Senators voted overwhelmingly to ratify Intergovernmental Agreement on Consular Privileges and Immunities between Kazakhstan and the US at a plenary session on Thursday, April 9, Toppress.kz correspondent reports.
Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi explained the agreement regulates diplomatic immunities and privileges granted to consular officials, consular officers and members of their families.
Minister reminded that after Nursultan Nazarbayev’s visit to the United States in 2018, Kazakhstan opened its Consulate General in San Francisco, which has been successfully operating since early 2019. “Thus, Kazakhstan has two Consulate Generals in the US – in New York and San Francisco. The United States, in turn, have its Consulate General in Almaty, which is the only one regional hub of the US in Central Asia,” he noted.
The agreement implies granting mutual jurisdictional immunities, exemption from taxes, fees and duties in compliance with the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. It is aimed at creating favourable working conditions for the consular officers of Kazakhstan and the US.
