On Thursday, 16 March 2004, a seminar entitled Avoiding the Oil Curse: Can Kazakhstan's Oil Riches be used to Promote Human Rights', organized by the Caspian Information Centre took place at the London School of Economics and gathered academics, businessmen, journalists, broadcasters and research students.
Former British Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, David Atkinson MP, leader of the Conservative delegation to the Council of Europe, Gerald Frost, General Director of the Caspian Information Centre, Dr Shirin Akiner, a lecturer at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and Erlan Idrissov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the UK participated in the seminar. Participants of the meeting discussed issues of development of economy and democratic institutes of Kazakhstan.
The Representative of GRATA Law Firm in UK, Mr. R. Gaissin, participated in the Seminar as well.
Sir Malkolm Rifkind praised Kazakhstan's «remarkable achievements» in the area of growth, macro-economic policy and the creation of a market economy and emphasized that for the last ten years significant progress has been made in Kazakhstan however still much should be accomplished. He noted importance of exchanging of experience with the European countries in human rights issues.
Ambassador Erlan Idrissov told in detail about strategic tasks of the Kazakh Government, focused on further deepening of economic reforms. He also stressed the role of Kazakhstan's financial institutions — the fastest growing sector of the economy. They are crucial to the emergence of a middle-class which is essential if there is to be continuing stability and if human rights are to be respected and to take firm rooting.
Gerald Frost has noted that strategy of the development of energy sector of Kazakhstan's economy is developed quite realistically and is based on experience of other countries with rich reserves of hydrocarbons such, as Norway and Britain.
David Atkinson MP, leader of the Conservative delegation to the Council of Europe, and a member of the House of Commons All-party Delegation to Kazakhstan spoke on relations between Kazakhstan and the Council. «I can promise a process of cooperation, dialogue and assistance,» he said.
The prospects of Kazakhstan's joining the World Trade Organization, further development of national banking sector and agriculture were also discussed at the seminar. The prevailing opinion was what taking into account modern dynamics of the development of the country, Kazakhstan will not face major problems with its accession to the WTO.
Participants of the LSE seminar expressed their hope, that Kazakhstan shall avoid «the oil curse» and that the incomes from oil revenues will be effectively used for strengthening of democracy and civil liberties in Kazakhstan.
The given information was taken from the News Bulletin of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan /No12, March 22, 2004/ with the kind permission of the Embassy.
