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 Com-
mittee 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 inde-
pendence 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
•HCON 511 IH 
state, voluntarily disarmed the world’s fourth largest nu-
clear 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 nu-
clear infrastructure, successfully conducted Operation 
Sapphire on transferring 600 kg of highly enriched ura-
nium 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, dy-
namically developing society, in which public and private 
institutions are stronger, effective democratic mecha-
nisms have been put in place, the rule of law is estab-
lished, 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 vola-
tile region has not taken place in Kazakhstan where citi-
zens of more than 100 ethnic groups enjoy equal rights 
and opportunities and peacefully coexist;
•HCON 511 IH 
Whereas Kazakhstan is confidently moving toward integra-
tion with the world economic system by establishing all 
conditions for developing a civilized market economy; 
Whereas the United States Government, recognizing the eco-
nomic 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 fi-
nancial sector, advanced tax and pension systems, re-
forms in the municipal sector, and introduction of inter-
national bookkeeping standards in Kazakhstan allowed 
the United States to enter into an agreement with 
Kazakhstan (commonly referred to as the ‘‘Houston Ini-
tiative’’) 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 ‘‘Jackson-
Vanik 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 de-
posits in Kazakhstan consider Kazakhstan to be an alter-
native 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
•HCON 511 IH 
is a key factor in maintaining global and regional secu-
rity; 
Whereas since September 11, 2001, President Nazarbayev, 
on behalf of the people of Kazakhstan, has been pro-
viding unconditional and firm support in the ongoing al-
lied campaign in Afghanistan by allowing coalition forces 
to use the air space of Kazakhstan and the largest air-
port in Almaty, Kazakhstan; 
Whereas on the first anniversary of the September 11th trag-
edy, an unprecedented week-long campaign called ‘‘Chil-
dren 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 vi-
tally 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
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress—
(1) congratulates the people and Government of 
the Republic of Kazakhstan on the 11th anniversary 
of the independence of Kazakhstan and the estab-
•HCON 511 IH 
lishment of diplomatic relations with the United 
States; 
(2) expresses gratitude for the support and as-
sistance of the people of Kazakhstan in the 
antiterrorist campaign of the United States and coa-
lition of other countries; 
(3) applauds the wise decision of Kazakhstan’s 
leadership to renounce the deployment of its inher-
ited nuclear weapons and to thus make the world a 
safer place; 
(4) calls upon the President to expand assist-
ance for environmental rehabilitation programs in 
Semipalatinsk and the Aral Sea region; 
(5) calls upon the Government of Kazakhstan 
to further carry out democratic reforms; 
(6) congratulates Kazakhstan for its achieve-
ments in economic development; 
(7) welcomes the agreement with Kazakhstan 
(commonly referred to as the ‘‘Houston Initiative’’) 
aimed at maintaining and developing relations be-
tween small and medium sized businesses in the two 
countries and believes in the importance of annual 
increases in spending to support this initiative; 
(8) recognizes the need to terminate the appli-
cation of chapter 1 of title IV of the Trade Act of
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1974 (the ‘‘Jackson-Vanik amendment’’) and pro-
vide permanent normal trade relations status to 
Kazakhstan; 
(9) praises President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s 
initiative to convene the Conference on Interaction 
and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, which 
furthers the role of Kazakhstan in ensuring regional 
security; 
(10) calls upon the President to expand pro-
grams of cultural and educational exchanges with 
the 
Central 
Asian 
countries, 
particularly 
Kazakhstan, in order to ensure better understanding 
of American values by their peoples and to prevent 
the appearance of anti-American sentiments in the 
region; and 
(11) urges further strengthening of strategically 
important relations between Kazakhstan and the 
United States on all other issues of importance be-
tween the two countries.
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