“We need a new spirit for Helsinki” – EURACTIV.com
During a visit to the Kazakh capital on Tuesday (September 13), in what he called a “pilgrimage of dialogue and peace”, Pope Francis spoke of the need to ease Cold War-like confrontations and rhetoric. EURACTIV reports from Nur-Sultan.
Francis arrived in Kazakhstan at the start of a three-day trip to attend a peace meeting of world religious leaders. The Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held every three years in the Kazakh capital since 2003, brings together global religious and political leaders.
The pope’s visit coincides with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Kazakhstan on Wednesday, his first official trip to a foreign country since China closed its borders due to COVID-19.
In a speech to the Kazakh government and diplomatic corps on Tuesday night, Francis spoke of the “senseless and tragic war sparked by the invasion of Ukraine.”
I visit you during the senseless and tragic war in Ukraine, as other conflicts continue to endanger our time. I have come to echo the request of all who cry out for it #peacean essential development path for our world. #Kazakhstan
– Pope Francis (@Pontifex) September 13, 2022
Pope Francis had announced his intention to speak with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, who supports the war in Ukraine. However, Kirill did not attend the congress of religious leaders, and the hosts said no explanations were given.
Speaking to Kazakh President Kassy-Jormart Tokayev, Franciscus said that “now is the time to stop intensifying competition and strengthening opposing factions” and spoke of the need for a “new spirit of Helsinki”, apparently referring to Helsinki. a process that helped end the Cold War.
The Helsinki process culminated in the Helsinki Final Document of 1975, which created the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which included 57 member countries from Europe, Central Asia and North America. In December 2010, Kazakhstan successfully hosted the OSCE summit. Kazakhstan has also proposed an “update” of the 1975 Helsinki final.
Diplomats, including from the EU, recognize the importance of Central Asia and Kazakhstan in the context of global tensions. As a former Soviet republic, Kazakhstan has strong relations with Russia, but it also seeks to balance relations with other major world players, including its other powerful neighbor China.
As Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko reminded journalists at a press conference on Tuesday, Kazakhstan is ready to act as a mediator in the conflict in Ukraine.
Kazakhstan has maintained its neutrality in the war in Ukraine and stressed the need to end hostilities, preserve Ukraine’s territorial integrity and find a solution to the UN Charter.
Asked how the congress of religious leaders could promote dialogue and peace, Vassilenko replied that Kazakhstan is trying to create an atmosphere and momentum for peace initiatives.
He said that before Kazakhstan launched its initiative in 2003, the world’s religious leaders had been hesitant to come together and sit next to each other. He described the process as a “success story”, with more and more countries and delegations interested in joining the meetings.
Since 2003, when 17 delegations participated, this seventh congress has gathered more than 100 delegates from more than 50 countries, he said.
According to him, many religious leaders of the world will shake hands for the first time in the capital of Kazakhstan.
Speculation is rife whether Francis will meet Xi while both are in Nur-Sultan.
Speaking to reporters aboard his flight, Francis was asked if he could meet Xi as both will be in the Kazakh capital on Wednesday.
“I don’t have any news about that,” the Pope replied without elaborating.
Asked if he was ready to go to China, which has difficult relations with the Vatican, Francis said: “I am always ready to go to China.”
“Eternal strategic partnership”
Asked about Xi’s visit, Vassilenko said a number of economic agreements are expected to be signed, promoting the “eternal strategic partnership” of the neighboring countries.
According to him, China is already Kazakhstan’s second largest trading partner after Russia. He cited 52 projects worth $21 billion with Chinese participation implemented in Kazakhstan, spanning sectors such as energy, construction and industry.
China is currently under pressure from the United States, and Washington is considering options for a package of sanctions against China to prevent it from attacking Taiwan.
According to diplomats, one of Xi’s goals is to secure uranium imports from Kazakhstan, which are needed as China seeks to build many new nuclear power plants.
Orthodoxy and Russia
Some top Vatican officials were relieved that the meeting between Francis and Kirill would not take place because the pope met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a key backer of the invasion of Ukraine, a Vatican source cited by Reuters said.
Asked about Kirill’s absence, Vassilenko recalled that the Russian Orthodox Church had sent a large delegation led by Metropolitan Antoniy.
The Orthodox Church is the second largest Muslim majority in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan will host Russian President Vladimir Putin in mid-October, Vassilenko told EURACTIV.
The occasion is the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Kazakhstan’s capital, Nur-Sultan, in mid-October. CICA is an initiative of Kazakhstan since 2002.
[Edited by Alice Taylor]