Of land- and sea-lockedness, and the pursuit of happiness
By Erlan Idrissov
In 1997, Jared Diamond wrote a Pulitzer Prize-winning book called “Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of
Human Societies.” The book explained in easily understandable yet well-argued prose why the world
turned out to be what it is today - a Europe-centric, or rather a Eurasian-centric world - and why it did
not come to revolve around other civilizations in, say, the Pacific islands.
Crediting guns, germs and steel, not to mention their stronger societal organization, Diamond explains
why it was mostly Europeans that took over other continents, and not vice versa, ensuring the
dominance of their values, systems of government and economic organization, etc. Yet, one of the
points Diamond is keen to stress is that this dynamic of development, which has played out over past
millennia, does not mean that people in Europe or in other developed countries live happier or more
fulfilled lives. According to the author, while those in the West and North live more prosperous lives on
paper than those in the South and East, many people in ‘developing’ countries live lives that are more
content and closer to their ‘truer selves’. In other words, they live lives that make them just as happy, if
not more.
Having just visited Samoa for the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States
(SIDS) on September 1-3, I would say that I agree with Diamond’s point, yet I would add a qualifier. As a
first time visitor coming from the world’s largest land-locked country, I found that people in the Pacific
are indeed as proud of their history and development – and as happy – as one can be. However, as we
discussed at the Conference, the geographical isolation of the Pacific Islands creates fundamental
challenges that hinder their growth and prosperity. Overcoming these challenges will bring greater
happiness to the communities and benefit us all – more developed island states will mean a more
developed world – it is as simple as that. But this will require concerted and sustained development
assistance from the international community.
While it may seem strange at first, Kazakhstan shares many challenges with SIDS. Just as we are landlocked, they are, in a way, sea-locked, with their encirclement by the great ocean and their remoteness
from major growth hubs, aggravating, not helping their lot. This is why Kazakhstan felt it was important
to participate in the event and share our story of what we, as an upper middle income country in the
early years of its development, have done to overcome the challenges of geography and, more
importantly, how that can be applied to support SIDS.
That’s exactly what I shared in my remarks at the conference and in more than a dozen meetings over
three intense days with delegations from around the world, including Cape Verde, East Timor, the
Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Nauru, and many others.
A recurring theme in my conversations and one of the greatest challenges they all share is a lack of
energy resources and the resulting high cost of energy (according to UN estimates, the cost of electricity
in countries such as Samoa is four times higher than in the U.S., for example). And here is an area where
Kazakhstan can play a concrete and constructive role and is already pursuing a number of efforts – big
and small – to help meet this challenge.
First, Kazakhstan will be hosting the international specialized exhibition EXPO 2017, which will focus on
the theme of ‘Future Energy’. In three years’ time, we want to attract at least 100 countries and 10
international organizations to the event to help drive forward innovation and development in the
energy sector. We hope it will make a tangible contribution to meeting the energy challenges facing the
world today and that SIDs can play an important part and benefit from the event. We are working to
provide support to various countries, especially SIDS, to ensure they can participate in the exhibition.
Second, Kazakhstan has put forward the ‘Green Bridge Partnership Program’. The initiative brings
together several countries, from Germany to Mongolia, to promote technology transfer and innovation
in energy with the ultimate goal of finding common solutions to meet the energy needs of the
international community.
Third, in partnership with UN ESCAP, we are launching a project to provide electricity producing biogas
units to communities in nine Asia Pacific nations, including Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia,
Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands and Tonga.
Last but not least, Kazakhstan has put forward its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN
Security Council in 2017-2018. Our bid is based on the four pillars of food, water, nuclear and energy
security. A focus on these key challenges, we believe, can help resolve the energy problems and wider
issues facing SIDS and many other nations around the world.
And we are committed and will continue to pursue more ways and opportunities to promote equitable
development internationally.
On a different note, during my visit to Samoa, I was often reminded of my previous engagements with
U.S. Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, a good friend of Kazakhstan from the neighboring island of
American Samoa. We have worked together on a matter that bonds Kazakhstan and the South Pacific
close together – fighting for a nuclear weapons free world – which draws on our shared legacy of
dealing with consequences of decades of nuclear weapons testing by the Soviet Union, the United
States, and France. I was heartened to find that many of his traits – a love of life, openness and keen
determination to achieve one’s goals – are a feature of all Pacific islanders and I greatly enjoyed their
hospitality.
One of the most memorable moments of the trip was the traditional greeting ceremony ahead of our
meeting with the head of state of Samoa, Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Ta'isi Tufuga Tupuola Efi, in his
residence on the hills overlooking Apia. The master of ceremonies’ call to the heavens asking for
blessings for the two countries was reminiscent of the rituals we see and treasure in Kazakh culture.
The performance also reminded all of us of the theory of how humans first populated Polynesia from
Asia, and it was really great to see ancient and remarkably similar traditions survive and live on. For
while modern diplomacy will help us build mutually beneficial ties, it is the strength of our traditions
that gives us confidence and determination to continue moving forward and towards happier lives for
all.