Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia

Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is an intergovernmental forum for dialogue, consultations and adoption of decisions and measures on the basis of consensus on security issues in Asia.

Main objective and thrust:	Enhancing co-operation through elaborating multilateral approaches towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia
Member States:	Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Palestine, Republic of Korea, Russia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey and Uzbekistan.
Observers:	Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Ukraine and the USA (states); the United Nations, the OSCE and the League of Arab States (organizations).
Chairman-in-Office:	Republic of Kazakhstan (2002-2006, the first term of office; re-elected for the second term of office for 2006-2010).
Policy bodies:	The Heads of State and Government Meeting (Summit), The Ministers of Foreign Affairs Meeting (Ministerial Meeting), Senior Officials Committee (SOC).
Supportive bodies:	Special Working Groups (SWG) and Special Experts` Meetings (SEMs) on different directions.
Administrative body:	permanent international Secretariat located in Almaty (Republic of Kazakhstan).
Management of the Secretariat:	CICA Executive Director Mr. Jandos Asanov (Kazakhstan, term of office 2006-2010), CICA Deputy Executive Director Mr. Kurtuluş Aykan (Turkey, term of office 2007-2010).
Main meetings:	I Ministerial Meeting (1999), First Summit (2002), II Ministerial Meeting (2004), Second Summit (2006). All these meetings held in Almaty.
Basic documents:	Declaration on the Principles Guiding Relations among the CICA Member States (signed in 1999), Almaty Act (signed in 2002), CICA Catalogue of Confidence Building Measures (adopted in 2004), CICA Rules of Procedure (adopted in 2004), Statute of the CICA Secretariat (signed in 2006), Host Country Agreement between the CICA Secretariat and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the terms and conditions of the Secretariat’s location in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan (signed in 2007).
Political declarations:	Declaration on Eliminating Terrorism and Promoting Dialogue among Civilizations (2002), Declaration of the II Ministerial Meeting (2004), Declaration of the Second Summit (2006).
Working languages:	English & Russian.

The idea of convening the CICA was initiated for the first time by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan H.E. Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev at the 47th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on October 5th, 1992. The essence of this initiative consisted on an aspiration to resume earlier, albeit unsuccessful attempts to set up an efficient and universal structure on ensuring security in Asia, since on this continent, unlike the other regions, such a structure has not been formed at that moment.

Preparatory process: during the period from 1993 to 1994 in Almaty were held the meetings of experts from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the CICA Member States and SWG on working out drafts of CICA basic documents.

In 1996-1997 in Almaty two meetings of the CICA Deputy Foreign Ministers were held.

I Ministerial Meeting. Was held on September 14th, 1999. Signing of the Declaration on the Principles Guiding Relations among the CICA Member States during this event became an important achievement from the moment of initiation by the President Nursultan Nazarbayev of the idea on establishing a multilateral mechanism for security and cooperation in Asia.

Basic principles, which shall guide relations of the CICA Member States: 1) sovereign equality, respect for the rights inherent in sovereignty; 2) refraining from the threat or use of force; 3) territorial integrity of the Member State; 4) peaceful settlement of disputes; 5) non-interference in internal affairs; 5) disarmament and arms control; 6) economic, social and cultural cooperation; 7) human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Thus, for the first time the legal basis for the Asian security system has been established which is to have practical measures and tools for ensuring stability in the region.

First Summit. Was held on June 4th, 2002. In this event the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Russia, China, Pakistan, Turkey, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan, Prime Ministers of India and Azerbaijan, the authorized dignitaries from Iran, Egypt, Palestine and Israel, representatives of the Observer States and Organizations took part.

During the Summit the Declaration on Eliminating Terrorism and Promoting Dialogue among Civilizations was adopted.

Owing to successful holding of the Summit and signing of its constitutive document – the Almaty Act CICA only 10 years after promotion of idea about its convocation could de jure become an open forum for dialogue with purpose to seek for mutually acceptable ways for resolving problems and conflicts.

II Ministerial Meeting. Took place on 22nd of October, 2004. The main outcome of this event was adoption of the CICA Catalogue of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), the CICA Rules of Procedure and the Declaration of the CICA Ministerial Meeting (as a result of two-year work of the SWG on developing these documents).

