiet and sleepy town called Akmola, and the land we now know as Kazakhstan was just another part of the Soviet Union. When sovereign states finally emerged from the Soviet Union, they were undemocratic and poor and isolated from the rest of the world. Just think: That was little more than a decade ago. Today in Kazakhstan -- in much of this region, committed leaders and courageous citizens are charting a course for a more hopeful future here in Central Asia.

Every year, more and more people are finding new opportunities to thrive with economies that are privatizing and diversifying, and growing rapidly. Civil society is slowly finding new political space to assemble freely and call for reform. And Afghanistan, no longer an image of war and tyranny, is moving toward a vision of peace and democracy that can inspire an entire region.

To be sure, the road to reform extends before us many decades into the future. And the old demons of extremism and authoritarianism are still very menacing in this region. So today, in Astana, I want to speak to the people of Central Asia: The United States believes that liberty, and dignity, and justice are within reach of everyone in this region. And we are fully committed to partnership in helping you to realize this vision.

We seek peace and security. We seek economic development and prosperity. We seek democratic values and human rights that unite all free nations in trust and in respect. We seek a region in which relations are good between neighbors, between Russia and China and Afghanistan and all others in the region.

In terms of international security, Kazakhstan has been a regional leader since its earliest days of independence. After the end of the Cold War, Kazakhstan renounced its nuclear weapons and freely transferred over half a ton of weapons-grade uranium to secure sites outside the country. Today, as the spread of nuclear weapons takes new forms, Kazakhstan, along with Tajikistan, are expanding their cooperation with the United States through the Proliferation Security Initiative. We hope that Kyrgyzstan will join its neighbors in this important effort to protect people around the globe.

Together with Kazakhstan, and our Central Asian partners, we are also working to counter the illegal drug trade. Tajikistan has distinguished itself in this regard, seizing more illicit narcotics than the rest of the region combined. The surest way to fight the drug trade, though, is to uproot its source, particularly in Afghanistan. And a sustained, comprehensive effort is needed in that country to eradicate poppy, to cultivate lucrative alternatives to poppy farming, and to prosecute those who profit from illegal narcotics.

Finally, we applaud Kazakhstan's steadfast commitment to the continuing war against violent Islamic extremism here in Central Asia. And I want to thank President Nazarbayev and his government for their efforts to promote interfaith dialog and tolerance.

Four years after the liberation of Afghanistan, the enemies of peace and progress remain a very real threat. They are determined to return that long-suffering nation to the dark days of the Taliban. This would, of course, have disastrous consequences for everyone in this region. So until these terrorists are defeated in Afghanistan and throughout Central Asia, the United States needs and values the sustained security cooperation of many regional partners. But let me be clear: We in America do not seek a permanent military presence in Kyrgyzstan or anywhere in Central Asia. We seek access to support military operations against terrorists -- those who wish to sow death and destruction in their lands and ours.

As we strengthen security and fight terrorism, the United States and our friends in Central Asia will be able to deepen our cooperation in pursuit of greater liberty through development and prosperity.

Since its independence, Kazakhstan has also set an example in this region with bold economic reforms that have attracted investment, created jobs, and established a vibrant banking system. The Government of Kazakhstan has also made wise choices to begin diversifying its economy and ensuring that its vast oil wealth can become a source for social mobility, not social stagnation. One needs only to look around here in Astana to see the beginnings of a diverse and independent middle class.

The United States will support Kazakhstan's efforts to thrive economically, as outlined in our bilateral "Houston Initiative." As this nation's economy continues to develop, Kazakhstan should view its role as an engine for growth within Central Asia. Both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan would benefit immensely from Kazakhstani investment and energy to stimulate growth and create jobs. And Afghanistan needs the full partnership of this entire region to overcome the destitution that tyrants, and extremists, and warlords, and civil war have compounded over several decades. A secure and prosperous Afghanistan, which anchors Central Asia and links it to South Asia, is essential to the future of economic success.

The United States is fully committed to helping Kazakhstan and its Central Asian neighbors integrate themselves into the global economy. Central Asia has a long tradition as a host to some of the world's richest trading centers and trading routes. Today, regional economic trade can once again be a powerful engine of economic growth and opportunity. The United States is committed to high-level engagement with Kazakhstan and with its neighbors to stimulate cross-border trade and investment in energy, transportation, agriculture, and other sectors. And the United States is already hard at work with our partners in Afghanistan and Tajikistan in rebuilding the roads and bridges that are essential to revitalized regional and global trade.

To realize their full potential, however, every Central Asian country must do a great deal more to fight corruption, which is simply a tax on the poor. The farmers, and shopkeepers, and school teachers of Central Asia must know that government officials cannot arbitrarily seize their property. They must know that they will be able to withdraw from the bank all of the hard-earned money that they deposit there. And they must know that no unjust obstacles stand in their way of buying a house, or winning a contract or starting a business.

Some believe that these and other economic reforms are all that are needed to guarantee lasting prosperity, but this not the case. Wise statesmen know and history has demonstrated that political and economic freedom must advance together, and complement one another. History also teaches us that true stability and true security are only found in democratic regimes. And no calculation of short-term interest should tempt us to undermine this basic conviction. America will encourage all of our friends in Central Asia to undertake democratic reforms. And as they do, they will solidify a lasting partnership of principle with the United States.

