Kazakhstan and Germany Strengthen Support for Ethnic Germans and Cultural Ties
Kazakhstan reaffirms support for ethnic Germans at intergovernmental commission meeting in Berlin
Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko reiterated Kazakhstan’s unwavering support for ethnic Germans during the 21st meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) on Ethnic Germans in Kazakhstan held on April 9 in Berlin. The meeting, co-chaired by Germany’s Federal Government Commissioner for Ethnic German Resettlers and National Minorities, Bundestag Member Natalie Pawlik, also focused on enhancing cultural and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries.
Discussions at the session encompassed various areas such as education, culture, science, youth policies, German language studies, archival work, facilitation of business contacts, and visa liberalization. The meeting also assessed joint projects aimed at preserving the national identity of Germans living in Kazakhstan.
Participants hailed the recent establishment of the Centre for German Language and Culture at the Eurasian National University in 2024, as well as the inauguration of a branch of Germany’s Anhalt University of Applied Sciences at the Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications.
Vassilenko emphasized the significant role ethnic Germans in Kazakhstan play in fostering closer ties between Kazakhstan and Germany, describing them as a “living bridge” between the two nations that is essential for the future development of Kazakh-German relations. He underscored Kazakhstan’s commitment to creating favorable conditions for cultural diversity and highlighted the pivotal role of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
Pawlik, on the other hand, reiterated Germany’s steadfast support for ethnic Germans in Kazakhstan and underscored their importance in further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. The meeting concluded with the signing of a Communiqué outlining additional measures to ensure comprehensive support for ethnic Germans in Kazakhstan.
Besides discussions on ethnic German issues, Vassilenko also engaged in talks regarding bilateral cooperation and key global and regional matters with Bundestag Member Stefan Rouenhoff and Konrad Arz von Straussenburg, the director for Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Caucasus at the German Foreign Ministry.
The Intergovernmental Commission (IGC), established under a 1996 bilateral agreement, aims to provide support for Kazakh citizens of German descent. Currently, Kazakhstan is home to 226,000 ethnic Germans, while almost one million German resettlers from Kazakhstan reside in Germany.