According to the views of participants of the Meeting, it is difficult to assess the importance of the CICA Catalogue of CBMs. For the first time in the history of the Asian continent there appeared such a comprehensive document, which envisages multilateral cooperation of the states on wide-range stability and security issues. The diversity in Asia underscores the importance of CBMs which in the framework of Catalogue divided on 5 basic dimensions (1. military-political; 2. fight against new challenges and threats; 3. economic; 4. environmental; 5 human). CICA CBMs, on the one hand, peaceful settlement of disputes and implementation of agreements on arms control and disarmament, on the other, are complementary and may, depending upon specific situations, be pursued simultaneously by the CICA Member States concerned through mutual consent.

Rules of Procedure became the legal basis regulating such matters as carrying out of meetings at a various level within the CICA framework; the mechanism of decision-making; granting statuses of full-member and observer in the Conference; interaction with the international organizations and for a; language of official documents and working languages; and also functions of the CICA Chairman etc.

The consolidated vision and positions of the CICA Member States on the significant security issues in the world as well as in the region were reflected in the Declaration. The heads of delegations emphasized the importance of developing cooperative approaches to the solution of the unsettled problems and directions for further interaction in the realization of CBMs, enshrined in the Catalogue.

Second Summit. Held on 17th of June, 2006. In this meeting along with the Chairman participated leaders of China, Russia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, Prime-Minister of Thailand, and also the high-ranked dignitaries of Turkey, Israel, Mongolia, Republic of Korea, India, Iran, Palestine and Egypt.

All the CICA Observers (both states and organizations) also took part in the Summit. United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Singapore (states): the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Eurasian Economic Community and the Collective Security Treaty Organization as well as the EU attended the Summit as the guests of the Chairman.

Within four years since holding the First Summit and signing of the CICA founding document (the Almaty Act), the purpose and activities of the Conference found wider understanding and recognition of the world community. Enlargement of the CICA process as the result of accession of new members to it such large countries of region as the Kingdom of Thailand (2004) and the Republic Korea (2006) vividly demonstrate substantial progress of the CICA process. Thus, CICA, as the forum for dialogue, becomes more relevant in the Asian continent.

During above high level meeting the Declaration of the Second CICA Summit (the universal political document) has been adopted and the Statute of the CICA Secretariat (the basic document on practical structuring and development of the Conference) was signed.

The Declaration reflects the general view of the Member States on key problems of security and cooperation in Asia and all over the world, proposals of the Member States on elaborating a universal approach to unsettled problems and declares the necessity of practical realization of the CBMs, enshrined in the CICA Catalogue of CBMs of 2004 and the further development of process. The document sums up the CICA activities for the period from the First Summit. It also sets out the Member States’ approaches to the reforming of the United Nations (particularly, Member States supported Asia’s candidacy for the post of the United Nations Secretary-General); non-proliferation of the weapons of mass destruction, solving of regional conflicts, addressing new challenges and threats, further development of dialogue of civilizations, reaffirms the inalienable rights of states to have access to nuclear technologies, materials and equipments and their use for peaceful purposes in accordance with their respective obligations, emanating from relevant IAEA safeguards agreements; acknowledged the joint efforts of the countries of Central Asia to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia; emphasized the need to promote tourism to revive the centuries old traditions of the Great Silk Way, which used to unite and facilitate strengthening of relations among peoples. The 5th of October was declared as the CICA Day to commemorate the initiation of the idea of convening the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the 47th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 1992.

The decision on establishment of permanent body of the Conference – a Secretariat for ensuring administrative, both organizational and technical support to the CICA meetings and other activities was adopted at the First Summit in 2002. In the period between the Summits the representatives of the Member States carried on intensive negotiations on the draft Statute of the CICA Secretariat. This document laid down a legal basis for establishment and functioning of the CICA Secretariat. During this time the meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, 8 meetings of SOC, numerous sessions at a level of experts were held. The relevant articles of the Statute define the functions of Secretariat, its staff and principles of financing, functions of Executive Director, legal capacity, privileges and immunities of Secretariat and its personnel, the order of entering into force of the document. The CICA Headquarters shall be located in Almaty. The representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. Jandos Asanov was appointed the CICA Executive Director – Chief Executive Officer of the Secretariat.

