Kazakhstan: headquarters agreement signed between ICRC and authorities

ASTANA. February 28. KAZINFORM The Kazakh government and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) concluded an agreement today formalizing the ICRC's presence in Kazakhstan. The agreement was signed at the foreign ministry by Kairat Umarov, Kazakhstan's deputy foreign minister, and Yves Arnoldy, who heads the ICRC regional delegation in Central Asia; press service of ICRC told Kazinform.

"We are very pleased to formalize our long-standing relations with Kazakhstan, an important country in the region," said Mr Arnoldy. "This agreement will enable us to further develop our cooperation and dialogue with the Kazakh authorities, in particular on regional humanitarian issues."

The agreement grants the ICRC the benefits and immunities it needs to carry out its activities in accordance with its mandate and standard working procedures. These activities consist mainly in promoting international humanitarian law and in providing support for the Kazakh Red Crescent Society.

The ICRC has been working in Central Asia since 1992. It is currently present in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. In 2010, it upgraded its mission in Bishkek to a full-fledged delegation and established offices in two other Kyrgyz cities, Osh and Jalalabad.