Political Relations
Kazakh-Austrian relations are based on the principles of constructive dialogue and mutual trust.
Both sides use similar approaches to solving many pressing international problems. In October 1991 President Nursultan Nazarbayev met with Austrian Chancellor Franz Vranitzky on the occasion of the launching into space of an Austrian astronaut from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
From the 2nd-3rd February, 1993, the President of Kazakhstan made a working visit to Austria, and met with Federal President Thomas Klestil and Federal Chancellor Franz Vranitzky. During the talks, particular attention was given to issues related to bilateral economic cooperation.
In April 1993, Federal Chancellor Vranitzky made an official visit to Kazakhstan, where he signed an intergovernmental Agreement on Air Traffic and a Memorandum on investments into the reconstruction of the Karaganda metallurgical combine.
In June 1999 President Nazarbayev took part in the Salzburg Central-East European World Economic Forum, where he met with Austrian President Klestil. The leaders discussed the current state and outlook of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
In Februry 2000 President Nazarbayev made a state visit to Austria, and met with Federal President Klestil and the Secretary General of the OSCE Jan Kubis, as well as with representatives from the private sector at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber.
When President Nazarbayev visited Vienna in 2004, he signed the Multilateral Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Agreement on economic, agricultural, ecological, industrial, technical, and technological collaboration, which provides for the creation of the Intergovernmental Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation.
Interparliamentary relations have grown closer. In 2008 interparliamentary and interparty relations between the two countries had advanced further. From February 18th-21st, 2009, the parliamentary delegation of Kazakhstan, led by the Chairman of the Senate Mr. Tokayev, took part at the winter session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Vienna, during which the Kazakh delegates gave a presentation about the government program "Way to Europe" and stated the priorities of Kazakhstan's Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2010. During his working visit, Mr. Tokayev met with Austrian President Heinz Fischer, the president of the National Council of the Austrian National Council Ms. Prammer, and the president of the Federal Council of Austria Mr. Reisenberger. The sides exchanged views on the prospective of developing Kazakh-Austrian relations, including interparliamentary collaboration.
In May, a delegation of members of a number of Kazakh political parties from the Lower House of Parliament (Mazhilis) of Kazakhstan made a visit to Austria. From June 29th-July 3rd, 2008 a delegation of lawmakers from the National Council of Austria took part in the 17th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Astana. From 1st-2nd of July, 2009 Mr. Schwimmer, the former Secretary General of the Council of Europe, took part at the Third Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
On October 20th, 2009 the Deputy Chairman of the Nur Otan party, Mr. Kaletayev, met with the Secretary General of the OSCE Mark De Brichambaut at the OSCE headquarters, where he described in detail the work of the ruling party of Kazakhstan and outlined its main initiatives. Mr. de Brichambaut praised the international affiliations of the party, and noted the importance of improving relations with European and Asian political structures during the period of Kazakhstan's presidency of the OSCE.
From December 12th-18th a delegation of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan made a working visit to Austria with the objective of popularizing the Kazakh model of interethnic harmony and unity.
The relationship between the two countries' Ministries of Foreign Affairshas progressed. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Mr. Tazhin made a momentous visit to Austria in April 2007. During Mr. Tazhin's meeting with his Austrian counterpart, issues related to politics, trade and economy, culture and humanities, as well as collaboration between the two countries in the context of international organizations were given particular attention.
On February 10th, 2010 Vienna hosted a meeting between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and Austria at the level of vice ministers. The Kazakh delegation was led by the Vice Minister of International Affairs of Kazakhstan Mr. Danenov. Among the wide specter of issues discussed at the meeting were politics, economics, cultural cooperation, and Kazakh-Austrian collaboration in the international arena.
During his visit to Vienna on January 11-15, 2010, the Secretary of State – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan K.Saudabayev, on the occasion of Kazakhstan’s assumption of the Chairmanship of the OSCE, met with Federal President H.Fischer and Federal Minister for European and International Affairs M.Spindelegger, during which Austria’s government executives expressed their support for Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship of the OSCE and conveyed their interest in strengthening the two countries’ bilateral relations.