The Second Summit is viewed as an important event in further co-ordination of Member States’ efforts, aimed at strengthening security measures in the region as well as in establishing efficient economic co-operation. Establishment of a strong network of partnership with a considerable number of international and regional organizations, the CICA Member States being the participants of them (UN, SCO, OSCE, ASEAN, ACD, APEC, EurAsEC etc.) is one of the ways to realize above tasks.

The deepening of mutually beneficial economic cooperation of the CICA Member States would help realize one of the important tasks of the Conference as assistance in the resolution of conflicts. For example, at the summit Israel has put forward a new initiative on tackling the Middle East issue, which pursues the goal of strengthening the economic component in relations for establishing peace and strengthening of security and stability in the region, and, in particular, the proposal on reaching economic, and at a later stage - the political peace with Palestine.

The Second CICA summit received wide-range support in the world. Welcoming addresses to the Second CICA Summit were sent by the UN, OSCE and Arab League Secretaries General and heads of the various states.

More than 500 journalists from the leading world news agencies and national mass media like BBC, CNN, NBC, Xinhua, Associated Press, Reuters, France Press, NTV and a number of other TV channels and agencies highlighted the Summit.

The CICA Heads of State and Government commended the role of the Republic of Kazakhstan as the Chairman of the Conference in strengthening dialogue and development of the CICA process; declared need to continue the efforts to move forward the CICA process to achieve its shared objectives; and noted with satisfaction the establishment of the CICA Secretariat in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which is an important milestone in the development of the CICA.

On March, 12-14th, 2007 for the first time of the outside Kazakhstan - in Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand, session's SWG/SOC took place. During a meeting the important document - the Cooperative approach for realization of the CICA CBMs has been accepted. This document concretized interests of the countries-participants and has defined mechanisms of multilateral interaction in economic, ecological and humanitarian measurements, and also in the field of struggle against new calls and threats. Acceptance of the specified document has begun a new, qualitative stage of practical realization measures of trust and the various projects directed on strengthening of cooperation in multilateral format CICA. A number of the states-members have expressed readiness to represent itself as coordinators of planned projects and actions within the limits of Meeting on realization of separate measures of trust CICA. A result of discussions also became acceptance. Regulations about external communications CICA, containing main principles on an establishment of interaction with other international regional organizations and forums, such as SOC, ECO, EurAsEC, ASEAN, ASEAN regional forum, the Asian dialogue of cooperation, etc. Republic of Korea has suggested leading one of exit sessions SWG/SOC in first half of 2008 years in Seoul.

On June, 27th, 2007 in Astana took place the specialized meeting of experts (CME) CICA in humanitarian measurement. In a meeting organized by the Ministry of culture and the information of Republic, representatives of 14 states-participants and Secretary CICA have taken part. During this meeting the project of the Concept on realization of the Catalogue of measures of trust CICA in a humanitarian direction and appendices to it in the form of a corresponding Plan of action for 2008-2009 prepared by Republic Kazakhstan as the country-coordinator in a humanitarian direction was in details discussed. After serious discussion participant's CME recommended to present projects of the Concept and the Plan of action on SWG for the further consideration.

Next session's SWG and SOC took place on 15-17 October 2007 in Almaty. These meetings had special value as have coincided with celebrating 15-years anniversary of process CICA - the important historical mark in development CICA. The official delegations of the countries-members CICA participated at session SOC, have with satisfaction noted the significant progress reached from the moment of promotion by the President Nursultan Nazarbayev 15 years ago of idea about convocation CICA. SOC has taken into account the information of Republic Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Republic of Tajikistan and Republic of Turkey concerning offered temporary period for coordination on the measures of trust chosen by them; the Concept presented by Iran "Cooperation of the states-members CICA in struggle against illegal circulation of drugs", about readiness of India together with the Republic of Korea and Azerbaijan, accordingly, to become with-coordinator in the field of power safety and cooperation in the field of development of safe and effective transport corridors, and also the offer of Israel to share the best practices in the

field of the water resources management, the developed agriculture, high technologies, management of acts of nature and crises and its readiness to spend seminars in one or several of the listed areas. SOC has approved the offer on an establishment of attitudes between Secretary CICA and Secretaries of the Organization of economic cooperation, the Eurasian economic community, the Shanghai organization of cooperation, the South-Asian association of regional cooperation, and also projects of Memorandums of mutual understanding between Secretary CICA and Secretaries of Integration committee EAEC and ECO.

