From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Tue Aug 22 2000 - 10:47:44 EDT
KAZAKH PRESIDENT URGES VIGILANCE AGAINST WORSENING OF SITUATION WITH MILITANTS
ALMATY. Aug 22 (Interfax-Kazakhstan) - Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev
has urged his country's local authorities to vigilance in the face of the
worsening situation in Central Asia after the invasion of militants into
Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Speaking with the press in Almaty on Tuesday, Nazarbayev said that there is
no direct security threat to Kazakhstan. However, "we will not stand on the
sidelines [as regards] this threat. It is imperative to think of ways to preserve
peace and stability in the republic," he said. "One must not think that this [the
exacerbation of the situation in neighboring countries] will not affect us."
He therefore is urging local authorities and residents, especially in the
southern border areas, to be more vigilant and "pay attention to strangers."
Nazarbayev said he thinks that all public movements should be patriotic and
take "adequate steps" together with governmental and other executive bodies.
"I am not exaggerating, preventive measures should be taken" to prevent the
country from being plunged "into obscurantism," he said.
As to the mechanisms for direct military and other assistance to Uzbekistan
and Kyrgyzstan in combating the invading militants, Nazarbayev noted that in
keeping with the CIS collective security treaty and the Tashkent security treaty
for Central Asia the countries in questions should officially appeal for aid to
the other signatories. The Uzbek and Kyrgyz leaders have so far not appealed for
such assistance, he said, pointing out that Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have been
dealing with the invaders on their own.
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