First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Ashikbayev held a meeting with Mahir Safarli, the newly appointed Representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for Central Asia. The talks focused on key regional and global issues related to migration, humanitarian cooperation and sustainable development, DKNews.kz reports.
UN Regional Center initiative in Almaty
One of the central topics of the meeting was the implementation of the initiative put forward by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to establish a UN Regional Center on the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty. The initiative is seen as an important step toward strengthening coordination between regional countries, international organizations and development partners in addressing complex humanitarian and migration challenges.
The sides noted that the creation of such a center in Almaty would enhance dialogue, improve policy coordination and contribute to more comprehensive solutions in the areas of sustainable development and human security.
Almaty Process under Kazakhstan’s chairmanship
Special attention was also given to the development of the Almaty Process, a regional consultative platform on refugee protection and international migration. Since April 2025, Kazakhstan has assumed the chairmanship of the Almaty Process, opening new opportunities to deepen regional cooperation and promote coordinated approaches to migration governance.
Mahir Safarli thanked the Kazakh side for its constructive partnership and open dialogue, emphasizing the importance of strengthening multilateral cooperation and coordinating joint efforts. According to the participants, only a collective and well-coordinated approach can ensure effective responses to humanitarian and migration challenges at both regional and global levels.
Regional platform for dialogue and cooperation
Founded in 2013 in Almaty, the Almaty Process serves as a regional consultative platform covering Central Asia and neighboring countries. It aims to facilitate the exchange of best practices, harmonize migration policies and support the development of mechanisms for monitoring migration trends.
The participating states of the Almaty Process include Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Türkiye. The chairmanship for the 2025–2027 period was transferred from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR act as the secretariat of the Almaty Process.
Observers note that Kazakhstan’s active role in promoting dialogue within the Almaty Process reflects the country’s broader commitment to multilateral diplomacy and its growing role as a regional hub for discussions on migration, humanitarian issues and sustainable development.
