Kazakhstan ?new blood? for OSCE - Romanian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Emil Rapcea

ALMATY. February 20. KAZINFORM /Yelena Ilyinskaya/ For the countries entering OSCE it will be useful to learn Kazakhstan?s experience in the issues of tolerance, dialogue of cultures and religions. Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Romania to Kazakhstan Emil Rapcea told about it in the exclusive interview given to the Kazinform correspondent.

In one of your interviews you noted that Romania see Kazakhstan as strategic and economic partner not only in the Central Asia but all over the world. Tell, please, what are your priorities in the field of economic cooperation, what changes took place in the face of the global crisis and what is the state of the political dialogue? Kazakhstan and Romania have very good and strong relations. The political dialogue between our countries is rather developed. Herein, mutual visits of Romanian and Kazakh Presidents took place in 1998, 1999, 2003 and in 2007. At the same time the heads of both countries had a number of meetings during international forums. Frequent visits at the level of the heads of the parliament of both countries are the best proof to this fact. In addition, the visit of Romanian President Traian Basescu to Kazakhstan is scheduled at the end of May-beginning of June this year. The political dialogue had and has an important value for strengthening cooperation in the economic sphere. The trade and economic relations between Romania and Kazakhstan are positively grown. In order to have correct view on the dynamic growth of bilateral economic relations it should be noted that the turnover amounted to USD 166 mln in 2001, at the end of 2006 ? it made USD 1662 mln including import ? USD 1626 mln and export ? USD 36 mln respectively. This means the 10 times increase of the trade turnover during last five years. The results of 2007 also show the stable growth of the volumes of bilateral trade at the level of 2006. The trade turnover in 2008 amounted to USD 3 bln and this trend is stable till the beginning of the next year that is why we think there are no any reasons for trouble. Priority directions are the energy sector, transportation of goods and hydrocarbon via the corridor East-West from the Central Asia to Europe. As you know, one of the best cooperation projects was concluded in August, 2007 - a subsidiary of JSC NC ?KazMunaiGaz? - ?Trade House KazMunaiGaz? signed an agreement to acquire 75% stake shares of ?RomPetrol Group TRG?. Thus, JSC NC ?KazMunaiGaz? became the owner of 630 filling stations in 6 countries in Europe and refinery on the territory of Romania. The principal Romanian productions exported to Kazakhstan are equipment, oil plants, spare parts for oil industry, chemicals, and to a smaller extent ? furniture, medical supplies and leather goods. Seven Kazakh-Romanian enterprises are operated in Romania in the field of trade, construction and development of the ore-gold deposits. What can you say about the development of relations in other spheres: in education, culture and tourism? Don?t you think that there is a necessity to closer acquaint both cultures? I think, if everything that had been told in Bucharest at the joint session in 2008 to be implemented, it would be very useful for both parties. Later on the agreement was signed in the context of which it was decided to organize elective courses at the Kazakhstani universities to learn Romanian culture, language and history. And the same is going to be done in Romanian universities regarding Kazakh culture and language. In addition, the student exchange is scheduled as a part of this program. Every year at least five Kazakh students will go to the Romanian universities to studying and training in oil-and-gas industry. Can they work in Romania after their training and what the situation is with visas? Why not. For example, yesterday we gave six visas to experts going to work in ?RomPetrol?. There are not any problems with visas today. When I assumed the office of Ambassador in February, 2008 my objective was to change the whole visa system to maximum simplify it.. Today the people having international passports and invitations can easy receive a visa within 15-30 minutes. It should be noted that only 30 out of 500 visas have been issued to the specialists who wanted to work in ?RomPetrol? since last June. The other visas were given to those people who intended to visit Romania for a holiday or to visit their friends. This means that Kazakhstan?s interest in Romania grows; we develop not only economic but also tourist and cultural relations. It is really important since our knowledge of Romania is very slight. For example, everybody knows Transylvania and Count Dracula but Romania has also wonderful resort areas on the coast of the Black Sea and the best in Europe mud sources. Unfortunately, it is true. Romania is the country with strong spiritual energy and developed culture. It has the second largest territory and population in Central-Eastern Europe after Poland. Be sure, Romania will impress pleasantly you and turn in mystery of its culture and history and will tell its secrets. There is a sea, mountains, lakes and the most famous river in Europe ? the Danube on the territory of Romania. All most interesting palaces, castles, fortresses and monasteries are located in Transylvania, Moldavia, Muntenia and other regions. Old medieval fortresses Brasov, Sighisoara and Sibiu will open the tourists life of the last centuries. In a word it is impossible to describe the amenities of Romania, you should see them. Unfortunately, Romanian people know little about Kazakhstan too. Most of them knew it as a former part of the USSR. I think this is explained with the status of Kazakhstan as young sovereign state. The country?s authorities have concentrated primarily on development of economy. Now it is high time to pay more attention to other sectors, tourism first of all. In spite of the fact that we know too little about your ?fairy? country, according to 2007 statistical data about 20 thousand Romanians live in Kazakhstan. Could you tell how the Romanian Diaspora lives on the Kazakh land today? According to the information of our Embassy, Kazakhstan has become a motherland for 25 thousand Romanians; most part of them is considered to be Moldavians. Because, when they or their parents arrived in Kazakhstan, Besarabia was a part of Romania, now Romania and the Republic of Moldova are two brother states. Romanians-Moldavians live primarily in Almaty, Astana and Karaganda cities. Like the representatives of other 130 nationalities, they work in all sectors of employment and as far as I know, they live in peace and harmony. There is an idea on establishment of a Romanian House in Almaty or Astana, where their children could study the culture, language and history of Romania. As you know, Kazakhstan actively prepares for the OSCE chairmanship in 2010 and Romania has already had such experience. What has it given to your country and what will give it to us? Will Kazakhstan be able to introduce something new to the Organization?s activity? Romania was the first country that supported Kazakhstan?s imitative in the OSCE. Our diplomats basing on their experience and practice immediately offered cooperation in this direction. Project on training and work of your experts in the Romanian MFA was forwarded. Today I see that Kazakhstan is actively preparing for the chairmanship indeed and you have well-trained specialists who can start working in the OSCE even now. In your opinion, does Kazakhstan need to reach some higher level and how do you estimate the democratic changes in our country? I mean introduction of amendments to the law on elections, parties and activity of religious association and mass media. Amendments to the law were necessary and Kazakhstan understands it. Their introduction is a pledge of successful cooperation with the European Union. However it is important to pursue the reforms taking into consideration all conditions: national peculiarities, traditions, lifestyle etc. Thank you for the interview.