RESTRICTED  
  
JOB/ACC/39  
 
2 June 2014  
(14-3215)  Page: 1/2  
   
 
  ACCESSION OF KAZAKHSTAN: MISSION TO ASTANA, 21-23 MAY 2014 
SPEAKING POINTS BY WTO DEPUTY  DIRECTOR-GENERAL DAVID SHARK1  
Informal Group on Accessions (IGA) Meeting  
26 May 2014, 9:00 am 
 
 
 
   
 
 I visited Astana, Kazakhstan, with Ms Maika Oshikawa, WP Secretary on the Accession of 
Kazakhstan from 21 to 23 May.  The main objectives of the Mission were to: i) participate in 
the Astana Economic Forum; and, to ii) meet with the Authorities in the Government to take 
stock of the State-of-Play on the Accession of Kazakhstan.  In this brief informal report to Members, I would like to underline the essential points on accession-related meetings I had 
during my 3-day visit.    
 I had several meetings at different levels of Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.  
We met with H.E. Prime Minister Karim Massimov; H.E. Minister Aitzhanova, Chief Negotiator on Kazakhstan's Accession; and, the core acce ssion team of some 20 technical experts.   
 In the meeting with PM Massimov, he re-confirmed the commitment of Kazakhstan to 
conclude its WTO accession.  He underlined that a unique momentum existed to finalise Kazakhstan's WTO accession this year.  Together with President Nazarbayev, the 
Government has mobilized political capital, energy and resources to make progress, in 
particular, in resolving the key question of tariff adjustment and compensation.  The Prime Minister asked for support from WTO Members.  I made clear that bilateral market access 
negotiations were a matter between Members and the Acceding Government.  The Director-
General Roberto Azevêdo would continue to encourage understanding and convergence, as appropriate.    
 One of the principal objectives of the mission to Astana was to follow-up on the requests 
from Members, channelled through the Secretariat, for Kazakhstan and its Customs Union 
partners to submit, as early as possible, the Text of the Eurasian Economic Union  Treaty.  The Text of the Treaty is required for updating  the appropriate sections of the Draft Working 
Party Report.  I recalled that Director Accessions had addressed this message to Astana on 
16 May.  Minister Aitzhanova confirmed that  the EAU Treaty would be forwarded to the 
Secretariat in the month of June, once the translation of 1,000 pages of the Treaty was 
complete.  This would enable the Secretariat to update the Draft Working Party Report to 
reflect the latest developments in the Customs Union in transition to the Economic Union from 1 January 2015.   
                                               
1 This document contains speaking notes used by th e WTO Secretariat for the informal briefing of WTO 
Members on a Secretariat miss ion to Astana, Kazakhstan. This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility 
and is without prejudice to the positions of Members or to their rights and 
obligations under the WTO. JOB/ACC/39 
 
- 2 - 
 
   In addition, as suggested by the Secretaria t and based on requests by Members, the 
Government of Kazakhstan confirmed its willingness to participate in a "Transparency Session on the new Eurasian Economic Union", as part of the next Cycle of Meetings of the Working Party on the Accession of Kazakhstan.  Minister Aitzhanova also indicated that her 
technical team was regularly in touch with Memb ers with a view to making progress on SPS, 
Signatory Members on the Draft Services Schedule and, the Headnotes in the Draft Goods Schedule, among other outstanding issues.     
 I reconfirmed the strong commitment of WTO Director-General Azevêdo to sustain 
facilitation and his support for the completion of the Accession negotiations of Kazakhstan.  I also personally stated my own support as supervising Deputy Director-General for WTO 
Accessions. 
 Let me also add that in Geneva, progress has been made on the draft ITA schedule of 
Kazakhstan.  It was circulated to the ITA Committee on 14 May, for verification and consideration by Members for approval.  If no objection is received, the ITA schedule will be 
approved and Kazakhstan will become an ITA participant, upon its WTO accession. 
 As you also know from reports in the public domain, the Customs Union partners of Belarus, 
Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation are abou t to conclude and sign the Treaty of the 
Eurasian Economic Union.  This is envisaged for this week, 29 May in Astana.  At the 
sessions of the Astana Economic Forum and in press interviews, many questions were asked about the linkages between Kazakhstan's WTO membership and its membership in the Eurasian Economic Union.  Some of these qu estions I believe would be addressed in the 
Transparency Session envisaged and the update of the Draft Report of the Working Party.     
 To conclude, my assessment is that the Government of Kazakhstan is committed to 
concluding its WTO accession this year.  High level political will exists.  However, as 
Members know, there is considerable work to be done across a range of questions of which 
the most complex is the unresolved question of tariff adjustment and associated compensation.  
 The Secretariat stands ready to continue to provide all appropriate support that Members 
and the Acceding Government of Kazakhstan require. 
 
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