Washington, April 24, 2024, The Europe Today: According to the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the United States, consular consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and the U.S. Department of State were conducted in Washington D.C.
The Kazakh delegation was led by Bauyrzhan Akatayev, Director of the Department of Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, while the American delegation was headed by Brian Stimmler, Director of the Central Asia Division of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.
During the discussions, a broad spectrum of topics was addressed, focusing on enhancing cooperation to facilitate reciprocal travel of citizens, safeguarding the rights and interests of citizens from both countries, and bolstering oversight regarding children adopted from Kazakhstan. Notably, significant attention was devoted to collaboration in migration affairs, with a specific emphasis on joint efforts to combat illegal migration of Kazakh citizens to the United States.
Both parties underscored the importance of streamlining and expediting visa issuance procedures for citizens of Kazakhstan and the United States, anticipating that this would further foster tourism, business engagements, and cultural exchanges between the two nations.
Following the consultations, both delegations reaffirmed their commitment to deepening and intensifying cooperation on consular matters through regular engagement and dialogue.
Additionally, during their visit, the Kazakh delegation convened with representatives from the American NGO “Winrock International” to explore potential avenues of collaboration in combatting illegal migration and human trafficking.
These consular consultations represent a proactive step toward strengthening bilateral relations and advancing mutual interests between Kazakhstan and the United States, particularly in the realm of consular affairs and migration management. Such engagements contribute to fostering greater understanding and cooperation between the two nations on important consular and humanitarian issues.
