Astana hosts Forum of CICA ethno-cultural communities

ASTANA. May 1. KAZINFORM /Muratbek Makulbekov/ A Forum of the ethno-cultural communities of the CICA (Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia) member countries has kicked off in Astana today. The organizers of the event are the Ministry of Culture and Information and the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan.

The forum is held within the annual festival of Friendship of the People of Kazakhstan and aims at exchange of experience among the CICA countries on ethno-cultural policy, promotion of Kazakhstan?s model of inter-ethnic and inter-faith harmony, enlarging cooperation of the Asian countries in cultural-humanitarian sphere and improvement of the country?s image on the international arena. Delegations from 14 CICA member-countries, including Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, the UAE, Israel, India, Palestine and Russia have gathered for the event. The Forum participants will visit places where festivities dedicated to the Day of Unity of Kazakhstan People are being held. The Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia was established in 1992 on the initiative of President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev with the aim of unification of the efforts of the region?s countries for ensuring security in Asia. Today the CICA unites 20 countries. Kazakhstan holds the CICA chairmanship until 2010.