Yerlan Idrisov: we ready to take part in UN peacekeeping operations

Kazakh soldiers are ready to take part in UN peacekeeping operations, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Yerlan Idrisov, said.

He recalled that this year the country had passed a law on peacekeeping activities, which "enshrines this procedure."

According to the minister, the essence of the law is that "Kazakhstan must honor its commitments to the UN regarding participation in the peacekeeping obligations, but, at the same time, it will be careful about taking a decision on sending our peacekeepers abroad". "The main and final word in this issue rests with the country’s parliament," Idrisov said.

He noted that "Kazakhstan has been boosting its peacekeeping potential all this time," and said that the country already had experience of such participation in Iraq. "The Kazakh peacekeepers have made a serious contribution to resolving the Iraqi crisis," TASS cited the Foreign Minister as saying.

The minister pointed out that "the Kazakh peacekeepers are not involved in any operations in the world now".