Discussion on Regional Security and Sustainable Development Held between Kazakhstan and UN Regional Centre for Central Asia
Kickin' it in Astana:
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu, sat down with Kaha Imnadze, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA). The meeting took place on April 29 in Astana, where Imnadze participated in the Interregional Dialogue on the Prosecution, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration of Returnees from Conflict Zones.
Check out the pic of Murat Nurtleu and Kaha Imnadze, looking like the Catfish Kings of Central Asia – gotta love that gov.kz pic credit!
According to Kazakh Foreign Ministry's press service, the discussion focused on joint cooperation between Kazakhstan and the UNRCCA, Regional Security issues, sustainable development, and future initiatives.
Nurtleu highlighted the center's critical role in facilitating dialogue among Central Asian countries, reiterating Kazakhstan'sDEDICATION to promoting a consistent and meaningful regional agenda. He emphasized President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's repeated calls for the UN's pivotal role in addressing global challenges, especially amidst geopolitical instability.
In light of the UN’s 80th anniversary, Nurtleu expressed his support for the UN80 initiative, encouraging a fresh take on the organization's role in today's world. He also emphasized Kazakhstan's continued efforts to boost multilateralism, strengthen ties with the UN, and develop region-specific methods to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Both parties agreed to fortify collaboration between the UNRCCA and the forthcoming UN Regional Centre for the SDGs for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty. The UN General Assembly endorsed its establishment on March 4.
Imnadze expressed gratitude for Kazakhstan's ongoing support of the UNRCCA and its efforts to foster dialogue within the region. Both sides expressed their EAGERNESS to advance shared goals under the UN mandate and wished each other successful cooperation.
Now, you ask about the UN80 Initiative, right? Launched by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in 2025, it's all about revamping the UN to make it more efficient, agile, and cost-effective, especially during its most significant financial crisis since 1945. In other words, they're Steve Jobs-ing the UN. Key objectives include:- Operational reforms – streamlining workflows, boosting transparency, and embracing digital tools (UN 2.0, baby).- Mandate review – evaluating the execution of member-state directives and weeding out outdated or redundant programs.- Structural realignment – merging UN entities and adjusting programs to tackle 21st-century challenges like climate change and inequality.
The UN Regional Centre for the SDGs for Central Asia and Afghanistan, however, doesn't have specific details concerning Murat Nurtleu or Kaha Imnadze. But the UN's broader reform agenda under UN80 emphasizes regional cooperation, particularly in crisis-prone areas. The Second World Summit for Social Development (November 2025) and ongoing SDG-related efforts are in line with regional SDG hubs' typical mandates to address inequality, governance, and climate resilience. For more precise details about the Central Asia-Afghanistan center, additional context or recent updates from the UN or involved member states are required. As of now, UN80 proposals are under development, with outcomes set to shape the UN’s 80th-anniversary deliberations in October 2025. Meanwhile, funding shortfalls, such as UNICEF's projected 20% budget cut in 2025, underscore the urgency of these reforms.
- The UN80 Initiative, backed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu, aims to revamp the United Nations, making it more efficient, agile, and cost-effective, especially during its current financial crisis.
- During the meeting with Kaha Imnadze, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), Nurtleu discussed the indispensable role of the UNRCCA in facilitating dialogue among Central Asian countries and Kazakhstan's continued dedication to promoting a consistent and meaningful regional agenda.
- Both parties, including Nurtleu and Imnadze, agreed to strengthen collaboration between the UNRCCA and the forthcoming UN Regional Centre for the SDGs for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty, a move that aligns with the UN's broader reform agenda under UN80, which emphasizes regional cooperation, particularly in crisis-prone areas.
- Amidst the financial turbulence faced by the UN, the UN80 Initiative's key objectives involve operational reforms, mandate review, and structural realignment, all with the goal of adapting the UN to tackle contemporary challenges such as climate change and inequality.
