Transcripts
Ambassador Designate Richard Hoagland's Statement before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Washington, DC
May 1, 2008
Richard E. Hoagland: Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee,
Thank you for this opportunity to appear before you today. I’m deeply honored that President Bush and Secretary Rice have entrusted me with their confidence and nominated me for the post of Ambassador of the United States to Kazakhstan. If confirmed by the Senate, I will work diligently and faithfully on behalf of the American people to pursue U.S. foreign policy goals and to deepen the strategic partnership between the United States and Kazakhstan. I look forward to working in close consultation with the Congress in pursuit of those goals.
Kazakhstan is an important partner for the United States. Geographically strategic, ethnically diverse, and resource rich, it’s the ninth largest country in the world, roughly the size of Western Europe. Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and bordered by Russia, China, and the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan's size, location, and resources make it a key to regional stability. Kazakhstan’s hydrocarbon reserves should rank it as one of the top ten oil producers in the world by 2015.
Kazakhstan established its credentials for leadership immediately after its independence. It was the first country to renounce its nuclear weapons voluntarily after the break-up of the Soviet Union. Today, Kazakhstan is contributing to coalition efforts in Iraq where it has deployed eight rotations of engineering troops since 2003. In addition, Kazakhstan is implementing almost 3 million dollars in reconstruction funds for Afghanistan in 2008.
Kazakhstan is a strong and reliable partner on non-proliferation. Through the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program, Kazakhstan has cooperated extensively with the United States for over a decade to ensure that Weapons of Mass Destruction-related materials and technical knowledge will not fall into terrorist hands.
If confirmed, I would continue to promote the United States-Kazakhstan strategic partnership’s three primary goals. First, we seek to advance democratic and market economic reforms. Second, our common security interests include bolstering Central Asian sovereignty and independence, fighting terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and stemming narcotics trafficking. Third, we have a strategic interest in fostering the development of Central Asia’s very significant energy resources. U.S. companies have recognized Kazakhstan’s potential and are cooperating with Kazakhstan to develop its tremendous oil and gas resources. They hold major stakes in Kazakhstan’s two largest oil and gas projects, Tengiz and Kashagan.
Mr. Chairman, we supported Kazakhstan to act as Chairman in Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for 2010. If I’m confirmed, I will work with Kazakhstan to fulfill its commitments to that organization: to reform its election and media laws, and to liberalize its political party registration requirements by the end of 2008. In addition, Kazakhstan pledged to preserve the current mandate of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights within the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Mr. Chairman, I’ve spent a large part of my career serving in countries of the former Soviet Union. The historic, cultural, and economic ties between Russia and Kazakhstan are strong, and no one disputes the value of those ties. However, we are gratified that Kazakhstan values its national independence and sovereignty and chooses its own multiple partners based on its own national interests. Kazakhstan is in no one’s special sphere of influence. If confirmed, I will draw on my many years of experience in the region to ensure that the already strong United States-Kazakhstan partnership continues to grow and prosper. Kazakhstan is an important country with a promising future.
Thank you. I look forward to your questions.
