IV 

107TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 511

Congratulating the people and Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan 

on the eleventh anniversary of the independence of the Republic of 

Kazakhstan and praising longstanding and growing friendship between 

the United States and Kazakhstan. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 16, 2002

Mr. TOWNS submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined 

by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 

within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Congratulating the people and Government of the Republic 

of Kazakhstan on the eleventh anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan and praising 

longstanding and growing friendship between the United 

States and Kazakhstan.

Whereas on December 16, 2002, the people of the Republic 

of Kazakhstan will celebrate 11 years of independence 

and on December 25, 2002, the United States and 

Kazakhstan will mark the 11th anniversary of diplomatic 

relations between the two countries; 

Whereas since the first days of its independence, Kazakhstan 

chose a course of construction of a stable and peaceful 
2

•HCON 511 IH 

state, voluntarily disarmed the world’s fourth largest nuclear arsenal and joined the Strategic Arms Reduction 

Treaty (START), and became an example of responsible 

national approach in the sphere of nonproliferation; 

Whereas Kazakhstan, together with the United States within 

the framework of the Nunn-Lugar ‘‘Cooperative Threat 

Reduction’’ program aimed at complete elimination of nuclear infrastructure, successfully conducted Operation 

Sapphire on transferring 600 kg of highly enriched uranium from the territory of Kazakhstan; 

Whereas in 1991 immediately after independence, 

Kazakhstan closed and sealed the world’s second largest 

nuclear test site, after Nevada, in Semipalatinsk, which 

had been inherited from the former Soviet Union, where 

nuclear tests had been conducted for more than 40 years 

causing huge damage not only to the environment but to 

the population of Kazakhstan; 

Whereas Kazakhstan in a short period of time has managed 

to overthrow totalitarian shackles and become a civil, dynamically developing society, in which public and private 

institutions are stronger, effective democratic mechanisms have been put in place, the rule of law is established, and basic human rights are respected; 

Whereas due to the traditional tolerance of the people of 

Kazakhstan and the strong support of the Government of 

Kazakhstan, conflict and bloodshed common to that volatile region has not taken place in Kazakhstan where citizens of more than 100 ethnic groups enjoy equal rights 

and opportunities and peacefully coexist; 
3

•HCON 511 IH 

Whereas Kazakhstan is confidently moving toward integration with the world economic system by establishing all 

conditions for developing a civilized market economy; 

Whereas the United States Government, recognizing the economic progress of Kazakhstan, granted to Kazakhstan 

‘‘market economy status’’, the first such designation of 

any country in the Commonwealth of Independent States; 

Whereas the sustainable development of the banking and financial sector, advanced tax and pension systems, reforms in the municipal sector, and introduction of international bookkeeping standards in Kazakhstan allowed 

the United States to enter into an agreement with 

Kazakhstan (commonly referred to as the ‘‘Houston Initiative’’) aimed at maintaining and developing relations 

between small and medium sized businesses in the two 

countries; 

Whereas the application of chapter 1 of title IV of the Trade 

Act of 1974 (commonly referred to as the ‘‘JacksonVanik amendment’’) to Kazakhstan prevents Kazakhstan 

from achieving permanent normal trade relations status 

with the United States; 

Whereas United States businesses actively participating in 

the development of one of the world’s largest energy deposits in Kazakhstan consider Kazakhstan to be an alternative and reliable source of energy resources; 

Whereas the Government of Kazakhstan has implemented 

President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s initiative to convene 

the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building 

Measures in Asia—an efficient security mechanism for 

Asia that has been praised by the world community and 
4

•HCON 511 IH 

is a key factor in maintaining global and regional security; 

Whereas since September 11, 2001, President Nazarbayev, 

on behalf of the people of Kazakhstan, has been providing unconditional and firm support in the ongoing allied campaign in Afghanistan by allowing coalition forces 

to use the air space of Kazakhstan and the largest airport in Almaty, Kazakhstan; 

Whereas on the first anniversary of the September 11th tragedy, an unprecedented week-long campaign called ‘‘Children of Kazakhstan for the World without Terror’’ in 

support of the American people took place in Kazakhstan 

during which Kazakhstan school children wrote letters of 

support and solidarity to their American friends; 

Whereas an independent and democratic Kazakhstan is the 

cornerstone of peace, stability, and prosperity in the vitally important region of Central Asia; 

Whereas the increasing significance of Kazakhstan to United 

States foreign policy has resulted in the creation of the 

Silk Road Caucus in Congress designed to further involve 

the United States in the region, and in particular, with 

Kazakhstan; and 

Whereas Kazakhstan is an important friend and strategic ally 

of the United States: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress—

3 (1) congratulates the people and Government of 

4 the Republic of Kazakhstan on the 11th anniversary 

5 of the independence of Kazakhstan and the estab-
5

•HCON 511 IH 

1 lishment of diplomatic relations with the United 

2 States; 

3 (2) expresses gratitude for the support and as4 sistance of the people of Kazakhstan in the 

5 antiterrorist campaign of the United States and coa6 lition of other countries; 

7 (3) applauds the wise decision of Kazakhstan’s 

8 leadership to renounce the deployment of its inher9 ited nuclear weapons and to thus make the world a 

10 safer place; 

11 (4) calls upon the President to expand assist12 ance for environmental rehabilitation programs in 

13 Semipalatinsk and the Aral Sea region; 

14 (5) calls upon the Government of Kazakhstan 

15 to further carry out democratic reforms; 

16 (6) congratulates Kazakhstan for its achieve17 ments in economic development; 

18 (7) welcomes the agreement with Kazakhstan 

19 (commonly referred to as the ‘‘Houston Initiative’’) 

20 aimed at maintaining and developing relations be21 tween small and medium sized businesses in the two 

22 countries and believes in the importance of annual 

23 increases in spending to support this initiative; 

24 (8) recognizes the need to terminate the appli25 cation of chapter 1 of title IV of the Trade Act of 
6

•HCON 511 IH 

1 1974 (the ‘‘Jackson-Vanik amendment’’) and pro2 vide permanent normal trade relations status to 

3 Kazakhstan; 

4 (9) praises President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s 

5 initiative to convene the Conference on Interaction 

6 and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, which 

7 furthers the role of Kazakhstan in ensuring regional 

8 security; 

9 (10) calls upon the President to expand pro10 grams of cultural and educational exchanges with 

11 the Central Asian countries, particularly 

12 Kazakhstan, in order to ensure better understanding 

13 of American values by their peoples and to prevent 

14 the appearance of anti-American sentiments in the 

15 region; and 

16 (11) urges further strengthening of strategically 

17 important relations between Kazakhstan and the 

18 United States on all other issues of importance be19 tween the two countries.

Æ