06-23-2004, 04:27 PM
The Washington Times
The trade and investment framework agreement the United States signed recently with Central Asian countries was motivated just as much by U.S. counterterror priorities as commercial considerations. The agreement is welcome, if overdue.
The United States has long had geopolitical interests in Central Asia. The five Asian nations that signed the agreement -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan -- gained independence from the Soviet Union more than a decade ago. For about 10 years, therefore, the United States has had a vested interest in ushering these countries into the global free-market system. Some of these countries, particularly Kazakhstan, are rich in energy resources, and their development will help fulfill President Bush's objective of diversifying global energy resources. The agreement is geared toward finding ways to expand trade and investment, and is broadly seen as a precursor to a formal trade agreement.
The agreement won't lead to a trade bonanza. U.S. exports to the region totaled $548.1 million last year, while imports amounted to $570.5 million. Still, Central Asian countries are an important frontier in the counterterror effort. While Muslim militancy has taken root in parts of South and Southwest Asia, it has appeared only sporadically in Central Asia. Muslim fundamentalists are trying to make inroads into the region, so the international community must remain vigilant. Trade and development will be an important vehicle for delivering hope and opportunity to the people of Central Asia, and a bulwark against nihilistic fundamentalism.
In touting the agreement, known as a TIFA, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick signaled the broad U.S. interest in the region. "We look forward to working closely through the TIFA to further strengthen our bilateral economic relationships and our relationship with the region as a whole," he said.
Central Asian countries generally have a ways to go toward improving their records on human rights and democratic freedoms. A final trade agreement could be offered as a carrot for making headway in these areas. Economic development and democratization are important building blocks for modernization and a barrier to the global terrorist threat.
Copyright ?2004 News World Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
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June 19, 2004
Page A12
Letters to the Editor
Tighter trade ties
I find myself largely in agreement with your editorial "Trade vs. terror in Central Asia" (yesterday). We, too, welcome the trade and investment framework agreement. It will further expand U.S. private businesses' interest in Kazakhstan's rapidly developing economy.
There are many reasons why Americans should be increasingly comfortable doing business in my country. First, and perhaps foremost, we get along very well together. There are almost 400 U.S. companies in Kazakhstan, and the U.S. investment in our economy stands at $9 billion. American companies themselves estimate their investment in Kazakhstan will reach $200 billion before the decade is over.
These businesses see benefits in our growing civil society and democracy. Our president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, has just called for a sweeping series of reforms designed to further modernize our political system.
One major proposal would broaden the powers of Parliament, increasing the numbers of deputies in both houses and developing a new system of forming the government through a parliamentary majority mechanism.
His proposals also would bring the budget watchdog, the Accounting Committee, under the control of Parliament, much like the U.S. General Accounting Office. Our human-rights stance would be strengthened with the introduction of jury trials and the broadening of the powers of the human-rights ombudsman.
Political life in Kazakhstan is lively. We have two major political parties, yet for our election in September, 11 parties will be fielding candidates. About half of them are opposition parties, and a new election law will ensure transparency and open competition.
"You can't just declare democracy. You can only build it through hard work," Mr. Nazarbayev said last week. We understand we have many challenges ahead, and we look forward to continuing to work with you as we build prosperity and fight terrorism together.
Given the choice, any thinking person prefers trade over terror and democracy over totalitarian rule.
KANAT B. SAUDABAYEV
Ambassador
Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Washington