Columbia University Professor Bressand: Kazakhstan is a strong party in negotiations with UN and OSCE
According to him Kazakhstan can play a positive role in formation of common objectives and achievement of consensus in the negotiation process between countries. Professor Bressand gave an interview to Kazinform
What measures should be taken to achieve progress in the field of energy and environment security in the context of upcoming Kazakhstan's chairmanship in OSCE?
Kazakhstan's chairmanship in OSCE takes place at the time when key parties in the Eurasian Continent though do not conflict with each other, but in some sense are in search for their measurements. There are different views on the prospects of energy security which are expressed in incompatible forms. Having rich and long-term experience in finding of common positions and contact points, Kazakhstan as I believe can play a big role and help various players of Eurasia (Europe, Russia, and Central Asian countries); find and express mutually-beneficial concept for future energy security. The matter is to help these countries to identify common objectives and work to achieve them.
What do you think about the prospects in achieving consensus in critical energy issues as the European Energy Charter?
The Energy Charter reflects the situation existed in the 90-es. Since that time significant changes have taken place. In particular, the European Union now has more integrated gas market which has certain principals including those concerning the issues of access of third parties to pipelines. The same time, it is obvious that these principals are not valid for Russia and other important countries beyond the European Union. In such a manner, though the Energy Charter is still in force it needs a significant revision in the context of negotiation of European and Russian concepts. Russia requires long-term investments and more predictable sources of income, than those available at liberalized markets. I hope Kazakhstan will be able to find the way out of this problem.
Do you agree with necessity of radical renovation of the global partnership in energy and environment?
There was always the necessity for global partnership. There was a long-standing tradition in Eurasia of joint work in energy issues even during the time of high political tension. Today the attention is focused on the problem of climate change which requires activation of transition to low-carbon sources of energy. Among them gas deserves the most attention, it is becoming more important than oil. In comparison with the period of two decades ago there is a significant index deregulation of gas markets in Eurasian countries. The given situation requires negotiation with long-term investments in infrastructure and development of deposits in countries-users and producers. By other words, there are more serious problems in comparison with the last years. More constructive dialogue is required for their solution than before.
What do you think about the Kazakhstan's initiative to hold the international forum in Astana and discussion of the Global Energy-Environment Strategy?
This is a good and well-timed initiative. All we are interested in stability of the development processes and understand that the stability consists of several components. Kazakhstan has a unique position as far as it supports good relations with all main players, and especially with China which has become the large emitter of greenhouse gases. Astana will be seriously taken by Beijing due to energy mutual relations between the countries and Shanghai Organization of Cooperation. The same time Kazakhstan is a significant partner for the USA and Europe. The country also supports relations with Turkey which plays an important role in the region.
Have you been to Kazakhstan?
I visited Kazakhstan several years ago. And I met many intelligent Kazakh students in American universities. I was greatly impressed by the ambition of your country to give the best foreign education to a new generation.
Thank you for the interview.