Deputy Administrator for Policy and Programming at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Isobel Coleman emphasized the United States’ commitment to each of the Central Asian states’ sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence during her working trip to the region on Feb. 12-18, reported the USAID press service.
Coleman began her trip on Feb. 12 in Astana with a visit to the ALZHIR museum and memorial complex of political repression and totalitarianism victims. She paid tribute to victims of Stalin’s mass repression and highlighted U.S. support for Kazakhstan’s resilience, identity, and sovereignty.
“I want to underscore the importance of the bilateral relationship. This is a partnership that we care deeply about. Kazakhstan is an important country… and we have a long partnership, and I am looking forward to deepening that partnership and hearing directly from them about their priorities and the ways that we can continue to work on helping to realize the reform agenda that President [Kassym-Jomart] Tokayev has announced and really help on the full implementation of that agenda,” Coleman said in an interview with Khabar 24 TV channel.
Coleman met with Kazakh government officials to discuss strengthening regional cooperation amidst the current geopolitical situation.
In Almaty, home to USAID’s Regional Mission to Central Asia, Coleman met on Feb. 14 with entrepreneurs, civil society groups, and youth leaders to discuss barriers to expanding inclusive economic opportunities and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.