VISIT OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CICA TO ISRAEL

Mr. Jandos Asanov, Executive Director of CICA paid an official visit to the State of Israel on June 3-4, 2008. This was his first visit to Israel and he was accompanied by Mr. A.Pandey, Director, CICA Secretariat. During the visit J. Asanov had meetings with high ranked dignitaries of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, particularly, H.E. Mr. Aaron Abramovich, Director General, Ambassador Pinhas Avivi, Deputy Director General, Head of Central Europe and Eurasia Division and Mr. Amnon Evfrat, Director, Regional Security Department.

During the meetings issues relating to CICA process were discussed in detail. Israeli diplomats mentioned that Israel would like the CICA process to succeed and would continue to extend full support for its success. It was regretted that the Seminar on Advanced Agriculture for Development had to be postponed due to technical reasons. Despite this Israel is committed to organize the Seminar and new dates in September would be announced during the meetings of the Special Working Group and Senior Officials Committee in Seoul.

The Executive Director gave a briefing on the development of the CICA process and on the activities of the CICA Secretariat. Executive Director explained that CICA had now reached the stage where the process of implementation of the Confidence Building Measures had begun. He also mentioned that the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev takes personal interest in nurturing of the CICA process. He was the moving force behind convening of the CICA. The Executive Director also briefed on the developments that were taking place in the various dimensions of the Confidence building Measures. He explained that the CICA was taking a step by step approach in implementation of the Confidence Building measures, moving from simple to more complex issues. He also mentioned that with shifting of centre of gravity of economic activity to Asia, CICA was going to play a more important role in future.

The Director General Abramovich reiterated Israel's full support to the CICA process. He also mentioned that the State of Israel was having excellent bilateral relations with the Republic of Kazakhstan. He mentioned that Israel attaches considerable importance to develop relations with Kazakhstan in all the fields. Israeli businesses have made investments in Kazakhstan and Israel would like to develop further relations in cultural field. The Director General also expressed full support for the step by step approach for implementation of the Confidence Building Measures. He mentioned that it was necessary that CICA should begin by soft approaches to the security issues like exchange of information, etc., and then move on the more complex issues.

Executive Director also met HE Mr. Galym Orazbaqov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Israel.