Our goal is not to lecture our friends on how to do things the American way. Rather, we seek to help our Central Asian partners achieve the stability they seek. And our historical experience has taught us that stability requires legitimacy, and true legitimacy requires democracy.

Let me just say that we in America have every reason for humility when we talk about democracy. After all, it was only in my own lifetime that the United States finally guaranteed the democratic rights of all its citizens. We understand that the path to democracy is long, and imperfect, and different for every country. But make no mistake: The principles of democracy are unanimously desired and universally deserved. Here in Central Asia, there is much to do but there are reasons for optimism.

Afghanistan is amazing the world with its rapid progress to democracy. Free elections have empowered a president and a parliament to begin building institutions of governance that are transparent and responsible and legitimate. This will not happen overnight, but it is urgent work that cannot be deferred.

Tajikistan is still recovering from a bitter and bloody civil war, and it has a long way to go. But it is a mark of progress that all major participants in Tajikistan's past fighting are now sharing power in parliament. This includes the only legal Islamic political party in all of Central Asia.

Earlier this year, Kyrgyzstan took a major step toward democracy. Citizens filled the streets, demanding greater justice and fundamental freedoms and democratic rights. This led to a presidential election that reflected the will of the people, and though certainly not perfect, was the freest and fairest in the modern history of Central Asia. And now, the members of the current government must work together to consolidate their revolution by fighting corruption, and increasing accountability, and advancing constitutional reform.

Finally, here in Kazakhstan, President Nazarbayev has successfully led his country through the early stages of statehood. He has lifted Kazakhstan to a position of leadership in this region, leadership on international security and economic development. And now, with the presidential election in December, Kazakhstan has an unprecedented opportunity to lead Central Asia toward a future of democracy and to elevate U.S.-Kazakhstani relations to a new level.

If Kazakhstan's leaders expand the range of free speech, and free assembly, and free choices in their country, they will unleash the creative energy of their people and secure a future of freedom, prosperity, and stability. In all cases the alternative to this hopeful vision is a descending spiral of repression, and stagnation and extremism. The United States continues to hope that the Government of Uzbekistan will turn back from its current course and make a strategic choice in favor of reform. But we will not wait idly by for that day to come. We will move forward with our partners in Central Asia who seek stability through freedom, regardless of whether Uzbekistan's leaders choose to isolate themselves and their country.

Ladies and Gentlemen: With continued reform, Kazakhstan can become the nexus of Eurasia in the 21st century, the point where all roads cross. For thousands of years, along the ancient Silk Road, the communities of Central Asia facilitated the global exchange of ideas, and trade, and culture. In the process, they made historic contributions to our collected human heritage.

It was here that Muslim scholars penned the scientific treatises that helped to inspire the European Renaissance and wrote religious tracts that formed the basis of a culture of religious tolerance to this very day. The synthesis of faith and reason, reflected in the writings a millennium ago, of al-Farabi, and Avicenna and the authors of the epic "Manas," live today in the hearts and minds of the people of Central Asia, whose tolerant traditions provide a shield against extremism.

Today, Kazakhstan is poised and ready to break a path for a new Silk Road, a great corridor of reform linking the provinces of northern Russia to the ports of South Asia, the republics of Western Europe to the democracies of East Asia. A strong and prosperous and democratic Kazakhstan will once again energize the global transmission of learning, and trade and freedom across the steppes of Central Asia. This nation has a glorious past and it is destined for a hopeful future. Kazakhstan's greatest days lie ahead of it. And the United States wants to be your partner.

Thank you very much.

MODERATOR: (In Russian.)

QUESTION: (In Russian.)

SECRETARY RICE: First of all, let me explain how we see Central Asia, Kazakhstan, and its position in the State Department. That is right, it will now become a part of the Bureau of South Asian and Central Asian Affairs. Have you been talking to our Ambassador about this issue?

We see this region as having great potential as a region and not -- we don't see the region as simply the states of the former Soviet Union, which is one way that they have often been characterized. This region has, despite the Soviet period and despite the last years of the Russian empire, a distinctive history, a distinctive culture, and perhaps most importantly distinctive trade ties that I just talked about when I talked about the period of the Silk Road and beyond.

Yes, those ties were to Europe but those ties were also to Asia, really the land bridge, if you will, to East Asia. And so what we would like to do is think of the regional development of this area as having links to the growing economies of East Asia, of China, of our alliances in Japan and in Southeast Asia, of having strong internal links between them. One of the things that we're working on is ways to lower trade barriers, to help you lower trade barriers among states of this region. We are going to provide some economic assistance to help with the lowering of those trade barriers.

So it is the way that we see this region, not that it does not have links to Europe. It does have links to Europe, important links to Europe, but that it has also a distinct history, a distinct set of economic relationships, a distinct set of economic ties that could push this region very far forward. And by the way, Afghanistan is a very important part of that.

Let me just say one word about Iraq. We are indeed busy in Iraq but the important thing to remember about U.S. policy is that it is global and the aspects of democracy promotion about which I'm talking reach for us worldwide. But you should understand how we see Central Asia and understanding where it sits in the State Department.

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