[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[May 19, 1992]
[Pages 793-794]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Joint Declaration With President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan

May 19, 1992

Declaration on U.S.-Kazakhstan Relations

    At the conclusion of this important meeting, we--the President of 
the United States and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan--have 
resolved to develop friendly, cooperative relations between our 
countries and peoples, and to work together to strengthen international 
peace and stability.
    Kazakhstan and the United States favor an early ratification and 
implementation of the START Treaty as an important guarantor of 
maintaining global stability. Reaffirming its commitment to peace and 
security, Kazakhstan shall, at the earliest possible time, accede to the 
Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as a non-nuclear 
state, while preserving the right of control over the non-use and 
reductions of the nuclear weapons temporarily deployed on its territory. 
Kazakhstan guarantees to carry out the elimination of all types of 
nuclear weapons, including strategic offensive arms, within the seven-
year period provided for in the START Treaty. The United States welcomes 
these steps and shall take necessary measures to assist Kazakhstan in 
this matter. Kazakhstan and the United States agree on the need to 
establish effective national control over non-proliferation of the 
weapons of mass destruction and associated technologies to third 
countries.
    The United States and Kazakhstan will work to strengthen 
international security on the basis of lower and more stable levels of 
armaments among all nations. We commit to uphold shared international 
principles, especially democracy, respect for borders and territorial 
integrity, and peaceful resolution of disputes. Together we will promote 
respect for international law and the principles enshrined in the 
Helsinki Final Act, the Charter of Paris, other important documents of 
the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the United 
Nations Charter. The United States welcomes Kazakhstan's efforts to 
establish equal and mutually beneficial relations with Russia and the 
states of Central Asia as well as with other states in accordance with 
these principles. Toward this end, the United States welcomes 
Kazakhstan's membership in multilateral institutions like the United 
Nations, the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the North 
Atlantic Cooperation Council, the International Monetary Fund and the 
World Bank, and its commitment to values and accepted norms of behavior 
in the world. We agree that our countries should maintain a regular 
bilateral dialogue on questions of peace and stability that are of 
interest to both states.
    We believe that the basis for the development of a lasting 
partnership between our states must be a shared commitment to promote 
the values of democracy, free markets, and world peace. In this regard, 
the United States supports Kazakhstan's commitment to pursue far-
reaching political and economic reform. The United States welcomes 
Kazakhstan's desire to build its independence in full accordance with 
the

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principles of a free and democratic society, including free elections, 
pluralism and tolerance, freedom of emigration, the rule of law, and 
respect for human rights, including equal rights for all individuals 
belonging to ethnic or religious minorities. The United States 
Government, in cooperation with the American private sector, will make 
available programs designed to help Kazakhstan establish the 
institutions, ideas, and practices that form the foundation of 
democracy.
    Kazakhstan will seek to accelerate its efforts to move toward a 
market economy through a plan for macroeconomic stabilization and 
structural/microeconomic reform that will promote economic recovery, 
market development, and growth. This plan will be developed in 
cooperation with the International Monetary Fund and other international 
financial institutions. The United States will support such a plan and 
will encourage others to do so as well. In particular, the United States 
will provide Kazakhstan with access to technical assistance programs to 
assist its efforts to develop a market economy.
    Kazakhstan and the United States will work actively to promote free 
trade, investment, and economic cooperation between our countries. The 
United States and Kazakhstan have signed three economic agreements that 
constitute the basic framework of our economic relationship. They will 
promote economic ties between the two states and will further economic 
development. We have concluded a trade agreement that will confer Most 
Favored Nation tariff treatment on Kazakhstan, an OPIC agreement to make 
available investment insurance for American firms investing in 
Kazakhstan, and a Bilateral Investment Treaty. We have also agreed to 
expedite negotiations on a tax treaty, and to develop our cooperation in 
the area of scientific research and environmental protection. A critical 
feature of our cooperation will be an effort by Kazakhstan to lower 
barriers to trade and investment to allow greater access for American 
and foreign firms, especially in sectors such as oil and natural gas, 
mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and food processing.
    By agreeing to work jointly to advance these common interests, we 
have taken an important step in the development of a strong, lasting 
friendship between Kazakhstan and the United States. Through expanded 
cooperation between our governments, and expanded contacts between our 
peoples, we seek to build an enduring relationship that will enhance the 
freedom and well-being of our nations and the world.