Kazakhstan has suggested holding the Third session of Ministers of Foreign Affairs CICA in third quarter of 2008.

On 22-23 December, 2007 in Teheran, capital of Islamic Republic Iran, took place SME concerning struggle against an illegal turn of drugs. It became the first branch action which has been lead outside Kazakhstan. Chairman of a meeting was M. Bayat, the General Director of management of the international attitudes of the Center, and a moderator - the assistant to Executive director of CICA K. Aykan. The Main task of a meeting was discussion and the coordination of the Concept on struggle against an illegal turn of drugs in region CICA. Representatives of China, Egypt, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Palestine, Russia, Thailand, Turkey, and also Management of the United Nations took part in a meeting on drugs and criminality as the visitor of Chairman. Participants have emphasized necessity of regional and international cooperation for region CICA as important element in struggle against illegal manufacture of drugs, their contraband, criminality on this ground, and also expansion of joint efforts in global actions under the control over drugs. Experts have considered necessity of creation of a database for duly information interchange and experience concerning illegal ways of transportation of drugs and their networks; carrying out of trainings and seminars, applications of new technologies, etc. Participants of session have called the states-members CICA to define representatives of corresponding national bodies, with a view of maintenance of direct contacts, and also effective coordination and cooperation.

From January, 31st till February, 1st, 2008 in Ankara (Turkish Republic), took place SME concerning realization of measures of trust in the field of counteraction to new calls and threats. The meeting was opened by the Deputy Minister of foreign affairs of Turkish Republic (TP) Raphet Akgunai which has read a greeting to participants of a forum on behalf of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey Ali Babadzhan. At a meeting at Ankara there were delegations from all 18 states-members, the countries-observers both the international organizations-observers-OSCE and the United Nations (including Management of the United Nations under the control over drugs, MOM and some other specialized agencies of system of the United Nations), and also representatives of Secretary CICA led by Executive director of Meeting Z. Asanov. The given meeting in which have taken part over 90 delegates, became one of the largest actions within the limits of CICA. The Overall objective of a meeting in Ankara was definition of practical steps and joint actions by means of development of clear and concrete mechanisms for realization of measures of trust in the field of new calls and threats, continuation of dialogue between the states-members for an exchange of opinions on those new calls and threats which are represented them especially significant for their countries, and also for an exchange of an available national experience according to questions. Sessions passed on four basic themes: (I) Questions of the boundary control and management; (II) the questions connected with activity of police; (III) terrorism; (IV) questions of struggle against the traffic. It has been coordinated, that the states-members will adhere to a principle of gradualness in execution of measures of trust, focusing the actions on priority directions. It is recognized expedient to consider all aspects of realization of problems: on acceptance in the further Antiterrorist strategy CICA (on the basis of the Declaration 2002 about counteraction to terrorism and assistance to dialogue between civilizations); to information interchange and creation in the long term within the limits of the Forum of constantly operating communication network (focal point network) between bodies of the boundary control and management of the states-members; to an establishment of direct contacts between chapters of police departments of the parties, and also to carrying out of seminars, trainings and the rates connected with activity of police; On initiation of cooperation between CICA and IOM and to signing between them the memorandum of mutual understanding,

Connected with activity of police; on initiation of cooperation between CICA and IOM and to signing between them the memorandum of mutual understanding, and also to creation of uniform database CICA concerning struggle against the traffic. Results SME have been reflected in the form of the Consolidated resume, which will make a basis for development of the project of the document stipulating concrete areas for interaction in the future (in the form of the Concept and the Plan of action as appendices to it). The given work will be completed at a following meeting of experts or at the next session of Special working group of Meeting. SME in Ankara there was the important and effective action directed on the further realization of arrangements within the limits of CICA, a development and strengthening of the Forum. Carrying out in 2007-08 of a lot of actions CICA outside Kazakhstan (March, 2007 - in Bangkok, December, 2007 -in Teheran, January-February, 2008 - in Ankara, and also preliminary planned meetings: for May, 2008 - In Moscow, for June, 2008 - in Tel Aviv, Seoul and Dushanbe) testify to consistently growing authority and popularization of activity of Meeting on the Asian continent.