Written evidence from Roman Solodchenko
William Hague has stated that the country's reputation
is "directly linked to the belief of others that we will
do what we say and we will not apply double standards".
SUMMARY
- In assessing the performance and success of UK
foreign policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it is important to
also examine the impact these policies have had on surrounding
countries;
- There is a concern that democratisation and human
rights commitments are being traded off against more compelling
interests driven by the war in Afghanistan, energy politics, and
other geostrategic calculations;
- The UK's policy towards Kazakhstan is a clear
example of the potential risks;
- Kazakhstan has taken the support of the international
community, for example collaboration with the UK, as an endorsement
of its internationally criticised governance practices;
- It is crucial that the UK's foreign
policy ensures that neighbouring countries support our objectives,
and military presence in Afghanistan, but that this does not compromise
the UK's broader foreign policy principles, particularly in relation
to human rights and the rule of law.
EVIDENCE SUBMITTED
BY ROMAN
SOLODCHENKO
Roman Solodchenko has experience in both Government
and businesses in Kazakhstan and been part of the economic transformation
of this country. His experiences provide a unique insight into
the way Kazakhstan has interpreted UK foreign policy in the region.
ASSESSMENT OF
UK FOREIGN POLICY
In assessing the performance and success of UK foreign
policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it is important to also examine
the impact that the UK's foreign policy has had on surrounding
countries.
The UK has collaborated with a number of neighbouring
countries in order to maintain their support for the coalition
forces' military presence in the region. Many of these countries
have provided direct assistance in a variety of ways. The challenge
for the UK Government however, is to ensure that other foreign
policy objectives are not unduly compromised as a result of such
partnerships.
The Foreign Secretary has called for more emphasis
within foreign policy on protecting human rights, saying the UK
must always "have a conscience".
Hague outlined this in his speech in September -
the last in a series of three about the UK's foreign policy goals
- saying the country's reputation was "directly linked to
the belief of others that we will do what we say and we will not
apply double standards".
Of particular significance to this inquiry are the
countries that are part of the Northern Distribution Network (NDN)
and other key supply routes. The NDN has significantly impacted
on the geopolitics of Central Asia and means that transit states
have acquired new leverage over Washington and Westminster especially
since NATO also began using the network.[35]
Only last week, the US was accused of adopting a
far different approach toward local leaders, turning a blind eye
to Kazakhstan's backsliding on what it believed was the country's
commitment to release imprisoned political opponents and human
rights activists.[36]
There is a concern that democratisation and human
rights are being traded off against more compelling interests
driven by the war in Afghanistan, energy politics, and other geostrategic
calculations.
In other words, the collaboration has a serious downside
as history has taught us. Nothing encourages radicalism more than
unfairness. Such actions mean that the UK risks losing its reputation
as an advocate of political and economic independence and committed
supporter for human rights improvement.
KAZAKHSTAN
The UK's policy towards Kazakhstan is a clear example
of the potential risks. The country's geographical location means
that it is vital as a coalition supporter and Kazakhstan will
be integral to the long-term development of the region. Kazakhstan
has already contributed to maintaining security in the region,
particularly in its role as chair of the OSCE. During its time
as chair of the OSCE, Kazakhstan has ensured Afghanistan stayed
high on the agenda and it is set to form a key part of the OSCE
summit in December. Kazakhstan has stated that Afghanistan remains
a priority in its foreign policy and as such its support is helpful
to the UK and coalition forces.
Kazakhstan has made excellent economic progress since
its independence from the Soviet Union. Furthermore, it has increasingly
integrated with the international community to the advantage of
the country and its people. Unfortunately, democratic principles,
human rights, media freedom and the rule of law have been trapped
in the time warp of the old Soviet Union.
Over the past decade, following engagement and comment
from the international community, Kazakhstan has responded with
a number of commitments regarding these issues, for example in
November 2007 at the Madrid OSCE summit, as part of its bid to
chair the organisation. Many commentators believed that these
commitments and the chairmanship would move Kazakhstan forward.
The reality in Kazakhstan has been quite different
and the situation has deteriorated since the Madrid summit. Over
the last year there has been criticism over the human rights situation
in Kazakhstan. Commentators
including Amnesty International, CPJ, Freedom House, the Open
Society Institute and Human Rights Watch have publicly criticised
the decline in human rights in Kazakhstan and suggested that Kazakhstan
is failing to keep promises made when it was awarded the chairmanship.
These included commitments to progress in line with OSCE recommendations
to liberalise laws on the media, improve human rights, and democratise
with new laws on elections and political parties. Indeed, evidence
suggests that the situation is worsening rather than improving.
The regime has taken the support of the international
community, for example collaboration with the UK, as an endorsement
of its Government. One example of this is a speech made by Kanat
Saudabayev, Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, during a visit to
the United States: "The unanimous decision of the 56 member
nations of the OSCE, made in Madrid on 30 November 2007, to award
the chairmanship to Kazakhstan in 2010, is an objective recognition
of Kazakhstan's impressive successes in social, economic and political
developments under the prudent leadership of President Nursultan
Nazarbayev over the years of independence."[37]
LESSONS FOR
FUTURE POLICYMAKERS
The UK has adopted a somewhat equivocal
position with regards to Kazakhstan and other countries bordering
Afghanistan. There are inevitable compromises that must be reached,
however the UK must be mindful of the misinterpretations that
result from its partnership or open support.
In the case of Kazakhstan it has used
this position as a means of endorsement of its current governance
practices. Contrary to the UK's expectations and wishes, Kazakhstan
has made insufficient progress in human rights. Current UK policy
indirectly supports the status quo in Kazakhstan. This is contrary
to the principles articulated by William Hague in his speech on
15 September 2010.
"Indeed I intend to improve and strengthen our
human rights work. It is not in our character as a nation to have
a foreign policy without a conscience, and neither is it in our
interests."
The world faces serious challenges
both in Afghanistan and increasingly with Pakistan. It is crucial
that the UK's foreign policy ensures the neighbouring countries
both support our policy and the military presence, but that this
does not compromise the UK's broader foreign policy principles
and objectives, particularly in relation to human rights and the
rule of law.
20 October 2010
35 The Northern Distribution Network and Afghanistan
Geopolitical Challenges and Opportunities, a Report of the CSIS
Transnational Threats Project and the Russia and Eurasia Program
project co-directors by Andrew C. Kuchins and Thomas M. Sanderson Back
36
Steve LeVine, (author of The Oil and the Glory) The New Republic,
6 October 2010: 'The End of the Great Game' Back
37
Kanat Saudabayev, Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, during a visit
to the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, 25 September 2009 Back
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